CONCERNING S. FRISIUS THE MARTYR,
IN THE DIOCESE OF AUCH IN AQUITAINE.
EIGHTH CENTURY.
A notice from the Supplement of the Gallican Martyrology, and the traditions of the place.
Frisius, Martyr, in the diocese of Auch in Aquitaine (S.)
BY THE AUTHOR D. P.
[1] The Metropolis of the Ausci to Pliny, of the Auscenses to Sidonius, Augusta, commonly Auch in Aquitaine, at an interval of four leagues looks toward a place, His birthday 16 January, commonly called Basouès, which in Latin I believe would be named Basuliae, which in the maps perhaps, but wrongly, is written Besseles. For at that place in Saussay's supplement to the Gallican Martyrology on this day there is read thus: In the territory of Auch, at the Castle of Basouès, the memory of S. Frisius the Martyr: whose birthday, although it recurs on the 17th of the Kalends of February, yet on this day, and on holy Pentecost itself, is observed with a frequent gathering of the people, and he is especially invoked against epilepsy. He escaped us, he escaped even Saussay himself; since both of us wrote him under January, this Saint; and therefore he is here not unfittingly placed, his cult famous in June, if perhaps meanwhile we may be able to obtain fuller monuments of his martyrdom and miracles, with knowledge of the time and occasion on which he suffered. The name of Frisius does not seem to savor of the times of the Gentile Emperors; yet it is difficult to define anything from the name alone; since often Barbarians were found enrolled in the Roman militia, some of whom, brought over to the faith of Christ, could have suffered there under the last persecution of Diocletian and Maximian, or even earlier: yet I have preferred to suspect that it was at the time of some barbarian irruption into Gaul, already wholly Christian, until from the place itself more distinct notices be brought.
[2] This was done in the year 1691, when by letters thence given on the 12th of July, for the confirmation of the cult persevering even today, I received the following. And first from the Office these Antiphons for the first Vespers: with proper Antiphons and Collect: Holy Frisius, golden star, by the grace of the Lord, receive the groans of your servants with your wonted clemency. At Lauds: Holy Frisius, Martyr of the Lord, hear your little servants asking: and bring down from above the indulgence obtained. At second Vespers: The venerable solemnity of the renowned Martyr Frisius shines forth, who among the purple flowers of the Martyrs glorious dances, adorned with a distinguished laurel: by whose merits may we be aided. The Prayer common to the whole Office: Make us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, to imitate in all things the examples of Thy blessed Martyr Frisius, and everywhere protect us: that whose praises we frequent on earth, by his prayers we may be aided in the heavens. There is added that in the time of Gabriel de Lorge, Count of Montgomery, the body preserved amid the flames. running through Aquitaine with his Huguenots about the year 1570, the church of S. Frisius was plundered and given over to flames, by which all things perished, except the chapel of the Saint, whose body remained altogether inviolate and whole. If this is to be understood of the body still remaining in that state in which he died, or only a little changed and withered; it would indeed be a worthy thing to be given here engraved in copper, as we have already given of very many others.
[3] No written Acts survive in the place: yet by popular tradition it is believed, It is handed down that he was the son of Radbod King of the Frisians, that Radbod King of the Frisians begot this son from the sister of Charles Martel Duke of the Franks; who, dismayed by the dreadful death of his father, obstinate in paganism, betook himself to the Franks, to fight against the unbelieving Goths. Radbod died, as was said before the Acts of S. Boniface on the 5th of June, number 8, in the year 719, Martel then ruling for the third year; who had many struggles, not against the Goths, but against the Saracens, pressing upon Aquitaine, up to the end of his life, which he reached in the year 741. Under him therefore it could have happened that Frisius (whom I would believe to have been so called by the name of his nation, fought for the Franks against the barbarians, because his proper name was unknown) was slain by the barbarians in some battle or raid; (as tradition has it)
whose body the Christians, enclosed in a stone sarcophagus, sank into a fountain near the place of the conflict, which is said to have been joined near our grain mills, where even now are seen the ruins of an old chapel.
[4] But the Saint is said to have been recognized in this manner. From a neighboring estate one cow, the rest being sent to pasture, whose body was found in the fountain, was wont to go to that fountain and lick the rocks surrounding it: whence, when it returned no less fed than the others from the meadows; the farmhands began to examine the fountain, and under it found the aforesaid stone, and in it the holy Body: which they, wishing to lead to their Church, and laid in its own chapel found immovable, even with several yokes of oxen applied: until, by someone's suggestion, the aforesaid cow was applied to the wagon: which alone drew the sacred burden to the place where it even now rests, in a chapel constructed to his honor behind the altar; but outside it was covered with a vault drawn over it, and consecrated with a stone cross placed above. About the same time it is said to have happened, that a certain woman from Andreu, wishing to use the water of the same fountain to knead flour for bread, marveled that it was turned into blood.
[5] Miracles of another kind happen daily very many, he is famous for miracles: in favor of those who are held either by the epileptic disease or by any other. But on the 16th day of January, which is held to be the Saint's birthday, and on the feast of Pentecost, and on Trinity Sunday, and especially on the feast of S. John the Baptist, there is a special gathering of the peoples, either to render thanks for benefits received, or to ask for health: and these for the most part return as partakers of their vow, and approaching the fountain, draw water to carry to their homes. A blacksmith, especially concerning epileptics, dwelling near Mirande, and already for some time unable to walk without props; came for the sake of a vow to S. Frisius, and there performed a forty-days' devotion: and when on the last day he had received the Sacraments of Confession and Communion, feeling himself wholly recovered, he left his props there. A certain Noble of the neighborhood, passing by the chapel of the Saint, blurted out some blasphemy against him; and soon fell from his horse an epileptic. Afterward, having come to himself, with feet and head bare he passed through the middle of the city to the chapel of the Saint; and a prayer being made there, he remained free from the evil. A Priest, Curate of that diocese, subject to the same evil, and therefore suspended from his office, vowed to establish a yearly return, for continually feeding a lamp, to burn before the sacred Body: which when he had fulfilled in the very deed, and was praying in the chapel, he was wholly freed. The Lord de Lancfranquon had a servant subject to the same infirmity: who, when he had once fallen into the fire, they vowed for him a Mass to be provided in the chapel of S. Frisius: and he was soon free from it.
[6] In the year 1686 a most noble Matron, who would not make herself known, and had commanded her attendants not to betray her, even very recently. came hither with bare feet through the middle of the city in the depth of winter, to render thanks, because at the very moment in which she asked by a pronounced vow for the health of her daughter, sick unto death and given up by the physicians, she obtained it. A little after there also came the Lord d'Cuse bringing a silver arm, to fulfill the vow of his wife; who, very sad because the physicians judged that her little son's arm must be cut off if she wished him to live; asked that the execution be suspended, until she had prayed for him: but she went away, prayed, and vowed: and the boy falling asleep, as soon as he awoke, crying out, said that he had been healed by a certain noble man: and by the very deed the truth was made plain. A certain dweller of Auch this year 1691, having often before fallen from epilepsy, the vow being completed ceased to fall: which has likewise happened to several others. Thus far the French account, sent from the very place by the Canons, at the instance of the Reverend Father Thomas Artauld, Rector of our College of Auch.