ON S. CERENICUS OR SERENICUS
DEACON IN THE DIOCESE OF SÉES IN NORMANDY.
ABOUT THE END OF THE 7TH CENTURY
PrefaceCerenicus or Serenicus, Deacon, in the diocese of Sées in Normandy (S.)
By the author G. H.
[1] Sées, an Episcopal city of lower Normandy, celebrates this VII of May in its whole diocese the feast of S. Cerenicus or Serenicus with the ecclesiastical office of nine, as they call it, Lessons, and him the people of Sées in the Litanies among the Confessors, Sacred cultus May 7. after SS. Sylvester and Gregory, in the third place invoke, then others twenty subjoin, Martin, Ambrose, Augustine, Jerome, &c. The same inscribed in his Gallican Martyrology Saussay in these words: In the territory of Sées of S. Cerenicus Abbot and Confessor, who in the time of Mileardus Bishop of Sées the sacred soldiery to Christ gathered, and built a monastery: in which with a religious assembly with much purity and devotion serving the Lord, the course of his life blessedly being completed, by a holy end he rested. John Bondonettus in the History of the Bishops of Le Mans, in his to the Life of S. Domnolus the Bishop Notes, Churches dedicated to him. asserts that very many churches to the honor and memory of S. Cerenicus were consecrated, among which there was eminent that, which to him was dedicated, and a parish from him named, which in Geographical Maps is called S. Celerin: where at the confluence of the Sarthouse into the Sarthe below Alençon, upon a lofty and precipitous rock he built. Also in the ancient Calendar of the Breviary of Le Mans he is set forth.
[2] Ordericus Vitalis book 3 of his Ecclesiastical History page 464 asserts that Lord Goisfredus de Meduana, the castle of S. Cerenicus, to William the Baron son of Gerojus, the castle of S. Serenicus upon the Sarthe erected, in the time of William the second Duke of Normandy, who afterward King of England was. There passed then the castle of S. Serenicus to Robert the brother of the said William the Baron, who it with the surrounding province long held: and to him William the Duke gave Adelaide his cousin in marriage, and great rivalries having arisen between the Normans and the people of Anjou, the castle of S. Serenicus against William the Duke he held, and there in the year of the same Duke XXV besieged and died. Thus there Ordericus, who book 8 page 674 at length concerning that Castle, and its occasion, of the sanctity of Cerenicus treats. Robert therefore the said Robert's son in the year MLXXXVIII from Robert II Duke of Normandy this castle by right requires, which his father his whole life by hereditary right possessed, held, and there died. Then Robert the Duke to those demanding these things easily assented, and to Robert Geroius the castle of S. Serenicus restored. But he for nearly XXXVI years afterward held it, with walls and ramparts fortified, with walls and ramparts and houses fortified it, and dying to William and Robert his sons left it.
[3] To the inhabitants of this town quiet and peace nearly always was lacking: and the neighboring people of Le Mans or the Normans press on. A rocky mountain the winding of the Sarthe river from three parts encircles: in which S. Cerenicus, the venerable Confessor, in the time of Milehardus the Pontiff of Sées dwelt. There for monks warring, and the course of his life blessedly being completed, on the Nones of May happily to the Lord migrated. Finally Charles the Simple reigning, The body thence translated into the Castle of Theodoric. when Hasting the Dane with body by the faithful into the Castle of Theodoric was translated, and the monks being dispersed the monastery destroyed. But in succeeding time of the inhabitants there was made of thieves established, where under the rule of S. Cerenicus the despisers of the world modestly conversed, and in the monastic order the yoke of the Lord to the end bore. there had been under him 140 monks, A hundred and forty, as is reported, under the aforesaid Archimandrite cultivators there in the vineyard of the Lord of Sabaoth labored, whose stone sepulchres openly to those coming within the basilica and around it as a testimony are, of what merit and reverence men there rest. The wicked therefore inhabitants many misfortunes deservedly suffered, and with slaughters and burnings and manifold pressures and overthrows frequently were afflicted. Thus there.
[4] Meanwhile the arm of S. Cerenicus either there had remained, or rather was brought back. the arm carried to Sées. For by the testimony of the same Ordericus page 706 the monks of Sées in the year MXCIV the arm of S. Cerenicus from the church took, and into S. Martin's monastery reverently carried. For the rest part of his body in the Castle of Theodoric, upon the Materna river is kept, and by the Gauls with celebrated devotion reverently is honored. All these things Ordericus Vitalis, of Saint-Évroult in the same Normandy a monk, who his history to the year MCXLI, in which he lived, brought down. There exists even now among the people of Sées the monastery of S. Martin very ancient, about the year MLX reformed, before the arm of S. Cerenicus thither was brought. But the Castle of Theodoric, commonly Château-Thierry, is an opulent town above Meaux, on the Marne river in upper Champagne, whither once the body of S. Cerenicus brought even now still to be hands down Bandonnetus, above reported. Saussay asserts his feast with great solemnity to be celebrated in the castle of Theodoric on the IV of May, and his body there in the conventual church of that citadel to be venerated. He is therefore here altogether other than he, whose body in Armorica at the Parish of Guicsezni is believed to have rested, as was said on VI of March: for although the Bretons using z for r the same is Sezni, which to others perhaps would be Serni, and that for Serenicus they had used, no part however of the Life persuades either that there died this Saint, or after his death thither was translated which once we suspected: it remains however still verisimilar that to the people of Guicsezni there was no other cause of believing that their Patron was a Bishop of Sées, than because his name they confused with this Abbot of Sées.
[5] The time in which S. Cerenicus in his among the people of Sées monastery dwelt, is assigned that, whether he lived in the 6th century in which Milehardus the Church of Sées as Bishop ruled, which to several seems to have been about the fiftieth, or sixtieth above the five-hundredth year. But as predecessor Milehardus is said to have had Passivus, who was present at the Councils of Orleans the second, third, fourth and fifth, so that this one seems to have lived almost until the year DL. But the successor by the same authors is named Leudebaudus, who at the second Council of Tours subscribed in the year DLXVII. So concerning Milehardus think John Chenu, Claudius Robertus, and the Sammarthani in their concerning the Bishopric of Sées Catalogues. These were preceded by Aegidius Bry Lord de la Clergerie an Advocate in the Senate of Paris, who with the History of the Counts of Perche and of the Counts and Dukes of Alençon published in the year MDCXX the Catalogue of the Bishops of Sées. John Bondonnetus, in the Lives of the Bishops of Le Mans, asserts in the Life of SS. Innocentius and Domnolus, that Milehardus succeeded Passivus, and under him came S. Cerenicus, and to him assents Carolus le Cointe in the Annals of the Franks at the year 557 him without reason to the Benedictine tables to be ascribed, which with Bondonnetus had done Menardus. But concerning the time of the Life otherwise to be thought we judge.
[6] John Mabillon, in the Acts of the Saints of the Order of S. Benedict, S. Cerenicus a whole century younger makes, and him writes to have departed from life about the year DCLXIX, and the Life of S. Serenicus which we subjoin, The Life whence here published. he brings forth from he says by an anonymous author before the IX century. The same Life, but somewhat contracted, we have described from a MS. codex of Beelfortium, excerpted from an ancient MS. of the Church dedicated to his name at Aunay in the diocese of Bayeux, where there is a monastery of the Cistercian Order. At Paris in the year MDCLXII at the Fathers Fullienses, among the papers of R. P. John a S. Martino, who in the said year had departed from life, we found with the same exordium the said Life of S. Cerenicus from the same MS. of the church at Aunay transcribed: another besides from the proper Office, sent by R. D. Jacobus Bourdon Rector of the church of S. Cerenicus to the said John of S. Serenedus the brother, to him transmitted, from an old book MS. of the Parochial church called of Salvia, in the desert of the diocese of Le Mans, of the Deanery of Brunolonium, according to the exemplar fortified by a Notary's attestation: whose former part contains nearly the same things with the Life of S. Cerenicus the brother. Some Life of the same S. Cerenicus, from another MS. of the church of S. Maurice of Angers, had and in the Notes alleges Mabillon. But there is venerated S. Serenedus on XXI of July.
[7] The note of the times, in which these brothers came into the Gauls, is indicated in Balthildis the Queen, of whose life the Sanctity and at her sepulchre wrought miracles are intimated. She was the wife of Clovis II the King, The arrival into the Gauls under S. Balthildis the Queen, son of Dagobert the first, and he being dead with her son Clothaire III for some time reigned. Her various Acts we illustrated at the day XXVI of January, and in these a husband to her is assigned Clothaire the King most Christian, for whom Mabillon Clovis wishes to be substituted. The Life into Lessons distributed from the proper office in these words begins: About the year six hundred and forty-six, in the time in which Clothaire the second and his mother of blessed memory Bathildis over the Gauls and Franks presided, and Clothaire 3 her son: the holy brothers german Cerenicus and Cerenedus entering Gaul &c. But there reigned that Clothaire from the year DCLVI until the year DCLXX, as elsewhere we demonstrate.
[8] Meanwhile in Mabillon n. 16 it is read. The temple which S. Cerenicus began to construct, The time of Bishop Milehardus from MSS. Mileharius afterward zealously completed: where Mileharius seems to be he, who in Ordericus is called Milehardus, and therefore not would have lived in the sixth century of Christ, as wrote the above cited Bry, Chenu, Robertus, the Sammarthani, Bandonnetus, and le Cointe, who all before the year MDCXX their writings published. We have at one time used a MS. membrane codex of Christina Queen of Sweden, marked with the number 322, in which after the Chronicles of Eusebius, Jerome, Prosper and Sigebert, were catalogues of the Archbishops of Rouen, and the subject to it Bishops of Avranches, Coutances, Bayeux, Évreux, and Sées, and what pertains here, these are numbered the first Bishops of Sées, Sigisboldus, S.
Latunius, S. Landricus, Hylus, Hubertus, S. Aunobertus, S. Lotharius, Milebardus, S. Hildebrandus, S. Ravenerus, S. Frogenius, S. Godegrandus, Rodobertus, Hugo, Benedictus, Regenfridus &c. Passivus being omitted, whom Demochares ineptly after Godegrannus rejected, and retained the former ones in the same order, in which them from a MS. codex we have reported: and so after Aunobertus are read Lotharius and Mileardus. There is venerated S. Aunobertus on XVI of May, and he was present at the Council of Rouen under S. Ansbertus in the year DCXCII as at the Life of this one we said on IX of February chapter VI, and so Mileardus, in others Milehardus, Milehardus, Milebardus, would have lived in the following century, when the temple by S. Serenicus begun to be built, after his death zealously he completed. But if this one came into the Gauls in the time of Clothaire III with S. Bathildis the mother reigning, and in mature age died, he could have attained the end of the seventh century, or the year of Christ seven-hundredth, and thus all things accurately cohere.
[9] That the above cited Bondonnectus and le Cointe a great friendship to have been between SS. Leonard Abbot of Vandopera and Cerenicus write, the friendship with S. Leonard of Vandopera rejected. neither in this one's Life, nor also in the Life of S. Leonard, to be given on XV of October, is it read: but in this there are many things concerning S. Domnolus, who at his dying was present: which below at XVI of May before this one's Life we report, whence we know, more than a hundred years before S. Serenicus's times, to have lived the said S. Leonard.
LIFE
From various MSS. and the edition of Mabillon
Cerenicus or Serenicus, Deacon, in the diocese of Sées in Normandy (S.)
BHL Number: 7590
CHAPTER I.
Studies in his fatherland. The journey to Rome, then into Gaul up to the final retreat.
[1] Serenicus and Serenedus of Spoleto are imbued with letters There were two strenuous men, as far as to the world's dignity pertains, by the splendor of generosity, of illustrious parents, sprung from the city of Spoleto: which of that province the head and metropolis is held, so that from it round about the province takes its derived name: of whom one Serenicus, the other was called Serenedus. These therefore from the first birth of their time, as soon as in tenderest age a sagacious sense began to grow, inasmuch as from a noble lineage produced, by their parents to sacred letters to be imbued to preceptors were committed. By whom, the keen genius urging, and the spirit inwardly the hearts teaching, within a small space of time, with wondrous celerity in divine letters and the norm of the Christian Religion and the Apostolic faith's doctrine they were wonderfully imbued.
[2] But as in the succeeding spaces of times the soft age grew, devoting himself to the reading of the Fathers. and, the skill of letters abounding, were they content with the document of their former Masters, but by their own fervent study, through the open fields of the Scriptures more widely wandering, the writings of the holy Orthodox Fathers at the same time and their examples by skillful searching they were eager to scrutinize: and they made for themselves, in the manner of the flower-bearing bee, from the little works of diverse Fathers, as from diverse little flowers of leaves, honey-flowing combs, which daily salubriously eating, and others refreshing, the ardor of their mind with the sweetness of the heavenly fatherland they satisfied.
[3] Moreover after to the manly years it was come, and with a perspicacious habit, what once with attentive ear they had perceived, clearer than light they began to know; piously living, of leaving their parents thinking. He cooperating, who to His disciples says; Ask, and you will receive; what in the exercise of the Scriptures they had found, with ardent endeavor to fulfill they strove: and with the whole effort of mind to those things which they had perceived giving heed, strenuously and solicitously to Christ's service to bind themselves they were eager. And when daily gradually from virtue they advanced into virtue, and in fulfilling the divine admonitions with indefatigable constancy of mind persisted, and themselves always to higher precepts little by little with skillful vigilance transferred, and the ear of the heart sedulously to the divine commands accommodated; B. Serenicus heard (whose age more adult, and in sense, like the elder, was more excellent) the Evangelical trumpet to sound, "If anyone loves father or mother above me, he is not worthy of me." Mat. 10.37. And that: "Everyone who shall have left father, or mother, or brothers, or sisters, or fields for my name, shall receive a hundredfold, and life eternal shall possess." Id. 19.29. This therefore the blessed man precept, not on dry or thorny earth receiving, nor with a deaf ear hearing, but with a best heart and an open ear the seeds of the Divine word embracing, what by hearing he learned, the opportunity being found in deed he fulfilled. Finally while he with himself this in mind revolved, his brother, whom rather by a spiritual than carnal brotherhood in all things a faithful companion he had taken, with a salutary exhortation he began to address, that in deed they should fulfill what in the Gospel the Lord teaching they had found. And how this they could fulfill not knowing, to the wonted defenses running together, that is the zeals of prayers, the Lord with all efforts they entreated, that what thence to Himself pleasing would be, to them mercifully to disclose He would deign.
[4] They seek Rome. And since in human acts, in which to the religion divine to war seems, frequently the heavenly will is gone against; therefore what with equal vow they had conceived, whether it were salutary, by prayers to be elucidated they besought. Indeed prayers to God being poured forth, at length an Angel revealing divinely through a dream they are admonished, that, their own house being left and the paternal fields, and their province forgotten, Rome they should seek: in which at the altars of Peter the Prince of the Apostles for a time about to serve, there in sacred prayers and the watches of vigils and the rest of acts worthy of heavenly conversation so long about to serve, until, what to them was again to be done, the divine disposition had indicated. Indeed this revelation being found very alacritous made, especially that to their petition the supernal grace had given assent, the admonitions which through the dream they had seen, sooner being awakened to fulfill they busied themselves. For the city in which they had been at leisure being spurned, and the care of parents and kinsmen postponed, stealthily fleeing the fields of their parents, with swift path running to Rome going, Peter's thresholds to visit they strove. To which when it was come, by the Supreme Pontiff and the whole congregation of Christ to them grace bearing honorably they were received, where for some years in fastings and prayers and the observations of vigils intent, through the narrow way, which to the heavens leads, walking, and examples of patience and humility, of chastity and sobriety furnishing, with the greatest veneration by very many were held so much, a that after a few days elapsed the Roman Pope on account of the grace of sanctity the seventh Cardinal blessed Serenicus a Deacon ordained. they are ordained Deacons
[5] impatient of honors they desert Rome by an Angelic admonition. Meanwhile the holy man the glory of so great an honor, on account of the merit of his life by very many to him bestowed, ill bore. For indeed the pit of elation to fall into fearing, the pomps of the world with all the zeal of his mind to flee he endeavored: and since already long the fragile glory of the world with a strong mind to tread down he had deliberated, greatly to beware he began, lest into this which he had spurned again he should slip: namely, lest under the appearance of religion, this one the love should bind of mundane glorying. Indeed he knew, as a sagacious man, having the simplicity of the dove, nor lacking the astuteness of the serpent, what had been the cunning devices of the crafty enemy: who not only by certain through the open business of the world tempts, but also through the very habit of sanctity the strong hearts of the faithful is eager to overturn. Wherefore with his brother concerning this often mutual he began to have colloquies, exhorting that over these the Divine clemency they should seek, and the narrow, which they had professed, by no means desert the way. Among these things an Angel of the Lord to the said man in sleep appeared, and addressing the same said: Serenicus, what is it that you do? the effect of your will accomplish, for which your father and mother, and your paternal fields you left. Not here the Lord longer commands you to tarry, but elsewhere to hasten He indicates. For since for His love your dear kinsmen you have left, not you here near the same it behooves to remain, but into the Western much farther to withdraw parts, where of them wholly forgetful, in divine contemplation more freely the edge of your mind you may be able to suspend. What therefore you have begun, it is necessary that as a strong athlete to the end of victory you bring through. For not to him beginning, but to him persevering the rewards are promised. Which revelation the soldier of Christ finding, and his brother addressing, the Divine commands intimates.
[6] No delay, the Divine admonitions they perform, and the city in which they had dwelt, they go to Gaul: under swift haste they leave, to the places to them divinely prepared most swiftly hastening. But the Roman walls leaving, and Italy's places far from the city placed traversing, at length with huge labor, Italy's bound being passed through, by a dug path, the Alps' snowy hills they began to touch: which by a difficult passage being crossed, at last the Gauls' fruitful with much sweat sought borders they entered. A lustrum also whole in the city they tarried, in which way, as above is reported, by an Angelic vision in sleep admonished, the city going out, Gaul's bounds they penetrated. But several with the zeal of prayer Gaul's cities they traversed, the Saints' sepulchres visiting: not this doing by the impulse of a wandering mind, or by the gyrovague command of levity, but by the love of Christ, and the Angelic revelation's leading call: namely they who as much as for the name of Christ farther departed from their own soil, so much merited nearer to be made to heaven.
[7] They seek Le Mans: Of many therefore traversing the Saints' places, Christ leading before, they came to the diocese of Le Mans, to the village which is called b Salica: which village was of place situation salubrious, and of soil's opulence fertile, on a mountain's top placed, and for this by travelers far conspicuous. Therefore there coming, for some time together they tarried. But when the Lord from a twin lamp twin places disposed to illuminate, and also two provinces to adorn; B. Serenicus so fertile a soil repudiating, namely the frequency of men to flee, and a solitary worthy of heavenly contemplation desiring to lead his brother with amiable speech addressing, and a blessing with tears pouring, In the heavenly fatherland us, he said, may we merit with unfailing sight to behold.
[8] Therefore taking with him a certain little boy, by name Flavardus, c the diocese of Exmes he went to. Serenedus therefore remained at Salica, Serenicus withdraws into the district of Exmes. with the highest love the place embracing, as it to him by the Lord destined: where through long courses of time with many he shone virtues, as in his own Deeds fully is read, until the course of time being completed his body to the earth he rendered, and his spirit with very many adorned virtues to heaven he bore. The man indeed venerable Serenicus, Christ leading the way, with Flavardus his disciple, whom from the sacred Baptism's (as is reported) wave he had raised, the diocese of Exmes seeking, came to a certain place upon the Sarthe river, which on every part of itself by the sinuous course of the river is surrounded, and of diverse here and there projecting rocks' crags is roughened, and except from one only side, the difficulties of the mountains hindering, almost is inaccessible. At that time therefore over the Gauls and Franks reigned a most Christian man Clothaire, and in the religion of Divine worship very strenuous. To his d marriage-bed clung a most worthy consort of blessed memory Balthildis, whom toward the Divine love an equal ardor of vow had kindled, and of excellent sanctity the love to high things had suspended: whose sepulchre by the faithful with worthy celebration is frequented, and by whose merits manifold healings to the infirm Christ bestowing are given.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER II.
The rest of his life passed in retreat. Death, miracles.
[9] Tarrying under a tree, And when the blessed man to the said place had come, descending to the roots of the mountain, under the shrub of a certain tree he tarried. But the tree itself by a small interval was distant from the river: a fountain from heaven he merits: and understanding the place to himself divinely destined, great to the omnipotent Lord with the said disciple praises he rendered, who those hoping in Him never deserts, and those of His mercy presuming in vain not spurns. But in his manner the Course of that hour which then was, they completed the day: which being completed, and a blessing being given, rising from prayer, he saw on the right part under a certain rock's steep, of a distilling fountain to flow forth the streams, which fountain there never before had flowed, but by his merits given hitherto with perpetual course is borne into the channel, and apt for the thirsty gives a draught. Which God's servant beholding, his eyes and hand to heaven raising, said: Thanks to You I give, Lord Jesus, who of Your servants are not forgetful, and of those in Your mercy trusting with gratuitous piety do not cease to have mercy: who also are mindful of me, and through diverse places walking guarded me, and Your Angel hitherto going before furnished, who me from all things at Your command snatched, and to the place by Your choice for me disposed by an unoffending path led a. Finally the place from which the fountain had flowed down, and that to which the blessed man to pass had disposed, the river with a huge course divided, which at the same time of waters by collected runnings, with a huge alluvion the channels of the banks had filled, wherefore to travelers it denied fords; for also at all time with so great a whirlpool's there depth it is spread out, and on account of the height of the waters most of all to those on foot was held unfordable.
[10] Meanwhile the river to cross desiring, with too great austerity's he glowed with ardor, the river's waters by the sign of the Cross he divides: namely how that which in mind he had conceived, by executing to accomplish he could: for neither any ship before his eyes was, nor other means of crossing the river anywhere appeared. The mind's edge therefore to the heavens raising, and prayer's prayers pouring forth, the sign of the Cross to the waters he gave, and the river's channel into the right and the left divided: and so by the Cross's defense conveyed the river he crossed, and to the place desired the Lord leading he came. Tell I ask, did you, O sensible river, when the Jordanic in you you renewed miracles, the Ark of the Testament and the Israelitic innumerable multitude to have come perceive? Or also Elisha with Elijah's mantle your whirlpools dividing, and his lord and master's seeking footsteps on the shore did you see? Truly than these something greater you perceived, while through the standard of the life-giving Cross into sea a pathless impassable journey passable you furnished.
[11] the book left in the waters to be recovered he foretells But Flavardus his disciple, by such a kind of novelty struck, while in his Master's footsteps stupefied he persists, the book which he bore, as of himself unmindful, into the water to fall permitted. Which deed afterward recognizing, vehemently he was afraid; and forthwith at his Master looking, by his face's redness his mind's anguish he indicated. Whom the Father beholding with an easy redness suffused, immediately of that mind understood the grief, and of so great a pain examining the causes, said: What grief, O son, the wonted in your body has changed countenance? and what trouble urges your mind inwardly? But he continuously at his feet falling, with a timid heart and a sobbing voice, with huge grief answered: Father, that book, which with me I bore, by a certain chance unwitting in the river I left. Then he with a placid face the grieving disciple beholding, said: All, O son, of mind put away grief, and solicitous for this matter put away pains: that book for which you are sad under Christ's custody placed, to us in its time will be presented safe. For nine years by the density of rocks walled in the flowings of the waters it lay hid, and afterward to the holy man unhurt was rendered.
[12] A cell being built draws many to him: Then in the same place, to which first from the river he came out, a certain little cell he erected, in which first as under a small hut he began to lodge until, fame flying, the rumor of him round about to grow, and as much from near, as from afar of the faithful a throng began to him to flow together. For although so much to lie hid he had wished, yet he could not: inasmuch as it was necessary, that the darkness of others into light he should transfer. But several religious and strenuous men seeing, vying to him to run together, and of their goods with flagrant love whatever best things to bring began. But to all these to him flowing together, both the fragile world's whatever little gifts he could and the heavenly doctrine's documents he gave, skillfully precaving, lest anyone coming to him without spiritual edification to his own return. For sedulously with himself that he revolved, which the Lord with holy preachings says: You are the light of the world; and that: You are the salt of the earth. Matth. 5. Wherefore with all zeal he busied himself, lest anyone with sinners' darkness enveloped, without truth's light from him ever should depart obscure; or anyone in Ecclesiastical doctrine unlearned, without wisdom's seasoning return unsalted; and to each one, as he saw the ability, the heavenly gifts of the flowing one most willingly bestowed. But many his admonitions following, earthly patrimonies spurned: and treading for Christ's name the perishing world's delights, by his admonitions adhering with a celibate life were content.
[13] Meanwhile many courses of years being elapsed, while a certain woman for washing clothes' cause had hastened to the river, the lost codex he recovers: looking inward, the book, of which above we made mention, harmlessly among the waves to lie beheld: which with the highest joy she seized, and with swift celerity to the man of God brought. He at length the book seeing, great to omnipotent God thanks rendered, that it through so many years' spaces, among the waves' dangers, from all injury guarded. For the same book unrolled, so from all the waters' injury was found safe, as if not in the waves, but in chests it had remained enclosed. Finally the codex itself even now in his Basilica is kept: and what this letter narrates as done, it itself to all beholding it by evident showing affirms.
[14] to prayer and sacred reading he devotes himself: After these things to lift the man of the Lord his mind to higher things, and step by step the virtues' arguments to ascend began: and since now of his own he was certain, for others' salvation with assiduous prayers the Lord he entreated. Indeed his highest zeal had been, as often as from prayer or the exhortation of souls he was free, of the holy Scriptures to search the depths, and of the old and new the agreement of the Testament to inspect, and with subtle contemplation to scrutinize, how in the new truly done it is established, what in that under the figures' obscurities closed lay hid, and according to that of the Psalmographer, in the law meditating day and night, indefatigably either in prayers' zeal, or in the Scriptures' exercise he tarried. Psal. I.
[15] sedulous in the Divine offices, But in prayer's zeal so great a fervor had kindled him, that besides the peculiar supplication the Roman or Gallican, and also of the holy Fathers Benedict or Columban c the Course at the single hours to the Lord he chanted. For congruous to him it had seemed, that of these the offices to Christ he should pay, of whom the acts of virtues already long in his mind's citadel he had placed: that whom by arduous imitation he had been eager to follow, in the solemnities of offices he might endeavor to imitate. For because by humility's grace the Priestly grade to undertake he refused, that very thing which he had received the Diaconate's office daily solicitous to the Lord he exhibited. For on the single days at the sacred altars and the Priest ministering standing by, the oblations to the Lord with a chaste breast and a devout mind to offer he was eager.
[16] a temple he constructs: Finally the gifts of the faithful conferred on him and by his disciples' suffrages supported, in B. Martin the Bishop's honor a noble he began to construct temple, which d Mileharius Bishop of Sées, by him partly constructed, afterward zealously completed. Among the rest of the virtues' marks the good of patience his with no mediocre fortitude had strengthened mind, injuries he tolerates patiently; so that to none on account of contumely's spite of revenge he should render the like: and if perchance anyone to him any adverse things had inflicted, this one not as an enemy with hatreds he pursued, but as a most dear brother with a gentle mind's affection he venerated. But if anyone of things lost to him by the faithful bestowed any damage indicating had announced, immediately with a tranquil breast that of blessed Job sentence in his mind he revolved: The Lord, saying, gave, the Lord has taken away, as it has pleased the Lord, so it is done: be the name of the Lord blessed. Job I. Indeed his mind always to heavenly things intent, earthly things with love to possess could not: wherefore these losing, from the citadel of his contemplation by any pain struck by no means fell. But if anyone by anger's quarrel struck to him came, his exhortation being heard with concordant peace to their own they returned.
[17] to all munificent, Charity's offices also, even in transitory things, to all coming to him so liberally he exhibited, that whatever he could have, in guests' uses he expended, so that none from him to depart without some little gift he permitted. Nor was there to him in the receiving of guests' exception of persons discretion, zealously precaving, what manner this James reproves the Apostle: but all with equal embracing affection, the divine in these rather than the human attended honor. Besides in charity wealthy, in abstinence strenuous, in tribulation strong, in sinners merciful, in speeches cautious, in vigils attentive, in body's cleanness most chaste, in food and drink's reception sober, and in bodily beauty's appearance was comely. he shines with miracles: Many also to various languors addicted, and with bodily wasting pressed, by prayers' suffrages he rendered unhurt; and fevers'
of diverse kinds from these the burning being driven away, the same to their own rejoicing he sent back to their huts.
[18] touched by a disease he dies And when through many spaces of time in such labors he had grown, and now perfect in them and of mature age had been; and when also so great his labors the Divine grace to remunerate decreed; troubled by a bodily trouble, his death to those who with him were of his disciples, accordingly mournful and weeping, indicated: whom that they should do well with sacred admonitions exhorting, in peace leaving, then with Christ's mystery fortified, May 7 on the Nones of May, by Angelic borne troops ascended to the stars. But he was buried in the same church of B. Martin which he himself had founded, which now in his honor also, that is of B. Serenicus, dedicated stands: where under the altar hitherto is discerned his burial's venerable memory, and there are made over the infirm by his merits remedies of healings. For the same is a venerable and to be feared place, in which are seen often Divine revelations and prodigies, and against its evildoers of vengeances frequent miracles.
[19] For after the blessed man's departure, many also of times being elapsed courses, when f Charles King of the Franks, surrounded by a multitude of soldiers, the parts sought of the West, he came to a certain castle, which is situated in the district of Le Mans, not far from the aforesaid Saint's monastery. The violators of his Monastery by bees are punished, And when the soldiers' expedition all round about devastated the whole neighborhood, also this Saint's monastery they depopulated by violence: for several of them the sacred breaking into shrine, many there unlawful things did, not fearing the Divine vengeance's punishment, nor S. Serenicus's weighing merits, whom with so great a gift the Divine already had exalted grace. But when the supernal disposition their wantonness had decreed to lay low; and the holy man's merit, whose place so irreverently by the perfidious was trodden, far and wide to divulge; the bees which were round about, against the same sacrilegious raging rushed, that both to these utterly the help of flight they took away, and from the mountain's brow through the rocks' steeps into the channel's depths they precipitated. For such there then was a ruin, that of those falling through the diverse points of the rocks they cut asunder their bodies, and the deep river's whirlpool in the bottom the convulsed rolled corpses. But if anyone, the receiver by any chance escaping, had been able to evade the flint's dangers, forthwith by the huge river's wave absorbed he was devoured: indeed so great from these then thither is reported to have rushed a throng, that many times after, as the inhabitants say, the waters decreasing, in the river's wave were seen bones, when now many times had passed, and these corpses through diverse spaces of places the overflowing carried the wave. These therefore by such a kind of whirlpool being punished, so great of the same army none thenceforward any presumed to inflict contumely on these things, which to the holy man's rights to pertain seemed.
[20] But after these things a year's course being elapsed, came Serenicus's solemnity. likewise the irreligious. And when in the wonted manner to this the popular multitude flowed together, and several with religion's fear the holy place were eager to venerate; there were present among the rest, as tares among the wheat, two rebellious men, in manners ill-composed, and by levity unstable, who the place's religion postponed, before its Basilica's doors the herbs of the court their horses to feed let loose. Who forthwith by an unwonted fury agitated, although with an iron fetter they were bound, from the high mountain's top through the rocks' downslopes sliding, into the deep of the river were precipitated, and by the merits of B. Serenicus to the other bank's edge came unhurt. Which miracle the multitude which was present beholding of the common people, in its Saint's merits the power began to praise of Christ. Therefore also we for this reason this deed believe, that both those who wantonly had acted from such an attempt thenceforward might come to their senses, and more highly in sacred places the Divine power might fear: and those who were present, S. Serenicus's beholding merits, the same place more religiously by venerating might honor, and in His Saints everywhere God working more profusely might praise. For indeed after these things in the same place how many through the same Saint's merits demoniacs, the blind, deaf, lame, and by various languors afflicted were cured, is not g to memory committed nor in letters set down: for by their own use even the very miracles to those beholding them had become cheap. But these things only for compendium's grace from many a few let it suffice to have touched, and, as it is commanded, what written we have found, to the readers' memory by a faithful narration to have presented h.