ON SAINT LUPINUS
AT CARCASSONNE IN GALLIA NARBONENSIS.
CommentaryLupinus, at Carcassonne in Gallia Narbonensis (S.)
D. P.
Carcasso, or Carcassio, or Carcassum, is an Episcopal city of Gallia Narbonensis, in lower Occitania. To this Saussay ascribes S. Lupinus in his Corollary to the Supplement of the Gallican Martyrology in these words: On the IV day of May. Relics in the Cathedral church, At Carcassonne of S. Lupinus Confessor, whose body in the Cathedral Church of S. Nazarius venerably rests: but his glorious memory is venerated with annual rites on the third feria before the Ascension of the Lord. Thus there. Nor more hitherto could we know of him. In Greven in the Auctarium of Usuard on July 30 there is related the bare memory of Lupinus a Bishop, no mention of place even being added. William Catel among the historical Memoirs of Languedoc book 5 enumerating the Bishops of Carcassonne, between Roger and Gisteran names Liviula, who is proved to have sat about the year 851 from an old slip, found in the chest of the Relics of S. Lupinus by a Canon of Carcassonne. Of the same Church the memorable matters are said to have been written rather accurately by Gerald de Vic, and in that work we have learned that he teaches, that on the second Feria of the Rogations, on which falls the festivity of S. Lupinus, two Canons are wont to bear out a wooden coffer, in which his Relics are preserved, the coffer on the 2nd feria of the Rogations. the rest of the Capitulars proceeding in the order of supplication: and that that coffer was opened by the Bishop of Carcassonne Christopher de Leslang, visiting his church (who first of Lodève, then of Alet Bishop, presided over Carcassonne from the year 1606 unto 1617) and in it was found a manuscript slip, making mention of Liviula a Bishop of that same Seat, and of Louis Count Eligarius of Carcassonne, whose names had lain hidden for 750 and more years, for they lived in the year of Christ 851 in the time of Charles the Bald. These things to us from the aforesaid Gerald the Rector of our College of Carcassonne, asked by letters to obtain from anywhere a transcribed copy of that slip: which to him has not yet befallen. Wherefore we ask those, in whose hands is the faculty of unlocking the coffer, that that illustrious monument of its antiquity, perhaps about to reveal something more of that Saint's age, they would not wish perpetually concealed: and meanwhile we desire to obtain the lucubration of Gerald, of which we now receive the first notice.
ON THE VENERABLE CATHARINE
A NUN OF THE CISTERCIAN ORDER,
OF THE PARK IN BRABANT.
13TH CENTURY
PrefaceVen. Catharine, a Nun of the Cistercian Order, of the Park of the Ladies in Brabant
G. H.
[1] The deeds of Catharine the Virgin of Louvain, lately a Cistercian Nun in the Park of the Ladies, are contained under the title now set down in the Ms. of Rouge-Cloître near Brussels of the Regular Canons, on a parchment leaf of the first part of the Novale of the Saints. Acts Part of these in the same words wrote Cantipratanus an eyewitness book 2 chapter 29, num. 20, another part Caesarius of Heisterbach has book 2 of his illustrious miracles chapter 26. Her birthday on the IV day of May in the Kalendar of the sacred Cistercian Order
printed at Dijon in the year 1617 is related in these words: her birthday May 4, Catharine the Virgin, otherwise Rachel, a nun in Brabant. Her name had at first been Rachel imposed by her Jewish parents. Chrysostom Henriquez in the Kalendar of the Holy and Blessed women of the Cistercian Order, prefixed before the Lilia Cistercii, writes these things of her: May 4. B. Catharine a nun in the Park of the Ladies, deserved often to see and address the Virgin Mother of God, and wrought many miracles in Belgium. But it is called the Park of the Ladies, because there is another illustrious monastery of men of the Premonstratensian Order, also called the Park, and nearer to Louvain. The same Henriquez celebrates Catharine with a longer eulogy in the Cistercian Menology, where also he honors her with the title of Blessed, which to her attribute Miraeus in the Cistercian Chronicle page 209, Arthur du Monstier in the Sacred Gynaeceum, and Chalemot in the Series of the Saints of the Order on this day. But Angelus Manrique book 3 of the Evangelical Laurel calls her Saint, who in volume 4 of the Ecclesiastical Annals of the Cistercian Order recounts her acts at the year 1220 and the following, but abstains from every title both of Saint and of Blessed: which also does Arnold Rayss in the Auctarium to the Birthdays of the Saints of Belgium of Molanus, and relates her on the V day of May. or May 5. Their example we also follow, the more because, an inquiry having been made through our Fathers, we have learned, that not only is no cult paid to the body or name of Catharine by the Nuns of the place, but not even any memory of her survives: except in a certain Legendary written in the Belgic vernacular tongue. Others who have made mention of this Virgin, are indicated by the aforesaid Writers.
LIFE
From the Ms. and from Cantipratanus and Caesarius.
Ven. Catharine, a Nun of the Cistercian Order, of the Park of the Ladies in Brabant. BHL Number: 1701
FROM THE MS.
[1] Lately the little daughter of a certain Jew of Louvain, was converted to the Catholic faith in such order. A certain Priest a Chaplain of the Duke of Brabant was wont to enter the house of the Jew, a stranger of that same city, and to dispute with him concerning the Christian faith. The daughter of a Jew But he had a little daughter, who greatly attended to the disputation according to the capacity of her understanding, weighing both the words of the Presbyter objecting, and of the father answering; at five years is affected toward Christian things, and so by little by little she was imbued by divine disposition toward the Catholic faith. Wonderful was the discretion of such a girl. For not fully five years old, in the house of her Jewish parents, she began to advert in mind, why a distinction of names was made of Jews and Christians alike: since they were men of one countenance and speech of both nations. Yet there clung (as she herself afterward related) more to her heart hearing more avidly the Christian, than the Jewish name: and especially she rejoiced to hear the name of blessed Mary, and toward the name of S. Mary: when Christians were wont to ask anything of one another or to swear. But she stole under either armpit bread from the table of her parents, and secretly shared it with begging boys, that, by their thanking her, she might hear the name of Mary. In these things therefore from time to time wonderfully progressing, so sagaciously she lay hidden, that neither of her parents could advert or hear anything about the thought of their daughter.
[2] But it happened, that when in the course of time she had come into the house of the aforesaid Priest, Master Reyner by name, with Christian children, and the Presbyter had known her by name, and had adverted her to come more willingly to him more frequently; he questioned her saying; Wouldst thou, dearest Rachel, become a Christian? And she, in the 7th year of her age is taught the Christian faith: I wish it, said she, provided thou instruct me, what it is to become a Christian. Then the Presbyter, as a holy man, wonderfully rejoiced in spirit, felt that of the girl there would be I know not what divine. And beginning from the constitution of the world, he began to expound to her the Scriptures, by which the faith of Christ, or Christ himself could be signified or shown. Whose expositions, (as she herself afterward related) with entire sense, at that age then of six years and a half, and with so great discretion of spirit she understood, that rarely was it needful for the Presbyter to repeat any reasoning. This instruction lasted nearly half a year, by a secret entrance, through which by stealth and opportunely the girl was snatched and taught. And see a notable prodigy of admiration. Never could Rachel be sated or wearied by the hearing of the word of God, whereas nevertheless the Presbyter and Martha his minister, a religious and prudent woman, both very frequently wearied, succeeded one another in teaching.
[3] What more? As soon as the parents began to advert the thought in their daughter; many Jews coming together they agreed in this, that they should send the girl from Louvain beyond the Rhine and deliver her to a spouse to be more strictly guarded. Which when the girl knew, she indicated to the Presbyter with tears, to be carried into Germany, that if he did not snatch her that same night, and make her a Christian, she would be lost forever and confounded. Which hearing the Presbyter, commanded the girl, that she should come to the wonted entrance very early in the morning. Which when she without hesitation agreed to, in the evening she said to her mother: I wish, mother, to lie this night by myself. Which when the simple childish thing she had taken, and longer had refused; yet she consented to her, commanding a little bed to be prepared for the daughter upon a pillow at her feet. The little girl therefore lying until morning, and forgetting entirely what she had promised the Presbyter the preceding night, she is admonished by the Virgin Mother of God to flee. there stood by her the glorious Mother of Christ Mary in a habit white above snow, and offering her a splendid rod, which she bore, said: Rise Catharine, and take the way, for a great way remains to thee. While she said these things Rachel believing she grasped the rod, fell from the little bed and cried out. By whose cry the mother awaked, and asking the cause of the cry, and the daughter more cautiously dissembling, the mother forthwith fell asleep: and Rachel rising to the appointed place, soon found the Presbyter. she is baptized in the monastery of the Park: Who glad took her and came to the monastery of the Cistercian Order, which is called the Park of the Ladies, which was distant a league and a half from Louvain: and all seeing it he baptized her, imposing on her the name of Catharine, by which she had before been called by the Mother of Christ, and clothed the baptized in the holy habit of the Order.
[4] Nor delay, when the father and his friends heard, what was done; they were dismayed, and through the Duke Lord of the land, and through the Bishop of Liège, and through Pope Honorius, the greatest moneys being given, labored, lest she be brought back to the father, that under the legitimate age the daughter taken away should be restored to the parents. Who if in the house of the parents until the twelfth year of age she should persevere in the faith received, then justly to the Christian name she could be restored: thinking most wickedly that in the meantime the infantile mind could easily turn itself away, so that it might return to the native wishes of the parents. Their fraudulent endeavors, alas! many great and lettered men, money being received, favored: for which the aforesaid Presbyter not a little troubled, only Christ and His Mother, who had been the authoress of this deed, with many tears invoked. resistance is made against the Duke of Brabant: And when the Duke wished to restore the daughter to the father, namely the Christian to the Jew; Reyner the Presbyter resisted him, saying: Lord, if thou commit this crime against God and His Spouse; never shall thy soul be saved. There resisted him also the Lord Abbot Walter of Villers.
[5] The Jew therefore seeing himself frustrated of the hope, which he had had with the Duke; is said to have corrupted the Lord Hugo Bishop of Liège. Who so far favored the Jew, that he commanded by his letters the convent of the Nuns of the Park, to restore to him his daughter. and lest the Bishop of Liège favor the father, Finally the Jew coming to the aforesaid monastery with his friends and kinsmen, the Virgin established within the enclosure of the monastery, when of their coming she knew nothing at all, began to feel a great heat, so that openly she said: I know not whence it is, a Jewish stench burdens me. Meanwhile the Jews knocking at the window, when the Abbess said to the girl: Daughter Catharine thy parents wish to see thee; she answered: Behold this is the stench, which I felt: I will not see them. And she did not consent to go out. Lately the same Bishop of Liège was accused for the same cause before the Lord Engelbert Archbishop of Cologne in his Synod, and it was commanded him, S. Engelbert restrains him that henceforth he should not molest the aforesaid convent for the baptized girl.
[6] And then indeed he was silent, but finally did not obey. For afterward by his letters he cited the girl to Liège under pain of excommunication, to answer to her father concerning the things objected. She came, yet under good custody. It was alleged for the Jew, that under age she had been snatched, and violently baptized. And certain persons said to the girl: Catharine, it has been told us, Summoned to Liège she defends herself constantly: that thou wouldst willingly return to thy father, if thou wert permitted. She answered and said: Who says this? They answered her: Thy father. Then she with a clear voice uttered such a word saying: My father has rightly lied through the middle of his beard. O wonderful thing, and unto the present unheard of in all ages! The girl had asked of the Presbyter to be led to every citation and Judge: Perhaps, said she, the Judges will be bent by my age, and will be moved to my expiation. And it came to pass as she asked and said. For when in the aforesaid manner she came to Liège before the Bishop, Clerics and Magnates, the divers Advocates and Judges, with as constant as truthful reasoning she confounded and moved, so that the voices of those howling and crying with tears for astonishment, in the Church of S. Lambert were heard from distant places; so that all manifestly saw and said, that in so slight an age the wisdom of the divine Spirit prevailed. And when still the Advocate of the Jew insisted; the Lord Walter Abbot of Villers, moved, who was personally present, said to him: Master, ye speak against God and against your honor. Know for certain, that if ye shall yet have spoken one word against the girl, I will labor with the Lord Pope, that he impose perpetual silence on you in all causes. Then he fearing secretly answered the Abbot: Lord Abbot, what would it hurt you, if I could extort money from this Jew? I will speak nothing, which could harm the girl. So soon as he received his salary; he said to the Jew: I dare not henceforth speak of this cause.
[7] About the same time, when the Lord Guido Abbot of Clairvaux visited the monasteries of his Order in the Bishopric of Liège; the Abbot of Clairvaux takes up her defense: he met the aforesaid Bishop, admonished and asked him, that out of regard for God and his own honor he would cease from the vexation of the girl now dedicated to Christ. To whom the Bishop answered: Good Lord Abbot, what to you of that cause? The Abbot answered: Well to me, for a double reason: first because I am a Christian man: secondly, because that house, in which she lives, is of the line of Clairvaux. And he added:
I place the girl and her cause under the protection of the Lord Pope, and against the letters given by you against her I appeal. Which he said and did, and the letters obtained from the Lord Pope against the Bishop, he sent to the Prior of the Park, that if perhaps the Bishop should still attempt to vex the convent on account of the girl, by those same letters they might defend themselves.
[8] Hence after two years there was a ceasing from the suit of law, and another little snare of deception prepared. she recognizes the fraud prepared for her A young Jew of elegant form, hired for this, came to the aforesaid monastery, in which the girl lived, and with a feigned mind received baptism. Who when he feigned himself in a wonderful manner, sought that he might speak with the girl as with his kinswoman for the sake of instruction: for he said: More than upon the discourses of all, the more salutary word will be impressed upon me by a kinswoman. She nevertheless inwardly discerned that the youth had approached the faith feignedly, and therefore neither by prayer, nor by price, nor by any obedience could she be bent, to speak a single word to the youth. When the Jews saw this, they ceased from her: but the youth returned to his vomit.
[9] But the most chosen Catharine after these things flourished with so great grace, that she was to all alike for love and for astonishment, so much that nothing could be seen more serene than she. And when the parents of the noble Nuns came with much ambition to see their daughters or kinswomen; she came before the image of the blessed Mother of God, she visits the Virgin Mother of God in her image: and with a gracious countenance said: Our other sister nuns have joy and solace from mothers and friends: but I an orphan and a poor little one to thee, Lady, as to my kinswoman confidently come. Be thou alone to me for all a refuge and consolation. Nor at all is there doubt that from the most merciful mother of piety she deserved to obtain singular solace. renowned for miracles she dies When therefore under the yoke of the holy Rule she had faithfully and perseveringly served the Lord, and had seen admirable visions, and also had shone with miracles, full of virtues she departed.