Vitalis the Sicilian

ON ST. VITALIS THE SICILIAN, ABBOT OF THE ORDER OF ST. BASIL, AT ARMENTO AND RAPOLLA IN ITALY.

YEAR 994.

Vitalis the Sicilian, Abbot of the Order of St. Basil, at Armento and Rapolla in Italy (S.)

[1] That St. Vitalis departed this mortal life on this day is shown by his Acts, which, carefully written in Greek by an author who was almost contemporary, and afterwards translated into Latin in the year 1194 and distributed into Lessons, used to be recited at Matins in the Ecclesiastical Office in the Church of Armento in Lucania, or Basilicata, Whence the Life published here? a province of the Kingdom of Naples, where his body is said to be still preserved. Some relics are also in the Cathedral Church of the city of Tricarico, in whose diocese the town of Armento is situated. Our copy was transcribed in the year 1565 by Lord Luca Muscato of Armento and sent to us at Naples by Antonio Beatillo, a priest of our Society. Octavius Caietanus also published the same Life from two manuscripts of Armento in his second volume of Lives of Sicilian Saints, but because he thought the style was rough, he polished it with his own phraseology. But the style of the first author displeased us less, and we therefore retained it.

[2] The same Caietanus in his Sicilian Martyrology for this March 9 has the following: At Castronuovo, St. Vitalis, Abbot of the Order of St. Basil. Name in the calendars Ferrarius has the same in his General Catalogue, and had treated of the same saint on the preceding day from the records of the monastery of Carbone with these words: At Armento in Lucania, St. Vitalis, hermit. The following Prayer used to be recited for him: Be present, we beseech you, Lord, Almighty God, to the prayers of your suppliant people, and may we be helped by the prayers of Blessed Vitalis, your Confessor, to obtain your mercy; that also through his intercession with you, the fruit of our devotion may increase. Through our Lord, etc.

[3] The feast of the Translation of St. Vitalis is celebrated on April 28, as the same Caietanus and Ferrarius teach from the records of the town of Armento. Translation on April 18. The latter adds in his Notes that St. Vitalis also presided over the monastery of Carbone, ten miles distant from the said Armento. Of this leadership, however, there is no mention in the Acts, nor in Paul Emilius Santorio's History of the monastery of Carbone. A disciple and nephew of St. Vitalis was Elias, who had come to him from Sicily; to whom, as he lay dying, he indicated that after thirty years his body was to be translated, Elias, nephew of St. Vitalis. which Elias then performed when duly admonished, having meanwhile erected a monastery in the territory of the Turrenses and gathered many brothers. Some of these things are read below in the Acts. Caietanus also inscribed this man together with St. Vitalis in the Sicilian Martyrology with the title of Blessed.

LIFE, by a Greek author who was almost contemporary,

from ancient Latin manuscripts.

Vitalis the Sicilian, Abbot of the Order of St. Basil, at Armento and Rapolla in Italy (S.)

BHL Number: 8697

FROM MANUSCRIPTS.

CHAPTER I.

The Education of St. Vitalis: Monastic Life in Sicily, Calabria, and Lucania.

[1] Since you are accustomed to the various and diverse flowers of fertile fields, most learned Bishop ^a Robert, I do not cease to marvel that you are delighted by the uncultivated and tasteless vegetables of my little garden. For passing over the distinguished Doctors, you compel my unskillfulness with urgent command to transfer the life, conduct, and acts of the most holy Confessor and eminent hermit Vitalis, Prologue of the translator. and by what arrangement his glorious body was brought to Armento by certain persons, from the dark forest of the Greeks into Latin, so that it may shine in our time. My spirit burns, I say, to carry out what you command; but I fear lest, while I am eager to satisfy your request, my unlearned expression may rather exasperate than soothe the hearers. Although, however, Venerable Bishop, I am not unaware that I am entirely insufficient and less than fit to bear the burden of so great a task, yet raising my hope to him who teaches man knowledge and makes the tongues of infants

eloquent — as effectively as willingly, I shall undertake to explain what your Paternity urges.

[2] The most blessed Father Vitalis, therefore, a Sicilian by nation, was born in the city called Castronuovo. His parents were distinguished by birth, St. Vitalis, cultivated by studies, splendid in substance, devout in faith, good co-workers, always walking in the path of God's commandments. His father was named Sergius, and his mother was called Chrysonica. By them, while still a boy, he was given over to his first teachers, to be instructed in sacred and divine letters. And indeed he did not study for a very long time, but in a short while gathered much fruit of learning. Soon, desiring from his tender years to serve Christ, having left his homeland and abandoned his parents, he fled to the venerable Father ^c Philip Largirius, He becomes a monk: a truly holy man and conqueror of malignant spirits, and asked to be made a monk. Having devoutly received the sacred and angelic habit from him, he remained for five years, conforming himself to his pious ways and monastic disciplines, always serving the Abbot and Brothers with full obedience in the monastery assigned to him, and never ceasing from holy meditation on the fruit of the divine words. All marveled at his humility and were amazed at the patience that he exercised in his good works. Meanwhile he bound himself by a vow to go to Rome for the sake of prayer and to visit the most holy basilicas of the Princes of the Apostles, Peter and Paul. He sets out for Rome: For this purpose he had some of his fellow brothers as companions, with whom, by the will, assent, and permission or knowledge of the Abbot, he proceeded to carry out his desire.

[3] When therefore they were on their journey, they came to ^d Terracina, in the region of Campania; but since the devil, the enemy of the human race, who envied his happy works, was not ashamed to prepare snares so as to be able to revoke so pious and holy a purpose, it happened while he was there He heals a serpent's bite with the sign of the Cross: that the aforesaid man of God was savagely bitten by a serpent, so that he burned greatly from the venomous bite and was severely pressed by the anguish of pain. The brothers who were with him, dumbfounded, turned their eyes toward his death. O great and wondrous mercy of the Savior! As soon as the place where the serpent had wounded him was fortified by the same Father with the sign of the Cross, the pain departed, the anguish ceased, and the one who had prepared death perished, while the one for whom it was prepared remained safe. And those who accompanied him, seeing that he had remained thus unharmed, having suffered nothing, rejoicing rather and exulting in the Lord, began to give thanks with glory to God, who works wonders for his Saints, magnifying also the Saint and admiring him in every way. Then, pursuing the journey they had begun, they completed it as it pleased the Lord.

[4] After they had most devoutly venerated the churches and tombs of the Princes of the Apostles and the other Saints resting there, He lives in Calabria, they returned to Calabria, where the servant of God, stealing away secretly from his companions, departed; and near the city of ^e San Severino he lived for two years in certain hot springs, where, seen by no one, intent only on fasts and prayers, he offered his prayers to the Lord with tears. Then, moved from there, he crossed over to Sicily, Then in Sicily, and coming there, he dwelt near Mount Gibello, opposite the monastery of the holy Father Philip Largirius, in which he had formerly been made a monk. And hiding there, he tamed his body, exposed to cold and heat, nourishing himself on herbs and water for twelve years. Then, returning to Calabria, Again in Calabria, having traversed the wildernesses, mountains, and caves, he came to the borders of the city of ^f Cassano on the mountain called Liporachi. While he was living on this mountain, he encountered Abbot Anthony — not that ancient and first hermit, but another young man of modern times, not very different in his ways from the first. After they recognized each other and reverently exchanged mutual forgiveness, St. Vitalis deigned to visit his cell. This Anthony was flourishing in good works from his tender age, He is intimate with Blessed Anthony the hermit, always leading a chaste and angelic life through the wildernesses and mountains. When they had lived together for many days, and Blessed Anthony had greatly resisted the attacks of the devil, the man of great virtue, addressing him with salutary admonitions, spoke thus: See to it, he said, Brother Anthony, that on account of the persecutions and snares of the devil you do not incur the fall of transgression, or receive the anguish of tribulation in your heart; for he is a tempter of the foolish and cunning toward the simple. For he tries to overthrow and cast down; he is fierce and fugitive, bold and haughty, a destroyer and deformed. But the multiform serpent prevails nothing against us, He strengthens him in virtue: because we are by no means ignorant of his wiles. His seductive power has been taken from him, and he does not stand; because he is trampled upon by the Saints through the power of God and our Savior Jesus Christ. Let us therefore not be crushed or become faint-hearted, because we break the schemes of the deceitful dragon according to God's good pleasure, when we keep ourselves; and like a bird we shall be delivered from snares and from the traps of the five senses — namely sight, smell, hearing, etc. — by which he easily seizes and conceals those who love carnal things and pursue worldly things. Even so he hopes to seize and trample us according to his thoughts and imaginings. Saying these and similar things, and many other things, Blessed Vitalis admonished Anthony and confirmed him in the work of God.

[5] After this, both having prayed and said farewell to each other, St. Vitalis departed and, wandering about, remained in impassable and uninhabitable places, which are now called ^h Petra Roseti. He moves to Petra Roseti, There many robberies and many murders were committed; and dwelling there, through the intervening merits of his prayers, he utterly uprooted all the thieves from that place, and made what was inaccessible accessible to all. Then, having first built a house in the name of our greatest Father and rule-giver Basil, he revealed a holy and salutary water, which was a wondrous medicine for the sick and a marvelous cure for the ailing. From the neighboring places, therefore, men ran, women hastened, and from whatever infirmity they were held, through the intercession of this holy Father, they returned healthy and vigorous. And so it came about that where the assembly of the wicked had been, thanksgivings were rendered to the Lord. Indeed, at that same time there was a more abundant than usual flooding of rains. And an excess of rains is averted by his prayers, Then, entreated by the inhabitants of that land, with hands raised and eyes lifted to heaven, he poured himself entirely into prayer, and with tears arising, he prayed to the Lord. When the prayer was made, the merciful and compassionate Lord, who does the will of those who fear him, immediately answered his prayers, and, moved to pity by the excessive suffering of the people, turned the surrounding rains into a good fruitfulness of the earth, and commanded all to glorify and praise God, the most generous giver, who does not cease to work miracles and prodigies through his servants. Setting out from there toward the mountain called ⁱ Raparus, opposite the stronghold of St. Quiricus, he directed his steps He traverses various places and, making a journey of some days toward it, traversed hard and rugged places until he arrived at the Grotto of St. Angelo at ^k Drapono. There, truly, afflicting himself and enduring evil things and imposing upon himself every kind of misery, he afflicted his holy body by every kind of discipline. Nor did he remain there for a short time; departing again, he ascended a certain lofty mountain of St. Julian, where, spending the night exposed to the elements — now to cold, now to heat — he macerated his flesh unceasingly.

[6] After this, descending from the mountain, he betook himself to a certain monastery of St. Elias, which is called ^m Missanelli, He remains for some time in the monastery of St. Elias at Missanelli. whose manner of life he showed himself an imitator of. In this pure and holy and chaste monastery, persevering in community life, adorned with all gentleness, immense humility, unfading obedience, much sobriety and abstinence, he prayed to God without ceasing, and his angelic face shed tears. He always had in his mouth and heart, for the complete victory over the adversary, the meditation of divine words; he also had an unremitting care and perseverance to honor all, to admonish all without pretense. He confirmed the anxious and the simple; he drew the gluttonous and the slothful to penance and uprightness. From those who love only themselves and are desirous of vain glory and seek the desires of the flesh, as from fire and a serpent, he kept his name far away. He kept vigil assiduously in much supplication, deceiving the cunning and multiform serpent, and bearing in himself the unbroken heel of the first parent and of those who were certain to fall. So conducting himself, much and long afflicted, the servant of God — wonderful to many and to all — confirmed the unchangeable state of his mind, and also, following the daily preaching with which he continually abounded, he did not permit himself to be praised by anyone.

CHAPTER II.

Life lived in a cave. Conversation with St. Luke the Hermit. Various persons instructed, and sinners aided.

[7] For he was chiefly intent upon this, and because he despised the glory of this world with its pleasures, lest he should ever be seized by human praise, he moved secretly from there and approached certain valleys between two mountains — Turris and Armento. He hides in the valleys of the mountains of Turris and Armento: Finding a cave in that place, he dwelt there for long periods, given over to fasts and prayers, and the servant of God endured many apparitions of demons unmoved. I shall speak of wondrous things, but full of faith: wild animals, led by the Lord, would come, and having laid aside all their ferocity, would lick the sacred feet of this man, nor did they depart from there until they had received the grace of his blessing. And not only this, but also a multitude of birds would hasten to the cave, He deals familiarly with wild animals and birds: so that they might receive a portion of the blessing of so great a Father. He himself would serve them with his own hand the common foods that he was accustomed to eat; and having given them his blessing, as if he were speaking to human nature, he would say: Go now, that others may come. Certain monks, coming by chance to the mountain and burning excessively from the heat of the sun (for it was then the time of harvest), encountered this holy man near the cave, as it pleased God. They immediately fell at his feet and begged him to give them a drink of water. Since therefore that place lacked water, he pointed out to them with his finger a doe that happened to be grazing in the same place; which, at the command, direction, and power of the holy Father, which he had in God, stood still with wonderful tameness until the aforesaid monks seized her and milked her, and drank to their fill. And so, giving thanks to Almighty God and glorifying the holy man, they went on the way they had begun. Immediately the servant of God, as if moved by compassion, and as a merciful Father moved to pity, placing his knees on the ground as was his custom, raising his eyes — both spiritual and bodily — with tears, he prayed to the Lord to graciously bestow upon that place an unfailing water for the use of passersby. John 16:24, Luke 17:6 And God, who is ready to hear, who said: Ask and you shall receive, and: If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, He brings forth a spring by his prayers: you shall move mountains by your word — heard his prayer, and immediately the Savior opened a spring of water near the torrent, which to this day is called the Lake of St. Vitalis. In this lake, indeed (which is wonderful to say), throughout all the time He spends the night in the water up to his chin: that he spent there in contrition of spirit and mortification of the flesh, he would most steadfastly spend the night immersed up to his chin.

[8] When therefore the distinguished fame of his recognized holiness was spoken of everywhere, it happened that a most celebrated report reached the great monastery called Armento. In that monastery there was held as Superior and Rector a certain blessed and holy man, greatly acceptable and dear to God, whose name was Luke. After he had heard, He receives St. Luke who visits him, with fame flying everywhere, of the good works and the hard life of that man, he fell into great admiration, and thinking within himself that such great grace was his, he soon took the road that led to the Saint, saying within himself: I myself will go and see if the things they say about him are true. And Blessed Luke, riding joyfully upon a white mare, as he had planned, arrived at the man of God by God's will. Then, having first exchanged greetings, with the customary inclination of the head and bending of the knee, they paid mutual reverence to one another. Then, sitting down at the entrance of the cave, they brought forth sacred and useful discourses, speaking with one another through the Holy Spirit. Already indeed the man of God, Luke, had proved by experience of his works what he had learned of him by the report of fame. Then, as the appointed hour drew near, Blessed Vitalis commanded his disciple, saying: Go, and in honor of the coming Brother, prepare for us some boiled wheat with a little bread. The swift attendant hastened to carry out the words of him who commanded; and when the hour arrived, He has food set before them, the aforesaid Fathers prayed together according to their regular custom. Then, with the wheat placed on the table by the disciple and the food brought together, the compassionate Blessed Vitalis said to his disciple: Do you wish to acquire the blessing of the Fathers, Brother Elias, now that so great a man has come to us? Go and bring some onions from the garden to the middle of the table — for St. Vitalis was accustomed to eat these with barley bread. When the onions were immediately brought, he cut one of them into four parts and set it before them. When that guest Luke saw this, he said: Spare me, Father, spare me, and put this goat-food far from me, for it brings death to the one who eats it. But St. Vitalis fearlessly, as was his custom, began to eat. When Blessed Luke saw him doing this, When he tastes the onion, he falls down as if dead, thereupon he too took some with fear, and tasting it with his mouth and sending it down to his throat, he immediately fell to the ground as if dead. Then Blessed Vitalis arose and prayed with these words: Lord Jesus Christ, who have established all things for the salvation of your servants and permit those who believe in you to be tested so that they may advance to a greater degree of good works, hear me, unworthy as I am, and show this your servant healthy and unharmed. While Blessed Vitalis prayed thus and made the sign of the Cross over him, He heals him with the sign of the Cross: immediately the one who had been lying down arose and, falling at his feet, said: Pardon me, holy man of God; for now I have known and seen great things in you, and I do not doubt that what I had learned from the report of many is supported by the strength of truth. Going forth from here, I shall be one of those who proclaim your name, revealing your magnificent virtues to all. Then St. Vitalis raised him up, and praying together, he dismissed him to go in peace, glorifying the Lord who works wonders in his Saints.

[9] I wish now, dearest Brothers, to relate various and unheard-of miracles He does not burden those confessing their sins with heavy penances: which the merciful and compassionate Lord deigned to work wonderfully through this most blessed man Vitalis; for this will be very necessary for those who take upon themselves the burden of others to carry, and who wish to impose a heavier satisfaction on those confessing their sins to them and repenting with their whole heart. For to this most holy man many flocked from all sides and humbly confessed to him the sins they had committed. He, seeing with pious consideration the weakness of human nature, applied a salutary remedy to each one's disease according to what he knew each could bear; and lest they succumb under the weight, he moderated what was heavy with a lighter threshing. He absolved the powerless, he lightened the burdened, taking care lest, on account of heavy and unsustainable burdens, since the minds of many men are diverse, they be lost in the depths of ignorance and be dragged away by the demon of despair. And when they accepted the exhortations of so great a Father and acquiesced in his admonitions, turning from evil, they confirmed themselves in the good of penance and, confirmed, returned to their homes with joy. Two most holy Fathers from the neighboring regulars, therefore — Leontius of Petra and Hilary of Galaso — hearing such things, were not a little amazed at how Blessed Vitalis granted such great remission to those who were in more serious sins. And he teaches by example that this is to be done: Considering him as if he were an ignorant man, they directed their way to him, wishing to ask by what reason he thus absolved those who confessed their sins to him. At length they arrived at the cave where the Saint was staying, and after mutual greetings were exchanged, Vitalis, the man full of God, understood the reason for their journey. He rejoiced, and as a grace of blessing and gladness, he prepared a table for them for dinner, and boiled some of the food he was accustomed to eat, and set it before them. But they, unable to endure the steam and smell coming from it, immediately withdrew from the table. When Blessed Vitalis saw this, he said to them: Just as you could not bear the smell of this food, so too men cannot sustain the laws of heavy penance that are imposed, and he set before them very many examples on this same subject. Admiring the spiritual wisdom of this most holy man, they went away by the road by which they had come, rendering praise and glory to Almighty God.

[10] In those days there was a certain man, fearing the Lord, named Basil, who held the government in the city of Bari and had authority over the towns adjacent to it. This man, full of divine grace, was held by an excessive desire to hear venerable and just men, so that he might be taught words of salvation from them; and traversing that whole region, he was nowhere able to find what he sought. Then a certain person came to him and reported the holy and honorable life of SS. Hilary and Leontius, who were staying in the territory of the Turrenses, whom he had seen with his own eyes and heard with his own ears. He immediately ordered letters of petition and prayer to be written and had them respectfully sent to those Saints. When they received the letters of that Catapan with eagerness of mind, He is brought to the Prince of Bari, they gave thanks to God, who directs the paths of his servants aright. And it was then brought about by divine providence that the blessed and holy Vitalis should come to their mind and be recalled to their memory. Therefore, immediately coming to the cave where he was persisting in the service of God, they asked him to make the journey with them to the God-loving Catapan. He consented, not wishing to refuse the prayers of such great Brothers. When therefore the Catapan saw these three venerable and holy men, he received them most courteously, promising and asserting that he would do whatever they commanded. For on the following day after they arrived, St. Hilary, summoned by the same Catapan, entered his chambers. But when the Catapan wished to confess his sins to him and receive from him a time of penance, St. Hilary was unwilling to presume anything alone, but called St. Leontius, wishing him to be present at all these conversations. But he, having entered, by no means approved of this, After a humble excuse, but judged that these matters should be referred to the presence of our venerable Father Vitalis. When the Catapan was greatly distressed at these words of the said Fathers, St. Vitalis was summoned, and after he entered and understood the reason for his summons, he immediately addressed the Catapan, saying: No, my son, you should not seek from me — unworthy and everywhere ignorant as I am — those things that it is not proper for you to receive from me. You have with you holy Fathers vested with the sacred priesthood; for I know only a few letters and then dared to accept the priesthood. Therefore, what your mind, burning with the love of God, requests, receive not from me but rather from them. To him the other said: From you, Father, from you I wish to receive this; for I know who you are, and your venerable life is proclaimed both by them and by many others. He instructs him: Seeing therefore the great earnestness of Blessed Vitalis, most devoutly overcome by the Catapan's wish, he began in the love of God to pour out upon him the grace of his blessing, and fulfilled according to his desire all that he had asked,

[11] After this, the aforesaid Saint, sitting with him and with many others under a certain canopy, began to preach words of salvation. On that very day, spring was smiling most pleasantly upon the fair weather, but suddenly it turned to the opposite condition, and with the sky overcast with clouds, thunders burst forth, lightnings flashed, and rains with hailstones were poured out more harshly than usual. In a great storm and slaughter And from this, not only in the city but also in that entire region, it happened that an immense multitude of men and animals perished. Nor did the hail cease until its height rose to the knees of the horses. But although a huge slaughter of men and animals was wrought everywhere, nevertheless through the power of Almighty God and the prayer of our holy Father Vitalis, the Catapan suffered no loss in this matter and endured nothing of the sort. He remains unharmed with the others: For he lost no man, lost no animal; and — which I cannot say without wonder — to the canopy under which the Saint was staying, the hail did not approach, nor did the rain draw near. When the Catapan had observed these signs and miracles, he placed before the servant of God no small gifts, and kneeling before him, he asked and said: Accept, I beseech you, Father, accept silver and gold and whatever is pleasing to your holiness; for unhesitatingly I know and have recognized with the faith of my own eyes that you are a servant of the true God, who deigns always to be present at your petitions. But St. Vitalis was unwilling to accept gold or silver from him, He accepts only a few of the offered gifts. but took with him some icons and carried away vessels that were suitable only for the use of the church. After he had taught and instructed him with salutary admonitions and sacred exhortations, he returned to the cave from which he had come, together with the aforementioned Fathers, rejoicing and exulting in the Lord.

CHAPTER III.

A monastery built. Various miracles.

[12] This most blessed Father Vitalis, therefore, remaining in the above-noted cave on the mountain, found a certain dwelling that had formerly been the church of St. Adrian and his wife St. Natalia. He builds a monastery: Having rebuilt it and gathered brothers together, he made there a venerable monastery for the glorification and unending praise of Almighty God. There he performed many miracles and worked innumerable healings; He heals the sick: for through the intercession of his prayer, many injured, many blind, and many demoniacs were cured. And not only this, but very many also came from afar, desiring to confess their sins to the holy Father. He teaches those who come: And he, as a faithful steward and physician, received those who came to him with kindness, admonishing them and saying: Rest, Brothers, from your wickedness, cease from your iniquities, and strive to do good; for I will pray to God for you, that your confession of past sins may be made pure. Hearing this, all ran to him diligently, and having left their evil way, they gave thanks to the Most High; and admiring the holy man and greatly aided by him, they hastened to return to their homes with joy.

[13] A certain woman asked her godmother for bread as a loan, and the godmother answered with a terrible oath: By God Jesus Christ, I have no bread in the house, just as you do not see a serpent on my neck. For it is a custom of women to mix the terrible name of God with lying words. But when the hour came in which that wretched woman wished to eat, she entered to fetch bread, A woman divinely punished for perjury, with a serpent fastened to her neck and immediately a serpent sprang from the basket and hung itself upon the neck of the lying woman and coiled around it. This serpent the woman carried constantly at her side from the eighth day before the Ides of March until the seventh day before the Ides of May, spending much on physicians and visiting innumerable Saints. But when nothing availed, she began utterly to despair of her health. But certain inhabitants of the land said to her: O daughter, may our counsel please you; let us go to the feet and to the cell of our Father Vitalis. For just as the merciful and compassionate God has shown mercy to very many through him, so he will show mercy also to you through his most holy prayers, if you go to him without delay. Hearing this, that wretched woman set out on her journey and ran to the triumphant Martyrs Adrian and Natalia, and other women with her. But when they came to the place, the servant of God happened not to be there. Then sighs rose up, groaning did not cease, and on account of excessive sadness all were dissolved in tears. They all dozed off; finally all slept outside in the courtyards beyond the church, for it was already late in the evening. For our holy Father used to go at each evening hour to the lake and there, immersed up to his neck, would persevere the whole night, When she comes to the monastery with others, inflicting hardship on his body and, according to the Apostle, subjecting the flesh to the spirit. On account of which he received from God the grace of working miracles and healing all; and he pledges pardon to sinners, drives out demons, cleanses lepers, gives sight to the blind, and according to the Gospel heals all diseases. Hence very often an Angel of the Lord appeared in the lake in the figure of an old man, communicating him with the Sacrament of the Lord's Body and Blood. He has them brought to his cell, Then St. Vitalis, leaving the lake, entered the monastery to perform the customary Morning Lauds. Having compassion, when he saw the women lying outside in the courtyards, he said to the monks: Why did you not bring them inside to the cells? They answered: Far be it from us, Father, your servants, not to obey your holy precept to the end. For we have heard from your truthful mouth that disobedience gives birth to death. Then he called one of the monks, named Stilus, and said: Lead them to my cell; light a fire, lest they die from the horror of the cold. And while he, as a spiritual Father, kept vigil with the Brothers for the Morning Hymns, the warmed women fell asleep. And one of them, finding the girdle of the Saint, placed it upon the head of the most unhappy woman. O great and stupendous miracle! And freed by the touch of his girdle The serpent, sensing the girdle of the Saint, immediately sprang away and cast itself from her neck to the ground, the woman being unaware of what had happened to her because of the sweetness of sleep. And so St. Vitalis, returning from the oratory and finding the serpent lying on the ground, understood that the long-tormented woman had been freed from the scourge, and giving thanks, he glorified Almighty God. But when the women awoke and beheld so great a miracle, they immediately fell at the feet of the Saint, and beating their breasts with both hands, they said: O most holy Father, have mercy on us; beseech the Lord for us wretches, that through the intercession of your merits we may receive the pardon of our offenses and obtain eternal life. And he, according to the grace given to him by God, admonishing and exhorting them, He admonishes them: began to say to the woman: O daughter, I wish to speak to you according to the Gospel word: Behold, you have been made well; sin no more, lest something worse befall you. John 8:11 For all who speak falsely using the terrible name of Christ will not escape his wrath. Admonishing them with these and many other things according to the Scriptures, he dismissed them to go in peace.

[14] When a multitude of plundering barbarians rushed in, ^b Calabria happened to be captured. Then certain of them, greedy for plunder, went and occupied the venerable monastery of St. Vitalis. When the Saracens invade the monastery When the monks fled, the most holy man alone remained. The blessed man was seized by the Saracens, who threatened many hard and harsh things against him. But when they asked about the property and animals of the monastery, they were transformed into the faces of demons, and they found nothing of all these things with him; for he always wore simple and poor clothing together with the Brothers. For the servants of God did not aim at the profit of four-footed beasts, did not insist on the gain of other beasts of burden, did not devote themselves to other business of acquiring money, so that the supply of their needs would be filled from the profits for obtaining a livelihood by seeking the goods of another region; they did not plant vineyards, One of them wishing to kill him, they did not hunger for possessions of various kinds of trees, they did not desire soft garments, nor did they spend effort on other worldly cares; indeed, they did not think about tomorrow, nor did they have treasure. When therefore they found nothing of what they had coveted, they decreed that he should be beheaded. When the barbarian raised his sword high to behead the Saint, suddenly a mist, like smoke, enveloped the Saracen himself, and a terrible and fiery flame of lightning struck him; also the whirling of a tornado and dense darkness shadowed and covered his face. He, having cast the sword far from his hand, fell upon the ground without a word. He raises the one fallen to the ground with the sign of the Cross: When St. Vitalis saw the miracle wrought by God, having compassion on his soul — for such was his nature as a lover of souls — he had mercy on him, and signing the barbarian with the sign of the holy and life-giving Cross, he made him rise, saying: In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, rise healed and go to your companions. What then? The barbarian immediately arose, and coming to himself, fell on his face and began to grovel at the feet of this holy Father, asking and beseeching him to mercifully pardon and forgive what he had unjustly presumed against him. But the barbarians who were his companions, standing at the spectacle, were seized with violent amazement; because where the sign had been made over the guards, they saw a flame of fire standing and touching the sky.

The Saint therefore went with him to them, and all came to meet him with great trembling and fear, adored his feet, and implored him to grant them pardon and to deign to pray for them, so that they might return unharmed to their companions. Then St. Vitalis, admonishing them, commanded and said: Cease henceforth from the shedding of Christian blood, He warns their companions and do not take captive their dwellings; for Almighty God will not permit you to do this — namely, to destroy them — but he wills that, like well-educated and learned people, they should leave their evil ways and be converted and live in his holy precepts; for he does not wish the death of the sinner, but that he should be converted and live in him according to knowledge and repentance. For it was for this that the Son of God inclined the heavens and descended to earth, and though he was true God, by the immense goodness of his greatness he became true man — all of which things you are utterly ignorant of, being unwilling to know his sacred and saving foreordination. For he will come from heaven, to which he ascended, to destroy all pride, and those who are exalted and who blaspheme his holy name. And threatens them, He will surely soon bring low and reduce to nothing the arrogance and audacity of your nation; he will plunge you yourselves, wretched and miserable, into the abyss, and with the arm of his power, being the holy and mighty Lord, exalted and unconquerable, he will not cease to scatter you. As once he plunged your Prince with all his cavalry into the Red Sea — that Tyrant, namely, and hard-hearted Pharaoh — similarly the wrath of God will suddenly come upon you, unless you withdraw from the Christian people. By these words, therefore, the barbarians were exceedingly terrified and awaited the vengeance of the divine fire. For they were kneeling at the feet of the Saint, Appearing in the semblance of an Angel, promising him that they would never again attack the Christian nations; but they were not even able to gaze upon his person, which then appeared to them in the semblance of an Angel. And so Blessed Vitalis dismissed them to go in peace.

[15] The fame of this most holy Father, spread far and wide, sent a certain man from the city of Cassano — to whom nature had denied offspring — to the aforesaid Oratory of St. Adrian. He immediately prostrated himself humbly at the feet of St. Vitalis He instills in another a better life: and strove to lay out the burden of his offenses and the enormity of his life. And the compassionate Father, a lover of immense piety, began his discourse to him: O brother, do not be ignorant of yourself in all these things, for we have a benign God and Father who loves goodness, who takes upon himself the sins of the world and always, like a merciful and compassionate one, washes them away, if we walk in his ways — namely, turning from evil and doing good, and worshiping him by many other modes of penance according to holy Scripture. And he showed forth the precepts of God that exist before the law, and in the law, and in grace; opening also the threats and punishments that are in those very precepts. When he had preached such things to him as he sat with him, he was pleased to inquire from where he had come. After this, he deigned to lead him to his cell and set before him a table of abundant food; but while the man was filled more by the sweetness of his words than by the abundance of food, he revealed and reported to the same Father his barrenness and sterility, And promises him offspring. believing that through his prayers, which are heard, he could obtain what he desired. When that true Pastor heard this, he answered him with a joyful face and gentle voice: O brother, let us not rest, nor ever abandon the most high God, for he is powerful to give you fruit even in old age — as he gave the Prophet Samuel to Hannah, the great Isaac to Sarah, and John the Baptist to the priest Zechariah; for God has done the will of those who fear him. Preaching therefore such things, Blessed Vitalis raised his hands and eyes to heaven and prayed to God, and then, having given his blessing, he dismissed him in peace, and said: O son, according to your faith let it be done to you. And he, having said farewell, returned home. Then, with divine mercy working and through the interceding merits of the most blessed Confessor, the Lord granted him a daughter, to the glory and praise of his own mercy and of his minister Vitalis. In the course of time, the parents brought her to the Saint, who, having made a blessing over the daughter and the parents, prayed, saying: May he who made the world himself bestow grace upon you; return with joy.

CHAPTER IV.

A monastery built at Rapolla. The death of St. Vitalis.

[16] After these and other miracles wrought by Blessed Vitalis in that place, because of the harassment of the peoples and the savagery of the pagans, he withdrew from there with his disciple and nephew Elias, He moves to the territory of the Turrenses, who had come to him from Sicily some time before, and going away, he dwelt in the territory of the city of the Turrenses, where, staying for no small time, he built a certain church, and God deigned to display many miracles through him there. Setting out again from there, he came and dwelt by a river in the territory of the city of ^a Rapolla, Then of the territory of Rapolla: where, having found a wooded place, devoted to fasts and always intent upon prayers, he established his dwelling. By day indeed, as was his custom, he ranged over the mountains uncovered, and by night he immersed himself in a pool up to his neck. Where he founds a monastery: What then? The monks discovered where he was staying, and following after him, they found him in the aforesaid place, and there, having established a monastery, they remained with him in good and perfect obedience until the end of his life.

[17] Having gathered together all the Brothers from that same place, taking up the words of Blessed Paul, he spoke thus: Foreseeing his death, he exhorts his followers; I do not wish you to be ignorant, most beloved sons, my longed-for heart and my beloved members, that the time of my dissolution has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the Faith through the grace of God and our Savior Jesus Christ; but what shall befall me henceforth I do not know. It is known to God, whom I have loved, whom I have desired, whom I have cherished, whom I have irrevocably followed in a good confession, whom we ourselves confess in the presence of many witnesses. Do not refuse your obligations, keep the sacred institution, preserve incorruptibly the rules of life and the confirmation of monastic discipline. Do not dissolve the community; abstain from earthly possessions; do not reject the traditions and precepts of the holy Fathers — namely, of Basil and others. Do not become desirous of many gains, nor lovers of your own flesh, nor lovers of the world or the things that are in the world; not murmurers or contentious, not talkative or detractors or envious. Do not cling to the persons of those who jest, but rather insist upon fasts, abstinences, tears, mortifications, genuflections, readings, psalmody, prayers, petitions, ministries, and quiet meditations, unfeigned charity, humility, meekness, chastity, and every good manner of life — striving in words, works, and thoughts, so that you may be well pleasing to our King and Spouse, God, that we may be worthy to enter safely and without repulse into the inviolable and secret nuptials of the kingdom of heaven with our groomsman Paul, who says: For I have espoused you to one husband, to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ, with whom we are crucified to the world and the world to us. 2 Cor. 11:2 For if we die together with Christ, we shall also live together and reign together with him forever and ever, with all the Saints who have been pleasing to him from eternity.

[18] He appoints a successor: Preaching and commanding these and many other things, this proven great champion appointed in his place a leader for them — a certain spiritual and holy man, one who did not stray from the monastic life, who had knowledge of divine things and of the Scriptures, and who knew how to diligently guide those who desire to go to God, differing not far from the ways and acts of the Saint. To this man, therefore, although he resisted, he handed over that sacred flock of rational sheep, to be pastured and led together according to due subjection, as one who was to render an account for them on the day of judgment. Then St. Vitalis began to instruct this leader with these words: Brother, take care for yourself, He delivers it to him with admonition: take care also for the whole flock that you have received to be pastured from Christ, the Prince of Shepherds, that you may pasture it in holiness and justice, proving what is pleasing and acceptable to the Lord. For it is fitting that a Superior be regular, a steward, a preacher, gentle, friendly, approachable, one who flees the vices of the gluttonous and the lascivious — stripped, pure, without stain; not haughty, not proud, not a flatterer; constant, forgetful of injuries, not wandering, not thinking about many things, as Solomon says. He should also not be desirous of gold or silver, because the root of all evils is cupidity; not one who seeks restitution, because no one serving God entangles himself in secular affairs, so as to please him to whom he has proved himself; not a respecter of persons, not irascible; but quiet, a lover of God and of the poor and of his Brothers, discreet and a builder of good works for those who wish to draw near to him, and honoring nothing more than God; not a drunkard, not a striker, not simoniacal, not covetous — by which idolatry is indicated — not a keeper of hatred, not a contradictor, not one who thinks of and gives to his own relatives and kin, not a lover of the world, not seeking only his own things, but the things of many. Be not furious, not bold and wrathful, but gentle and moderate, and do not refuse to hear anyone who offends. Be not lazy, nor consenting to lazy persons who wish to subvert the sacred Canons. Not always indulgently and easily condescending, because if the blind lead the blind, both fall into a pit. It is not fitting for you to be a sweet listener to worldly discussions, nor should you delight in precious garments; nor is it proper to show excessive honor to the person of any powerful man, beyond what pertains to the brotherhood, nor should you withdraw from the observance of the sacred laws and precepts even to the shedding of blood. For you must lay down your life: For the good Shepherd, says the Lord, lays down his life for his sheep. John 11:21 You should not stay outside the monastery for a long time, because all your meditation and thought ought to revolve around the needs of the monastery. You ought also to love the Brothers as Lambs of Christ, cherishing them and governing them as your own members. You shall not separate one from another, but you shall care for them as a father does his sons, visiting the needs of each one. For to you pertains the care and health of souls and bodies, with love and good will. Do not permit anyone to have private property, but as the Apostles and Angels of God, let them lead a common life, and let all things be common to all. For on account of each one's private possession of things arise contentions, divisions, and incitements to all evils. And whatever matters arise to be done, both spiritual and bodily, not according to one's own judgment and will,

but let them be done with the knowledge and counsel of the elders and of those who are worthy of reverence. And do not permit meat to be eaten in the monastery. Nor is it fitting for the Superior to have the care of every income and outgo of the affairs of the monastery; rather, let his sole thought be the care of souls and the oversight of what occupies those whom he has appointed for various duties. Let him direct the weightier matters, for Jethro said to Moses in Exodus: Hear my words and counsels, and the Lord will be with you. Be yourself to the people in those things that pertain to God, that you may report to him what is said, and may show them the ceremonies and the manner of worship, and the way in which they ought to walk, and the work they should do. Exod. 18:19 ff. But select from all the people capable men who fear God, in whom there is truth and who hate avarice; and appoint from them tribunes and centurions and commanders of fifty and of ten, who may judge the people at all times. Whatever is more important, let it be referred to you; and let them judge only lesser matters, and let the burden be lighter for you, being shared among others. If you do this, you will fulfill the commandment of God and be able to sustain all the precepts, as Moses did. You therefore, if you do this, will appear pleasing before God. For you must be one who assents and sustains, urging on the sacred flock — that is, the divine and spiritual sheep. And when you wish them to do something, begin first yourself, so that those who see you doing humble things may be taught.

[19] Saying and preaching these and many other things to the newly appointed Abbot, and again confirming the Brothers, he commanded them always to remain in the monastery Having exhorted the Brothers and with all meekness and devotion to submit themselves to their Superior. And having said farewell to them, rejoicing and exulting and glorifying God, he stretched out his venerable feet and, joining his most holy hands together, he delivered his blessed and holy soul into the hands of the holy Angels and fell asleep in the Lord, on the seventh day before the Ides of March, on Friday, at the first hour of the night. He dies piously. He was buried by the Brothers in the same monastery at Rapolla, to the praise and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be honor and power through infinite ages of ages, Amen.

CHAPTER V.

The threefold translation of the body of St. Vitalis — to Guardia, to Turris, and to Armento. Various revelations and miracles.

[20] Concerning the life, lamentation, and death of our most holy Father Vitalis, we have written according to the brevity of my talent, in a humble style. It remains, with the Lord's help, to write how his glorious body was brought from the aforesaid monastery to Armento. When the servant of God saw that the dissolution of his body was imminent, and had foreknown this through a divine revelation made through an Angel, Forewarned of his death by an Angel; he immediately ordered his nephew Elias to be summoned — a truly prudent and discreet man, not too far removed from his holiness and good works. Then he addressed him with these words and said: My son, behold, I have grown old, and according to the Apostle, the time of my dissolution has come; I have finished the course. I have kept the Faith; I am uncertain whether the crown of justice is prepared for me. 2 Tim. 4:6 Nevertheless, after my death, bury my body and commit earth to earth. When this is done, make no delay here, He commands his nephew Elias to withdraw. but go quickly to the city of the Turrenses and stay there for thirty years. For I, if I find grace before God and it is his will, will come to you, and you will see me there, and I will indicate to you what you must do. And that the translation of his body is to be performed: For you must return here and transfer my body to the aforementioned place; for no small blessings are to be revealed there by the Lord of all. When he had said these things, he called the other Brothers and, admonishing and confirming them to persevere always in the right faith and in good works, He is buried: he departed in peace to the Lord. He was soon buried in the monastery of Rapolla, which he himself had built and made; and he worked many miracles and healings by the grace of Almighty God.

[21] The aforesaid Elias, therefore, having overcome all obstacles of delay, departed from there and, coming as he had been commanded, dwelt in the territory of the Turrenses; where he erected a monastery in honor and glory of the Supreme King, After thirty years Elias is admonished, and gathered many Brothers. When, as has been read, thirty years had passed, at the fourth hour of the night St. Vitalis appeared to the already mentioned venerable Elias, addressing him with these words: Arise, my son, fulfill my word, and for the benefit of many people and for your own praise, diligently take care to bring my relics here. When Elias awoke, recalling to his memory and mind the words that had been spoken to him by the Saint while he was still alive, he roused five of the venerable Brothers and related to them in secret, one by one, everything he had seen and heard in his sleep. Hearing this, the monks together with their Superior, taking two strong beasts, With companions he goes to Rapolla: set out on the road that leads to Rapolla. Coming to his venerable tomb, they adored it with immense reverence, asking together and saying: O most holy Father, although we are most unworthy sinners to touch so pure and sacred a body, yet we cannot resist your commands. Do you wish, then, to come to us humble ones? Do you wish that we should take your venerable relics without rejection to the homeland, where you endured many labors and sustained innumerable dangers, and where you brought very many who were in the darkness of ignorance to the light and to the knowledge of God — so that we who are yours, receiving you, may alike render glory and praise to Christ, the giver of all good things, and may magnify you forever? Having said these things, looking around the place with care, they went out and took lodging not far from the tomb. The body of the Saint breathing a sweet odor, When evening had come, that is, at deep twilight, they approached the tomb not without trepidation and secretly opened it. O wonderful and astounding thing! None of those who were in the monastery perceived what was happening, and all were lying as insensible stones, because a heavy sleep had weighed upon them. Then from that venerable body, as from a paradise of delights, a most sweet odor came forth, They carry it away, surpassing all aromatics. With all of them terrified and trembling, the Saint clearly appeared and supplied them with strength and courage; and, having immediately received from him indescribable power, they took up the fragrant body. It was still as it had been placed — intact, that is, uncorrupted — and perhaps not even a hair from his head had fallen. For the Lord said: Those who glorify me, I will glorify. 1 Sam. 2:30 Then they placed it on a bed, which in common speech people usually call a bier; and placing it upon the beasts, they returned with immense joy, carrying with them so great a treasure and immense riches.

[22] In the morning, when the monks of the monastery of Rapolla arose for the customary Morning Lauds The monks of Rapolla pursue in vain, and found both the doors of the church and the tomb of the most holy Father open, and saw that his venerable body had been taken away, greatly saddened, they began to lament from the anguish of their inner grief, saying: Who has taken away our unfailing treasure and stolen from us our Bishop and Father? Alas, what a great and intolerable loss! Why were we not rather delivered over to death than thus separated from him? To whom shall we now flee? Who will intercede for us? Who will heal our souls and our bodies? Saying these and similar things, and unable to receive any consolation from it, they went out in haste, pursuing them along the roads and paths. But when they could not find the treasure taken from them, they returned empty and bereft. And that prophetic saying was fulfilled: They have slept their sleep and have found nothing. Ps. 76:6 They come to Pietraperciata: What then? The monks, as if possessed of victory, arrived with the sacred relics at a certain place called ^a Pietraperciata, as it pleased the Lord. Then through a divine vision made to them through an Angel, they learned that there the Lord would glorify his servant and show forth the greatest miracles through him. While they spoke to one another about the vision that had been granted, Amid the songs of Angels, as the Angel revealed these things to them, they heard a host of many Angels running together and surrounding them, singing psalms and chanting to the Lord. Then the passing of the relics became known throughout all that region, and all came out in crowds with litanies to meet them; some vied to kiss the immaculate body, some the feet, some his sacred garments. Many who were blind, many who were lame, and many who were worn out by long illness, And miracles, coming there, obtained health; and those vexed by unclean spirits were healed. From there, proceeding again as was the will of that most holy Father, they arrived at a certain lodging near the village of ^b Guardia. And immediately the animals fixed their step and stood still. O how wondrous are your works, Lord God! The more the animals were compelled with blows to go, the more they remained immovable; nor is what was done here considered worthy of less admiration than the ancient history of Balaam. John, therefore, the ^c Bishop of the See of Turris, They are met by the Bishop of Turris, when he had heard such things, suddenly convoked his Clergy, assembled his people, gathered the women and children together, and hastened with incense and lights to meet the holy Father in his honor. And seeing that his most sacred body was immovable, he began to be saddened and distressed, desiring to gather counsel as to how he might carry it to his episcopal seat. They bury the immovable body, Then he ordered a cart to be made, so that with a team of oxen, and also with great force applied, it might be taken to the aforesaid city of the Turrenses. When therefore the cart was prepared and the people were crying out Kyrie eleison in loud voices, touching the bier on which the most holy body lay, Having built a church: they were by no means able to move it, for it had become heavier than much iron and weightier than countless amounts of lead. When therefore they recognized that the Saint of God was not pleased with that kind of worship at that time, the Bishop and the reverend priest Elias wrapped the body in a certain most precious garment and placed it there honorably in a new tomb, which was then made; where a church was built in honor of God and his Mother, and many miracles are wrought through him to this day. But how many and how great were those then healed from various diseases there, it is impossible to commit to writing or comprehend in writing, on account of their excessive multitude.

[23] When the most holy relics had been placed near Guardia, from Sicily, on account of the sins of the people, God permitting,

the unclean and most foul ^d Saracens came from Sicily, plundering and devastating the entire land, the sons of the bondwoman dragging the sons of the freewoman into servitude. Then dread and terror fell upon the inhabitants of Italy. Under the incursion of the Saracens, As all were fleeing, some strove to avoid the impending dangers through strongholds, others through places fortified by nature. Then John, the Bishop of the See of Turris, a man truly of great merit and shining with much honor, took counsel with his Clergy and people as to how he might bring that most holy body to his city, having the good consideration that it would become the greatest ^e protector and defender of that city. Immediately they confirmed their counsel by deeds, and on the following day, on a certain Friday, they hastened to the tomb of the Saint with immense joy, and from the third hour of that day until the morning of the following Saturday, they devoted themselves most devoutly to prayers and vigils. Then the Bishop, taking up an iron hammer, tried to break the stone slab of the monument. Consider now, reader, and attend to the power of the Saint: with all cooperating and making no progress toward their desire, no force, no blow damaged that slab; it remained undamaged and was not moved by any human device. All, therefore, seized with violent amazement, did not know what to do. The body at first resisting, But the Holy Spirit, who speaks through the Prophets, inspired the Bishop, placing this in his heart: that to approach holy things, one must approach in purity. He immediately sent all others outside, and kept with him only those whom he knew to be lovers of purity — namely, Clerics and monks. Bending their knees on the ground and raising their eyes to heaven, not without tears he prayed, saying: O Lord our God, who sit upon the Cherubim and behold the depths, who do all things for our salvation, After prayer is made, and who willed the relics of our Patriarch Jacob, and again of your beloved, chaste, and beautiful son Joseph, to be transferred from Egypt to Palestine in great strength and glory, and who brought the relics of St. John Chrysostom after thirty years from Comana to the city of Constantinople for the salvation of men: look upon us and give us this inexhaustible treasure, which we desire to find for the protection and strength of our city. Grant, Almighty God, that we may not appear empty and deprived of our hope, so that we may always glorify your great and venerable name. When they responded Amen, suddenly the place was shaken, The common people having been removed. the tomb opening of its own accord. That venerable body was found, clothed in the angelic habit, without flesh indeed; but its bones were still hard and strong and shining like stars. Also, its venerable right hand was whole and undamaged, and with the fingers arranged as if for making the sign of blessing, it seemed to bless all. Then the aforesaid Bishop and monks, perceiving an ineffable odor, It is easily carried to Turris, with immense joy and fear placed the precious relics in a certain newly made wooden shrine. Those who stood outside, sensing the fragrance of the odor, began to cry out Kyrie eleison in loud voices. Then, with four venerable Priests carrying the shrine, all returned to the city, glorifying and blessing God and the holy Confessor, and placed it with its relics and vestments in the church that he had built, namely to the left of the city facing the East. And an innumerable multitude of the sick was then healed there, where his prayers continually flourish, through the power of God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

[24] By Count Tuscanius, After this, it happened at that time that a certain Tuscanius, son of Rabdus (for so he was surnamed), was the lord of that region in the territories of Turris, Armento, and Petra, and certain other places. He had set it in his mind to transfer the body of our most blessed Father Vitalis from Turris to Armento. Since he could not do this openly, one day, taking soldiers of Armento with him, he pretended that he was going on a longer journey. Taking the road that leads to Turris, when they were already near the city, leaving the soldiers outside, content with only one companion — who was of the same intention, will, and not ignorant of the same counsel — he went to the church, With feigned veneration, showing himself as if he had come to worship. Then, having called the Sacristan, he said to him with all gentleness: Bring me, Father, bring me the relics of the Saint, for I wish to kiss them with due veneration, so that my uncertain journey may be happily directed through him. For it is the custom of robbers, who always intend evil, to mix lies with truth. The Sacristan, being a just man and venerable priest, acting in holy simplicity, immediately opened the entire shrine and placed it before him. Then Count Tuscanius, suddenly turning his gentleness into ferocity, compelled the Sacristan with a threatening face and menaces, and said: If you throw the city into tumult, I will take off your head and punish your entire family. Then the Sacristan, seeing himself placed in this situation, After threatening the Sacristan, and attending to the iniquity of his heart, considering also the emptiness of the city and thinking of the absence of the men (for it was the time of harvest, when all men go out, according to David, to their work and their labor until evening), since he knew no other way to escape the bloody hands of so great a man, he allowed this to be done and said he would pass by in silence. Ps. 104:22 The key was therefore violently snatched from his hand, and with the shrine hidden under his cloak, he went out of the city, only a very few men being found there, but very many women. The body is carried away, Some of these women went out according to custom into the square, to pay honor to their lord. Others looked through the windows; and since, on account of the weight hidden under his cloak, he seemed heavier than usual to those watching, all were scandalized, and from the sad appearance of the Sacristan they immediately understood the reason. Therefore the women began first to ask the Sacristan what was the cause of his sadness and whence such a pouring forth of tears — for it is certain that women are inquisitive. What more? In one hour, what had happened was made known to all. The people of Turris groan in vain: Then they beat their faces and breasts, and equally dissolved in tears, they pursued for a little while, and began to lament the loss of so great a Father, saying: Alas, alas, we cannot express in words how great an injustice, how great a loss has befallen us! For we have been despoiled today not by the Saracens, not by any nation or people, but (O grief!) by our own lord. We have indeed received a loss more grievous than any loss; we have been deprived of our own Patron, separated from our common physician. These and similar things the women lamented until evening; but the men, returning from the work of harvesting and learning the cause of the despoiling and lamentation, some wept bitterly, some heaved deep sighs. Then they wished to rise up against their lord; It is placed at Armento in the Church of St. Luke. but they were restrained by the obligation of their oath, and thus they bore this immense sadness with equanimity. The soldiers, who had remained waiting outside, received the holy body and returned with the greatest joy. When they had come to the place called Vigilia, looking toward Armento, a solemn Litany was arranged, and the entire people came out in procession to meet them. Then those who were carrying stopped, and a common prayer was made by all, crying Kyrie eleison. And when they had persevered in prayer for a long time, adoring the shrine on bended knee and receiving it with glory and honor, they brought it to the church of our most blessed Confessor and most merciful Father Luke, and there they honorably deposited that most precious body.^f

[25] St. Vitalis consoles the people of Turris. After three days, St. Vitalis appeared in a dream to certain most reverend persons among the inhabitants of Turris, comforting them and saying: Why is the city thus disturbed on my account every day and sighing? Do not, my sons, do not be saddened henceforth, but rather exult and rejoice, because although it has pleased God by a certain ineffable disposition that my body should be with my brother Luke, yet I am not separated in spirit from your city. When this revelation was made known, and they afterwards came to know the miracles that he worked among them according to each one's desire, they obtained from sorrow gladness, from sadness joy, and from tribulation the remedy of consolation.

[26] The Acts rendered into Latin This translation from Greek into Latin was made in the year of the Lord's Incarnation 1194, in the month of July of the twelfth Indiction, in the ^g nineteenth year of the pontificate of the most holy Robert, the Venerable Bishop of Tricarico, In the year 1194. to the praise and glory of the supreme and undivided Trinity, and also to the honor of the excellent Confessor and eminent Hermit Vitalis, by whose merits may we be aided, by whose help may we be protected, by whose prayers may we be fortified now and always, forever and ever, Amen.