Wiborada Martyr and B. Rachilda

ON ST. WIBORADA MARTYR AND B. RACHILDA, VIRGINS RECLUSE

AT ST. GALL IN HELVETIA.

A.D. DCCCCXXV

Wiborada Mart. Virgin recluse at St. Gall, in Helvetia (St.)

Rachilda, Virgin recluse at St. Gall, in Helvetia (St.)

BY THE AUTHOR G. H.

Among the more illustrious Abbeys, ennobled with the Principate of the Holy Roman Empire, is with reason reckoned that, which from St. Gall, the disciple of St. Columban, its founder drew its name, situated in the Thurgau dominion of the Helvetians, a German league from the Potamic or Constance lake: At St. Gall of which more largely it will have to be treated October XVI at the Life of the said St. Gall. Meanwhile the curious reader will be able to read through, what about its beginning we related at the Life of B. Notker the Stammerer there a monk, illustrated on the day VI of April. Under the direction of the Abbots of this monastery and its district, at the temple of St. Magnus on the hill of Yran, lived in a narrow cell recluse St. Wiborada the Virgin, St. Wiborada is venerated and by the Hungarians in the year DCCCCXXV slain, and held a Martyr, with an Ecclesiastical Office under the rite of a double of the second class, as a Virgin and Martyr, there is venerated. Which veneration, because soon she shone with very many miracles, on the next anniversary day from her death this II of May was begun, when (Ekkehard the younger being witness) through two Popes it had been decreed that she should be raised among the Saints, at length by the authority of Pope Clement the second in the year MXLVII it is confirmed. The testimony of this matter brings forth Burkhard a monk of St. Gall, enrolled among the Saints by Clement 2. in the book on the Cases of the said monastery chapter 6, in the time of Nortpert the Abbot. He obtained, he says, with the support of Henry the Emperor and his consort Agnes, this from the Lord Apostolic Clement the second, the Life of B. Wiborada and her miracles being recited, of the matter so long neglected by the Pope himself being reproved, that he should canonize her in the presence of Theoderic Bishop of Constance, and command that she be held for a Saint, and institute the anniversary of her day to be solemnized. These things there. King Henry, called the Black, son of Conrad the Salic, in the year MXLVI came to the monastery of St. Gall, thence set out for Rome, where both he and his wife Agnes were exalted with the Imperial benediction by Clement II, then from Bishop of Bamberg created Pontiff, as is read in the brief Annals of Hepidannus and the Chronicle of Hermann the Contracted. This latter adds that Theoderic Bishop of Constance was the same Henry's Chancellor and Archchaplain.

[2] The Life of B. Wiborada, with her miracles recited before Pope Clement hitherto unedited, The first Life is given from the MS. codices of the Dillingen library, and of the Wiblingen monastery in Swabia near Ulm. This Life by Ekkehard the younger, in the aforecited book on the Cases of the monastery, written under the said Nortpert, is called a Book ample in itself. Conrad de Fabaria, who pursued the cases or history of the St. Gall monastery even to the middle of the XIII century, chapter 3 describing the names of certain brethren in the monastery, who were columns of the church by word and example, the ancient disciples of Iso and Marcellus, Notker the Stammerer, Ratpert and Tutilo, who while St. Wiborada lived flourished, interposes Notker master of the Theoric art not lazy, whom by a briefer epithet calling Physician Hepidannus in the Chronicle, says he died in the year DCCCCLXXXI, an old man of decrepit (as from elsewhere we know) age and long blind, of whom in this life number 34 mention is made, as of one present at the miracle of B. Rathilda convalescing, not long after the death of the Saint herself. The same Conrad to Ratpert and Tutilo subjoins Hartmann, written by Hartmann before the year 958, who the Life of Wiborada in speech bright enough wrote: and these, he says, enriched the place with morals, adorned it with science and discipline: so that it is permitted to presume, that the said Hartmann, who makes no mention of the body of B. Richaldis translated under Gralo before the year DCCCCLVIII, had before also died. But Hartmann followed in writing Ekkehard, whom St. Udalric, made Bishop of Augsburg in the year DCCCCXXIII (in the time of the said Gralo the Abbot, and so after the year DCCCCXLII) impelled to write about St. Wiborada, as long before by vow he was obligated. But many of those things which from diverse persons he heard he began to write and most of them by writing he comprehended, as is said at the end of the Life written by Hartmann, but, as in the Prologue of the second Life is said, prevented by death he did not finish the begun work. Goldast in the proem to the Writers of Alemannic affairs distinguishes four Ekkehards: but who all lived after Gralo: so that this one having predeceased him it behooves to make older, not only than those four, but than that one too whom he writes died in the year DCCCCLXXVIII in the Chronicle of Hepidannus. Prevented moreover, as I said, by death Ekkehard had many heirs of his purpose: of whom the first the aforesaid Hartmann the author of this Life, who besides betrays his age, when number 9 he says that many still survive, who remember the holy life by Hitto the brother of St. Wiborada performed; and number 17 asserts, that he had seen fulfilled what about St. Udalric Bishop of Augsburg by St. Wiborada had been foretold: and number 29 testifies, that with his eyes he had beheld the wall, sprinkled with the aspersion of her blood. Of those who after Hartmann undertook the same subject to be treated, their writings are to be said to have perished, except of one just now to be named.

[3] The other Life was written by Hepidannus, a cenobite of St. Gall, by the command of his Abbot Udalric, who to the above-mentioned Nortpert in the year MLXXII had succeeded: who very many things omitted in the prior Life added, some there related he omits, The 2nd Life composed by Hepidannus. and various things in passing he touches: and therefore both had necessarily to be edited. We received this from the MS. codex of the very monastery of St. Gall, and compared it with the edition of Goldast inserted among the Writers of Alemannic affairs: with whom in the first place are extant the brief Annals of Hepidannus cenobite of St. Gall of the things done in Alemannia, which deduced only to the year MLXII the younger seems to have written; and then in a more accurate style to have composed the Life of St. Wiborada.

[4] Her Sacred memory on this day is inserted in the MS. Martyrology of the Cathedral Church of Prague in these words: her memory in the Fasti, In Alemannia, at the monastery of St. Gall, the birthday of St. Wiborada Virgin and Martyr. Similar things or even more, or sometimes fewer, are read in the MS. Florarium of the Saints, in the Auctarium

of Greven and Molanus to Usuard, in the German Martyrology of Canisius, in the Monastic ones of Wion, Dorganius, Menardus, Bucelinus, and others. Henry Murer, in Helvetia Sancta printed in German in the year MDCXLVIII, from both Lives written by Ekkehard and Hepidannus, edited an illustrious compendium. Another we have in the proper Offices of the monastery of St. Gall printed in the year MDCXII; to which is added a proper hymn with a responsory at Vespers: at these the Antiphon is prescribed Come Spouse, and Breviary. and the Oration Indulgence, from the Common of a Virgin and Martyr. How much St. Udalric Bishop of Augsburg made of her below in both Lives and in the Notes is indicated: for Relics the cilice is held. to which these few things related by Ekkehard the younger chapter 5 we add. Of the cilice too which she herself used, whose harshness today we who have it for Relics shudder at, she had sewed a little cushion for her son, as she herself also named him, to be used on the days of abstinence: which sometimes carrying in his bosom by night, he with a stone placed under was wont to fit to his jaws. With such a bedding instead of delights before the doors of the church even, the sound of the Nocturns, either on a seat or on the bare earth, he was wont to await.

[5] There is added by both Authors some accurate relation of the things done by B. Rachilda, To her is joined B. Rachilda her disciple, because she is reckoned the spiritual daughter of St. Wiborada, by her several times restored to health, and by her command made recluse: and everywhere, B. Rachilda, and holy Virgin she is called. Hepidannus also in the brief Annals in the same manner notes the year, in which each Virgin was made recluse and died: and indeed in the year DCCCCXX these things he has, Rachilt on the Nativity, that is the Natal feast, of St. Mary was made recluse: and then, in the year DCCCCXLVI, Rachilt the recluse died. Which to the said year also are referred by Hermann the Contracted. She was buried with St. Wiborada. By Ekkehard the younger on the Cases of the monastery chapter 9 is said Rachilda, after the passion of Wiborada most continuous, first taken up to God. And chapter 10, Rachilda everywhere in body and breasts ulcerous, daily seen to die, and herself almost a Martyr, to whom it was milder with the Mistress Wiborada once to have offered her brain, than twenty-one years after her with a potsherd to have scraped the gore enclosed with St. Job. a long martyrdom suffered in an ulcerous body. When yet meanwhile to fast and pray (for the pains gave wakefulness) and to give alms did not weary, as of her Ekkehard the elder, her cousin, sang.

Her Satan, her he injured, when with Job she scraped the gore for herself. Fasting she wept, the torments grieving she watched.

Nor indeed the life or passion of the votive Martyr could he more lucidly succinctly tell. At whose sepulchre in sudden movements of straits, having experienced believe, it much avails to have prayed. These things there. The Translation of both bodies, namely of St. Wiborada and B. Rachilda, to the basilica of St. Magnus describes Hepidannus below toward the end of the Life. Menardus on this II of May, to St. Wiborada joins B. Rachilda Virgin and recluse, which also we do. Bucelinus in the Index of the Menology referred her to November XXIII, on which day he makes no mention of her.

THE LIFE

By the Author Hartmann, a Monk of St. Gall nearly coeval.

From the MSS. of Dillingen and Wiblingen.

Wiborada Mart. Virgin recluse at St. Gall, in Helvetia (St.)

Rachilda, Virgin recluse at St. Gall, in Helvetia (St.)

BHL Number: 8866

BY THE AUTHOR HARTMANN. FROM MSS.

CHAPTER I.

Her holy childhood and life in the world.

[1] The most blessed therefore Virgin of God Wiborada, sprung from the stock of the Alemanni, who are also the Suevi, of parents well-born and of laudable life, Born of noble and pious parents, preeminent in nobility, and in the exercise of Christian warfare among the first wings of the Lord's host strenuously following the standards of salvation, like a good tree, from the germ of a good root sprouted. Who also by the providence of divine knowledge, disposing all things ineffably in measure, weight, number, Wiborat as if Counsel of women called, as it were by a certain presage obtained a worthy name: for Wiborat, uttered in the Teutonic tongue, if it be changed by the translation of the Latin speech, sounds Counsel of women. And indeed to this aptly such a name agrees, who taking counsel for herself first imitating both sisters mistresses of acting rightly, both as far as lovers of Christ, namely Martha and Mary, through the sweat indeed of the active conversation, ascending to the summit of speculative contemplation; to all seeking the right way not only women, but also men of spurning the world, of serving the Lord and unshakenly and unweariedly adhering, the youthful levities she avoids. she proffered counsel equally and example. She therefore from the very cradle devoted to her maker omnipotent God; nay by Him, who knew her even before she was formed in the womb, mercifully taken up; all the allurements of wanton petulance, all the levities of infantile little age, by modest gravity she restrained, and by a certain severe maturity subdued. The inept playthings also of little children avoiding, the trifling scurrilities of jesters despising, the old-wives' fables of veterans detesting, to any unchaste songs she hardened her chaste ears: and as if with Sara, that is, the daughter of Raguel, the spouse of holy Tobias, about to say to the Lord confidently she herself also proposed, Never with those playing have I mingled myself, nor with those who in levity walk. Tob. 3, 17. Nor wonder, if the Holy Spirit, in the time of truth and grace, His handmaid, whom for Himself He had provided as spouse, in her first flower still blooming, with the diligence of so great integrity fortified; who in the shadow of the law so greatly guarded a little girl, to be coupled to the bridal chamber of a just man.

[2] But it is worth the trouble to foretaste, that to this venerable Virgin whom we are about to speak of, there was a sister of the highest simplicity and innocence, in most tender years bearing senile minds and acts, avoiding all excesses of slippery rashness. Whom when on a certain day her coevals exhorted to go out with her to play, that good soul, briskly looking up to the ether, and again and again groaning and her astonished ears more sharply pricking up, her sister after the harmony of the Angels heard dies: at length among sighs disclosed the internal joy of her mind, saying: What to me and the empty vanities of this world? I hear in the heavens the signs and sounds of bells and the sweet-sounding harmony of the Angelic modulation: thither I desire to go, in these I delight to take part. Nor having said more, she filled her bosom with tears arisen. After a few days indeed she was loosed from the flesh, into heaven namely set out, whither a little before so sweetly she was invited: for pleasing to God was her soul, on account of this He hastened to lead her out of the midst of iniquities.

[3] But that I may return to the things begun, B. Wiborada, just as from all unlawful things she withdrew herself, so in all good things she exercised herself with studious sagacity. For as if from the very mouth of the Lord she had perceived, First seek the kingdom of God and His justice, and had read written, that nothing is to be preferred to the divine work; daily to the church, which from her paternal house was distant a thousand and more paces, by a mountainous and difficult way more often barefoot she strove to go: so much that her parents, of holy religion, as we said, lovers, she herself barefoot goes to the church: but yet in the labor of worldly things for the most part occupied, although an infant, of negligence of divine things she admonished, and to the church more frequently to run by the fervor of her zeal compelled. Matt. 7, 7. But the bread of idleness she did not eat, but on the works of her hands diligently and continually she had insisted; as if the highest covenant of the Scriptures and the threat she greatly feared, she works with her hands: and loved the promise: the threat indeed by which it is said, Who does not labor let him not eat: but the promise, which thus exhorts: The labors of thy hands because thou shalt eat, blessed art thou and it shall be well with thee. 2 Thess. 3, 10, Ps. 127, 2 But the frequency, not only of strangers, but also of acquaintances, kinsmen, domestics, brothers, and sisters, as far as it was permitted, she studied to flee: she declines superfluous conversations: alone to stay, alone to work, secret places always to love: that both superfluous conversations she might more easily decline, and on holy meditations the edge of her mind more freely fix.

[4] On a certain therefore celebrated festivity, when about to proceed to the church, compelled by her parents, the ornaments of the head assumed by command of her parents she lays aside: she clothed herself with more cultivated garments, with hair-bands girded her crown with ornaments, the loose folds of a more precious mantle she fastened before with little golden clasps, placed on a horse together with her mother and companions she went on to go. When behold in the middle of the way her head began grievously to ache: and forthwith through the spirit feeling herself admonished by divine visitation, from the horse she leaped down: and sitting on the bare earth, her hands drawn back among b the amphibalum, the gold first of her breast she loosed, then beneath c the theristrum the band-like composition of her crown drawing off and tearing away, in the inner bosom she hides. To whom on the spot her mother coming up, what is the cause that there she stayed, and why she delays, asks. Whom dissembling for the time she exhorts that she should proceed, and herself too continuously to follow she professes: and when her companions urged her to remount the horse, she utterly did not consent, but by a pedestrian journey even to the church she came. she refuses to be carried by a horse, This day was the last to see anything in her of compository superfluity or superfluous composition: after this day no one saw her placed on a beast or by the aid of any vehicle as long as she lived; except when, as we are about to say, she sought Rome for the sake of prayer, if to her the necessity of crossing any river or torrent perchance happened.

[5] In this manner she in most tender and scarcely capable of great understanding years renouncing the pleasures of the world, and the contracting of matrimony wonderfully despising, any suitors coming despising for the love of her only spouse Christ, to her brother Hitto the Cleric, to Hitto her brother and the monks of St. Gall she does good: at the convent of St. Gall Confessor of Christ at that time being in the schools, she disposed to serve: to whom on certain days garments and very many other necessaries through faithful intermediaries she destined. In which monastery also for certain most reverend Fathers, for wrapping the volumes of the holy books, with her own hands she was wont to weave decorous linens. by her brother divinely admonished taught the Psalms The said therefore brother of hers being promoted to the order of the Presbyterate, by the glue of sincere and praiseworthy charity cohering, he dictating the Psalms, to which the maiden had given no labor, partly and scatteredly she began to learn by heart, and when he both by divine works and other incidental causes hindered, was sluggish at insinuating to her the lesson, for receiving the fiftieth Psalm the sister sedulously sat by him, nor yet was she able to obtain that for this he should be willing to be at leisure. When behold on a certain night a person stood by the Priest in sleep, of a shining appearance, of authority to be feared, seizing him with grave animadversion, and with terrible threat interdicting, that he should not presume to taste anything the next day, before the Virgin should learn by heart the Psalm long and much demanded. What more? Rising from the night, he summons the sister, opens the vision, and affirms himself prepared for the demonstration of the often demanded Psalm. These things heard, she briskly girds herself to meditate: and not only from her prior desire, but also from zeal for absolving her brother from fasting, the offered Psalm

cups of Scripture drinking with thirsting breast, the Psalm with all celerity received and on the foundation of memory firmed. Fifty Psalms therefore scatteredly, as has been said, from the said brother of hers perceived, the rest by the sole mastery of the Holy Spirit imbuing she apprehended, and by continued use of reciting them by reciprocal rumination accomplishing, as a natural instrument to her mouth and heart by compaginating she connected.

[6] Then I am about to relate a thing not unlike this and more to be admired. On the evening of the Sabbath which dawns into the Sunday of beginning Lent, when the same Priest, among other words of domestic confabulation, complained that he was solicitous for the labor of the following day, and most of all for the chant which is called the Tract, and on the same day quite d is protracted, because he had no scholastic or any helper skilled in singing together; the holy Virgin restrained him with modest rebuke; and admonished that God in every opportunity stands by His ministers as a most certain helper. What more? The next day supervening, at the competent time of the Masses, the Presbyter proceeds to the altar, imposes the solemn office of the sacred action. With whom without delay Wiborada began to chant so efficaciously and authoritatively, that neither in the order of the verses, nor in the propriety of the dictions, nor in the very euphony of the musical tenor she seemed inferior to the Priest: but to him with the solace of sustentation both joy she brought, and the stupor of admiration struck. These are Thy miracles, O Christ, to whom the dead live, the insensible are wise, the blind contemplate, the deaf hear, the dumb are eloquent: who didst hide the secret treasure of Thy wisdom from the wise of this world and the prudent, and didst reveal it to little ones.

[7] For the rest while her parents both still lived, no one more reverently cherished, no one more holily honored, no one toward his own the precepts of the divine law more devoutly fulfilled. Pious toward her parents But after the death of her father her mother, now heavy with old age, wearied with labors, anxious with the mourning of bereavement, worn out with frequent languor, with how great benignity of charity she cherished, with how reverent modesty she honored, with how unwearied diligence even to the end of her life she cared for, cannot easily be said. But why in describing her humanity toward her parents, which to almost all keeping the laws of nature seems to be common, and other poor and sick: should we longer linger? when to any needy, both known and unknown, both native and foreign, she was wont to minister with so great dignity, that even it can exceed the faith of those willingly believing such things: so much that any sick and weak as if the Lord receiving she exulted: whom to her her aforesaid brother, now on his shoulders, now placed on a beast, as each one thrust himself on him going on the way, was wont to carry: whom by no person of her household she suffered to be handled, but she herself by herself to them both provided nourishments and exhibited fomentations, ministered baths, disposed beddings, herself both laid them down, and at a competent time raised them up. e

[8] She began among these things to urge her brother with daily admonitions, that because they knew, to B. Peter Prince of the Apostles to have been committed the care of the Lord's flock, the keys of the heavenly kingdom with the power of binding and loosing handed over, [with her brother she sets out for Rome to the thresholds of the Apostles and the places of the Martyrs:] his and the other Saints' thresholds at Rome, with which incomparably that same city is illustrated, together they ought to visit. Who when to her sound exhortations he accommodated assent, they undertook the journey: in which expedition how much of groans and tears she poured forth; with what devotion she went round the places of the Martyrs, and their tombs with how great affection she embraced, only the instigator and remunerator of all good things knew God. But how great gifts of largess piously prodigal in going and returning she scattered, and what to the poor she gave, of her justice to the age of the age I leave to be commemorated.

[9] After this however when they returned to their fatherland (as virtue knows not to stand in one place, but always to advance to better things gestures) the Virgin of God disposing ascensions in her heart, through the steps of the ladder, by which the Saints will go from virtue to virtue, that they may see the God of gods in Sion; when her mind already by the sweat of actual exercise decocted, into the ray of contemplative delight she transferred; for the salvation of her brother, to whom until then with sedulous virtue she had ministered, anxious, with sagacious affability she addressed him; persuading that the perilous shipwreck of the fluctuating world avoiding, she persuades her brother to the monastic life at St. Gall. to the quiet of monastic life he should betake himself, where on divine works more freely and more safely he might be able to insist. To herself also she professes that there was at heart the zeal of a stricter purpose, how or where God shall assent, as quickly as possible to undertake. Nor with difficulty did she obtain, what with the sincerity of piety she suggested. The religious simplicity of the brother obeys the salutary counsel of the sister, and all delay set aside, to the convent of St. Gall Confessor of Christ f fleeing, to the regular yoke of the law he inclined the necks of body and heart; in which also how chastely, how modestly, how patiently and holily he lived, many of ours who still seem to survive remember.

[10] Finally the blessed Virgin, after the conversion of her brother, for the space of six years remained in the world in body, afterwards she herself for six years living holily in the world, but not by will, by showing not by intention. For seeing the world with all its sweetness and all temporal pomp transitory and unstable, and by its very instability its defection just now to threaten; counting it for nothing, all the delights of the flattering world she rejected, despised and trampled. And when an active life with eminent affection of largess she put forth; yet with the perspicacious eyes of the inner man, face to face, of the Lord always she delights in contemplation. For who by reciting could explain, with how great continence the frail body from the allurements of the world by restraining she coerced, and for the service of Christ the flesh to lie under the spirit she had compelled? For many times passed, she abstains from flesh and wine from when she abstained herself from the use of flesh and wine; while neither any of the neighbors nor any of her household suspected otherwise, than that daily she used various opulences of delicacies, except two who were familiar to her: of whom one Kebeni, the other Bertherada was called: who by the pious sodality of a sister, many times in the ministry of the holy Virgin equally endured. For when for the most part more sumptuous and more delicate nourishments of foods were prepared for her; these, as they were forewarned, either herbs or legumes for her brought as foods: and when together they had been placed upon the table, often brought to her mouth and as if to be put to her teeth, yet she rejected the flesh, that through abstinence of flesh the flesh of the body subduing, she might render the spirit stronger. Content finally with viler nourishments, those which for her were prepared, the rest for the foods of the poor and of the strangers supervening, of whom to her was the greatest, as we said, care, or even of the household standing by were given out. By the protection therefore of continual prayer she fortified herself against the ambushes of the infesting enemy day and night. For she was wont by night stealthily to go out of the house, and unaccompanied to betake herself to the church, and there in continual instance of prayers to pass the night. For when at the setting of the sun the quiet of sleep was sought by all, she herself the lying-down of the little bed, which always prepared with the ornament of sumptuous furniture stood by, spurned; and the doors being closed the same who above are mentioned sisters upon the bare ground spread a cilice, she lies on the ground in a cilice, and with a stone placed under her head. and instead of a pillow some stone they put under her head; and so sleep being a little tasted, when the most pleasing slumber had weighed down the breasts of others, secretly rising she sought the church.

[11] At such increments therefore of virtues envying the devil, her hastening to the church, and there remaining, or putting her foot within, with very frequent wrestlings of attacks he provoked, By the sign of the Cross she puts to flight the terrors of the devil: various figures of terrors by nefarious art and crafty contrivance into himself transfigured presenting to her. All which machinations of the devil, she, protected by the impregnable shield of unfeigned faith and armed with the sword of the spirit, by the little sign of the cross an undaunted warrior cast down. And that those things which generally I have comprised one by one by the authority of truth in some part I may bring forth; on a certain night, while in her wonted manner she hastened to the church, she heard in the very threshold of the basilica the terrible roar of a grunting swine, as if denying entrance to one desiring to enter. Which when she herself saw, through the spirit feeling it prepared by diabolic contrivance, by which indeed terrified by this terror she should desist from the begun good work; she turned herself to that door by which she knew the monster to rage, and for some little time stayed: then when she had presented the sign of the Cross with her right hand, the enemy nowhere appeared.

[12] A certain man also by many wicked spirits invaded, was offered to her. But she armed with the standard of the Cross, nearer to contend with so many enemies approached: and she frees an energumen. and her right foot on the back of the raging [man] she placed. Suppliantly beseeching Jesus, that the man, fashioned to the honor of His image, He would not suffer to lie under the savage tyranny of the demons. But the malign spirits, knowing that to them by the prayers of the blessed Virgin was denied the faculty of subsisting there, with a horrible voice filled the ears of all: This worst Wiborada, they say, by trampling our backs with the arms has crushed us, wherefore we cannot defer the departure of flight. These things said straightway they departed.

f About the year 879.

CHAPTER II.

Life at St. Gall, first near the church of St. George, then as a recluse near the church of St. Magnus. Miracles. Things absent and future known.

[13] Meanwhile, lest a lamp hidden in a corner of the house and placed under a bushel should hide the rays of its clear light, with the Bishop of Constance set out to St. Gall, but that brought into the midst it should be placed on a candlestick, that to all dwelling in the house of God a most pleasingly glowing splendor it might afford; there came to the ears of the Venerable Bishop of the Church of Constance a Salomon the fame of the virtues of the blessed Virgin. Nor much b after to the monastery of St. Gall the same Bishop directing his journey, sent to her, asking if she wished to set out with him: and straightway filled with great joy, with those her domestics whom we have aforesaid, hastily she hastens to the ship, and with prosperous course to the desired shore they come. Then in a certain cell situated in the mountains, she dwells 4 years in a cell beside the church of St. George. beside the church of St. George, a small dwelling being constructed, for almost four years faithfully she conversed; with so great abstinence of food and drink constraining herself, that scarcely anyone can believe one narrating it. For continually by nights and by days remaining in the church, by prayers and vigils supplicating the divine piety she indefatigably persisted; so that never that small dwelling, unless rarely for the cause of necessity she entered, either that some sleep she might take, or that her fasting body sometimes after three days she might refresh: and all this time, enduring in the church, the Lord comforting, she passed.

By these exercises serving God, and from day to day with doubled fasting afflicting her tender body, by spirit alone, her members failing, she lived.

[14] The fame of the holy maiden among the peoples growing, taken with divine love and devotion, the things offered she distributes among the poor and guests, desirous of largess come many, offering what they hoped would be necessary for her: of which she ordered some part to be reserved daily to be dispensed for the uses of the poor, part also commending to devout faithful she caused to be preserved; that on one day in the year, the neighboring women gathered together from the cells round about, in the love of God and of His Saints might be gladdened. And when all called to the cell of St. George had briskly come together, one of them more wealthy than the rest, refused to come, saying, that of that almsgiving she was by no means in need. And when this the holy Virgin had discovered, and to those women who were present it seemed to be injurious, she said to them: Be not saddened, Sisters, and her despiser seized with disease by the bread offered she heals: but with thanksgiving the benediction of God and of His Saints rejoicing receive: for this woman will come, most willingly to us she would come, if then she had been able: and that woman soon disease being received, and by the greatest pain daily broken, food and drink she loathed. And when tormented with great pains she believed herself utterly to fail, and could neither eat nor drink, calling her husband she indicates the cause of her infirmity. But he placed her on a cart and conducted her to the handmaid of God. Who reproved for disobedience, blessing bread gave it her: which when she ate, straightway the pains being put to flight and health being received, rejoicing she returned home.

[15] The blessed therefore Wiborada, as aforesaid, for almost four years in the cell of St. George, made recluse by the Bishop of approved morals and adorned with virtues, in the service of God remained. The venerable therefore Pontiff again to the monastery coming, the enclosure c which her whole life she thirsted for now being prepared, certain monks being sent ordered her to be led to him. Whom the Bishop with a few accompanying and blessing the enclosure observed the rite. But the atrocious enemy, the devil envious of all good, attempting to strike terror into her, the head of a man, shaggy and horrid, as if living and with gaping mouth, by his malice bringing forth, before her lying in prayer he cast. But the holy Virgin, nothing terrified or moved from the place, suppliant in prayer persisting, with the sign of the holy Cross fortified her forehead: and soon all the phantasm of the devil like smoke vanished.

[16] On a certain night likewise, on the vigil of St. John the Baptist, at the first dawn of the beginning day, in a vision she is present at a Mass celebrated by St. Gall she saw in a vision the holy and venerable Father of ours Gall, as if living in body, prepared for Mass, with a great brightness of light to have come. With him also so great a multitude of those in white, that is of happy souls, came, that the whole breadth of that church was filled. The holy Gall therefore, approaching the altar, celebrates the Mass of B. John the Baptist: and the Antiphon being raised, Fear not Zacharias, with sweet-sounding modulation, the most holy company of those souls equally singing together, even to the end he completed. After Mass approaching the window, certain future things to the holy Virgin he revealed: from him she is taught things to come. in which he foretold this to be future, and already decreed before the sight of the divine Majesty, that sins requiring it very many in the Potamic lake in that same year, of the household, but also of certain others, by a perilous navigation were to be drowned; which afterwards by the experience of many the event proved.

[17] A certain little boy of good disposition, sprung of noble parents, by name d Udalric, for the cause of doctrine came to the school at the monastery. Who indeed taught when he had come to an intelligible age, she instructs St. Udalric the youth, when also to that blessed woman amiable, often by her that the youthful desires he should flee, he was admonished; he began to be preeminent in virtues, to love chastity e, in the service of God to be sedulous and devout, by all with whom he conversed to be held honorable and amiable: whence also our Fathers began to have him as a Brother enrolled to themselves with the greatest honor and love f. At that time Salomon, our Brother and Abbot, being made Bishop, since he loved us uniquely, after his departure the Brethren fearing, and he too, lest, as before him g, into another's power they should be handed over, by his nod calling Udalric himself more secretly began to persuade, that the monastic habit being received he should give himself to the service of God and B. Gall, on this condition that soon the name of Father being assumed, their Abbot after him he should be constituted. But he when he saw their will, hoping also according to the disposition of God this could be done, promised that he would be in all things prepared to satisfy their petition. And as a wise man knowing it written, Do all things with counsel, and after the deed thou shalt not repent; Eccl. 32, 24 straightway his Wiborada he sought, the petition of his Brethren and his promise to her in order disclosing. But she said to him: My son, three days being performed come, and the words of my response hear: and meanwhile to implore the mercy of the Lord cease not, that according to His pleasing will and His piety, about the matter concerning which thou askest, He would deign to show us counsel. The respite therefore appointed by his holy Lady coming, he stood before the window: which she opening, said to him: Son, hast thou in mind willingly to become a monk and Abbot in this place? But he answered: If it is the will of God, with willing mind to both I am prepared. But she, Turn, said she, thy mind elsewhere, neither a monk nor an Abbot here canst thou become: but lest thou be much saddened, or thy labors, by which in the service of God thou exercisest thyself, in oblivion, before the Lord to be thou fear: in the Eastern region h thou oughtest to become a Bishop. she foretells him the Episcopate and various things to befall him therein: For many times prosperously thou shalt live; at length however also great labors and many adversities from Pagans and Christians thou shalt suffer know: very many of thy faithful will be slain: places will be laid waste: and that tribulation and disturbance will impend over many regions. This tempest being allayed the rest of the time, which afterward thou shalt live, with great tranquillity of peace thou shalt lead know. He hearing these things, rendering praises and thanks to God and the holy Virgin, placed between hope and fear, glad departed. And so all things which we have aforesaid, the Holy Spirit revealing to the venerable Virgin, we beheld fulfilled i.

[18] On a certain day the holy maiden suddenly striking the little bell, hung at the little window, she knows the fox conquered by the cock, calls her faithful minister. Who coming, Go, she said, snatch our Cock: for to that little vixen ambushing him to death he made war, and conquered. But she with swift course hastening found the Cock walking under the branches of a tree. Who when he saw her, with the sound of his wings rejoicing, and as I believe of the before-unheard victory proud, straightway crowed. Whom taking, and greatly wondering at so great a grace granted to the holy Virgin, to his own little lodging, whence far he had strayed, with great joy she carries back.

[19] A certain venerable monk and Presbyter there was in the congregation of St. Gall, learned in letters and an excellent preacher, by name Waldramus. He had a certain familiar in ministry, dear to himself and faithfully serving. Through this one therefore the same elder for the grace of charity more often his benediction to Lady Wiborada was wont to send. And when directed by this mission he came, and presented what was brought, the bread blessed by her despising, as for all coming to her she did, remunerated by her a fragment of blessed bread he received. Which receiving and thence going out, before as I believe satiated with other food, the taste of the sanctified bread he avoids: and to a certain poor man meeting him offering it, without any tardiness he hastens to his Lord. Nor much after the same seized with fever, he is seized with fever: and detained by great infirmity, could neither eat nor drink. And when from day to day the growing sickness diminished not, his elder greatly grieving over him, asks, if he could know whence to him so sudden an infirmity came. He answering that he could not know; he said, Canst thou not bethink thee if sometime sent thither by me thou hast received anything of benediction from St. Wiborada? Who at length mindful of her piety, and conscious of his own fault or arrogance, with what voice he could exclaims, My Lord, I know and recognize for this cause me now to be held by so great infirmity, because from her holy and bountiful hands I received bread, but by no means of it on account of my sins I tasted, handing it to a certain one who met me. But he most certain of the sanctity of the blessed Virgin, and at the same time recognizing the guilt of the one lying, ordered a pack-horse to be brought: which placed upon he commands him to be presented before her sight. The holy therefore Virgin the trouble being recognized, greatly his contumacy reproved; and blessing bread again offers. Which tasted straightway he recovered, and after a small interval of passing time full health being received, as before he did, to his lord rejoicing he ministered. [by a handmaid long before dead she is taught the vessels of the sacrifice not duly purged:]

[20] On a certain night there appeared in a vision to B. Wiborada a certain handmaid of hers, who while in the acts of the world she was detained, leading a life of probable conversation, departed: and said to her: O most dear Lady, the chalice and paten and corporal, but also the fanon k with which thou art wont to offer, all to be washed pure and clean with water command. For those hosts, recently l made, are not clean; because thy faithful domestic, detained by other work, enjoined her sister to make these. But the holy Virgin; Who indeed, said she, art thou? She answered: I am that, formerly thy handmaid, and hither sent these same things to announce to thee. Tell me, said she, how is it with thee? But she said: Lady by the grace of God and thy merits, with unspeakable goods I enjoy, and delightful rest I fully enjoy. To these things the Holy woman, Go, said she, to the rest prepared for thee, and of me to be mindful deign. Morning being made calling the minister: Those which this time thou broughtest, said she, who made the hosts? She answered: I Lady. To whom the holy woman said: Why dost thou feign thyself to do this, which thou didst not do? Soon she mindful of her guilt and negligence, asking pardon, said: Most pious Lady, dare I say something? But she, Say, said she, what thou wilt. How, said she, Lady canst thou know all that I do? Who is the betrayer to thee of my deed? No cause I believe can be hidden from thee. The blessed Virgin answered: This night to me resting there appeared in a vision my handmaid formerly most faithful, now in Christ a most dear sister, all these things which to us pertain, and which the divine grace by her merits willed to repay, in order disclosing. Now the precept to us without any tardiness study to fulfill: the offertory vessels

and those prepared for the divine cult, the corporal, and the oblation-cloth with most clean water to purge let it not grieve thee: further beware, lest into things to be exercised in the service of God the crime of negligence creep in.

[21] This holy Virgin whatever of the corn was left over for herself or those ministering or from anyone she had received, with bountiful hand all to the poor she gave out. Among whom one she chose, whom at the time of her dinner about the ninth hour continually more secretly to be present she ordered. His gait could not be otherwise; except that with two staffs supporting his armpits he walked. [the devil in the likeness of the accustomed poor man asking food by the sign of the Cross she puts to flight.] Therefore the devil, envious of all good, bearing a thousand arts of harming, on a certain day in the likeness of that needy [man] with great noise of staffs anticipated the hour of refection, and prostrate on the earth before the little window pretended himself to be held by so great infirmity, that he proclaimed himself now to fail, unless the accustomed alms soon from her he should receive. She remaining immovable, as always without intermission prostrate in prayer she lay, gave no response to the profane [one]. On the contrary the deceiver bitterly weeping and wailing, What will it profit thee, said he, if here I die, the alms which before thou gavest? Where now the bountiful hand which to me often thou hast offered? Why the soul going out at least in the hour of sudden death dost thou not refresh? But the holy Virgin as she had begun remained silent. Meanwhile the malign persuader, the horrendous head to the little window raising, looks in. The holy therefore Virgin raising herself a little from the earth, against the wickedness of the enemy the sign of the holy Cross imprints, and herself everywhere fortified. Then to the phantasm she said: Depart whoever thou art, adjured by the tremendous and venerable name of Christ; depart from me, thou shalt receive nothing. Straightway by the invocation of the holy name the phantasm, like chaff carried by the blast of the wind, nowhere appeared. The diabolic fraud departing, at the certain time of refection, as before he was wont, the alms-receiving poor man with great caution had come. But the blessed Virgin, filled with joy, at the same time wondering, Come, said she, friend, I recognize thee, come: the things which by the Lord are prepared glad receive: that unknown one, who lately came, by the virtue of God overcome and confounded, far let him recede from us.

b About the year 887.

CHAPTER III.

The foreknown slaughter of Duke Burchard, and the incursion of the Hungarians, and the martyrdom inflicted by these.

[22] On a certain night, B. Wiborada resting a little while in her little bed, through a vision there appeared to her our Lord St. Gall, with rent garments and as if filthy, and between the shoulders as if marked with the sign of the Cross. Whom seeing the Holy woman, astonished, Who, said she, Lord, has perpetrated so great a crime against thee? or in so filthy and torn garments has clothed thee? But he, The tyrant, said he, a Burchard, not a Duke, but a plunderer and desolator of this province, has committed so great crimes against me: the places and estates round about by the faithful conferred on me he has plundered, and to those cooperating with him in benefice has handed over: the golden cross full of venerable Relics of the Saints he has taken away, the little household he has desolated, the monks in this place under holy profession about to serve God and His Saints with hunger and starvation he has tortured. Truly I say to thee, that it would be better for him if he had not been born. Soon the holy Virgin, sleep withdrawing waking, with herself about the vision treated: yet to no one this in those days did she make known. Not long after however the coming to the monastery of the same Duke being discovered, when b the Abbot to the tyrant yielded the place, straightway as he came him to herself she ordered to be summoned. Whom coming direly receiving, with harsh words about the several things shown to her through the vision greatly she rebuked, and this added: she rebukes him Why, said she, dost thou approach him, whom thou with so great injuries hast afflicted? His golden cross, filled with the Relics of the Saints, contumaciously from this place with thee thou hast dared to carry off. But he, when he testified that he had received this not of his own accord, but the monks offering and giving it to him; Not for the love of thee, said she, did they do this, but for fear. But unless thou shalt restore [it], that to the holy place whence it was taken it be restored; know thy life to be in peril and constituted in the extremities. And when of all things, for which he was admonished, worthy amendment he promised, and the holy Cross and very many other things unjustly taken away he would be prepared to restore; he said among other things: Most dear Lady, I know that thou art a holy woman, pray for me and receive me into thy prayer. But she, If according to thy promises, said she, before God and His Saints thou shalt make satisfaction to me, I will do thy will. Which heard turning himself to the altar, by the affirmation of an oath all things according to the agreement he would do and thenceforth amend he pledged. Whom with these words receiving, license being given when she had a little while turned herself from his holy sight; again calling him to herself, she said: The provisors of the monastery the Brethren left, about thy coming solicitous, she admonishes him not to receive a golden chalice to be offered him: in the morning take counsel, with what treasure they may honor thee. Lo I providing for thy safety, foretell that a golden chalice with a paten they will offer thee: beware lest thou receive it. Which if thou shalt receive, and these things which thou hast promised thou shalt not fulfill; know that to thee a space of living of long time is denied. But he promises to promises adding, the benediction being received, to the dwelling of St. Rachilda proceeded. Who forewarned by her spiritual mother, him promising things similar to those words humbly received and dismissed.

[23] Morning being made, as the holy Virgin had foretold, counsel being entered, the monks the holy vessels, that is the golden chalice with the paten, because they had nothing else, to the Duke for a gift offered. Which gifts receiving, forgetful of his oath and pledge, he nevertheless having received it hands it to his wife, which to the Virgin worthy of God he had promised, to his own returned. Not long after the same Duke directing his journey to c Italy, to Rolinginda the matron, to himself in matrimony associated, all things, which St. Wiborada both perilous and pertaining to the salvation of the soul forewarned, in order narrated. This to her especially enjoining, that if to his own life being his companion he should not return, the chalice with the paten to the monastery to restore he should not delay. But alas a man to be grieved over, not only this one, but every one, who he himself for himself while he can to take counsel ceases, and considers not that to the vileness of hay, which in the fields grows green and flowers and in the morning cut withers, he is likened. and having set out into Italy miserably perishes, The Duke therefore, as in mind he had conceived, with a great retinue entering Italy, while the whole land to himself to subject and many to deceive he thinks, he himself by the deceitfulness of that nation prevented, while he strives to escape, by a sudden slip of an unbridled horse into d a pit, as if prepared for that fall of his, fell, and by this unhoped-for death miserably ended his life. Therefore Relinginda the matron, the death of her Lord the Duke being discovered, not as before by him she had been admonished, of the holy vessels did: but the paten with precious work decorated she retained with herself, and another much smaller and of less price fabricated, as at present we see, with the aforesaid chalice to the monastery to restore commanded.

[24] On a certain day, after the celebrated solemnity of B. John the Baptist, before the festivity of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, by divine revelation she knows the coming of the Hungarians, between the meridian time and the ninth hour, the Blessed woman sitting on her wonted seat in Psalmody, the open psalter lying before her suddenly of its own accord folded itself: into which a little while inclining her head she fell asleep. By this slight sleep through a vision it was revealed to her, that the savage nation of the Hungarians in the year to come on the Kalends of May, other lands being roamed through and devastated, to the monastery of St. Gall would come, and in that same revelation it was shown to her, that through the glory of martyrdom, those Pagans wounding her, both the prizes of the contest in the beatitude of the heavenly kingdom she ought to receive. Soon waking, and about the vision with solicitous intention treating, placed between hope and fear, by hope of her calling, by fear of the people's crushing,

for some days she kept silent. Then thinking that she had transgressed, if things revealed by God to others she did not manifest; the venerable man Waldramus, and she indicates it to Waldramus the monk. of whom before we made mention, affable to her, more secretly called to her, the coming of the Pagans and the appointed time she announces; but to him, nor ever to anyone the things which to her about her passion had been revealed disclosing. Moreover she admonished, that openly in the church to all coming, but also to those everywhere round about remaining, the impending peril he should take care to lay bare: herself also in this to labor promising, that by the deferral of so great a time, by frequenting of prayers, by celebration of fasts, by holy largess of alms, without intermission imploring the mercy of the Lord continually, the wrath of the supernal Judge, on account of the manifold sins of all the peoples raging, in some measure by insisting on good acts she might mitigate.

[25] And when the circle of that year was inclining, and the time of the month of May, the Pagans coming through Bavaria shown to the holy Virgin through a vision, approached; suddenly the fame flying through the lands, it is announced that the Pagans were spread over the whole province of the Bavarians. But the hearts of men, sins requiring how the impending destruction they might escape, when alas! they were always hard to believe; again and again the fame growing of the coming of the Pagans, before they would not believe, than the raging destruction the sword impending this province too even to the Potamic lake the barbaric nation enclosed about, to the Potamic lake, very many and innumerable slew, all the offices of the villas round about by the burning of fire devastated. Very many also among ours, the impending peril late or by no means believing, the Lord's mercy yet without intermission studied to implore: others also of them in no way believed. Some too of the household, the ridges of the high mountain placed above the monastery climbing, by the indication of flames and smoke stretching even to the ether scarcely sometime could believe. The Abbot therefore of the monastery, Engilbertus by name, a provident man, when now a certain castle near the monastery he had strongly fortified, eleven Brethren of the chief monks sent to B. Wiborada; she does not consent to be led away by those sent by the Abbot: that with her they should treat, in what manner she herself could be saved, and that she would permit herself for the avoiding of the savagery of the Pagans to be led out of the enclosure, and this to her they should say, that the Lord protecting they knew, her indeed about herself to be secure, nor the peril of death to fear; but on account of the state of the place and of those staying in it or serving God, for whom always devout she prayed, and still ought to pray, the Lord comforting her life to be necessary for it through long times. But they according to the precept hastening, the counsel and will of the Abbot to the holy Virgin indicated. Who when she heard these words, gratefully received them, and certain of the vision in the past year shown to her, but also of the hope of eternal retribution, a respite even until morning asking, while to her with the Abbot himself it might be permitted to converse, to them gave license of departing.

[26] Morning being made the messengers again coming proclaim the barbarians to have come. Straightway the Abbot, as if panting coming to her, the commands the day before sent through the monks repeated, saying with tears to the holy woman of God: Why, Lady, as the rumor is, dost thou not avoid the Pagans? why those constituted in perils are deprived of thy prayers and holy sight? or to the Abbot himself therefore weeping. why dost thou not suffer thyself in a safe place for some time, for our consolation, the grace of God accompanying and helping, to be preserved? But she moved by these weepings, Why, said she, venerable Father, dost thou bring upon me so great sadness? why to me, because thy power over me is, so little a space of accomplished labor dost thou command to lose? If the Lord to me, as I hope and believe, is a helper, what once is fixed in mind cannot be changed: that little dwelling, by the clemency of God granted to me, living in body empty I will not leave. Therefore the Abbot seeing so great constancy of the virginal mind fixed in God, asks pardon to be given him that he had so far fatigued her with his words: and knowing for certain, although she herself said it not, some revelation of her calling to have been made to her; he asks, what counsel now to himself in things to be done she would give. But she said: she admonishes the same that this day and night all things are to be removed. Holy Father, interpose no delay, but study to save thyself and the souls committed to thee by God; the treasure of St. Gall, as already thou hast begun, and whatever to the uses of the monks or the household is still left, today and this night by carrying and conveying to the castle to transmit delay not: for tomorrow, without all doubt, this valley everywhere enclosed about with a multitude of barbarians will be filled. At length the venerable Abbot, all doubt removed and to all the words credulous, did as she admonished: and all the treasure of St. Gall which was left, in books, in gold, in silver, in garments of diverse kind, and whatever in the provisions or uses of the monks could be, with all caution and haste, to the castle he transmitted.

[27] There came also the parents of Lady Rachilda treating with B. Wiborada, that their daughter taken out of the enclosure to safer places with them to be preserved they might lead away. she assigns Rachilda to be unharmed to her parents: To whom she said: Be not solicitous about my daughter. For by the protection of omnipotent God and of His Saints, for you to your consolation and for many others, through many times she will be preserved. Go to your lodging, and rising earlier come to us, that the benediction of God and of holy Magnus from our hands being received, rejoicing you may return to your own. The next day therefore dawning the kinsmen of B. Rachilda, religious as they were, giving faith to the words and consolations of the holy Virgin, all solicitude set aside for their daughter, came; and giving thanks to her for all the goods, always to themselves with so great benignity shown, license of departing they asked. To whom she, Receive, said she, the benediction of the Lord from my hands, and a little tasting go in peace. And when this had been done, by her holy prayers fortified and to the grace of God and the prayers of the Saints commended, their daughter saluted they returned to their own.

[28] Then a certain one of the household, by the swiftness of a horse having escaped the Pagans pursuing, came fleeing: and to many still in the valley, either in the taverns or in diverse places remaining, he commands flight to the keeper of the church and the servants. with a great cry, Flee, said he, O wretched ones, flee, here are those whom to come you would not believe. The elder also and monk Hitto, still in the church of St. Magnus remaining, because of that church he was keeper, with himself deliberating that nowhere he should flee; by the exhortation and precepts of St. Wiborada at length compelled, into a near grove clinging to the adjacent mountain, with two serving him scarcely fled away.

[29] Meanwhile a certain raging one and hateful to God, his like associates being taken to himself, to the basilica of St. Magnus together they hasten; and fire being set under, when the small dwelling of the holy Virgin they wished to burn up, by divine virtue the flames were extinguished. And when they perceived that the effect of their perverse will they could not accomplish, going round the little edifice an entrance, by which they could enter, they seek. the Hungarians bursting into the cell And not finding it, two of them ascended upon the roof, and the tiles being thrown apart cut down every obstacle: and a hole being made putting themselves in, the holy Virgin, before the little altar standing, and with devout prayers to omnipotent God and the suffrages of all the Saints suppliantly commending herself, they despoiled of her garments, and so all covering except the cilice being taken away, hatchets being balanced three wounds on the head of the holy Virgin and Martyr they inflict, despoiled of her garments in the cilice wounded she is left, and leaving her half-dead they departed. But the blood flowing forth in waves bathed almost the whole cilice; but also the wall of the same enclosure, sprinkled with the aspersion of the holy blood, through many times the martyrdom of the holy Virgin to those coming laid open: which by no obliterations, although with pure lime several times overlaid, but that it disclosed itself could be covered. We too that this is true in the nearest times with our eyes have beheld.

[30] And that more fully the truth may be disclosed to the faithful, for example I will insert into the order of the lesson a miracle done by her merits and this aid. A certain merchant of the Zurich f district, with pain of the eyes grievously labored, so that darkened with so great blindness he walked, that scarcely the path with a staff guiding he kept. He hearing the fame of the excellent Virgin, for the name of Christ martyred, a blind man having received bloody dust is illumined. because to many sick before her death she succored; devout and firmed by faith came. And when the church of St. Magnus for the cause of praying he entered, he asks to be led to the sepulchre of the Venerable Virgin; and there pouring querulous prayers to the Lord, when he had demanded the help of the holy Martyr, they rose: and because before he heard, the wall of her enclosure with the sprinkling of the holy gore infused, he asked the place to be shown him. And this being done, the others departing, with a little knife scraping off a little of the bloody dust, and wrapping it in a little linen, with himself he retained it. Then to the grace of the Lord and the holy Virgin commending himself, the way by which he had come he retraced: and delaying nothing, when his own home he entered, the sanctified dust into his almost blinded eyes he cast: and soon all the pain being put to flight he rejoiced that he had received his sight entirely, the merit and martyrdom of St. Wiborada to many before ignorant he laid open. And afterwards, as quickly as he could, to the monastery with an oblation coming, thanks to omnipotent God and the holy Virgin for the health received he repaid, and publicly by her merits himself saved to all manifested.

[31] Eight days therefore being passed, those enclosed in the castle, hearing of the departure of the Pagans from many who had come, the Abbot with the monks and household, to the monastery returned: but also many others, from diverse places into that same castle gathered, to their own returned. The aforesaid also monk and Presbyter, on the third day of her passion, returning secretly to the basilica of St. Magnus committed to him, and certain of the brethren and laics being taken; together with them and her faithful minister entering the enclosure, where the holy members lay, the wonted prayer over her they made. And when the holy little body, by continual parsimony consumed, and the dry bones scarcely with thin skin and nerves cohering, for washing of the cilice with stiffening gore they bared; the wounds of the head sound they found: the feet too, before by the harshness of hard and excessive cold mutilated, to the former health restored they found; only one arm and leg, as still living to herself she had contracted, somewhat curved. Inspecting also the little body, they found the scars of the little iron chain, with which she had herself bound about, and by this torment her tender body she mortified; an excellent imitator of our venerable Father St. Gall, who bound with a bronze chain, in four parts of the body deep wounds to those beholding laid open. She herself too on the day of her martyrdom the blessed Virgin the little chain, which long, before the barbaric nation came, together with the chain is buried, taken off from her body under the altar placed and hid: afterwards, in a vision appearing to those who kept watch about the holy obsequies, she admonished, that the little chain itself taken up beside her body in the sarcophagus they should place. Which also was done.

ANNOTATA.

CHAPTER IV.

Various miracles wrought after the martyrdom. The occasion of the Life written.

[32] The sepulchre by night with clear light is illustrated: On a certain night her faithful minister, for the cause of praying to the sepulchre wishing to approach, before to the little door of the little edifice she came, so great a brightness of light within shining she saw, that if a needle she had had to seek she could have found it. But she at the sudden apparition of light stupefied, and by no means nearer daring to approach; in the place where she stood prostrate on the ground she was, and with leaning prayers to God and the merits of the holy Virgin commending herself, returned to her little bed, praising and blessing the Lord.

[33] But the summer of her passing ending, and the autumnal time pressing on, fennel at the sepulchre through winter growing the venerable Presbyter and monk Hitto, a germ of green fennel about her tomb fixed: which the divine grace dispensing fixing its root in the earth, through the whole winter flowered, and as if in the manner of a crown weaving itself together with itself, the whole sepulchre with this ornament enclosed; and so grew on high, that many who had come wondered, saying, that in gardens in the spring time under the open sky an herb of this kind never had they seen with so noble leaves to have flowered. From this germ also to many afterwards laboring with infirmity it is succored: diseases are cured. but also to B. Rachilda continually ailing thence a little broth being made, straightway she felt herself to have received medicine in her body. O virginal flower, always green and beautiful, with how great dignity wilt thou shine before the Lord in perpetuity, who with so great honor art decorated in the peregrination of the world!

[34] In those same days after the passion of St. Wiborada, as a little before we have narrated, B. Rachilda, held by great infirmity of body, of all the members deprived of strength lay, B. Rachilda like a dead [woman for three days remaining,] tasting nothing except if by the life-giving of the sacrosanct body and blood of the Lord she was refreshed. And this infirmity long enduring, it happened that for three continuous days so immovable and despaired she lay, that those who were present at the watches, whether she was dead or alive utterly knew not: at whom also before the window of the little edifice was present the venerable Master and monk Noker a the Physician. That faithful minister too of both Virgins formerly, in the corner of that little cell, on the small straw of a little bed, for the safeguard of the holy Virgin was resting. At length the holy Virgin, who despaired lay, on the third night about cockcrow, her spirit a little resumed, said. Dear mother, if it is the will of God, some help to me laboring with great infirmity deign to afford. Nor delay, straightway the divine mercy was present: by St. Wiborada visited she convalesces: for the keeper herself watching and looking, the holy and blessed and glorious Martyr, with great brightness of light and the sweetness of most sweet odor, appeared; and her head to the head of the sick woman reclining, with a salutary touch too of her hand, as it seemed to her, long there delaying, stayed. But the faithful minister, trembling beholding these things, said within herself: How beautiful and comely dost thou shine, my Lady? And soon with that very apparition of light, from human sights taken away, the glorious Martyr withdrew, the sweetness of most sweet odor there even until daylight enduring: the holy Virgin too, after the departure of the pious Mother the infirmity withdrawing, her strength resumed and convalesced.

[35] A certain young monk, in the congregation of our venerable Father St. Gall, Udalric by name, under scholarly discipline lived: who an infirmity supervening for a long time grievously labored, so that the sickness enduring, a youth wasted by long disease is healed. his bones with thin skin and nerves scarcely cohering, the last breath he seemed to draw, and nothing of sleep or food could take. He when near death he was perceived to be, by the support of his fellow-disciples led, before the sepulchre of the blessed Martyr is laid down: and when with tearful and suppliant prayer that by her merits some medicine he might receive he had deplored, he fell asleep: and soon under that very hour waking, he asks something to eat to be given him. And when this to B. Rachilda had been announced, she sent him bread and fish. But he receiving it eagerly enough ate, and so by the patronage of the blessed Martyr, as if from the precipice of death snatched, not without admiration himself by himself walking, to the cloister returned, who by the support of others brought, with a stumbling step his members too dissolved scarcely had come.

[36] These and so great virtues of signs continually at the sepulchre of the blessed Virgin being shown, the venerable Abbot Engilbertus, the anniversary time of her deposition coming, by the counsel of the Abbot and others. on the prior day called to him Hitto the monk, the brother of the same venerable Martyr: and other Fathers very many of the congregation being present, an account with him of her virtues he had. Who when very many things, which either known to all or still unknown had been, by the assertion of truth into the midst he brought; all doubt removed, the Abbot most certain, The anniversary day as of the holy Virgin celebrated, of how great merit and how great honor of glorification before God she would be held worthy, who with so great signs and virtues among men shone; with the counsel of the Brethren to the same monk and Presbyter commands, that the Vigils of the coming night, with psalmody and the sweet modulation of hymns, as by the ordination of the ancient Fathers about Virgins we have written, with the license and help of God, at her tomb most devoutly he should fulfill; then also the coming day with the synaxis and celebration of Masses solemn he should lead. But he with great congratulation, when the Matins lauds, according to the precept to him, at the sepulchre of the holy Virgin devout he discharged; it pleased the Holy [woman,] the day now dawning for the grace of resting a little to his dwelling returned. And when on the little bed he placed himself and had fallen asleep, there is present in a vision the blessed Virgin, for the service to God reverently performed thanks she rendered, but yet that something there was which displeased her she indicates. But he, I hear, said he, a voice of one speaking: but to whom I ought to answer I know not. I am, said she, Wiborada: and in that very hour, with a glad countenance and known before, to himself as it were smiling he beholds her, To whom he said: What is it Lady that I have done amiss? But she: not the veil of the altar changed. My little altar, with a veil by my hands, while in the prison of this world I dwelt always covered, thou hast despoiled; and another more precious, which is another's, over it thou hast spread. Rise quickly, and delaying nothing, what is ours restore to its place. Which he hearing quickly rose, and straightway the precept fulfilled.

[37] This too to be passed over in silence we judge not useful, that the holy Virgin and Martyr, not only to the faithful coming to her sepulchre, various ones far absent are healed: and devoutly her solace seeking, with salutary medicine meets; but also to those, who placed far off either by infirmity or by any labor whatsoever detained, if faithfully her help they await, the divine clemency aiding to assist ceases not. In the district called Frichgowe, which a the Aar river on one side flows past, and on the other part the noblest of rivers, penetrating Alemannia, the Rhine inundates, there was a certain mother of a family, leading a laudable life in a secular manner, by name Hiltruda, the sister of B. Rachilda the Recluse; who an infirmity supervening with so great trouble of body was held, that the faculty of eating, drinking, walking, sitting, or a little in the little bed of resting being taken away, in which Hiltruda the sister of B. Rachilda, by grievous sickness wasting, the last breath scarcely she seemed to draw. And when long fatigued by so great languors she wasted; at length the supernal clemency having mercy, which those hoping in itself salutarily chastises that it may save, a little the breath of the sick breast being resumed, with the voice she could imploring the help of the blessed Virgin, Most blessed, said she, Martyr and Virgin most worthy of Christ Wiborada, succor me a wretch, greatly laboring: for I know and believe, that by the grace of God granting thou canst by thy prayers the fighting disease in me for some time relieve, that the members a little long fatigued may rest. She wearied praying tearfully, as afterwards she related, neither sleeping nor wholly waking, saw the holy Virgin to stand by her, and by the Holy [woman visited.] and in her hand to hold a particle of hyacinth-colored skin, having the likeness of a sheath with which swords are wont to be covered. Which casting upon her, she said: Thou hast wished from me that a little thou shouldst sleep: rest and sleep with the benediction of the Lord. Straightway the sweetness of sleep salutarily obtained, she slept that night and a great part of the following day. Then waking, and those staying about for the safeguard of her calling, Give, said she, me to eat as quickly as possible, that the body by disease and hunger consumed a little I may refresh, because nothing of evil I suffer: for by the grace of God and of my Lady Wiborada, I am freed from this infirmity. Who after a little, the strength of body fully resumed, to the monastery of St. Gall hastens; and soon the tomb of the holy Virgin being visited, for the health received she praises, and thanks to omnipotent God and her merits, an oblation being offered, devout she paid.

[38] After the death of Hitto a certain Presbyter, Eggibertus by name, renouncing the world, to the monastery came: and there by the Abbot benignly was received. He in the monastery leading a probable life, when to all his conversation had pleased, A Priest fallen into blindness, the successor of Lord Hitto being made by the Abbot, the church of St. Magnus undertook to govern. But it happened after a few years an infirmity supervening with so great pains of the eyes him to be tortured, that neither rest could he have nor by himself anywhere walk his sight being darkened. And when in this infirmity for some time he had labored, and medicine being applied nothing had profited; the festivity of St. Agnes Martyr coming, armed with faith, the cell, where the members of the blessed Virgin and martyr Wiborada entombed rest, he enters; and there before the sepulchre prostrate, long a suppliant prayer he poured. At length with a tearful voice to prayers joining pious vows, My Lady, said he, most holy, I believe that with the mercy of omnipotent God for my infirmity thou canst implore a remedy. a vow being made Know also that if in these labors of thine to me having merited to succor thou deignest, that every week, while I live and have strength of body, at the altar to thy sepulchre

set, a Mass of the holy Cross on the sixth weekday to celebrate I will not cease. These vows and prayers being finished when he had a little fallen asleep, and soon in that same hour had waked, all pain and blindness being put to flight, so great a brightness of the eyes to himself he felt to be present, that he confessed himself in his youthful age more clearly not to be able to see: he is illumined, and so afterwards all the days of his life, with sound and clear sharpness of eyes enduring, to the bestower of all good things and the benevolent bestower the Saint, what he had promised devoutly and faithfully to fulfill he ceases not.

[39] A certain woman, Reginsinda by name, with continual pain of the head labored. She having discovered the fame of the virtues of the holy Virgin, Vexed with pain of the head, a vow being made she is healed: how the Lord's grace breathing she healed the sick, on the anniversary festivity of her deposition to the sepulchre came: and there with weepings devout in prayers insisting, with vows she bound herself, if her medicine she should merit, as long as she lived the day of her passing festively she would celebrate. And when a little she had fallen asleep, the infirmity passing sound she withdrew. And again the anniversary deposition of her Birthday pressing on, the day now growing toward evening, having a web set up, even to the extremity of weaving nearly brought, the promises of the past year remembering, she said in her heart: The labor of my work seeing the end I will quickly perfect, and so what by vows I had promised to my Lady the festive day to celebrate I will not cease. No delay by pains of the head, on account of her feast violated relapsed, before to her very well known, stung she fell, and the bed for the cause of this infirmity as if delivered to oblivion by force she sought, And so tormented with great pains, at length the penalty of her guilt considering, again to the sepulchre she came: penitent again she convalesces. and there herself guilty and a transgressor of the vow of the decedent year proclaiming, vows to vows she joins, prayers to prayers: and so all amendment of the debt tearfully promising, she fell asleep. Then it seemed to her as if someone came, and a great weight of wood in the manner of a beam over her head had cast. Soon waking, the infirmity of the head allayed, to God and the holy Virgin giving thanks, her own dwellings joyful she revisited.

[40] But that we may somewhat digress from the order of time, while Craloh c the venerable Abbot presided over the convent, St. Udalric d the Bishop, (who now with a happy death with Christ rejoices, and with faithful devotion to those asking help in diverse necessities wonderfully and mercifully accommodates) came to the monastery. To St. Udalric the Bishop And when according to his custom the holy places he went round, to the tomb of his nurse formerly Wiborada to pray he approached. Who the prayer being finished, among the rest of the bystanders regarding a venerable man, a monk of the same monastery and well learned, by name Eggehard, asked him saying: Is there anything, most dear one, by any of the Brethren, whom most learned we know, of the illustrious life and passion of the holy Virgin through letters committed to memory? To whom he, No one, said he, of them as yet his hand to a work of this kind to begin has stretched: of which my tardiness I reprehend, knowing myself a debtor of that praise to be proclaimed, Eggehard healed from arthritis, if the strength of knowledge with the quantity of material agreed. Which the Bishop hearing, and avid of hearing his proclamations, asked, what that was in which he asseverated himself a debtor. And he, The inconvenience, said he, of sickness, gout e infesting, and my whole body contracting, so greatly I incurred, that among intolerably raging pains the hope of recovering health I lost: physicians indeed for the relief of the languor assisting, and all the industry of their art frustrated confessing. Wherefore as much as human help I despaired, so much I began more intently to implore the divine. Meanwhile while the patronages of diverse Saints with vows and prayers I demanded, the merits of the holy Virgin to memory being recalled I asked, that the cilice, with which her holy limbs for the mortification of the flesh she had worn, to me though unworthy might be brought. Which obtained I vowed, that if to me safety of life through the merits of the holy Virgin should be granted, from a vow he wrote the Life. that what I knew or could learn of her praiseworthy acts in writing to memory I would commend. And when after that pledge that holy garment of the holy Virgin to me several times was spread over, straightway I began to be more gently, and then not many days passed with full health I convalesced: but still by diverse occasions of obstacles hindered, to discharge the vow I delayed. The holy Prelate hearing this, with modest rebukes him exhorted, that himself an unfaithful pledger he should not exhibit; but that which for some time he had neglected, more quickly he should set about to perfect. Whose salutary admonitions he humbly hearing, and in nothing doubting, many of those things which from diverse persons he heard as he had proposed to write he began, and most of them by writing comprehended. Be it known to all loving Christ, that those things which we have dictated, in truth discovered, by the relation of faithful predecessors we have written. There testify also this very many, and in our times still, with various infirmities pressed, that is the fevered, with sickness of the head, pain of the teeth, of the ears, eyes, hands, feet, and all the members, who at the sepulchre of the blessed Virgin the medicine of recovery experience, our Lord Jesus Christ bestowing, who with God the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns God, through infinite ages of ages. Amen.

ANNOTATA.

EPITAPH OF B. WIBORADA

Wiborada Mart. Virgin recluse at St. Gall, in Helvetia (St.)

Rachilda, Virgin recluse at St. Gall, in Helvetia (St.)

After the Son of the high-throned shone forth to the world, Christ in this world of a Virgin born a man; Nine hundred twenty-five years being rolled, After four months and twice four days a, Wiborada, to God by merits a most worthy Virgin, By the palm of martyrdom ascends to the stars of the pole, She here of her own accord with dying body enclosed, From human sights hidden and from converse; Celibate, but to her heavenly Spouse alone known, By Angelic address is fed and by food. With this parsimony she endured many times, Always as about to go to the impending day of death. At last by the Pagans on the Kalends of May then having suffered, The next morning she died, the perennial morning she seeks. For whose holy love we tend her members with a sepulchre, Paying our debts and pouring forth prayers. But hers exulting, and with the victor's dowry glittering, The spirit, in heaven lives and rejoices to God.

ANNOTATION.

ANOTHER LIFE

By the Author Hepidannus a cenobite of St. Gall.

From the MS. Codex of St. Gall and the edition of Goldast.

Wiborada Mart. Virgin recluse at St. Gall, in Helvetia (St.)

Rachilda, Virgin recluse at St. Gall, in Helvetia (St.)

BHL Number: 8867, 8868

BY THE AUTHOR HEPIDANNUS. FROM MSS.

PROLOGUE.

It is wont for the most part to modern writers by the Fathers to be imputed as a vice, Although the younger are blamed while they refashion the writings of the elders, that the traditions of the ancients in their writings or deeds are by them changed, with this objection namely, that as if their virtues being trampled, of their own nothing more probable they wish to be esteemed. But their reverend hoariness from a suspicion of this kind it behooves to be seen alien, that anything by them is reprehended, not because crassly composed and inelegantly it is thought, but because lately, or because nothing right except what has pleased themselves they reckon, or because base they think to obey their juniors, and what beardless they learned, when old to confess must be unlearned.

I do not indeed assail, and that the songs of Livius are to be destroyed, I think not ---

For since I have read that some of the prior writers prayed to God, that He would deign to raise up the spirit of someone, who his Virgin Wiborada adorned with so many virtues might make with a more graceful style savory, what shall I say the later ones to have wished? when some of them, yet the author asks to be excused in the Life of St. Wiborada, if a deferral of temporal life their vows had answered, this work would have wished to attempt? Yet never into my mind did I bring such a thing to undertake, both considering the rusticity of my genius, and lest I be thought by my zeal to wish for favor to myself, to denote the negligence of the Fathers. This denotation in two ways is wont to come about, when either any arrogant one unbidden presumes to rouse the sleeping Homer; or when with b Tucca and Varius someone obedient, Virgil being prevented by death only the superfluous studies to cut off. To the former arrogance provokes; which to be written he undertook to the latter obedience compels. Obedience, as you know most dear ones, to us is necessary, if of perfect liberty we desire to obtain the advantages. For this although to every human creature, as the Apostle exhorts, is to be exhibited for God, yet more specially to those it looks, under whose government living in convents, to the strict Judge an account of our excesses to render for certain we know, and their excuse to be our condemnation. 1 Peter 2, 13 To which government, thou venerable Father c Udalric, in the year one thousand seventy-second of the Incarnation of the Lord by His wondrous dispensation called, with the Abbot of good memory thy d Nortpert, then for thirty and eight years over the sheepfold of St. Gall watching, by the command of Udalric the Abbot about the year 1072 not only by amiable precept, but also by the common election of the Brethren a successor being made, as it pleased thy Paternity, the burden thou hast enjoined: which before I shuddered to impose on my littleness, namely that the life of the said Virgin, sometimes on account of the simplicity of diverse writers with superfluity of words as with certain leaves exuberant, with the sickle of stricter eloquence to cut off I should study. But I although in this obedience I knew myself an unbearable burden to fit to weak shoulders, yet I did not sharpen my tongue with words of contradiction, choosing for myself it to be better under the bundle of thy precepts to fail, than by resisting them the title of disobedience to incur. An example also with the grammarian it pleased to set forth, lest it grieve others, even what by me, either by ignorance perhaps omitted, or faultily said (For nothing in every part perfect in human inventions I believe can be found) by their industry too either to add or to change. But before the burden bound to me for fitting I move, worth the trouble I judge it to be, briefly into the midst to bring forth, through

through whom the illustrious deeds of this Virgin to posterity first became known: that when it shall be disclosed me to be not a new author of this relation, but rather a follower of authors, no one may note the vice of falsity in my page. At the time therefore in which the venerable Gralo governed the congregation of St. Gall, before begun to be written by Ekkehard, there was in it a certain Brother, by name Ekkehard, a man wholly made of wisdom and virtues. He when at a certain time by dropsy almost to the extremes was brought, vowed to B. Wiborada that all things which of her sanctity he could discover to letters he would commit, if to him for the present she would deign from God some remedy to obtain. O archiater in the rod and in the staff! O propagator of the sanctity of thy elect! Straightway it came into his mind, that for himself he should ask to be brought the cilice of the Martyr, and it over his watery members should spread. Which when it had been done, forthwith he felt himself somewhat better to be, and then not many days passed to the full he convalesced. Then mindful of his pledge, he met Kebeni, who to the blessed Virgin from the very cradle even to the article of death had obeyed, Kebeni the handmaid suggesting the material indicating to her by what vow he had bound himself, and that the following day to her he would come, that of this theme more fully from her he might be informed. Who vehemently at his words wondering, no less also began to be anxious, because those things about which she was to be questioned, already long ago the lethean disease had absorbed. At last by the persuasion of a certain Priest to the tomb of her Lady to pray she is prostrated, that He who the law burned by the Chaldeans through Esdras willed to repair, He also the merits of His Martyr, as far as to the memory of men abolished, through her would deign to declare. After she had heaped up prayers of this kind, she rose: and the basilica with no less anxiety went out, than also she entered. For she was ignorant how near was her consolation. But the following night when she had given herself to slumber, it seemed to her to repeat the place of prayer, and the blessed Virgin a little scroll written with golden letters to her to show, this voice being subjoined, Use the things desired. Soon awakened, all the frailty of oblivion driven away, so perfectly she began to use the powers of memory that the light returned not only nothing solicitous was she what to the aforesaid Brother she should answer, but also a voluntary inviter she became, and to him the desired theme, from the primordium even to the prize received with the palm of martyrdom, she promulgated. Which he laying up in his deepest senses, with fervent work, rightly proclaimed with the Psalmist: In me are, O God, Thy vows, which I will render praises to Thee, since Thou hast snatched me from death. Psalm 55, 12 But when these vows in part he was rendering, alas! by dire death e prevented, many heirs of his purpose he had: who (since diverse persons relish diverse things) sometimes the less necessary with the necessary mixed. and from the death of Eggehard supplied by others. Of these I treading in the footsteps, studied those things which to me seemed worthy of memory for proving the sanctity of this Virgin strictly to collect, not to them for reproach, but, which is truer, especially to thee for obeying, as has been aforesaid, most Reverend Father.

ANNOTATA.

The chapters of the following book.

These chapters by us are changed into numbers: and other chapters after our manner are formed.

CHAPTER I.

Noble birth, pious education: the knowledge of the Psalms received: the promotion of her brother to the monastic life procured.

[1] The blessed Virgin of God Wiborada, sprung from the lineage of the Alemanni, Born of honorable and pious parents, from parents according to the dignity of the world not the lowest, but according to the Christian liberty most noble, drew her origin. And so to God from the very cradle being devoted, and by increments of virtues transcending the time of her age, her nobility with religious conversation she adorned. For all the allurements of youthful petulance from the tender nail execrating, as is read of the daughter of Raguel, never did she mingle herself with those playing, nor with those who in levity walked. Tob. 3, 17. For the Holy Spirit, who that same maiden, to be associated to the bridal chamber of a just man, in the shadow of the law immaculate preserved; He also Wiborada, through the laver of regeneration into the adoption of the sons of God received, deigned inviolate to guard, that holy both in body and spirit the bridal chamber of the heavenly Spouse she might merit to enter.

[2] Faith which teaches that divine providence not only the deeds, but also the wills of men provides or prepares, makes us credulous, that to this blessed Virgin so laudable a name not without His providence was imposed, whose name from the rising of the sun even to the setting is laudable. For in the Teutonic locution uttered, Wiborada as if counsel of women called: the Counsel of women it sounds. For as often as thus the spiritual names of the elect of God we read, openly through the very names it is given to understand, that the Angel of great Counsel in the hearts of either sex will deign the spirit of counsel to diffuse, that when by them for us erring spiritually it is taken counsel, He Himself in their counsels may be glorified. God who is glorified in the council of the Saints proclaims the Psalmist. Ps. 88, 8. Laudable, I say, is the name of B. Wiborada, because with Martha by leading the active life, and with Mary the speculative, to all piously living, men and women, the counsel, of accomplishing the perfection of both love in herself she exhibited.

[3] Congruous therefore it seems to insert into the lesson, that to this blessed Virgin there was a sister, leading a life of the highest innocence: whom when on a certain day her coevals exhorted to go out with her to the choir, she taught by the proverbs of a certain wise man, Mourning occupies the extremes of joy, and again, My son, if sinners shall entice thee acquiesce not to them, after deep sighs thus broke into voice. What delight of this world can be sweet to me, who hear the Angelic choirs frequent the harmony of sweet-sounding modulation? Prov. 14, Prov. 1 Thither I desire to go, with these choirs to be intermingled I delight. Scarcely did she complete the speech, and her cheeks abundantly with tears she bedewed. After a few days indeed she was loosed from the flesh, because God for this hastened to lead her out of the midst of iniquities, because pleasing to Him was her soul. Of her birthday therefore rejoicing, certain that the Lord of virtues deprived her not of goods, because she walked in innocence, the style for the begun work we will sharpen.

[4] Barefoot in the morning she goes to the church, The blessed therefore Wiborada, as we have aforesaid, in all ways execrating petulance, so greatly studied to fulfill the divine precept, that almost daily all things being set aside barefoot to the church, which far from her paternal house was distant, walking, first she sought the kingdom of God and His justice, and afterwards in the works of her hands she entangled herself. For the bread of idleness she did not eat, then she works: but the labors of her hands she ate, whence she is blessed, and it will be well with her. For popular frequency not only of strangers, but also of acquaintances as far as it was permitted fleeing, secret places always she loved; that both idle words she might more easily avoid, and on holy meditations the edge of her mind more freely fix. Her parents no one more reverently cherished, no one toward his own the precepts of the divine law more devoutly fulfilled, reverent to her parents, no one those worn out with want and diseases more lovingly handled, because she herself to them providing nourishments ministered, fomentations prepared, baths conferred, beddings disposed, and herself laid them down, she helps the poor: and at a competent time raised them up. Parsimony indeed so greatly she loved, that for the most part on the second, very often on the third day, except at evening, the fast she would not break. given to fasting For of our eloquence it is not by writings to run through her holy conversation, and how her body she chastised, that of the Holy Spirit a worthy dwelling to become she might merit. Therefore few of many, and to the chastisement of her body: small of great writing, those who relish more highly we admonish, that in the few the more, in the small the greater weighing, they glorify God wonderful in His Saints.

[5] On a certain therefore celebrated festivity, when her parents about to proceed to the church, more decently than usual were adorned; she knowing that God is more delighted by purity of heart, by command of her parents more elegantly clothed than in the brightness of garments, would not change the custom of her private dress. But her parents, after the manner of seculars fleeing the occasion of reproach (for as in the father the daughter, so also in the daughter the father is honored) ordered her to desist from the things begun. To whose command she deferring honor, with comely garments clad, and with head-bands adorned, the journey with them undertook. But while they went on the Virgin's head began grievously to ache, because the Lord who loved her, chastised her; that this chastisement might be as it were a forewarning of humility to be observed, lest the vice of elation through the exterior whiteness of the garment glided in, inwardly should obfuscate the splendor of the heart. she is seized with pain of the head, Against which gliding-in also the Pastor of the Church the sheep handed over to him I esteem to caution, where he says: Not in precious garment. 1 Tim. 2, 17 Forthwith indeed feeling through the spirit herself by divine visitation admonished, the back of the horse on which she sat by descending relieving, the theristrum with all the band-like composition drawing off, never thenceforth ornaments of this kind she used. she casts off her ornament, And when her companions, that the horse she should remount, exhorted, she utterly did not consent; but by a pedestrian journey even to the church she came. That day so greatly was the beginning of renouncing transitory things, and the will of marrying: that even the contracting of matrimony in mind being spurned, to her brother Hitto at the convent of St. Gall in the schools being, more than to suitors coming to commend herself she studied, those things which she needed through faithful intermediaries by sending.

[6] The said therefore Cleric, to the grade of the Presbyterate promoted, studied without crime to live, and to be the husband of one wife, that is, of the Church. by Hitto her brother and Presbyter taught the psalms, And when seven times in the day praise to God to say he frequented the psalmody, more ardently the Virgin began to insist on him, communicating to him in all goods, that even he should catechize her,

by word. To whose desire promising himself about to satisfy, in the very beginning he was fervent in instructing, but his zeal gradually growing tepid, at last grew cold. When on a certain night he was seized through a vision, in abstinence of food he is bidden to be, and he on account of his tepidity in a vision being seized, until his sister he should teach the fiftieth Psalm. For the prior ones from him she had been taught, this one alone of the fifty remained. What more? from the night he rose, his sister he summoned, the vision he opens, and himself prepared for instructing he made known; and he became then an exhorter to learning, she learned 50 Psalms, who before had been a denier of teaching. Fifty psalms therefore thus piecemeal from her brother perceived, the rest by the mastery of the Holy Spirit she learned.

[7] On the Sunday of beginning Lent, when the aforesaid Priest about to celebrate the solemnities of the Masses, had complained that to him a helper was lacking, consoling him the blessed Virgin said: him celebrating Mass helping she chants. Trust in the help of the Most High, and He helping thee will stay with thee. The Virgin's therefore promise believing he proceeded, and the spiritual office began. With whom straightway so authoritatively she herself began to chant, that in the knowledge of those things which there were sung, by no means inferior she seemed to be to the Priest. These are Thy miracles O Lord, Father of heaven and earth, who didst hide the treasure of wisdom from the prudent of this world, and didst reveal it to little ones: for to Thee the dead live, the insensible are wise, the blind contemplate, the deaf hear, the dumb are eloquent, to the praise and glory of Thy name. But the Priest and all the surrounding congregation hearing these things, after no small admiration glorified God, to His possibility these things ascribing.

[8] The same Priest already from his youth with that Evangelic young man the commandments of life keeping, that only which of perfection the Truth taught, still also with him sad he heard a. Matt. 19, 22 But the blessed Wiborada, who already, the transitory things in mind by renouncing, from the waves of this world had emerged herself, desiring also her brother to the port of perennial tranquillity to come, to him she persuades with words of this kind addresses him: How long, dearest brother, by loving these temporal things, in the rivers of Babylon are we tossed? For humiliated we are in this valley of tears on account of the presumption of the first parent; and it is necessary, if through elation the lost fatherland to attain we desire, through humility to merit it. Therefore I admonish thee, my brother, that neither under the rivers, nor in the rivers, but above the rivers of this Babylon sitting, daily with tears let us await our end; that the sorrow of our heart to God ascending, by His grace we may merit to be helped, that through the steps of humility from virtue to virtue ascending, our feet may be stabilized in the courts of Jerusalem. For we know that the earthly house of this our habitation is dissolved: therefore now it must be acted, that after the dissolution of this, an edification we may have from God, a house not made by hand in the heavens. For thee knowing the sacred Scriptures, there is no need by me an insipid one to be taught, how it behooves to be wise unto sobriety, and to watch for the coming of one returning from the wedding: yet one thing I admonish, for the time is near. the monastic life, at St. Gall, By such an address of his sister was changed the heart of the brother, and all things being left, naked from the shipwreck of this world fleeing, with the oars of virtues he studied to seize the port of salvation. And so in the monastery of St. Gall to the sweet yoke of regular life humbling himself, when to all his conversation had pleased, the Brethren this in common counseling, to the church of B. Magnus b by the Father of the monastery he is set. the prefecture of St. Magnus performed. Which also even after his sister's martyrdom probably governed, by divine vocation he migrated into the region of the living.

ANNOTATA.

CHAPTER II.

The perfection of life chosen: a demoniac freed: a calumny of adultery brought. Life at Constance performed, and from the illusion of Cilia the recluse freed.

[9] The venerable therefore Virgin, after the conversion of her brother believing nothing done, if not also she augmented her purpose; two of her domestics being called, who to her faithful before the rest seemed, Choosing a holier life, she laid bare to them her will: that neither with so delicious, as before, any longer she would be refreshed with nourishments, nor on hanging feathers to rest; and yet all these things no less sumptuously to be prepared, than if she herself wished to use them. Who voluntarily obeying the precepts of their Lady, herbs or legumes together with flesh on the table place. But she sometimes the flesh to her mouth bringing, from flesh she abstains: the people thinking her to use flesh deceived: for secretly she rejected it, that through abstinence of flesh, the spirit she might render stronger; and after a little, as if from satiety loathing, to the poor or the bystanders she gave out. Similarly also her bed elegantly was prepared for the present, she lies in a cilice upon flint, but after the withdrawal of those less secret, she ordered for herself a cilice to be spread under, flint being placed under her head. And so a little pausing, when the most pleasing quiet was to mortals, she rose: and even entering the basilica, the Lord for her offenses humbly kneeling she besought. Often the persecutor of virtues the devil her to the basilica walking strove to deter, then in prayer she passes the night: now before the doors of the church as a sow grunting, namely recollecting the ancient permission into the herd of swine, sometimes upon her lying in prayer in the figure of a frog before her eyes creeping. But she, with the shield of faith fortified, and with the sword of the spirit which is the word of God armed, all the virtue of the enemy put to flight. b

[10] When these things daily indefatigably were done, and the fame of her conversation everywhere was divulged; a certain very rich matron, her sanctity having learned, a certain one of her servants by malign spirits possessed had sent to her, a servant an energumen she frees: that by her merits aiding, to health he might be restored. But she through the invocation of the name of Jesus Christ the demons being excluded, made him return home unharmed. But the matron for his safety glorifying God, after some days sent him back to the blessed Virgin, uniquely beseeching, that whom by divine help from so many iniquitous Lords she had rescued, and given to her she sets free. of the same thenceforth she alone would deign to be lady. To whose petition although unwillingly giving assent, for some time retained in service, she gifted him with liberty.

[11] But the iniquitous claimant of the image of God, raging that he from another's slave by B. Wiborada was expelled, with zeal of revenge against her is armed. Through a maidservant And so when now he had known through the diverse terrors brought by him the frequency of prayers not to grow rare, he strove the same frequency with a stain of infamy to wrap, exciting against her a certain one of her maidservants, who would affirm, that she not for the cause of prayer secretly through the single nights rose, but rather that the nefarious things which under the sun she would have blushed to do, relying on the nocturnal darkness more securely she might accomplish; accused of unchastity and this word that she went to pray, to be as it were a gilding of her crimes, which also with so many she had exercised, that to her it seemed impossible them by calculation to comprehend. But about these things to be silent, if she were immune from the pollution of fraternal concubinage. These things she everywhere unceasingly barking, and some saying them to be feigned, but others blaming human frailty, the fame came to the ears of Salomon Bishop of Constance. What need of words? She is set before the Prelate, before Salomon Bishop of Constance, in the place of an adulteress the spouse of Christ: she is accused for innumerable adultery, who was not polluted even by one: she is defamed to be the concubine of her brother, the counselor of fraternal chastity. The things affirmed by the harlot are denied by the Virgin, but the people ignorant of the true, equally believed both. The Bishop however wishing to put an end to their doubt, appointed her a day, on which of the things objected to her, by the judgment of God to the doubting people she should make faith. Confidently mayest thou act, Wiborada: for it behooves now a little to be saddened in various tribulations, that your faith may be more precious than gold which through fire is proved. For that son of the carpenter, that one not a prophet on account of the touch of a harlot, that one having a demon, that one bearing other innumerable reproaches, with thy reproaches too will compassionate. Through these it behooved Him to enter into His glory, through these also us it behooves of the same glory to become coheirs. For when I hear from the Apostle that there must be glorying in tribulations, I see no cause of thy diffidence, except thence thou shouldst become pusillanimous, that for a light tribulation even of one under the impossibility of the law still fighting unequal thou seemest: Rom. 5, 3 but I speak of Susanna: for she was defamed by two presbyters, who were to be believed as elders of the people; but thou by one vile little maidservant, whose words are reserved to be proved by judgment: she without delay to death is adjudged, but thou that by any penalty thou shouldst be struck not even will be spoken. But neither yet distrust as if by God forsaken; for a day will come when more thou shalt be proved than Susanna, of which day our speech for the present is to be repressed, and rather to the judgment prescribed for thee to be reflected. But a copious multitude coming together with the Bishop on the predefined day, in the judgment she is declared innocent, omnipotent God to all so clearly her innocence proved, that with incredible joy dancing they doubled to Him thanks, both that in her innocence He preserved, and the same defamed of infamy He unshod. And when to her by the Prelate was given the option, with what penalty the denier should be struck, she answered, To God vengeance, He will repay her.

[12] These things being transacted, the unhappy servant whom I have foretasted, knowing an end to be to her lies among the associates of the Virgin's innocence, going beyond the Potamic lake, became also there full of cracks, everywhere wherever as most foully she could of her speaking. And that her feigned things more credible might seem, she was wont to subjoin that she by Wiborada for no other cause was expelled, the calumniatrix is made mad. except that from her rebukes for unlawful things quiet she might be. But omnipotent God, the vengeance deputed to Himself not long deferring, just as before through judgment He proved the Virgin's innocence, so also afterwards He manifested through the denier's madness. For to a certain malefactor with hope of happy marriage submitting herself, not after much time she began to be a demoniac, and so she wandered everywhere, until into excessive poverty she fell, and so from death she migrated into death. Thus God faithful those hoping in Himself not only does not confound, but also their glory out of envy gives to grow, because contrary things have always made a way for virtue.

[13] The aforesaid therefore Prelate of Constance, after the recognition of the innocence of B. Wiborada, called to the Bishop, she does not admit the cavalry: with ampler affection more joyful was made toward her, so much,

that even solicitous that secular tumults would be to her an impediment, to the service of God, he thought somewhere to insert her into a Congregation of nuns, where she could without intermission pray, and for the cause of this matter his ministers being directed, with a cavalry he commanded her to be brought to him. To whom she lodging and the other necessaries benignly conferred, and the following day making them with the cavalry return, two maidservants accompanying, on foot to Constance she came. Whom the Bishop honorably received, reproached her that somewhat she had spurned the cavalry. But a small dwelling being given near the basilica, the Prelate the two maidservants whom I have aforesaid being called, inquired from them, what in nourishments she was wont to take. But they as they were forewarned answered, their Lady from no foods to abstain, which to a Christian man it was permitted to use. Which he praising (for he had read in Genesis, all things to be very good which God created, therefore nothing to be rejected; because neither Enoch, who first pleased God; nor Noah, who in the flood alone just was found; nor Abraham that friend of God, or the rest of the just from these to have abstained are read Gen. 1, 31) all things which she needed sufficiently to be given he commanded. the submitted foods among the poor she distributes. But she in her wonted manner her body with fasts afflicting, those things which to her for food were given, almost all dispersing she gave to the poor, scarcely on the second or third day at evening a little of bread and water tasting.

[14] At the same time there was there a certain recluse, by name Cilia, in body not in mind enclosed, because not yet in herself had she mortified philargyria, which is the root of all evils. 1 Timot. 6 Whom seeking the blessed Virgin, and a spiritual mother esteeming, from Cilia the recluse asking to be instructed she asked that from the good treasure of her heart she would deign to belch a good word. To whose petition not only words of promise followed, but also on a certain day again she is present of her own accord called, by the discharge of the promise about to rejoice. But she the little window being opened, after mutual salutation begins. Thou walkest, dear sister, outwardly in the garments of sheep; but it is ours as the Apostle says, to prove the spirit if it be of God, before to thee for example are bared the secrets of our conversation. 1 John 4, 1 Obedience without delay is the first step of humility, and without this no one can worthily serve God, for also to victims it is preferred. 1 Reg. 15 Through the imposition of this first I wish thee to prove. And bringing forth a little purse with coins, and bidden to carry money to a usurer, she said: Receive, sister, these coins, which to me for almsgiving by many offered until now I have kept, and here to the rich townsmen lend at interest for a time, when thou shalt receive them with usury. But she greatly astonished, said: Such a precept inquiring the Prophet about the perfection of those dwelling in the tabernacle of God did not receive, or of those resting on His holy mountain. Psalm 14 The Apostle too to usurers, or shall I say the avaricious (for avarice is the study of money) threatens, as I hear, that there is no part in the kingdom of Christ and of God, and these not once he names servitors of idols: she denies it to seem lawful to her, whose consortship far be it from me. Ephes. 5, 5, 1 Cor. 5 & 6 Also incautious it would be for me this to undertake, since I know not of so many talents d to keep half-pence or obols; for business of this kind never have I conducted. For to graspers and usurers more known is such business: to these hand over this province. But she when she gathered her intention, said:

--- Struck with malignity The jar not baked in green clay answers.

Believe me, thy conversation is useless without obedience thou losest thy labors. These things said they made a dissension.

[15] But Cilia enviously swelling against the Virgin, on account of her disobedience, at the same time fearing her gain to decrease, if long there she stayed; she sent word to the Bishop that she wished with him secretly to mix words. Who coming, after the rest being removed many things perfidiously as if faithfully about the Virgin she had spoken, also this sentence she subjoined. I have ascertained your spiritual will toward that same maiden, at whose persuasion she is to be led to Lindau that her, if to you the occasion is given, you wish to insert somewhere into a choir of nuns, that safe from worldly fluctuation, more freely in the service of God she might be able to endure. To this also I have learned your journey to Lindau: in that place, if you no other will draws, I would counsel her insertion; both because the conversation there is very spiritual, and because more readily to her there would lie open the entrance, where all things to your nod will obey. But the Prelate all these things from the root of love to proceed supposing, glad was made. And ordering a raft to be fitted, he sent a certain one of his servants to the blessed Virgin to be intimated, that to him going to the ship, she should be ready to sail with him to the aforesaid island. But she before the Episcopal legation came, having entered the basilica, to pray she is prostrated before a certain altar in honor of St. Gall consecrated: through a vision she herself is detained, and as was the will of God among prayers she fell asleep: and she saw an oracle, and also a dream, the blessed man to her a bloody vessel offering, full of many filths, and saying to her; If to the place to which the Bishop wishes to lead thee thou shalt come, this sordid food thou shalt eat; and with the blood of Kerbirga f the recluse there thou shalt be inebriated. And when she had waked, and with herself wondered about the dream, the legate found her in admiration. Who when he had laid down to her the mandates of the Prelate, she answered him not to one word: but dismissed him to go away without speech. About which the Bishop wondering when he had learned, he sent another, and again another, the Virgin in the same taciturnity remaining. The Bishop however continually thinking something to her to be revealed, his navigation performed, and to the city God governing on that same day prosperously returned. And when at supper he reclined, he was not forgetful of his former custom, but all necessaries in foods and drinks to the venerable maiden he directed, Cilia now utterly delivered to oblivion. For her affairs thenceforth so backward began to incline, and Cilia is expelled. that after some courses of years, the skin of her simulated sanctity being drawn off, even from the enclosure she was eliminated, without doubt by the nod of God, unwilling namely Himself by His faithful any longer in the servitude of idols to be glorified.

ANNOTATA.

CHAPTER III.

Life near the convent of St. Gall performed at the basilica of St. George, then enclosed at St. Magnus.

[16] But a few days being passed the same Prelate about to set out to the convent of St. Gall, With the Bishop set out to St. Gall sent to ask the often-said maiden, if with him she wished to set out. But she straightway suffused with immense joy, with the two maidservants to the ship hastens. Therefore the wind favoring the vessel, quickly the desired shore they attain. But the Bishop coming to the monastery, by the Brethren honorably was received. The blessed Virgin too him by a pedestrian journey slowly following, and to the place about the setting of the sun coming, by the Bishop, and also by the whole Congregation benignly was received. But the benevolent Pontiff, although not wholly his will toward her he accomplished, for the foretasted vision him to insert her among the nuns did not permit; yet lest his will utterly should lack effect, he ordered for her a dwelling near the basilica of St. George the Martyr to be prepared, she dwells 4 years near the basilica of St. George. that there she could secretly converse. With what parsimony therefore four almost years there she afflicted herself, to speak arduous it seems: a because where, of great virtue and the glory of good men mindful, the things which each one easy to do thinks for himself, with equal mind he takes; above these, as feigned, for false he holds. Break forth thou I pray rather Alaric, b servant of God, say what the head of the church would command thee to entrust to its member. Al. Why me brother those things to attempt dost thou compel, which thou, as I conjecture, seeing some according to the Apostle's presage from the truth to have turned away their hearing, to undertake refusest? 2 Tim. 4, 4 Hep. To me my Lord, as endowed with no virtue, speaking they discredit virtues, but sprinkled with the sweetness of thy sanctity, willing to thee they afford hearing. For also the son-in-law seen of greater power of King Aretas, the Baptist knowing a just and holy man, not only him willingly heard, but also him heard many things did. Al. Bah! let cease I beseech grave examples, for although to speaking they comfort, to us however lesser ones it is much to hear in comparison of the highest among those born of women; nor does the crowd, d ignorant to speak with townsmen, dare to ascend the throne of the Tetrarch: except that in both in this apology, on account of detractors I have taken counsel. But all however examples ceasing, with safe ears I lay down, that I recognize myself hence a debtor of his sanctity to be brought forth, that the Lord of that divine conversation me first after Himself deigned an intimate to choose. she becomes known divinely to Alaric the solitary: I Alaric, the least of the servants of Christ, decreed for His name in a certain island e of the Zurich lake a solitary to persist. Therefore me there staying, on a certain night (why dost thou compel me Brother to speak, by which me unworthy these things hearing can reckon?) by Angelic address with words of this kind I was admonished. In the monastery of St. Gall, in a certain cell in the mountains constructed, know a certain Virgin to God consecrated, in His service faithfully enduring. To her a faithful legate, these mandates carrying, mayest thou direct: Every tree, whether fruitful or

unfruitful, while the living earth its root covers, in greenness it will be able to remain, and with fruits or leaves to cover itself: but if the earth which fosters it should chance to be absent, the root being bared, it is necessary that the tree wither. Wherefore by God admonished, spare thyself something of excessive abstinence, that thy dry body somewhat more than usual refreshing, and she is bidden to mitigate the excessive abstinence. to His service and praises more fully to insist thou mayest prevail: Hep. Great indeed thou showest, Alaric, the Virgin's parsimony, when thou proclaimest God to her to have alleged temperance. For the labors of Paul, the turning-round of Laurence, show Him to be able to suffer His elect much to be proved. But also to thee witnesses are not lacking, and the Prophet twice bidden to be refreshed under the juniper, and the crowd the Lord for three days sustaining; lastly the universe, for which bread is brought forth from the earth, lest to it on the journey of this life provisions be lacking. What if also that miracle for testimony be taken? because to God it is a care that the body be refreshed. thou knowest when the aforesaid by thee lake so greatly overflowed, that very many days passed before by sailing it any dared to enter: and when thou now almost by hunger consumed to prayer didst flee, a certain person appearing to thee bread and wine over thy head to be present indicated, by which refreshed thou didst convalesce. Al. By thy judgment, brother: for the knowledge of truth terrifies Alaric, to this testimony to gainsay, but the imperfection of merits dissuades him these things by affirming to proclaim. For it is thine rather these things to announce, especially since to the glory of thy Wiborada they are not a little regarding.

[17] On a certain therefore night to her lying in prayer, she saw a certain person of Angelic vision to stand by her, not without great brightness. Who walking about her f the first versicle of the twenty-first psalm three times with sweet modulation chanted, she hears the Angels chanting the beginning of Ps. 21 and soon with the same brightness with which it had come departed. But to her thinking about the vision, it came into her memory, that this Psalm before she had been wont at the cursus to chant, and that this custom then long she had delivered to oblivion. Then doing penance for the oblivion, she corrected for the better what ignorantly she had relinquished.

[18] But the hope of B. Wiborada of conversing secretly near the cell of the abovesaid Martyr, was not long a hope: because from every side to her sanctity they had flowed together, to the body necessaries to her bringing, the alms received among the poor she distributes: and to body and soul salutary things receiving. Of which partly she destined to the refection of the poor, but partly to the reception of devout women, who to her yearly to come were wont, and in spiritual exultation bread to break. Which charity a certain one more opulent than the rest to the reproach of poverty ascribing, disdained to her the following year to come, saying herself of her fragments not to be in need. Of whose absence when the rest were sad, the blessed Virgin consoling them said: Be consoled, sisters, for a day will come when willingly she would come, if ability to her were not lacking. Therefore according to her word into a bed falling, when the sickness growing strong reduced her into despair of life, she confessed to her husband what flasks she sent forth against the blessed Virgin, wishing that to her sights she might be presented. her despite about to be punished she foretells, and the penalty takes away. To whose vows her husband consenting, he carried her thither. But the Virgin her contumacy reproving, blessing bread gave it her. Which tasted, forthwith she convalesced, and joyful with thanksgiving returned home.

[19] But nearly four circles of years being elapsed, the aforesaid Prelate of Constance to the convent of St. Gall came. But the blessed Wiborada, who with Martha already long had stood in the active life laboriously contending, beside the feet of the Lord with Mary to sit desiring, that from sins and the tumults of vices free, the desired in Christ quiet of mind she might fully enjoy; asked from him for herself the dwelling to be changed: and that briefly her desire I may prosecute, the secret of the enclosure she coveted. Who studying in all ways to comply with her, ordered for her the desired dwelling near the basilica of St. Magnus to be constructed, and on the sacrosanct day of Pentecost, a copious multitude with divine praises accompanying, with devout prayers to God commended, and with holy benedictions consigned, enclosing her departed. she is enclosed near the church of St. Magnus Therefore all with the Bishop departing, the Virgin of God thinking herself to have entered the place of contest, the divine supports soon about to pray she is prostrated: which was a probable beginning and a memorable example to those about to fight against the wiles of the ancient enemy. Disarm not thyself, strong warrior of the Lord, of the impregnable shield of justice, knowing against whom thou fortifiest thyself how soon thou art about to contend. But the enemy of human salvation, hoping himself not a little to advance, in vain she is terrified by the presentation of a human head. if the newly enclosed one with terrors he should initiate, cast before her among prayers the head of a man, with gaping mouth, exceedingly shaggy, and that succinctly its deformity I may include, similar it was to the one casting it. But she immovable in prayer persisting, and the standard of the Cross on her forehead fixing, all the phantasm of the enemy put to flight. h

[20] A custom there was for this blessed Virgin three times in the year a bath to use, yet not without the license of her Abbot. But on a certain day when for her a bath in i a tub had been prepared, suddenly the bonds springing back, the dissolution of the staves to the waters of flowing forth gave place. About this matter when her servant too much was saddened, consolingly the blessed Virgin said to her: The dissolved vessel by the sign of the Cross she repairs. Be not affected with grief, but let us await the mercy of the Lord. These things said signing herself and the vessel through the impression of the holy Cross, she glued together all its dissolution. Which vessel not only then and thenceforth as long as in body she lived, for the uses of the bath was useful, but also after her martyrdom for diverse languors medicinal was and is.

ANNOTATA.

CHAPTER IV.

A vision of a Mass celebrated by St. Gall appearing. Various things foretold to Udalric. A fever taken away. A demon put to flight: a penitent helped.

[21] It happened on the eve of St. John the Baptist, when still it was the Eastern twilight, In a vision she hears St. Gall celebrate a Mass, and others chant, she saw not without an oracle a vision, B. Gall with the Sacerdotal fillet whitened to celebrate Masses, and a multitude of souls wondrously shining with him she heard to chant, and after the completion of the Masses to the little window to approach, and to her several things which afterwards the event proved to presage. Of this oracle many are wont to wonder, how the blessed Virgin, still in body constituted, the invisible by their nature spirits could contemplate. But these such still as carnal the things which are of the flesh relish, knowing not as the spiritual to examine all things. To whom that those who are not in the flesh but in the spirit, it behooves to become known, that corporeal things by corporeal, but spiritual also by spiritual eyes are seen. It is certain that there is a certain spiritual nature in us, where the likenesses of corporeal things are formed, either when some body subject to the carnal eyes we touch by the sense of the body, how this she could to those asking and forthwith is formed its likeness in the spirit and in the memory is laid up; or absent, but once known; or what we know not, but yet to be we doubt not; or so the spirit assuming we are alienated from all sense of the body and are turned away, that by the likenesses alone of bodies, by spiritual vision we are held. This therefore spiritual nature, in which not bodies but the likenesses of bodies are expressed, has visions of an inferior kind, the author explains the nature of a triple vision than that light of mind and intelligence, by which both these inferior things are dijudicated, and those things are discerned which neither are bodies, nor bear any forms like bodies, as is charity, joy, peace, longanimity, benignity, goodness, faith, and the rest of this kind, by which one is brought near to God, and is known God Himself, from whom all things, and through whom all things, and in whom all things. Rom. 11 Although therefore in one and the same soul are made diverse visions, either those which are felt through the body, which we call corporeal; or those which by the spirit are seen, and are called spiritual; or those which by the mind are understood, and are called intellectual; yet they have their own order, and one is more excellent than another. corporeal spiritual and intellectual. For more preeminent is the spiritual vision than the corporeal, and again more preeminent the intellectual than the spiritual. For the corporeal without the spiritual cannot be, since in the same moment in which the body by the sense of the body is touched, there is made also in the mind some such thing, not that it is this, but that it is similar: which if it were not made, neither would that sense be, by which those things which extrinsically lie adjacent are felt. For neither does the body feel, but the soul through the body, which as a messenger it uses, for forming in itself what extrinsically is announced; but it is not discerned, except when the sense shall have been taken away from the body, that what through the body was seen, may be found in the spirit. For when something with the eyes is discerned, forthwith there is made its image in the spirit, but it is not recognized to be made, except when the eyes being taken away from that which through the eyes we were seeing, its image in the mind we shall have found. But indeed the spiritual vision also without the corporeal can be made, when the likenesses of absent bodies in the spirit appear, and many are feigned at will or opinion. From all these so we discern those corporeal things which we see, and in which present are the senses of our body, that we

doubt not these to be bodies, but those to be images of bodies. Again the spiritual vision needs the intellectual that it may be dijudicated. For when Peter saw that dish alienated from the senses of the body, and those voices, Slay and eat, and, What God has commanded do not thou call common, in the spirit he heard. Acts 10, 13 & 15 But restored to the senses of the body, the same which seen and heard the memory had held, in the same spirit by thinking he discerned. Which all were not corporeal but images of corporeal things, either when first in that very alienation they were seen, or when afterwards recollected and thought of. But when it was disputed and required that those signs should be understood, it was the action of the mind striving, but the effect was lacking, until those were announced who had come from Cornelius. But this corporeal vision also acceding, when both the Holy Spirit above in his spirit said, Go with them, where also that sign He had shown, and had impressed the voices, helped divinely the mind understood, what by all those signs was being done. But that intellectual vision needs not that inferior spiritual one: for it is not deceived by intellectual things seen: for either it understands, and it is true; or if it is not true, it does not understand. But the soul is deluded by the likenesses of things, not by their vice, but by its own opinion, when it approves the things which are similar, from intelligence falling away. It is deceived therefore in the corporeal vision, when it thinks to be done in the bodies themselves, what is done in the senses of the body, as to those sailing things which stand seem on land to move, and to those gazing at the sky, the stars which move to stand. But in the spiritual vision, that is, in the likenesses of bodies which by the spirit are seen, the soul is deceived, when those things which thus it sees, the bodies themselves to be it judges; or what to itself by suspicion and false conjecture it had feigned, and he shows the saints to have used all these this also in bodies it thinks which not seen it conjectures. That corporeal one used Moses on the mount Sinai, but this spiritual one Isaiah, or that virgin on the island of Patmos. The third with the Apostle we shall use, when all enigma being taken away we shall see God as He is. But what Moses? or what Isaiah? Were they not followers of Wiborada? Were they not similarly in body constituted, when these visions they used? They were plainly. Wherefore let them cease in Wiborada as if discrediting to wonder, the things which by the exuberant authority of the Scriptures in most of the Fathers to have been done they cannot deny.

[22] At the same time there was in the monastery of St. Gall a certain youth, She foretells to St. Udalric the Episcopate of Augsburg: by name Udalric, whose morals there the applied rule of discipline extended. He indeed when the gravities of old men in the youthful flower by virtues he emulated, after the departure of the now often said b Salomon was asked by the Brethren, that the monastic habit being assumed the name and care of their Pastor he should inherit. But he knowing all things to be done with counsel, B. Wiborada, as in all things to be done accustomed, approached; the desire of the Brethren to her made known; and that himself, if it were the will of God, in all things he wished to comply with their vows. But she a space of three days asking, after the completion of these thus prophetically said: Neither a monk, nor an Abbot here shalt thou become: because omnipotent God in the eastern region thee a Bishop to become predestined. For many times thy affairs there prosperous will be, but at length many adversities from Pagans and evil Christians thou shalt suffer. But in all these thou shalt overcome, and in great tranquillity thenceforth while thou livest thy Bishopric thou shalt rule. Which all according to her presage in him to have been fulfilled, the book of his deeds evidently attests. That such a gift of Prophecy to her by the Lord was granted, not this lesson only speaks, but also several others, as to those reading this little book is clear, which us to continue the diversity of times did not permit. Some also in our authors to be read we have reserved, and various other things. as is through the spirit to know c the cock to have conquered the little vixen, the lost keys to show, the coming of guests to prophesy.

[23] A certain Presbyter, by name Waltrammus, had a certain servant, whom frequently to Wiborada he was wont to direct. But it happened that on a certain day thither sent, a fragment of blessed bread he had received. Who returning, on account of the despite of the bread given by him perhaps not so needy as that Egyptian boy the betrayer of the Amalekites, the same bread to a certain one meeting him so despicably he gave. Nor much after by a fever he is seized, and in so great infirmity was held, that neither to eat nor to drink sweet he reckoned; him punished she heals. until again to the blessed Virgin presented, blessed bread he received, and through the tasting of this, both the loathing of food he drove away, and his former bodily safety received.

[24] This same blessed Virgin to one of her maidservants this enjoined as an office, that the utensils, [of the neglect in the vessels of the sacrifice to be purged she is admonished by the soul of her formerly handmaid] which in the sacrifice she was wont to use, to her clean she should furnish. But she on a certain day, I know not what having been engaged in, that same office to her sister commended. But when she less devoutly it had fulfilled, omnipotent God who is the lover of all cleanness, commanded a certain handmaid of hers to her through a vision to appear (who, as she herself in the same vision testified, in body remaining her servant had been) that she might intimate to her, the oblations not so cleanly to be prepared, as the purity of sacrificing had demanded, and by whose negligence this had come about. So also the Priests once the loaves of proposition had neglected, which themselves according to the Hebrew traditions to sow, themselves to reap, themselves to grind, themselves to bake they ought. Whence also to them by the Lord through Malachi the Prophet it is said: To you, O Priests, who despise my name, this speech is directed: you offer upon my altar polluted bread. Mal. 1, 6. But day being made calling to her the blessed Virgin the aforenoted maidservant, after she had asked her who the hosts recently had prepared, and the vessels of the sacrifice had purged, and she had gone into denials, that no one except herself this had done; bringing forth what to her through the vision had been said, she convinced her to have deviated from the rule of truth. Then in her the negligence reproving, she ordered her the neglected office to fulfill; admonishing that those things which to the service of God pertained she should not so hold in despite.

[25] This holy Virgin, as we have foretasted, whatever of nourishment to her was left over all to the poor she squandered. [the devil in the place of the accustomed poor man asking alms by the sign of the Cross she puts to flight:] Of whom a special certain one choosing for herself, she ordered him daily about the ninth hour more secretly to come. His walking so laborious was, that, two staffs between his armpits supporting him, not incongruously he could to himself recall to memory the debility of Mephibosheth. On a certain therefore day the devil, in the likeness of that same poor man, with great noise of staffs the aforesaid hour anticipating, prostrated himself on the ground; saying himself to labor with so great infirmity, that unless as quickly as possible the accustomed alms he received, under that same moment himself the extremes to suffer he reckoned not uncertain. O Lucifer, who in the morning didst rise! these habits, and those voices befit not one arrogating to himself a seat in the sides of the North and the likeness of the Most High. But she, as in prayer she lay, gave no response to the profane one. But he vehemently crying out, when he had known himself to pour prayers into the wind, rose from the earth: and his head leveling to the little window, he looked in. But the Virgin signing herself through the opposition of the holy Cross, that it was a diabolic phantasm she proved, for straightway nowhere it appeared. Also this to her great certitude afforded that the poor man according to his custom about the ninth hour more secretly came, the accustomed alms patiently until to him it was given awaiting.

[26] d A certain therefore adulteress, made a parent, added sin upon sin, the infant which from adultery conceived she bore, in a fishpond drowning. But omnipotent God, whom more delights our conversion than our perdition, willed this crime to her for salvation to be manifested. And so the people of the faithful against such a wickedness with zeal of justice armed, decreed her to a stake bound to be deprived of her skin. I think this people with Caius e Caesar to have felt about scourges, when such a wickedness by their vengeance I hear to have been punished, even before the last sentence was imposed: because it is subjoined, after one year's penance To this also it was decreed, that the circle of a year she should close, on all festive days with loosed hair and bare feet in the atrium of St. Magnus by standing, that those who of her crime conscious were saddened, her penance seeing might be consoled. But after the circle of a year in such penance faithfully persisting she closed, recollecting the enormity of her guilt, with the same penance of her own accord so long still she obligated herself, until B. Wiborada her to herself called, absolved she pronounces her. and the reins of affliction now to be loosed indicated, the boy to be in refreshment. To this not unlike will be what of Trajan's f soul is read, that it was freed from hell, Gregory grieving for him. For his soul from hell snatched, and that her son is in refreshment. and into paradise placed to have been, altogether incredible seems, the very Truth saying, Unless one shall be born again of water and the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. John 3, 5. But hell here by metonymy is called that which contains for that which is contained; as is to strike a city with the mouth of the sword, [yet through this not saying that he is saved but only that he feels not the penalties of hell.] when the people dwelling in it is struck; tending to this, that it be understood Trajan from the torments of hell refreshment to have obtained, but not from hell led out. For the soul can both in hell exist, and the torments of hell through the mercy of God not feel; just as one fire of gehenna, can all sinners equally detain, but through the justice of God all equally to burn it cannot: for of each one as much as the fault deserved, by the just judgment of God, so much will be felt also the penalty. But Thou, our God, mindful of human frailty, wilt not so strictly enter into judgment with Thy servants. Remember I beseech rather Thy commiserations, O Lord, and Thy mercies which are from the age. Let it be permitted us to hope in Thee with the Prophet, that not to our consumption Thou wilt send forth Thy hand, and that if into the depth of hell we shall be plunged, thence Thou wilt free us. Job 30, 24 These things which by us now briefly to Thee, O Lord, have been sobbed, confident with Thy mercy to us in perpetuity to be profitable, who the tears of the Prophet in Thy sight didst place, to proclaiming the sanctity of Thy Virgin our speech we reflect. Psal. 55, 9 But after Wiborada loosed the harlot from the reins of affliction, a chain of caution to her she knotted, admonishing her, that in the future from such nefarious crimes she should guard herself, lest to her the last become worse than the first. Therefore by her admonitions exceedingly edified, in sanctity and justice thenceforth to serve God she studied all the days of her life.

ANNOTATA.

CHAPTER V.

B. Rachilda several times healed, and enclosed. The slaughter of Burchard the perjured Duke foreknown.

[27] A certain therefore most noble maiden, by name Rachilda, Rachilda sick about to be led to Rome she calls to herself: who also her virginity to God dedicated in His obsequies continually persevered, by a feverish disease not moderately was vexed. Whom when her parents to Rome to carry wished, with hope of recovering health; B. Wiborada sent word to her, that if she wished health to recover, as quickly as possible to her she should come. Far be from the minds of those hearing all suspicion, about Wiborada's legation, as if hoping the maiden from the Apostolic power health, under a certain equiparation in the power of cures, from the journey to have drawn her back; since far other her intention to have been the following things diligently inspected declare. But she by this legation rejoiced, fulfilled to herself what was commanded. But after it was come to kisses, St. Wiborada begins: Blessed be the Lord, who thee long desired hither transmitted, to Himself for service, and to us for solace. Afterwards there staying, within a few days not in part health she received: and all things, which her spiritual mother taught her, not only on the tablets of her heart she noted; but also, that so I may say, above her power all things she perfected. a

[28] In those same days Burchard Duke of the Alemanni waging wars, the peoples too among themselves disagreeing on account of the Saxon Henry b made King, when military depopulation grievous want to the lands brought, the parents of B. Rachilda, fearing her there by hunger to be tortured, wished her to return home. And when they presented themselves to B. Wiborada, for the cause of asking license; she does not permit her to be led away by her parents she said to them, about this matter not then to her to be answered, but that they should go to their lodgings, and on the morrow meet her. They did therefore according to her word; and it was said to them, that with joy to their own they should return, that it was God's predestination, the daughter there to remain. There was shown c to them also the place, which to her by the Lord for an enclosure to be destined was said. Therefore her presage not discrediting, they took up the journey. Nor a long time was elapsed between the departure of the parents and the daughter's d enclosure, in the same little place, which the holy Virgin had foreshown. but takes care that she be enclosed:

[29] The often mentioned Virgin Rachilda at a certain time was ailing, her sick by a staff sent she heals: and from excessive infirmity in despair of the present life lay. But holy Wiborada, one of her domestics being summoned, handed to her her staff, and mandates of this kind: Carry it to my spiritual daughter, and say to her that imitating three-footed old age, she should come to me. And when the minister executed the precepts of her Lady, B. Rachilda with hand extended received the staff, and in the very receiving convalesced. And forthwith rising, to B. Wiborada herself she presented. What now Gehazi? I see thee from I know not whence with changed countenance. Perhaps thou wonderest by the receiving of the Virgin's staff the sick to have convalesced, when thou thinkest by the placing of the staff of thy Lord the dead not to have risen, and in a manner her to excel in the grace of cures. Ge. Not indeed do I wonder, for there not much labors admiration, where of things can be made an equiparation. By the staff of thy Wiborada the sick received rose, but by my Lord supervening the boy revived. And also as thou thyself knowest, less it is the sick to heal, than the dead to raise. Wherefore less is clear to me on the part of Wiborada that to excel. Hep. Well thou hast said, thy Lord supervening the dead to have revived: but I say Wiborada, absent the sick only through the receiving of her little staff to have convalesced. So also of absent Paul the half-girdles upon the ailing placed healed: which of greater virtue was than himself to have supervened, and by long prayer the diseases to have put to flight. Thou canst also in this note if it please, that of the Virgin to excel, that her staff not for effecting a miracle is sent, and yet in the very receiving it effects [it]; but the staff of thy Lord for this cause through thee directed, nor by long placing could attain the effect of the miracle. But why should I speak by the placing of the staff a sign not to have happened, when the very Lord of the staff supervening, this as if scarcely obtaining, delayed? For it is written: Elisha therefore entered the house, and behold the boy dead lay on his little bed: and entering he shut the door upon himself, and upon the boy, and prayed to the Lord. 4. Reg. 4, 32 And he ascended and lay upon the boy, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and bowed himself over him, and the flesh of the boy was warmed. But he returning walked in the house once hither and thither, and ascended and lay upon him, and the boy yawned seven times and opened his eyes. Lastly, where thou most stickest, Wiborada the dead not to have raised, when thy Lord is read to have done this, by no means hinders the now shown preeminence of the Virgin. Who knowest the deceased not about to revive, whom thou seest the sick healed? Or dost thou doubt that He who these things through the merits of His Virgin deigned to work, through the same merits and greater if it were needful could work? Ge. The admiration, which I thought by equiparation to lighten, wonderfully, brother, in the praise of the Virgin by proceeding, not only to me thou hast augmented, but also, which is rare, a contradictor thou hast rendered a hearer benevolent of thee. But because if anything residual shall be, by fire it is to be burned, the admiration about the judgments of God, which are a great abyss, being suppressed, I exhort thee, if any things still remain about such a Virgin to speak, and yet, if thou canst, those which the glory of my Lord be not so beclouding. HEP. Let it be obeyed. But Wiborada the benediction being premised saluted in friendly wise the coming Rachilda, teaching her that her faith and obedience would relieve her. and the staff to her even to her death to be held she leaves. But after they had spoken many spiritual things, B. Rachilda began to demand that same staff to her to be granted by the mother, that for her love she might keep it as long as she lived. Which obtained, and also even to the end of life preserved, after her own death to the sepulchre of her pious mother it to be restored she disposed. f

[30] On a certain therefore night B. Wiborada saw a dream, B. Gall with filthy and rent garments clad. And when astonished she inquired from him, what he covered with these figures? by St. Gall in a rent garment appearing taught, she heard him to complain of the plundering of ecclesiastical things, and the crushing of his people, and the effecting of this crime on the aforesaid Duke of the Alemanni to impose. After no prolix time the same Duke to the monastery coming, she reproves Burchard the Duke forthwith by her was summoned. Who coming, after she of the perseverance of iniquity greatly reproved him; she set forth to him the vision in order, this advertising; unless the rents of the garments of St. Gall with worthy penance were sewn together, his life in peril constituted would be. But he, like seed falling upon stony places, with joy received the word of rebuke; the amendment with an oath promising, from which he was about to depart, as not having a root in the time of temptation: and under an oath he promised of past things amendment, and from such in the future abstinence. To whom she thus meeting said: The proof of thy oath is not long deferred. The cenobites of the same man, of whom now among us is the speech, treating who might mitigate the ferocity of thy mind concerning things pertaining to them, have disposed thee with a perfect chalice of gold to gift: and thou knowest how so poor a little place by such a gift is exhausted, to this that now externally by thee laid waste, as has been said, it is recognized: which chalice, [and she admonishes that the golden chalice to be offered by the monks is not to be received:] if to thee a care be of preserving life, by no means presume to receive. But he, as if abhorring her words, by repeating confirms his oaths, that himself not only thenceforth of the things of St. Gall anything such would not receive, but also those irrationally using them with all zeal to go against. In this therefore sentence from her departing, he came to the monastery, was received indeed by the Brethren as it is written, The terror of the rich exacts for itself honor. The Abbot himself, by name Engilbertus, his tyranny trembling at, betook himself to flight. But when on the morrow he was about to depart, the Brethren, the benediction being premised, offered him the aforesaid by the blessed Virgin gift. What now? What dost thou attempt? wilt thou not if thou receivest become perjured? restrain I beseech thy hands: say as a man of great virtue befits: Pleasing I reckon, Brethren, your clientage, a rich will is more pleasing than a gift; the gift I spurn not, taking I leave it. It repents me of my crimes, I was a plunderer hitherto against the servants of St. Gall: to this rather it behooves through me his ecclesiastical things to be augmented than diminished. Burc. If thou knewest, Brother, the insuperable necessities of the Princes of this world, surely from suasions of this kind thou wouldst forbear. For me under power constituted it behooves with such a gift into the sight of the King my Lord to come forth. Very frequent also military arrays will not have few things present for their expenses, and stipends to be given liberally to soldiers. Besides there are things exceeding number, which very often compel the friends of this world to transgress the justice of God. Hep. If thou wilt be a friend of this world, what to me then with thee, when thou art constituted an enemy of God? go on, go on, I add not a word. Thou wouldst see him so many perjuries not to fear, but without hesitation both hands into its receiving extending. How he is gratified! how often between his hands it is balanced! of how diverse a price by the bystanders it is esteemed! Therefore thence himself home snatching, to his wife whatever the blessed Virgin to him had spoken in order he unfolded, and to her the chalice showed. Now indeed to Italy in warfare about to set out, he asked her that it to St. Gall she would send back, if his death his return should preoccupy: And so

he departed into Ramoth Gilead, the unhappy invader of the substance of Naboth the Israelite, about to experience on the same journey the Lord to have spoken through the mouth of Micah. For unhoped-for into a pit he fell, and so as if by a certain presaging end of evils from the midst he was taken away, as in the lake of eternal misery worthy of his pravity rewards about to receive. But the matron g his death being discovered, the chalice as she had been asked to the monastery sent back, but the paten with precious stones interwoven retained: (O defraudress Sapphira!) and another much smaller for it gave.

ANNOTATA.

CHAPTER VI.

The coming of the Hungarians with her own slaying foreknown. The martyrdom borne. A blind man illumined.

[31] But when omnipotent God His Virgin, now long the good contest contending through the palm of martyrdom willed her course to consummate; on a certain midday to her, in her wonted manner at leisure for psalmody, the psalter of its own accord folded itself (a thing worthy of admiration!) [By divine revelation she knows the coming of the Hungarians, and her own slaying:] Upon which her face for some little while inclining, a cold slumber poured through her limbs, a little she fell asleep. By this slight pause divinely to her was revealed, that the following year the Hungarians, Alemannia being laid waste, on the Kalends of May the cell of St. Gall would invade, and that by these wounding her the last fates she would suffer. But waking too much she began to fluctuate about the vision, whether it ought to be disclosed or not. For she weighed, that of future things to foretell beyond her merit it was: nevertheless also she considered, that God for the most part to His elect even through sinners makes known, that they may flee from the face of the bow: and she feared if she kept silent, of their crushing herself to become guilty, whom by the foreknowledge of the peril she could save. Lastly considering, that in the ancients is wisdom, a certain monk being summoned, she indicates it to Waldrammus the monk, by name Waldrammus, of whom also above we made mention, a man of advanced age, she laid bare to him the whole vision even to the martyrdom, and how she fluctuated whether it ought to be concealed or disclosed; and that him for the cause of this matter she had summoned, because she hoped in him to seek again the port of counsel for her fluctuation. But he when the matter throughout he had gathered, after some little deliberation, judged, so common a peril by no means to be concealed. Although therefore he gave counsel, yet himself not moderately anxious, made the anxiety of two to be of many, to his Abbot and other Brethren these same things offering. But the Abbot stupefied at the things heard, and through this one to the Abbot and others: certain of the Brethren being directed to her, both for the cause of more diligently inquiring about these things; and that with her they should treat, that having gone out of the enclosure, to safer places she would suffer herself to be transferred, she does not consent to those persuading the going out, until the fury of the Pagans should pass over; nothing from her could extort what was of her will, except he himself should come, and alone with her alone should mix colloquies. No delay, the legates return, to their Abbot nothing certain reporting, except the Virgin to desire his presence. Who hoping himself to this to be called, that the rest being removed he as a more secret persuader of her escape might be chosen, accelerated to her his step. But she now by divine revelation certified about the day of her calling, more began to give him counsel about the procuration of external, namely ecclesiastical and domestic things, than about the temporal deferral of her life. Which counsels he attentively perceiving, awaited if also to those things she would tend which he himself hoped. But when no voice about these was heard, at last desiring to know what she had in mind, with words of this kind he began to use: About the rest now I sail in port, the oars of thy counsels the ship of my intention helping; but about thee what may be done, still in the middle of charybdis I labor. About me, said she, be not solicitous, not even to the Abbot weeping: for I trusting in the help of God, will not fear what man may do to me. If they shall surround me like bees, and if they shall burn against me like fire in thorns, my strength the Lord shall become to me unto salvation. Then the elder, breaking forth into tears, asked her that propitious to him she would be and would go out. Wilt not, said she, venerable Father, me so disturb with the tears of thy compassion; knowing without doubt that what once is united to the mind, cannot be changed, if the divine clemency shall not disdain to be present. For the place, which against the wiles of the ancient enemy about to fight I have chosen, God helping, the spirit returning to Him who gave it, also with my body I will cover. Thou wouldst advert in her to be the mind of an intrepid soldier, and to wish for His glory all peril to undergo, who before the mountains were made existing, to us, upon whom the ends of the ages have come, was made a refuge. Then the venerable Father, admiring her constancy, commending himself to her prayers, to the cloister returned. But when he had a certain fortification one mile from the monastery, best to do he reckoned, in this himself and all his to fortify, since the natural firmness of the place, gave him confidence by none to be able to be expugned, if to those guarding it food were not lacking.

[22] There came also the parents of B. Rachilda wishing her to safer places to lead. Whom B. Wiborada thus addressed: Be not solicitous about my daughter, because her time has not yet come, but still through a many times for you and for many others for solace she will be reserved. B. Rachilda to be immune from peril she assigns to her parents, Who hesitating nothing in her promises (for them more credulous she rendered, that they saw the prior prophecy in their daughter fulfilled: because the certitude of the following things is the exhibition of the past) to their own with joy returned, not a little admiring the noble constancy of the Virgin. How this retention of blessed Rachilda pleased, we stick: because she is reported afterwards to have feared the martyrdom, and her spiritual mother lest she should suffer it to have implored help, and that one a certain parchment, with the Lord's suspension painted, to her to have given; that she should there spread it, where to the sick Rachilda had been the entrance to the maidservant entering to her; and that by this protection from the enemies she was protected.

[23] b A certain Presbyter, by name Wito, the fame being known of the coming of the Hungarians, came to B. Wiborada, saying himself to feel doubtful, so sacred a place ever by the Pagans to be able to be contaminated, To the doubting Presbyter she persuades flight, and this a wickedness to be esteemed: the prayers of B. Gall before by God for its cleansing heard, now in its contamination to believe to be annulled. Whom she soon to the divine oracles not incredulous to be admonishing, and flight as quickly as possible to accelerate exhorting, foretold to him on the way an unforeseen sorrow on account of his incredulity to come about. and she foretells sorrow from an unforeseen chance to befall Which also was done. After the whole house in one wagon is composed, a certain boy on the placed furniture they made to sit. Lo suddenly, by I know not what chance, the wagon was overturned, and the boy who just before sitting on the placed furniture pressed it, distrusted for some little while by the pressing of this alive to escape. Then they as if lifeless, most of all on account of the boy, and the wagon with the placed things balancing back, found the boy in peril sound. But the Presbyter recollecting in mind the foretold to him sorrow, not only was credulous of all, which the holy Virgin had foretold: but also glorified God, who to him such a gift of prophecy to confer deigned. Soon therefore the sorrow joy being driven away, with a glad course to the castle he came.

[24] When these things were done, now then not the fame flew through the cell of the coming of the Hungarians, but their rage everywhere had enclosed it about. Soon to the prey while the whole wedge is dispersed, and avarice groans against its open bosoms the treasuries empty to lie open; by the Hungarians after most things burned or laid waste, there are built in the basilicas pyres, and the flames bursting forth on high, by divine virtue scarcely are permitted to obfuscate the ceilings. The altars are kindled, and the Relics of the saints, the fires about to dominate, to the fires are handed over. There are humiliated even to the ground the houses built on high, but the humble either were cast down, or the fire dominated them. With such devastation the basilica of saint Magnus approaching, they wished also that with a pyre built to burn up. But where the divine power resisting them, their will lacked effect; then to their avarice taking counsel, they began with hope of money everything secret to search out,

and so by searching at last to the oratory of the Virgin they came. clothed in a cilice, Which everywhere fortified finding, supposing all the treasure thither to have been driven, by the throwing apart of the tiles for themselves an entrance prepared. And when they had entered in, they found her clothed with a cilice, a contrite spirit to God sacrificing. Whether on account of this because she would not lay bare the secrets of the fatherland, they did [it]; or because they esteemed, her to them something to hinder in seeking money, we know not. After they had drawn off from her all covering except the cilice, with three wounds in the head she is prostrated three wounds on her head they balanced, and so half-dead they left her. O detestable vice of avarice, whose potion since it is a thirst, its lovers all things to search out by land and sea solicits, and not only the hoarders of talents, but also those content with food and clothing for the most part to slay it makes for the sake of gain: and what is to be grieved, those very often from these, whose blood they thirst for, snatched away, of the prayers of the faithful unworthy to expire. Therefore after the slaying performed, everything fit for hiding diligently scrutinizing, after they found nothing of those things which they hoped, straightway they burst forth outside, more with crimes than with treasures laden.

[25] But the virginal gore flowing forth in waves, in the first eruption besprinkled the neighboring wall, and thence running in rivulets, the whole cilice bathed. Which besprinkling although often with lime it was whitened, by no means through many years could be abolished. from the blood adhering to the wall, Which miracle a certain blinded merchant hearing, came into the basilica of saint Magnus, with a staff guiding his step. Who the prayer being premised demanded himself to be led to the place. Whither led, scraping a little of the sacred blood, the blind man is illumined, in a cloth wrapped home he carried. And when his lodging he had entered, straightway into his bereaved eyes sprinkling [it], soon of the received sight he rejoiced, and the sepulchre of the blessed Virgin with due veneration revisited, glorifying God.

[26] The blessed therefore Wiborada Virgin and Martyr of Christ, not in the same hour sent forth her spirit, but living even into the following morning, into the bosom of Abraham she expired. her body by her brother in a sacred veil wrapped, There came therefore of good memory her brother, who I know not where among the bushes lurking the whole had beheld, wishing the precious treasure to the earth to commend, lest perchance the barbarian nation again coming to the fire it should hand over. But of this matter's will by B. Rachilda despoiled, until the Abbot with all the Clergy coming honorably to burial it should be given wrapped in a sacred veil, to the castle he sets out, and to the Abbot and the rest of the multitude all things as they had been done in order he unfolded. Who a fraternal commemoration for her rest celebrating, remained there eight days for fear of the Pagans.

[27] But the eighth day coming, the Abbot the departure of the Pagans being discovered, returned with the Brethren to the monastery, the rest also who thither had fled returning home. But the said brother of hers, certain of the Brethren and laics being gathered with him, began more studiously to be busy, that the body on the same day to burial should be given. And when it they bared to be washed as is the custom, no indications of wounds in it appeared, except where the chain furrowed: but so sound and inviolate they saw it, that even by most it could be doubted of the martyrdom, if the poured-out gore were not a witness. But the same chain, before the irruption of the barbarians by herself loosed, beside the little altar she hid: and afterwards those who kept watch about her funeral through a vision admonished, that from the same place taken, near her in the sarcophagus they should place it, which also they did.

[28] But after the washed body, in linens rewrapped, into the sarcophagus they wished to raise; they recognized to them to be an impediment, the blessed Virgin in the final anguish one leg and arm to herself by drawing having curved; and miraculously extended, and the spirit withdrawing before their extension, so in curvature having stiffened. There fly in the crowd diverse thoughts, for the cutting of the limbs they esteemed to the Virgin to be an injury; but a bier according to the curvature of the limbs to form, laborious they reckoned. And when so pendulous they had stood, they saw the same limbs as if living to extend themselves straight, and her face with a certain Angelic redness suffused, as if into a laugh to grow cheerful. Then they too joyful the precious treasure into the sarcophagus placed, according to her admonition the chain near her placing.

[29] Therefore all things being dispatched, the Abbot came with the congregation of the Brethren, and a copious multitude of either sex, not without great devotion: after the masses celebrated and the solemnities of the Masses celebrating, in the spirit of humility they sacrificed for her rest to the highest and true Priest. But the solemnities of the Masses being completed, the Cross being received and those things which to obsequies are exhibited, even to the place of the sepulchre they proceed. There God to whom all things live faithfully for her beseeching, the virginal relic to the despoiled earth of its virginity with much tears they commended, she is buried in the year 925. in the year nine hundred and twenty-fifth of the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns God through infinite ages. Amen.

ANNOTATA.

BOOK II.

The Chapters of the Miracles.

The History of the Miracles.

[1] Therefore after the burial of the aforesaid Combatant the divine power, which, she still in the flesh remaining, by the attestation of signs deigned to mortals to make known, how faithfully in His mandates she walked; she herself too disdained not, after her deposition, by the frequency of miracles to the world to declare, with what glory by Him she was remunerated in the heavens. a At her tomb a lamp had been placed, that when the solemnities of the Masses or the Vesper prayer, A candle at her sepulchre three times is from heaven kindled: or the Matins lauds were celebrated, light might be present. But on a certain day after the completion of the offices the sacristan extinguishing it, the other day entering found it burning. Which a second time extinguished, a second time he found kindled, and extinguished it. Similarly a third time entering he found it burning, but by no means he extinguished it, desiring first to investigate who to him his office so halved. And when from those questioned not only nothing certain he could plough out, but also his inquiry of all was the admiration, there is going in common to the lamp. Thou wouldst wonder, the wax flowing from the face of the fire, then by its heat nothing to be diminished, and that same light little by little to subtract itself from human sights; that easily in this miracle thou wouldst advert the blessed Virgin, with an adorned lamp to the nuptials of the heavenly Spouse introduced, with Him to dwell in light inaccessible.

[2] One of the servants of this Virgin, on a certain night her bed being left, the basilica by night is illumined: for the cause of prayer the basilica sought. Who testified herself so great a brightness in it to have seen, that with immense terror seized, prayers being poured before the doors, less perilous to be she chose, the in horrid darkness placed couch to revisit, than the irradiated by celestial light basilica to enter.

[3] In the autumn which thrusts back the summer of the passion of B. Wiborada, the often mentioned brother of hers, fennel at the sepulchre through winter growing a germ of green fennel about her tomb fixed. Which by divine dispensation a root into the earth fixing, and through the whole wintry time in its greenness remaining, at last so greatly grew, that with locks in the manner of a crown knit, the whole sepulchre it protected. Of whose germ's greenness not only many wondered, the sick are healed: but also several languishing to health were restored, by the receiving of a tempered from it antidote.

[4] There was a sister to this blessed Martyr by name Willidruda, the thirtieth b possessing grade. She when she had a daughter, was asked by the Virgin her sister, that her she would permit some days with her to stay. Which permitting, her sister a pious widow, when with her aunt a few suns she had spent, sickened she paid the debt of death. But the mother after some courses of years, by death intervening loosed from the law of a husband, began to frequent the tomb of her martyred sister; and there in divine praises day and night occupying herself, in the sixtieth grade by death was found. To her still in body living, on a certain morning twilight her aforesaid daughter with a cheerful countenance appearing, with words of this kind to her used. Dost thou wake, mother? admonished through her dead daughter, Who answered, I wake. Rise, said she, and tell my uncle, that my Lady Wiborada ill will bear, her treasure by his negligence so long to be concealed. But she suspecting of a treasure of money, said: What treasure is she to be believed to have hidden, whom we hoped a partner of true beatitude in the heavens, because on earth placed, not to hope she seemed in money and treasures? To whom she; It is not, said she, so as thou suspectest, for the finding of the treasure will take from thee suspicion of this kind. Soon therefore leaving the bed, she went to her brother, and to him through the dream the things revealed announced. No delay, there is rising by the Priest, near the sepulchre his comb hanging in the air she finds, and together the place of the sepulchre of the Virgin going to, they saw her comb without any little appendage by the air to be sustained. Which when the sister of the Presbyter with her hand touched, it fell to her into her hand. Then he indignant, for he wished more witnesses of this miracle to be made, received the same comb, and to the cloister hastening, to the Abbot and the rest of the congregation it presented, at the same time all things about the vision in presenting unfolding. Which the Father of the monastery reverently receiving, which enclosed in silver, that wonderful sustentation being heard, kisses; and praises and thanks for its finding to omnipotent God paying, on that same day enclosed in silver, at the tomb of the Virgin to be hung he commanded.

[5] it heals a swelling of the head. To this miracle not incongruous it seems to subjoin that, that a certain one, to whom his eyebrow being injured a swelling head the hope of present life had taken away, with the same comb by the abovesaid Priest blessed, his former health obtained.

[6] B. Rachilda lifeless About that time was ailing B. Rachilda, and with so great infirmity was held, that almost three continuous nights and days as if lifeless she lay. But the third night about cockcrow, her spirit a little resumed, by St. Wiborada visited she is healed; she began to implore the help of the Martyr. There heard therefore the spiritual mother the voice of the laboring daughter, and with great splendor of celestial light coming, and the fragrance of most sweet odor, her head to the head of the lying woman she inclines, and her hand gently to her breast applies, and so for some little while delays she knits. But after a brief while with that same splendor from human sights she was taken away, the fragrance of the odor there even until daylight remaining. And so the mother coming, the languor fled from the daughter; and she withdrawing, the former health returned.

[7] A certain youth, by name Udalric, in the congregation of St. Gall in scholarly c Pierian study sweated. and a youth tormented with a troublesome disease: Him at a certain time a growing sickness to this reduced, that the flesh being attenuated, the spirit now the bones to govern thou wouldst deny. He to the tomb of the Virgin led, when her suffrages he began to implore, fell asleep. But soon waking, he demanded food.

Which being brought he ate, convalesced, and safe to the cloister returned.

[8] Her anniversary as of a holy Virgin celebrated, pleased St. Wiborada, These signal tokens of her virtues Engilbertus Abbot of the monastery laying up in his deepest senses, her anniversary coming, commanded the often said brother of hers, that solemn to keep with chant and lessons, as is wont, of one Virgin. Which he willingly perceiving, so greatly studied that same day to venerate, that even the altar he veiled with a more cultivated veil a private one. For that with which on private days it was veiled, the blessed Virgin with her own hands had woven. And when the Matins being finished he had given himself to slumber, the veil of the altar not changed, there is present in a vision the glorious Martyr: and thanks for the veneration paying, the change of the veil less pleasing she reckoned. Who awakened, straightway rose, and according to the Virgin's will covered the altar.

[9] In the district which d Trichgowe is called, which the Aar river on one side flows past, on the other the Rhine, there was a certain mother of a family, by name Pliddruda, e the sister of blessed Rachilda. Her sick by her visitation restored to health: She at a certain time so languid was made, that of the function of teeth and feet deprived, scarcely sometimes in the little bed, sometimes in no way could rest. And when long with so great languors she wasted, at length she began to invoke B. Wiborada. Nor straightway was lacking to her invoking the mercy of the Lord; and she saw to stand by her the invoked Virgin, and a part of a violet f skin, the form of a sheath expressing, casting upon her, this voice being subjoined: Thou hast wished rest, rest. Soon therefore lulled to sleep, she snored that night and the subsequent day for the great part. Thence awakened she demanded food. Which when it had been conferred on her, she ate eagerly enough; and so greatly in a short time she began to convalesce, that some days being passed, with an oblation she visited the sepulchre of her helper, to all whom for the present she found, the cause of her oblation making known.

[10] Now there was at hand the fullness of time, in which that venerable Hitto, approaching to that green old age, whose years shall not fail, ought to attain the goal of the divine vocation. Who being led out of the prison of the flesh, Hitto's brother's successor made blind, a certain Archpresbyter, by name Egibertus, succeeded him in the government of the basilica of St. Magnus. For he too all things which he possessed being left, that Christ more perfectly the Cross being received he could follow, in the convent of St. Gall to regular discipline the neck of his heart humbled. To whom after some years with grievous pain his sight began to grow dim, so that him with open eyes nothing seeing, God thou wouldst say another vessel of election for Himself in him to prepare. a vow at the sepulchre of the holy [woman being made,] Who to the tomb of the Martyr of Christ prostrate, vowed for the recovery of his sight, himself every week, as long as he should live, in honor of the life-giving Cross at her altar a Mass to celebrate, on the day which the lovers of secular letters the day of Venus call, but we the wineskins of new liquor, the sixth weekday call. Among these vows he fell asleep. In a wondrous manner, he recovers his sight: the eyes weighed down by slumber from the diseases are relieved; and it being shaken off, the light before by darkness put to flight, more clearly returning the darkness drove away: and afterwards in its brightness remaining, by no dimness could be interpolated, until the soul withdrawing of the rest also of the offices the body it rendered an exile. g

[11] A certain woman, by name Reginsinda, when continual woe she suffered in the head, hearing what virtues the Lord deigned to work through the merits of B. Wiborada, vexed with pain of the head she convalesces, went bowing to the place of her sepulchre: and there vowing the day of her passion yearly herself festively to venerate, in vowing took sleep. Whence roused, all pain removed, unharmed she returned home. Therefore the eve of the birthday of the Virgin coming, this same woman whom I have aforesaid, now long having a web set up, hoped on the same day it even to the end to bring, if the day entirely she should weave. but on account of her feast violated relapsed In this therefore hasty hope, when now the declining sun entered the waves of the ocean, and to mortals denied its presence, she is seized in weaving with so great infirmity of the head, that the before by the help of the Virgin left couch, the languor growing heavy she revisited. Then remembering herself a transgressor, beyond her power, that so I may say, having striven, again to her sepulchre she came, and there to pray she is prostrated. How can I a wretch here worthily speak the tears of penitents for things committed, whose captive mind still more willingly is led in the law of sin, than that it be co-delighted in the law of God? There are poured abundantly tears, witnesses of true penitence; there are heaped vows, better to be discharged the prior ones being neglected: there are exaggerated prayers for pardon, and truly penitent again she is healed: prayers for safety, and continual sobs often to her break off the praying words. At length the divine clemency being regarded, which to us delinquents always after the rod of correction extends the staff of consolation, suddenly among prayers she is weighed down with sleep. By which unburdened, straightway she rose sound, and with joy returns to her own.

[12] For I judge also this miracle not to be kept silent, that two afflicted with diverse diseases, there is cured a fever and pain of the teeth. for one with fever, the other with pain of the teeth labored, by the support of others to the memory of this Virgin brought (for great pain to each one his own strength had consumed) by her merits to their former safety were restored.

[13] The son of the minister of B. Wiborada so greatly was vexed with pain of the teeth, that his head on every part swelling, by all beholding him he was despaired of. To whom when his father his teeth with a little wood from the cup of the Virgin touched, three scarcely drops of blood bursting forth, safe to all wondering he rose.

[14] Nor this in silence to be passed over, how great a piety the divine virtue deigned to show for the merits of His Virgin and Martyr more plainly to be declared, upon her faithful servant Kebinina. After the passing therefore of B. Wiborada, by the commission and precept of her, to B. Rachilda faithfully serving she adhered. But the same Rachilda, a handmaid by the devil thrust into the fire, by frequent infirmity almost through all the time of her life was tortured. But she whom I have aforesaid the servant, a certain potion to mix was taught by B. Wiborada, against her customary infirmity. Which when on a certain day in a little potsherd to the fire she wished to set; as she inclined herself, the devil, the persecutor of both loves, by a certain invisible impulse thrust her into the fire. In which when long hither and thither rolled miserably she was burned, for no one stood by who might draw her out; at length by divine commiseration, and of the blessed Martyr, as we believe, by help, from the fires snatched, a chair near placed she sat down upon. Late after, a certain fellow-servant of hers, and others with the abovesaid Priest Egibertus, entering the lodging and her seeing so burned, were stupefied at the unusual face. And when they inquired from her if she herself were Kebinina, her spirit a little resumed she answered: I indeed am. Be not, I beseech, stupefied nor wonder: the enemy did this. For not these evils, as not foreknown, to me to come. For when in the cell of St. George with my Lady Wiborada I was staying, it happened me with a most grievous infirmity to be held. And when to me in doubt was life and death, suddenly there seemed at my head to stand a most beautiful youth, and another as it were a person of a deformed Ethiopian: whom that beautiful one rebuking, according to that which once to her was revealed, Why, said he, here standest thou, bloody beast? for in something still after a time will be given to thee power to harm this body, but in the soul neither now nor thenceforth any to thee granted know. Lo the time of harming. But I hope of the Lord's mercy, if with the Prophet I am handed over to him unto the destruction of the flesh, that also my soul with his soul He may preserve. Job 2, 6. Wonderful to be said, thou wouldst see her on one side even to the breast so burned up, who miserably scorched that the bones and certain inward parts appeared, and the garment to be nothing harmed. But on the other side the garment burned, and the flesh in nothing at all harmed. Therefore by the pain of this burning into a bed falling, when for some days grievously she had labored, and believed dead, it happened that on a certain evening her limbs being dissolved, her body cold, so of all the offices she lay exhausted, that by all the bystanders dead she was announced. There is weeping, she is laid out, and the watches being ordered, for a dead woman she is guarded. But about cockcrow, a too great crash like thunder, the cilice of St. Wiborada and the staff being applied she convalesces. so grievously upon that same house thundered, that all who in the watches were present, with too great terror struck, to the ground fell. But the Virgin Rachilda, by divine as we believe instinct, calling to her the aforesaid fellow-servant, gave her the cilice of B. Wiborada, and it over the body of the bewept woman to spread she ordered: but also her staff adding, to be placed over she commanded. Which when it had been done, forthwith warmed again she convalesced, sat up, opened her sight, and of all the five partitioned offices to the full was recovered. Then breaking forth into voice she said: Thanks to thee I render, O Christ, the salvation of all hoping in thee, who the pains of my burning by the medicine of thy grace hast put to flight: and to thee my Lady Wiborada, by whose merits this mercy I trust myself to have obtained.

[15] Worth the trouble we have reckoned also this to the page to commend, how omnipotent God these holy Virgins, before in the prisons, in which for His love they had enclosed themselves, entombed, into the basilica of Saint Magnus to be brought in deigned to reveal. On a certain therefore night to the often-said Kebinina it seemed through a dream a certain youth, in aspect comely, By divine revelation drawing a wagon composed of twin wheels, with a certain waxen material, as it seemed to her, laden. And when she asked for what cause he came, or what of this material he wished to do; I am sent, said he, the bodies of the 2 Virgins into the basilica of St. Magnus are carried that the sepulchres of these holy Virgins, the wall being interrupted, into the basilica I may bring in. After this vision therefore some days being passed, Gralo, who at that time over the convent of St. Gall presided, brought into his mind (I believe by divine inspiration) the vision of the handmaid by deeds to execute. Then prostrate at the memory of the Virgins with devout prayers their will and help he began to implore, that He whose will is the work, the work to be accomplished would deign by aspiring to prevent, and by helping to prosecute. After these and similar things into the virginal ears he humbly instilled, he rose; and meeting the handmaid whom I have aforesaid, he disclosed to her the secrets of his will. These things she hearing, related to him on the contrary the dream which she had seen; and so it came about that faith coming from each to each, two certain things put to flight the doubtful from the work to be accomplished. Forthwith are called the masons, and the work in divine providence perfected, to human zeals is handed to be perfected. Now then the work being fervent it happened that a certain huge stone, and a crushed foot is healed, by the same craftsmen raised incautiously, but more incautiously left, to one of them on the foot had fallen and grievously dashed it. Who by his associates to the lodging carried, ordered a candle to be prepared, and it at the sepulchre of B. Wiborada to be kindled. Which when it had been done, the merits of the blessed Martyr that obtaining, the following day with the rest of the masons safe and glad to the begun work early he came.

ANNOTATA.

ON BLESSED CONRAD MARTYR

FOUNDER OF THE MOUNT OF ANGELS OF THE ORDER OF ST. BENEDICT,

AMONG THE SUBSILVANI IN HELVETIA.

A.D. MCXXV.

Conrad Martyr, Founder of the Mount of Angels of the Order of St. Benedict, in Helvetia (B.)

D. P.

That several, nay very many, on the Mount of Angels lived and died Saints both men and women, and that there are even now entombed kept there not few bodies of the same men and women, In a place frequented by Saints of either sex, cannot be called into doubt by him, who the ancient splendor and fecundity of this Mount in temporal and spiritual things, the rigor and vigor of regular discipline, and the fame of either monastery considers; in which, through three more or less centuries, the monks day and night serving made a number not less than a hundred, but often by half they exceeded; but as for the Nuns on one day, on the feast of St. Verena Virgin, in the year MCXXV, in the presence of Lady Agnes once Queen of the Hungarians, daughter of Albert King of the Romans, were veiled a hundred thirty-nine Virgins. Thus in his letters to us, in the year MDCLXXVI on the V day of August written, the most Reverend Abbot of the place Ignatius, wonderfully recreated, when our April synopsis he received. Which sense of his mind that he might express in words, To God, he says, the sower of so good, so holy, and great and high a counsel (namely of the Lives of the Saints thus collecting) I give thanks, and with most humble prayers I bend the knees of my heart, soul, and body, that the Divine goodness, which through your Paternities, with the joy and consolation of the whole Christian world, most happily have been begun, through the same may complete.

[2] Of St. Adelhelm the I Abbot He complains then, that by the carelessness and injury of the times it has been done, that our wishes cannot be satisfied, of obtaining ancient monuments about St. Adelhelm the first Abbot of the place, about B. Conrad the Founder, and about BB. Frowinus and Bertholdus successors of Adelhelm, and that nothing can be added to the things written by Murer in Helvetia Sancta and by Bucelinus in the Menology. The chief therefore testimony of the ancient toward them, especially the prior two, religion he suggests is the constant, as the same Abbot in the already cited epistle speaks, the cult perseveres and an altar, even now veneration and cult toward St. Adelhelm the Abbot, on the sixth Weekdays especially, with great confidence of the devout people of obtaining through the intercession of this Saint, whatever on three consecutive weekdays following them piously they demand. There is extant even now an effigy of this holy Abbot, in encaustic work a hundred years ago and more expressed, the epithet of Saint being added, and with rays about the head adorned. Moreover at the altar, lately erected for his and the blessed Founder's cult, common to him and B. Conrad. a lamp continually burns; and also every year on the feast of St. Adelhelm the day, namely XXV February, a Mass with most solemn rite, with great concourse of the people is wont to be made: but the death of the aforesaid Founder our Necrology and the more ancient Calendars to the day II of May everywhere assign; so that we wonder at Murer, as if the day were unknown, to have referred it to XXVI November, when is venerated St. Conrad Bishop of Constance.

[3] Of their sepulchres and the Relics of their bodies since nothing is indicated, I believe them unknown to lie hidden, or by hostile incursions to have been dissipated. His life is kept for the supplement of February, Meanwhile, just as we recognize there to be more than enough cause, that of St. Adelhelm, before for defect of fitting information passed over, we treat in the Supplement of February; so we believe it can suffice, for the Life of B. Conrad such as it is here to place, that he have a common altar with that Saint: at which I would be the author, that, although a proper Mass of him to make without an express decree of the Apostolic See is not lawful, yet let there be done what to such Blessed that [See] indulges, in his honor of the Most Holy Trinity yearly; especially if it should happen sometime (which would that it might happen!) the sacred bodies of both to be found, to be elevated to public cult. Conrad's Acts are here given collected by Murer. Murer alleges the Chronicle of the very monastery, in the year MDCXXIV written by its Abbot D. Benedict, which I know not whether it survives; there survive at least printed, the Chronicles of Helvetia of John Stumpf, and the Topography of Matthew Merian: of whom the latter, the situation of the place in figure and in the Appendix folio 11 exhibits, in copper form printed; the former the foundation explains book 7 chapter 3: to which Bucelinus adds the monuments of the convent by D. Placid the Abbot to him communicated: which perhaps are nothing other than D. Benedict's aforecited Chronicle.

THE LIFE

From the German of Henry Murer.

Conrad Martyr, Founder of the Mount of Angels of the Order of St. Benedict, in Helvetia (B.)

FROM THE GERMAN OF MURER

[1] Some hundred years ago, in the district of the Zurich country, an old and noble family dwelt, deduced from the Albis mountain, Conrad sprung of a noble and pious lineage, not far from the town Birmenstorf and the river Reuss, in a certain castle Sellenburen or Seldenburen called, whence also the title bore the Princes of that family. Of these one, by name Regibertus, in the year DCCCCXLV founded the monastery of St. Blaise in the Black Forest, and died in the year DCCCCLXIV. Another Henry, the foundation of the Muri convent in Argovia helped, in the year MXXX. Nor long after, namely in the year MLXX there lived a pair of noble and pious spouses, to whom this grace God granted, that among the fruits of their concordant marriage they numbered also B. Conrad, of whom is our speech.

[2] He, after the death of his parents, the portion of inheritance befalling him, not to luxury or vanity, his goods about to convert into the foundation of a convent, as everywhere others, judged it to be spent; but of building a convent he thought, the more solicitously, that in those parts rare then were and very far from one another the monasteries. For which matter when a place not fit enough near the Seldenburen castle he found; all things surveying, at length in the year MCXVIII the wood of the Carni being crossed among the Subsilvani, he went through the valley, which the Aa or Saa river intersects, where Wolfenschiessen and Graffenoort places are named, until he attained the precipices of the Alps and the mountain Hennenbergh, that is, of the Hens then called. There pleased him vehemently this place, the place chosen for it he says was named by the Angels, for a monastery of men of the Order of St. Benedict, in honor of the Mother of God Mary and of the holy Angels, there to be placed; since more frequently there the songs of Angels were said to have been heard: from whom, the prior name being changed, to be called thenceforth he judged. No delay the wood is extirpated, the ground is leveled, there rises the structure of the cloister and the church, and the chief altar in that place is placed, where once had been the den of a forest bear. Then from the monastery of the Hermits of Einsiedeln, or as others wish from that of Hirsau, is summoned St. Adelhelm with his associates, and first to the place an Abbot is set, under the Abbot St. Adelhelm, and by Udalric Bishop of Constance the church is consecrated about the year MCXX on the day I of April; and the celebrated handing over of goods both movable and immovable, for the foundation conferred into the hands of the new Abbot, there acceded the privileges of confirmation and protection, both from Calixtus II Pope, and from Henry Emperor of the Romans IV, King of Germany V: as more largely it can be read in our Ecclesiastical Theater of the Helvetians.

[3] In all these things the sole glory of God before his eyes having Lord Conrad and the salvation of his neighbors, to that grade of more perfect virtue ascended, and made a monk that hitherto little to have done himself he believed, unless himself also to God and His holy Mother in the cenobial life he should offer and consecrate. And so the secular pomp laid aside, by the counsel of the holy Abbot Adelhelm, a virgin to keep himself he proposed, and the habit of St. Benedict in the lay order however remaining to receive: in which so strenuously he exercised himself, that of all virtues but especially of humility and obedience a mirror to all the Brethren he was. while he defends the rights of the convent, he is slain, A few years after these things it happened, that a certain secular some goods, which to the monastery had given Conrad, to be of his own right contended. Wherefore Abbot Adelhelm was compelled to send him away to the man, that that suit either by law or by entreaty might be terminated. They come together therefore into one both, and among themselves confer the moments of the cause; and while no such thing suspected Conrad, the other, by anger and the devil instigating driven, a dagger seized; and to the blessed Brother two lethal wounds inflicting, on the ground laid in his own blood left him, where soon also he expired a Martyr, Virgin and Monk, in the year MCXXV.

[4] The body carried to the Mount of Angels, in the middle of the choir received a most honorific tomb: and shines with miracles. but how great Conrad's merits were with Him God testified by miracles wrought at the sepulchre, which to be narrated I leave to those experienced in the suffrages of his intercessions. Nor to the homicide passed unpunished the perpetrated crime; but in a short time also he himself by an avenging sword struck fell. Thus far Murer, whose Ecclesiastical Theater, long sought, has not yet come to our hands. From Murer almost only in brevity differs Bucelinus, except when he says, that Conrad, with a show of duty courteously received, among simulated embraces, with a double wound inflicted on each side was dispatched in the year of Christ MCXXVI: but before this same Bucelinus had said, that when a convent near the village Busch Conrad was building, the things which he had built soon collapsing, the place by the Deity to be reproved being taught, by the leading at length of an untamed ox, and the music of Angels more frequently repeated, the area, on which today the convent rests, he chose.