ON S. PLACIDUS OR PLACITUS
PRESBYTER AT AUTUN IN GAUL.
CommentaryInnocentius, African Bishop, at Gaeta in Italy (S.)
G. H.
Autun, an ancient and famous city of the Aedui, on the river Arroux, in the present Duchy of Burgundy, adorned with an ancient Episcopal See under the Archbishopric of Lyon, has very many Bishops ascribed to the Saints; among whom whether S. Placidus is to be reckoned, S. Placidus of whom we here treat, is with reason doubted. Such he is acknowledged in the MSS. of Arras of the Cathedral church, by some he is held a Bishop, and of Tournai of S. Martin, and under the name of Placitus in Notker, and in the MSS. of Trier of S. Maximinus, and of Liège, a double one, of S. Lambert and of S. Laurence; likewise in the Florarium of the Saints, and in the auctary of Usuard by Greven and Molanus in the first edition with Canisius and Ferrarius, in which these words are had: At Autun of B. Placidus or Placitus the Bishop. Adds Galesinius, "and Confessor": and Saussay, "of divine grace an excellent dispenser." But to all these it is an obstacle, that no Placidus or Placitus Bishop of the Aedui, or of Autun do they acknowledge, Antonius Monchiacenus, Demochares, John Chenu, Claudius Robertus and the Sammarthani: so that it seems that the more ancient MSS. are to be believed, who call him a Presbyter, as are the four apographs of the Hieronymian Martyrology, even the Epternach one written almost a thousand years ago, in which these things are had: At Autun the deposition of Placitus the Presbyter. The MS. of Corbie printed at Paris, the Lucca one edited by Florentinius, and the Blume MS., and Rabanus in his Martyrology report these things: At Autun the deposition of Blessed Placidus the Presbyter. On the day before this day, that is the VI of May, in the ancient MS. of the Queen of Sweden much praised by Holstenius, and in the MS. Martyrology of the monastery of Luxeuil, the same is more clearly confirmed in these words: and Abbot of S. Symphorian. At Autun the deposition of B. Placidus the Presbyter, and Abbot of the basilica of S. Symphorian the Martyr. S. Symphorian is venerated, the Martyr of Autun, on August XXII: but of the basilica existing under his name Fortunatus makes mention in the Life of S. Germanus Bishop of Paris to be illustrated at the day XXVIII of May: and at n. 3 he asserts this one to have been by Nectarius the Bishop appointed Abbot at S. Symphorian. But whether before or after S. Germanus S. Placidus obtained this dignity, is uncertain.