CONCERNING ST. LIMINIUS, MARTYR AT CLERMONT IN GAUL.
AROUND THE YEAR 255.
CommentaryLiminius, Martyr at Clermont in Gaul (Saint)
[1] Andreas Saussay begins this 29th of March in his Gallican Martyrology with this Martyr, in these words: At Clermont of the Arverni, St. Liminius the Martyr, who, inflamed with an incredible ardor of faith, was assailed with the most exquisite torments by Chrocus, the impious Duke of the Alemanni invading Gaul, St. Liminius, Martyr under Chrocus the Aleman but could not by any force be torn from the confession of Christ; rather, persevering steadfastly in his pious resolution, he completed the noble contest of martyrdom with the final testimony of truth. His most sacred body, buried in the basilica of St. Venerandus, is adorned with great splendor indeed; buried in the church of St. Venerandus and the church of the small monastery of Thuret glories in being illuminated by the most sacred pledge of his glorious head, which today celebrates his solemn feast. The same Saussay at the 13th of May has this: In Auvergne, the translation of the head of St. Liminius the Martyr, in the Priory of Thuret. In the same invasion of Chrocus, St. Anatolianus also suffered in Auvergne, whose Acts we gave on the 6th of February, the head in the Priory of Thuret where we treated at length this tyranny of Chrocus, and said that it took place around the year of Christ 255 -- all of which, since they also pertain to St. Liminius, can be seen there. Gregory of Tours treats of Chrocus in book 1 of the History of the Franks, chapter 32, and then in chapter 34 has this: Near the city of the Arverni, the Martyrs Liminius and Anatolius rest. The same Gregory in On the Glory of the Confessors, chapter 30 and following, treats of various Saints of Auvergne, and in chapter 35 and the two following, of the Basilica of St. Venerandus among the same Arverni; then in chapter 36, among other things, he writes thus: the history of martyrdom once written "In this basilica of St. Venerandus, the blessed Martyr Liminius also is buried, whose history of his contest, though held by the inhabitants, nevertheless no veneration is bestowed upon him." Which Molanus transcribes in his Appendix to Usuard, since he was ignorant of the day of his birthday. That once very well-known history of his contest or martyrdom remains hidden to this day.
[2] Jean Savaron, President of Auvergne, together with his Origines Claramontanae extracted from ancient manuscripts two books on the Saints, whether a different person, the St. Linguinus churches, and monasteries of Clermont, and illuminated them with his Notes, etc. In chapter 20 the church of St. Venerandus is described in these words: "In the church of St. Venerandus, the altar of St. Julian and St. Basilica of Antioch, the altar of St. Quintin and St. Denis, the altar of St. Mary where St. Venerandus and St. Linguinus and St. Nepotianus and St. Avitus and St. Clara and six thousand two hundred others rest in body, whose names God knows." So reads that source, on which Savaron observes that concerning St. Linguinus, in the ancient records of St. Illidius -- whose church is nearest to that of St. Venerandus -- this is read: "St. Linguinus, Confessor"; and Savaron treats at greater length of St. Liminius, about whom there is complete silence in that same source, and indicates the passages of Gregory of Tours and Molanus cited by us, and from a manuscript Collectary of St. Illidius indicates that on this day the feast is celebrated and on the 13th of May the Translation; and then adds: "since in matters pertaining to religion nothing should be rashly attempted, according to the rights of the Church of St. Venerandus, here is affixed St. Liminius the Martyr, not expunged St. Linguinus the Confessor." Meanwhile he nowhere indicates the latter's birthday; assigned to the 24th of March which Saussay assigned to the 24th of March; to which day, because we have been made doubtful by Savaron, we have preferred to defer everything to this present day; and with him we assert that nothing should be rashly attempted. Hence with Gregory of Tours we present St. Liminius, and whether the same or a different person should be established as St. Linguinus, we do not wish to conjecture.