ON S. JOHN OF MONASTIER
AT CHINON IN THE DIOCESE OF TOURS.
CENTURY VI.
CommentaryJohn of Monastier, at Chinon in the diocese of Tours (S.)
G. H.
Caino, by some Chinonium, a town of the diocese of Tours, toward the Poitou tract on the Vienne river, seven leagues from Saumur to the east, and five from Loudun is distant. Extant are the proper offices of the Collegiate church of Chinon, printed at Saumur in the year MDCXIX: but without mention of S. John of Monastier. But in the prefixed Calendar, by hand inscribed we have these words: V John of Monastier the Confessor, Cult not Pontiff, double: and this cult was confirmed for us by John Baptist de la Barre of the Society of Jesus, sent to us from Paris, the Lessons, which are had on S. John of Monastier in the Office of the Chinon Church, chapel. and in the Chapel of the same Saint, and look to this fifth day of May, just as we received them thence, here we give. From the ancient Tours Breviary we have excerpts, in which also on this V May the memory of John of Monastier the Confessor is celebrated.
[2] In the town of Chinon rests in the church of S. Maximus, Leading a solitary life, not far from the chancel of the same Saint, a certain John the Presbyter: who by nation a Briton, religious in faith and fervent in devotion, that he might more blessedly lead a contemplative life, segregated himself from the company and sight of men, and hid himself in a nearby forest, where for a long time, vacant for fastings, vigils and prayers, he dwelt. Afterwards near the church of the Chinon town itself on the top of a hill, he chose a little oratory cell in the cavern of a rock: from which leaping forth at night, to the sepulcher of B. Maximus frequently supplicating the Lord, he was wakeful in vigil. There in a small piece of land he had planted a green-place and laurels with his own hand, under whose shade by day he often read, often for the consolation of neighbors he wrote, often to those coming to him for the salvation of souls he preached, more often was occupied in divine contemplations, and to the laboring marvelous benefits of healings and graces, with God helping, he ministered.
[3] he is visited by S. Radegunde Him B. Radegunde the Queen, while withdrawing from the court of King Clothar she undertook the journey toward Poitiers, and was passing through the village of Chinon, and obtains for him perseverance. visited, moved by the fame of his sanctity, and with him mixed consoling colloquies on heavenly things: whom thereafter she always cultivated with great love, and in her perturbations sought his counsels, and commended herself to his prayers. She also ordered a most precious ornament of the weight of one thousand solidi of the purest gold to be brought to him, with which in the service of God for her suffrage he might use: from him in turn asking a haircloth, with which in place of royal vestments she might lacerate her tender limbs; and asking that by his supplications she might obtain from God, that nothing against her most holy purpose by the most pious King her husband should be borne. To her postulation a prompt hearer and efficacious intercessor he was lacking neither in word nor in effect. For after a three-day fasting and continual prayers a voice slipping down from heaven he heard, Be secure, John, about B. Radegunde, because in her holy purpose most holily she will persevere: which then the event of the matter proved.
[4] a dry tree planted by him after two years is dug up and is multiplied. After the death of the servant of God it happened, that from those trees, which the whole green-place with their broad branches overshadowed, when one through age had dried up, from
it the custodian of the place adapted a bench, and now for two years had used it. But presently touched, as it is pious to believe, by divine inspiration; and pricked in heart, that for private and profane uses he had used a tree, planted by the hand of so great a Sacerdos; with the soil dug up he placed the bench under the earth. Wonderful to say! The dry wood, animated by divine vigor, sent forth new shoots, which growing each year, abundantly sufficed for those things which were to be built around the tomb of S. Maximus. The merits of the holy man God by many other signs, he himself shines with miracles. but especially by curings of diseases and expulsions of demons declared: on account of which his oratory, which under the name of B. Radegunde over the church of S. Maximus is venerated, is visited by the neighboring peoples with great frequency and devotion.
[5] So far the Lessons, more recently as appears composed: which although by the authority of the Bishop of Tours divulged I do not at all doubt; more ancient Acts are desired, yet I would wish those very (if any are extant) documents to obtain, which gave material for composing them: at the same time also to be taught, whether any relics of the holy body either once were in honor, or escaped the rage of the higher age raging against all sacred things, and are still preserved: finally the cause of the surname, by which he is called of Monastier. S. Radegunde is venerated, also at Chinon, on XIII August, when we shall give her double life, one written by Fortunatus the Bishop her contemporary, the other by her companion the Holy Virgin Bandonivia. Neither makes mention of S. John, although the latter recalls the counsel, taken up by King Clothar against the vow of the Saint, of bringing her back to his bed, which to disturb S. Germanus Bishop of Paris was asked through an epistle. In the Life of S. Junianus the Abbot, he lived in the sixth century. who still leading a solitary life was most familiar to the same Queen, on the same day on which she is venerated, mention is made of the haircloth, which she sent to him, in turn asking his chain for herself: from which appears not to have been alien to the morals of the Saint, what here is said about the haircloth asked of her. This Saint lived at least up to the year DLIII, about the year DXLIV separated from her husband: and before her had died S. Maximus, equally Patron of the Chinon church, who is venerated on day XX August: for he was the disciple of S. Martin of Tours: from which is gathered, that the age of S. John is to be ascribed to the VI century.