Florentina

ON SAINT FLORENTINA

VIRGIN IN SPAIN.

SEVENTH CENTURY

PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.

On her cultus, acts, relics.

Florentina, Virgin in Spain (S.)

G. H.

Illustrious by her lineage and the splendor of her virtues was S. Florentina, Sister of SS. Leander, Isidore, and Fulgentius, principal Bishops and Doctors of Spain in the sixth century of Christ; who, made mother and governess of consecrated Virgins, offered very many of their choirs to Christ her Spouse, deserving eternal memory in the Church on that account. To her bear testimony the ancient Breviaries and Legendaries, Memory in ancient Breviaries especially Spanish: and chiefly that which was called the Mozarabic, printed by order of Francis Ximenes Archbishop in the year MDII at Toledo, also the Hispalense and Abulense on this XX of June; but the Placentinum and Carthaginense on the day XIV of March. More things are added by Tamayus de Salazar in the Hispanic Martyrology on this day, which can be seen with him. From these Lessons and the Hispalense Legendary he subjoins certain Acts; which Francis Bivar published nearly the same things from the Salamantine Breviary, from these certain Acts in his Commentary on the Chronicle, published under the name of Maximus on page 579, which we shall soon illustrate with our Annotations from other writers of Hispanic affairs, of whom the chief are Ambrose Morales in book XII of the year MCLXXVII chapter 5 fol. 103; John Basil Sanctorius, in his Hagiography of the year MDLXXXV, on this XX of June; Alphonsus de Villegas, in the Flowers of Saints of the year MDXCI often afterwards reprinted, where he treats of the Spanish Saints; John Mariana, in the History of the affairs of Spain, collated with weighty authors. published in the year MDXCII book 6 chapter 1; John Marietta on the Saints of Spain, in the year MDXCVI book 19 chapter 1; Francis de Padilla, in his Ecclesiastical History of the year MDCV century 7 chapter 14, all weighty Authors, whom many more recent ones followed, from which they wrote her Life: Martin de Roa on the Saints of Astigi, book 2 chapter 6, and Antonius de Quintanadueñas, on the saints of Seville and Astigi. But these and other more recent ones, deceived by new inventions bearing the names of Dexter, Maximus, Julian, Liutprand, mix in some things, rightly displeasing to learned men, which being omitted we shall give an Appendix from the Life written by Roderick de Jepes.

[2] The arena of S. Florentina, where most especially she lived up to her death, In the Martyrologies she is called Florentiana, is the city of Baetica Astigis, commonly Ecija, also known to Ptolemy, and also in this time famous and Episcopal upon the river Singulis commonly Xenil, which not far from there flows into the Baetis, but without place is referred to in some Mss. Martyrologies of the augmented Usuardus, and with Grevenus and Molanus of the first edition in the similar Auctarium of Usuardus, and also with Canisius under the name of S. Florentiana the Virgin; an error perhaps born from this, that on this same day is venerated S. Florentiana among the Martyrs crowned at Tomi in Scythia. Bellinus in the Martyrology, according to the custom of the Roman curia printed about the year MCCCCXLVIII at Venice, the spurious Bede, Maurolycus, and Florentia; Galesinius and Molanus of the later edition, with the Florarium, call the same Virgin S. Florentia. In today's Roman Martyrology however these things are had: At Hispalis in Spain, of S. Florentia the Virgin, among the Spaniards Florentina, sister of SS. Leander and Isidore Bishops of Seville. But we must adhere to the Spanish writers who constantly call her Florentina, as also SS. Leander and Isidore the brothers in their books inscribed to her, and the ancient Author in the Life of S. Isidore, published on the day IV of April.

[3] The Authors will have her body to have been buried at Seville with her brothers, or at least translated there; brought to Seville, just as we have said S. Fulgentius the Bishop to have departed life at Carthage, and his body to have been translated to Seville thirty-four years after his death, and to have been placed with the Relics of his brothers Leander and Isidore and of Florentina in the edifice of SS. Rufina and Justa, as can be read in the Life of the same S. Florentius on January XIV chapters 3 and 4. Seville is believed to have possessed this noble treasure up to the incursion of the Moors. For then to the mountains, near the river Guadalupe, and to the village of Berzocana. the bodies of SS. Fulgentius and Florentina are said to have been carried; and there hidden and unknown to have lain until the times of Alphonsus XI, or to the XIV century, when the sacred remains of both were found, in the village of Berzocana, almost three leagues from the famous town of Guadalupe, where they are still preserved: and because the place is of the diocese of Placentia, in this whole diocese S. Florentina is venerated as Patroness, under the rite of Double of the first class, and that on the day XIV of March, because the sacred Relics seem to have been then translated. Afterwards in the year MDXCV, Relics at Murcia and at the Escorial. by the order of Philip II Catholic King, at the instance of the Carthaginians and the Murcians the sacred remains were dug up, certain bones of which were offered to the church of Murcia and to the Escorial Royal monastery, and were honorably there laid; as after Martin de Roa write Tamayus de Salazar and Aegidius Gonzalvus Davila in the Theatre of the Church of Murcia.

VERY ANCIENT ELOGIUM OF HER LIFE

From the ancient Breviaries and the Chronicle of Seville.

Florentina, Virgin in Spain (S.)

[1] The most blessed Virgin Florentina, incomparable in morals and sanctity, was in the times of a Justinian the Roman Emperor, daughter of b Severianus Duke of Carthage, and of Turtura his wife: who had three brothers, namely c Leander, Bishop of Seville; and Fulgentius, Born of an illustrious and holy family, of Astigi, and afterwards of Carthage Bishop; and Isidore, also Bishop of Seville; learned men in all sanctity and doctrine, protectors and doctors of all Hesperia and the universal Church. She had also as most holy cousins Hermenigild, and Reccared the most glorious Prince, sons of her sister, by name d Theodora, whose morals and constancy she herself truly imitated: she sees in the mouth of S. Isidore a swarm of bees. by the fragrance of whose odor and imitation of sanctity the Churches of the Spains shone illustrious. This Virgin therefore devoted to God, when S. Isidore was being nursed in the cradle, saw a certain e swarm of bees in his mouth frequenting their turns. Terrified at what this might be, prostrated in prayer she understood, that he would be a great doctor and true champion against heretics, whom he would drive out from the borders of Hesperia: and what she saw with the eyes of contemplation, afterwards with her own eyes she happily beheld. And because she knew B. Isidore would be so admirable, she studied to nurse him, not with the milk of flesh, but with the milk of spirit, with all diligence; herself guarding herself from every defilement of vices.

[2] But f when the illustrious Virgin was sought in marriage by many Palace Nobles, She vows virginity altogether shrinking from a similar impediment of state, despising the allurements of the world and the morals of the age, she devoted her unstained virginity to Christ her Spouse with her whole bowels. To whose sanctity and doctrine very many virgins and continent women submitted themselves: and adorned with the veil of consecration she shone, as the morning star in the midst of cloud. Who could narrate so great a multitude of Virgins, rejoicing to undergo labors of penitence, ardors of charity, summits of humility, and the pearls of other virtues? she presides over other Virgins: This most holy Florentina, in the garden of delights and virtues, flowering in the odor of sweetness, the flower of the field, with exceeding love following her spouse, and embracing her friend above all aromatics, the most blessed Prelates and her brothers, instructing her; and her companionship, with frequent consolations of soul and body, daily edifying her in all doctrine and erudition.

[3] S. Leander, brother of the same S. Florentina, wrote to her g two little books, for the consolation of herself and her companions: incited by the books of her brothers dedicated to her: one On the Institution of Virgins, how integrity was next to God, and near and coequal to the Angels, whose conversation was in the heavens; h another little book On Contempt of the World, how all things under heaven were slipping away. But Holy Isidore also to the same sister Florentina, against the wickedness of the Jews, i dedicated two little books: with which advances and continual exhortations she emerged learned. Finally this holy Virgin, she directs very many monasteries. imbued with the dogma of the Holy Spirit, mistress of virginity and minister of chastity, had under her custody almost k fifty monasteries, in which a multitude of holy Virgins lived. B. Florentina fell asleep in Christ Jesus, after the death of S. Leander l.

ANNOTATED G. H.

But these things with us are of no credit.

APPENDIX.

From the Spanish of Roderick de Jepes.

On the very ancient monastery of S. Florentina.

Florentina, Virgin in Spain (S.)

BY G. H..

[4] In the preceding century, in the city of Astigi, and in the very monastery of S. Florentina, flourished There are shown in the monastery of S. Maria de Valle, Roderick de Jepes of the Order of S. Jerome, who among other lucubrations published in Spanish at Madrid in the year MDLXXXIV a History of the glorious Virgin S. Florentina, from which those things especially which pertain here, Antonius de Jepes thence excerpted, and published in the first tome of the general Chronicle of the Order of S. Benedict, at the year of Christ 599 fol. 412 and following.

[5] That the holy Virgin Florentina, with consecrated women, lived in the monastery of S. Maria de Valle, the tower of S. Florentina, is a perpetual tradition, and confirm it many indications of antiquity; among which a tower is seen there, very ancient, which they even now call the tower of S. Florentina. In the middle of the cloister appear vestiges and mortar foundations, vestiges of cells, and they are said to have been cells of the religious women, whom S. Florentina there moderated. Besides, in that city is a hospital and a very ancient confraternity, surnamed of S. Florentina; nor can anyone be found who has heard anything of their first institution. The Confreres are accustomed also the statue of S. Florentina, At Astigi a hospital and Sodality. clothed in monastic habit, with great solemnity and Clerical pomp, to carry to the edifice or monastery of S. Maria de Valle of Astigi, and there to chant Vespers, to offer the holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and to have a sermon, in which the institution of this feast is set forth, that the ancient conversation and habitation may be known by the way which the most prudent Saint kept, because the traces of all are even now seen, in which she had her kingdoms in the service of Jesus Christ (for to serve him is to reign) and in which government she had Virgins, who lived there, gathered from all Spain. While however the sacred statue of S. Florentina is borne thither, by no one's command or precept the citizens go in supplication; Solemn procession, that they may imitate the bare examples of their ancestors, also incited, that in that edifice a chapel and altar dedicated to S. Florentina are extant: which however on account of the structure of the temple adjoined have lost something of splendor. Hither also the same Confreres of S. Florentina on three principal feasts of the year flock, and at the altar of S. Florentina celebrate Mass in singing. When by public decree the hospitals through various cities were reduced to a small number, and the revenues of the lesser ones were assigned to the greater hospitals, lest the same should happen among the Astigitans, opportunely Philip our King, in the year one thousand five hundred and seventy about to make a journey into Andalusia, chapel, altar. from his benignity to this slender monastery of S. Maria in Valle was willing to turn aside: to whom I offered a supplicant booklet, and asked that he not annex the ancient hospital of S. Florentina, which I at that time was administering, to any other; lest the celebrated solemnity already related should cease, and the memory of this Saint be abolished.

[6] As many also as now live among men, with desire will be able to testify the devotion toward our Lady S. Maria de Valle, and toward the holy image of Diva Florentina; and that she lived there with the holy Virgins of that monastery. Grandfathers and ancestors related to their grandchildren, Way of the Virgin Martyrs under the Moors, the piety toward the way which leads to the monastery, and they called it the Way of the Virgins: which from the very temple of holy Cross up to the monastery was once besprinkled with the blood of the holy Virgins, who there had lived under the discipline of S. Florentina, and had been crowned with martyrdom by the infidels; namely by the heretical Arians, or by the Moors destroyers of Spain. And how barbarously the latter butchered the faithful of Christ at Cordoba, is known from the book of S. Eulogius. On the same way occurs a little bridge, called of the Virgins; and there are erected stations similar to those, through which Christ in his passion stretched out to the mount of Calvary; and these with great devotion, on account of this pious consideration, they perform. There is seen there a small ancient door cut in marble, which they say was likewise smeared with the blood of these Virgins when they were snatched away to be butchered as victims by the barbarians. To the confirmation of this matter in our memory a certain woman, called Mary Alonso, asserts that she, when at the early morning by custom she was going to the monastery, beheld the Virgins furnished with burning candles, and arranged in supplication; and she shows everywhere the candle offered to her, which she keeps until the hour of death. Wherefore on account of reverence for these things, and devotion toward that great sanctuary, very many Astigitans, in the procession of those appearing. on bare feet or with bent knees, are accustomed to wear out a great part of this way, until they have beheld with their eyes the image of the Mother of God, and the place inhabited by Florentina and the sacred Virgins Martyrs of Christ, and her chapel and burial. If faith is to be given to eye-witnesses, I should plainly be believed, who passed two years in this monastery, who among other things, especially on Saturdays, saw with my own eyes a packed crowd flocking to the matutinal Sacred rite, and at the door waiting with eyes swimming with piety.

D. P.

[8] Roa, where he treats of the Monasteries of consecrated women page 144, in the first place places the Parthenon of S. Florentina, as situated within the city, Parthenon of S. Florentina and thus diverse from that, of which placed in the Valley on the bank of the river we have above mentioned; by the same however likewise founded and governed, of which he speaks thus: As soon as Astigis was recovered from the Moors, certain Christians constituted there a hermitage, under the invocation of S. Florentina: into which when in times past certain pious women had withdrawn themselves, without any special Rule, it happened that one of them, converted from the Hebrews and seriously intent on exercises of piety, with particular affection toward the Saint; saw her, openly conspicuous; and was warned, that it was the divine will, that as many as had there withdrawn themselves, founded about the year 1460 with the saint twice appearing. should pass to a more perfect state, and there found a monastery under the habit and rule of S. Dominic. This when it became known through the city, various Knights soon offered their daughters and resources to the new foundation, which is believed to have had its beginning about the year MCCCCLX. Those Virgins lived however without enclosure for some time, until a grave pestilence came upon the city. To which when the Religious were demanding a remedy with ardent prayer from the saint; appearing to one of them, she signified that the plague would cease, if they bound themselves by a vow of perpetual enclosure. Nor was faith lacking to the promise. For with such a vow having been pronounced, the evil subsided; and from that time the enclosure perseveres there, which today the Consecrated women guard to the number of one hundred and sixty.