Hermits Calogerus the Presbyter

ON THE HOLY HERMITS CALOGERUS THE PRESBYTER, AND SIERIUS HIS DISCIPLE,

IN THE DIOCESE OF AGRIGENTUM IN SICILY.

ABOUT THE YEAR 485.

PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.

On the various sacred places in Sicily probably belonging to more than one Saint Calogerus. The ancient Life and cult of the Hermit of Sciacca.

Calogerus the Presbyter, Hermit in the diocese of Agrigentum in Sicily (Saint) Sierius his Disciple, Hermit in the diocese of Agrigentum in Sicily (Saint)

BY THE AUTHOR D. P.

One of the royal cities in Sicily—of which the diocese of Agrigentum numbers six—is Sciacca, called by Diodorus and Strabo the Thermae Baths of the Selinuntians, situated, says Rocco Pirri, Sciacca, formerly the Thermae of the Selinuntians, on the shore of the Libyan sea and at the roots of a mountain: but that mountain, running out into the sea, has several caverns, whence it abounds with muddy sulphur, salt, fires, and warm waters; and indeed the Sulphureous spring, in more than one place, by the secret Mysteries of nature, is most healthful; thence the name and ornament accrued to the city, the Saracens so calling baths, and the Normans, after they were expelled, restoring the place, at the mountain of the Gemmariae: which even now, well walled, grows rich by the grain trade. The mountain itself, says Fazello, is sacred to Saint Calogerus, which formerly was called the Mountain of the Gemmariae, which are wild palms: where, namely, he, the course of his life most holily completed, died. At the summit, beside a cave, there Saint Calogerus is buried, a temple is erected, most celebrated for the concourse of the people and the miracles of the Saint; and there the body of Calogerus is believed to be entombed. Thither, especially in the month of June, from almost all Sicily, those afflicted with some Disease flow together to the baths named after the Saint, where they experience a present remedy: hence it came about that a hospice too was built there, for receiving the sick. Pirri adds: that that ancient temple was restored at the time when he was writing, that is in the year 1638, by the labor of Calogerus Quartararius, an excellent man, distant from the city 2 miles; and that the marble image of Saint Calogerus is most piously venerated there.

[2] Our Ottavio Gaetani, in volume 1 on the Lives of the Sicilian Saints, among the things observed on the Life of this Saint, of which shortly, where it is said in Lesson 7 putatur, he is thought also to have lived at the Thermae of the Himeraeans, that he remained in the aforesaid place thirty-five years, enumerates several places in which he is also said to have lived or at least to have been at some time. And, At the Thermae of the Himeraeans, he says, there is a tradition that Calogerus lived for some time on the mountain overhanging the city toward the Tyrrhenian sea, and built on the summit a sacred shrine to the most holy Mother of God, which now is dedicated to Saint Calogerus. And the Mountain which formerly had the name Eraucus took its name from Saint Calogerus; at Palermo, and for that reason the Thermae venerate him as patron, and use his image as the city's insignia. at Lentini, The inhabitants relate that Calogerus came thither to expel demons from that Mountain and from their baths. Moreover at Palermo, at Naro, beneath the old shrine of Saints Cosmas and Damian, which is adjoined to the Professed House of the Society of Jesus, a cave is seen dedicated to Saint Calogerus, where he is reported to have been. Near the market-town of Lentini there is a cave, and a shrine dedicated to Saint Calogerus, and distinguished with the title of a Priory, where a monument was built at the place of his arrival. In the town of Naro another cave of the same saint

is venerated. Finally, having reported Fazello's opinion concerning the burial near Sciacca, he subjoins: But the bodies of Saints Calogerus, Gregory, and Demetrius (I know not whether entire) are kept in the monastery of Saint Philip of Fragalà, at Fragalà. in the diocese of Messina, near the town of San Marco.

[3] This I would here note, says the same Ottavio, that among the Himeraean people of the Thermae many things are commonly handed down about Calogerus, But two or three of the same name seem to be confounded and about his struggles with the demons, which are either the trifles of the common folk, or seem to have belonged to another. I would not only easily believe that there is another: but also that most of the enumerated places had inhabitants other than the one of Sciacca. But about the one of Fragalà I am made almost certain by two companions utterly unknown to the people of Sciacca, with whom Calogerus is venerated there; but also by the Acts of both being most diverse, even though all have assumed the 18th of June, proper to the one of Sciacca; from which, namely, this one, after the island was recovered from the Saracens, obscured the more distinct memory of the others. perhaps not properly, but appellatively, "Calogeri." Nay, I doubt whether even this one, alone of all, had Calogerus as a proper name: because nothing was more usual, from the 5th century on, as Du Cange beautifully shows in his Glossary of middle and low Greek, than that all Monks, especially Anchorites, were called not only "Gerontes," that is Old men, but "Kalogeroi" or "Kalogeroi," that is Beautiful or Good-old-men: and that many were better known to the inhabitants by that title than by their proper name, I persuade myself the more easily; because even now I see this done among the Writers of Eastern travel-accounts, whenever there falls a mention of a place which some Greek or Armenian Solitary inhabits: which obtains both in Sicily and in Calabria, although the Greek usage is now almost abolished.

[4] Would that it had been Gaetani's care to collect the traditions of the Himeraeans, or, if anything written is held about them, to set it before the Reader for evaluation, And so are desired the Acts of the one venerated at Himera, just as he set forth a summary of the ancient Acts of Calogerus of Sciacca, although less approved by him, even especially for this reason, that they conflict in many things with the more certain Acts of Fragalà. Namely, although he considered that this one too could be distinct, he yet preferred to attribute all to one and the same, and to deprive the people of Sciacca of the possession of the body, on account of that which is held among the people of Fragalà under the same name. But I judge this one to be the Founder of the monastery of Fragalà itself: therefore I have chosen to treat of this one and his companions separately: perhaps about to do the same concerning the one of Himera, and another is believed to be the Abbot of Fragalà. if I receive in writing what is handed down about him, as I ask all things to be written out for me for the supplement of this month.

[5] Yet because Naro, a Mediterranean city of Sicily, itself also Royal, is distant only 50 miles from Sciacca; The one of Naro could have been the one of Sciacca, I would not unwillingly believe that the same is venerated in both places. Pirri, after praising on page 345 the College of our Society there—where Fr. Gaspar Paranymphus of Naro, illustrious in the office of preaching, more illustrious in sanctity and piety, died on the 23rd of January in the year 1624—describes a College of ten Religious of the Canons Regular of San Giorgio in Alga, founded under Pope Eugene IV in honor of Saint Antony, afterward in that of Saint Calogerus outside the city at the 4th milestone. And here, he says, in great honor is the most noble image of Saint Calogerus the Monk, whose solemn feast day, as Patron of the city, is celebrated also on the 18th of June with a fair: beneath the temple is a cave, in which Calogerus is by tradition said once to have dwelt.

[6] Father Antonino Maria Rossi of Naro, of our Society, asked what is that most noble image praised by Pirri, Answered; that this statue seems venerable to the people of Naro by this title, where his statue is expressed to the likeness of him appearing, that there is a tradition that its head was perfected by a miracle rather than by human art. For since the sculptor who had undertaken to make it had died, leaving it imperfect, and the surviving daughters, themselves too not a little versed in that art, were perplexed and hesitating, between the agreement which their father had entered into with the city, and proved in a plague, and the fear of the work not being accepted by it if they themselves should strive to finish it; nor did they sufficiently discern what appearance they should give to that same face, from the outlines sketched by the deceased; they had recourse to prayers and fastings, and merited that the Saint himself should appear to them, adding courage, that they should fashion him such as they saw him. And the matter succeeded so happily, that that statue, exposed to public view, not only pleased all, but was proved acceptable to God by the frequent miracles at it, in whatever necessity, whether private or public. and proved in curing hernias. Nay, even in the last pestilence, which afflicted our city for whole six months, when that statue, carried around in procession, had come to the hill on which the public Lazaretto was: as many sick as then lay there were all suddenly healed, and the contagion ceased universally. Nor did it ever happen that the same statue was carried around on the very feast of the Saint, but that several boys were cured of hernia: to which end they are brought by their mothers to be placed upon the steps of a chest disposed for that purpose through arranged places on a fitting platform set up and standing, a physician deputed by the senate being present to everything, who, sworn, receives each grace thus received from witnesses adjured to tell the truth.

[7] Beneath the same temple, as the same Rossi writes, there has gushed forth now for many centuries a little spring of Saint Sierius, There too is the spring of Saint Sierius, whom the tradition of our Elders holds to have been the disciple of Saint Calogerus. Now it gushes forth in that place where the Saint himself is thought to be buried, and that oil flowed from the tomb: which ceased to happen, after a public harlot had taken of it. It is said that not a few years back the ground around was laboriously dug out by those hoping to find there the holy body. But of writing nothing remains about that matter: because if anything such was held, it was either consumed by the flames together with all the rest of the furniture of the place, after the aforementioned pestilence; or lost when the College of the aforesaid Canons was dissolved, perhaps of him who buried Calogerus. their whole Congregation being extinguished under Pope Alexander VII, the Conventual Friars of Saint Francis having entered into their place, little solicitous about preserving the ancient monuments of that place. Ottavio Gaetani in the Idea joins him to his Master on this day, and before his work in the Index of Names; yet noting no volume or folio, as he is wont, since concerning him there is in truth nowhere any treatment, for lack of any memorable notice or proper cult. Yet the aforesaid spring seems cause enough to suggest the retaining of the Saint's title, and the inserting of the name into this place. But perhaps he is the one who in the Lives is called Archarius or rather Arcuarius, as if Archer, from that event which is there narrated, but by his proper name called Sierius. For he himself, baptized by Saint Calogerus, was divinely destined to bury him and to reveal his secrets, his spiritual son, and perhaps buried at Naro.

[8] Finally the same Rossi notes that in the town of Salemi, of the diocese of Cefalù, between the city and Sciacca at an interval of about 16 miles on either side, there is a cave called of Saint Calogerus, Another cave sacred to him at Salemi. and passed over by Gaetani, where a similar tradition bears that the Saint dwelt: whither the people running and inserting the head believe themselves to be freed from its pains. This the Franciscan Tertiaries now have charge of, and in their church have a chapel dedicated to the Saint with an altar, above which he himself is seen having beside him a doe transfixed with a dart, with whose milk the Life relates that he was for some time nourished. The name in the Calendars, Here too, as both at Sciacca and everywhere else, the feast of Saint Calogerus is kept on the 18th of June: when his name with an elogium is found in the Additions of Molanus to Usuard, in the Catalogue of Ferrarius, in the Sicilian Calendars, and finally in the present-day Roman, whose words are these: At Sciacca in Sicily, of Saint Calogerus the Hermit, whose sanctity especially shines forth in freeing the possessed.

[9] Something more the Abbot of Messina, Maurolico, had said, but as if writing of another; Whether the same one at Lipari? At Lipari, of Calogerus the most holy Monk, of whom Gregory seems to make mention in the fourth of the Dialogues. For he says that by a certain Solitary, a man of great sanctity, dwelling at Lipari, the death of King Theodoric the Arian, and his soul cast by Pope John and the Patrician Symmachus, whom he himself had slain, into the fire of Vulcano the volcano. This Solitary could have been called Calogerus by the name common to all solitaries; but the cult cannot be said to be under that name, certainly not the one who saw the soul of King Theodoric. since Theodoric died in the year 706 recte 526, but the one of Sciacca was born in the time of the Emperor Arcadius: and yet Maurolico's conjecture, in the new office concerning the Calogerus of Sciacca which I have in the Proper of Messina of the year 1604, is set down as a thing almost certain, Lesson 5 beginning thus: Moreover this holy man is thought to be altogether that one, of whom Saint Gregory committed wonders to writing thus: Julianus my familiar narrated to me etc., as it may be read both in Gregory himself, and in our May where concerning Saint John the Pope on the 27th day, number 34. He was therefore other than the one of Sciacca; which David Romaeus too believing, in Gaetani, Annotation 10: At Lipari Calogerus, he says, a Solitary man, born perhaps in the territory of Calimera, or buried there on the 14th of the Kalends of Quintilis July. Gaetani himself in the Life alleges Battista Aloisiano, who asserts that that Hermit was Saint Launo, of the family of the Hermits of Saint Augustine; but rightly is added, "let the credence be with him"; I, whether anywhere there was or is venerated a Saint Launo, hitherto am ignorant, and would gladly learn.

[10] The Lessons of that new Office, composed with the former ones abolished, Gaetani says, although it is thus read in the new office of the year 1698 in the year 1598, in which Simon of Aragon, a Sicilian and Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, asked of Clement VIII that in the kingdom of Sicily the Mass and Office of Saint Calogerus might be recited with a solemn rite. But it could have moved the Author to fill them out from elsewhere; and the Congregation of Sacred Rites to approve its being done; because Baronius had indicated that the Gallican Breviary and Fazello have indeed several things about him, but in certain matters erroneous. That Breviary was received in Sicily, together with the dominion of the Franks, in the 13th century: and, they being quickly driven out, long retained. Those who before them, the Island having been wrested from the Saracens, restored it to the Christians, the Normans of the 11th century, it can be believed to be taken from the Greek, and restored the cult of Sacred things, desolated through four hundred years of barbaric tyranny, using no other books than those to which they had become accustomed in Italy, so used Latin rites that many churches under them retained the Greek; in which language it is probable that the life of Calogerus of Sciacca once existed, although it has not lasted to posterity, but only the Latin version; which then passed into the Gallican Breviary.

did not endure to posterity, but only the Latin version; which then passed into the Gallican Breviary.

[11] The genuine text of that Life, of whatever sort, I have not yet been able to obtain, nor did Fr. Guido Roberti find it though he sought diligently, and it is given from a printed edition of the year 1610, a resident of our College of Sciacca in the year 1691: but he found the Office of Saint Calogerus the Confessor, not Pontiff. This was collected from a certain most ancient manuscript codex and the Gallican Breviary, by the Reverend Father Fr. Marcellus Grasso of the Order of Preachers, Doctor of Sacred Theology, given to the press at the instance and good pleasure of the Venerable sister Angelica Hortafa, divided into 12 Lessons, a nun of the monastery of Saint Catherine of the city of Sciacca, to be celebrated on the 18th of June throughout the whole kingdom of Trinacria Sicily, under a Double feast, by the precept of Our Holy Lord Pope Clement VIII, in the seventh year of his Pontificate (that is, of Christ 1599), at Palermo, at the press of Giovanni Antonio de Franciscis, Cameral Printer, 1610, with the permission of the Superiors. It is divided into twelve Lessons in the monastic manner; which are all about the Saint, even for the Third Nocturn, before whose first—and ninth in the order of the rest—Lesson it is ordered to be prefixed: A Lesson of the Holy Gospel according to Luke. At that time Jesus said to his disciples: No one lights a lamp etc. The rest, namely the Antiphons, with its proper Collect. Hymns, Capitula, Responsories, etc., while they are not set out, are supposed to be taken from the Monastic Common, except this proper Collect: Almighty everlasting God, who, to trample down the wickedness of the devils, chose Calogerus your glorious Confessor beforehand out of the contemplation of the wilderness, grant we beseech you to us, that by his perennial intercession, whose birthday we keep, stripped of all sins, we may merit eternal life.

[12] From what has been said it appears that by that other Office, where there are only three Lessons about the saint, the other was not derogated, as Gaetani seems to indicate; but provision was made for those who are obligated to the use of the Roman Breviary. Gaetani, as one uncertain of mind, hesitated concerning the aforesaid life, on account of the Hymns of Sergius of Fragalà declaring not a little different things about Saint Calogerus, yet judged that he ought to append the summary which, long received among the Sicilians, circulates—of the Life collected from the hymns; lest, he says, I should seem to have altogether rejected things which have hitherto been approved by most approved men, The summary of it in Gaetani: nor can they be altogether convicted of certain falsity; if at least you hold that there were two Calogeri, who illustrated Sicily by their illustrious deeds. Since I hold this, and that with a good (as it seems to me at least) foundation; I cannot but give that whole Life, just as I received it copied from the printed edition. Nor indeed is there much that ought to be corrected in it, if it be permitted to impute to the interpolator, that, where, if you expunge the name of Peter, where the Author had expressed no name of a Roman Pontiff, there is found the name of the Apostle Peter, with mention of Nero and Simon Magus, as if while he reigned Calogerus was sent into Sicily: which if you expunge, the whole context will not therefore the less well cohere with itself, as will be clear to one considering.

[13] [Rightly will Calogerus be said to have come into Sicily with Saint Philip of Argyrion.] Here are said to have been sent along with him, endowed with similar power against demons, the Saints Philip of Argyrion, Honophrius and Archileon. The Greek-Latin Life of the former Henschen illustrated on the 12th of May, and in it that one is said to have been born in Thrace in the times of the Emperor Arcadius, who after the death of his father Theodosius reigned from the year 395 to 408. Nor did the same Henschen make much of the fact that Pirri and Fazello contend, from another Apocryphal source, that he was sent by Saint Peter the Apostle in the time of Nero. He who invented this, or some other similar zealot of the highest antiquity, also interpolated the Life of Saint Calogerus: and to have died about 485. and this being despised, nothing prevents both from having been sent into Sicily together, and that by the same Roman Pontiff, namely Saint Leo the Pope, who sat until the year 461. Thus Saint Calogerus, having stayed among the people of Sciacca for 25 years, can have lived to the year 485 more or less. Gaetani, although he thinks Peter and Nero faultily intruded, yet refers Saint Calogerus to the persecution of Diocletian and Maximian: and therefore denies that Philip with his companions can be joined to Calogerus, especially since the Hymns name others; which, the aforementioned diversity of the two Calogeri being supposed, causes no trouble.

LIFE

From the ancient Office and the edition of the year 1610.

BY THE AUTHOR D. P.

IN THE FIRST NOCTURN.

Lesson I. Born at Constantinople Calogerus is interpreted "good Old man": for Calo in Greek is in Latin "Good"; Gerus, "old man." This man was of great honesty of life and virtue, and was of greater abstinence. a The birth, therefore, of this holy Father Calogerus was from the city of Constantinople, whose parents placed him to learn the letters of the divine Scriptures. Who, continually learning the sacred Scripture, from his boyhood adorned himself with morals and virtues, and accustomed to fasting from boyhood, so that no temptation of demons, nor darkness of vices, could in any way violate the sincerity of his mind, and the purity of his understanding. For from the time of his boyhood, up to the last, he fasted six days of each week, on bread and water only; that he might regulate the pleasure of the fleshly vessel, lest he should become like the beasts living in the lusts of their flesh. And Blessed Calogerus persevered day and night in continual prayers, always having before his eyes the passion of Christ. For so great was his love toward God, He comes to Rome that, leaving his parents and the land of his birth, full of the grace of God he took his way toward the parts of the city of Rome, that he might see him who was Pontiff of the City of Rome and first of all Bishops … b

Lesson II. And so Blessed Calogerus went to the feet of the Blessed … Pontiff, to whom indeed he made known his life and deeds. He withdraws into the wilderness, The Blessed … Pontiff, hearing the life and sanctity of Blessed Calogerus, ordained him a Monk: Blessed Calogerus, having received the Order, and having had the blessing of the Pontiff, went into the desert called c Humihomum; where, living in prayers and fastings, he so restricted his life that he fed only on herbs and water. In which desert there were revealed to him by divine inspiration the operations of demons, He receives power over the demons infesting Sicily, which they were working in the island of Sicily for the destruction of souls. Whence the Angel commanded him to go to the Blessed Pontiff that he might give him as Companions Philip, Honophrius and Archileon, to whom it had been given by the Lord to expel the demons dwelling in the island of Sicily, corrupting the whole world. At the same hour too the Spirit of the Lord was upon the Blessed Pontiff, and told him all that the Angel had told Blessed Calogerus in the desert.

Lesson III. Blessed Calogerus, having heard the words of the Holy Spirit, went out of the desert, and went to the Blessed … Pontiff that he might fulfill the precept of the Lord, and sent by the Roman Pontiff, which he had heard in the desert. And so the Holy … Pontiff, having seen Blessed Calogerus, rose to meet him, saying: Welcome, Legate of the Lord, power has been given to you to put to flight the demons dwelling in the island of Sicily. And so Blessed Calogerus, having heard the words of the Apostolic man, marveled, and kissed the feet of the Blessed … Pontiff most devoutly, saying: Truly You are the place-holder of Our Lord Jesus Christ in this world: with Saint Philip and 2 companions for you know all the will of God: for it was revealed to me through His Angel, that I should come to You, and that you should give me as companions Philip, Archileon and Honophrius, that with the blessing of God and yours we might go into the island of Sicily, to put to flight the demons dwelling there and corrupting the whole world; and You foretold me as the Legate of God, over putting the demons to flight. Truly, again I say, to You has been given power over the earth. And so the Supreme Pontiff caused Honophrius, Philip and Archileon to be called to him, instructed with the same power. and commanded them that together with the said Calogerus they should go into the island of Sicily, to drive off and put to flight the demons dwelling in it, saying: The Spirit of the Lord is with you: go: fear not; for by the sign of the Cross alone, in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, you will put them to flight, and break all their power and malice, by the virtue of the Holy Spirit who dwells in you. And they indeed unanimously answered, saying: Holy Father, yours it is to command, but ours to obey your mandates, and we choose cheerfully to die for the faith of Our Lord Jesus Christ, whose person you bear. Bless us therefore, that with your grace we may depart, to fulfill the word of God: And so the Blessed … Pontiff, having given them the kiss of peace, blessed them, saying: Go, blessed ones, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: may God confirm you in every holy or good work, persevering unto the last of your life in the faith of Our Lord Jesus Christ. May the Holy Spirit also descend upon you, in whose name and virtue you will do all the things you wish to work, as Apostles and Disciples of Christ both binding the demons and loosing them.

Lesson IV. They departed therefore with the grace of the Holy … Pontiff and in the name of God ascended into a certain little ship, All land at Lipari, and landed on the Island of Lipari, d in the port which is called Vulcanium: for it is a certain Island contiguous to Sicily. And so the Blessed Honophrius and Archileon, with the leave of their companions, departed, and came into Sicily, into the desert e of Sutera, by the revelation of the Holy Spirit; and there in the name of Christ they expelled a multitude of demons. But Blessed Philip went to the mountain Argyrion, where he also expelled demons, where Calogerus, left behind, converts many, and did many other signs by the virtue of God. But Saint Calogerus remained on the island of Lipari, because he was weighed down by old age: for whose merits God expelled all the demons dwelling there: and Blessed Calogerus did there very many and various miracles. Thence the whole people of that place was converted to the faith f of Our Lord Jesus Christ; and on that account in that place, to the praise of God and in the name of Blessed Calogerus, all those converted to the faith built a church.

IN THE SECOND NOCTURN

Lesson V. And so as Calogerus stood in prayer, the Spirit of the Lord spoke before all the people, saying: Calogerus, go to the mountain g of the Gemmariae, and do not delay to fulfill what was enjoined on you in the desert of Humihomum, as was commanded you in the city of Rome: thence ordered by the Angel to cross into Sicily, for your companions have already accomplished what had been enjoined on them. For indeed they expelled the demons of Sutera, of Argyrion, and of Paternò, and exalted the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ before all the people. Go therefore you also, and expel

that legion of the accursed Satan, which dwells in the depth of that mountain, that the people of that region may rest from their temptations and molestations, and so may more clearly recognize the paths of the Catholic faith, and be baptized, and live, in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and drive the demons from the mountain of the Gemmariae, who rules the world and the demons with a rod of iron. And Blessed Calogerus, having heard the voice of the Angel of God, went out of the church, and went to the sea, and found a little ship, and entered it: and on the same day landed on a certain land contiguous to the mountain of the Gemmariae.

Lesson VI. He lands at Sciacca, And so Blessed Calogerus, having entered that land, found a certain woman, to whom he humbly said: My daughter, what is the name of this land? Who said to him, It is called h Syac, in which few souls dwell, on account of the demons dwelling in the mountain of the Gemmariae, by whom they are daily vexed. Hearing this, Blessed Calogerus in the aforesaid land of Syac began to preach the word of God, and stood there for one week to rest, and did there several and various miracles: for he healed several sick with various diseases by the sign of the Cross alone: whence the whole people of the land of Syac believed in i the faith of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and was baptized. After Blessed Calogerus had rested for a week, he ascended the mountain of the Gemmariae, and went to the place in which innumerable demons dwelt, and converts many and there was a continual fire. But the malign spirits, seeing Blessed Calogerus, feared greatly, crying out: Woe, woe, woe to the Society of Satan, for our enemy has come, to expel us from the place of our habitation. And so Blessed Calogerus, strengthened by the virtue of the Holy Spirit, who accompanied him everywhere, cried out, saying: Go, accursed ones, to the uninhabitable places, bringing molestation to none of those who have rightly believed in the faith of Jesus Christ, and drives off the demons, and have renounced Satan. I also conjure you by the virtue of the holy Cross, on which was placed the Redeemer of the world, Our Lord Jesus Christ, who created all things, before whose face the sea and the abyss tremble, who by his death subdued death, and bound the demons, and set bounds to the sea which cannot be passed: that you immediately depart from this mountain, going also to the uninhabitable places, and harm no one who shall have truly believed in the faith of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and renounced Satan and his works. And thus at that same moment, crying out and howling, they departed from that mountain.

Lesson VII. Blessed Calogerus, the demons being put to flight, sanctified that mountain, and fits up an oratory for himself in a cave, and remains there 35 years. and stood there for the space of thirty-five years; and chose for a place of prayer a cave, which is in the depth of a cavern of the mountain of the Gemmariae, and in it set up an altar to offer sacrifice to God. And so Calogerus was now set in old age, and his body had so failed that he could scarcely be supported on his feet. Then God, wishing to relieve his need, sent to him a certain doe, which miraculously carried food to Blessed Calogerus. But in the course of time a certain k Archarius, passing by part of the cave, saw the doe sleeping at the entrance of that cave. The doe that had fed the old man being killed, Which Archarius wounded that doe with the arrow of his bow, believing it to be his own: which, thus wounded, fleeing, went to that cave, until it came to the feet of Blessed Calogerus, and there died.

Lesson VIII. And so Blessed Calogerus, seeing the doe dead before him, he prays that the author of the killing be presented to him, wept over it, and cried out, saying: O good God, who deigned to give this doe as a companion, that I might sustain my life by its help; deign this very day to send to me him who killed it, that before I die I may make manifest to him the virtues which you have chosen to work in my habitation; that through him they may be announced to the people and lie open to all; that the erring people may be confirmed in the truth of your faith, and to you be everlasting glory unto the ages of ages. Amen.

IN THE THIRD NOCTURN.

Lesson IX. Blessed Calogerus's prayer being finished, Archarius, who had killed the doe, appeared: whom when Blessed Calogerus had seen, he praised God and with a loud voice said: O son, why did you kill that doe, which by divine virtue brought me food and sustenance? Archarius too, when he had seen Blessed Calogerus, immediately recognized him, because Archarius himself was the first who in the land of Syac was baptized by Blessed Calogerus. and recognizing him as baptized by himself, Who immediately prostrate on the ground, adored him, saying: O holy Father Calogerus, spare me, for I never knew that doe: for I was your first son, whom you baptized in the land of Syac. To whom indeed Blessed Calogerus gave his blessing, and signed him with the sign of the holy Cross, saying: O son, may God bless you every time of your life. he blesses him; Blessed is the womb that bore you, for through you several souls will be saved, and you will be a remedy to peoples without number, if you do the things which I shall today declare to you. Come therefore, my son, and see the miracles of God, which he has done in this mountain, for the salvation of the people. and the seats of the old baths being shown,

Lesson X. Blessed Calogerus led that Archarius into a certain cavern of that mountain, in which were several stone l Seats, which God endowed with various miracles for curing certain ailments; and he told him all the virtues of the seats: in which cavern indeed there is continual heat, and those entering it continually sweat, and are washed in their own sweat. Then he led him farther within into another cave, in which was a well, deep down to the depth of the Mountain of the Gemmariae, in which there is a continual drawing of waters, and there miraculous cures are made.

Lesson XI. he orders those things to be restored, From which waters a vapor is continually loosed, and ascends up to the summit of the mountain of the Gemmariae, and enters the cavern m of the virtuous seats. But the waters enter a certain conduit, whose end is in the bosom of the mountain of the Gemmariae, more contiguous to the land of Syac. And he told the virtues of that water, and enjoined him that baths should be set up there. This accomplished, Blessed Calogerus went out, and on the 40th day afterward died and went to his oratory: and commanded him to depart with the divine blessing. So after the death of the doe Blessed Calogerus lived forty days.

Lesson XII. The aforesaid Archarius, who often visited him, found his body bent before the altar n of the cave, and there, with tears poured forth, buried him in peace: in which place, divine providence assisting, there he is buried. through the merits of Blessed Calogerus, very often infinite miracles flow forth. Run therefore, faithful ones, to Saint Calogerus, that he may intercede for your salvation: pour out prayers to his God, who, on account of his illustrious merits and His own infinite mercy, may bestow upon you eternal life. Amen.

ANNOTATIONS OF D. P.

ago, and inscribed with superstitious marks. Those baths, deserted on account of the infestations of the demons stabling in them, and unknown as to the qualities proper to each seat, can be said by the people of Sciacca to have been restored by the merits of Saint Calogerus, and made even more healthful; the new sanctity of the place aiding nature, and the faith of those invoking the Saint.