Metro

ON SAINT METRO

THE PRESBYTER OF VERONA IN ITALY.

Metron the Presbyter, at Verona in Italy (S.)

G. H.

The memory of S. Metro is celebrated at Verona in the Martyrology of the Cathedral Church on day VIII May with these words: At Verona of S. Metro the Confessor: Body and Sacred Cult. whose body rests in the church of S. Vitalis, where he himself led a blessed life for a long time with great abstinence. On the same day Greven in the Auctarium of Usuard, in the year 1515 and 1521 printed, mentions Metro the Confessor resting at Verona. Adds Canisius in the German Martyrology, that he was a man of severe penitence. Ferrarius, in the General Catalogue and another of the Saints of Italy, the same on this VIII May celebrates, on which he is asserted in the Acts below to have departed life. But on the next day or VII Ides of May, he is reported to have died Peter de Natalibus book 4 of the Catalogue chap. 147, and Maurolycus and Felicius follow in their Martyrologies. But on account of the feast of S. Michael Archangel, on day VIII May, customarily celebrated, the Ecclesiastical office of S. Metro is observed by Ferrarius to be transferred to day X May: but on day XIII May, is referred in the MS. Usuard increased in Alsatia. His Life is reported to be had in the ancient Lectionary of the Cathedral Church Augustine Valerius Bishop of Verona on the Saints of his City, and this on page 56 he published.

[2] Compendium of life from Augustine Valerius, Of Metro the Presbyter and Confessor, by nationality German, the body at Verona in the temple of S. Vitalis the Martyr buried, with the highest veneration is venerated. He the penitence imposed on him by the Bishop of Verona, on account of incest with his daughter, before he was a Cleric, however unwittingly committed, with willing mind he received: namely that with iron fetters he should be bound, and into the Adige river the keys be cast: nor before he be recognized cleansed of that fault's stain, than those keys be found. The keys not many years after were found in the belly of a captured fish, and so he was loosed from fetters. But Metro when by the prayers of the Bishop he had been initiated into sacred orders, fleeing human glory, withdrew into solitude: in which life ended, to the heavenly homeland he flew up on the eighth Ides of May, illustrious for miracles. Desirable fetters, by which from the bonds of sins the holy man was freed, and to him is permitted to exclaim: You have broken, Lord, my chains, to you I will sacrifice the host of praise. The body of the holy man, with the Bishop of Verona and Mantua disputing among themselves about it, placed on a wagon, with untamed oxen with no one guiding, was brought to Verona to the temple of S. Vitalis the Martyr. These things there, which the same are related by John Francis Tinto book 5 of Veronese Nobility chap. 7 and by the before-mentioned Ferrarius. But Peter de Natalibus in the indicated place adorns him with this eulogy. another from Peter de Natalibus: Metro the Confessor at Verona is venerated, in the church of S. Vitalis buried: of whom it is reported that he came there as a Pilgrim, but whence he came or in what place he arose is unknown. And being there a new manner of penitence he found out. For to a great stone, with a fetter placed on the cross, by means of himself he afflicted, and the key of the fetter into the river Adige he cast: this proposing to himself as a sign, that whenever it should happen to find the key, he should know himself to be absolved from all sins. After many years therefore, with the day of his calling approaching, a fish is captured, in whose belly that key is found, designating his now sanctified soul, and the impending dissolution of the body announcing: which after few days happened on VII Ides of May. These things there: which almost the same in the MS. of Rouge-Vallée are had. A compendium from each relation has M. Marulus of Spalato book 4 of memorable Sayings and Doings chap. 10. To which we add these things from Augustine Valerius.

[3] He has a chapel and altar in the said church of S. Vitalis, with the title of S. Metro, chapel and altar, endowed by Georgio Alegro in the year of the Lord 1476, as in his testament by the hand of Christophorus Avogarius on day XXVIII May: in whose covering is his image clothed in Sacerdotal garments. On the wall also of that chapel toward the south existed an ancient picture, which taught, how his holy body, clothed in Sacerdotal garments, had been brought to Verona by the Bishop with Clergy and people on a wagon. This picture in our times was destroyed, while the wall itself was being whitewashed. There are still shown in the church of S. Vitalis the chain and stone to which S. Metro was bound, chain and stone: while he was performing penitence. In the consecration of the altar of S. Helena, of the church of the holy Apostles, also Relics of S. Metro the Confessor were deposited. Relics elsewhere. From the ancient Psalter of the said church. In the church or monastery of S. George in Prayda and S. Thomas, among the Relics, which there are preserved, are also Relics of S. Metro. These Augustine Valerius. But at what time S. Metro flourished, no monuments hand down. Of S. Vitalis we have treated on XXVII April.