ON SAINT EXUPERANTIUS
BISHOP OF COMO IN ALPINE ITALY.
From memorials supplied by Tatti the Chronographer of Como.
ABOUT 512.
CommentaryExuperantius, Bishop of Como, in Italy (St.)
G. H.
First Aloysius Tatti, now several times about the Saints of Como by us praised, this fourth Bishop indicates, Eulogy from the Martyrology of Como. and citing the Breviary of the Church of New Como such a eulogy to this 22nd of June brings forth: "On the tenth day before the Kalends of July at New Como, in the church of St. Abundius, the feast of St. Exuperantius, Bishop of Como and Confessor: who deriving his birth from Greece, and to New Como coming, on account of the exceptional of his life sanctity, to St. Consul deceased succeeded. Of his Church the rule in the highest of times iniquity and of the barbarians' incursion having obtained, it a strenuous athlete, of the faith and Catholic religion a column, against the of Arian impiety asserters he defended. This when for some years with admirable prudence and erudition he had governed, to the reward of his labors summoned into heaven he flew." These things there Tatti: things similar to which has the same in book 7 of the Annals of Como. Ferdinando Ughelli too, in volume 7 of Italia Sacra, in the Bishops of Como number 6; Ferrari in the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy and in the general Catalogue, and several others, by Tatti in the Notes to his Martyrology indicated, and elsewhere by us related. One thing he disputes about the day of death: and the others' opinions rejected, that to himself before the rest to smile he says, The time of death, and that more certain and to the truth consonant he reckons, which him to have died affirms in the year 512: from which time he rested in the church of St. Abundius up to the year 1587, when his body was found. Then in the year 1590 were translated with a solemn procession of six Holy Bishops the bodies, about which some we have deduced on the third day of June, on which St. Adelbertus Bishop of Como is worshipped: whose sacred body, just as also St. Exuperantius's was translated. the finding of the body and translation. That hither to look seems, that Felicianus then Bishop, about this solemnity treating, with these words uses: "That to pass over by no means we can, which divinely to Quintellius, a man noble of the Odescalchi family, was granted. He indeed when many already days with a grave fever oppressed had lain; and with singular of devotion zeal toward the Saints, whose bodies were to be translated, kindled, with firm faith hoped, former health himself by their merits and intercession to be about to receive; provided that the procession, to which he had been invited, and into the number of the Nobles enrolled, by whom the canopies to be carried it behooved, to be present he could; by his wife's exhortation also inflamed; as he was of infirm and sick health, The fever taken away by the touch of the case. he went to the temple. And when the greatness of soul and confidence of mind the body's infirmity far surpassed; one of the staffs of the canopy of St. Exuperantius, which to him had fallen, to carry he began: and when a little he had advanced, having touched devotedly the case of that very Saint, immediately health and strength he recovered. And when at the same time he had resolved, if offspring male to him should be born, of that Saint the name by whose benefit and aid restored he had been, on him himself to be about to impose for memory's and honor's sake; not many after months to him his wife a son bore, who from the sacred Font Exuperantius was called: of which success, as just now we have related, true information through Lord Tobias our Vicar general to be taken we take care." These things Felicianus Bishop of Como.