Droctoveus

CONCERNING SAINT DROCTOVEUS, ABBOT OF THE MONASTERY OF SAINT GERMANUS AT PARIS, AROUND THE YEAR 576

Droctoveus, Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Germanus at Paris (Saint)

[1] The most famous monastery in Paris of Saint Germain des Pres is visited, now of the Congregation of Saint Maur of the Order of Saint Benedict, formerly founded under the name of Saint Vincent the Levite and Martyr by King Childebert, son of Clovis the first King of the Franks: whose funeral was celebrated when the church was dedicated by Saint Germanus, Bishop of Paris. Saint Droctoveus, subsequently appointed Abbot, holily died there on this March 10, Sacred cult, inscribed in various sacred calendars, concerning whom Usuard, a monk there, in his Martyrology has the following: At Paris, the deposition of Saint Droctoveus the Abbot, disciple of Blessed Germanus the Bishop. Labbe in the Martyrology of Franco-Gaul calls him Chroctoverus. With a longer eulogy, and taken almost from the Life or History of Aimoin, Saussaye celebrates him in the Gallican Martyrology. The same is inscribed in their Martyrologies by Maurolycus, Galesinius, Felicius, Canisius, the author of the Florarium, and the Roman Martyrology agrees. In some calendars he is also venerated on the day before under the name of Droctonius. also among the Benedictines: Among the Benedictines he is listed by Wion, Dorganius, Menardus, Bucelinus. But presently in the Life at number 5 it is said that when this man was a monk under Abbot Saint Germanus, Saint Benedict was not yet known in those parts. They do well nevertheless when they venerate those Saints who lived in those monasteries which afterward adopted the rule of Saint Benedict.

adorned, crowned with a man of outstanding holiness, namely Germanus, powerful in the lineage of nobility, At Autun who, like a cedar in Lebanon and like a cypress on Mount Zion, spurning the lowest things and embracing the heavenly, was striving toward the lofty heights of virtues. And since his leaves, namely his words always green with truth, brought healing to all, under the discipline of Saint Germanus, and his fruits, namely his works, were sufficient for those in danger of hunger, the excellence of so great a man sounded with no small noise in the ears of Nectarius, the Bishop of the aforesaid city. In the same city there is a notable monastery of Symphorian, the witness of Christ, by Saint Nectarius who formerly suffered martyrdom under the Emperor Aurelian, appointed Abbot of the monastery of Saint Symphorian, who, like a rose stained with purple blood of beauty and exceptional fragrance, having obtained heaven by his merits, lies buried in the same church. Since his blessed soul, joined to the heavenly citizens, sings together in jubilation to the Thunderer, by the heavenly disposition which glorifies His Saints even in this life, deservedly the company of brothers of the Monastic Order continually sings before his mausoleum sweet-flowing songs of praise to the eternal King. Over these brothers, therefore, Germanus was appointed Pastor by the aforesaid Pontiff, and was consecrated Abbot, worthy both in name and in merit.

[5] The venerable Father, therefore, renowned for the proclamation of holiness, admonished the sheep committed to him sagaciously, corrected them prudently, tolerated them patiently, and invited them cheerfully to the pastures of eternal life: who among the rest whom he devoted to Christ both by exhortation and by example in their training, a monk exercised in every virtue: he strove to distinguish the most blessed Droctoveus with the monastic habit, and admitted him to his discipleship: whom he piously, as a truly most pious man, nourished, and according to the norm of the holy Fathers, namely of Anthony and Basil (for the Scepter-bearer of this Order, namely Blessed Benedict, was not yet known in those parts), he taught him to live, handing over to him the duties of obedience, instilling the gentleness of patience, repeating the purity of continence, exhorting him to follow the path of justice, teaching him to embrace the virtue of prudence, commanding him to be distinguished by the firmness of constancy, persuading him to moderate himself with the calmness of temperance. Among all things he also admonished him to keep the way of humility, all of which the most holy man perceived with attentive ear, and pondered in his mind more frequently, and also fulfilled in practice more attentively. He was therefore the gleaming flower of innocence, powerful in shrewd simplicity and vigorous in sincerity of spirit. Being moreover the diligent imitator of his master, he more frequently wasted his flesh with fasts, a diligent imitator of Saint Germanus tamed his body with vigils through the night, and afflicted it with excessive cold. The plectrum of his tongue always resounded with the Davidic instruments, and he tirelessly reread the precepts of Christ: and thus enriched by divine gift with virtues, like the scent of a full field which the Lord has blessed, he was fragrant to all with a holy odor.

Aedua is the city of Augustodunum, the capital of the Aedui, a people well known to Julius Caesar and other ancient writers.

Saint Nectarius the Bishop attended the fifth Council of Orleans in the year 547. He is venerated on September 13.

The feast of Saint Symphorian falls on August 22, on which day he is said in the Roman Calendar to have completed his martyrdom in the time of the Emperor Aurelian.

Alalagnia, jubilation. In Greek alala is an interjection of those jubilating, hence in Greek alalaxo, I cry Alala, and alalagmos, which is here called alalagnia, or better alalagmia: unless perhaps it was written thus by a scribal error for Alleluia, a voice well known in the Apocalyptic jubilation and most widely used throughout the world in the more festive ecclesiastical song.

Aimoin, book 1, On the Deeds of the Franks, chapter 24: Thence Germanus was taken up by the venerable Pontiff Nectarius as Abbot at Saint Symphorian. Which things are said in the same words by Fortunatus in his Life on May 28.

Rather he was then growing as a young man, as will be said on March 21 in his Life.

CHAPTER II

The occasion for the building of the temple and monastery of Saint Vincent, now of Saint Germanus at Paris.

[6] Moreover, at that time the illustrious King Childebert held the Frankish kingdom in his dominion, who, a torrent of beauty and a fountain of outstanding abundance, was also a mirror of piety and equity. Recalling indeed the saying of the wise man, that the redemption of a man is his own riches, King Childebert most pious. he did not consider it of more importance to amass a great store of treasure than to distribute it for the needs of the poor. He was therefore subject to Christ, raised against enemies, dear to Christians, hateful to the faithless. But the humble and those obedient to him he exalted, and the insolent and rebellious he crushed with his strong right hand. To the religious and those sincerely serving Christ he showed himself not as a prince and lord, but rather as a most faithful servant. When therefore the most blessed Germanus met this man, not by chance but, as is rather believed, by heavenly direction, and the multitude of the people extolled the proclamation of his holiness, the most Serene Prince, rejoicing in the Lord, immediately elevated the holy man to the Episcopate of the See of Paris. For Eusebius, Bishop of the aforesaid city, had very recently died. He appoints Saint Germanus Bishop of Paris: Thence there was the greatest jubilation of the Church, which saw itself endowed with such a Bishop. The common crowd rejoiced, which had been committed to such a Ruler. Happy Lutetia, applaud, for while you shine with the glory of Dionysius the blessed, you are also enriched with this most precious gem.

[7] As time went on, therefore, Childebert attacked the kingdom of the Iberians with a strong expedition, joining to himself his brother Clothar, he besieges Saragossa: who, having assailed the city of Saragossa, surrounded it on all sides with a strong military force. But the besieged citizens of the city, since they could not resist so great a multitude, committed the hope of their salvation to Him who by prophetic oracle exhorts each one, saying: Call upon me in the day of tribulation, I will deliver you and you shall glorify me. For turning to the Lord and proclaiming a fast for themselves, also clothed in sackcloth, with the tunic of blessed Vincent the Martyr, formerly Archdeacon of the same city, they went around the walls of the city with hymns. Women also, clad in dark mantles, placing ashes on their heads, by citizens devoutly praying to God with disheveled hair followed the rest of the crowd, wailing with excessive lamentations. And since they had so entirely placed their hope in the Lord that it was said that there the fast of the Ninevites was being celebrated, there was no doubt to anyone that the Lord, having been moved by their prayers and the intercession of the holy Martyr, would free them most swiftly from the imminent destruction. Nor did this deceive them. For the enemies, not knowing what the besieged were doing, while they saw them processing around the city walls, thought that they were performing some kind of sorcery, and having seized one of the citizens, they began to inquire more carefully what this was: who said, We are carrying the tunic of Blessed Vincent, and we beseech the Lord to have mercy on us by the prayers of the holy Martyr. he receives the stole of Saint Vincent, When this was reported to the most pious King, his most gentle heart being turned to mercy, receiving the stole of the holy Levite and Martyr from the citizens of Saragossa as a most welcome gift, together with his brother he returned to his native soil.

[8] Coming therefore to Paris, in a suburban place which was formerly called Lucotitius, he hastened eagerly to build a church in honor of Blessed Vincent. The same illustrious King had formerly defeated Amalric, King of the Goths, on account of his sister, having defeated Amalric, King of the Goths, whom the same Amalric, with the consent of both brothers, namely Childebert and Clothar, had taken in marriage: but since he was of the Arian sect, while the venerable Queen frequented the thresholds of the Catholic Church, her husband afflicted her daily with various insults: whom, as we have mentioned, the most Christian King, overpowering by the law of war, having recovered his sister from the city of Toledo, from Toledo he brings a Cross, where the same Amalric had his seat, he carried off a golden cross adorned with precious gems, and also in the work of Solomon, as it is said, thirty chalices, five patens, and also twenty cases of the Gospels: Chalices and other things, all of which, as a prince truly devoted entirely to Christ, he preferred to distribute to the Church rather than to keep for his own use.

[9] By the grace of the life-giving Cross, therefore, the Church of the most holy Martyr, where he deposited it together with other most precious ornaments, he arranged to build in the form of a Cross. To describe the wonderful work of this Basilica seems to us superfluous: he builds a temple in honor of Saint Vincent, namely how it was distinguished by windows, supported by columns of the most precious marbles, in what manner it was adorned with gilded coffered ceilings under a curving vault, and also how the walls, as befitted the hall of Christ, shone with the splendor of golden-colored painting, with a beautiful mosaic pavement laid below. The very roof of the basilica, primarily of gilded copper bronze, reflecting the rays of the sun, glowed with such fiery brilliance as to dazzle the eyes of onlookers with its excessive brightness. Whence, on account of its excessive beauty, not undeservedly was the house itself formerly called metaphorically the hall of the gilded Germanus by the common people. book 2, chapter 11 But lest anyone should be incredulous of our assertion, let us bring forward adorned with a poem by Saint Fortunatus: what the most eloquent man Fortunatus published in his works about this house. For he says:

If the structure of the Solomonic temple be remembered, Though equal in art, this one is more beautiful in faith. For whatever things were formerly enclosed there under the veil Of the Old Law, here they stand open and revealed. That one indeed flourished, interwoven with various metal: This one shone, gleaming, stained with the blood of Christ. That one was adorned by gold, stones, and cedarwood: Here a more venerable honor gleams from the Cross. That old one stood built of perishable metal, This house stands made firm by the price of the world. A splendid hall rises with marble columns; And because pure grace abides, greater beauty is within. It first captures the rays, adorned with glass windows, And by the artisan's hand has enclosed the daylight in art. With the courses of dawn, the wandering light fills the ceilings, And shines with its own rays even without the sun. This pious King Childebert in outstanding honor Gave to his people gifts that will not die: Wholly adhering in his affection to divine worship, As a soldier of the Church he amplified its wealth. Our Melchizedek by merit, both King and Priest, As a layman he completed the work of religion. Governing public rights and preserving the lofty palace, He was the singular glory and model of Pontiffs. Going hence, there he lives by the honor of his merits: Here too he will be perpetual by the praise of his deeds.

[10] With these things thus mentioned (namely about the beauty of the wonderful work of our church, which afterward, our sins demanding it, almost perished not once but twice by fire in the time of the Danes), let us continue the rest in the order begun. This place, therefore, the Most Serene Prince, enriched with very many and precious ornaments, he donates it together with an adjoining monastery to Saint Germanus, and also with the most abundant resources of estates, delegated to the most blessed Germanus, Bishop of the city of Paris. And earnestly beseeching the most holy Bishop that a flock of the monastic order should be established there, after the governance of the kingdom which he had administered -- alas! -- for a short time, long vexed in a wondrous manner by fever in the city of Paris, he dies. on the tenth day before the Kalends of January he happily departed to reign with the heavenly Prince. How blessed the Republic would have been, if it had been able still to keep a Prince of such great piety. But since the life of the just is not on earth but in heaven (for to the saints to live is Christ and to die is gain), it is to be lamented that he was so quickly snatched from the earth; but consolation comes from the fact that he passed to better things.

[11] At his funeral rites, therefore, not only the neighboring populace of both Orders, but also the bordering and outermost peoples from all sides came in innumerable numbers. Saint Germanus dedicates the church, It was pressing -- for it was indeed

for indeed it was the most sacred day of the Lord's birth, and to the presence of the King, whom they did not yet know had departed this life, a very great multitude of both Bishops and Princes and Nobles had assembled. Seeing therefore such a great multitude of people, the blessed Germanus thought it better to dedicate the church committed to him on that same day: and when he had first disclosed to all the reason for this matter, and while he observed with exulting spirits that all were assenting to his most benign will, with the holy Bishops assisting him, namely with many Bishops, Nicetius, Archbishop of Lyon, and Praetextatus, Bishop of Chalon, Eufronius, Bishop of Nevers, Felix of Orleans, Domitian of Chartres, Victorius of Le Mans, in the year of the Incarnation of the Word 559, he consecrated the aforesaid church in honor of the life-giving Cross and of the nourishing Vincent, Levite and Martyr. in the year 559.

[12] And because, as was stated above, the same basilica had been built in the form of a Cross, it contained four altars, of which the principal altar he consecrated in honor of the holy Cross and of Saint Vincent the Martyr, and in it four altars, where he also deposited his stole, which the glorious King Childebert had carried away from the Spaniards; and the one toward the north in veneration of the holy Martyrs Ferreolus and Ferrutio; furthermore, the one toward the south under the title of the holy Martyr Julian of Brioude; and also the one toward the west he consecrated to the Lord in honor of Saints Gervasius and Protasius and the boy Celsus and the holy Martyr George. Toward the southern side also a certain oratory had been built in honor of Saint Symphorian the Martyr, where the same sacred man of God, Germanus, afterward ordered himself to be buried. and two oratories And toward the northern part there was an oratory consecrated to the Lord in veneration of Saint Peter the Apostle, where, as will be shown in what follows, the Lord formerly performed every night an unusual miracle on account of the special merit of the holy Apostle. he celebrates the funeral rites of the King. When therefore the solemnities of the dedication were completed, with an arrangement befitting the King, with all the people standing by, the funeral rites are completed by the Bishop and the other Prelates, with every age and sex indulging in tears. But lest we perhaps give sorrowful funeral lamentations to the glorious Prince, whom the tearful voice of rich and poor alike was bewailing, we must desist from mourning for one of the Saints.

Childebert began to reign on the death of his father Clovis on November 27, 509, together with his three brothers, becoming himself King of Paris.

The same things about his episcopate and his predecessor Eusebius are read in Aimoin, book 2, chapter 18.

Saint Dionysius is venerated on October 9.

This military expedition is narrated by Gregory of Tours, book 3 of the History of the Franks, chapter 29, by Aimoin and others, and we presented it on January 22 in the Life of Saint Vincent, page 398.

It is called Locatitius in the diploma of King Childebert, about which shortly.

Amalaric was the son of Alaric, defeated by Clovis.

Rather with the consent of four brothers, as Gregory suggests in book 2, chapter 1, he married Clotilda shortly after the death of Clovis.

All these things are contained in Gregory, book 2, chapter 10.

All these things are narrated at length in the diploma of King Childebert, which is found in the ancient editions of Aimoin, and in that which James Brulius had printed in the year 1603 with a full explanation, as also in the Antiquities of the city of Paris. The diploma was given in the 48th year of the reign of Childebert.

Aimoin, book 2, chapter 29, says that he died in the 49th year of his reign, the church not yet being dedicated. But Marius in his Chronicle asserts that he passed in Indiction 6, in the 17th year after the Consulship of Basilius. This is the year of Christ 558. We count the beginning of his reign at least from the year 510, as is also clear from this.

Saint Nicetius is venerated on April 2.

There is some difficulty here, because this Praetextatus was not the Bishop of Chalon, since Saint Agricola then presided over that Church, as will be established from the Acts to be given below on March 17. We think he is Saint Praetextatus of Rouen, whose Acts we gave on February 24.

Eufronius was rightly placed by Claudius Robert in the Gallia Christiana, but the Sammarthani do not explain why they deleted him.

Of the three Bishops, Felix of Orleans is placed; the other two are missing from the catalogues, so it seems that in these cases, when only the names were had, the places or episcopal Sees were not correctly added: or the catalogues are still held to be incorrect.

Rather 558, as we have already proved.

In the diploma of Childebert the donated relics of Saint Ferreolus are listed. Saints Ferreolus and Ferrutio are venerated on June 16.

Saint Julian of Brioude, who suffered under Diocletian, is inscribed in the Roman Martyrology on August 28; his relics were also then donated.

Relics of all these were deposited there, indeed of both Nazarius and Celsus, who are venerated on July 28, just as Gervasius and Protasius on June 9, and Saint George on April 23, whose arm Brulius reports is preserved there, page 180.

CHAPTER III

The virtues and death of Saint Droctoveus, the appointed Abbot.

[13] Although therefore by a long series of discourse, yet necessary for this work, we have digressed from our begun subject, Saint Droctoveus is appointed Abbot of the monastery built there: let us now turn the intention of our discourse back to the same. The blessed Germanus therefore strove with no idle diligence to organize the place delegated to him by the aforesaid King. For establishing there a flock of monks perpetually serving God, he appointed as their Father one of his own disciples, about whom we began our account at the beginning of the discourse, namely the blessed Droctoveus. But lest perchance an occasion should be given to other Bishops of the same city in this matter, namely that through the succeeding courses of time they should presume to appoint there an Abbot whom they wished, or that they themselves or any other person of whatever dignity except the royal Majesty should presume to dispose of anything there; he procured that a privilege of immunity should be written by his own hand, and he strove to corroborate it with the authority of King Clothar and the attestation of the Bishops or noble men who had been present at the solemnity of the church's dedication.

[14] The venerable man Droctoveus therefore managed the care of the flock committed to him with watchful diligence. For just as Paradise, pleasing with fruits of joy and various flowers, so filled with an abundance of virtues, he ministered the nourishment of doctrine to all, and gave an example by pious works. a man endowed with every virtue, In his sacred breast indeed wisdom had placed its seat, and therefore he knew whence to bring forth things new and old, anointed also with the oil of the Holy Spirit, whose anointing, as the Apostle says, teaches us about all things. 1 John 2:27 By the sweetness of his speech he consoled the sorrowful, confirmed the doubtful, relieved the afflicted, made peace with enemies, tolerated the wicked, and diligently reminded the pious to ascend from virtue to virtue. Armed also with the love of God and neighbor, like a transparent fountain irrigating a multitude of trees with overflowing waters, he watered the hearts of his hearers and taught them not to turn aside from the commandments of God; but rather he persuaded them to keep His law in their hearts. He utterly avoided avarice and generously relieved the want of the wretched. He was cheerful in giving, remembering that apostolic saying, that God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

[15] This most blessed man, therefore, established by the Lord upon Zion, His holy mountain, preached to all, as we have already indicated, he instructs his subjects. His commandment, and walking along the path of justice, and also guarding against the stumbling-block of iniquity (for the light of God, as Job says, shone in the tabernacle of his mind), he revolved in his pious mind the oracle of the Psalmist: Your word, he says, is a lamp to my feet and a light to my paths. Job 18:6 Psalm 118:105 Nor was he useful to himself alone, but he strove to benefit whomever he could. For he was like a city set upon a mountain, and like a lamp not placed under a bushel but set upon a lampstand. He cared for the brothers committed to him not as strangers but rather as sons. He sagaciously corrected those who transgressed, and cheerfully exhorted those holding the right path not to stray. Commanding obedience to his subjects, he first strove to accomplish in practice what he had commanded. The evil of disobedience, which brought upon all mortals the ruin of death, he leads by example: he drove away from the company of his own by admonitions and corrections; commanding them to avoid pride, he held forth in himself an example of humility. Commanding his subjects to embrace the purity of continence, he restrained in himself every movement of the flesh by heavenly help: for he always feared lest, preaching to others, he himself might become a castaway. He was sparing to himself but generous to others, not seeking his own things but rather the profitable things of others. He cared for internal matters, and did not neglect the concern for external ones. Of what great patience he was, it is not within our power to set forth: he never devised evil against anyone, but showed to all, as much as he could, what was good. Nor was he broken by any adversities, nor lifted up by prosperities: he was always one and the same, because he always rejoiced in adhering to one God. Psalm 72:28. Singing with the Psalmist: But for me it is good to adhere to God, to place my hope in the Lord; he surely kept the law of God in his heart, and therefore his steps could not be supplanted. Finally, now worthy to be presented at the banquet of eternal happiness, on the sixth day before the Ides of March, carried by the hands of Angels from the mire of this world, he reigns in the stars with Christ without delay, certainly happy. He dies on March 10: The same glorious man of God, the sacred Droctoveus, was buried on the western side of the basilica, behind the altar of Saint Germanus, he is buried. where by his divine power benefits are manifoldly bestowed, to the praise and glory of the name of Christ, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns God through all ages of ages. Amen.

Aimoin, book 2, chapter 20, toward the end has the following: The church therefore having been built and enriched with many estates and ornaments, he appointed an Abbot there named Autharius, a man of great nobility, to preside over those serving God there. And then in chapter 36 of the same book 2: After the death of Autharius, the first Abbot of the monastery of Saint Germanus, the venerable man Droctoveus, one of the disciples of the most blessed Germanus, was substituted in his place by the same holy Bishop, with the consent of the most glorious King Clothar.

Around the year 576 or the following. For Aimoin, book 3, chapter 16, having related the death of Saint Germanus, who is known to have died in the year 575 or at least 576, adds the following: At the same time, after the death of the most holy Abbot Droctoveus, Abbot Scubilio succeeded him.

James Brulius and Claudius Malingreus in the Antiquities of Paris, book 2, page 180, report that in the church of Saint Germanus the reliquary chest of Saint Droctoveus, the second Abbot, is still preserved.