ON ST. SACERDOS
BISHOP OF LIMOGES,
AND S. MUNDANA HIS MOTHER
WIDOW MARTYR, AT SARLAT IN GAUL.
ABOUT DXXX.
PrefaceSacerdos, Bishop of Limoges, at Sarlat in Gaul (S.)
Mundana his mother, Widow Martyr, at Sarlat in Gaul (S.)
By the Author G. H.
[1] The places of birth, habitation, Episcopate, death, burial and translation of Relics of S. Sacerdos are these celebrated. Bordeaux, the most celebrated emporium of all Aquitaine, originating from Bordeaux, befell to him, or at least to his father, as the place of birth into this life. There follows the city of Cahors, flourishing with a noble Episcopate and Academy in the same Aquitaine: educated at Cahors, in which from the Bishop himself as an adolescent he received his instruction. In this diocese of Cahors the same S. Sacerdos made the village of Calabrum more celebrated, near the river Dordogne or Duranius, Abbot of Calabrum, in which place baptized he received its dominion: there afterwards by divine warning made a monk, then made Abbot, and there committed to burial. A neighboring place to this was the one which is now called Calviacum: and the old name remains for the Lake between Calviacum and Carluxium, which pertaining to the rights of the monastery is still called l'estang de Calabre, as also la Tour de Calabre, an ancient tower with a desolate church, of which the Parishioners' once-attached land is called the Bordarium of S. Sacerdos, from the bank of the river to which it lies adjacent. From this place Sacerdos called to the Chair of Limoges, Bishop at Limoges, in the same Aquitania prima, on the river Vienne lived the remaining time of his life: but presaging the end of his living to be imminent, about to return to the monastery of Calabrum, died at Argentac, at Argentac, a place situated on the river Dordogne between Bort and Carennac, departed from life; and thence carried to his monastery of Calabrum, there received burial. And these places pertain to his life: but beyond these another city he honored by the translation of Relics, and by miracles wrought by the operation of almighty God, by the same adopted as a chief Patron.
[2] translated to Sarlat, That city is Sarlat, in the dominion of Périgord, with a celebrated monastery of the Benedictine Order under the title of the Saviour of the world, which the tablets of the Abbey relate was founded by King Pippin or his son Charlemagne. To this monastery, in the time of Louis the Pious, the sacred bodies of S. Sacerdos and his mother Mundana the Martyr are reported below to have been translated, and then to have shone with very many miracles. Indeed even with the Dean of Sarlat in the year 1663 was found a MS. of the year 1542, in which it was asserted that even the body of his father Laban there was held in honor, where the Cathedral church is dedicated to him. as of a Blessed. Afterwards John XXII, the Supreme Pontiff, distinguished that monastery with Episcopal eminence in the year MCCCXVII; and the Cathedral church was dedicated to S. Sacerdos Bishop of Limoges, of whom we here treat; but to the table or Episcopal revenues was annexed the monastery of Calabrum or Calviacum (with the name perhaps contracted as if Calabriacum) only two leagues distant from Sarlat; where S. Sacerdos is commonly called Saint Sardos, 2 towns under his name Sardou, or Sardot or Serdot, and not Sadroc, as certain French Writers indicate by hallucinating. Under that common name moreover are had two towns; one in Aquitaine under the diocese of Montauban, the space of a league distant from the bank of the Garonne, four from Toulouse; the other S. Sardos, of Granges or surnamed from Granges, in the diocese of Agen, three leagues distant from that city, but one from the mouth of the Lot flowing forth into the Garonne. To these add the Church of S. Sacerdos of Aurenca, named in the bull of Eugene III.
[3] Who was the first author and at what time he wrote the Life of S. Sacerdos, escapes us. Hugo, monk of Fleury, who under Louis V surnamed the Fat about the year MCXXX flourished, in his Chronicle, printed at the Monastery of Westphalia in the year MDCXXXVI, page 127, on the occasion of Ecdicius, son of the Emperor Avitus, wrote these things on the Acts of S. Sacerdos: Ecdicius. The son of the once Emperor Avitus, in the book
of the Life of a certain holy Confessor, Life by Hugo of Fleury. by name and office Sacerdos, of the city of Limoges, with the name corrupted (as I think) is named Altitius, and this one is believed to have received him from the laver of baptism. The series of the Life of which most precious Confessor, partly composed in obscure speech, partly indeed depraved by the indication of the writers, beholding; recently I resolved to correct, and the time in which he flourished, after the courses of many years I have designated in modern time. And of the virtues of this very Saint indeed in the same series I have expressed in most open speech: but of this Altitius I plainly was unwilling to define that which I cannot prove by evident testimony: believing it better, that what escapes me, or about which I am in doubt, to leave the whole to God, than to defend doubtful things as certain wantonly. This however that ancient book, which contains the acts of the aforesaid Confessor, seems to me to hint, that about this time, of which we now speak, the said Sacerdos could be a small infant.
[4] So far Hugo of Fleury: who when he says the ancient book of the Acts of the holy Confessor was composed in obscure speech; rendered into Latin from old Périgord speech he seems to me to understand the vulgar speech of the Périgord people in the IX century; therefore obscure, because in the XII century in which Hugo flourished it was greatly changed from its prior form; or rather because little common, that is, to be understood everywhere on earth, as were those things which were written in Latin speech. Thus Regino of Prüm, two centuries older than Hugo of Fleury, in his Chronicle on the year DCCCXIV, says, he had found things up to then written in a certain little book, composed in plebeian and rustic speech, which I have in part corrected to the Latin rule, he says (plainly as Hugo says of the Life of S. Sacerdos) certain things also I have added which from the narration of elders I have heard. Now what plebeian and rustic speech Regino calls, was without doubt that which through the Provinces once subject to the Roman Empire was usurped, by the Franks, then their possessors, and using the patrial that is Teutonic tongue long, was called Roman, or as in a certain ancient Capitulary is read Rustic Roman, just as even now is called in Spain and other provinces, that corrupt speech from Latin, which those regions commonly use which once were of the Roman dominion.
[5] given from a Ms. Thus written a book Hugo could have received from his coeval, and partner of monastic life among the Floriacensians, Aimoinus: as one from the Périgord homeland, from the village (as he himself shows in the Life of S. Abbo, to be given on III November) which is called ad Francos, commonly Ville-franche, only thirteen leagues distant from Sarlat. Received however he did not simply render into Latin and polish; but certain things also from his own sense he changed; he added also number 23, what he believed convenient for explaining the Chronological reasoning, as those times bore not insipid, but which in this learned age is plainly judged to vacillate. This Life however of S. Sacerdos, by Hugo of Fleury thus adorned, we give hitherto unedited; such as Armandus Gerard Canon of Sarlat sent us, a man learned in historical antiquity, by whose benefit the Sammarthani edited the series of Abbots and Bishops of Sarlat. This Life he himself transcribed from an old MS. codex on the Lives of Saints which was in his possession, where it was contained from page verso LXXXVIII to page verso LXXXXV, and the prior part of the Life he also collated with that, which in the old Sarlat Breviary is distributed in Lessons accustomed to be recited through the whole Octave. with appendix. The same had with him the same Legend, in the old Périgord speech, not indeed transcribed from that ancient context, which Hugo used; but rendered from Hugo's Latin, to which it precisely adheres in the Roman that is vulgar idiom, with an appendix of certain more recent miracles, written about the year MCCCXLVII; of which he first sent us a specimen; then the very context of them rendered into Latin by himself he was asked to send, after the Life written by Hugo to be set forth to the reader, together with monuments of the most recent Translation communicated by the same. And these monuments indeed we give: but the miracles we cannot yet give; because none was at hand to the aforesaid Lord, excusing the dimness of his old eyes from doing it himself, who would read and transcribe from the MS. of an old and almost faded character. They will be able, if afterwards they are had, to be given in the Supplement of this month.
[6] Bernard Guidonis abridged it, The Life itself Bernard Guidonis somewhat abridged, of the Order of Preachers, created Bishop of Lodève in the year MCCCXXIV; and inserted it into his Sanctoral: which from a Prague MS. John Scholtz of the Society of Jesus sent to us in the year MDCXLII, but afterwards the same at Tulle of Limousin, at the end of a learned Disquisition on the century in which the same Saint lived, from a MS. codex Stephanus Baluzius of Tulle edited: about which matter Antonius Dadinus Altaserra Antecessor of Toulouse is also said to have disputed in tome 2 of Aquitanian things book 6 chapter 2. But this tome 2 of that work we know not otherwise than from the letter of the aforesaid Armand Gerard; where also he mentions that Disquisition as written in French; which moreover we found cited in Philip Labbe tome 2 of the New library of manuscript books, where on page 661 and following he edited that Life, collated with the autograph of the Sanctoral of Bernard Guidonis, and distinguished it into small Chapters. We omit this second Life as one extracted from the prior, and abridged with miracles omitted, since with the said authors it can be seen.
[7] Birthday May 5. Some compendium also of the Life is extant in the Limoges Breviary printed in the year MDCXXVI; in which city and diocese he is venerated under double rite on this fifth of May, on which day, that is the third of the Nones of May is said, both in Hugo of Fleury and in Bernard Guidonis, and in the said Limoges Breviary, that he rendered up his spirit to God. And on the same day also among the Sarlatensians his feast is celebrated with most solemn rite, and he himself in Saussay's Gallican Martyrology is honored with a long encomium. Meanwhile by the fault of copyists he was reported on day IV May in the MS. Ado, which we found at Rome in the illustrious library of Cardinal Sforza, where these things were inserted: In Périgord the natalis of S. Sacerdos Confessor and Pontiff. Which thus are read in the Martyrology of Bellinus enlarged at Paris. erroneously inscribed on May 4. In the territory of Périgord of S. Sacerdos Bishop of Limoges. Which thence Molanus edited in his usual manner in the Auctary of Usuard: and with Molanus alone cited S. Sacerdos was reported in the present-day Roman Martyrology, as also in the German one of Canisius. Ferrarius in the Catalog of Saints, who are not in the Roman Martyrology the same, as if differing from the one already related, on the fourth of May with these words sets forth: At Limoges in Gaul of S. Sacerdos the Bishop. Then in the Notes are cited the Tables of the Limoges Church, but in it he is venerated on the fifth day of May. Then his homeland is said to be Bordeaux, where the body lies: but it is in the Cathedral of Sarlat. Finally is added, Translation 3 July, Revelation 23 August. in the Lives of Saints of Gaul in Renatus Benedictus, that he is called Presbyter, but in the margin is indicated that S. Sacerdos in Latin, in French is called Sainct Prestre. We with all the ancient Acts, and the use of the Churches of Limoges, Sarlat, and others nearby, prefer to set forth the Acts themselves on this fifth day of May. The day on which under Charles the Great the Translation to the church of Sarlat was made, no one transmitting, we have not yet most certainly known, says the author of the Life. Nevertheless it is recalled at Sarlat with Double office on III July: and again on XXIII August the Revelation of S. Sacerdos: but of neither are had proper Lessons, so that it is difficult to divine, what is understood by the name of Revelation, or to what time it pertains; or what the difference between it and the Translation is; whence Bernard Guido confounded them.
[8] A greater controversy is, in what century, and in what years he lived. Following Altaserra and Baluzius, Labbe and le Cointe transfer S. Sacerdos to the seventh or even eighth century: indeed Labbe in tome 2 of his New library corrects all things to this sense. And first among the Names and deeds of the Limoges Bishops on page 267 he found these things: S. Sacerdos by nation a Bordeaux man, who is venerated and rests at Sarlat of the Périgord diocese, who also flourished about the year 517: His times seem thus to be ordered and rightly; but Labbe adds it should be read 715, or something of this kind. In the same way on page 663 because under the reign of King Clovis below number 13 he is said to have been ordained Bishop of Limoges, in this parenthesis Labbe enclosed. Perhaps it slipped in, by that ambiguity, or something similar, or was the gloss of an inept copyist, whence afterwards were drawn together those things which are had at the end, on the time in which he flourished, namely in our number 17. But we judge that all those characters are to be preserved; and that holy Sacerdos closed his last day in the time of the Emperor Justinian, as received in baptism by Ecdicius about the year 470 perhaps about the year DXXX, and then completed about seventy years of life, or at least more than sixty: and so to have been received from the font by Ecdicius, son of the Emperor Avitus, who in the year CCCCLXVII under the Emperor Anthemius was Count and Master of the Soldiery in Gaul, and in the year CCCCLXXIV by Julius Nepos the Emperor was created Patrician, and commonly was called King, and so for the King Alticius at the beginning of the Life, with Hugo of Fleury, we judge it should be read King Ecdicius, otherwise we run into an inextricable labyrinth. Then Capuanus, elsewhere unknown, we give as Bishop of the Cahors people about the year CCCCLXXX, made Abbot about the year 500 between Alithus, who lived with S. Paulinus, and Boëthius, who subscribed to the Council of Agde in the year DVI and the first of Orléans in the year DVIII or the following. Furthermore monk and Abbot was made S. Sacerdos toward the end of the fifth century: Bishop in the year 509 and after Alaric King of the Goths was conquered by Clovis, about the year DIX, Bishop of Limoges, with Clovis approving before his death: and so flourished under the Emperors Anastasius, Justin and Justinian, died about the year 530. died about the year DXXX, and truly lived with SS. Remigius, Benedict, Vedast and Amandus. All of whom in the ancient Acts are noted, nor from any Council held in those times can anything be hammered out, which conflicts with this chronology.
[9] Bernard Guidonis in Labbe, although he says S. Sacerdos flourished about the year DXVII (which we also hold) yet when he had placed two Rustics before Exotius, Catalogs of Bishops of Limoges confused. who began to sit before the year DLX (as is demonstrated from his epitaph and the age of his successor Ferreolus) and after Exotius had named eight others; to the last of them Caesarius he subjoins Roricios or Ruricios also two (of whose times, he says, inquire in the ancient books of B. Stephen of the Cathedral church) and finally, with three again interposed, names Agericus or Agerius, predecessor of S. Sacerdos
named in the aforesaid life. While he does this, and, Rustics wrongly distinguished from Rurici, contradicting himself, he makes S. Sacerdos almost a coeval of S. Cessator, who flourished in the time of Charles Martel; he becomes deservedly suspect to us, lest the order of Bishops in him be equally perverse in S. Sacerdos, as it is perverse in each Ruricius, of whom we shall presently prove that one flourished in the V century, the other in the VI. The Sammarthani, citing the MS. Catalog of John Cordesius Canon of Limoges, embrace Bernard's opinion regarding S. Sacerdos, but correct regarding the Rurici; themselves still to be corrected, in that they assign the Synods which the younger attended to the Episcopate of the elder: but they recognize no Rustics, and pass over certain others named by Bernard, as distinguished and introduced from the diversity of writing alone: which I gladly assent to them, but equally judge that in Catalogs interpolated and altered at the will of authors so recent, no certain Chronology can be founded.
[10] Furthermore as the Sammarthani think, that no account is to be had of the Rustics, as differing from the Rurici; perhaps Aggericus also is not to be distinguished, so Armandus Gerard reckons that not even Aggericus of Hugo of Flavigny (which one would better write Agerius or Agricius) is to be distinguished from the elder Ruricius, between whom and the younger S. Sacerdos must have sat. The reason for this conjecture is, that as from rus by the Latins was said rusticus or ruricius, so among the Périgord people in their vulgar language, in the use of which those words were not, from ager it would have to be said agre or agry. Thus then his name being written, of that Bishop who preceded Sacerdos, when Hugo of Flavigny had found it, to whom the Latin and genuine names of the Limoges Bishops were less known, Armandus thinks that, while he wished to render the Périgord words to a Latin form, he named Aggericus, whom he ought to have called Ruricius. I see that these things can be said not without verisimilitude. If however Armandus's conjecture displeases, and Aggericus distinct from the Rurici altogether seems to be retained; nothing prevents also placing him between each Ruricius. but S. Sacerdos to be placed in the middle, For it is established that Ruricius I in the year CCCCLXX was Bishop, and in the year DVI on account of age and diseases was excused from being present at the Council of Agde: of the younger we find no notice before the year DXXXV, in which he was present at the Council of Clermont, and the same seems to have been alive up to the year DLV or beyond: accordingly a notable interval of time can be set between each; and place is given not only to S. Sacerdos, but also before him to Aggericus, at least for two years, if he was different from Ruricius I.
[11] Those authors who joined the two Rurici together, had no other foundation, the epitaph of the Rurici opposing nothing. than that Venantius Fortunatus joined them in the epitaph thus singing:
Here the sacred limbs of Pontiffs, radiant throughout the whole world,
The sepulchers cover: the spirit dwells in the stars.
The twin Ruricii, joined by forename, by blood,
Exult equally, here the grandfather, there the grandson.
Each in his own time founding pious temples of a Patron,
The one founded Augustine's, the other Peter's.
But they are no more said to have succeeded each other immediately in the Episcopate, than that the Grandfather founded the temple of S. Augustine, the Grandson Peter's, as Bernard Guido and after him others interpret; although the very syntax of the words, with the reasoning of time supporting, rather demands, that the Grandfather founded for Peter, the Grandson for Augustine the church.
[12] Cult of S. Mundana the mother on May 31 To S. Sacerdos we have joined in the title S. Mundana, his Mother, Widow Martyr: not so much because on this day Saussay sets her forth in the supplement of the Gallican Martyrology, and Arturus in the sacred Gynaeceum, through ignorance of the proper day alone; as because it is not worth while in this month on day XXXI, on which she is venerated at Sarlat with double Office, to institute a new treatment of her, which would have to be drawn entirely from things to be said here. For her birth and time of life and death, and the manner of translation, are known from the son's history alone: she also has a cult almost common with the son: although about her body nothing is now known. in her own church next to her fountain. And perhaps when her own church was built for her on the other bank of the river Dordogne, which still survives, her relics were translated thither, and in the common destruction of sacred things, made by the Huguenots in the previous century, were dispersed. Of this church, as pertaining to the rights of Sarlat, among about seventy others, in the seventh place Pope Eugene III makes mention in his confirmatory Bull of them in the year MCLIII, and annexes to it the Curias of Marciliacum and of Calabrum. Armandus Gerard in the Notes adds, that next to it is the fountain of S. Mundana, from which very many think they draw a remedy against headaches, not without frequent effect; and as a testimony of this matter the women there leave behind the linen coverings of their heads.
LIFE
renewed by Hugo of Fleury
From a MS. of Sarlat.
Sacerdos, Bishop of Limoges, at Sarlat in Gaul (S.)
Mundana his mother, Widow Martyr, at Sarlat in Gaul (S.)
BHL Number: 7457, 7458, 7459
A. By Hugo of Fl. FROM MS.
CHAPTER I.
Birth, education, monastic life, dignity of Abbot.
[1] The glorious Prelate and Sacerdos, to be imitated by all Sacerdotes in the world, originating from the province of Aquitaine, took his origin from a clear stock. Who when he was noble in race, more nobly shone with the probity of life. Born at Bordeaux of noble race Of whom what or how great he was, from those things which, the holy Spirit cooperating, of the quality of his life, and of the abundance of many miracles I have resolved to write, anyone will easily be able to learn. His father then, the most illustrious man Laban, stood out as one of the foremost of the city of Bordeaux: his mother indeed is called Mundana. There reigned at the same time in the province of Aquitaine a most Christian King, Anticius b by name. It happened however that the same King came to a certain village, named Calabrum c, situated between the borders of the Cahors people and the Périgord people, not far from the river Dordogne. And when he had remained there for some time, on a certain day Laban, the father of the aforesaid man, standing by him, said: My lord King, if it shall please your Serenity to honor me, I beseech that my only-begotten son, whom recently the Lord has deigned to give me, you would receive from the regeneration of baptism. To whom the King congratulating immediately answered: received from the font by Anticius the Regulus: If you present him to our sight, I shall do what you ask. Then Laban hastily brought to him his son saying: Behold, lord King, my son is here, whose receiver from the sacred laver of the font you promised to be. And immediately the King, receiving the boy from the sacred liquid, gave him the aforesaid village Calabrum, in which these things were being done, to be possessed by hereditary right: for the same village was a royal fisc. And it was done by divine disposition, that the same boy in the reception of baptism should be called Sacerdos by name, in office afterwards to be a great Sacerdos in the Church.
CHAP. II.
[2] These things being completed, Sacerdos was handed over, the venerable boy, to S. Capuanus d Bishop of Cahors, that he might instruct him in letters and Christian discipline e: which Capuanus in those days was the most preeminent among the religious Prelates of Aquitaine. and educated under the Bishop of Cahors This f truly had happened by the dispensation of almighty God, that the most holy boy from a Catholic and perfect master of sanctity might drink the purest streams of doctrine; whence at length, made an excellent Doctor, he might irrigate the minds of the faithful: and lest at any time, surrounded by heretical depravity, of which in that region at that tempest the greatest g abundance was within, he might deviate from the right path of the faith. So therefore now by the dignity of his name, the nobility of his parents, the royal gift and the magisterium of the holy Prelate, beloved by the Lord Sacerdos was adorned in infancy; that from this it might shine to mortals, with how much reverence he stood out to be cultivated, whom by so many and such great gifts the divine bounty by anticipating sublimated.
[3] Saint Sacerdos finally, with the boyish years passed, while he insisted on salutary doctrines, and transcended the years of puberty by the maturity of life; began to surpass all his coevals in the praises of virtues. Whence to the venerable Capuanus, after notable progress in virtue, under whose magisterium he lived, he was very dear, and always stood by him; and the things which thirsting he drew from his mouth, he stored up in the cabinet of his heart. Simplicity commended his astuteness, and modesty tempered his urbane eloquence: nor did he glory in the beauty of his body, nor was he extolled by worldly favor. Yet truly when he now reached the bounds of youth, in that very fervent age he soon began to be a lover of chastity, and to spurn the delights of the world. For as often as the tempter coming to him sought an entry of temptation, he always found the door of his breast closed against him. What more? When already inwardly he was a sincere vessel of the holy Spirit, ordained Deacon, and on the altar of his mind sacrificed daily to God the holocaust of pious devotion; the said Bishop Capuanus, by Angelic admonition, ordained him a Levite. And it was done after this ordination, that the same most holy man Sacerdos shone more and more with the radiance of virtues; and to almighty God, whom long he served interiorly, equally exteriorly through the Ecclesiastical ministry served. And from then he began in the largeness of alms to disburse to the needy, and to insist more perfectly on the praises of God.
CHAP. III.
[4] There was at the same time in the already named village of Calabrum a monastery, endows the monastery of Calabrum; in which forty and more monks dwelt. To these therefore the beloved of the Lord Sacerdos especially diligently ministered: so that whatever from his own resources he did not bestow on them, he indeed thought he had wholly lost. And the Basilica there being first renewed, almost consumed by long antiquity, he constructed there habitations suitable for monks. He also conferred on the same monastery the same village Calabrum, with its appendages, which (as has been said) from King Anticius by hereditary right he had received to be possessed. He prayed also frequently, because he had learned that one ought always to pray and not to grow faint. And when on a certain day he had prostrated himself in prayer according to custom, in it by divine warning made a monk, a divine voice was sent to him saying: O my beloved Sacerdos, enter the monastery fearing nothing: for I have chosen you to the order of monastic religion: and because you have shown yourself to me a sanctified vessel from the very cradle, I have appointed Angelic custody for you. At this voice the great Levite Sacerdos at once began to give thanks to almighty God doubly, in that he had merited to be heavenly comforted by the voice made by Him; and the habit of religion being assumed, he began to keep the norm of his proposal most perfectly. But it is not for our facundity to bring forth, how great purity of mind and probity of morals, how great asperity of fasting, and above all attention to holy readings, or what affection toward religion, beyond the other Brothers, began to commend him to God and men. With these therefore and the privilege of other virtues and especially of humility flourishing the most holy man, under the rule of an Abbot for about seven years, before he came to the Order of Presbyterate, served the Lord. And so he never deserted the use of right conversation,
so that he did not command others before he was subject to his greater ones with the due order of reason.
Cap. IV.
[5] After these days it came to pass, that the man of the Lord Sacerdos presided over the Brothers of the aforesaid monastery. He is elected Abbot. Yet to all these he strove to profit more than to preside. For he studied that he should stand out as one to be imitated by them, and that he should show good works by deeds rather than by words. Daily indeed he gave attention to reading, and yet diligently ministered to all. As servant of all, he served all; but as a most skilled judge he reproved crimes. He appeared the least among all; but as a most outstanding doctor, he taught them with salutary doctrines. As a most sweet father he loved all; but as a wise physician, those whom he foresaw to be incorrigible, he separated from the body of the Church as putrid members. He tempered fortitude with leniency, and strengthened temperance with prudence: and so in all his acts appeared just and merciful.
[6] Wherefore all who dwelt in the same province, dear to all by the merit of virtues, and useful by example and word. loved him with all their effort, and extolled him with great favors of praises; and yet, as he could, he hid the merit of his life; lest if perhaps he should swell inwardly with favors, in his interior the fruit of humility should perish. But indeed daily there grew about him an opinion that was the handmaid of virtues: and there flowed to him from various regions no small crowd of men. And some indeed came, that by the example of so great a man they might become better; some indeed, only that they might visit him; others, that they might receive food for the body or whatever necessities from him; and others, that by his prayers they might commend their souls to the Lord. To all these the most holy man set forth abundantly the food of divine dogmas; and, as it was needful for each, labored to advance, according to what he could. The care of the poor and pilgrims was in him so much, that with great alacrity of mind he expended on their uses whatever he could withdraw from himself: and content with one altogether common garment of his Order, he clothed the naked, and loved parsimony; and although he was sparing to himself, to others he was generous.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER II.
Miracles of his life: conversion of his parents to a holy life. Episcopate of Limoges, death.
Cap V.
[7] Meanwhile the man of the Lord Sacerdos desired to ascend to the honor of the Presbyterate, Ordained Presbyter, that the more excellent in degree he should become, the more freely he should be at leisure for the Lord; and as often as he performed the sacred mysteries, he should slay himself with tears in prayer. Yet truly, that at length it might appear to men of how great sanctity he was, it pleased divine piety, that it should adorn his life with the glory of miracles: which thus was done.
[8] he heals a leper. There was in the aforesaid village of Calabrum a certain man, whose skin leprosy had defiled. It happened however that on a certain day the man of the Lord Sacerdos was admonished by an Angel, that he should visit him, and with hands washed touch all the places of his sickness. Which when he had done, prayer being premised, he immediately restored the man to health. The inhabitants of the place indeed, and also all the peoples of that region hearing this, with glad spirits gave thanks to the Lord, jointly praising the merits of B. Sacerdos.
[9] whence the parents rejoicing, Mundana also his mother, hearing that her son had performed so great a miracle, blessed the Lord, by whose marvelous help all miracles are done: and pricked in heart, henceforth spurning all the delights of the world, desired to imitate the footsteps of her son. Her husband Laban dwelt at that time in the city of Bordeaux; whither she directing, summoned him, sending word through a messenger that the servant of God had performed so notable a miracle. Hearing this, Laban himself also glorified the Lord in that which had been done.
Cap. VI.
[10] Since therefore Laban was, as said above, noble in race; Mundana, his venerable wife, going to live continently by his example was similar to him in morals and generosity. And both were according to worldly dignity illustrious and most rich in the abundance of resources. On a certain day the venerable Mundana falling at the feet of her husband, with weeping prayed, that both equally by a happy commerce might purchase heavenly things for earthly, and follow the footsteps of S. Sacerdos by imitating; and just as they had lived equally carnally, they should live also spiritually. Which her petition Laban hearing, pricked in heart, gladly gave assent. their goods to churches and the poor they bestow. They divided therefore into two parts the whole substance of their right, and one indeed they handed over to the Church of Christ, the other indeed they disbursed to the poor and pilgrims. Their slaves also and household servants they permitted to depart free, and dedicated the remainder of their life to the Lord. And both were unanimously, according to the precept of the Apostle Paul, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, instant in prayer, communicating in the necessities of the Saints, pursuing hospitality, and following the footsteps of the Lord Jesus Christ in all things: but especially they loved pilgrims, and liberally insisted on receiving them. Rom. 12:11
Cap. VII:
[11] On a certain day, the man of God Sacerdos meeting with the Brothers, in the customary manner, at the second hour of prayer, it happened that his father departed from the world. The son with the father dead And when messengers coming wished to indicate this to him, he himself most devoutly insisted on prayer, so that he looked upon none of them, until he should put an end to prayer. The prayer being completed, he went to the father already lifeless: then when he had found him already dead exposed in the midst, and had asked the hour of his departure; he found that he had died at the same hour at which he himself had proceeded to prayer. The venerable Mundana mourned him, as also his relatives and neighbors equally standing about. Whom the man of the Lord Sacerdos consoling, consoles his mother asserted that he ought not to be mourned, who, fulfilling the Gospel precept, devoutly had disbursed the resources of his goods to pilgrims and the poor.
[12] and gives life back to the dead Furthermore he asked them again, whether they had given fitting service to his funeral. To whom when they had responded, that he had not partaken of the life-giving mysteries of the Lord's Body and Blood; with great mourning straightway prostrating himself on the ground, he prayed for a very long time. Then the hand of the dead being grasped, once and a second time he called him by name. Who immediately at the voice of the man of God, as if he were sleeping, so arose; and looking upon the multitude of bystanders, poured forth words of this kind, saying: At the second hour of the present day I had departed from the world: but by the merits of my son it has been granted to me that I should return again to those above. As he was saying these things, all who were present were astonished at the miracle of so great a thing: and with hands stretched out on high, and a clamor raised to heaven, they gave thanks to the Lord. But when they had been silent, until he should receive the Viaticum. immediately the venerable Sacerdos gave him the Communion of the Lord's Body: which he having received was greatly comforted. Then before his presence the same man of God casting himself, in the likeness of the Patriarch a Jacob, began to demand the paternal benediction from him. To whom when forthwith his father had blessed him, again presently he rested in peace. O! the praiseworthy merit of the blessed man, by which the father is led back to those above, and refreshed by the viaticum of the Lord's Body, and afterwards is dismissed to rest in peace.
Cap. VIII
[13] after administering the Episcopate of Limoges These things which we have said being completed, the fame of the blessed man began to spread hither and thither, and the odor of his holy conversation to suffuse the neighboring regions. Whence Aggericus b the Bishop of Limoges of blessed memory dying, the man of God Sacerdos is sublimated in the Chair of the same Church, to the honor of God, by the election of the Clergy and the favor of the people, with Clovis c King of the Franks the elder Prince of that province also approving. And so for some courses d of years he governed the same Church by the providence of God. Yet, since lest we generate disgust to some, we flee verbosity, and apply our mind to brevity, now let us bend the joint to his transit.
Cap. IX.
[14] Sensing therefore the most blessed Sacerdos, the Holy Spirit revealing to him, about to return to Calabrum that his last day was imminent; bidding farewell to the Brothers he left the city of Limoges, and strove to seek again his native soil: for there, divine grace pre-ordaining, he desired that his little body should be laid, where he had taken the beginning of religion. He, when he was making the journey, came to a certain village which is named Argentac, and there now long macerated by sorrow, was afflicted with the heavy sharpness of fevers. But when he had recovered a little, he asked for the food of eggs. he is sick at Argentac, Which his disciples hearing, hastened to seek out solicitously through all the inhabitants of the village the food which he had asked; and not finding, immediately announced to the master. For in the same village the offspring of hens had hitherto been infested by the wicked voracity of kites and hawks, so that scarcely could there ever any hen survive there. he restrains the rapacity of kites. Which when the holy man learned, he restrained that importunity of birds thus, In this, he said, circuit of the village let no rapacious bird hereafter dare to infest the hens. The inviolable edict of which servant of God remains forever e. Wonderful thing! truly by this one indication it sufficiently appears, that with potent virtue Pontifical authority of old could bind men and loose. For truly he was the disciple of Him, who placed in a little ship, rising commanded the winds and the sea, and there was made a great tranquility. So once the most blessed Martin, Archbishop of Tours, prohibited the divers from the prey of the river, and restrained their rapacious gluttony. The flying creatures obeyed the precepts of Martin; the hawks still obey the interdicts of the servant of God Sacerdos. May He Himself, f we pray, by his prayers loose us from crimes, and so defend his suppliants, as he now preserves the birds.
Cap. X.
[15] The man of the Lord Sacerdos therefore, the most holy Prelate, seeing the supreme day to have shone for him, and ordering himself to be buried in his monastery dies on May 5. convokes his disciples, orders his body to be returned to the Church, in which he had taken the beginning of religion. Finally, when he had pre-fortified his exit with the divine mysteries, and had perorated to his disciples and all gathered there many addresses of holy exhortation, and had commended himself and his spiritual sons, whom he was leaving, to almighty God; on the third Nones of May he rendered up his spirit to heaven: who now surrounded by the Angelic choirs stands close to Him, for whom placed on earth he served as a soldier. For thus our Lord Jesus Christ placed on earth prayed to the Father: Father, I will that where I am there my minister also may be.
[16] to the body carried thence Therefore seeing the master lifeless, the disciples who had accompanied him, said, seized inwardly by exceeding sorrow, Why, Father, here about to die
have you come? Why did you wish to dwell with us with so very brief a term of life? Why, sweetest Father, do you leave us orphans? With these and such complaints the disciples giving satisfaction to grief, striving to fulfill the master's precepts, place his lifeless limbs in a boat, and seize the journey through the channel of the Dordogne to the aforesaid g monastery. And when now they were approaching the dwelling of the mother of the Lord Sacerdos; behold B. Mundana, deprived of her eyesight, was making her way toward her son's funeral rites. When she had come there, sustained by the hands of attendants, the blind mother is enlightened. presently at the river's shore she merited to receive light divinely. Now as we did in another miracle, let us compare the beloved of the Lord Sacerdos with the most blessed Martin Archbishop of Tours. Martin h converted his mother from the error of gentile religion, the Prelate Sacerdos most holy by the example of continence provoked his mother to the amendment of life: that one through faith enlightened his mother inwardly, this one enlightened her outwardly to the praise and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns through all ages of ages. Amen.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER III.
Reasoning of the time: burial: translation of the body to Sarlat.
[17] Time in which the Saint flourished. S. Sacerdos the reverend Bishop flourished in the times of the Augusti Anastasius a and Justin the elder b and Justinian, succeeding one another in turn; with Clovis c son of Childeric of the Franks and the Aquitanians holding the monarchy. This Clovis d S. Remigius baptized. At this time also flourished the eminent lawgiver of monks e Benedict, and B. Amandus f and S. Vedast Bishops, and many other most holy men. He also stood out as the twenty-ninth g Bishop of the Limoges church from B. Martial, the first Bishop of the same city, the disciple of Peter the Prince of the Apostles h.
Cap XI.
[18] The most glorious Prelate of Christ Sacerdos, as already said, being released from the bonds of the body, the monks of the often mentioned monastery taking down his most holy body from the boat, whose body the great people present at the burial, and placing it on their shoulders, brought it into the church, of which by the Lord's gift he had stood as Abbot. What gathering of men and women came together there at that time, what pomp of ecclesiastical ornaments was carried, we have judged superfluous to say; you would see however coming to his funeral rites equally those rejoicing and those mourning. They rejoiced, because they were receiving the patronage of so great a Confessor; they mourned, that they had lost a sweet solace. They could not restrain tears with the affection of piety, but were consoled by the arrival of his body. Songs and tears thus together they poured forth, they exulted equally and grieved.
[19] perfumes with marvelous odor. All however equally were refreshed by the most sweet odor, and at the same time were imbibed with inestimable sweetness. For the whole body of the man of the Lord was fragrant with divine nectar, as if it had been suffused with precious aromatic. The choir of Angels accompanied in heaven him, whom the choir of virtues had always accompanied on earth. With his most holy soul indeed the Angels dancing praised the Lord, and men placed on earth honorably procured the funeral rites. So therefore in the said basilica, with God favoring, the relics of the most reverend Prelate Sacerdos were happily reposited.
Cap. XII.
[20] But long after a time, while S. Mundana with pious tears always watered the mausoleum of her son, the mother is killed by a Vandal. under the Vandal i persecution, by the slaying of the sword she fell; and on account of her insuperable confession of Christ, she sustained the immolation of martyrdom. Furthermore her body, gathered by the faithful, and next to the sepulcher of her son the most reverend and most holy Prelate Sacerdos diligently buried; and there with the divine grace helping many miracles are wrought, our Lord Jesus Christ providing, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, through all ages of ages, Amen. k
Cap. XIII.
[21] With the most excellent Emperor l Charles the Great holding the Imperial scepters, and Louis the Pious his son under his father's Empire reigning in Aquitaine, Among the monasteries which Charles the Great and Louis the Pious adorned as the little book of their Acts attests, many monasteries in the kingdom of Aquitaine were repaired by the same King Louis, many also constructed from the foundations, by which now as by certain luminaries all Aquitaine is decorated. The example of him not only many of the Bishops, but also very many of the laity emulating, strove to restore the collapsed, and construct new monasteries. At this time also, in the body of the same province, by religious men m was restored the church of the Saviour of the world in the village of Sarlat, which is situated in the district of Périgord. And so it was done, with God's clemency operating, that the churches which the aforesaid Emperor Charles the Great by devastating had injured by war, which over many years waged he had at length completed against the tyrant Waifer n, and Hunaldus who after Waifer's death had occupied Aquitaine; Louis the son of the same Emperor restored. All which the most pious Emperor Charles the Great himself with immense weights of gold and silver, and gifts of precious gems most ample, enriched and honored, and moreover, what is more precious, distinguished with the most holy patronages of Relics. Among which the same Prince, there was also Sarlat, the lovable Lord Charles o the Great, honored, indeed sanctified this church of which we speak, of Sarlat, with no small portion of the wood of the Lord's Cross: which, as is read in certain [p] of his Acts, the Emperor [q] himself had brought back with many other Relics from Jerusalem.
Cap. XIV:
[22] At that tempest the monks of the same Sarlat church going away to the village named above [r] Calabrum, now nearly reduced to a solitude, on one of the nights, [to which from the village of Calabrum the bodies of SS. Sacerdos and Mundana are translated.] breaking the sepulchers of both Saints, namely the most holy Sacerdos and his mother S. Mundana the Martyr; and gathering up their most holy bodies thence and carrying them with them, within the prescribed church of the Saviour of the world most worthily entombed them. That all these things so happened, as we have indicated, by diligently investigating we have learned: yet the day on which these things were done, with no one transmitting it to us, we do not yet most certainly know. Nor wonderful if the notice of this matter escapes us, since it is established that through those same times, [s] hindered by wars, all Gaul and all Aquitaine were almost lacking the discipline of the liberal arts.
[23] Reasoning of time erroneously deduced. But that from those things which by more celebrated fame are reported, the sagacity of the reader may take notice; of that time in which the most blessed Sacerdos flourished, and of that in which in the village of Sarlat his body was translated, with a very brief reasoning we have declared. For there are reckoned from the Passion of the Lord up to the transit of S. Martin years [t] four hundred and twelve; and from the transit of S. Martin, up to the death of Clovis son of Childeric, in whose time S. Sacerdos flourished, years one hundred and twelve. There are therefore from the Passion of the Lord up to the death of this Clovis, years [v] five hundred and twenty-four. Likewise from the death of Clovis up to the decease of Charles the Great, in whose time the place of Sarlat was restored, are years [x] three hundred and one. These things however which we have written by probable reasoning from ancient histories scattered by re-reading we have gathered, and placed before God we speak only with the most pure truth; and with unknown things omitted those which we most certainly know, to the honor of so great a Confessor we have faithfully explicated.
ANNOTATIONS.
up to that point under his right had retained. See his Diploma in tome 4 of Gallia Christiana page 808.
p. There are some of his Acts edited under the name of Turpin, and commonly disapproved.
q. Indeed he had received it from Fortunatus or Macarius Bishop of Jerusalem, for he himself did not make pilgrimage there.
r. It is wondrous to be said by Saussay that from Calabrum then was given the name Sarlat, since they are distant by two leagues.
s. He understands the Norman wars, waged in the 9th and 10th centuries.
t. Indeed S. Martin died in the year 397 of the Christian Era.
v. Clovis by our calculation departed 27 November of the year 509.
x. From our calculation 304 years. Charles died 28 January of the year 814.
CHAPTER IV.
Miracles wrought after the Translation a, and especially of those who injured the Saint being punished.
[24] In recent time, in which in the aforesaid church of the holy Saviour the limbs of the glorious Prelate Sacerdos had been reposited, on the very holy day of Parasceve, Fire from the burning bakery to be transferred to the church the bakery of the monks happened to begin to burn. Thus when that fire, kindled now for the third time, was thought to have been extinguished, with the long fuel-track having again resumed its strength being rekindled, it is widely dispersed through everything nearby. Then suddenly there is a clamor, a crash arises, in throngs they run together, and in vain hither and thither the fire is attacked. For the menacing flame, first through the roofs of neighboring houses spreads scattered; and at length its impetus, with the wind acting, is borne even to the basilica of S. Saviour itself. Yet truly to the bell-ropes b of the wood there is a running together, the sound of them is diffused afar; every ornament that was in the same basilica is hastily collected, the body of the most precious Confessor is drawn outside, and the help of the same most holy Pontiff is most devoutly invoked by all who were present. Meanwhile from the place is seen coming from the East a little cloud, which a white dove preceded with all looking on. Then that little cloud, driven by a rapid blast, where over those fires it spread out its veils, it is extinguished by the little cloud led by an appearing dove. presently began to send forth an inundation of huge water. You would see the conflict of the elements, fire however was overcome divinely. It is worth the trouble to weigh the sublimity of so great a miracle. Who is not astonished, when at the invocation of the beloved of God Sacerdos the serenity of the heaven was obscured; and when by a sudden inundation of rain the immensity of the conquered fire was assuaged? It must surely be confessed, and without any ambiguity believed, that for showing the merit of S. Sacerdos (whose famous body had so recently been translated there with God favoring) over his basilica, for sanctifying the very same and for assuaging the same fire, that very Spirit had come, who in the likeness of a dove rested in the river Jordan upon Christ; and the Lord working with so great a sign, and sanctifying His own holy church, freed it from the imminent fire through the merit of this famous Confessor; and, as we shall set forth in the following c little work, afterwards adorned it with much glory of miracles; which we ask Him to do propitiously, to the praise and glory of His name, ever. Amen.
[25] Pope Leo d most holy decreed to fortify the church of the Saviour of the world and of the most blessed Confessor of Christ Sacerdos, with the privilege of his Sanctity: Hubert Abbot of Simontacus and a dilapidator, in which privilege by anathematizing he prohibited, that no one elated by presumption or arrogance, or swollen by the generosity of parents, or in any other way, not by the legitimate election of the monks serving there, should dare to invade the dominion of the same church, or in any way to plunder, lessen or alienate the things pertaining to it. Which a certain Hubert, a Cleric by tonsure, in act indeed sacrilegious, holding for nothing, with the protection of Count William supported, seized the dominion, or congregation of the aforesaid church: who emptied the place by despoiling all goods, and daily made worse. But when on a certain day he had laid his limbs to slumber, behold the lord Sacerdos, with two accompanying through a vision, appeared; and coercing his temerity, thus reproved: Why, he said, most wicked of men, against Apostolic decrees of this holy church have you presumed to invade the goods? Why have you assumed the name and tyranny of Abbot? Why have you carried off the furniture of the monastery? And saying this he raised on high the staff which he was holding in his hand, that he might strike him: not amended by the first apparition of the saint, but, as the same Hubert later related, recalled by the prayers of the accompanying ones, he restrained the staff from a blow. The wretch indeed rising from his little bed, first indeed feared vehemently the horror of the vision: then thinking himself deluded by the spirit of fantasy, gradually relapsing returned to his pristine error. Yet truly while he raged; and while according to the likeness of the serpent and as the deaf asp stopping its ears, immediately rushed to crimes; behold again to him sleeping on another night the holy Pontiff standing by more severely, said: How are you, Hubert? Are you awake, or sleeping? But he struck with fear at once responded: Who are you, Lord? To whom the holy man returned: Do you not know me? in the second cast into furies he dies, have you not seen me long ago? Why have you wantonly spurned me? Saying these things he began to beat his head, and to hew with a club the other limbs that he bore. Then the wretch first, Spare Lord, Spare Lord, began to cry wailing. Finally crying his guilt now too late, he leapt down from the little bed: and so finally made out of his mind, with all who were present marveling, fleeing through the cloister of the monastery, into a certain little hut, escaping the sight of men, betook himself. Certain travelers seizing him bring him back at once to the same church, and there guard him diligently. Then the peoples through that whole province, hearing the things which had been done, gave thanks to Christ the Saviour, and by extolling preached the merits of Saint Sacerdos. and the Count who had introduced him is punished by contraction. He indeed dying and frequently saying, My fault, Holy Sacerdos, paid the due penalties. To all however who heard this, it was openly known, with what penalty he is worthy, who unjustly seizes tyranny over the flock of Christ, and who as a thief badly squanders ecclesiastical goods. The Count of Périgord e William, who against the Apostolic precepts had stood as the seller of the church of which we speak; with both hands joined and his mouth drawn back to his ear, and disfigured with every deformity of limbs, led an ungrateful life until the end.
[26] Snatching a flask of wine to be offered to the Saint, Calviniacus is a village, on the border of the Périgord and Cahors people. The inhabitants of this village were accustomed to come to the monastery of B. Sacerdos. Therefore on a certain day some of them in the customary manner were coming: a certain poor man indeed with his wife had bought wax and wine from his scarcity, and they were following those preceding. But while, as we said, they took the journey by a slower path, and walked alone; one of the parasites of a certain knight came to meet them; and violently extorted the flask of wine which they were carrying. But they completing the proposed journey more expeditiously come to the above-said monastery. Then with hands stretched out casting themselves to the ground, for the injury inflicted on them they sought vengeance from God and from His servant, namely Saint Sacerdos. Meanwhile he who had snatched the flask, asked that drink be poured for him from it. These however who stood by desired to pour wine from the above-mentioned vessel: but they could not even take out the bolt by which it was secured from above. Finally with a lance breaking the bolt, he is made furious, they could not draw out the liquor of wine from it. And while these things were being done, the author of the outrage divinely struck is seized by a demon, and raging within himself becomes the avenger of his crime. For he devoured his own hands and arms with furious teeth, and lacerated all whom he could with savage bites. Who at length apprehended, and bound with hard ropes, breathed out his life immediately. With him therefore terribly dead those who were present brought the flask with the wine to the monastery of the most blessed Sacerdos, and to the memory of so great a miracle suspended it in the same church.
[27] Moreover on a certain day to one burning with the heat of fevers, it was shown through a vision, and from this related the sick drinking convalesce. that if he should drink of the wine of the flask, which we noted in the preceding discourse, he should immediately convalesce. Which being drained, the disease being put to flight, he immediately convalesced; and not only this one did it profit, but also many others, that wine for healing, as long as it could last. And so what was for one to destruction, brought a remedy to many sick.
[28] In summer time some for the cause of devotion had come to the oratory of S. Sacerdos, Pilgrims burning with thirst and prayer being completed were returning. These were carrying on their own shoulders a wine-vessel, which is called an oenophorus, that drinking from it at fitting hours they might cool the burning of thirst. And it happened that on the journey they were equally fatigued by the burning of heat and thirst: who compelled by exceeding anxiety, sat down to drink; and again seizing the journey, were more sharply afflicted by the heat thirsting. Then anxious, Let us drink again, they say, because the gift of S. Sacerdos will not be lacking. a measure of wine suffices for them long: Which being said, applying to themselves the oenophorus, they found it full to the very top; and being refreshed again seize the journey. Which maturely completed, under the roof of one inn they gathered themselves; and there again drinking from the same vessel, they marveled, more often finding it full. To this spectacle many came together, and as often drank as they came, as if from it the wine were not poured out. Therefore the aforesaid pilgrims, returning by the retrograde path, assert the proclamations of so great a miracle, divulging through all things: also bringing back the oenophorus with them as a testimony to the monastery, and suspending it in the church they rejoiced, giving thanks to the Lord.
[29] the rustic plundering the bundles of others on a slight cause, At another time also, while certain ones came to the church of the holy Prelate Sacerdos, a dog by chance accompanied them on the journey, who attacking on the way the flock of sheep of a certain rustic, drove them through the pastures with barking: but called back by his Master, again proceeded with them: and so they came to the monastery, and the things being completed for which they had come, again returned to their own. Meanwhile the shepherd, bringing the complaint of the disturbed flock to the Lord, sharpened his soul with malign fury. Then that rustic, hostilely armed, presented himself opposite to the returning pilgrims, and began to afflict them with injuries, with them offering him on account of what the dog had done legitimate amends. Yet truly when he still raged against them, and dispersed their bundles hither and thither; they began to invoke the help of S. Sacerdos: but that rustic mocked their proclamations. he is chastised by paralysis. But they leaving there what they had brought with them, run back to the church of S. Sacerdos. With them indeed there persisting, presently that rustic is worn down by a heavy dissolution of the limbs: whom the relatives placed in the lap of a winnowing-basket strove to carry to the propitiatory of the often-named Saint. The solemnity of the same Confessor of Christ was being celebrated on that very day; and behold now with the sun bending toward the setting, the bearers of the aforesaid rustic, bursting into the church, exhibit as a witness of so great a miracle the same rustic; indicating what had happened.
That contumacious rustic moreover, deprived of every function of the limbs, expired in the middle of the night.
[30] A horseman injurious to another trusting in the Saint, A certain knight, returning from the monastery of S. Sacerdos, met one who had committed an offense against him, and was coming to the same monastery for the sake of praying. The knight indeed, with the fear and reverence of the Confessor of Christ Sacerdos, whose stupendous miracles he had often seen, and oftener heard to be done, passed him by with impunity and went away. Another horseman however, who was following the preceding knight from afar, encountering the same pilgrim on the same way, attempted to upbraid him for that crime which he had perpetrated against the aforesaid Knight, and to terrify him with threats. But that pilgrim, trusting in B. Sacerdos, replied that he feared no horseman on that journey. Then the horseman, thinking that he despised him, swelling with pride, urged on the horse with spurs, and rushed upon him, and snatched the tunic which he had placed over his head against the heat, and folded it behind him on the saddle. To that pilgrim however, he is punished by the death of his horse and his own. imploring the help of the holy Prelate, immediately the tunic is replaced upon his head: and that wicked horseman, his hip broken, is rolled down. The horse indeed agitated by furies attacks the prostrate man, and pursues him wandering through the field, and being seized immediately dies. The horseman truly, while he was being carried to the church of the Saint, on the eighth day after these things were done, dies on the very journey. And so he living, whose merit he had despised, did not deserve to have him propitious.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER V.
Benefits of healings, expended on those invoking S. Sacerdos, the malevolent punished.
[31] So far we have discoursed how the Pontiff of the Lord Sacerdos by persecuting tyrants and the proud has worn them down: but henceforth we shall report, how he has aided suppliants by refreshing them with the potent virtue of signs. Just as toward the wicked the Saints are severe, But as often as the Saints are seen to exercise vengeance against any one of the enemies of God, just as in the Passion of the Apostles Peter and Paul we read that Simon Magus fell from on high by their command; we ought to know that it is the Lord, who through the Saints works His justice, with just judgment punishing the enemy to the praise and glory of His name and of His Saints. Therefore so much the more are they to be feared, by how much it is established that He is everywhere present, and especially in places consecrated to His name and that of His Saints, who, for inflicting through their hands vengeance on evildoers, in what manner and when He shall have wished, is not weak. so also propitious to those invoking. And so each Saint, while he defends his subjects from the injury of adversaries by his merit, and punishes the impious by the just judgment of God, opens to many the entry of taking refuge in him: and while he sometimes destroys a proud one, lest he dare to violate sacred places, he indeed grants the remedy of security to those taking refuge in him.
[32] A general assembly, according to the custom of the ancients, in the territory of Cahors, in a place which is called Pons-Rode a, To the body of S. Sacerdos was being held: and a very great multitude of people had come there, and by the devotion of the faithful the venerable body of the famous Sacerdos had been brought there. Moreover there was in the same region a certain noble matron, who fed a young man blind from birth for the love of God. for the blind poor man offering a candle the matron That blind one indeed when he heard that the bier of so great a Confessor had been brought there, began to ask that matron, by whose alms he was sustained, that she would buy him a candle, which he himself would place before the presence of this Saint, if perhaps the Lord would enlighten him through his merit. To whom the aforesaid matron answered: I in your stead the candle, which you desire to bring to that Saint, shall gladly present: because I cannot find one to be your guide, in so great a tumult of people. For there flowed to the Relics of the aforesaid Saint a very great multitude of people. obtains sight for him. Then the matron did what she had promised, and presently it happened to her as she wished: for at the same hour, in which she placed the candle before the presence of the man of God, that one blind from birth within her house, through the merit of the same Saint, merited to see the light of heaven. Those who were present being astonished, immediately produced him who had been blind before the presence of the man of God: and rendered innumerable thanksgivings to God and to the most holy Sacerdos for so great a miracle.
[33] an energumen is freed A certain girl, who was vexed by a demon, is led to the asylum of S. Sacerdos to be healed: but when now she had spent some days, and through her the malign spirit had emitted many blasphemies, which to insert here we have judged long; by divine grace, through the merits of the same Confessor of Christ, at length she was freed from the demon.
[34] a deaf-mute and blind is cured; From neighboring parts a certain ten-year-old boy had been led to the monastery of S. Sacerdos, who from the very time of his birth had lacked hearing, sight, and also the use of tongue: but when there for some time he had passed the night, and did not at all convalesce, affected by tedium he was returning to his own. Yet when not even hope of healing, returning from the same church, he was carrying back with him; suddenly hearing, sight, and the use of tongue equally, placed on the same journey, he received.
[35] likewise a mute, A seven-year-old boy likewise, to whom the function of the tongue was denied, was led by his father to the tomb of this Saint, that there he might merit to receive the benefit of health: but when there for one night only he had performed vigils, and what he sought he had not obtained; returning on the morrow, before he entered his own homeland, with excessive verbosity he broke the long silences.
[36] a blind woman, A certain woman likewise deprived of the light of eyes, came to the thresholds of S. Sacerdos, asking his helps: who while she was placed in his basilica, surrounded by a great throng of men; after many supplications, received clear light. From whose eyes' sockets a great river flowing of blood, attests her enlightened by the merits of the Prelate.
[37] a paralytic, But another woman, an inhabitant of Limoges, through twice-six years' courses with limbs hindered by nerves, sought the suffrages of this Saint… believing bringing votive gifts to the thresholds of that Saint. Who presently strength being received, glad for so great a gift, in the servant Sacerdos glorified the Lord.
[38] another mute, At another time a certain adolescent came to the monastery of this holy Antistes. He from the very beginning of his birth had lacked the function of the tongue: but presently healed, his tongue formed many speeches, and rendering gifts of praises, he returned glad to his own.
[39] and another, Likewise at another time the Lord operating in the prescribed basilica, worked three miracles equally, for declaring the merits of S. Sacerdos. a blind man and a paralytic woman. For on a certain day of the solemnity of the same Confessor of Christ, with a most frequent assembly of people standing there, the mute poured forth the organs of words, and the blind merited to behold the twilight of light, and a certain woman languid received the functions of the limbs, who in a pallet before the altar of the Saviour of the world had been deposited.
[40] two mute boys, It happened at another time, with the same glorious solemnity of the same eminent Confessor returning, and with a numerous multitude of people coming to his venerable temple; that two countrymen nonetheless came together, who both led their small sons, lacking the use of the tongue, to be healed. Of these little ones one had lost both the functions of voice and of all limbs equally: who both at once with safety received with the divine grace helping, through the merits of S. Sacerdos, joyful returned to their own.
[41] A certain noble man, by name b Eubolus, for the sake of his soul fed a certain needy one: a deaf and mute man, for that needy one being deaf and mute, running hither and thither, while he was pressed by many calamities, had betaken himself to this noble man, nor knew any other father or mother besides him, but the Lord working had provided this one as patron and provider for him. On a certain day therefore that ingenuous Knight, stirred up by the most illustrious fame of B. Sacerdos (which throughout that whole region flowed forth concerning the virtues, which the Lord through his merit was working at the said monastery), directed thither this poor little one, that he might come to his aid by his pity, just as he was wont to cure others. The household servants indeed of the aforesaid Eubolus coming before the presence of S. Sacerdos, offered the gift of oblation which they had brought, and finally for the sake of the salvation of that poor one to ask the same threw themselves to the ground. But while with night now imminent, of vigils
watches there to perform, just as had been commanded them by their Lord, they were arranging; presently by the custodians of the church they are commanded to withdraw outside. They indeed what by force they did not dare, by word only resisted, and in no way wished to go out. Yet truly when they understood, that there, just as they had arranged, on that night they could not remain; they began to invoke the name of S. Sacerdos. Called Saved from the event: What more? That needy one, deaf and mute from birth, immediately began to speak and hear. Then those who could be present at this joy, suffused with great gladness rendered the proclamations of praises to the Lord almighty, who by the prayers of His servant Sacerdos had bestowed the gift of health on that wretch. The elders of the place indeed, finding the cured needy one had never c heard his name, and did not know by what name he ought first to be called, called him Salvatus (Saved). Who long afterwards remaining in the same monastery, to many coming all the things, which we have just said, more often replied.
[42] The most holy day of Easter had shone, and to the church of S. Sacerdos no small multitude of the people had flowed: among whom a certain Ademarus, illustrious in race, had come from the castle of Montignac d; and in the same church about to receive the Easter Sacrament, [A notable robber in the church of S. Sacerdos about to receive the Easter sacraments] while the offices of the Mass were being performed, persisted. This Ademarus moreover the discipline of letters, to which by his parents he had been handed over, made a robber had despised; and with innumerable calamities often was wont to vex pilgrim merchants, or any travelers going through that province, and the neighboring rustics, and in studies of this kind had relaxed the bosom of his soul. But when, as already has been said, in the midst of the people within the church of B. Sacerdos he seemed to stand uninjured, and the lesson of the Gospel was being recited, suddenly he collapsed on the pavement. For, as he himself afterwards related, before his eyes S. Sacerdos, decorated with Episcopal infula, appeared; and with the staff which he was bearing in his hand, striking him on the neck, compelled the same to fall. But immediately he was lifted up by the bystanders, and carried within the precinct of the cloister. The celebration of the Mass being completed, presently the Abbot with the Brothers was present being summoned. Then that sick man treating his crimes with miserable mind, and fearing extremely the imminent death, is chastised, and dies in the habit of penance. confessed weeping that he had irritated the almighty Lord by sinning, and that he had merited the wrath of S. Sacerdos. The Abbot moreover, and also all the Brothers of the monastery who were present, condoling with him, immediately handed over to him the canonical habit, and at once admitted him to the remedy of penance. He indeed with neck oblique through the whole week miserably was sick, and on the eighth day at length expired. His death terrified very many, and while they fear an exit of this kind, they strove to offer the Lord the fruit of penance.
[43] a wandering monk by night neglecting the Office of the Lord's Nativity, A certain Seguinus, a monk, secular and wandering, was of S. Sacerdos: this one however was meriting fame of eloquence, and supported by the science of letters, and most known to the chiefs of the country. At a certain time with a certain powerful one, not far from the monastery, he was dwelling at the castle which is called Carlux e: for he could not bear the yoke of the Rule, but, full of glory, he was scattering churches all around. The day of the Lord's Nativity, most celebrated in the whole world, was imminent; and that powerful Knight in the church of B. Sacerdos was arranging to perform the watches of vigils. Whom the aforesaid monk desiring to deflect from his good purpose, promised whole that he would there celebrate the entire Office of that night, as if he were placed in the said church. And so that monk prevailed, and held back the Knight: who after he was filled with food and wine, with a certain Sacerdos in a contiguous chapel placed himself: and when he was indulging in rest, behold S. Sacerdos stood by, saying to him: Why here, Seguinus, sleeping, by S. Sacerdos appearing are you inebriated with the cup of oblivion? Should you not rather be with the rest of the Brothers, and discharge the due Office to the Lord on so principal a solemnity? To whom when he had answered, Who are you, Lord? S. Sacerdos looking on him more severely; Do you not know me? Why fleeing do you avoid your alumnus Sacerdos? And when he had said these things, immediately drawing him by the hair from the support, he bent his head to his shoulder: finally throwing him before the altar, with most savage blows he fell upon him. You would hear from afar the cracks of the strokes and the voice of the one grieving. Why should I record many things? He left him half-dead. All these things the aforesaid Presbyter watching saw being done, but struck with great fear, did not know what he ought to do. But when, the night now passed, the dawn of light was striving to emerge, with men rising everywhere through the castle, he is punished by death. all wondered why on so principal a solemnity the Presbyter delayed to celebrate the nocturnal Office: who even coming up to the door of the chapel, mocking commanded the Chaplain to rise. But he, strengthened by their address and proximity, arose; and opening the door to them, made known what had been done. Then they astonished, at so great a miracle seen, with the same Presbyter accompanying, with hastened step came together to the home of the Blessed Confessor of Christ; and when the Brothers of the same place had performed the solemnities of the Masses, they convoke them into one, and indicate what had happened. The monk indeed miserably extinguished, served as an example to the living, that they should not become wandering and unstable against the authority of the Rule; and whether they remain within the church or without, never should pretermit the divine Office.
[44] At another time merchants, going with their bundles to the city of Toulouse, were proceeding through the village of Sarlat to the aforesaid city. merchants captured by robbers These stirred by the celebrated fame of the virtues of the glorious Prelate Sacerdos, coming to his oratory, and discharging the offices of oblation, commended themselves and all their goods to the Lord and to S. Sacerdos. Whom even as they were going away, and pursuing their proposed journey, certain malign men seizing them, led them to a certain town, and bound their hands behind their backs with most hard thongs, and constrained their feet with iron fetters. Who when they were detained for three days, and macerated by many kinds of torments, began to invoke the help of S. Sacerdos. the bonds being loosed they are freed. The clemency of the merciful Lord was present to them, struck by the prayers of His Servant; and behold on the third night suddenly the bonds are dissolved, their feet relaxed, and the captives are freed from cruel custody: presently returning by the retrograde path, and suspending the bonds of chains in the church of the Saviour of the world. Finally those who had seized them led by penitence, followed them there: and so all unanimously gave thanks to the Saviour and Liberator the Lord and to Holy Sacerdos. I pass over many things which the Saviour worked afterwards, to the praise of His most holy Sacerdos the Prelate, Patron of the Sarlat Church, decorated with the glory of miracles, and works visibly daily incessantly: which we ask Him to do, to the praise and glory of His name, through infinite ages of ages, Amen.
ANNOTATIONS.
APPENDIX
On the Relics dispersed by the Huguenots, gathered again by the Catholics and recently recognized.
Sacerdos, Bishop of Limoges, at Sarlat in Gaul (S.)
Mundana his mother, Widow Martyr, at Sarlat in Gaul (S.)
In the year 1575 the city captured by the Huguenots In the MS. Sarlat history preserved with D. Armandus Gerard, in French is read thus: On day XXII of February of the year MDLXXIV, on Monday (as the vulgar call) the fat one, the Captain Vivans, originating from Castelnau des Milaners, with his companions Bornazil, Syries, and Labertrandie, intercepted the city of Sarlat, fearing nothing less, on the trust of peace made at La Rochelle XI July preceding. They entered through ladders applied to the tower, called of Potitiis; and descending into the forum cried, Long live Vivans, the city is captured. the dispersed relics, which were gathered by the Catholics Having taken the city, they spoiled the churches; sought out and burned the Relics of the Saints, with which Charles the Great had enriched and adorned the Sarlat church: finally that precious chest of silver, within which the body of S. Sacerdos was preserved, they took away, with the bones thrown out and dispersed: which collected by pious and religious persons, were afterwards restored to the treasure of the church, and replaced within a wooden gilded herm where they are still preserved. the city recovered on the octave of S. Sacerdos, In the same year, on day XII of May, when is celebrated the Octave of S. Sacerdos, Patron of the city of Sarlat, by the Catholic citizens, supported by the help of certain neighboring nobles, the city was recovered. With ladders applied to the walls the Catholics occupied the towers, called of Peace and of Margaret, and then the rest, with none of theirs missed; and the Huguenots being expelled they took possession of the whole city. In which matter because the protection of S. Sacerdos was evident, carried about on May 12: in thanksgiving for the benefit received yearly is instituted an amburbal procession, with the Relics of the same Saint on day XII of May, after the Mass solemnly chanted: at which pomp all the colleges of the city, both civil and ecclesiastical, are present.
which also is done March 24, Again, when the same city of Sarlat was besieged by the troops of authority for Prince Condé, under the command of Lord Marcinii Lieutenant general, in the time of the Aquitanian disturbances; it was captured on day 1
January in the year MDCLIII, and most badly treated. By which evil compelled the citizens of Sarlat, bound themselves by a vow of taking care through the whole year on the fifth day of each month, that a sacred Mass be celebrated with music in honor of S. Sacerdos, if the city were freed from the enemies. on account of the same in the year 1653 freed from the enemies. Scarcely had the vow been pronounced, when the citizens, who had been relegated, supported by certain Royal troops, on day XXIV March of the same year, returning to the city, recovered it, with the garrisons slain; which matter wholly destroyed the parts of the Prince in Aquitaine. And from that time the grateful citizens for the city recovered on day XXIV March institute a general procession, carrying about the Relics of the Saint: and persevere in taking care on the fifth day of each month a solemn sacrifice in thanksgiving: at which the Consuls, Officials and chief citizens are all bound to be present. So far the aforesaid History: which however and what kind of Relics of S. Sacerdos preserved at Sarlat from the Huguenot slaughter are, and with whom in this century communicated, will appear from the following Acts, faithfully rendered into Latin from French, just as the same Armandus Gerard, who transcribed the rest, has transcribed them for us from the original, and who in the year MDCLXII in which he was caring for these things, had collected the sum of about eight hundred pounds for the silver chest to be made.
Reflection for their new church seeking a particle from the Chapter, On day XXIII of November of the year MDCXXIX after the solemn Mass was finished, with the Lords gathered in chapter, John de Jayac Dean, Arnold la Crompe Provost, John de Bars Archdeacon of Sarlat, Francis de Layge Archdeacon of Marcaisen, Raymond de Maraval Archdeacon of Biron, Antony de Bars Cantor, Antony Cordis, John Monzie, John Fondaumier, John Tarde, Pascal de la Brousso, Gabriel de la Brousso and Stephen Dilpech, Canons; the aforesaid D. Monzie Syndic exposed, that R. P. John du Puy, Guardian of the Convent of the Recollects of this city, certain of the truth of the Relics of the body of S. Sacerdos which are in the present church, had asked him, that in his name he should offer a supplicatory little book to the aforesaid Lords, that they would deign to give to his Convent newly built in this city some particles of the body of the aforesaid Saint, to be reposited in the altar of his church; that at the time of Mass bowing themselves and kissing the altar, they might with truth say, with the consent of the Bishop Whose Relics are here. Which being heard it was decreed, that the aforesaid supplication should be communicated with our Lord Louis de Saligniac, Bishop of Sarlat, and his judgment thereon should be sought. To this however to be carried out was deputed the aforesaid John Cordis, and was asked that the matter conferred with the Bishop, he should refer his sentence to the Chapter. the Reliquary is opened on November 26, 1629 Therefore on day XXVI of the foresaid month, with all the foresaid gathered again in chapter, after the end of Mass, the foresaid D. Cordis reported that he had spoken with the Lord Bishop on the foresaid business, and was asked by him to respond. That he himself wished to appear in the Chapter for such a cause; but hindered by certain urgent affairs, he wished to leave the whole matter to the will and discretion of the Lords Capitular: who if they shall judge it convenient that the Reliquary of S. Sacerdos be opened, also that he himself desired some particle from it, to be reposited in the chapel of his Episcopal Palace. After these things thus reported by the foresaid D. Cordis, all the foresaid, constituting the Capitular College, descended to the lower sacristy of their church, and ordered the same Reliquary of S. Sacerdos to be opened by the said D. Pascal de la Brousse: in which six parts are found: in which were found six different bones, namely one knee, one part of the hip, another part of the tibia, two parts of the elbows, and one part of the shoulder. Which seen and recognized, was elected one part which was judged to be of the arm or elbow, and divided in four, that thence one particle indeed should be distributed and given to the foresaid D. Bishop, another to the Convent of the Recollects, the third to the Convent of the Religious of S. Clare of this city who had asked a similar grace, of which one is divided in four, the fourth finally was carried to the church of S. Sacerdos of the diocese of Montauban, which is a Priorate dependent on the Chapter. These things being done, the Reliquary was again closed, and reposited in the upper sacristy in the customary place. But presently the foresaid D. Cordis took one of the foresaid particles, and is given to the Bishop, the Clarisses, and carried it to D. Bishop: another took D. Monzie, and carried it to the convent of the said Religious: but the other two particles remained there, within a certain small reliquary of the lower sacristy. On day XXVII however of the said month with Vespers finished came the said R. P. du Puy, and the Recollects, accompanied by one of his Religious: to whom D. Antony de Bars Cantor, with the Lords Cordis, Monzie, Fondaumier, and Tarde assisting him, handed over the particle destined for the Convent of the Recollects: which the R. P. Guardian receiving, placed within a silver capsule and took away with him. the fourth particle As to the fourth particle however which was designated for the church of S. Saviour in the diocese of Montauban; this was reposited within a certain small reliquary in the upper sacristy next to the greater reliquary, until the convenient time and occasion of transferring it should arrive. Finally it was decreed, that of all the foresaid a verbal process should be written by the Secretary of the Chapter, of which a copy should be transcribed for any one asking. Done at Sarlat in the Cathedral church on the day, month, and year as above.
Signed A. de Nicol Secretary.
When then day IV of February of the year MDCXXXI came, the particle reserved for the church of S. Sacerdos in the diocese of Montauban, in the year 1631 destined for the town of S. Sacerdos was handed over to Lord de la Crompe, Provost of the said Cathedral church, in a small reliquary to be carried to the foresaid church; with the mandate of bringing back from the same place an instrument of its reception; and on this matter on the same day was made a verbal process, and signed by the said Secretary. So far the Capitular Acts, to which presently is subjoined the instrument of reception aforesaid brought back by the D. Provost, of such tenor.
which on Feb. 23 was offered to the Rector of the Parish there In the year MDCXXXI on day XXIII February, in the parish church of S. Sacerdos of the diocese of Montauban, appeared the Venerable D. Arnold de la Crompe, Provost of the Cathedral church of Sarlat in Périgord: who to us Peter Bonniol Presbyter and Rector of the foresaid church of S. Sacerdos, in the presence of Master Francis la Borderie, Poncetto Sere, Arnold Casali Consuls of the village of S. Sacerdos, Master Joseph de Crozilles Doctor and Advocate, Master John Lanes citizen, William Vigueri, Jacob Malaureur, Bernard Bujol, Peter Faux, and other inhabitants of this village, affirmed, that at the most insistent prayers of many inhabitants of this village, made to the Lords Capitular his colleagues, for obtaining a particle of the Relics of S. Sacerdos, our common Patron, which are in their treasure; the same Lords, wishing to gratify and to attest their affection to the inhabitants of this village, separated from the foresaid Relics a small portion, and committed to the said Lord de la Crompe, to be carried into this village, and handed over to the foresaid Curate and inhabitants of the village of S. Sacerdos. This therefore he himself exhibited within a small reliquary, and asked it to be received and placed in a fitting place in this church. We indeed Rector of the same church, in the presence of the foresaid Consuls and inhabitants of this town, received the same, with that honor and reverence which is fit in such cases, and at the same time the instrument of the opening and extraction of the particle and the handing over into the hands of Lord de la Crompe, is reverently received, formed thereon by the mandate of the Chapter on the year MDCXXXI on IV February, signed by Antony Nicol Secretary and sealed with the seal of the Chapter. Then after thanks given humbly to the Lords Capitular, in that it had pleased them to give to the inhabitants and parish of S. Sacerdos so precious a treasure, and so ardently desired; namely however to the said Lord de la Crompe, that he had deigned to transfer it here, we placed the Relics themselves above the greater altar of the foresaid church. and on the morrow is solemnly carried about, On the following day XXIV of the foresaid month was instituted a general procession, and Te Deum was sung, with the hymn, Iste Confessor, to give thanks to God for the pledge of so great a price conferred on us. These things thus done we deposited the Relics themselves within the sanctuary of the said church, and of all things we caused this verbal process to be written, first for the discharge of Lord de la Crompe, then for the memory of posterity and a monument of the day, on which was made the Translation of this holy Relic: of which the original was signed by Bonniol Rector, and the foresaid witnesses individually.