ON ST. VEROLUS THE PRESBYTER,
AT CHÂTILLON-SUR-SEINE AND MARCENAY.
>AROUND THE YEAR 600.
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.
On the cult, age, translation, and miracles of the Saint.
Verolus the Presbyter, at Châtillon-sur-Seine (St.)
G. H.
Châtillon, on the river Seine, a city of Gaul quite cultivated, is situated in the Duchy of Burgundy and the Bishopric of Langres, from which city it is distant thirteen leagues toward the west. It acknowledges as its Patron St. Verolus the Presbyter, commonly saint Vorle. Claudius Robertus, The sacred cult, himself a Presbyter of Langres, in Isaac the 37th Bishop of Langres, asserts that St. Verolus, born in the villa of Marcenay of noble stock, died on 17 June: on which day also some cult of him is prescribed in the Breviary of Langres, by the authority of Charles Descars Bishop of Langres printed around the year 1604. Hence we wonder first, how, the monuments of the Church of Châtillon-sur-Seine being cited, Ferrari in the general Catalogue related on the preceding day 16 June, St. Verolus Presbyter and Confessor, in the territory of Langres. But this lapse of one day is common enough, on which day also he is related in the Ms. of Besançon of St. Paul, and the Ms. of Cologne kept among the Carmelites. But much more we wonder how Saussay rejected him to the Appendix of the Gallican Martyrology, in which in alphabetical order he comprehends the Saints whose birthdays he has held hitherto uncertain or unascertained, and so there page 1234 has these things: "St. Verulus, Patron of the Church of Châtillon-sur-Seine, of the diocese of Langres."
[2] The Acts of St. Verolus we have obtained in an ancient parchment charter, extracted from a very old manuscript Legendary, likewise in another transmitted to us at Paris, and we collated them with the Ms. codex of the Queen of Sweden, marked number 80. The Acts from manuscripts. The same were sent to us by Pierre François Chifflet, from a Ms. codex of the Church of Châtillon on the river Seine, in which he rests. But in these Acts certain things are lacking at number 2, indicated below, and at the end all the things which are described from number 10. These seem to have been written to be recited as Lections at Matins, and so some things were omitted.
[3] Of the time in which he flourished, a single mark is indicated in St. Gunthramn King of the Burgundians, The time of his life. whence the Saint may be reckoned to have migrated to eternal beatitude around the year 600. A more certain faith of the miracles depends on the asseveration of the Author, grieving that no Acts of the Life are had, then at num. 3 speaking thus: "the rest, shown in our times, we can affirm so much the more certainly, as we recall that we ourselves, being present, took part in them, saw, or heard them."
ACTS
By an author contemporary with the miracles here written. From four manuscript codices.
Verolus the Presbyter, at Châtillon-sur-Seine (St.)
BHL Number: 8547
FROM THE MANUSCRIPTS.
CHAPTER I.
Things done in his life, his Death, the Translation of his body.
[1] At the solemnity of our Venerable Father Verolus, making a celebrated concourse from everywhere, dearly beloved Brethren, as the possibility of our frailty avails, we ought with attentive and docile hearing of the heart to frequent the proclamations of his praises. For this one, although
is to be venerated generally by the whole world; yet by us more, who enjoy the presence of his most sacred body, he is specially to be honored. Because the more we have merited to become nearer to him, the more day by day we experience his virtues more certainly. [Miracles wont to be done at the Saint's tomb indicate that he is to be honored with worthy cult:] For we see those approaching his tomb, whether in which he now rests, or in which he formerly lay buried, with lame steps, returning leaping; those defiled by the spots of leprosy, rejoicing with cleansed skin; limbs dissolved by the disease of paralysis re-solidified, and those anxious with whatever infirmity relieved. We ourselves too, invoking his clemency in our necessities, rejoice that it is at once efficaciously present. For it appears that the blessed Priest, while he lived in the present world, perceived the Lord's precepts with an eager ear, committed them to the memory of a profound mind, and fulfilled what he understood by the effect of most lively operation. For, as we can assert without doubt, and that of old he lived splendid with every virtue, mindful of the evangelical command, with his loins girt, he spurned the base defilements of carnal pleasures; a lover of the angelic life, he strove to guard the precious pearl of splendid chastity: and because he foresaw that this did not suffice for his salvation, with a lamp kindled in his hands, he showed to all the world an example of exceptional manner of life. And thereafter, always vigilant for his own keeping, he held the eyes of his mind open in a double way; in one, firmly resisting the fraudulent ambushes of the ancient adversary, lest he should ever boast that he had prevailed against him; in the other, seeking with his whole heart the justifications and commandments of the Lord, and striving with the utmost effort, lest ever, wandering from them, he should deviate; and thus he labored circumspectly to run through the span of the present age, so that he might appear not only irreproachable to men, but also shine forth imitable to all: and, the office of his priesthood being faithfully performed, that he might happily penetrate the heavenly air, to reign forever with the blessed Angels.
[2] We can indeed add to these things that our venerable Father, of whom the discourse is held, was truly blessed, whom we perceive to be exalted by the Lord with so great honor. and that he fulfilled the eight degrees of the beatitudes. For he was, according to the Lord's command, poor in spirit, humbly and with good fear embracing His doctrine, that he might be found worthy to receive the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven. He was also meek, not resisting evil indeed, but overcoming evil in good, that he might merit to possess the portion of the good in the land of the living. He strove to mourn all the time of his life for sins, not so much his own as the Christian people's; that, the consolation of the Paraclete Spirit being received, he might enjoy the perpetual joy of the Saints, after the finished mourning of the present age. He strove always to hunger and thirst for justice, that with the bread of the word of God, which is the fulfillment of the Father's will, and with the water of the spring leaping up to eternal life, he might at length be able to be filled. But mercy he took care so to use, that first he chastised himself from vices, as far as human frailty allows (lest namely he perpetrate anything for which he would afterward pay penalties), and then, that virtue being extended to the brethren, by compassionating he aided whomever he could; and thus, the mercy of the eternal King being obtained, he might rejoice with Him. That he was clean of heart is established in this, that he ceases not most frequently to work signs and prodigies: for the renowned worker could not show us such and so great things, unless, illumined by the presence of the countenance of the Omnipotent, he were worthy always to see Him present: to which height he would in no way have come, unless, sweating mightily in this life, he rendered the eye of the inner man most clean for contemplating the majesty of the Deity. But he showed himself so peaceable, that he left in himself no place for any vice to contend with the virtues with which, being filled, he was mighty; and then he composed those at variance, as far as was possible for him, among themselves to peace, so that he might be numbered in the fellowship of the sons of God, and because he merited this, it is truly shown, that as a benevolent father is busy to satisfy the wishes of his only son; so also Christ shows that he holds dear the affection of his Verolus, while he hears him interceding for his servants. But that he suffered persecution from the prince of the world, or from his officials the lovers of the world, or even from the members of earthly matter, we prove in this, that we know him without ambiguity to enjoy the joys of the heavenly kingdom. Supported therefore by these virtues, the egregious priest, believing in faith, certain in hope, diffused in charity, conquering the battles and blandishments of the dangerous age, a victor over earthly corruption, migrated to the Lord, to have with Him and with His Saints the part of eternal felicity, through all the ages of ages, Amen.
[3] Although therefore we cannot, alas! dearest Brethren, find written from what parents our most blessed Father Verolus was begotten; how great tribulations of sinister spirits and temptations he endured, or by what means he overcame the same; what crosses of abstinence he laid upon the members of his body; under what Prelate he underwent the grades of ecclesiastical ministry; nevertheless it has happened that very many things of the works of his virtues have come to our knowledge. Of which one, quite marvelous, performed in the time of his life, was brought to us by no obscure report: but the rest, shown in our times, we can affirm so much the more certainly, as we recall that we ourselves, being present, took part in them, saw, or heard them. At the time when the fellow-initiate of God enjoyed the air of this light, it happened that the venerable King of the Burgundians, Lord Gunthramn, made a passage through the villa of Marcennacus, in which the same servant of God exercised the priestly office. Who, having heard the proclamation of his sanctity, as he was a most fervent lover of religion, was eager to beg that he would deign to celebrate the solemnities of Mass in his presence: but the Priest of God, assenting to the wishes of his petition, enters to perform the solemn office according to custom. Which being begun, Celebrating Mass before St. Gunthramn the King, when, after the finished reading of the Evangelical word, the consecration of the most holy mystery ought to have followed, just as that Pontiff most famous and renowned in all the world, Ambrose, is read to have done in the hour of the passing of St. Martin, our Verolus fell asleep. But the aforesaid King, with his Nobles, these things being seen, troubled in heart at the novelty of the matter, marveled not a little among themselves. Yet no one presumes to address the Priest. But after an interval of nearly one hour, carried out of himself for an hour, the servant of God, returned to himself, performs the Office begun. And so the King, approaching nearer, solicitously inquires what matter had happened. But the minister of God began to narrate that the enemy of the human race had brought a fire into a certain house in the villa which is called Platanus, distant about six miles from that place, when the inhabitants of that place, having gone all to another villa called Musciacum to hear the offices of the divine word, a single little boy being left behind; and that he himself had hastened thither by divine commands, had snatched the little boy drawn from the danger of the fire, and had extinguished the whole violence of the pyre. elsewhere he extinguishes a fire: These things being heard, the King was vehemently astonished; and, legates being directed thither, ordered them to investigate solicitously the truth of the matter. Who, flying more speedily, found all things to be true, just as the man of God had said: that the most holy Verolus had been seen there while the house burned, and that the infant and his house, saved by his aid, had remained.
[4] This only of the miracles which the Lord deigned to work through His servant while enjoying the present light has happened to become known to us. But the rest which after his death have been done by his intercession, nay, which daily are done, cannot be collected without grave labor on account of their multitude. For after a long span from the passing of the Venerable man, there arose Isaac, the very reverend Prelate of the Church of Langres; who, most instantly intent on divine matters, enriched, adorned all the places of the Saints of his diocese as much as he could, and strove to transform them into a better state by the bounty of temporal goods and by the handing on of perfect morals; finally, he amplified the canonical congregation of St. Mammes, hitherto poor, with copious gifts of villas and estates; and, the norm of living rightly being instilled, by God's help made the Clergy serving there more religious: which he who investigates more diligently will be able to know more clearly. He also took care to augment the Abbey of the egregious martyr of Christ Benignus with no small expenses of lands, which place he also chose for his own burial. But why should I prefer to touch a few of very many; since in his whole episcopate scarcely any Church of a small place, much less of a great one, remained, which the exceptional man did not labor in some way to improve. This one therefore, the fame of the signs being learned which the Lord showed through His servant in the villa of Marcennacus where he had formerly been buried; kindled by the fire of religion, all things necessary to him being summoned, and a deliberation conceived; "It is not," he said, "just or becoming, that the Relics of the servant of God, by the help of whose merits so many benefits of healings are imparted to those devoutly seeking, should any longer be kept basely buried in an abject, namely rustic, place. It pleases us therefore to transfer them into such a place, where, both more venerably entombed, they may rest, and more safely deposited may remain, and, frequented also more often by us, may hear our vows and prayers. In which place, life being our companion, we decree to establish a congregation of Canons or Monks, to serve God and His saint." Who at once, showing favor to the will of the Pontiff, the sacred Relics are carried to Châtillon, approved his sentence with one mouth. The venerable Prelate therefore, a not small column of Clergy and people being made, hastily went to the place: and the mausoleum of the holy man being opened, carried the venerable bones, with Crosses and candles, and the greatest singing of hymns, to Châtillon: and there, placed with due honor in the basilica of the Holy Mother of God and of the egregious Confessor of Christ Martin, he endowed it also with certain gifts of benefits: striving also to accomplish the vow of the promised Congregation, entangled in the floods of secular impediments, and at last prevented perhaps by inevitable death, what he had desired in his heart he was unable to fulfill in deed. But then his successor, named Geilo, knowing the pious vow of his predecessor, and seeing the body of the aforesaid Saint flash with frequent marks of miracles; where by Bishop Bruno a College of Clerics is founded. having bestowed certain gifts on it, desired in like manner, if it were lawful for him, to assign there those serving God. But because, ensnared likewise by many snares of occupations, he by no means could, Bruno the egregious Prelate, who tenth from him strenuously governed the citadel of the Pontificate, many gifts of Churches and lands being conferred, with gifts also of certain religious Clerics added to his bounty, instituted in that very place an Order of those serving God, who day and night strive to celebrate the divine mysteries to the immense King and His egregious Soldier, and cease not devoutly to resound the harmony of the divine hymns.
ANNOTATIONS OF G. H.
p The Cathedral of Langres, formerly sacred to St. John the Evangelist, began to venerate St. Mammes as its principal Patron, after in the 11th century the Relics of this Saint were brought thither, who is venerated on 17 August.
q These will have to be illustrated on the Kalends of November sacred to St. Benignus; this Abbey is in the city of Dijon.
r Claudius Robertus mentions this Translation, and after him the Sammarthani, but these wrongly call him St. Vorlius.
s Isaac being dead in the year 880, Geilo, substituted, presided until the year 887, in which he died on 28 June. He had been before Abbot of Tonnerre, concerning whom Chifflet in the History of the Abbey and city of Tonnerre.
t Bruno is ordained in the year 981, by whom the College of Clerics of St. Verolus at Châtillon was instituted, Claudius Robertus also writes.
CHAPTER II.
Miracles after the translation described for the most part by an eyewitness. Epilogue.
[5] The venerable body of the blessed man being translated to the aforesaid town, there began to be imparted there the joys of healings to the sick in manifold ways; although in the place where he had formerly been entombed, he deigned no less to confer aid on the wretched: for as, before he was translated, in one; so afterward in both, he took care to show the efficacy of his sanctity in either coffin. For we saw a certain man from the villa of Masciacum, named Ermengisus, who, all his oxen being lost, his own fault requiring it, incurred so great a grief that he never suffered any remedy of consolation to be applied to him: Out of his mind, led to the patronage of various Saints, and, the anxiety of his sorrow increasing day by day, he is made out of his mind. At that time, the Relics of the Blessed Protomartyr Stephen and of many Saints having lately been found at Sens, the Lord glorified that place with admirable signs; for both demons by the merits of the saints were put to flight from the possessed, the fires of fevers were extinguished, the blind, sight being recovered, were illuminated, and diseases of various kinds were cured. Thither therefore the aforesaid man, led by his relatives, awaiting divine aid, clung for many days. But indeed, taking no remedy there, by the hidden dispensation of the supreme Arbiter; through many places of the saints his kinsfolk had taken care to lead him about, in hope of recovering health. And now an innumerable multitude of churches having been traversed, and no solace of health found at all, as if wearied by the labor of journeys, ceasing to lead him farther beyond, they bring him to the threshold of our Helper, as being near. On the day therefore of the Lord's Ascension, the Brethren of that place going to the procession, in the very entrance of the church he meets them. Ordering therefore that he be sprinkled with blessed water, under the commemoration of the holy Trinity, they consign him, the pledges of the Saints being held with them. But he, perceiving holy things applied to him, as if striving to avert the blow of a weapon, was eager to give way to the right or to the left or even backward by certain motions of his body. Then indeed, the adjuration of the exorcism following, he is led before the holy altar, where the Venerable body of B. Verolus rests; and there, prostrate for no long space, he wholly recovers integrity of mind, the energy of error being put to flight: at the Relics of St. Verolus he is healed. and thus, health obtained, on the next day departing from the present life he died. O the admirable judgment of the supreme King! O the praiseworthy merit of the venerable Father! The sick man was already by divine judgment on the very threshold of death, and yet Verolus frees him from the danger of the imminent disease: and although the terrible Arbiter of the world had almost adjudged him to death; yet by the prayers of His beloved one He did not delay to bestow safety on him. Nor is it to be doubted that he could also obtain salvation for his soul, who at the very death of his body was able to obtain medicine.
[6] At a certain time, an equestrian band depopulating almost everything of our homeland with rapacity of plunder, the religious Prince Robert, striving to compose peace, if in any way he could, among those at variance, ordered all the able Bishops and Abbots to convene at Airyacum, a villa situated in the diocese of Auxerre, and to be present with the pledges of the Saints; so that if the lovers of malice less willingly, on account of the constraint of earthly princedom, wished to be pacified; in the Council of Airy before King Robert, yet for fear of God and of His saints, whom they should see present and as it were awaiting them, they might receive the concord of peace both to be more readily confirmed; and, always mindful of the saints in whose presence they had confirmed it, might keep it more strictly unbroken. To this Council therefore the Relics of the Most Blessed Verolus being carried, the crowds of peoples began for the sake of prayer to flow together from everywhere to his memorial. Among whom it happened that a certain man, called Gozbertus by name, arrived borne by an ass: a contracted man recovers his health. who indeed, the sinews of his legs being contracted and the function of his feet wholly denied, used forks held in his hands instead of feet; creeping on his knees and legs rather than going. This man, therefore, sprung from the villa of Willedona, had set out to Auxerre, and there, sustained by the alms of a certain Canon of St. Stephen, named Texardus, lived. And when, the fame of the Saints being heard, gathered in the aforesaid place, for the sake of seeking health, he had set out thither; and, many being passed by in entreaty, had come before the pavilion of the venerable Father (as we said); putting himself down from the ass, accustomed to be put down by others' hands; he is prostrated on the ground, and weeping and groaning entreats the suffrages of the eminent Confessor. Forthwith therefore, his merits interceding, the divine power is present, which, weakness being put to flight, restored the former vigor to his limbs; and so he recovered the whole use of his feet, that, having followed the venerable Relics, he came with them as far as Châtillon; and there, dwelling up to now, so showed himself a faithful servant to his helper, that for guarding the provisions of the common cellar, the convent of Brethren serving God there judged him fit.
[7] Besides, a certain woman, named Gudina, a native of the villa of Platanetum, had incurred a most grievous weakness of her right hand; The twisted and useless hand is cured, and, curving her fingers into the palm, could do nothing of work from it, and was able to offer no relief of aid to her sister. She, having heard of the clemency of the Blessed man to hear, and his power to help, with swift haste hastened to the aforesaid place to obtain his presence. Coming there, she knocks at his ears with a humble prayer, yet with the intention of her heart stretched on high. But indeed the Priest joined to God, not suffering long the wishes of the one praying to be delayed, confers most swift aid, offers most speedy healing. The woman therefore, the health of her hand being found, proclaims Christ the powerful King, magnifies Verolus the obtainer of her joy, divulges everywhere the miracle wrought in her. Her temporal lord therefore, named Quinardus, since indeed she had been born of servile condition, having learned of this fame, at once bestows her on the renowned physician by perpetual handing-over.
[8] But a certain man blind in the eyes, with his contracted wife, and (as those who saw testify) pregnant, was led to the same place; he taking nothing of light, and the woman able to accomplish nothing of the journey, likewise his contracted wife, in this manner, as they could, they were busy to stretch out their step. He indeed bore before him her embraced in his arms; she, holding a staff in her hand, became a guide of the way for the blind man; and thus, balancing mutual aid, and supplying by alternate ministration what was lacking to each, they sought the necessaries of food. And so they come to the tabernacle of the Venerable man and, lying on the ground, pour out devout prayers, ask pardon of their sins, do not omit to seek the health of their bodies. But Verolus, wont to hear the rest, admits the wish of one, rejects that of the other. For the woman, loosed from the bond of contraction, is restored to herself; the man, light being denied, is left to remain in the darkness of night. Yet no small aid is acquired for him, since both he had no need any longer to carry her so long laboriously borne, the blind husband not being illuminated, and so he merited to have a better helper in every work. These things being accomplished, Verolus would have furnished his servants no small gain of gifts, had they not, for fear of certain impediments, been forced to return home more quickly.
[9] Lately, our sins requiring it, through almost all the regions of the four-cleft world, a twin plague, by the just judgment of the Omnipotent permitting, wore down the peoples. the plague widely ranging with an immense drought, For so great a force of immense drought pressed in, that the whole hope of gathering the crops began to perish; and so monstrous a destruction of the slaughter of men raged, that if anyone had laid himself down safe in the evening, he believed he would not see the rising dawn; and rising in the morning, he despaired of reaching the evening; and no one thought he would not die by a sudden death. Whence, gathered into one, the Clergy, serving the renowned athlete of God Verolus, addresses itself with these words in turn: "We see, Brethren, through our crimes the whole age imperiled in a double way; namely by a slaughter consuming almost the whole race of men, and by a drought depopulating the crops of our labors. Either plague therefore is so intolerable, that scarcely can a reason or way of escaping either be found: for if anyone shall have escaped the moment of present death, he will not escape the danger of future famine. As you certainly know, our present Protector has always heard all who are troubled in heart, seeking him with devout mind, and has opportunely bestowed the fullness of aid. the body of St. Verolus being exposed, Wherefore it seems necessary to us, that the body of the holy man be removed from the apse, in which it rests in its coffin, and be honorably placed outside the town in an open place. Which the crowds of the afflicted people hearing, will flow together from everywhere to obtain his aid, will implore his clemency with prayers, will honor his magnificence with odes and gifts, and thus perhaps will rejoice to obtain the deliverance of themselves and of us": which sentence the consent of all approving judges to be the best counsel. The tomb therefore of the man of God is opened; the holy body, raised thence, is drawn out from the church or castle, and next to the basilica of the gracious martyr Mammes, is decently placed in a pavilion. Which the peoples, knowing to have been procured for their salvation, fly together eagerly from almost the whole homeland; bearing with them the gifts which each can, give them to the Saint; with hymns and devout prayers ardently frequent him. These being received with a pious ear, the Venerable Father drives it away; and rain is obtained. took care to show how much he avails with God. For, as that Gregory once, the greatest Pope, the sevenfold Litany being instituted, allayed the inguinal plague; so also our Verolus, the pestilence of the aforesaid disease being driven away, by admirable merits made the raging mortality cease as soon as possible. And as that Elias, afterward caught up above the stars in a flaming chariot, by prayer alone restored the rain denied for three years and a half; so also our Patron, the dry earth being sufficiently inebriated with the sweet abundance of heavenly showers, restored living greenness to the crops now withering. And that it might appear without hesitation that this benefit was granted to mortals by the merits of the Saint, before he was removed from that place, dew, abundantly sprinkling all things, wet also the very ground of his tent. O man always to be adorned with the greatest honor of praises! O clemency ready to hear! O power efficacious to succor! For he is to us a pious helper for obtaining the things we need, he is a strong defender for warding off the things by which we are assailed, he is a most swift physician for curing the diseases by which
we are burdened. For, besides the grace of the aforesaid gifts, to profit the whole world generally, he conferred on very many sick in the place we mentioned singular remedies, the languor being driven away.
[10] For a certain man out of his mind, a cobbler by trade, named Leterius, the demented are healed. was violently brought to the Saint's tabernacle: who, having stayed there three days more or less, was always eager to flee about everywhere through the fields, through the woods, through every byway; yet, held by his kinsfolk, he was let to wander nowhere: sometimes also, stones being snatched up, he strove to overwhelm those present with himself. But while he raged in these and innumerable other ways, as one out of his mind, his kinsfolk always invoked the mercy of the Omnipotent Lord and of His Saint; that they would deign to infuse healing on the wretched man, and joy on themselves. While they persevered in prayer according to the Lord's precept, behold by the suffrages of the blessed Father the divine power came; which, purging the head of the sick man from the filth of insanity, restored him to the safety of a most whole mind; and he, the functions of his senses being perfectly recovered, afterward survived many years. a contracted woman, A certain woman grievously contracted in her limbs came to the same place borne by a carriage: who, with faithful mind, devout prayers, and deep sighs, asking that the weakness of her body, by the intervention of the venerable Father, be healed by the Lord, soon merits to obtain it. For, the weakness of her limbs being lost, she recovered agility; that which hindered being lost, she recovered that which could help; that being lost over which she long grieved, she recovered that in which she merited to rejoice: and at last, the bonds of her sinews being stretched, and the use of her joints recovered to the nail, scorning others', she rejoices to go on her own soles. Paying therefore immense thanks to her healer, the prodigy of the power wrought in her being divulged everywhere, her conveying carriage being left behind there, a contracted little boy and one of greater age. joyful and eager she sought again the dwellings of her own home. Two hindered by a similar disease were led to the tent, in which the relics of the Saint were kept; one namely a little boy, more carefully borne in arms; the other of greater age, carried by an ass bearing him. Who, according to their ability and knowledge, and the divine power of the pious Father being invoked, both at once felt it present. For the infirmity being put to flight, the Saint meriting it, was compelled to give way to coming health: and the men being refreshed to the full, the one no longer needing the aids of the animal, this one of a man, fully accomplishing on their own feet the long-desired journey; one returned to his own, but the other, adhering to his healer, up to the day of his death did not suffer himself to be separated from his presence. The body is replaced in its place. Therefore the ministers, guarding the sacred pledges, the rain abundantly bedewing them, no longer able to bear it; the rest of their confreres being summoned, with great proclamation of praises carry the same back within the town; and with worthy reverence lay it away in the place predestined by God: where he himself, by his eminent merits, deigns always to be a most clement hearer of those devoutly seeking him.
[11] After these things were done, a certain lame man, called Agyno, dwelling in the villa whose name is Alba-petra, is admonished in sleep, that, going to the presence of St. Verolus, he should entreat his merits with the most instant offices of prayers; a lame man is granted an upright step. which being done, meriting to be heard, free from the weakness of his foot, he might be able to obtain the continual possibility of an upright step. He was, moreover, recurved in one of his feet by the joint of the knee, his foot suspended near his buttocks, so that, suspended near his buttock, he could in no way extend it. But he used a wooden foot, which they commonly call a "scacia," in place of the natural foot. The day therefore being risen, valuing the vision at no small worth, he began to hasten by what journey he could to the threshold of the Saint. And when, always invoking Verolus, entreating the suffrages of Verolus, he had accomplished the middle space of the journey; using a wooden foot. suddenly the bindings of the artificial foot are loosed, the foot itself, the artificial knot being undone, slips off, and the sinews of his curved knee being relaxed, the natural one is restored to its former vigor. But he, seeing his leg extended to him like the other, hesitated whether he ought to go on or to leave off. And at last, trying gradually to set the restored sole on the ground, when he felt both feet flourish with equal firmness, the helping "scacia" being first placed on his neck, with swift step he came to the hall of his healer; and there, immense actions of thanks being paid, narrated to the Clergy and to all the people what and how great things the Lord and His Saint had done for him. Let these things narrated as best as possible about the miracles of the holy man done in our times suffice. But the rest which the munificent bestower assiduously, either in the place, as we said before, in which he now rests; or in which he formerly buried rested, clemently bestows, it is therefore impossible to write, because he himself, God bestowing, never ceases to bestow.
[12] Since therefore we recall the solemnity of the most pious Father Verolus, An exhortation to imitation, dearest Brethren, if we cannot wholly, at least in something, we ought to imitate the form of his example. For we celebrate the feasts of this and of the other Confessors or Martyrs to this end, that by the temporal joy which we exercise in them, we may be mindful of the eternal joy which they enjoy, and may be busy to tend to their fellowship. For this reason we recite the deeds of sanctity and of signs, that we may know by what means they came to the height of so great sublimity; and, having contemplated the way of salvation by which they, going on with unturned step, went before, may burn to follow without the byway of error. For this the egregious doctor of the gentiles showed: "Whatever things," he says, "were written, were written for our doctrine." Rom. 15:4 Wherefore he who so takes care to be present at the solemnities of the Saints, or to recite their deeds, or to hear others reciting them, that he may thence pluck for himself some flower of virtue which he may hold in memory or in action; let him know that he celebrates the joys of the solemnities to his own profit; and there is, according to that Apostolic saying, whence such a one ought to rejoice. Phil. 4:4 "Rejoice," he says, "in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice: for the Lord is near." But he who in this manner frequents the solemnities of the Saints, or listens to their deeds, that he may strive to twist nothing of good thence (which God forbid) to the use of his life; but rather insists on the plays of vanity and wantonness alone; has not whence to rejoice, but rather on the contrary whence he may mourn. And so, Brethren, let us celebrate the birthdays of the Saints with devout joys; and especially the day of our Most Blessed Father, on which, loosed from the bonds of earthly frailty, after the dire contests of the ill-flattering world, having obtained a glorious triumph, the feast to be performed devoutly, he began with the most blessed spirits of the heavenly warfare to possess the happy inheritance of the eternal homeland; and there, inscribed in the white book of life in the venerable senate of the Saints, and his head adorned with the crown of precious stone, he is gladdened with the gift of unfading joys, ever holding the times of pleasantness filled with sweetness, and what in this life he sowed by weeping, fasting, watching, he now reaps by exulting in ineffable ways. And so, Brethren, mindful of his glorification, with psalms and hymns and melodies of every kind, the modulation of voices being lifted on high, let us render the present feast solemn; in which we ought to rejoice together with the choirs of the Saints, on account of the fellow-citizen received into their college. For we have properly merited to have this one, by the kind piety of the Lord, as our Patron, and by his merits and intercessions we daily feel the present gift of God to be present. He cures our sick, opportunely relieves those serving him, gladdens all who devoutly seek him, heals the contrite of heart, binds up their bruises; renders judgment to those suffering injury, gives food to the hungry, looses the fettered, illuminates the blind, raises up the crushed, restores the rain denied for the faults of offenders, extinguishes the avenging slaughter of the wicked. What therefore remains for us to do? except that, straitened by whatever tribulation, we await his refuge, and implore his aid to be present to us. And because, our sins requiring it, we feel more frequently than usual the scourges of divine indignation at present (since, according to the Lord's prophecy, and his patronage to be implored. we see nations rise against nations, and kingdoms against kingdoms; we are shaken by the impulses of earthquakes, we are imperiled by the anguish of pestilence and famine, we faint with the dread of heavenly terrors, and, these excepted, we are devastated by the rapacity of robbers) let us turn our vows and prayers to the most pious Father. First of all let us entreat him, that he may correct the depraved morals that have merited these things, and then that he may mitigate the just anger of the Omnipotent, drive away diseases, ward off famine and slaughter, take away discord and all things harmful, confer peace and all things profitable. Whose clemency if, our morals being corrected, we shall devoutly invoke to be present to us, without doubt we shall be able to obtain it, our Lord Jesus Christ aiding, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, unto the ages of ages. Amen.