ON SAINT IDA,
OF GHENT IN FLANDERS.
Relics found. Notice from Molanus derived to others.
CommentaryIda, of Ghent in Flanders (S.)
G. H.
[1] The Deposition of S. Ida, whose body rests at Ghent, in the parochial Church of S. John, which is now the Collegiate of S. Bavo, rather Cathedral the Canons however do not celebrate her Natalis. What however the parochial Clergy did before their advent they are ignorant of. Pilgrimage, This however is acknowledged, that formerly there was a great pilgrimage in the church of S. John, and great devotion of the people on the day of S. Ida's death at her altar and tomb. altar, tomb: But what afterwards came into the same church, of Bavo, Livinus and other most celebrated and most certain Relics, seem to have obscured the memory of S. Ida.
[2] When however Cornelius Jansenius, the first Bishop of happy recollection, Relics. was visiting the shrines of his church, which for almost two years on account of the persecution of the Gueux had lain hidden in secret and underground places; in the schedule of one shrine he found written: Relics of S. Ida Virgin and Martyr; Translation to a new shrine. although the history, which was preserved in a certain manuscript book in the old church of Divus John, has her to have been the mother of S. Ursula, and makes no mention of her martyrdom. But howsoever this is, the Relics were translated into clean linens and into a new shrine.
[3] Thus Molanus in the Natales of the Saints of Belgium; a man plainly most accurate and most well-deserving of the Saints, especially of Belgium, on this day XX of June, From Molanus, from the information of Lord Peter Simonis Archpresbyter of Ghent, who then in the year MDLXXXV was created Bishop of Ypres, died in the year MDCV, having left famous writings, which John David Priest of the Society of Jesus together in folio took care to publish with Plantinian types. Peter Simonis, Antonius Sanderus book 1 of the Hagiologium of Flanders page 70 published the same things about S. Ida, whom he celebrates as Virgin and Martyr, from Molanus cited by him: Sanderus, to this Molanus also Miraeus in the Belgian Fasti, Miraeus, of B. Ida resting at Ghent, refers the reader. Finally the same Molanus, in the Additions to Usuardus of the first edition had mentioned Ida, whose body is preserved in the church of S. John of Ghent, Canisius, and thence Canisius in the German Martyrology followed him. Ferrari, Philip Ferrari in the general Catalogue writes thus: At Ghent in Belgium of S. Ida widow and Martyr, and adds the day citing Molanus, that she is borne to have been the mother of S. Ursula. Of which matter no vestige is found with Hermann Crombach in the Ursuline History. Ghinius. Finally Constantine Ghinius in the Natales of Sainted Canons formed some elogium of her from Molanus.