ON SAINT ÆMILIANUS, BISHOP OF NANTES AND MARTYR,
AT AUTUN IN BURGUNDY.
ABOUT 726.
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.
On the cult, the legend, and the age, or time, of his death.
Æmilianus, Bishop and Martyr in Burgundy (S.)
THE AUTHOR BEING D. P.
The Metropolis of the ancient Aedui, Augustodunum, commonly Autun, still today extends its diocese all the way to the river Loire, [The feast in its proper church, the Sunday after the Nativity of S. John the Baptist,] from which not much distant on that side is the last town of that region called Bourbon Lancy, which those writing in Latin call Burbonium of Anselm. To this, at the interval of about two leagues, lies adjacent the village of S. John de Luzia, otherwise called Leuzy, distant from the Metropolis at least four leagues, if the most recent maps do not deceive. Here S. Æmilianus, commonly Saint Millan, has a church named from him, honored by the deposit of his sacred body, whither each year there is a great concourse of the neighbors to the feast, which is wont to be celebrated on the first Sunday after the Nativity of S. John. In the same place there is a Confraternity, with a proper Office and Mass. erected under the same name, by the authority of Jacobus Huraldus, Bishop of Autun from the year 1512 to 1546, in whose time I should believe were also composed the Lessons of the proper Office; which, together with a proper Mass also, our Petrus Franciscus Chiffletius found elegantly described and with musical notes; and he noted that the age of the book was read marked in red letters, in the circle of the larger letter O, with which the first Antiphon at first Vespers begins; but in French words, which I thus render into Latin. In the year 1612 I was made by D. Stephanus Chaffault a Bass in the church of S. Lazarus of Autun; and D. Edmundus Baldreaudus, Curate of S. Æmilianus, caused me to be made.
[2] About the same time, from the aforesaid Lessons, there was extracted in French a life of the Saint himself; which, very likely for the first
time, From those, a Legend published in French: a certain Robertus, Doctor of Theology, approved for printing in the year already mentioned, 1607 as printed, on the 20th of July; and again Antonius de Ganay, Vicar General, permitted it to be printed by Blasius Simonettus, Printer of Autun, in the year 1634 on the 19th of June, with this prayer at the foot: Almighty everlasting God, who by the benefits of B. Æmilianus, thy Martyr and Pontiff of Nantes, grantest health to those afflicted with hernia, with rupture, with a prayer attesting to miracles, with the stone, and with divers infirmities, deign, we beseech thee, O Lord, to look upon our household; that whosoever shall implore his aid may feel and rejoice that they have obtained purity of mind and body. Now from the aforesaid Office, Chiffletius copied for us two other proper Prayers, very likely more ancient, one at first Vespers: Almighty everlasting God, the strength of those who strive and the palm of those who labor, look propitiously upon the solemnity of this day; such as are also in the Office. and make thy Church to rejoice in the celebration, that, by the intercession of thy Martyr Æmilianus, thou mayest fulfill the vows of all who hope in thee. And at Lauds: Almighty everlasting God, who graciously hearest the prayers of those who devoutly beseech thee, we humbly entreat thy Majesty, that, as in honor of thy glorious Bishop and Martyr Æmilianus the faith was exalted; so by his intercession thou wouldst grant that our enemies be visibly separated, that they may not be able to harm us; and make us to be healed from infirmities of the head and ruptures of the belly.
[3] It seemed to Chiffletius nonetheless worthy that he should transcribe the Responsory at the 4th Lesson, The same makes a Responsory 4, of this tenor: How happy art thou, O Gaul! how renowned, O city of the Aedui! since thou receivest the excellent friend of God, Æmilianus, an incomparable treasure, most advantageous to thee above all riches. He will defend thee from all adversities, and by devout prayers will confer very many rewards of benefits. In receiving him, sing praise to Christ with mind and heart: by whose patronage thou shalt be made illustrious with continual signs of miracles. Chiffletius then noted that the Author of the French Legend proceeded by new conjectures beyond what the Lessons foreshadowed; an older Legend is desired. and added certain other things, not there expressed, from the tradition of the inhabitants; unless perhaps another older one pre-existed, which the Lessons themselves seem to indicate, when they say that Æmilianus was of the number of the Martyrs of Christ, as will be made manifest to those examining the Life and Legend.
[4] From the Legend thus written in French, then, Chiffletius excerpted a synopsis of the French one, that Æmilianus was born of illustrious lineage in Britain, polished by the studies of letters; and being made Bishop of Nantes, came with an army of his own to the aid of the people of Autun, besieged by the Saracens, who in the year 778, namely after the return from Spain — the Christian faith having been restored — of Charlemagne, poured themselves into Gaul, the army being divided in three, Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Marseille being occupied. These, after Chalon-on-the-Saône was captured and laid waste, crossed into Burgundy, and with a long siege pressed Autun; but Æmilianus with his men, roused to combat, attacked them; first indeed in the village commonly called Saint Forgeot, one league from Autun; again at S. Peter de Estrerio, thirdly at the village called Aussy, at a league and a half; and finally at S. John de Luzia, where he fell: and it is held from tradition that over the bodies of the slaughtered Christians were placed miraculously and instantaneously those beautiful monuments of great stones, which are seen there even today.
[5] These things being thus excerpted, Chiffletius proposes to himself an Idea of a particular little work, to be composed concerning this Saint, in this manner. and the Idea of a work conceived by Chiffletius, I. The History of S. Æmilianus is to be given for the three Lessons of the second Nocturn (the new ones, that is, for the old ones are numbered nine). II. That he was not slain in 778 after Charlemagne's Spanish expedition. III. That it was in the time of Charles Martel, and that in the year 736, since in the year 735 had preceded the death of Eudo and the invasion of Aquitaine by the same Charles; and there followed in the year 737 the disaster of the Saracens at Narbonne. IV. The tradition is not overturned by the Catalogues of the Bishops of Nantes, where there is no mention of S. Æmilianus: for these Catalogues are recent and most imperfect. V. Whether it was lawful and fitting for a Bishop to handle arms. VI. Whether he was truly placed among the Saints, and by what authority vindicated? VII. On the monolithic sepulchres of the place. VIII. Whether he is truly a Martyr? IX. The Confraternity of S. Æmilianus. X. Many are named after his name in baptism. XI. The Foundations and Indulgences of the Confraternities, which accordingly seems to indicate that there are several. There will perhaps be someone who may more fully carry out in writing what he had conceived in mind: to us it is not permitted to be so prolix: for the VIth heading is sufficiently clear from what has been said; and the VIIIth indeed needs no particular discussion, since the Church has been accustomed to call all Saints who died by a bloody death Martyrs, and to venerate them as such; even though they perhaps did not attain the little crown of Martyrdom properly so called.
[6] As regards the time, which is especially proper to this place, I readily agree with Chiffletius that the matter has been wrongly attributed to the reign of Charlemagne, [who rightly denies that the Saracens broke into Gaul under Charles the Great in the year 778] which (if it truly happened, as tradition holds) ought to have pertained to the age of Charles Martel. For although the Great One grieved that his triumphs in Spain were made disastrous by the disaster of Roncevalles, received in the straits of the mountains from the Vascones; yet never, as long as he lived, did the Saracens dare to infest Gaul. But as for what Chiffletius supposes, that they dared, under Martel, I would admit it to this extent, that it was done before they were expelled from Aquitaine, conquered by Count Eudo: for although, after his death, and while Martel was contending with the sons of the deceased, the Saracens resumed their courage; yet while I read that they were conquered and put to flight at Narbonne, I cannot persuade myself that they then penetrated higher than as far as Narbonne, where Martel went out to meet them.
[7] The Brief Annals in du Chesne, volume I of the Frankish works, from the year 707 to 790, which rather seems to have been done about the year 726 under Martel and others from 708 to 800, show us a more fitting time; while the first indeed say that in the year 725 the Saracens came for the first time; but the second add the occasion through which it was permitted them, when they say: that, when Charles was first among the Bavarians, the Saracens came. The Saxon or Magdeburg Chronographer, who was of great use to us for the Acts of S. Norbert, Archbishop of that See, and whose Chronicon from our manuscript that most celebrated man Leibniz placed at the head of his Historical Accessions published at Leipzig in the year 1698; the Saxon Chronographer, I say, states that in the year 726 Charles the Prince fought with the Bavarians, and conquered them, and this war could have lasted two years. The same in the year 727: being occupied in waging the Bavarian, Saxon, and Swabian wars; Charles, having entered Swabia, fought against Lantfridus, and conquered that people. Others indeed refer this war to the 30th year, yet in the meantime say that in the year 728 Charles was in Saxony; and in the 29th he wished to proceed to Saxony; so that he seems to have been occupied in the German parts, until in the year 731 he was in Gascony against Eudo, and conquered him; but in such a way that this very thing, by which the Saracens seemed to be animated to resume their incursions more confidently — that one whom they had had especially as an obstacle in Aquitaine being broken — turned out to their greater harm.
[8] For the Saracens, coming from Spain with their little ones and wives, for afterwards, when he came against them and conquered them as the same Chronographer has it, entered Aquitaine, a province of Gaul, as if about to dwell in it: but Charles together with Eudo, by equal counsel, fought against them. For the Franks, rushing upon them, slew of them 375,000: Eudo also, rushing upon their camp, in like manner slaying many, devastated everything. Only 1,500 of the Franks fell. The aforesaid Annals say that this battle was joined at Poitiers in the month of October on a Saturday; nor is it credible that the Saracens then penetrated beyond Poitiers; just as neither in the year 737, when Charles had war against the Saracens in Gothia, that is, Languedoc: for then they did not come beyond Narbonne, the Saxon Chronographer saying that the army of the Saracens, again entering into Gaul, made great devastation: against whom Charles, joining battle not far from Narbonne, laid them low with very great slaughter. Finally, in the year 740, the Saracens, again entering Gaul, captured Arles, and demolished everything round about. But Charles sent to King Liutprand, they do not seem to have penetrated as far as the Aedui. asking aid: who came with the whole army of the Lombards. When the Saracens soon heard this, they slipped away in flight. Thus far the above-praised Chronographer, which things it pleased me to excerpt thence, that it might be established that it could scarcely have happened, except between the year 725 and 730, that the Saracens besieged Autun, and that S. Æmilianus could have come against them. Now receive the Legend itself, as we have it: and see whether the whole can be accepted, that one error being corrected, by which in place of Martel crept in Charlemagne: which error deserves the more ready pardon, in that Martel, though content with the name of Prince, yet using royal power, is found to be sometimes also called King: whence is that which Papirus Massonus says in his Annals, that it was read inscribed on his tomb in the church of S. Denis: Charles Martel, King.
LESSONS OF THE OFFICE
From the Manuscript Codex of the Church itself.
Æmilianus, Bishop and Martyr in Burgundy (S.)
BHL Number: 0105
FROM A MANUSCRIPT.
[1] Among many Martyrs of Christ When throughout the whole province of the Gauls, a long time after the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, through the oracles of the Saints, the word of God had so sweetly resounded, and the brightness of the divine law had been heard, converting souls and bestowing wisdom upon little ones, many flew together to receive the faith; and by the doctrines and merits and prayers of those Saints they were washed by holy baptism. Whom the Lord, by his providence zealous for the salvation of all, and desiring to draw his members to himself, by passions and by torments willed to justify: lest through the prosperity of the world they should forget those things which are in the fatherland. was S. Æmilianus: Some were stoned, were cut asunder; others were tried, and others died in the slaying of the sword. Of whose number the blessed and holy Æmilianus, by divine mercy a Bishop of Nantes, was found in Britain, as will be made manifest to those examining the Life and Legend. Who flourished under the persecution of Eustrageus b and Nempheus, his fellow-soldiers, and received a cruel martyrdom, a little after the triumph c of Charlemagne, Roland, and the others, as is made plain in their deeds.
[2] Whence the ancient enemy of the human race, envy procuring and suggesting it, who, against the Saracens laying waste Gaul, stirred up many pagans and unbelievers, alienated from the faith, swallowing up holy Christianity throughout all the said Gaul, and devastating many cities, by divine permission (perhaps demerits exacting it). Hearing which, that blessed Æmilianus, emulator and zealot of the faith, a most holy Bishop, born of Britain, most beautiful in appearance, pleasant of countenance, sweet of speech, greatly compassionate toward the people, and beyond measure lovable,
because he was full of good virtues and morals, animated many of his kinsfolk both near and far, and strengthened and solidified them to defend the faith, his fellow-citizens, animated, saying these things affably: O men strong in arms, but stronger in faith; take the shield of faith in your hands, and the cross of the Lord upon your foreheads; the helmet of salvation upon your head, and the breastplate upon your breast. Come, soldiers of Christ, bear with you the weapons of war, that slaughter and crush the venomous dogs. It is better for us to die in battle, as Judas Maccabaeus says, than to behold the evils of our nation, and to endure the reproaches of the Saints in the law of the divine Majesty.
[3] Who, at the instigation of the Holy Spirit, more hastily made answer in concord to the Blessed one; and ready to follow, O venerable lord and good Shepherd, command, order, and wheresoever thou shalt go we will follow thee. He himself, burning and panting after the divine will, made known to his men the day of departure: who, as good zealots of the faith, and cleaving to their Shepherd, equipped with offensive and defensive arms, appeared in great number in the said church of Nantes: where, the Blessed one celebrating Mass, he gave all of them communion of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, as a most pious Pontiff. Who, the divine Office being performed, together with his own Count, solidifying his men and confirming them in faith, said: Little sons, let us render thanks to God our Saviour, who founded heaven, earth, and sea out of nothing, and created all things that are in them: who in his goodness gathered us together in so great a multitude, and so strengthened and sanctified our souls. Let us devoutly entreat him, that we may be able to fulfill his will unto salvation.
[4] And bidding farewell to all, he himself and his fellow-soldiers, all worldly things being spurned, supported by hope, fortified with the Sacraments, like good soldiers, he leads into Burgundy with that venerable Æmilianus going before as their Leader, went forth. O how great the grief of all the citizens mourning and lamenting, of the widows and orphans! In no wise hindered by these things, walking day and night, they directed their steps toward Burgundy: not ceasing from the journey, until they arrived at a certain city of the Aedui, situated in the district of Burgundy: in which the citizens of it kindly, recognizing aid from God, and dreading the cruel siege of the enemies, d affectionately received them.
[5] Who immediately, hearing that the Pagans were present near the said city, and of the enemies approaching Autun about six thousand of Nempheus's men, and twenty thousand of Eustrageus's pagans on horseback, the foot-soldiers by no means counted; as the Pagans approached not far from the city, they went out to meet them, as bold men, watchful, not fearing, hoping in God under the leadership of Saint Æmilianus: and entering the battle-line, they magnanimously hurled swords and lances into the faces of the enemies, he slaughters one part, that in all things God might be glorified: and many being slain, pursuing the said Eustrageus strongly with five or six thousand all the way to S. John de Luzia, between the burg e of Colchae and the city of the Aedui, they manfully put them to flight.
[6] To him, the provident man being unaware, there came as a reinforcement from Chalon that malefactor Nempheus, like a rabid and venomous dog; animating his men also against the other having the larger army of his fellow-soldier Eustrageus, beyond the number stated above. Seeing which, the most blessed comforter sounded the trumpet for his men, and addresses them with these consoling words, saying: I congratulate your faith, best fellow-soldiers, that for love of Christianity and faith, the sight of the enemies has brought you no dread. Gird yourselves, and let no human fear terrify you: strong in mind, stronger in faith, be confident in God, for he is the protector of all who hope in him. Not in the multitude of those who war, but from heaven, is victory.
[7] While he was yet speaking, there came a messenger borne on a horse, saying: Lord, make haste: already the Pagans are running down upon thy people and thy army. he fights bravely. Who, trusting in the Lord, and fortifying himself with the sign of the Cross, said: Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit. And invading the battle-line he cried out: Come, soldiers, trust in God concerning yourselves. Now it happened that, by the will of God, he first met the aforesaid Nempheus, of wonderful strength and stature: whom, the reproaches and cruel martyrdoms inflicted upon his men being seen, he boldly assailed, but very many of them being slain, and with great force and power manfully struck him, and savagely bloodied him on this side and on that. To his aid there came Pagans in great number, lifting him from the ground: and rushing upon the holy Bishop, they gave swords and lances into the holy body.
[8] he himself also is laid low Who, by the divine will laid low, ceased not to animate his men by holy exhortations to the faith, saying: O most renowned soldiers, be constant in the faith, fight with mighty spirit against the enemies, and be strong and bold against the Pagans: for already I see him who will delight and rouse your souls: already I see the heavens opened, and I behold the Angels rejoicing with God over your coming. Fear not death, which without doubt leads to life: sons not of men, but of God, the fight is fought for our true mother the Church, who cries to God for the vengeance of his Saints.
[9] Desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ our Saviour. and he is beheaded. There better places await us, and all our reward. And these things, bursting forth at last into praise, his holy soul, the Angels receiving it, amid eternal joys with canticles and praises, all who were present there hearing, he rendered up, while that wicked Nempheus raged and struck off his holy head.