ON SAINT PETER OF THE CISTERCIAN ORDER ARCHBISHOP OF TARENTAISE.
OF BELLEVAUX IN BURGUNDY.
YEAR 1175.
PrefacePeter Archbishop of Tarentaise of the Cistercian Order, of Bellevaux in Burgundy (S.)
By the Author G.H.
[1] He illustrated the Cistercian Order, indeed the universal Church, S. Peter, from the said Order to the Archbishopric of Tarentaise assumed; and, as from the year of his death soon to be related is established, he was born in the year 1102; when the said Order in the sole monastery of Cîteaux was taking root, that it might extend its branches afterwards, Born in the year 1102, through four primary daughters which proceeded from it, namely the Abbey of La Ferté in the year 1113, and the following Pontigny, then in the year 1115 Clairvaux and Morimond. From these in close succession was constructed the monastery of Bonnevaux, in the year 1118, in which S. Peter began monastic life, a monk in 1122 in the year 22 of the same century, and then was created the first Abbot of Stamedium in the diocese of Tarentaise in the year 32, Abbot in 1132, and was at length ordained Archbishop of Tarentaise in the year 42 of the said twelfth century. Archbishop in 1142 Tarantasia or Tarentaise is a province of the Duchy of Savoy and an Episcopal city, today Mostier or the monastery in Tarentaise, between the Graian Alps to the East, Maurienne to the South, Savoy proper to the West, and the tract of Faucigny to the North. The city itself situated on the river Isère, has a Metropolitan Church dedicated to S. Peter, and two Suffragan Sees subject to it, namely of the cities of Sion and Augusta Praetoria. He governed this his See and diocese S. Peter for thirty-three years from the said year 1042 until the year 1175: in which year we judge that he migrated from this mortal life to the eternal and heavenly on VIII May.
[2] The year of death is handed down by others as 1171 or 1174, in which last year Robert of Mont, who then flourished, in the Appendix to the Chronicle of Sigebert, writes these things performed by S. Peter: The Archbishop of Tarentaise, who had been a monk of the Cistercian Order, through whom in our times in the showing of miracles God is blessed, when he was sent for peace in the year 1174, with the Cistercian Abbot Alexander, sent by the Lord Pope came to the King of the Franks, for reforming peace between Henry King of England and
his son the younger King; but with the sins of men hindering, he profited little. These things there. The wars then were boiling especially; but afterwards around the feast of S. Michael of the said year peace came about. Meanwhile as Robert subjoins to the preceding, About the Pascha of the said year 1174 Richard, Elect of Canterbury, and consecrated the Bishop of Bath by Pope Alexander was consecrated at Anagni: Roger, Elect of Bath his colleague, was consecrated by the Archbishop of Tarentaise. This Roger, in others Reginald, after the consecration of Richard wrote from Rome to Henry King of England about the things performed, who is said by Godwin in the Bishops of Bath to have been consecrated in the town of S. John in Savoy; and rightly: but it is wrongly added through Richard Archbishop of Canterbury to have been done, what S. Peter Archbishop of Tarentaise had performed: but this before the month of May of the said year 1174 could not have been performed. Accordingly the illness and death could not in the said month of that year have happened in the monastery of Bellevaux, in the County of Burgundy and the diocese of Besançon, but to the following year necessarily it must be deferred. There is among other monasteries of the said Burgundy one called of Caritas, the year 1173 attributed to death in the Ms. Life, arising from the said Bellevaux; in which was preserved the Life of S. Peter, given by John Jacob Chiffletius to Aubert Miraeus, but to us by his nephew now Bishop of Antwerp Aubert vanden Eeden; in which is handed down that in the transit of S. Peter was the year one thousand one hundred seventy-fifth. The Sammarthani assert, that Ebrard the LXI Archbishop of Besançon was present at the funeral of S. Peter Archbishop of Tarentaise, with him having departed life in the monastery of Bellevaux in the year 1175, as the epitaph testifies and Geoffrey the Abbot in the Ms. Life. The same confirm the said Sammarthani in the Archbishops of Tarentaise in S. Peter, the XXXIV Archbishop, and add this epitaph of his.
By stock of Vienne he was, Abbot of Stamedium, and by epitaph:
Greatest Alpine Prelate of Tarantaise,
In the thousandth year one hundredth seventieth
Fifth he passed away, and Peter went to the heavens.
[3] the sense of others rejected Others changed the first word of the last verse, and for Quinto put Primo, which can in no way happen: which way however was printed in his Life in Lawrence Surius, and very many followed, and among them Angelo Manrique in volume 1 and 2 of the Cistercian Annals digested in this manner the years of nativity, of entry into the Cistercian Order, of the undertaken Abbey and Archbishopric of Tarentaise. But in volume 3 he came to know that he had erred, and the year of death he did not assert, as he had earlier done, was 1171, but advanced to the year 1174, which is also noted in the Munster Ms. of the Life. But as we have shown, then in the month of May he consecrated Reginald Bishop of Bath: which place omitting Manrique, only the prior he adduces about the legation of S. Peter for composing peace. He adds, in the Chronicle of Aegidius of Roia monk of Dunes is handed down, in the year 1174 S. Peter died. about death undergone in the year 1174 There is extant among the Annals of Belgian Affairs, edited by Francis Swert, the said Chronicle from the Ms. of Dunes drawn out by Andrew Schott, in which no mention is made of S. Peter. In the third place he alleges Geoffrey in the Life num. 22 asserting, that Peter dedicated an altar at Longpont in memory of S. Bernard, by which he consecrated an altar to the honor of S. Bernard and accordingly after the Canonization of this man he survived. But that this was made on XVIII January of the year 1174 he proves at length in chap. 1; and then in chap. 2 shows, that the basilica of Clairvaux was dedicated on XV October and in the following year in the General Chapter the chant about S. Bernard was undertaken, when rather we judge altars to have been erected to him. But Longpont was a daughter of Clairvaux also in the diocese of Langres, where Peter could have come some time before his death, and from there to Bellevaux carried sick on the journey, and then have died in the same place. and a chapel in the castle of Montmorency. In the said year 1174 S. Peter dedicated a new chapel in the castle of Montmorency, four leagues from Paris to the North, with Burchard V of Montmorency and his wife Laureta beseeching him, as in the Genealogical history of the said family writes Andrew du Chesne book 2 page 114, where in long order are deduced those who then were present Ecclesiastical men and others illustrious, and in the Proofs page 55 a diploma is inserted, in which by the love of God and by the prayers of Lord Peter, the venerable Archbishop of Tarentaise, alms was granted to the church of S. Victor: to which diploma were appended two seals, the first of Peter Archbishop of Tarentaise, the second of the said Burchard of Montmorency, which alone with the appended figure expressed is exhibited.
[4] Letters sent to the Pope are published Since S. Peter, as in life, so after death shone with miracles, the Cistercians insisted with Alexander III, and then with Lucius III, that he be inscribed in the album of the Saints. Letters of the general Cistercian Chapter, of Louis King of the Franks, and of the Abbot of Morimond hitherto unedited we give, submitted to us by Peter Francis Chiffletius, with a series of Miracles both in life and soon after death performed. But Lucius III mandated that his Life and miracles be written: and others: which Mandate, and the letters of the Abbots to Geoffrey, and his response, hitherto also unedited, we prefix to the Life, which the said Geoffrey Abbot of Hautecombe, in the diocese of Geneva constructed in the year 1133, in two books wrote; and which Bernard the Cistercian Abbot took care to be offered, Life written in 2 books, to Lucius III the Pontiff, but before he could receive it having departed life, namely in the year 1185: whence we know within ten years from the death of S. Peter it was written. We give it from the said MS. of the monastery of Caritas, and another Munster MS. in Westphalia, which John Gamansius our man drew out, also extant in a third MS. of the Longpont monastery of the Cistercian Order in the diocese of Soissons. Of the prior MS. we have a double transcript, one already from the year 1641 prepared by Father John Gamans; the other in the year 1623 given by John Jacob Chiffletius to the most ample Lord Aubert Miraeus Dean of Antwerp, and from his most worthy heir and Nephew the most Illustrious and most Reverend Aubert vanden Eeden handed to us, in the very year he was consecrated Bishop of Antwerp in the year 1677. another collection of miracles, We add Miracles, as immediately after death they were collected, which together with the first letters Peter Francis Chiffletius submitted. And finally we conclude with the Bull of Canonization of Pope Caelestinus III, and the letters preceding the same from the Munster MS. Bull of Canonization. From all of which only the first book of the Life printed by Surius, hitherto had been known.
[5] Caelestinus had granted, on X May of the year 1191, that his venerable memory each year on the third Ides of September be solemnly celebrated, on which day his glorious body had been raised from the sepulcher. But this seems in the following year in the General Chapter at the monastery of Bellevaux to have been constituted, and by others on this day VIII May the feast to have been celebrated. feast of translation 10 September. The words of the Chapter are these: On the fourth Ides of September, in the territory of Besançon in the monastery of Bellevaux of S. Peter the Bishop and Confessor the office as on the feast of S. Malachy let it be performed. So Manrique on the said year 1192 chap. 5 num. 4. On which day in Bellinus these things are read, On the same day of S. Peter the Archbishop, who shone with many virtues and miracles. Which from there are taken Molanus has in the Auctarium of Usuard, Maurolycus, Felicius, Canisius, and which entirely we judge to be understood about S. Peter Archbishop of Tarentaise. Meanwhile Galesinius on the same day writes these things: At Compostella of S. Peter the Bishop and Confessor. Hence with the words of Galesinius and Molanus wrongly joined in today's Roman Martyrology thus is read: At Compostella of S. Peter the Bishop, who shone with many virtues and miracles. To which Baronius in the Notes cites the Tablets of Compostella, from which Molanus in the Additions to Usuard and others. We have the proper Feasts of the diocese of Compostella printed in the year 1596, but plainly without any mention of S. Peter: and Molanus described the words of Bellinus. Meanwhile both more recent Spaniards and Benedictine Martyrologists refer the same, judging him to be Peter who flourished in the X century, a hundred and more years before that See was erected into a Metropolitan or Archiepiscopal one. But these things will be more accurately to be discussed on the said X September. But it is to be noted that by Caelestinus was not established on the fourth Ides, and 11 Sept.; but on the third Ides of September the memory of the translation to be celebrated: which on the said XI September is recalled in the MS. Florarium of Saints, and in Ferrarius in the general Catalogue, from the Tablets of the Church of Tarentaise and Augusta Praetoria.
[6] Adds in the cited place Manrique: Moreover about this same festivity not much later, in three successive Chapters, three other decrees came forth: one about the translation of the same Feast after four years, and that at the precept of the Supreme Prelate of the Church, and two others in subsequent years, when the same Feast was now celebrated through the whole Order, and all his Churches contended, which more devoutly might adopt him as Father, which more religiously cultivate, whom they did not doubt to be the first after Bernard the Parent of Cîteaux and the light of the World. These Manrique, cult on 8 May, who on the year 1174 chap. 4 num. 7 says, that the said Pope Caelestinus in the year 1196 established, that the feast on VIII May, namely on the day of death, be celebrated: on which day his sacred memory is inscribed in many MSS. in Gaul, Belgium, Germany and Bohemia, bearing the name of Usuard, but augmented: likewise through Greven and Molanus in the Auctarium of the same Usuard, and the Martyrology of Cologne and Lübeck printed in the year 1490, in these words almost: In the territory of Besançon, in the monastery of Bellevaux, the Birth of S. Peter Bishop of the Tarentaise Church and Confessor, of the Cistercian Order: who illustrious for many miracles and virtues rested in peace. Followed everywhere more recent ones with the Roman and Gallican Martyrology and various monastic ones. Finally Manrique num. 8 about the sacred Relics has these things: Relics. His right arm Cîteaux has. Pieces of the body enrich several other churches throughout the world, doubtful when obtained: the rest make Bellevaux blessed with an indefectible treasure, because heavenly; and so not to be diminished, although divided.
EPISTLES FOR OBTAINING
THE CANONIZATION
Peter Archbishop of Tarentaise of the Cistercian Order, of Bellevaux in Burgundy (S.)
FROM MS.
I. Of the General Cistercian Chapter to Pope Alexander.
To the most Reverend Father and Lord a Alexander, by the grace of God Supreme Pontiff, Brother Alexander b, called Abbot of Cîteaux, and the whole general Chapter, all manner of reverence and devout prayers. The Pope is besought for Canonization It has been heard everywhere and divulged in celebrated speech, how much the divine majesty has magnified Lord Peter, formerly Bishop of Tarentaise, and with how many miracles both in life and after death the glory of his holiness has become known to the world: but especially in Bellevaux, where his body rests, the signs have shone forth; by the Cistercian Abbot, and that house from his sepulcher has felt divine mercy multiplied toward itself. Hence it is that of the Abbot of Bellevaux and other Abbots, who the virtue
of his miracles in themselves have experienced, prompted by prayers, we have taken care to suggest to your Paternity and to supplicate, that whose holiness divine miracles declare, you would cause to be numbered in the Catalogue of the Saints.
II. Of the King of the Franks to the same.
To his Lord and Father worthily Reverend Alexander, by the grace of God Supreme Pontiff of the holy universal Church, Louis c by the same grace King of the Franks, greeting and exhibition of due honor. Our friends and Brothers, the Abbots of the Cistercian Order, have requested us, by common vow and petition, that we have supplicated to your Paternity for Peter, formerly the venerable Archbishop of Tarentaise, to be placed in the catalogue of the Saints. by the King of France For they assert that, just as in his life with frequent indications of miracles he declared his merit, so that far and wide his sound was diffused; so also after his death, as marks of his life increasing miracles testify. Whence applying faith to the testimony of so great men, and desiring the glorification of so great a man to be proclaimed, we have decreed to ask your Benignity, that in the catalogue of the Saintly Confessors your Discretion may place him.
III. Of the Abbot of Morimond to the same.
To the Reverend Father and Lord Alexander by the grace of God Supreme Pontiff, d Brother Henry, called Abbot of the poor at Morimond, humble subjection with devout prayers. and the Abbot of Morimond To memory we recall to you, most pious Father, that the Illustrious King of the Franks and the whole general Chapter of Cîteaux with other Religious persons, with as great devotion as they could, have supplicated your Serenity, that you would order Lord Peter Archbishop of Tarentaise, a man in his life shining with signs and virtues, and after death no less refulgent with miracles and prodigies, for the praise and glory of God and the edification of the Christian people, to be ascribed in the catalogue of the Saints. For that I be silent about the rest, that after his death God has worked, by miracles, in myself I have experienced a wondrous sign. For in the past year placed in the city of Würzburg, I was oppressed by such great and grave infirmity, that destitute of the function of all members, also lacking sense and all memory, I was led to the extremes. All the Abbots wept, by the intercession of S. Peter freed from death. the monks, and the lay brothers, who had come with me, and were awaiting the soul's near departure; when behold two of the Brothers, recalling that I had with me the holy man's tunic, which he had used (for I was wont from the devotion which I had toward the Saint to carry that tunic around with me) hastily over my breast, in which alone part of the body the vital spirit still seemed to be, they cast it. By whose touch (as three Abbots and twelve monks and several lay brothers testify) in a moment in the blink of an eye the function of all members and memory utterly lost I received: and so within two hours I fully convalesced, that on the same day I would have ridden, if my companions had permitted. The following day however sound and unimpaired I undertook to go. Of this and very many other miracles induced by the consideration, for the consolation of our Order most humbly we ask, that with the prayers of the King and the whole Order received with paternal piety, to us and our Brother the bearer of the present, whom in our place we have left at the feet of your Majesty, you would deign to make joy upon the canonization of the foresaid glorious Prelate e.
ANNOTATIONS.
MANDATE OF THE APOSTOLIC SEE
On writing the life and miracles of Blessed Peter Archbishop of Tarentaise.
Peter Archbishop of Tarentaise of the Cistercian Order, of Bellevaux in Burgundy (S.)
BHL Number: 6772
[1] Lucius a Bishop servant of the servants of God, to the beloved sons b Peter of Cîteaux c and Peter of Clairvaux Abbots, greeting and Apostolic benediction. The sincerity of pious charity, Pope Lucius interpellated for canonization, with which in the bowels of Jesus Christ the universality of your Order we embrace, makes us prompt and prepared, that whatever from us for the honor and conservation of the same Order is required, as far as with God and reason it can be done, may obtain a useful effect with us. Therefore our beloved sons d the Abbots of Bellevaux and Hautecombe, coming to the Apostolic See, with paternal benignity we have received: and to the petition, which to us about canonizing Peter of pious memory, formerly Archbishop of Tarentaise, on the part of the said Order they have brought, we would have given placid assent, except that a certain inopportuneness of time and matters denied to us at present the faculty of the requested work. Moreover, although into remote and external regions the fame of his pious conversation has gone forth, so that neither we nor our Brothers in any way doubt of his merits; yet nothing of the miracles and his conversation had been noted in any letters, through which to us would be made any certitude of those things which he had performed. We have decreed therefore, with the counsel of our Brothers communicated, orders his acts to be written. to defer the requested things to another time, hoping that to the Church of God will be given an opportune faculty, or commodity of better time, that both you may more conveniently propose your wishes upon this, and the said mother of you the Roman Church may more honorifically be able to indulge what you ask. Meanwhile however we wish and mandate, that of the acts and conversation of the mentioned Archbishop, those things which are certain you cause to be redacted into writing: that when an opportune time shall come, the Church of God may have from the representation of his deeds certain and indubitable firmness, on which for granting what is asked with the moderation of more mature counsel it may more securely and trustingly lean. Given at Anagni on the fifth Ides of December.
Letters of Lord Peter Elect of Arras and Peter Abbot of Clairvaux to Geoffrey the Abbot on the completion of the Apostolic mandate.
[2] To his venerable Friend Geoffrey, Abbot of Hautecombe, Peter the humble Elect of Arras, and Peter Abbot of Clairvaux, greeting and abundant affection of sincere love. As from the letters of the Apostolic Majesty it is permitted to know, the same our Lord has enjoined upon us, that of the acts and conversation of Lord Peter Archbishop of Tarentaise of happy memory we should diligently inquire, and have them redacted into writing. Which mandate we have judged so much the more to be embraced, this is imposed on Geoffrey the Abbot: as more certainly about the same holy Father with mouth and Spirit we profess, what the Church also of the faithful protests, that the man beloved by God and men, while he yet lived, equally with merits and miracles shone forth; whose virtue's signs not even the end of life imposed an end most certainly is asserted. We have also found a writing, by a certain venerable Abbot composed and collected about his life and acts: for the same Abbot conversed with him many days, and faithfully serving in his service, what he saw and heard then to memory, afterwards committed to writing. Some things also the Brothers of Bellevaux are known to have noted in pamphlets, from those things which after his most happy transit by him miraculously performed they have proved by certain signs. But because it befits and is expedient that the things to be exhibited to the Apostolic and Roman Church's gaze, be redacted to a fitting norm and form, we have chosen for this work your commendable solicitude; asking attentively and benignly mandating, that you take care to apply a sedulous hand, as more conveniently to the honor of God and the edification of many you shall know to be expedient.
Reply of the same to the same.
[3] To the Reverend in Christ Fathers Lord Peter, from Abbot of Cîteaux Elect of the Church of Arras, and Lord Peter, Abbot of our Sacred Mother Clairvaux, Brother Geoffrey of Hautecombe, the least which is. Would that to your hearts the inward arbiter had inspired, to lay the heavy burden, and venerable work on stronger shoulders, on someone more worthy. who admits the mandate under the correction of others. The life of our most holy Father Benedict the merits and likewise eloquence of Blessed Pope Gregory sufficiently illustrate: That great Martin Severus Sulpicius, and the glory of our time Saint Bernard with worthy heralds extolled their Malachi. So in reading the acts of Saints, the holiness and eloquence of authors among men adds very much of grace and favor; of which neither for me to abound, you yourselves know. Yet suffering compulsion from you, I am compelled from the virtue of obedience, especially from the help of the blessed man, whose life I am ordered to write I undertake, to presume. For both his own dignation, which to me unworthy for many years he showed, demands specially that I render back, if not eloquence worthy of such great merits, at least simple and common speech of whatever sort. Nor without that condition have I believed the rough page to you to be suggested; that if perhaps your discretion shall judge it worthy of correction, and of those to whom it shall please to communicate this examination, by your zeal accordingly it may be corrected. Otherwise do not dissimulate that you have experienced your judgment in me to err; nor let it be irksome to commit to another what it will repent to have committed to a slothful one.
ANNOTATIONS.
LIFE
By the Author Geoffrey Abbot of Hautecombe an eyewitness.
Peter Archbishop of Tarentaise of the Cistercian Order, of Bellevaux in Burgundy (S.)
BHL Number: 6773, 6774, 6775
BY GEOFFREY AB. FROM MSS.
PROLOGUE.
That from the words of the Apostle our little preface may take its beginning, Christ Jesus yesterday and today, Christ always has some Saints himself and
forever: and just as he is known to have left himself in no past generations without testimony; nor in our time is he to be believed in this part to be lacking to himself. Heb. 13 Nor only to himself or now did he leave Elijah, whose treasure of charisms is not diminished by any distribution; whose riches of spiritual grace, just as they know no failure, so neither diminution. Saint Jerome long ago argued that his contemporaries thus tested talents as wines, in which namely grace grows from age. What do you think he would say, Preface to the Pentateuch if he saw, merits being tested as wines? Yet of the living up to that point to praise virtues proverbial doctrine has prohibited. Which not only is it necessary to beware, on account of the uncertainty of human condition; but on account of also that poetic; because
Envy is fed in the living, after death it rests.
The Lord knows who are his, and distributes his stars into signs and times, and days and years. proposed to the faithful for example: Let no one therefore say: Now there is no Prophet, and we shall not know him further. And contrary to truth is such opinion: and inimical to salvation, it withdraws from those suffering necessity opportune suffrages; and to those advancing it brings, from desperation of progress, lukewarmness. It is not yet to be believed that there has come upon us late conception or extreme conception. Not yet does the strenuous and faithful wrestler Jacob cease to place various rods in the channels of waters, that is in the codices of the Scriptures, or (because waters are peoples) in the courses of passing generations rods from the peoples, whence sweet ointments for refreshment are made, commending men of mercy among the peoples; rods from plane trees, whose customary beauty and smoothed flatness prepare grace and adornment for buildings, that the irreproachable holiness of religious men, with approvable examples may build and illustrate the house of God; rods from almond trees, from the third order of Prelates, of which would that each every other day, after the present life namely, as that Aaronic one once, more fruitful than the rest may become known! Gen. 30 Would that it bring forth fronds for shading the guilty, more usefully than from the leaves of fig trees the first parents wove their aprons! would that it exhibit flowers of grace and devotion, similar to the various rods of Jacob. by which meanwhile may be sustained those languishing for love! would that they bring forth almonds, that is nuts, namely long not short, fruit which does not pass away, fruit of salvation and eternal satiety: although it is also permitted to understand otherwise and to refer fronds to the words of doctrine, flowers to the examples of life, the highest also fruit to the effect of prayer. Finally to this rod, which to the men of his generation given by divine gift it is of our purpose to render also to posterity, so excellently flows in, in the exercises of alms the unction of mercy, in his monastic conversation solid brilliance and purity of discipline, in the office of prelacy fertility of multiple grace, that with difficulty I would say whether it ought to be reckoned rather among the populars (poplars), or planes, or almonds. Thus indeed he lived, in which also this S. Peter. and to any one of the same three as if specially he was devoted is established; that with him passing from this world to the Father all the men of mercy, all the sons of discipline, all also the faithful and strenuous paranymphs of the bride of the Lord, to their walls competing him deservedly are believed to have seized, each claiming him as his own. Of which individual or some few, approved by the testimonies of religious Brothers, the following narration comprehends: as much as to the writer ignorant of so great a Pontiff the glorious merits have conferred.
BOOK I.
Things done and miracles up to death.
The Titles of the Chapters which are inserted in the Mss., with the Chapters themselves changed into so many paragraphs of numbers, here separately receive.
1. Of his parents.
2. Of the conversion of the blessed man.
3. Of his election as Abbot of Stamedium.
4. Of the election of B. Peter as Archbishop of Tarentaise.
5. Of his life and instance of preaching after he was made Archbishop.
6. Of the emendation of his Church and morals of the Clerics and faithful administration.
7. Of the pious theft of breads, which in his sack, while he sat at table, he hid for distributing to the poor.
8. How a strong winter passing through the most grievous Alp, of his only tunic he stripped himself, and clothed an old half-naked little woman with it.
9. Of the three hospices, which he built outside his province.
10. Of another little woman, whom as the prior he clothed with his tunic, for which from cold he almost died.
11. Of a miserable woman, whom he piously visited, and while he went into Gaul gave a hundred pounds to the poor, so that he brought not even one solidus home.
12. How at S. Eugendus he did so many miracles, that they can scarcely be enumerated, much less written.
13. Of three imprisoned, to whom absent he visibly was present, and miraculously he led them out of prison and freed them.
14. How from one ham of pork and a small quantity of vetches he fed several thousands of men, just as the Lord in the Gospel is read to have done.
15. How after the example of Christ disdaining and fleeing all power and honor of the Episcopate, poor and exile he long lay hidden, and at length was led back to the Episcopate.
16. How his father and mother and brother, and some virgins or widows of his race, he led to conversion.
17. How he was powerful to settle causes and enmities, and to recall the discordant to peace.
18. Of the prodigy, or rather illusion, of needles or stakes, from which he wonderfully freed an iron-bound woman.
19. How the most noble Roman Emperor Frederick, even resisting him with the schismatics, held him in great veneration, humbly commending himself to his prayer.
20. How with admonitions he restrained the Emperor, and Heribert the schismatic, as Moses Amalek, by his prayers he destroyed.
21. That by the Lord Pope Alexander he was honorifically received, and a certain man pursuing him in his return, was terribly punished by God.
22. Of miracles, which the blessed man did in the monastery of Longpont.
23. Of a woman, who seized a wooden cup.
24. Of an energumen.
25. Of the wife of the Provost of Barrium, and a lame man.
26. Of a blind man whom he did not wish to illuminate.
27. Of three deaf men, of whom one was mute: and of a blind monk.
28. Of miracles, which he did in Alsace at Ruphaeus, while he was celebrating the solemnity of Masses.
29. Of three epileptic women, whom at Crusillas he cured.
30. Of another epileptic, at Agne-villare, and an epileptic man.
31. Of a boy who could not walk, and a woman who could not give birth, and another blind one.
32. How the horses which he had, he wished to sell, and give their price to the poor, but otherwise with God disposing it was done.
33. Of the blind son of a certain soldier.
34. How he healed the lame from birth daughter of a certain Provost of the King of the Franks.
35. Of the son of a widow mute from birth.
36. Of the miracle by which God glorified his Saint in the sight of two Kings and many Princes.
37. Of a soldier of the King of the English, to whom he restored the light of one eye lost.
38. Of miracles which he did at Gisors, and in the monastery of Edora and in Brueria.
39. Of the sacrament of the number of years of his administration in the Pontificate, and of his death, and of the time of his life.
CHAPTER I.
Birth, education, studies. Monastic life, the grades of Abbot and Archbishop.
[1] Peter born of honest parents; The parents of this venerable Peter inhabited a property of their own in the diocese of Vienne, which afterwards he himself, with the prior name changed, called of S. Maurice. There from their just labors, with moderate sustenance they passed a sober life; according to the present world humble, but toward the poor with alms and compassion, toward religious men with services and affection devoted, before God noble and sublime. At that time the vine of the Cistercian monastery already fructifying, also into those parts dilated its branches, which the most Reverend Archbishop a Guido, afterwards to be assumed as Supreme Pontiff Calixtus the second, by the change of the right hand of the Most High, happily planted in the monastery of b Bonnevaux, where he abundantly enough watered the multitude of the faithful with benefits, and to his blessing the Lord gave the increase. The first Abbot of this monastery John, endowed with manifold holiness, was finally made c Pontiff of Valence, and especially after his glorious departure from this life shone with how multiple and immense miracles. The parents also of the said Peter, from the beginnings of the monastery, with manifold devotion cultivated him: of whom the firstborn, named Lambert, handed over to the study of letters, in his boyish age was being educated: but Peter the second born, with his older brother is applied to studies: had been deputed to another office: yet by fraternal emulation, or rather by divine inspiration, he himself also to the same studies more vehemently aspiring, was advancing to that point more by unction than by magisterial erudition, that those who saw began to wonder, that the boy seizing letters was learning more than being taught. Nor to talent did memory, indeed to neither did grace fail. Finally the Psalms all of David so he apprehended, so he held, that in the first year by heart in one day all the Psalms he chanted. Anticipated in the blessings of sweetness from boyhood, he put on a gravity greater than himself; lover of reading, fleeing games, in which that age is wont especially to be delighted. From that time now the legitimate procuration of children completed, the parents began to anticipate in the world the Eremitic life, to give effort to abstinence, to abstain entirely from the work of marriage, and more than usual to exercise alms. They had deputed softer supports for the poor, themselves lying on straw: and when the whole house seemed a hospice, and they leading a most holy life, there was assigned to the poor and pilgrims a proper cell separately. Religious not only to receive, but to seek out they busied themselves; but especially for the Carthusians and Bonevallenses, in whom they especially were pleased, to bring suitable foods; and the counsels of salvation from the same not only to be followed by themselves, but to be communicated to many to bring back: to have peace with men, to persuade peace to all and to recall the discordant to peace, to bring help to those suffering injury, and opportunely to rebuke, those whom it was permitted, inflicting it. The father used a hair-shirt next to flesh, which under suitable garments he hid for himself. Both equally more and more to conserve innocence, to follow justice, to cultivate piety, to educate their children in faith and good works: to their sons being Clerics they wished no ecclesiastical goods or benefices to be granted, although still in the world constituted, which scarcely are wont also religious parents to neglect.
[2] Now Peter the younger, for also his father by the same name was called, enters the monastery of Bonnevaux with his brother. devout cultivator and affectionate lover likewise of the Apostle, had reached the bivium and ambiguous time of adolescence of the Pythagorean letter: now for his age and religion he had advanced in that literal doctrine, which seemed to befit each: and choosing rather the fruit of conscience than to follow the vain leaves of inflating science, with Abbot John persuading, to whom his father on account of this very thing, but on another occasion had made him approach, to the said monastery of Bonnevaux e he betook himself, there offering himself to God under the rule and Abbot to serve faithfully. He vowed a vow, and paid the vow; suppliant to God and merciful to his soul
to his body a hard chastiser, most obedient to Prelates, humble to all the Brothers, lovable to all, and not long after also useful, imitable, venerable, by advancing rapidly rather than gradually, beginning to exhibit himself. Already then were firmly placed in him solid foundations of sublime virtues, and were sending roots downward, sprouts of graces about to fructify upward. Lambert his brother also from the same beginning of his conversion he drew with himself. Who indeed also himself laudably conversed, in the monastery which is called Chasiriacum, strenuously functioned in the office of Abbot, and in it died. Nor long after Peter our had completed the time of novitiate; the most Reverend Abbot John, understanding that this man is a vessel of election, through diverse grades to diverse offices promoted him, always finding him by how much more perfect by so much more humble.
[3] Meanwhile f the time was at hand for a new Abbot to be elected, with a new examination of Brothers in the new monastery of g Stamedium to be ordained: ordained Abbot of Stamedium, but it is called Stamedium as if "Standing in the middle," because around the same place two provinces and two Counties meet. By common wishes and the judgment of Abbot John Peter is elected, that upon that rock the Lord might found and build that Church. He is sent to a steep place, an arid place, a narrow place, and what seemed more inconvenient, beside the public road almost continuously frequented by the multitude of travelers. Thus the contest by chance was given to a stronger one, that he might conquer, and might know how stronger is the wisdom of all. How many fasting host he exhibited humanity to! how many half-naked freezing he himself clothed! Among the high jaws of the rocks, as can be seen, for himself and his he was constructing a monastery, for others a hospice. But making little of external grievances, with himself more gravely he wrestled, wondering that such an office and so great a name the Lord had permitted to be imposed on him; he constitutes a monastery and hospice: esteeming himself as nothing, professing nothing, bearing nothing. He was moved more by services than by injuries, he went on foot to the cottages of the Brothers placed further away, and to the remote little fields in the Alps he crawled. With dry bread and heavy water, with uncooked and scarcely salted herb he was fed. Yet the Lord gave a blessing and he was illustrated with buildings, donated with pastures, fields, generous to the poor and pilgrims: vineyards. The place though remote, and whence to the monastery not without much labor even now can foods of any kind be brought; nonetheless also of humanity and compassion toward the poor and pilgrims a hereditary grace to the Brothers of the same monastery he left, as celebrated even today fame proclaims, the Stamedians beyond many more abundant, more humane, more largely liberal. Already then carrying around pieces of bread and cheese, in the bosom of miserable persons, when they met, he hid them; which in the Episcopate he exercised more; also communicating pious burdens to his companions. If he were to dine while making the journey, as sometimes happens, he avoided diverting places, sitting beside the public road, that his table even then might be with the poor and pilgrims; there the more acceptable the more poor or infirm guest came. donated with a granary and vineyards by Amadeus of Savoy: But the Lord had provided a fitting elm for this vine, and for others then fructifying in the same region, the illustrious prince and worthy of the memory of good men, the Marquess of Italy, Count of Savoy and Maurienne h Amadeus; he very devoutly, to the man of God besides other benefits, also a granary with vineyards, which they call Mons-melioratus, conferred on his monastery; that within the steep mountains he might have where to turn, when him, in whom he took the greatest pleasure, for the sake of counsel he summoned. Already to the world he had begun to become known, already to shine in his works, that the heavenly Father might be glorified in him, whose heart was burning in himself from the fiery eloquence of wisdom, of which it is read, since with the simple is his conversation. For to meditate with the Patriarch Isaac he went out into the field, and desiring wisdom kept the commandments, that the Lord might give it to him, and he might understand in the commandments, devoted to pious action, with the pretext of sacred contemplation.
[4] Meanwhile Rebecca seeing him, covered her face, and leapt down from the camel. after Peter For the Tarentaise Church, considering the man prepared and predestined to itself by God, from a certain Idrahel, more by morals than by name a barbarian, confused from the prior error withdrew. For he had wickedly occupied the said Church, more wickedly held it, ambitiously entering and perniciously progressing, that with a depraved beginning a similar exit might consummate the things begun. Him had preceded with reverence to be named another i Peter, from Abbot of the first monastery which proceeded from Cîteaux, with the name La Ferté, and from the same order to the Pontificate first assumed: a man worthy of God, in his life endowed with the best zeals, and after his death, as they say, conferring health on many sick, faithfully approaching even today his memory. Him followed the offspring of Hydra Idrahel above-mentioned, but in series of time, not in imitation of virtue. For what that one corrected in morals, and Idrahel, what he acquired in possessions, what he added to ecclesiastical ornaments; this one corrupted, distracted, dilapidated in a brief time. On account of these and similar things this useless tree, by the Apostolic sickle cut down, also Lord Peter of Stamedium was elected to the regimen of the Tarentaise Church, with the wishes of all others agreeing, but not his own. For by no means could he be led to the consent of the election, until the convention of the Cistercian general Chapter, the Clerics of the same church awaiting, is created Archbishop there intercepted him, that thereafter he might not have a means of escape. There by the authority of the whole Order he was overpowered, but especially by S. Bernard of Clairvaux, to whom he always exhibited singular reverence, and of his Venerable Fathers the Abbots of Cîteaux and Bonnevaux; by these constrained, and by hand assigned to the Clerics, he obeyed unwilling.
[5] Thus was promoted as k Archbishop of Tarentaise the Venerable Peter, but little moved from the form of life in which he had been conversed: there remained the humble habit, slender food, brief sleep. If a somewhat better garment any person conferred, he made not long delay with it, he transferred it to another possessor. and keeps the same tenor of life: His food was common bread, with legume and such herbs, that from the same pot might be ministered to the needy, except that often he commanded better-cooked things to be offered to them. I say what to me often it has been given to experience. To the Roman Curia with him sometime I set out, and because while we were fasting he wished the poor first to dine, and again and again to be distributed to those coming up, often it happened in the over-poured water and second broth scarcely a little of herb or legume to be found. And although to me very much that Saint deferred unworthy, often yet, when he had first stretched forth his food to those coming and had sent it to those needy crying out, he also took ours from me as if murmuring, but, as he had sufficiently known, over such kind of seizure rather congratulating. For the longer vigils of the monastery, from which he lamented being torn away, he insisted on secret prayers. diligent in conferring Confirmation, The works of his hands, with the labor of journeys he compensated; but also of imposition of hands, that is of Confirmation, not only of infants, but of persons of any age, everywhere flowing to him from all sides, sometimes from morning until the dusk of night and beyond. The discipline of silence, with the instance of preaching he redeemed: yet to subtler eloquences less applying his mind, on other persons rather he imposed it, as often as to learned hearers such things seemed to be fitting. He himself rather followed the doctrine of the simple, studying erudition, consolation, exhortation, supplication; and, although less willingly and less frequently, sometimes nevertheless rebuke. For he himself also wished rather to speak five words in sense, than ten thousand in tongue. About God's commandments he was instructing the ignorant: and the Sacraments of faith, to those less suited for discussion, he handed down wrapped in few words; in giving sermons, just as long ago to the sons of Caath the implements of the tabernacle were not lawful, except covered, to be carried. He magnificently consoled the penitent, not only in common speech, but much more in secret colloquy. To weep himself with those weeping, and to anticipate those still feeling their crimes less than their dangers; with admonitions to excite those entered upon the way of salvation, now proposing the rewards prepared for the faithful, now the examples of the predecessors; to beseech the souls capable of devotion, affectionately commending divine love toward men, and commemorating benefits, either singularly to some persons exhibited, or commonly to all. Also rebuking the wicked more harshly: execrating the horror of malice, the stains of crimes, and placing future punishments as it were under their eyes, depicted with terrible prosecution. In familiar colloquies also, and in eradicating vices just as the north wind dissipates clouds, so he cut off detracting, harmful, idle words, not only with sad face, but with fitting reprehension. But that the fruit of words from works may become known, to those things henceforth must be approached.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER II.
Clergy reformed: Adornment of the Church procured: The poor relieved: Miracles done.
[6] Residing in his church the new Pontiff, found what he vehemently grieved, intends to emend the Clergy that the work of God was being done negligently in it, so that not so much the remuneration to be awaited, as the malediction to be feared seemed. In the morals of the Clerics it did not sufficiently please him, what he believed did not please God either. The houses of the Bishopric and the Clerics uncultivated or ruinous, were arguing the prior inhabitants of negligence. Parochial churches and tithes of the diocese for the most part powerful lay men, or others from them by sacrilegious possession were holding; the life of the Priests less commendable, and of the Priests, and to themselves very harmful, and pernicious to the people existed. To these and such things he attended and superintended the Bishop, interpreting his name to himself, he insisted on prayer with faithful devotion, and as Prelate in solicitude for the subjects sedulous and circumspect work he expended: yet over all things trusting more to prayer than to his own industry or labor. Finally what was scarcely to be undertaken, scarcely to be hoped, from his church the great and noble men secular Clerics he removed, and for them Regular Canons he introduced; to himself imputing neither,
but to divine wisdom strongly and sweetly disposing all things, without grave scandal, both works he completed. The ordained Canons also in the discipline of morals more diligently instructing, he caused them to celebrate the divine offices more worthily and more honestly, and that their regular conversation and acceptable opinion to salutary studies might excite all others both Clerics and laymen. With whom going in and out the faithful Prelate, sang in the choir: residing in the cloister or chapter, of spiritual studies or even temporal he conferred about things to be done, just as a master instructs, nourishes, and cherishes his little disciples. Nor only did he provide for them at the time, but also for the future from the revenues of the Bishopric he conferred no small portion, increases the revenues of the Church. that worthily both in number the Clergy serving the Lord might be increased: and yet to his own house he restored more ample things, especially from the stipends of the Parishes and from the tithes, which from the hands of Tyrants by Ecclesiastical censure he powerfully snatched, or liberally by the placement of moneys redeemed. The other Priests also he both rebuked and corrected. The Churches with necessary utensils, augments the Church: palls, books and vestments competently he adorned; almost no Chapel in the whole Episcopate he left without a silver chalice. Where he learned that other faculty was not at hand (for the region is very poor) from individual houses single eggs through the week he caused to be collected and sold, until they came to the price of a chalice. He did not deposit moneys, detesting the idols of avarice: he wished the year's harvests to be of the year, and to serve their own years: great debts he did not contract, nor on any occasion did he wish to become a slave of the lender, always content with his own mediocrity. Religious Companions and few, in his especially diocese leading around, he did not wish to become burdensome to the Churches: beseeching his hosts, that what less in family or horsemanship they would consume, to his Brothers, who were never lacking to him, the poor, they would not be displeased to distribute. The Cathedral basilica he covered with stones, adorns churches and houses of the Clerics: the head and bell-towers with lead he covered: which manifoldly for the quality of the province decorated also with competent ornaments he illustrated, also exterior adornment, as was fitting, of the house of God loving and procuring. His own and the houses of the Clerics either he renovated or new ones founded, not seeking the admiration of those looking on, but content with moderate convenience of the inhabitants and middling pleasantness.
[7] For the Prelate's special care was extant and very great solicitude, benign toward the poor, over the needy and sick of either sex and any age. His house at every time was a hospice, but most of all before the harvest in the three months, when most they are wont, especially in those mountains, in those rocks, foods to fail. Each year he had established a general agape to be made, and daily a multitude flowing together from everywhere to be refreshed with bread and pottage. Nonetheless also through his whole diocese, the invalid and those lying in despaired sickness studiously seeking out, in food and clothing he provided necessities, through himself those whom he could and through faithful messengers often visiting, and toward their care from contingent things omitting nothing. To whom proper bedrooms or comforts of his own were lacking, he gave effort that they might be committed to faithful and devout persons, with whom he might cause suitable humanity to be exhibited to them. He himself also wherever he proceeded, with such great liberality, with such great affection bore care of such miserable persons, for whom he even stole loaves from his own that coins, foods and garments not the importunity of those asking would extort, but charity freely would offer. He esteemed more even the occasion granted to him for showing mercy, than any benefit exhibited by him to the needy. How often did tears precede his gifts, that the fat of piety might not be lacking to the holocaust of the Pontiff! He stole what was his, also what was of his own, or so familiar to him, that he was certain in his loss to them he was about to be pleasing. There is with me a Brother, who in his adolescence to him was known and acceptable; from him I learned by his telling, that with some most devout matron, as another Martha to him ministering reclining, he hid loaves in the sack which he was carrying. The woman noticed, and breaking and turning aside other and other loaves, she gave opportunity, until the sack was filled. Now they rise from the table, but the Bishop could not bear the theft of piety, and finally taking the secular man whom I mentioned standing by, afterwards a monk, into the consent of this work, he indicated that taking up the falling sack secretly he should carry it away; he took it up, carried it, and resigned it to him now sitting upon his humble animal.
[8] The most grievous Alp also, which has its name from the Column of Jove, in the time of winter he was crossing: there meets him a half-naked little old woman, weak, freezing, and everywhere besprinkled with tears. Seeing the Priest, indeed the Samaritan, he did not pass by, he clothes an old woman half-naked in the cold, but stopped and approached his companions saying: Behold my mother. Nor without sob and tears of compassion did he add: Wretched me, my mother is perishing from cold, what shall we do for her? If we give coins, they will be of no use to one dying. Who of you can subtract for himself whence this woman may be able to prolong life? He sought and did not find, because all to him in danger placed seemed to be, scarcely subsisting from the face of cold: in winter indeed, as I have foretold, time they were crossing the worst places, where cold scarcely tolerable is found in summer: thus there was no one who did good, there was not even to one. With him dissimulating commanded the rest go ahead, he himself does not follow, but stops: he descends, he strips off his only tunic, with which over the hair-shirt he was clothed: and resuming his cowl, he clothed the miserable woman and proceeded: yet he goes on foot the difficult way, set among the troubles of cold and labor.
[9] In the same Alp so grievous a poor and almost no hospice finding, constructs 3 hospices: he applied effective work and expense, that with buildings expanded, with estates and animals enriched, to the necessity of those passing through it might minister opportune subsidies. Thus on the mountain which deservedly is called of Lesion, although outside his province constituted, the way scarcely passable with much labor with rocks split he in great part corrected, and a hospitable house in it with religious Brothers he established. A third hospice in the Jura places he ordained, that not only the past alms of his let the Church of Saints narrate, but also for the future may feel and the present.
[10] In another excessively horrid winter a similar to the above-mentioned little woman, in only one linen garment trembling and c tattered, the same Saint found; to this little wretch also, with no other consolation occurring which he might give, not without danger of his body, bestowed his tunic on another naked one, he himself freezes: similarly he handed over his own garment secretly drawn off himself, and ordered her to depart more quickly. He himself however for her longer was cold, paled and trembled, and with his own ignorant, dissimulating among them, both inconvenience and danger he tolerated. They came to the lodging, and looking at him a Brother was startled, and, Alas, he said, good Father, what has happened? Considering finally that he was worn out by the harshness of cold, and finding that under the cowl he did not have a tunic; he handed over his own to him, and covered him with cloths placed in bed; there at length refreshed he warmed up, and rose. From this Brother telling me I learned this, and what follows another work of piety with also many virtues, at which present he was present and more diligently explored, for in the first years he served his services.
[11] In the region of Provence through the d territory of Nemausus the holy Father was making his way, he relieves a third similarly needy. in whose path a half-naked, indeed even half-living boy went out from a vile cottage, and looking at him he withdrew inside. Understanding therefore the merciful man the faculty of mercy divinely offered to him, he follows the boy, enters the cottage, finds a miserable and wretched woman, laboring with sickness and hunger. On a small straw she lay, covered with one little cloth, not so much of cheap price, as of none. The whole furniture was one not large pot, tears precede words. Yet he approaches, addresses, hears it is the seventh day on which the poor wretch has not known bread. There he not sparing his own, takes off other and other garments: he clothes the woman, clothes also the boy, and bestows money sufficient for buying victuals for the whole month. Of the most sacred Patriarch John the Almsgiver we read, that many moneys were as frequently offered to him, and how liberally resigned by him to the poor. Who especially that of the Song of Songs, "My Beloved to me and I to him," fulfilled with deeds: that one of his ministers after his transit was not afraid to say of him: "Thus thus, you by sending, and I by dispersing; we shall see truly who conquers." So our almsgiver also showed himself a channel, the constantly inflowing water constantly pouring back, retaining nothing of his fullness. There going down with him sometime to the parts of Gaul a religious certain brother, the steward of the Bishop, through a messenger supplicating asked, that to him also somehow over certain things to be done as anxious help be brought, and from those things which would be conferred some benediction be reserved. The Pontiff smiled at this word, then bearing another purpose, distributes 2000 solidi on the journey: another will. He himself however finally firmly affirming I learned, through whose hand the money almost wholly passed, that with two thousand solidi distributed in the same journey, he reserved not even one, sent not even one or brought to his house.
[12] From everywhere now to him and everywhere had begun to flow together an innumerable and intolerable multitude, In the monastery of S. Eugendus seeking remedies of souls and bodies, asking to be touched, demanding to be blessed. Meanwhile the cause arose that in the e monastery of S. Eugendus in the Jura places he should make stay for two months and more, where so many healings bestowed through him the whole region knew, that an incredible crowd flowing together, as if it were sworn for his death, not only pressed, but oppressed the weak one. Scarcely at length a suitable place could be found, and it was the tower of the basilica of S. Eugendus to be ascended through two spiral stairs on either side. There a seat placed, surrounded with stronger woods, that they might receive only the imposition of the hand, or hearing and answers, who through one in series ascending, through the other thence descended, that neither to him nor to themselves in turn they might be troublesome. To so many there blind sight, deaf hearing, mute speech, confers health to innumerable. lame walking, and to those laboring with various inconveniences he conferred desired remedies, that with difficulty anyone could enumerate, or in things to be written, preserve the signs of virtues, with which in his servant God was glorified; yet all to the sacred memory of S. Eugendus he transmitted, that they might pay actions of thanks to God and his venerable Confessor S. Eugendus. Among the frequent multitudes coming a certain honorable matron pregnant, upon a less quiet, less tamed horse was hastening. The horse stumbling on the way and exacerbated, to the woman's ruin began gravely to bellow and to kick atrociously around her: the inner shirt clinging to flesh in many places with feet tearing he did no harm, with her invoking the name of the Prelate. To whom finally exhibited, she gave thanks, telling the danger which she had escaped; and showing to all the lacerated garment, the body unharmed.
[13] There were also present three men from the city of f Lausanne, with the obtestation of the divine name firmly asserting, and leads three men out of prison: a word worthy of memory, worthy of reverence, worthy of admiration, but in the mouth of three witnesses ought to stand. They affirmed indeed that they had been detained for some time enclosed in a workhouse. Meanwhile in that city the celebrated fame of the virtues, which through B. Peter the Bishop the Lord was performing, began to grow: at the invocation of whose name with faithful supplication they turned, by his merits expecting to be divinely helped. It happened therefore on a clear day that their guards were playing at dice before the locked door of the prison, those enclosed and shackled inside were lamenting the troubles of their calamity. Meanwhile the Pontiff invoked is present, looses the shackled, extends his hand, opens the door, orders them to go out. Thus manifestly appearing, he draws out the men and leads them out: and since there was no opportunity of turning aside, following their leading guide, over the tablets on which they were playing, between the middle of the guards they passed. Nor is it wonder if by the enemies they themselves present could not be seen, who thus seemed to themselves to see him absent. Nor from them did the Pontiff disappear before, than they should know themselves to have escaped the dangers and to have come to a secure place. Whence also obliging themselves with a vow, they did not taste food, until to the presence of their liberator they should come, preaching the new and wondrous magnalia of God.
[14] feeds many thousands with one ham and small legumes. But truly, as is known to many, that place is exceedingly sterile, and nonetheless heavy of access, that it scarcely brings forth foods of itself, scarcely receives them from elsewhere: compassionating accordingly the merciful man with the multitude flowing together, what he could obtain from his house or diocese through faithful messengers, whatever from those coming he received offered, in foods of the poor he expended. It happened however that on a certain Saturday, on account of the intemperateness of the air to those wishing to convey victuals for sale the customary access was denied, and the ministers suggested no faculty at all, no counsel was at hand, that with Sunday at hand could the customary refreshment be exhibited to the poor. For there were several thousands, and only one pork ham to him, with a small quantity of vetches had remained, that the whole together namely could one pot hold, indeed great, but what was this among so many? Yet he commands, that what they can this they do; what they have this they offer, since no hope was at hand or faculty of seeking more abundant. Morning made the foods cooked, and into the atrium introduced the multitude of the poor, to whom what was prepared seemed able to suffice. With them refreshed, when still foods remained, others were introduced, and them also satisfied they wondered that food still remained: nor did they cease before than the day with foods similarly and the multitude of the poor failed. Nor I confess to me wonder ought to seem if my reader is moved with no mediocre admiration over this. Otherwise if anyone refuses to believe it was thus done, let him not disbelieve it thus believed. But let them see whom rather is to be believed, by the prejudice of his denial, or to the assertion of those, who were present, saw with eyes, handled with hands? But we must pass to others, lest over the mercies of this man of mercy the heaped abundance begin to bring forth weariness.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER III.
After flight led back to the Archiepiscopal See, removes a sorcery and resists schismatics.
[15] He began among these things, the faithful man, at such great favor exhibited to himself by so many and so great, to fear and tire: he began to be saddened and to be sorrowful: he began to meditate such things, Greatly fearing the favors of the World, thus to come to himself: What is it that you do? To gain to yourself no profit of the world, and to make detriment to your soul. O glory, o glory! puffing up of ears! how perniciously to the wretched, with whom you play, you delude I would say to your laughter, if I were not foolish, why are you deceived in vain? indeed why do you deceive? you lead into error those whom you beatify, you dash down those whom you elevate, you cast down those whom you exalt. With these and such things much more affectionately and efficaciously, than our inexperience can grasp or utter, anticipating and declining the future judgment, by judging himself, as if anew he determined to flee the world, more grievously imminent over himself. Through difficult ways therefore, through places rather pathless, in the middle silence of the night, with only one companion, with the rest ignorant, he went out, fleeing the world and its honors. Coming finally to a certain monastery of his Cistercian order, in a Germany constituted, where in some way he might be deaf and dumb, hides in a German monastery neither understanding the words of others, nor understood by them, as long as it was permitted, among them entering and exiting, as a simple Monk he dwelt; for he had changed companions on the way one after another, with occasion sought, until he might have to whom he was unknown. Who would think those holidays, that joy, that solemnity? he kept sabbath to God according to the desire of his heart, and in his sabbath he was pleased with himself. But meanwhile let him so remain, to whom it is good to be here: rather to those must we return, whom the clandestine departure desolates and vehemently afflicts. Morning made when he in no way appeared, his domestics were filled with stupor and ecstasy, in that which had happened to them. Sought in the bedroom and not found whom deservedly they loved, through the churches, through villages and squares he is sought, and is not found; everywhere they ask those meeting them, and there is no one who indicates, who has seen him, and who has heard any word about him; there is no one who says, "The beloved has descended into the garden of aromatics, that he may be fed with spiritual delights, and gather for himself the most pleasing lilies of heavenly joys." A word goes out into the people that the good Pastor has departed, the light of his eyes has left them, and is taken away in whom was his treasure and his heart. with the lamentation of his own: That solemn frequency into mourning, and the universal devotion is turned into lament. Those go out who would seek, they go around the region, also to more remote places they proceed. But who in the whole world will find one person, so studiously favoring hiding-places, and seeking the secret? Yet however with him disposing from whose face in the immensity of creation no one is hidden, he was found, was recognized, at length sometime to his church was restored, and was led back to his own. Indeed among the others everywhere seeking a certain young man, whom from a boy he himself had nourished, coming to that monastery, with the Brothers going out to labor, while he looks at each one, on him suddenly he cast eyes, and recognized at once seized him, held him and exclaimed. betrayed by the youth, All wondered, and his name heard complained, that the lamp under a bushel had so long lain hidden. To his sacred footsteps the whole congregation prostrates itself, and asks pardon to be granted to itself, that no reverence to him it had exhibited ignorant; each one wept, and with worthy heralds magnified the examples of his obedience and humility. He himself wept before others that he was unworthy to enjoy longer the granted joy, and the tasted sweetness of wisdom more hungering for, more thirsting, he was being drawn back to the dangers and labors of busy life. is led back to the Archbishopric: It was heard in that land and divulged in celebrated speech, that there appeared a man Prophet, powerful in work and word. Again the crowd rushes and bursts in, again is made a more troublesome concourse, with him torn from the breasts of desired rest. Now indeed it cannot be enarrated, and superfluous to attempt, with what great devotion and exultation of all the lands, as if revived to his own he appeared, just as the disciples having seen the Lord rejoiced: nor less abundant, although briefer tears the succeeding joy, than the preceding sadness brought forth.
[16] to his mother with other kinsmen, Before the holy man functioned in the office of Abbot, both parents from the wicked world he snatched: his brother Andrew younger than himself, drawing to Jesus Peter, in some way he recompensed, what to Peter the first, still Simon, to the same Brother of his Andrew anticipating brought him. He therefore his father in Bonnevaux placed, his mother in the college of holy women he placed, in the place which is called of S. Paul, for the faculty of her sex and beyond, emulating the institutes of the Cistercian order: to which still novel plantation, at the urging of the founder and the precept of his Abbot, the elder Peter for several years was useful more than presided. To the monastery of the same discipline however, which they call Bitumen, namely for anointing the ark within and without, in virgins holy in body and spirit, the same afterwards the son transferred his mother with sister, who of that monastery for a long time faithfully and usefully bore care, where some other virgins and widows of his race the same Saint also ordained. gives books of Augustine written by another: Nearest is to Stamedium and the Tarentaise diocese the place; to which accordingly as to other religious very many benefits sedulously he expended. He had caused to be written the books of B. Augustine on the Psalms, and to no church yet had he deputed them, but the alms was sweating in his hand. There presided over b the Maurienne church of great merit Bernard the Bishop, just as in that especially region fertile in men poverty produced several almost contemporary notable Priests, namely Saint c Hugh of Grenoble, d John of Valence, e Isindio of Die, f Airald and Bernard of Maurienne, this our Peter g of Tarentaise, Anthelm of Belley, over whose tomb while he was being buried divinely fire descended kindled the lamps, hung over the same place before the sign of the Cross. Approaching truly the said Bernard Bishop of Maurienne to Bitumen the h monastery of his diocese, to him confessing his offenses, as more often happened, the mother of the venerable Peter Bishop of Tarentaise, he enjoined this kind of penitence, that the above-mentioned books of B. Augustine to be given to her Sisters she should obtain. After a brief time the Archbishop was present, and approaching to him the mother asked him, whether it was necessary for sinners to fulfill the imposed penitence. To him answering, "By all means"; she supplicates that he would have mercy on the soul of his mother, on whom her Prelate this kind of penitence enjoined. Thus the same conferred to themselves codices of the same monastery the Virgins, on account of the memory of the giver, more dearly embrace. But each parent, his days in good old age and religious conversation happily consummating,
most devout in all ecclesiastical offices, but in such matters most devout he buried; to whom according to the Lord's commandment due honor he exhibited to the living and to the dead.
[17] Truth in the Evangelical sermon commending the causes and rewards of beatitudes, among the rest says: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. That to this holy Prelate the exercise or merit was not lacking, we assert without any ambiguity, removes enmities and wars: that in the Spirit of adoption he inherited the name of son of God. Matt. 5 Implacable enmities and inveterate hatreds frequently he extinguished, very grave wars he restrained: reconciliations among the greatest Princes, with the Lord cooperating, and confirming his speech by following signs, he effected. Between his prince Count i Humbert and k Hildefonsus Count of Toulouse, dominating in the region of Grenoble at that time, not without many fires and homicides war long agitated with much labor he settled. By the occasion of which business to the illustrious King of the English l Henry vehemently desired he came, and so reverently was received, that the devotion seemed to exceed every human measure. In the very journey also divine virtue through him perfected a singular miracle: which more diligently to pursue I think will be worth the trouble.
[18] heals a woman badly cured by a sorcerer Of Saint Symphorian is called a castle of the Lyons Church, distant a few leagues from the city, where a faithful man and an officious and sedulous receiver of religious, of great conversation and equally opinion, the Abbot to his lodging once almost making force drew. To this man there was a young daughter, laboring with a miserable inconvenience; for a certain woman witch had acted, induced by the wickedness of the envious mother-in-law, that she should waste away with despaired languor, nor could she at all tolerate the presence or sight of her husband. The mother persuaded by feminine affection, that Satan might cast out Satan, summoned a famous certain sorcerer. He came, explored, recognized; and asserting the young girl m iron-bound, grinds barks of trees, gives potions infected with words and herbs; he also bites with his own teeth the arm of the wretched woman. A wondrous thing, a new thing, a thing hitherto unheard of, if I am not mistaken. From that languor she convalesced, but sometimes feeling needles as if proceeding from her heart she was tortured atrociously, until through the bite of the arm, which no scar had covered, the hidden force would lead out the needles. A cruel remedy, but suiting the author of this kind. from whose arm needles Already in this manner more than thirty needles through intervals of times had come forth, some, as it is commonly said, n without case, some bearing holes suitable for admitting threads. Meanwhile the said Abbot to the house where these things were performed came. The person is famous, of whom both this work and others not unworthy of admiration are narrated, but yet must be spared the still surviving and the name I have believed to be kept silent. To this anxious father he exhibits the wretched daughter, and not without tears unfolds the lugubrious tragedy. The same hour faith is made to the words, and feeling the needle the woman groaning weeps. Already it had reached the hole, the customary blood already had gone before, already it had begun to appear, already a particle of needle had gone out, and approaching one of the lay Brothers and the same serving the Abbot draws out the bloody one, to be preserved for several years for testimony. The Abbot prays, and touching the place of the wound, in the virtue of faith promises that neither iron nor steel from there will proceed any more. It was done: but the matter changed, malice not yet entirely extinguished. and stakes came forth. Began small wooden stakes, such as commonly o brocas they call, of oak strength or of ash, to come out for iron needles, thicker than thorns and a little longer: nor however were all of one, just as the needles had not been, of length or thickness. Sixteen now in this manner within a year and a few months from the woman woods had come forth: At length came the Reverend Peter the Prelate, to whom divinely had been reserved the fullness of so great a miracle. The woman is offered to him celebrating the solemnities of Masses, as he had ordered the preceding evening. The same hour the seventeenth wood from the womanly flesh comes out, which under the eyes of all the Chaplain extracted. Therefore the woman confessing the Prelate absolves, and handing to her the sacred Eucharist henceforth from any progress of any matter orders her to be secure. Thus from all illusions now freed, she clung to her husband by procreating children, and, as is said, even today surviving, she preaches the virtue which in herself happily she merited to experience. Peter of Fraxinetum is called the father, known and honored among his fellow-villagers: that if anyone the so great novelty has rendered doubtful, it may perhaps be permitted to prove, what to believe he refuses.
[19] shuns schismatics. In the days of the same Prelate the neighboring provinces and most of the Roman Empire's Churches [p] schismatic rage occupied. He alone of the Metropolitans, or almost alone of those regions, both openly resisted the schismatics, and remained immune in his church. But also very many of those round about he recalled to Catholic unity, freely penetrating the neighboring provinces everywhere, freely preaching to Clergies and peoples sermons full of authority, rebuking the wicked and obstinate of heretical depravity. Nonetheless however the Emperor cultivated him with devout services, with no less reverence obeying him than with savagery persecuting other Catholics everywhere. Nor were lacking those who were indignant, who complained, and yet remains dear to Frederick the Emperor, who tried rather to exacerbate the Prince's mind against him saying; What does it mean to you, good Emperor, what you do? Is it not to destroy your cause, so to cultivate, so to honor him, who so impugns, who so attacks it? He detests us, execrates us, denounces us as heretics, anathematizes us: and you as an Angel of God receive him, publicly and privately preach his holiness? With these and such words as far as they dared, often they struck with a ram the strength of the Emperor's heart, sons of dissension, sons of crime. To which suggestion [q] Herbert a certain occupant of the Besançon Church above others insisted, again and again affirming, that he could not sufficiently wonder, by what tricks he had so demented him endowed with such great reason. For many Archbishops, Bishops, and even Abbots formerly to himself [r] most dear, for the same cause the same Emperor had driven into exile; of the Cistercian Order's Brothers not only some persons, but numerous colleges, by the same Herbert or similar (if any similar he had) from their monasteries to be expelled he had not prohibited: and to the suffrages of this one alone he so devoutly as suppliantly commended himself. It is reported also that to the same most wicked, suggesting the worst monitions, worthy of memory, worthy of [s] admiration he gave a response; If to men, as they deserve, I show myself contrary; do not wish that I begin evidently to oppose myself to God.
[20] There is in the diocese of Besançon a monastery which is named [t] Bethania. The Archbishop of Tarentaise about to come there Herbert hearing, and makes him milder toward Catholics and Religious, sent forward announcing that on the same day he would come. The Abbot was startled and with much anxiety hastening to meet the holy man, complained that he did not know what he should do. To whom he; A corner, he says, however small will suffice for us, do not be troubled. But truly divine vengeance for him fought: and overcome by sickness the apostate, what he had disposed did not fulfill. Thence the blessed man approached the Emperor, constituted in the city of Besançon, where also from the oppression of Catholics, especially religious, as much as he could he recalled his mind; the King's anger, like to leonine roaring, with admonitions and intercession restraining. There convened however with customary devotion the people of the city to him, and an innumerable multitude also from neighboring places everywhere flowed together: to whom among the rest about the said heretic making a word, neither his malice fearing, with the chief inciter of the schism extinguished. nor the power of the Emperor, through whom he had been intruded, he indicted a general Prayer to all, that the hand of the Lord would hasten to free the church from his tyranny, either by changing the man, or by killing him; that he be converted to penitence, or be removed from the midst. It was prayed, and within four or five days the same schismatic exhaled his wretched soul. It happened however that meanwhile visited by the Venerable Abbot of Bellevaux at first he seemed to congratulate the arrival; questioned however about the confession of sins and admonished about penitence he clenched his fist; and applying it to his mouth, he was sounding a trumpet on it: but after a little, lowering the hand which he had clenched, with his mouth he sang. The Abbot blushed that he could not obtain another response: and recognizing the judgment of God, not without much confusion he withdrew. Not yet had the holy man gone out from the city, and now in an oxen wagon the corpse of Heribert was being carried out, with the people crying out the unfortunate one and saying, Blessed be God who handed over the impious one.
[21] confirms Catholics: The same holy man also, summoned by the Catholic Pope the most Reverend Alexander the Third, through Italy and Tuscany magnificently consoled the Catholics, and filled the faces of the schismatics with ignominy and confusion, when in the very cities, where the Pseudo-bishops presided, openly and publicly the same heresy he condemned, with the whole people following him with most devout services, indeed even confirming the speech with various signs. Nor to another person did the Supreme Pontiff exhibit such great honor, nor did the Roman Church at that time wonder so at any of the Bishops, so revere, so embrace: only the needy looked to his hands, that they might obtain gifts. For the grace of spiritual benediction all equally desired. And just as for many times through Burgundy and Lotharingia he had performed; through the regions of Italy, Tuscany and Campania in his coming, in his stay, in his return the authority of his most celebrated holiness, in their own consciences before God greatest confidence, before men reverence and constancy bestowing on Catholics, the Schismatics nonetheless he confounded within and without. Yet a certain tyrant dared to pursue the person of him returning, thinking to afflict him with injuries, and from his horsemanship of about five or from very thin furniture to make plunder. is freed from his pursuer divinely punished: Whose horse during the running fell headlong, and with the leg broken on the ground lay. The man was startled, and returning to himself, gave thanks for the damnation which he merited: and reputing himself rather to have been punished, with no less devotion he proceeded to follow and serve, than with fury before he had been animated to pursue. Following finally, and then first overtaking him, he rolls at his feet, humbly satisfies: nor enough to him is whatever he does, attributing to his mercy that for the rider the horse fell.
ANNOTATIONS.
p. With Alexander 3 in the year 1159 elected as Pontiff, by two Cardinals was assumed Octavian, who named himself Victor 3, whom Frederick the Emperor favored, and others adhered to him. Frederick Barbarossa was elected in the year 1152, crowned at Rome in the year 1155, after various excommunications died in the year 1190.
q. With Humbert Archbishop of Besançon, that is of Vesontio, dying intruded seems to be Herbert the schismatic, if however from the said Humbert he is to be distinguished.
r. Ms. of Munster, most familiar.
s. The same, annunciation.
t. Bethania of the Cistercian Order, daughter of Morimond, constructed in the year 1133.
CHAPTER IV.
Illustrious Miracles performed in various places.
[22] In the monastery of a Longpont placed I am bound to humor my most dear brothers and Abbot. Compels thieves by prayer to restore stolen goods Hence it is that recalling the pen from the proposed things, those things which by the very credible testimony of many are suggested to me, I have thought worth inserting. From the petition of the Bishop of Langres and the urging of the Venerable Abbot and the whole congregation to the said Monastery of Longpont, that in the memory of S. Bernard b of Clairvaux he might dedicate a new altar, and bless the cemetery, the blessed man came. For with the highest wishes he was awaited, by whomever his presence could be obtained, and was summoned everywhere, and was drawn everywhere for celebrating such kinds of sacraments. The Pontiff awaited was present on a certain day, and so great a multitude convened, that great and aged men denied that they had seen anywhere a similar one. But the tempter was present, with opportunity found persuading a certain man to steal the silver Cross, of small weight indeed, but containing a particle of the wood of the Lord. The sacrilege is noticed by the Brothers, and to the holy Prelate without delay is suggested. Nor does he hesitate to anathematize the sacrilegious person, in the virtue of Christ commanding, that the man should not be permitted to leave the bounds of the monastery, before he had restored the sign of the Cross; firmly attesting that in no way could it be carried away. Yet the wicked one persisted until the next day, until the Bishop had withdrawn. But neither then could he go out, except with the Cross first restored; and placed on the holy altar, where it might be found.
[23] A woman had seen a wooden cup, had coveted it seen, had taken and hidden the coveted, the unhappy one was carrying off the hidden. Without delay, she is punished in her eyes, through whose windows death had entered. She seeks one of the Brothers, not yet entirely, but almost blind: she brings forth the little vessel, with satisfaction restores it, and the avenging darkness of the crime soon she escapes. Thus approaching some one to the doorkeeper of the monastery, before him the cowl, which he had wrongly taken, with these words he cast: Take to yourself this sleeved cape, which trying often I could not carry away, prohibited I know not by what virtue.
[24] heals an energumen, A frenetic young man or rather an energumen, as was believed and was credible, very many were carrying, for now seven days neither taking food, nor uttering any word. Ordered to be quiet, ordered to speak, in neither does he obey the Priest: but he beats the man under the breast, indignant against the demon. Without delay, through obscene flux of the belly, as it was ordered, one of the demons went out, the other remained, so that the wretched man not entirely such egress freed. Nor did the Bishop delay on account of the people pressing: but while he was standing outside, he entered the oratory: where again the youth being exhibited he imposed his hand, and purged by the vomit of most dire odor, for a little he rested; and thereafter began to speak, took food, a deaf and mute, and fulfilled the other offices of a sound mind. Likewise in the basilica of the same monastery already for three years a deaf and mute son the mother offering to the man of God, at his benediction without delay speaking freely, freely hearing she joyfully received.
[25] The monastery of c Albariva took its name from the nearby river. Its neighboring town is called d Barium, a sterile woman, whose Provost's wife being sterile cohabited for fifteen years with her husband. Finally with the Archbishop coming, she with weeping besought, that he would take away the reproach of sterility from her. To whom with customary piety he compassionated, after prayer he promised both conception and childbirth. Therefore the woman conceived and bore a son, a lame man. and according to the word of the Bishop John is his name. Indeed even today both mother and son both surviving, both witnesses of truth exist. A lame man also, not approaching with his own feet, but offered in others' hands, in the same place the Saint raised, and that grace to him persists even now, that he walks freely.
[26] to a thievish man sight, Meanwhile a blind man crying out to him to be illuminated was praying. To whom he: Do not greatly desire to see, you would be free for robberies if you saw. Which about a man wholly unknown to him, not from man nor through man, but with the Holy Spirit suggesting he knew. Who although he does not see, as much as he is able, in robberies even today perseveres. refuses alms to the gluttonous one. The offerings of the faithful in a certain church during the solemnities of Masses receiving sacred he was distributing to the needy, in his manner restoring more to the poor than they offered. Meanwhile a certain wicked man vehemently was insisting, and often returning could obtain nothing, alone bringing back the sole repulse from the offering. And while he was crying out that he the famished was lacking food, with cloak rolled back the whole cake, which he was carrying, the Saint showed, saying: Eat this and from this kind of petition desist. About whose life and worst acts rebuking the man, he proposed so much, that those who were present and had known him wondered, that there was no need that anyone should bear testimony to him.
[27] In the dedication of the oratory of e Bushiery, which is a monastery of the Cistercian Order in the diocese of Autun constituted, cures three deaf, a boy of about nine years deaf and mute at the prayer of the man of God and the imposition of the hand, hearing equally and speech he received. Two brothers also, one deaf, the other deaf and mute, from the same inconveniences both were freed. But also a Monk of the same monastery, for seven years his eyes having covered with cataract and entirely blind, heard, a blind man, Do not fear, son, in the near future it is that by the Lord you will be cured. And it was done thus: indeed within twenty days came a Cleric, who removed the same cataract, and thereafter clearly he saw.
[28] Alsace is called a region near the Rhine, a gravely injured woman, having very populous villages. This entered the Pontiff once reverend, in a village, whose name is f Rupheium, was celebrating the solemnities of Masses. To him a woman is offered, from a grave fall with the joints of the bones dissipated, for about nine years scarcely on two staves supported proceeding. After prayer and the imposition of the hand a little she stood, and feeling virtue exclaimed. Without delay: bearing the staves stretched up high, she was made unimpaired, and freely she walked. The people also crying out Kyrie eleison, with the staves suspended among the lamps were praising the Lord. There also two lame men immediately were raised up; 2 lame men, the first at his touch; the other, before he could obtain access, in the middle of the people was anticipated by divine benediction. another blind man, After the offering of the salutary Host, the truly sacred Priest the blind man offered to himself by the sign of the Cross illuminated, anointing his eyes from the water of the sprinkling of his fingers. From the relation of the Abbot of Stamedium I received, that sometime addressing the holy Father with familiar suggestion he said to him: Some are moved, holy Father, as I have learned, that thus everywhere and without hesitation upon the sick you impose hands: for they think and assert, that long ago the times of miracles have passed. To whom that Saint with customary kindness gave such response: Of many now not only does charity grow cold, but also faith is weakened. Accordingly it requires as if anew to be watered with miracles, to be fostered with benefits, withered faith, sick faith.
[29] Crusilla is a town of the Count of Geneva, 4 epileptic women where the holy man, with the Count himself and several persons from the same region, on certain affairs was conferring. There three epileptic women, miserably falling, one after another were palpitating and being dashed on the ground. At the supplication of those standing by upon each one he made prayer, and without hesitation having raised them restored to health. The more wretched and miserable such sickness seemed, the more special to the man of mercy efficacy against it was at hand, that he cured many from it, even those whom he did not see; and scarcely any person, after the imposition of his hand, suffered the same wretchedness.
[30] There is a place in Alsace, whose name is Agnevillare, where having marked an epileptic woman with quickness he passed by: and so cruelly the wretched woman was being vexed, that continually she seemed about to render her soul. The Pontiff had compassion and raising the little woman, into her ear with lowered voice he said: It is necessary that you go out from her. The woman therefore was healed from that hour, and thereafter suffered nothing of the kind. It happened on another occasion, an epileptic man. when the man of God was celebrating the solemnities of Masses, that a vexed epileptic man cried out. He compassionating, and his Chaplain in his stead directing, ordered him to be raised and healed. Both of which were brought to effect at the very hour.
[31] a sick boy: The Saint visited sometime the monastery of Bellevaux, in abundance of sweetness and grace, and gladdening the congregation devoted to him with his benediction, also a boy offered, who weakened by long-lasting languor of body, and especially destitute of the function of feet, by praying and imposing hands he healed: that walking freely he might exult, also sharing his joys with the others looking on. a woman in labor for ten days, A pregnant woman, when the time of giving birth was at hand, was endangered in laboring for ten days; nor did she forget the pressure with no joy following. There was to her near and known a certain Abbot, with much veneration guarding the cincture of the Prelate. He is summoned therefore; with such miserable necessity learned, the said girdle he brought forth;
and persuaded her to touch the bare womb thereafter. It was done: and scarcely had he left the bedroom, when suddenly the woman gave birth, freed entirely from danger and torture. Let us not pass over the monastery of g Bullion, lest those Brothers begin to complain, that contrary to the manner of him whom we are writing about we seem to spurn the humble. He visited gladly also those friends of the poor, a blind woman, nor moderately did he take pleasure in their middling buildings: with whom also as they firmly affirm, by the sign of the Cross he illuminated a blind woman with the collyrium of his spittle.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER V.
Approach to the Kings of France and England for peace illustrated by miracles: pious death.
[32] The more the world followed the man of God with services, extolled with heralds; the more he himself feared what he had read, If you were of the world, Deliberating about selling horses the world would love what was its own. John 15 He began therefore with more perfect men to have a treatment of spiritual conference, judging it would be more useful, that the few horses he had be sold and the price given to the poor, that walking on foot, what they had been wont to consume with their guards, he might depute more to works of mercy. And he would have given satisfaction to his vow, except that a reasonable suggestion and an immediately occurring necessity prevented. Indeed it was persuaded to him, that in his own province he could observe this; but to be excepted from such profession of purpose, that he should use the customary vehicle of animals, if to remote provinces he was compelled to go for an inevitable cause. Nor without divine nod did such an exception persuade the holy Prelate the eminent man and among friends most dear, then of Hautecombe, afterwards of Clairvaux Abbot Henry a, now Bishop of Albano, among the notable columns of the Roman Church in a celebrated place constituted. For still the discussion remained suspended in the ambiguity of the same deliberation; and behold a messenger of the Lord Pope, behold letters, behold a mandate, that to the Kings of the Franks and the English to be reconciled to himself the holy man, with as much speed as he could, should hasten; is ordered to conciliate peace between Kings from whose enmities the destruction of churches, the depopulation of regions, and innumerable slaughter of men proceeded; nor did anything else seem to be awaited, than what is said, the strong has dashed against the strong and both equally have fallen. The view of this necessity and the reverence of Apostolic authority, to which in all and through all things he always obeyed, made the holy Prelate descend into the Gauls. Therefore entering a monastery of the Sens diocese, which is called Pluriacum b, and in it about the space of one month being detained by infirmity, yet to very many sick he bestowed benefits of healings. multiplies bread, And when the greatest concourse of peoples was made everywhere and to him from everywhere. Do not, said the Saint to the Brothers, be moved about the distribution of victuals: the Lord will give a benediction to your granaries, that you may know his virtue, who according to his good pleasure multiplies, what for the glory of his name are bestowed. Thus to have heard, thus to have believed, thus by experience to have proved themselves they testified, by whose hands loaves were made and distributed; that when scarcely doubled they seemed able to suffice, a smaller than usual number abounded. Indeed once a week they were baking less in the oven, than in the other months before they had been wont.
[33] illuminates a blind man, A certain soldier of that region, by the pretext of obtaining benediction and the grace of signs, seeing many flowing together to the man of God, had compassion on his son not seeing. He wishes that by his suffrage merits the seeing one should be made from blind, who as he feared by his own deserving faults blind had been made from seeing. Therefore the blind son the Soldier carried out from his house, but to the Pruliacensis monastery brought him in now seeing. For the faithful man met him going, bringing back bread blessed by the blessed Prelate. Nor did he take delays, magnanimous in faith made: but from a crumb of bread making a new collyrium, he anointed the eyes of his son with the invocation of the divine name and of the same Prelate. Therefore with the virtue of faith and the effect of benediction cooperating with himself, at the first anointing of the sacred collyrium opened were his eyes, and he saw and rejoiced that he saw. So congratulating the father showed his illuminated son, whom he had hoped would be illuminated; and who came for his son to ask, came rather to render actions of thanks.
[34] Corbeil c is called the town of the King of France, which the river Seine washes, Provosts sent by the King of France to meet him in the Parisian diocese constituted. The grace of its Provost was great not only with his Lord, but the place in the palace, whom in the meeting of the holy Prelate the devout King studied to send; commanding not only the offices of humanity, but due reverence by all his men to him in all places as much as it was possible to be expended. Thus in the said town the humble servant of Christ at the King's mandate was received in the royal house d. Nor could anywhere, although weak, on account of the multitude flocking, the necessary rest be exhibited. There was however a strong spirit, a prompt spirit in the infirm flesh, and now lazy age. To the same Provost a daughter lame from birth now five years old, as it appeared to have been, heals the lame daughter: thus had been born, for the glory of the Lord and the honor of the faithful servant. Whose to the holy footsteps offered, after prayer and the imposition of hand was raised: and making new steps, with her own feet she walked, magnifying God for her age, and rendering thanks to her raiser. Thus the good guest doubly cheered the devout hosts, nor only did admiration arise for the virtue, but a more familiar joy for the person. Let us pass over the very great wishes of the Parisians, the intolerable concourses, and troublesome the honors which were exhibited to him. The Kings await, is reverently saluted by the King of the English, the Princes await, an incredible multitude waits, for the word of peace and the coming of so great a Prelate, gathered near Mont-Calvus e on the border of France and Normandy: into whose meeting not so much runs as flies the King of the English f, and at the sight of him from afar leaps from his horse, indeed falls: he embraces the feet, takes off the cope, lacerated everywhere, shortened everywhere; nor takes the little pieces, as the others were wont, although the Prelate bore it heavily and grievously. In this alone could nothing his own authority avail him, nothing prohibition, nothing showing of indignation, nothing threat of malediction. The Brothers who had come together complained, and said; (If indeed the King's mind explored thus they wished) Among royal treasures what will old half-cinctures do? To whom he gave such, not without the attention of many, response. Otherwise to you would have to be spoken, if you knew about his cincture which in past years I received, to how many sick remedies, how many benefits of healings have come.
[35] bestows speech to a mute, About the same places the Archbishop had sat with great persons, having a treatment about reformed peace. And behold a poor widow, feeling more her own and her daughter's inconvenience, than reputing the enmities of the Kings or dangers or business of regions; with others rebuking, others prohibiting she rushes in, drawing with herself a daughter mute from birth. Nor in such great frequency does the Archbishop spurn the humble person, not feeling lofty things nor in lofty places. He bends to the suppliant: and prayer being premised infused with his own spittle the thumb he puts in the mouth of the girl, on her tongue and lips imprinting the sign of the Cross. Thus with him commanding whatever words he should pronounce beforehand, after him similarly she resounded, thus thereafter she spoke, thus speaking she was restored to her mother. heals a lame woman: Without delay, returning the exchange to the mother another daughter, brought a lame one on a little ass: whose loins and weak members consigning, he made her go aside in part, and await divine mercy. After a little, with the daughter persuading that she should mount the donkey and return, "Lead it forth," he said, "rather the donkey, lead and go ahead." Thus he went ahead, and she healed followed, with many with much admiration following her.
[36] On another day with King Louis of the Franks and the younger King of the English and the Count of Flanders g, with many standing around on every side, in the sight of 2 Kings illuminates a blind man: on the same business for which he had come familiarly he was conferring. Meanwhile the mother of a son now twelve years old, but for seven years the same mother of a blind son, to that group with her son suppliant and groaning came. But seeing the holy man that to the wretched little woman by the ministers of the Kings access was being denied, he ordered her with her son to be exhibited rather to him by them. With whose necessity learned, holding the boy's hair and mercifully blandishing, he asked what he wished. To whom he, "Lord that I may see." The Pontiff brought forth a coin, and put it in the boy's hand. Also with fingers dipped in the saliva of his mouth, over his eyes and the crown of his head he made the sign of the Cross, and for a little prayed. The Kings looked on with the rest, and wondered conferring with one another, asking one another, whether it was a joke that the man of God seriously was performing. Meanwhile the boy began gradually to receive sight, began to look at the coin which he held, began to look at men, began joyfully and praising to say to his mother; "I see mother, I see; I see men and all things which stand around." At which she, as if to a most sacred altar, turned to the Prelate, with bent knees, with hands extended, and with eyes directed to heaven, more studiously insisted on prayer. It was heard and learned that the blind one had received sight. The King of the Franks himself also, with the truth more diligently inquired and known more certainly, did not dissimulate, with knee bent, to adore the divine virtue in the boy; kissing his head and eyes, and honoring his hand with his own offering. Nor wonder, because wondrous devotion in the rest also followed the example of so great a King, after such a great miracle.
[37] There came meanwhile the head of the h Lenten fast, and in the monastery of Mortemer i that solemn office the most reverend Prelate celebrated. likewise blind in the other eye. He also imposed the blessed Ashes on the head of the King of England and of the Franks, who on account of this had come to that monastery on the very day. But a certain Soldier, before much
time previously wounded in his temple by the dart of a crossbow, and from then with the other eye seeing nothing at all, with much insistence of prayers asked for its restitution. The man of God began to excuse himself, and more gravely than usual to dissuade the man, that he should not demand such a thing from his humility above his strength or his merits. Yet he insisted and persisted, despairing at no dissuasion, but made more magnanimous in faith. And so he is touched, blessed, and sent forth to await the mercy of God. He went out, awaited, attended, and gradually with the light restored he saw with both eyes as before. He hastened also to the King, communicating his joy to his Lord without delay. The word goes out into public: and the good work shines forth more beautifully, brought into the open; and finally to persons of many faces devout and solemn action of thanks resounds and a voice of praise.
[38] What the devout Brother Hugh k of Acrivilla, a Cistercian monk, heals a flux of blood from the nostrils: although ignorant that the very material was in my hands, immediately suggests, by no means is fitting to be omitted. Indeed the not unknown religiosity of the man establishes faith; and especially the most veracious credibility, and credible veracity of his testimony also in his secular conversion. When the Archbishop had come to the first town of Normandy which is called Gisors l, the said Hugh, soldiering under the King of the Franks, from the doormen and guards of the town scarcely obtained entrance. The same hour he saw a boy offered to the Archbishop freed from the impending crisis of death, indeed by a flux of nostrils all the gore of his body seemed exhausted, that scarcely any of vital heat or color appeared in him. Thus there was no voice nor sense, no movement, except as much as he was moved by his own. The man of God prayed over the bloodless boy, to whom only the sepulcher seemed to remain, and from his spittle touched the lips of the one scarcely thinly breathing. Without delay he opened his lips, opens his eyes, and at length revived appeared in a moment. In the canton of Paris, to a certain monastery he gave the name m Edera; where many holy women dwell. 2 deaf and a paralytic There also through the blessed Prelate to two deaf the Lord restored hearing, and to a man with the middle part of the body half-dead, of dry hand and foot he restored health. Also high n Brueria is called another monastery, of the very religious order of Fontevraud, having about two hundred holy women most devoted to the Lord. There some penitents in the workhouse of past time mourn things committed, others virgins implore in the bridal chamber the grace of their Spouse, contending in all ways, that whether present or absent they may please him. Therefore at the petition of the Queen of the Franks the deservedly desirable and very much desired Prelate visited the handmaidens of Christ; and a blind woman, where also he consecrated a new altar, and there by the sign of the Cross he illuminated a blind woman.
[39] The thirty-third year, namely the third o part of the numbers which the left holds, in the Pontificate the blessed man was completing; and from the two parts remaining sparing him, the divine call disposed to transfer the son of the right hand to the right. For also that very number is believed to have been consecrated by the [p] age of the Savior in the flesh. Therefore approaching to the monastery of Bellevaux, in the Besançon diocese constituted, a violent ardor of fevers invaded him, oppressed by fever, and beside the nearby village, which is called of Lord [q] Martin, a little he rested. Where afterwards the sign of the Cross erected by the inhabitants, and faithfully to very many sick imploring it remedies of healings are proclaimed bestowed. Coming finally the holy Prelate to the monastery, the whole Congregation exulted in joy, and through neighboring places about his arrival a most celebrated and joyful fame spread. Yet his sickness heard, of him who many sicknesses with his prayers drove away, great fear and grief came upon, occupying all equally inside and out. Whom, above the strength of the now and now failing little body, the unconquered mind consoled, exhibiting to each the grace of customary kindness and cheerfulness, dissimulating his own weakness: whose always every action, every affection, the whole life, and he himself wholly was humility and devotion, wholly charity and compassion. Meanwhile the solemnity of the Exaltation [r] of the holy Cross came, on which the Lord had disposed the most faithful adorer of the same Cross, the most fervent lover, the sedulous herald, to exalt: on which also the thirty-third year from the reception of the election was completed, that no day might exceed, none be lacking. And perhaps less this would have been to be attended to, except that the Savior also, as some judge, similarly the same number from the conception [s] to the passion completed. He had anticipated to fortify the exit with the Lord's Sacraments, and fortified with the Sacraments dies: of which he had been for a long time the most devout executor. With all things at length duly completed, in the midst of the singing and praying sons; to whom he had bequeathed a rich inheritance of paternal benediction, happily he was added to his Fathers. To whom many ecclesiastical equally and secular persons, humble and honorable, from the same region had previously assembled: but to his funeral especially a more numerous, if even numerable, multitude flocked. Therefore vigil watches around the most sacred body for two days and two nights in psalms and spiritual songs they celebrated, on the third day finally by the Archbishop of Besançon [t], by his help and work now Catholic, buried before the altar at age 73 years. with very many Abbots, before the holy altar, dedicated in honor of Blessed Mary ever Virgin, buried in body; in virtues he is approved to live. And indeed about twenty years old he betook himself to the monastery of Bonnevaux, where about ten years, and as many at Stamedium he consummated. With thirty-three added in the Episcopate completed, to seventy-three the number of years of his life rises. In whose transit the year was the One thousand one hundred [v] seventy-fifth from the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit, is one God above all, blessed for the ages. Amen [x].
ANNOTATIONS.
And now with his right hand he counts his years.
p. Christ born 33 years and three months, on the Cross for the salvation of the human race died, and that with the two Geminus Consuls, in the year of the common Era 29, as elsewhere we have taught.
q. In French Dom-Martin, near Mont miray on the borders of the Burgundian Duchy.
r. In Surius the solemnity of the Finding, occurs 3 May: which is also called the first Exaltation.
s. On the same day 25 March both the Annunciation made to the God-bearer or the Conception of Christ, and his passion done is recalled in our work: but the year was completed 34.
t. Ebrard Archbishop of Besançon, created in the year 1171, departed life in the year 1179.
v. The fourth year is in the MS. Munster, and in the Compendium of the Life of Utrecht of S. Salvator, but the fifth is noted in the MS. of Caritas: which also the Sammarthani have. In Surius is the year first, which in no way can stand as we have said above.
x. Is added in Surius. The eighth Ides of May the day of his birth: the third Ides of September the day of his Translation.
BOOK II.
Miracles done after death.
The Chapter headings of this book were inserted, which here it is sufficient to indicate, in whose places we mark numbers in our manner.
1. Of fires extinguished, and a young man blinded and an old blind man.
2. Of a blind woman, who in Suabia through the blessed man was illuminated.
3. Of a sick man dying.
4. Of a deaf woman, and a deaf man, and a boy ward.
5. Of a woman laboring with quartan fevers.
6. Of a cow which gave blood instead of milk.
7. Of a monk having fever.
8. Of a boy possessed in mind.
9. Of another raging.
10. Of a boy who in the sight of the whole convent of Bellevaux was cured.
11. Of a woman, who had lost the function of either hand, and another similarly.
12. Of a monk freed from grave headache, and many other signs.
Miracles[1] The Priest of the Lord Peter of Tarentaise, the most fulgent ornament of the Church, having converted to the Lord at Bonnevaux, at Bellevaux finally was assumed by him. At the invocation of S. Peter and his relics Of both valleys God is Lord, and each abounds with special grain. In that one initiated the holy man to novitiate, his first-fruits he offered: in that one the worn-out soldier rested with his tithes paid. For neither as perhaps some seem painted upon the void or did he paint himself; but founded in goodness, he superinduced beauty and prettiness, indeed received above: because grace and glory the Lord gave him. To his funeral exequies an innumerable multitude from everywhere convened, weepingly lamenting the world defrauded of its sun, yet some consolation
admitting from the presence of his body. Fires extinguished, Among the rest also of services of devotion they had sprinkled aromatic herbs around the bier, which some with the same faith, with the Pontiff now buried, on account of his memory carried away. Nor long after in a certain neighboring village a vehement fire blazed, consuming very many buildings. The people run to the contrary element: but, with all wondering, either nothing the water or little to many gave help. In such an article of necessity one certain remembering, took the herb which he reposed kept honorably: raising it in the sign of the Cross he opposed it to the flames, and immediately the fire ceased. Thus with the name of the Man of God invoked a small hay prevailed against strong flames, what more abundant water could not. A similar thing in the very monastery of Bellevaux was done, that from the face of his mitre and linen cloth, which had been around the head of him lying in the bier, the flame fled, which in a certain house had vehemently blazed, with no small part consumed. Pinus a is called a village of the diocese of Besançon, where a certain youth for nine years lay seized with very grave sickness, with the light of his eyes also entirely lost. Hearing finally the fame of the virtues of the man of God, 2 blind men illuminated, to his tomb led by a boy he hastens, almost lifeless in body, but animated in faith. With devout prayers, groans, weepings he insists, and having a merciful Patron, he obtains mercy: receives sight, obtains health. Because at certain hours on account of the discipline of the Order more difficultly were sick admitted; an old man blind from much time, while the Brothers were refreshing themselves, with many prayers obtained access. Who according to custom for the action of thanks entering, with the prayer not yet finished, with the light received, he who had been blind, exclaims, and now another occasion in common comes forth of the action of thanks and praise. He returns rejoicing, who had come groaning; and to the payment of an annual tribute, while he lives, with promise of a vow obliging himself, his guide preceding he himself leads back.
[2] and one blind woman, In the remote parts of Suabia, the Abbot of the monastery which is called Caisen, from the cowl of B. Peter certain half-cinctures with honorable devotion was bearing. He compassionated therefore a noble woman, seeing her with continuous darkness, and with perpetual blindness punished, to lack the participation of the good reward, which is read to have pleased the highest good. He applied accordingly to her eyes the sacred pledges, and admonished her to presume on the intercession of so great a man. The woman believed, hoped, prayed, obtained, and received sight.
[3] The Prior of another monastery also, which the inhabitants in their language b call Frivesberch, similar relics from the cowl of the same Prelate embraced with such great joy, that with B. Jerome the riches of Croesus he seemed to himself a dying man healed, to have. It happened however that he slept in a certain house, where a dying man lay, indeed was tossed sick, Now lacking voice, he was rolling his hands and feet or whole body with miserable rolling, that only the bystanders might await the exit of his soul. The Prior aroused, with the said half-cinctures touched the breast and neck, of him drawing as it seemed already the last spirit. Who immediately voice received gave thanks to God, and from all collision of members rested.
[4] In the village of Cromari for almost five years a woman remained entirely deaf. 3 deaf, Yet she learned from some signs, as is wont to happen to such deaf, that at Bellevaux through the blessed Pontiff various signs of virtues were being made. Approaching therefore the door of the monastery, since indeed it was not lawful to enter, with many supplications she obtained that his mitre be brought to her. At whose touch without delay hearing in faith she merited, who without hearing previously had obtained faith. A deaf man also, while he prayed at his tomb, was heard, and without hesitation heard. From the town of c Nanceum a certain orphan boy, with most grave health then, and from three years with impenetrable deafness of ears laboring, sought his most sacred sepulcher: and on the same day from each inconvenience freed, returned rejoicing and praising.
[5] laboring with quartan fever, A certain woman, citizen of Besançon by the inconvenience of quartan fever vehemently afflicted languished. She gave effort, and from the holy relics of the blessed Prelate one cord she obtained: with full faith she received, applied it to herself, the sickness entirely she escaped.
[6] In the neighborhood of the monastery a certain poor man dying bequeathed by testament a cow to the blessed Prelate. a cow giving blood instead of milk. But the wife widowed of the husband, beyond the time established to her by her husband, namely fifteen days, presumed to retain the cow. To which from then coming to the milking, the animal so retained from two udders milk, but from the other two instead of milk gave blood. The woman was startled and with very many days now passed, first indeed to the neighboring women, but afterwards by their counsel to her own Presbyter she more secretly made known the punishment of her sacrilege. At the petition also of the woman the Presbyter himself in the church indicted prayer, that from the fruit of the cow, the customary food of the little poor woman divine piety would deign to restore. But with her deserving otherwise, this kind of deprecation profited nothing. Whence also with the Presbyter persuading and the little woman herself fearing, the cow is given back to the same monastery, and to the same is restored thereafter the use of milk; with the very lay Brother to whom she was assigned approving this with his own hands: which cow afterwards in the monastery for several years preserved, gave abundant fruit.
[7] In the very monastery of Bellevaux, with daily type having fever, daily fever, for a long time a certain monk and Levite so was lying, that he began to despair of life. To whom in a brief rest of small interpolation falling asleep, such a vision appeared. He seemed to hear a multitude of those conferring with himself, and asking what he heard, he received this kind of response. S. Peter in the auditorium addresses the gathered Brothers. He rises, hastens, supplicates the Prelate, that he may obtain a benediction, and now almost despaired health of body. And he is blessed, touched, ordered to return: and waking up sound thereafter and unimpaired is found.
[8] At the town of Fontinetum d a certain boy possessed in mind, a frenzied boy whatever he met he strove to tear with hands or feet teeth. Against his father also or mother above his strength in fury he raged. They hesitating what they should do, vow a vow that they offer the boy to S. Peter. Without delay made more even-minded, the father introduced to the sepulcher, with much supplication exhibited; and entirely unimpaired with no less exultation led him back.
[9] Another vexed with similar insanity received health not with similar facility. This man with the phantastic illusion of a demon appearing to him, was made mad; whether seized by a demon uncertain. Scarcely sometime by hard bonds could he be restrained nor taking sleep, with horrible voices he made noise. Sometimes as if in the dances of women he clapped his hands, and nonetheless he was lamented by his own laughing himself. Led to the monastery and to the tomb of S. Peter sometimes introduced, another raging, when after two days he seemed to have nothing better, the father affected with weariness and weakened in faith, that he should withdraw striking he urged the unwilling: for he said, "Because I will not return home except with health received." Who from the hands of those leading him violently snatching himself away, ran back to the monastery, doing this once and twice, but not profiting: a third time now compelled to leave and exposed by his own, while as a wanderer he wandered, he obtained health, and according to his word unimpaired and of good mind he returned to his house.
[10] In the village which is called Macherias e, a needy boy was seeking lodging. vexed by continual agitation of the head. Crossing a bridge in nocturnal time he fell into the water, and as if he seemed to see a black man receiving him to himself, he was vehemently startled. He fell therefore into a wretched passion thereafter, that incessantly moving neck and head, nor sleeping he ceased from such kind of commotion. Scarcely a morsel he applied to his mouth while he ate. Thus a long time in the neighborhood of Bellevaux he passed, and in the very monastery finally a few days. On the holy day of Parasceve, while of the Lord's passion at the hour the solemn Office was being celebrated; near the tomb of the holy Prelate he was terribly vexed. With all who saw compassionating, but the more helping he who was scarcely seen, by divine mercy he was cured at the very hour; and with much shower of tears suffused, with wondrous devotion he kissed the tomb of the Prelate. Yet still on the night of the Lord's Resurrection at the touch of someone waking up, with less than usual agitation he began to be moved: but running back to the Saint, every passion of this kind thereafter he entirely escaped.
[11] A woman from Chamborniacum f for three years had remained without mind. fingers bent into the palm: All her fingers were stiffened and bent into the palm immobile they persisted. To her finally approaching the door of the monastery, the mitre of the blessed Pontiff and the said sudarium, which had been on the bier above his head, on one and another day, with many prayers asked an elder monk, who reverently kept them, exhibited to her; he wrapped her hand, bound and rubbed it now often, nor was there sense or movement. At length, as if making force, he began to draw individual fingers, and gradually to bend them resisting. Faith grew from the indication and beginning of mercy: and when now he had raised the index, he draws also the rest: only the thumb persists immobile. All who were present wept for joy, for fear; and lest the work of piety should remain imperfect, beating their breasts they cried out saying: God, God, perfect your work. Scarcely torn away at length the thumb from the palm is straightened and moved. Thus the whole hand with the fingers again revivified, freely now is moved and is restored to its function. Of another woman also in the village of g Rupes both hands similarly, indeed more gravely, the curved fingers, with the growths of the nails penetrating the palms, to no use to serve, but to horrible torture rather had begun to serve. By the counsel of her Priest with a vow she offered herself to this blessed Pontiff, with sedulous prayers begging his suffrage: by whose merits the dry from the elbows arms, with hands and fingers, received health and former use.
[12] From headache and use of sleep and food a certain Brother from the Bellevaux monks for some days had almost lacked. headache, But when over the mitre of the blessed Prelate, placed on the holy altar, his languid head he had reclined; with a small sleep soon he was depressed, and from the same inconvenience freed. At the village of Regneiacum h, for ten weeks now with pain of head and teeth vexed, a man, began to be insane to the point that having entered the river he wished to immerse himself in the waters and suffocate himself. and of teeth, With God having mercy there was present one who would snatch him away, and would suggest to him to seek the memory of the blessed Confessor, and patiently in that place to await his regard. He acquiesced, went, prayed, and unimpaired returned to his own. A certain young girl from the town of Rayus coming to the monastery, through the often-said mitre the disease of epilepsy, epileptics, with which she was being cruelly vexed, escaped. Thus a certain matron when from the demon's illusion she had lost the use of voice, and was being daily vexed by the said disease, by the same remedy and from that misery entirely was freed, and received speech. In the territory of Dijon an epileptic son to be offered to this blessed Prelate the parents promised: whom from that hour from such kind of passion entirely immune, with much afterwards action of thanks, as they had vowed, they led. Another epileptic, from the town of Jusseium, to the same holy Prelate
himself offered himself and similarly merited to be freed. For three continuous months a man from Capella, situated near the Luxovium monastery, was so tortured by the same inconvenience, that at least nine times between day and night he was afflicted. Also this man at the sepulcher of the holy Confessor insisting on prayers, was heard, and nothing of the kind further suffered.
[13] Cierenceium is called a village of that region, where a certain man for two years and more was vehemently afflicted with pain of legs, pain in legs often also sitting or lying he was compelled to give wretched wailings and weepings. Yet he attempted to seek the memory of this Saint, walking step by step and stopping. He had not yet arrived; and anticipated in the benediction of sweetness, the lame leapt up, and walked, praising God and rendering thanks to his servant. To a certain man, from Byerna near Ausun i, from one year the sinews of the femur in sickness had withered, 2 paralytics that downward from that part half-dead, nowhere to walk or even to a small extent he could attempt, except supported by two staves on either side. Thus approaching to the venerable monument of the holy Prelate, and praying with many tears, free thereafter walking and the former rectitude of stature he obtained: indeed with the chest curved as bent he was not able to be raised. In the town of Vercellae k, for many days another lying on a bed, could not entirely rise, nor for the requirements of nature: and the leg with foot lifeless if sometime he had wished to turn, as if a trunk with hand or staff he was moving. With God inspiring that to B. Peter with full devotion of faith he should give himself, he vowed a vow, and at the same hour convalesced, then beginning to be moved; and within about four days with his own feet he sought the Saint; with whom more fully repaired, to his own thereafter sound and unimpaired he returned.
[14] an insane man, A youth from Calidofontis, having quarreled with his widowed mother and brother, attacked them with grave insults. Without delay he paid the penalties of his unbridled tongue, as it was seen handed over to Satan, that he might learn not to blaspheme. Raging vehemently he is bound by relatives and neighbors, and is drawn to the monastery. Sprinkled with blessed water he gave strong leaps, and emitted cries and roars. To enter the church in all ways he refused and resisted. Compelled however and violently introduced by many, with them praying he was freed from insanity, and loosed from chains, for some time persisted devoutly in action of thanks. Lusajus is called by the inhabitants a place, distant a few miles from the monastery. a mute from birth, There a little child now three years old often the parents had attempted to instruct in speaking, nor could they persuade him to respond ever one word. And so judging that all their industry could not suffice to anything, by common deliberation and definite counsel they decreed, that to S. Peter the little boy mute from birth should be offered. They vowed a vow, and without delay he learned to speak for his age, in a brief time also repairing the losses of past time. Nor ungrateful the father, what he had vowed with faithful devotion he paid, bringing and offering the boy to the glorious Prelate, for the praise of God and his honor, announcing to all the mercy and virtue done toward him. Villare l is called a town, where a sick son, a dying man. when he had seemed now to have come to extremes, and there was no voice nor sense, as if dead the anxious father with other bystanders was lamenting. Who finding no other remedy, offered him to Blessed Peter with suppliant devotion and devout supplication, either now dead, as then he believed, that he might be raised; or dying, that he might be healed. It was done, and the same hour his eyes were opened, his lips were opened that he might see and speak. Thus restored to health, the father rejoicing exhibited him to his Patron, asserting him rather raised, than healed m.
ANNOTATIONS.
APPENDIX.
Illustrious Miracle of a woman freed from death.
[15] when he was at Besançon and Cusantia preaching At that time when the Saint of the Lord, still living in the flesh, was watering the Cisalpine dry land with the showers of divine speech, he came to the city of Besançon, and there with crowds flocking on a certain Friday through the whole day he most copiously dispersed the seeds of divine word with hope of fruit. But on the following day of Sabbath having gone out from the city, like an industrious bee not having rest, but desiring to embrace all in the bowels of Jesus Christ, to a certain town he came Cusantia, and there for that whole day and the following Lord's Day, with all flocking from everywhere, and with ardent desire thirsting for the salutary waters of doctrine, he preached the word of the Lord. But on the day of Sabbath on which the Saint had left the city of Besançon, a thing very miraculous, and magnifying the merits of the blessed Prelate beyond measure, happened in the same city. For a certain Besançon citizen, gravely moved by the spirit of jealousy against his wife, so attacks her to test her. He commands her indeed that with fire more quickly kindled the water prepared for washing heads she should warm, that she might wash his head in customary manner, but the rest of the family of the house he orders to go out outside, that as if more secretly, with the familiar noise buried, he might be washed. O perverse cunning of the ancient serpent! But often it happens that whence he strives to drag the faithful to ruin, thence the occasion of salvation he is found to minister to them even unwilling.
[16] a woman to be killed by her husband as an adulteress, That man therefore, deceived by diabolical instinct, with all going out and the doors more firmly bolted, seized his wife and prostrating her on the ground, drew out a very long flashing and sharp knife, and terribly applies and joins it to her throat. Then with such words rebuking, with threats indicting silence over the wretched one he was thundering: Behold, he says, seductress and adulteress, who have stained the honesty of me and my race with the spot of fornication and adultery, who have violated with the disgrace of your lust the venerable chastity of the marital bed. But behold the avenging sword of your iniquities, and this knife immediately I will thrust into the interior of your throat, unless you reveal to me the too-execrable secrets of your reproach, and the adulterer who has so dishonored me and my forefathers, with his very name you shall make manifest. Then the woman, struck by excessive fear, with hands extended begs pardon, and whom she might accuse, or whose name she might bring forth she entirely professes to know nothing. But he on the contrary, asserting adultery and redoubling threats; Unless, he says, quickly to the inquired you respond, slaughtered by my hands, as you deserve, you will perish. But she with an oath in excusing the crime perseveres, and by the examination of any judgment, however grave, most insistently promises to make faith with her words. But he was not at all moved; but with impulse always badly ministering all things, looking by chance at an iron tripod, upon which the vessel of water placed on the fire was boiling; If, he says, this iron so glowing and ignited with bare hands from its place even to the door you carry unharmed, and again without interposition restore it to its place, I shall hold you as you wish excused. But if any sign of any burning shall appear, by my hands the sentence of damnation you will sustain. She agreed, and both equally rose.
[17] Then the woman, deliberating a little within herself, said to her husband: I beseech you by the mercy of God, that to me a little space you grant, ordered to carry the ignited tripod with hands. in which my Priest hither I may be able to bring: who to me by the sign of the holy Cross of my judgment the present sentence may bless. Then he: I know, he said, that you wish to redeem the time, that if of the Priest you may be able to have abundance, to him your flagitious excesses you may confess, and so from the danger of judgment by the virtue of Confession safe you may be made. But not so, impious one, not so. Either at this moment without a third person the said examination of judgment you shall undergo, or without delay struck you shall perish. Therefore the wretched woman, considering the troubles to be in her on every side, gravely groaning, draws sighs from her deep breast; and recalling to memory the yesterday's preaching of the blessed man, with a shower of tears in such an article of unexpected necessity, thus invokes him as helper: Glorious, she says, Confessor and Pontiff Peter, just as true are, and invoking S. Peter she carries it unharmed: those things which through the ministry of your holy mouth yesterday in our ears resounded, and just as to those invoking you in truth with God's help your goodness is always wont to be present; so to me a sinner in this hour extend your help, and the so severe examination of my judgment, although absent in body present yet in spirit, deign to bless; and to free my life from the hands of my husband. O most prevailing faith! O wondrous trust! Thus indeed with the name of the man of God invoked, and as if under his person the sign of the holy Cross, in the name of the Lord made over the tripod, with arms bared, hands ready, and with the arms of faith manfully girded, both the feet of the ignited tripod, with each hand confidently she seized, and walking with grave and modest steps to the door she came, and with the same gravity having returned before the hearth with the tripod not put down she stood saying: Behold I have fulfilled your command, the same prepared, if you wish to repeat. To whom her husband: Sufficient is to me, he said, put down now the iron, that also your hands I may see. She puts it down, and shows her hands to the unbeliever. A wondrous thing and most worthy of vehement astonishment. So the venerable matron appeared unharmed, as if she had never touched anything ignited.
[18] The man was startled with vehement astonishment, and with the error of incredulity put off, falls at the feet of the innocent, and that to him she may pardon humbly begs. To whom she, By no means, she said, just as you ask shall I pardon; unless at this moment you shall dispose, in what way to my liberator, which done he with his wife goes to the Saint, actions of thanks I may be able to bring. For nothing at all of food or drink that I am about to take I vow, until to the most holy man Archbishop of Tarentaise I shall come, who today from the strait of death, through his spiritual presence has freed me. Then made cheerful the man said to his wife: Indeed even myself for rendering thanks to the holy man with you
it is fitting to approach, who me also a sinner from the shedding of your blood by such a miraculous mercy has freed? And immediately with all things necessary for the journey performed, both equally undertook the way, and on Sunday entered Cusantia. But the man of the Lord, with crowds flowing around disseminating the word of God the whole that day, in the Lord's field had borne the weight of the day and the heat, and therefore choosing a more secret chamber separately for refreshing his weak limbs, he had ordered the ministers, that to no one without his license should be open entrance to him. That citizen therefore with his wife coming there, stands at the door and knocks; but by the doorman to the knocker by no means is opened. But the holy Pontiff, who indeed in spirit had been present at the deed, knew at once that they had come, and made it more quickly opened to them, and ordered all others who were assisting him to go out outside. Therefore the man having entered with his wife with all excluded, with the door also closed, falls at the feet of the Priest. To whom with tears begging pardon, and from him knowing all things asks pardon. and now preparing to bring forth the causes of his journey, with such words of rebuke he addresses. I know, he says, I know good man, nor is the daring of your desperation hidden from me. But oh! brood of vipers, son of death, heir of perdition, how did Satan enter into you, and put it into your heart, that the image of God in your very flesh you should attempt to destroy. And unless invoked with God's help I had been present, and his judgment with the sign of the Cross in spirit had blessed, perhaps the iniquity which you had conceived you would have brought forth. Now therefore do penance, and both henceforth in the bond of conjugal love, as two in one flesh, persevere, and the kingdom of heaven by works of mercy obtain. Moreover in the virtue of obedience and remission of your sins I enjoin upon you, and under anathema I command, that the deed performed with you, as long as I shall live, you keep buried, nor to any person at all do you presume to reveal it, until from the body of this death I shall be freed. Therefore receiving with the imposition of hands such a kind of interdict, rendering thanks to the blessed Prelate, and most devoutly commending themselves to his prayer, to their own with great joy they returned. And so the present miracle covering with long silence, finally after the transit of the blessed man to several monks of holy conversation and good testimony and Brothers of Bellevaux they revealed the order of that miracle.
HISTORY OF MIRACLES
Collected after death: and offered to Alexander III and Lucius III the Supreme Pontiffs.
Peter Archbishop of Tarentaise of the Cistercian Order, of Bellevaux in Burgundy (S.)
BHL Number: 6776, 6777
FROM MS.
[1] When B. Peter Archbishop of Tarentaise had come to Bellevaux, to fulfill certain affairs of the same monastery, having been admonished by letters from Lord Pope Alexander, and there had happily rested in the Lord; numerous troops of men of either sex began to flock to his sepulcher from everywhere. But to men indeed easy access to the monument was given, Prologue to the miracles. but the women before the doors of the monastery paid the vows of prayers. For they were not permitted to enter, on account of the statutes of the Order, the precincts of the monastery. All who needed care, equally were demanding the suffrages of cures. For they believed that the holy man, if while he was still in body and was a pilgrim from the Lord, was able to confer the help of health on many; much more this he could, made now a pilgrim from the body, and present to the Lord. Nor did this credulity deceive: for truly so it was. What in the living one had been, was living in the dead one the grace of healings. This is proved often, and is proved by most strong witnesses, namely by the very effects of cures, of which we have described some below.
CHAPTER I.
Miracles done after death.
[2] A blind woman is illuminated: In Suabia a noble woman by an attacking sickness had lost the light of her eyes, but at the touch of the relics of the cowl of the glorious Prelate Peter, which the Abbot of a Caypsen, having received them from the Bellevaux, had brought there, again to receive she merited. a dying man convalesces, In the Episcopate of Lausanne a certain man was vexed oppressed with such intolerable pain of body, that with voice lost, hands and feet or rather the whole body rolling, hither and thither he tossed, and now and now seemed to send forth his spirit. It happened however that the Prior of b Frinispero placed in the same lodging slept. Aroused therefore in haste he runs to him, and from the relics of the cowl of the blessed man Peter touched the breast and neck of the sick. Who soon from that tossing of members and pain freed, remained quiet, and immediately voice restored to him, gave thanks to God. Likewise in another place another had suffered such acute sickness, likewise another, that now he was entirely failing, and death seemed to be at the doors. But to the despaired one divine help by the merits of the blessed Father Peter more quickly came. For the said Prior passing by, turned aside to him, and from the half-cinctures of the cowl of the holy Pontiff touched and went away. After seven days however returning, while he thought him already dead and buried, he found him sound c.
[3] in the place where he had rested, When passing the holy Father to Bellevaux, on the border of the village which is called Domnus-Martinus descending from his horse he had paused, because from very great sickness he could not ride; after his departure the inhabitants noted the place where he had lain, with Crosses placed there and a wall of stones. But with time proceeding and the blessed man now dead, the sick are healed, several oppressed with various infirmities began to run to that place, and there falling asleep and resting from impending passions to be freed, which is said to happen even today. Little indeed it was if presentially and through himself the most holy Confessor had done miracles, unless also the places where he had reclined or the garments which he had used or which he had touched were sanctified, for conferring health to those supplicating with faithful devotion.
[4] almost blind from headache: A woman from Masnili Gysnaris by name, laboring with sickness of head, had almost lost the light of her eyes. To whom when at the gate of the monastery a monk, the keeper of the sepulcher of the glorious Prelate, from the mitre of the same and the sudarium, that is the napkin with which the most sacred face while it lay in the bier had been covered, had touched her head and eyes; she merited to receive health and to see acutely, just as she herself afterwards rejoicing made known. In the territory of Besançon it is established that there is situated a village, and 2 blind men illuminated: called Hinx. In this a youth oppressed with the languor of sickness, for nine, as it was reported, years had lain. Finally made blind, with his brother going before and directing his steps, the sepulcher of S. Peter, weak indeed in body, but strong in faith, he sought. And when he had prayed, departing he began to see a little. But returning again longer and most devoutly supplicating, by the merits of the Pontiff he merited to obtain the light of his eyes more fully: and was thereafter without a guide taking the way and a guide of the way no longer requiring. With the order of the deed however expounded by him before the Abbot, those who saw and heard, all glorified God. It was reported also that the blessed Pontiff to another also, when he had prayed at his monument, had restored sight, but who he was or whence could not be found.
[5] Likewise destitute of the function of the tongue for an entire month a man grieved himself to be, a mute receives speech three times: from a village named Asson. He was however now epileptic, and fell many times; so that in a day once, and sometimes more often he suffered. Animated by the hope of recovering health, for three days near the tomb of the Saint, awaiting he awaited the mercy of God, but not in vain. For behold on the fourth day he began to speak who had come mute. Which seeing certain soldiers, who had known him, said. Hereafter we ought well to believe in God, because we see his marvels. But the man returning to his own after some days with speech again lost, we know not by what judgment of God, ran back to the sepulcher. With many for him, and he himself for himself insisting on prayer, his mouth was opened, and he spoke blessing the Lord. And when he had departed, again was bound his tongue lest he speak, and again running to the known protections of the Saint again it was loosed. The epilepsy moreover he did not suffer, from when first he came to the memory of the holy Pontiff. Who blessed Pontiff while he yet lived, against this kind of infirmity, is said to have had such great virtue, that almost no one vexed by it happened, who not either at once or after some days perfectly convalesced.
[6] 2 deaf are healed A woman from the village of Comarius, for the time of about five years entirely deaf, came to the monastery. But when the monk applying the mitre or sudarium of the Pontiff to her head placed it, equally and the hearing through the will of God was placed in her previously deaf ears. For from then she clearly heard, who previously was hearing nothing as if insensible something. Which let it be said with her son Licelinus the lay brother as witness, to whom she, giving thanks to the Lord, related. In the same way another woman also from the town of Trena, who for a long time had sustained and was sustaining pain of the right part of the head, so vehement, that the very part with the whole jaw was inflated, and the ear had utterly lost hearing; at the touch of the mitre and the intervention of the blessed Prelate was made sound. Healed also was another by the same Pontiff similarly from the infirmity of the gullet or rigid swelling, swelling of the gullet, which under the chin happens to many. And this woman from the village of Lord Peter. A certain Cleric likewise, when burning with most vehement pain of head he almost was insane, pain of head. with sepulcher and mitre of the Saint kissed and his head impressed, was incontinently freed from pain. epilepsy, A certain young girl from Rayus was laboring with epilepsy: whom when the Prior of the monastery touching with the mitre or sudarium of the Pontiff had signed, by the help of the Confessor she was made unimpaired.
[7] Let us say also another, by which the glorious Prelate in the smallest things to have worked miracles more gloriously we may show. When, as above describing his transit d we have said, his sacred body was placed in the presbytery before the altar of blessed ever virgin Mary Fires extinguished by herbs taken from the sepulcher: and was guarded by the Brothers intent with psalms hymns and spiritual songs with the highest devotion, sweetly smelling herbs some bringing around it, sprinkled. With him in that place buried with Episcopal honorific, of the seculars who had convened a copious multitude rushed into the presbytery, and from the same herbs, as each one wished and was able, took for himself for benediction. But in following time, in a certain village fire kindled invaded a house: which when those present, neither with water nor any other way could extinguish, and now of itself they despaired of the danger being able to be met, a certain man running with a small branch of the above-written herbs, which with reverence he kept, signed the fire once and again: and it was extinguished, with the Lord cooperating with the man's faith and the Prelate's holiness. Such a thing also at Bellevaux we know was done. For when fire had pervaded the house, and the conflagration was raging now with all reins, signed from the mitre of the blessed Pontiff from opposite, and his mitre signed: in no way further it grew, but rather gradually began to fail, just as those who saw being present testified, and noting this very thing more carefully.
[8] A lay brother, master of one of the granges of the monastery, went out to sow wheat seed in his field. wheat does not fail under the hand of the sower. But while he sows longer, he approached the end of the field and the sowing. Considering however how much seed he still had, and how much of the land remained to be sown to the boundary of the field, when he learned for certain that the seed would not suffice, he exclaimed: O if God and S. Peter of Bellevaux would; from this slender seed all that remains I would well sow. He said and what remained to the end of the field all, as he had wished, by abundantly sowing he consummated, and from the seed beyond his hope and desire there was left over. Thus he who works marvels God his ancient miracle of five loaves, in a similar work through his servant represented.
[9] The reverend Abbot of Bellevaux began to be vexed by pain of eye. the pain and dimness of the eye vanish at the touch of a spoon. Which becoming so heavy, that even sight entirely to lose he feared, he was burning very much, not knowing what remedy he should apply. With the sound eye however sometimes closed or covered with hand, he attempted whether the sight of the painful one things farther or nearer placed to him could see. And behold immediately as if a dense cloud occurred, which that the seeing one might know the things further, he could not penetrate. By chance then to the city of Besançon riding he hastened, carrying in his bosom one of the horn spoons, with which the man of God while he lived was wont to eat. It came into his mind, with faith suggesting: that with it he should touch the eye. He touched, and the same hour the pain and dimness beginning to diminish, before the setting of light entirely went away. cold in frost is not felt, A certain man having the purpose to visit the sepulcher of the Confessor, undertook the journey. And on a certain day rising from the night, having gone out from the lodging, he saw and was startled that with severe frost the surface of the earth had grown white shuddering. He lacked shoes. What should he do? There was no one who would sell, much less who would give. To remain there, was not of counsel. This rather one and only counsel remained, that the begun way in whatever way he could he should unfold. Strengthened therefore in mind, with bare feet to the monument of the Saint he came, and did not feel the cold.
[10] By continuous fever often a certain monk and Levite of the monastery seized had lain on the bed. Who in the course of time, both day and night with almost continuous vexation of fever, fever removed by vision. to this finally was led, that with hope of convalescing taken away, he proclaimed death to be at the doors. And he indeed thus. But God who disposes all things sweetly, another end and far easier, by the merits of the Pontiff, on his sickness imposed, and otherwise. For when the fever as it had been wont on a certain day in morning hours, after vexation most grave and most long, had granted brief space of breathing to the afflicted; depressed by sleep, he heard as if a tumult of many speaking with one another. To him asking what or who they were, it was answered that Lord Peter the Archbishop was sitting in the auditorium, and the monks before him. I shall go, he said, to him and I. With knees bent however to him standing before himself, "And you, " he said, "Pontiff, what do you seek?" He answered, "Lord, your blessing, of which I am not moderately in need; and health, because I am vehemently sick." But he with holy hand raised blessing, but also giving him a slap on the face, "Now, " he said, "go." Who awakening from sleep, with the fevers entirely put to flight (nor indeed did he suffer them thereafter) with the Lord granting perfectly convalesced.
[11] There approached also to the sepulcher of the most blessed man also a deaf man, a deaf man are healed a man of advanced age: and this was from Masnili, named Rugaut. With him praying and B. Peter interceding, the Lord hears, and the deaf man heard. And led before the Prior and the Brothers, that he truly heard speaking with the bystanders, and to those interrogating responding, he proved. At Vilar a woman was sick, having her breast inflated and face: and a dying woman. for some days now also she had lacked food. Also one night around her now was kept watch. She asked her sons that they would lead her to the monastery before she died. With them saying that this could not happen otherwise, except that with oxen joined she should be carried in a vehicle. She answered, strengthened in faith and devotion: I shall well go on foot. And coming sustained by her sons here and there, after she had reverently adored the relics of the man of God, and completed prayer, before the gate she rested a little. But returning, when she was not far from the monastery, she was restored to health. The Prior of Frinispes, 3 with fevers placed at Bellevaux, with prayers obtained that there be given to him a small something from the cowl of the man of God. Which carrying with reverence into the Teutonic land, he divided into some fringes for two women and a certain man having fevers, and they were freed from their fevers, just as the same Prior afterwards testified: there was freed also a certain man from pain of side.
[12] a blind man is illuminated. The convent of monks, on one of the days after dinner rising from the table, the church, intending to complete actions of thanks, entered. They found there a blind man, with knees bent at the monument of the Saint praying, who with a boy leading while they were dining had come. They had not yet finished due praises, when behold he suddenly with old darkness driven away saw the day: and exclaiming to the glory of God and the blessed Confessor, "I see, " he said, "I see." And immediately some seculars, who because of him stood by, wishing to prove what he had cried out, "How many, " he said, "are the coins on the tomb?" He said: "Six, " and he said true. With thanks finished, rejoicing equally and swearing they ran together and surrounded around him. Who with face suffused with tears turned to them, "I, " he said, "the light of eyes once lost now by the prayers of S. Peter have merited to receive. Finally a boy in present is, with whom going before and stretching forth the hand, I came." And looking around, when he did not see him, for he had withdrawn from the place, with certain ones terrified by fear after the convent entered, "Where are you, " he said, "where are you?" With him standing by, "Do you see, " he said, "this one? This is my guide and my forerunner." After this vowing a vow and establishing an annual tribute, he went out, made guide of his guide. He was however from the village of Vilar in the parts situated of the Luxovian monastery. At Fontinetum a small boy was seized by a demon, as from those things which he was doing it was easy to notice. For whatever met him, with hands and teeth as much as he prevailed and was permitted, an energumen is freed: he tore. Against his father also raging he raged and his mother. With them stupefied the parents, and in mind exceedingly consternated, took counsel finally, that they would render him to God and S. Peter of Bellevaux. It was done and from that hour it was sufficiently established that the boy made tame with the demon driven away. And led at once to the memory of the most pious Prelate, the father giving glory to God, rejoicing led him unimpaired to his own.
[13] A Besançon woman, by quartan fevers vehemently vexed was failing. laboring with quartan fever. To whom when the Abbot of Bellevaux, asked by her with immense prayers, that to her of the things or relics of the holy Pontiff something he would send, had sent a certain strap; by the help of him, of whom she had received the desired relics, she was made sound: and an insane youth; A certain youth from Mesnili, named Estu, ran into a detriment of sound sense. By his parents therefore led to the tomb of the man of God, having his hands sometimes bound on account of insanity, day and night he led wakeful, continually speaking foolish things, sometimes also resounding with immense voices. Sometimes as if he were present at the dances of women playing he clapped his hands: yet at the inculcation of the bystanders, S. Peter or the other Saints he often invoked. Moreover he said that he would not return to his home until he was sound. About whom, as it was reported, whether also he was frenetic, I dare not affirm. When however his parents after one and another day had seen him deteriorating rather than improving, weakened in faith, they drew him with hands not without blows, where they had come returning. But he snatching himself away from the midst of them, returned to the monastery. Whom one followed on another day similarly compelled to go. Who nonetheless shaking himself off ran back to the monastery. But on the following light likewise with great force outside the gate he was sent, since to a burden and grave grief to the lookers-on his infirmity was, and he needed continual guard. Who began to go away alone and wandering. But God having pity on him on the same day, before he came home, restored to him the former sense. Do not wonder reader that with the hour of liberation impending, more sharp force of pain was impending on him, since a similar thing done also in the Gospel you have learned.
[14] fingers bent into the hand are cured. A woman from Chambornay for the whole time of three years was bearing a curved and impotent left hand. For the thumb and the other fingers bent into the palm had entirely stiffened and persisted immobile. Supported by faith she ran to the help of the Saint. The senior wrapped the contracted hand with the mitre or sudarium of the Pontiff, but on the first day and time he effected nothing. He wrapped again on the following day, presses and compresses the contracted with the sudarium itself everywhere, attempts whether the fingers will or suffer to be turned backward: the seized index gradually he lifts, yet resisting and as if calling back. Faith grows, with the beginning now and judgment of God's mercy taken. After this similarly is raised the second, and in the same way the third and fourth: joy and exultation. The thumb remains: it will not be left, follows the others also itself. Yet seized it refuses to be lifted, persisting immobile. All who were present wept and beat their breasts, lest perhaps he who up to here helped the Lord, here had set the limit to his mercy, and would not wish to proceed. And turned to prayer, "God, " they say, "perfect what you have begun." And armed with faith the Monk, the thumb wrapped with the sudarium from the palm strongly separating, upward raises. And immediately the woman began to move her hand, closing and opening thereafter, as she wished, every finger. A certain craftsman from the city of Troyes, skilled in the art of casting, near his furnace kindled with fire had fallen asleep. And suddenly waking up his work dissipated and consumed he noticed, madness: and from fear and pain lost his sense. He approaching to S. Peter, when with reclined head over his monument a little he had rested, by him saying the same was made well. Moreover first to e S. Thomas he had gone, but the glorious Martyr to the glorious Confessor Peter for healing had reserved him.
[15] I have said now several things, yet not all. Now one I will submit, which in my judgment is preferred to the upper, not because it is greater, but because it is so evident and illustrious, that to seek any more evident than that truly seems to be of great madness. A certain orphan little boy from Munt, at the village of Mayserias, which a middle bridge separating here and there divides, on the night of the Lord's Nativity wretched and querulous was seeking lodging, but there was no one who would have mercy. With a certain part of the village searched, tending to another, from the bridge he fell into the water, and he seemed to himself to see a black man, receiving him while he was falling. continuous agitation of head and neck. By which thing very much frightened, his head horribly to agitate then beginning, thereafter he did not cease. He was twisting the neck
the little poor one, and now to the left now to the right inclining the trembling head, incessantly moving he agitated: nights and days under such great torment he continued: and what is horrible to see, even sleeping from that agitation he by no means ceased. Wishing to eat scarcely could he put anything in his mouth: for while perpetually his face is moved, what he was striving to bring in, struck against the right or left jaw fell most often. Wherever he went, of all to himself he turned the gaze. Who saw him and did not grieve? Who did not start at the innocent little boy subjected to such punishment? He came at length to Bellevaux on the third weekday before Pascha, and was under the eyes of all entering and exiting to the sepulcher of the blessed Confessor. But on the day of Parasceve, while the solemn office of the Cross was being celebrated, and there was present a copious multitude of men, he entered the church, as yesterday and the day before yesterday agitating his head; and the Lord regarded him. Who feeling divine mercy in himself, with knees bent most devoutly was kissing the tomb of the glorious Prelate, beating his breast and most abundantly flowing with tears. And soon with all deformed motion of the head subsided, he stood quiet with many seeing, and weeping for joy. But the insatiable malice of the devil tried still to vex the little boy: for on the most holy night of the Resurrection of Christ, with fear sent in at the touch of someone who slept with him, the boy began to agitate his head again, less however than he had been wont. But when the day shone, running to the tomb of the Saint, in a moment he was cured, and nothing of the kind afterwards he suffered.
[16] and pain of head A monk of the monastery with knees bent his languid head over the mitre of the blessed Confessor, placed on the altar, reclined praying: and depressed by a small sleep was freed from the greatest pain of head, by which urging longer he had lacked the use of sleep and food. A certain very poor man from Munces, to the memory of the blessed Prelate with his small son was coming, not having anything that he might offer: whence saddened very much he asked the Most High, a coin to be offered is found. that to him what he could offer he would grant. And while they proceeded together, the boy found on the way a coin, which magnificently rejoicing with action of thanks they offered at the monument of the Saint.
[17] Likewise a certain orphan and beggar from the town of Nance, a deaf man are healed, to the sepulcher of the Saint sick and for three years deaf came: and on the same day all manner of health and equally most acute hearing he received. At Rigueyacum a certain man with such great pain of teeth and head for ten weeks was vexed, from pain of teeth desperate, that almost he was insane, and wished to suffocate himself in the waters, on a certain day having entered the river by the instinct of the malign spirit. But seeing this a certain known man of his, having entered hastily after him, led him out, and admonished him to go to the memory of B. Peter, and to await patiently the Lord's mercy. Which when he had done, by the help of the Confessor sound, 2 epileptics, himself as witness, he was made. In the territory of Dijon parents an epileptic infant gave back to S. Peter, and immune thereafter from that passion lived they rejoiced. They also brought him to the monument of the Saint, as they had vowed, to render thanks. Similarly a certain man from the town of Jusseiacum, and he himself nonetheless epileptic, gave himself back to the glorious Pontiff, and merited to be restored to health.
[18] In the village of Curbry a woman, after birth given out, with such immense and so sharp pains for nine continuous days was tortured, that no one anything else than she now and now would breathe out the very soul awaited, and that this for longer to be deferred for astonishment was held. With a certain Religious suggesting, that to God and B. Peter of Bellevaux she should give herself back, perhaps God would be propitious to her; she heard and did: and at once her soul, with flesh loosed, lacked pain f. This thus performed, with the husband of the very woman, who had brought the little infant to the sepulcher of the Saint, weepingly relating, was learned. and an epileptic woman, There stood sometime a monk before the doors of the monastery, holding the mitre and sudarium of the blessed man. And when touching he had signed an epileptic girl, who in the same place suddenly falling rolled foaming and palpitating, he was glad that she had convalesced by the merits and intervention of the Pontiff.
[19] At g Curence a man with most vehement pain of legs for two and more years most often was wearied so much, gout is cured, that with immense cries he wailed and scarcely could enter or go out, even when the pain a little had quieted. He deliberated to come to the memory of the man of God, if to him divine piety would deign to grant the faculty. Going out therefore and gradually convalescing, before he had touched the sepulcher of the Saint, sound and rejoicing he returned to his own. A certain woman from Roches, paralysis, from the elbows to the tops of the hands by paralysis so gravely was struck, that the nails of the contracted fingers were fixed into the palms, and she thought herself immediately about to die; but when by the counsel of her Priest to the blessed Pontiff she had given herself back, from the infirmity she was freed. A lay Brother of the monastery to a vine to be pruned had gone, pain of arm. but from pain of arm a branch to cut off he could not. He had however a small piece of woolen cloth, which formerly to the hair-shirt of the man of God had been sewn, to the edges of the same hair-shirt at the side to be coupled to one another. With which when he touched the arm everywhere, glad and unimpaired he exercised thereafter his work. The same in the same way afterwards was freed from pain of teeth. The time now and place admonish us that, as writing the prologue we said, we should place some of those things which while he lived he performed.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER II.
Miracles done by S. Peter while still living.
[20] The blessed Pontiff Peter at Rufejacum, a celebrated and great village in Alsace, during his Mass are healed a lame from a fall, celebrating the solemnities of Masses, with the Gospel read, sat before the altar, about to receive the offerings of those offering. And behold they bring to him a woman, who about nine years before fallen to the ground, with the bones of the joint of the femur dislocated, except with crutches and someone supporting her could not walk. And when she had been touched by him, she passed by: and still placed in nearness, suddenly she raised herself, lifting up the staves with which she was supported, saying that she was sound. At this voice the multitude crying out Kyrie eleison began to sing, suspending those staves to the rope of the lamp on high.
[21] another lame man And with a brief interval made they bring again a certain man, who from nine years or more by languor oppressed could not at all walk, except supported by staves, or rather carried by some: who in the same way and place as the woman was healed. But when the Saint was saying the canon of the Mass, a contracted man approaching, a contracted man, whom he had neither touched nor seen, was restored to health. Moreover after the perception of the Sacraments and expiation of the fingers, a blind man, he touched the eyes of a blind man and he received light. an epileptic energumen, At Anniwyrrey was offered to him an epileptic woman: whom after touching he had signed, he turned to depart. But suddenly the woman falling so gravely was vexed, that she seemed to send forth her spirit as quickly as possible. And the man of God taking her and pressing her between his arms, with lowered voice said: It is necessary that you go out from her. And the woman was made sound from that day and for the rest. a contracted woman, With him passing sometime through the little village of Chanas, a certain little woman contracted in hands, and creeping with feet in the manner of a beast, having gone out from the house, cried out after him that he would have mercy on her. And when he had proceeded farther, with those who were with him exhorting that he should not stop, "Badly, " he said, "we have done, that thus we have passed by that little poor woman." Returning therefore praying he touched her and raised her on her feet, and immediately withdrew. Who again began to go after him crying out that he would stop: but the man of God seeing her now walking with straight step more quickly withdrew. When he had come sometime to Bellevaux, about to visit the Brothers in abundance of sweetness and with benedictions of sweetness, 2 weak ones, a boy weakened by long-lasting languor, and most especially destitute of the function of feet, with such evident remedy of cure he gladdened, that the present multitude saw the same boy rejoicing, going hither and thither and returning without anyone's help. There arose sometime dissension between Louis King of France and the King of England: to settle which, when the man of God had proceeded, in the Episcopate of Paris there approached him the Provost of Corbeil, about to ask for his five-year-old daughter who had never walked. Whom when the blessed Pontiff had touched and blessed, that the walking of feet she had attained the father acknowledged with great exultation.
[22] an epileptic, A certain Castellan a noble man, named Otto, for the whole time of three years wearied with epilepsy, fell often: but by the help of the blessed man at Paris healed, him afterwards for many days following he venerated. But when the conference about the concord of Kings near Gisors was being agitated, a mute, a certain man with knee bent before him asked, that the function of speaking be granted to a little four-year-old girl, who from the day of her birth that even to that time was entirely mute. Moved therefore the Saint with piety equally and with prayers, with his finger with saliva applied into the mouth of the infant, the sign of the Cross on her tongue he impressed, and that she might speak he commanded. Who immediately began to speak, and father and mother and other things, just as the Saint also said, to name. And turned the Pontiff to the father, "Take, " he said, "your daughter and go; with God willing well henceforth she will speak." In the same place a contracted woman, with her son leading, came to him sitting on a donkey. But when the Saint praying over her in customary manner touched her weak members, and she in that place a little resting paused; the son said: "Come on, mother, mount the donkey, and let us go." To whom she, "By no means, " she said, "but lead rather the donkey and go ahead, a contracted woman: I will try whether I can walk." He went ahead therefore with the donkey, and she with her own feet at once followed.
[23] a blind man before 2 Kings and others. On the morrow in the same place when he was sitting, with the King of France above-named not far sitting around, and King Henry the younger of England, and also the Count of Flanders and a copious multitude, a woman bringing to him her son of twelve years, who from seven preceding years had entirely lost the light of his eyes, was striving to break through the middle of the crowds. But when she was being repelled by some, and the man of God saw this, "Allow, " he said, "her to come to me." And rolled at his feet, for her son with tears she begged. The holy man however with the hair of the boy's head seized, as if joking spoke with him, "What do you want, " he said, "that I do for you?" But he, "Lord, " he said, "that I may see." And the Saint with thumb dipped in the saliva of the mouth
of his own, over each eye of him and the crown of the head impressing the sign of the Cross prayed. And giving him a coin, ordered the mother that they should depart, saying, that he would see when it would please God; meanwhile the King and the rest, considering what he was doing, whether he was joking, wondering, were speaking to one another. The woman therefore with her son withdrawn somewhat, with face turned to the Saint with knees bent and hands raised to heaven most devoutly was insisting on prayer. And suddenly the boy began first the coin, which from the blessed man he had received, then the other things nearer and farther placed to see: and crying out he said to his mother: "Mother, I see the coin, I see men, I see all things." At these voices the King and the multitude astonished rising run together: and diligently inquiring the truth of the matter, from the mother and the son in order they learned. The royal majesty did not disdain, to the honor of God and the glorious Pontiff, to be humbled to the feet of him who had been blind, but now saw. For with knee bent before him, and his eyes and head kissing, and with his offering with his own hand he deigned to honor him, and after him in the same way the rest. And so to him to lack the old darkness, and thereafter to enjoy the splendor of heaven happened.
[24] After this he came to the illustrious monastery which is called Mortuum-mare, a man blind in the other eye, about to speak with Henry the elder King of England, who there with the frequency of many Magnates surrounded had come. There came a Soldier from the Soldiers of the King, was inclined at the knees of the holy Prelate, asks the light of his eye to be restored to him, which formerly in his temple by the dart of a crossbow struck he had lost. But the Saint, "Do not, " he said, "brother, do not from me a rustic and poor and sinful man this exact. This is not of my virtue or merit. Greater you ask than my smallness can do." With such words heard the Soldier, from his prayer did not desist: indeed rather kindled by faith, the remedy of benediction and health more vehemently he begged. Conquered therefore the pious Pontiff, with finger making the sign of the Cross over his eye and praying, "Go, " he said, "powerful is God to grant you the desire of your soul, if it shall be good in his eyes." Who going out and closing the sound eye, was experiencing whether from the other he could see. Behold however by the grace of God with the keenness of sight repaired, he received the integrity of vision, and entering with haste to the King, in joy and exultation related what was done. Hearing the King and the courtiers rejoiced and glorified God, who in his Saints glorious, alone works great wonders. In the monastery of holy women, which is called * a Irryae, were offered also two little ones of about six years, who in the time of night suffering darkness of eyes could see nothing. 2 boys with dim eyes He was asked moreover that imposing hands on them he would bless and pray. Which when he had done, the boys introduced into the oratory, a kindled candle in nocturnal hours saw, and other things from that time as other men. and a contracted man: But a man contracted in one part of his body, namely having a dry hand and dry foot, after the touch and prayer of the Saint, soon in the same place was restored to health. These three at one hour, one after the other were cured, with the holy women through individual hymn singing to God in vociferation.
[25] A Soldier, with his blind son from a far region hastening to the holy man, a blind one with bread blessed applied. met on the way a man, who returning from him bread blessed by him was bringing. Of which when he had obtained by prayers some crumbs to be given to him, with faith conceiving hope, his son's eyes in the manner of a Cross marking, from them touched that he might see; and he saw and was glad. But coming to the blessed Pontiff, at Pruylhe of the Cistercian order monastery at that time being sick, what and how God had worked health in his son he related, and all the people as they heard gave praise to God. A pregnant woman, with the time of giving birth solemnly impending, on account of difficulty of childbirth began to be in danger. a woman in labor with girdle applied. For ten days laboring she could not give birth. She sent to the Abbot of b Fundrayday, that her about to die now and now visiting, with prayers he would deign to defend. He went therefore relying on a most efficacious remedy, the cord, namely the cincture of the blessed man Peter, which from long ago not irreverently keeping he had. When this badly laboring she had been girded around her bare body, with the Abbot going outside, the woman in childbirth without delay and without danger gave birth.
[26] A Religious man Froncherius, the lay brother of the holy Father, vexed by tertian fever, tertian fevers in three accessions with him ignorant had suffered. But on the day of the fourth accession making their journey, when he had stopped in a wood, he indicated that by sickness he had been wearied, and after a little still he feared to be wearied. To whom the holy father: "Of little faith, why have you not indicated to me?" And he stood with knees bent before him. Whose head immediately the pious Father imposing his hand, prayed: and with health restored, that sickness to him further to approach he did not permit. a sick and rabid horse: The said Brother's horse oppressed by infirmity, and as it was reported turned to rabies, with head raised and again lowered, with mouth as if wishing to bite the earth, was striking, and even could not go. With the Brother therefore saying to the holy Father, "Restore to me my horse, because in your service I have lost him"; moved by the piety of the Brother, with thumb the sign of the Cross on the forehead of the horse and through the other members impressed, and he was healed according to that which is written, "Men and beasts you will save Lord." Ps. 35:7 In the territory of Geneva, at the town of Crusilh, 3 epileptics: an epileptic woman falling was palpitating on the ground. Which seeing the Count of the land, asked the Pontiff, who by chance was not far away, to come to the aid of the oppressed one. Answering moreover, "What, " he said, "can I do for her?" "Lord, " he said, "impose on her the hand, and pray." Rising therefore, with the woman's ear seized, he raised her, and striking with the palm gently on her face, sound with the Lord having mercy he left her. And immediately another fell and was being vexed: whom similarly the venerable Pontiff raising restored to health. There fell however after this also a third, but in the same way as the prior ones obtained safety.
[27] At S. Symphorian, which is a castle in the Archbishopric of Lyons, a certain noble girl, by sorcerous, as is believed, arts circumvented, ran into grave sickness of body. To whom a physician applied, after medicines and certain secret incantations, a woman wasting through sorcery, bit the skin of her arm, and so in the same place a blister arose. A wondrous thing I am about to relate, and a monstrosity for ages unheard and unseen. From the place of the blister, which after a few days maturing was ruptured, iron needles began to come out. It happened however that the Abbot of Bonnevaux, a good and holy man, and from her arm needles came to that castle. To whom when the friends had presented the girl, narrating to what and what kind of crisis she was subject, with immense prayers they obtained, that with Mass celebrated, and Confession of the girl heard, the Viaticum to her as if quickly about to die he should hand over. Which performed, the place of the wound with the sign of the Cross fortifying, he said that thence would not go out further nor iron nor steel. And it was done according to the word of his mouth, when now ten and seven needles had gone out. Yet however with him to where he had come having returned, twigs and wooden stakes, and emitting twigs long as needles or thorns of brambles, from the arm of the girl came out; until in the following time the venerable Pontiff Peter with the said Abbot making the journey there with the Lord disposing turned aside: and they prayed for her. With the arm of the girl uncovered however, the Chaplain of the most holy Prelate seeing one of the above-said stakes in the wound, approached and extracted it, with the Pontiff and those who were present seeing. Praying therefore the Pontiff, the sick one he touched, and blessed. And with the spirit of truth speaking in him, by which illustrated also the hidden things of men, and from his bodily gazes hidden sometime he saw, he said; that there will not come out hereafter from her twigs, or anything wooden. And so from that hour, with health entirely repaired, the astonishing emission of stakes and twigs from her entirely he excluded, with the sorceries by powerful virtue overcome. His ring the blessed man sometime had lost: which longer sought, but not at all found, the ring is found: after some days, when they were in a lodging, unexpectedly they found within his garments when they were unfolded, which yet neither he himself had folded, nor when they were folded had been present.
[28] The Prior of Locus-Crescens c, when at Basel by a most dangerous infirmity, pleurisy is cured which does not allow a man to breathe, and is called pleurisy, was being detained; with the coin, which the Saint of the Lord had blessed, the hand in which he was suffering touched, and immediately the pain rested. He came sometime to a certain place named Bullio, blindness, and to a blind woman, who to him to implore help had approached, by touching he restored sight. One likewise of his servants, pain of foot, with pain and inflation of foot for a long time detained, so much that limping he walked, by his touch and benediction obtained the remedy of desired health.
[29] These meanwhile, which partly we ourselves have seen, partly from faithful men relating we have learned, Yet to be considered before all miracles to the honor of the holy Pontiff and the showing of his holiness, with truthful pen digested let suffice, until also the rest which he did and does, when we shall have known, we shall describe. For many they are, but still those we are ignorant: although from those which were known to us several we have omitted, since with these few we believe those hearing and reading will sufficiently understand, unless excessive incredulity has closed their ears and eyes, of how great merit the blessed man is, and of how great glory before God and men. his perfect life Moreover we another even greater than these and firmer judgment of his holiness having, namely his praiseworthy conversation, in true and much humility and charity, by which wonderfully he shone forth rooted and founded; most firmly we hold, and in no way doubt that even if he had never done miracles he would have been gathered to the assemblies of the supernal citizens, with glory and honor by God crowned, so that we trust him not only of Confessors but also of Martyrs to obtain the reward of the Saints, whom by praiseworthy holiness of life and order of confession it is established to have led a long martyrdom. For not only the shedding of blood in confession is reckoned, but also the immaculate service of a devout mind is daily martyrdom, just as the Saints Jerome and Gregory openly testify. With all these things piously considered, consider also equally we pray you Holy Roman Church, who hitherto your sons and helpers worthily for their merits have crowned, what also to this Confessor of God B. Peter you owe, who under you and for you great things has done and many has sustained.
[30] But because we have said above that from the holy man even hidden things of men sometime were not concealed, also adorned with the spirit of prophecy. one by which this may be made more manifest let us put forth. He was sometime in the midst of peoples, receiving and immediately distributing, as he was wont, the offerings of those offering.
To whom a certain man approaching prayed something to be given to him. But when the Saint refused, and the wicked petitioner longer and more importunately insisted; with hands cast in the blessed man, his cloak and unleavened bread, which he was bearing under his garment, he seized, and said to him: "eat this. Moreover what you wish, that I take alms to be distributed to the poor and grant to you, in no way will I do. I admonish however that you correct your life, because malign and wicked you have hitherto been, and have harmed those whom you could." When he had said this, those who were present and who knew that man wondered, how the man of God either of the bread or of his life, what he had most truly said, had known, since from no one before he had learned this.
ANNOTATIONS.
* whether Leria, ivy?
APPENDIX
Other miracles done after death.
[31] A certain man from Vilar to the sepulcher of the man of God with his small son came saying, A boy believed dead convalesces: that "this son of mine had been dead, but S. Peter restored him to me." For when the same boy was sick to the point that by all he was said to be dead, indeed that either of his health entirely was despaired, or that he was thought to have departed from human affairs, or even perhaps truly had departed (which the father rather seemed to affirm) was given back by the father to the pious Confessor, and soon speaking with his father by the grace of God he convalesced from infirmity. Similarly a certain man from Vesulium, are healed a man languishing for an entire year, who for one year had been so oppressed by languor, that neither could he walk, nor even from the bed could he rise, to the Blessed Pontiff devoted himself: whose help quickly in his health feeling, his vow and actions of thanks about to render, his sepulcher of the received benefit not unmindful devout he sought.
[32] a mute and epileptic woman, A mother of a family by grave infirmity and the demon's vexation deprived of the function of tongue was sitting. She was however also epileptic, and on individual days falling she suffered. Whom when the monk from the mitre and sudarium of the Pontiff signing touched, both speech she recovered and the falling disease she escaped. Was freed also another similarly from the sickness of epilepsy. A certain man likewise from Capella near the often-said Luxovium with epileptic sickness so frequently and savagely was tortured, 2 epileptics that daily at least nine times he fell, and was vexed. But where having entered to the sepulcher of the Saint he prayed, that sickness further he did not suffer: but unimpaired made to his own with joy after two days returned. A certain youth from Calidofontis, with his widowed mother and brother provoking with contumelious quarrels, an energumen, was handed over at once and oppressed by a demon, that of his unbridled tongue he might pay the penalties, and learn not to blaspheme. Bound therefore by neighbors and parents, and led to the monastery, the wretched one was unwilling to enter the church: no doubt with the demon drawing back, giving great leaps and cries, when with blessed water he was sprinkled. By the companions however by force admitted to the monument of the blessed Pontiff, he was freed at once from the demon, and loosed from chains gave thanks to God. At Lusans was a certain little boy mute from birth, a mute from birth of life indeed now several years passed any voice of human speech to send forth, with however great sagacity or industry of his parents soothed, he could not. But given back afterwards with a vow to God and S. Peter, with the bond of the tongue loosed, he began continuously like other little ones to speak. By which miracle the father delighted, brought him to the memory of the blessed Prelate, and what in him was done manifested to the glory of God. a languishing and contracted man, Behold however there approached to the sepulcher of the man of God also another man from Bierna near Ausun, having infirmity from one year, and was inclined, nor except with crutches could he walk: indeed one part of his body, namely the foot and leg with shin, stupid and without sense had been made, just as he himself also under the invocation of divine fear adjured said. And when with great groan and weeping he had prayed, with the recovered sense of the stupid members, and stature equally erected rejoicing, he withdrew to his own. Another likewise from the town of Vercellae, by sickness for many days oppressed was lying, another contracted, so that in no way could he go out or for the requirements of nature, but in the bedroom under himself by flux of belly, with necessity urging, he relieved himself. For his shin with foot was dead and without sense: which if sometime he had wished to turn himself in any part, with hand or staff as turning a trunk he tossed. With God inspiring however, to B. Peter giving himself back he devoted himself, and immediately convalescing from the bed began to rise; and after very few days to the Saint's tomb with his own feet he came; and there with health more fully repaired to his house he returned. Wonderful is God in his Saints.
OTHER EPISTLES
For obtaining Canonization
From the MS. of Munster in Westphalia.
Peter Archbishop of Tarentaise of the Cistercian Order, of Bellevaux in Burgundy (S.)
FROM MSS.
I. Of the Cistercian Abbot and the Abbots of the General Chapter, which they sent to Lord Pope Lucius, but he died before they were presented to him.
To the most Blessed Father and Lord a most beloved Lucius, by the grace of God Supreme Pontiff, brother b Bernard of Cîteaux and the humble Convent of Abbots gathered in Chapter, The above-said Life sent, the Cistercians ask Canonization from Lucius 3. persevering service in their will. To your most holy Serenity as great as we can we render actions of thanks, that with affection of pious memory the life of our Father of happy memory Lord Peter Archbishop of Tarentaise, with the virtues done through him, your Apostolic authority commanded to be commended in letters, to be offered to your Beatitude and the most reverend Lords Bishops and Cardinals of the Most Holy Roman Church. Which to your devout son, our venerable Brother Geoffrey Abbot of Hautecombe imposed; according to the grace given to him by the Lord effectively was completed. For the documents exhibited to him, written by religious men, on those things which present they had seen and heard bearing testimony to the truth, and what from other faithful with certain testification was learned, into one to redact in compendious narration he took care. Hence it is that from your Dignation our smallness with humble supplication asks, that what from your mandate it is known to have been done, and to the edification of many, your authority also, with the Canonization of the same Archbishop to many much desirable, may be confirmed.
II. Of the Cistercian Abbot and Abbots of the general Chapter to Lord Pope Caelestine the third.
To the most beloved Father and Lord c Caelestine, by the grace of God Supreme Pontiff, Brother d William called Abbot of Cîteaux, and the humble Convent of the general Chapter of Abbots humble obedience and devout. and again from Caelestine 3 Since on you after God, Holy Father, hangs the anchor of our hope, many times we write to you for the necessity of many and our own: but behold now, for the utility and edification of many, with prayers and writings we insist, prostrate at the feet of your Majesty, with heart and soul, mind and spirit devoted entirely to your Dignation, and we beseech for Christ, that the sedulous hand of your mercy may raise on high the lamp, which in some way is hidden under a bushel; may place reverently as is fitting in the public granary, by the merits of the Church which is on pilgrimage on earth, the useful grain of wheat: which without doubt sprouted from the root of the most noble grain, which from heaven came in the valley of benediction, that bread thence might be made of heavenly heaven. But what in many words? The precious clod of the precious body of happy memory Lord Peter once Archbishop of Tarentaise, hidden lies in the house of Bellevaux. This is he who not in word only and tongue, but in work and truth, peace and holiness has followed: and called by Christ to a part of solicitude, has evangelized peace to those who are near and to those who are far. Finally, as from the book of his life, which we have sent to you, and from the certain testimony of many witnesses is proved, the man of God did marvels in his life: he did very many also after his death. For canonizing such and such a man trustingly to your Holiness as humbly as we can we supplicate, with suppliant petition asking, that mindful of the word in which to us hope your Predecessors gave, with the help of divine cooperation invoked you may place the foresaid in the number of the Saints: that sanctifying him the Holy of Holies, large remuneration on account of this to us may offer in eternity.
III. Of the Prior and Brothers of the Cistercian Order to the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church.
It is certain, and from the beginning of the world through various ages proved, that divine piety glorifies those glorifying it, here and in the future, both with merits and with honor. We therefore at the asking of the Brothers of Bellevaux, what about the blessed memory Peter once of Tarentaise we have known, and to the Cardinals of S. R. C. to the discretion of Your Sublimity to intimate we have taken care. Indeed he pleasing to God and men, and among his contemporaries of singular merit, was most familiar to our house, so that it in this part to none of the others, although of his order, he reckoned to be second. His arrival was exultation to us, his visit edification, his life example; so specially of individuals and of all he was wholly: so through all things both with us and outside full of authority and grace he knew himself to exhibit, that not so much for himself born as for others he seemed. Yet nonetheless to himself diligently attending, how liberal and cheerful in alms, how profuse in compassion, how finally benign and affable in colloquy he was, scarcely or never could be explained by our eloquence. Had certainly others of his time the graces of virtues with him not mediocre, yet he in humanity and toward the poor in charity above all others shone forth. Who when he was strong with such great grace of merits, profound however and unceasing humility had put on, in himself truly experiencing that, "Because to the humble God gives grace." James 4:6 Beyond our strength is to express such a Father's morals, life, holiness. Because therefore we believe our Lords and Brothers Cistercians about him not except just and good things from the Apostolic See to ask, we ask humbly that to their petition you may deign to clemently agree, and before the Lord Pope to favor their parts.
IV. To the Lord Pope Caelestine and his Cardinals of Gunterius the Prior and the whole Convent of the Tarentaise Church.
Faithful and worthy of all acceptance to you, most holy Father, The same the Tarentaise people ask: prayers to extend we have judged worthy, what indeed we should have done long ago. Of good memory Lord Peter, once Archbishop of our Church, with such great while still living shone forth merits, with virtues he glistened, with miracles he flashed; and with such great after his happy transit more happily with the Saints to live himself proves by the benefits of virtues, that what already long ago about this we kept silent deservedly of torpor and negligence
we may be reproved. The ears therefore of your Paternity we solicit, that you may decree him without doubt to be canonized. For although he does not need human testimony, who has testimony greater than man; yet innumerable among us are, who of his merits, works, miracles, give testimony Clergy and people; and these especially who are of clear and notable opinion.
V. To the same Pope e Walbert Bishop of Augusta.
What we know, we say: and what we have seen, we faithfully bear witness. to the same are written by the Bishop of Augusta the miracles Your Majesty knows and all the faithful of Christ, that when the man of God Lord Peter Archbishop of Tarentaise, in the time of the schism the supreme Pontiff Alexander and the Curia disposed to visit, and we in the proposed journey assisted him; not without much favor he entered Italy, and with the Marquesses, Counts and all the nobles of the land meeting him at Vercellae lodging, he found the city entirely commoted from the least to the greatest. For there were inexorable discords, and intestine war, and more than civil: the intestine war at Vercellae settled, each one girded with sword was prepared for shedding the blood of his neighbor: no one was found, since for this many were laboring, who there could reform peace. And when the man of God had performed the dedication of a certain Church according to custom, he began to ask the things which are of peace, mindful of that word, "Blessed are the feet bearing peace." And so with God agreeing at the instance of his preaching the whole sedition rested, and was reformed for the better, that all scruple of envy was removed from the hearts of individuals, and firm peace was given back to the country, and all blessed God, and attributed this peace to the merits of the man of God. The very confederation of peace however held that whole day occupied, so that without the solemnities of Masses the consecration of the Church was performed. Going out from there when by the crowds from everywhere he was pressed, his fame far and wide growing, a theft detected at Pavia, he came to Pavia. And when divine offices in the Church of B. Michael solemnly he celebrated, and the people of the city from everywhere came together, in the very density of the people a certain woman, led by a diabolical spirit, the purse of a certain rustic in the church secretly cut, and put it with the denarii into her bosom. But when about these the rustic with weeping was complaining to the man of God, he very much consternated, and detesting the theft, raised his eyes to the heavens. But divine providence which leaves nothing unpunished, and opens hidden things into the light, struck the woman herself with blindness; so that when to go out of the church everywhere she attempted, and many doors there were open, within roaming and circling as if mad and a stranger to go out she could not. With the theft therefore stripped and restored, she confessed before all, that by the virtue of the man of God, the going out of the church entirely was denied to her. Afterwards the man of God coming to Bologna, headache cured, by all the citizens was honorably received. Moreover John f Bishop of Bologna laboring with grave pain of head, the man of God, that he should palpate his head and bless, more studiously asked, and at his touch he felt hastened remedy, just as to several this John himself confessed. In the same city, in the church of S. Felix, and a blind man illuminated at Bologna. an old monk had been destitute of the function of eyes for almost seven years: whom other monks his Brothers leading to the man of God, and instantly praying that he should impose his hand on him; the man of God somewhat moved and consternated at the instance of their prayers, with his own saliva anointed the eyes of that old man in the manner of a Cross, and so to his own house sent him back. But morning made when the man of God was performing the solemnities of Masses in the city, the said monks the said old man with light restored, with great noise and a band of clergy and people, into the church bring, to God and the man of God over these copious thanks rendering. As proof however of the restored light the very monk, clearly and well reading even slender writing, we saw. But that not to be passed over we have judged, that when by the nobles and powerful of the land he was surrounded, and more honored, lest in the height placed the vice of elation and arrogance he should run into; opportunity having been seized, separately he withdrew; and prostrate on the earth with tears praying, his condition and origin, and the misery of man to memory recalled, and with very great humility, with contrition of the heart dissimulated outwardly, returned.
ANNOTATIONS.
BULL OF CANONIZATION
Pope Caelestinus III to all the Prelates of the Churches concerning the Canonization of S. Peter Archbishop of Tarentaise, and confirmation of the book of his life, and miracles, and the annual solemnity of the same.
Peter Archbishop of Tarentaise of the Cistercian Order, of Bellevaux in Burgundy (S.)
BY GEOFFREY A.B. FROM MSS.
Caelestinus the Bishop, Servant of the servants of God, Caelestinus III to the venerable Brothers, the Archbishops, Bishops, and beloved sons the Abbots, Priors, and the rest of the Prelates of the Churches, greeting and Apostolic benediction. The glory of divine praise around the most sacred memory of the Saints to be admired by all mortals, both singularly and in common with assiduous heralds; but especially on memorial days or festive solemnities to be extolled, the invisible Founder of the universe, with certain visible signs, like certain lightnings or thunders, through diverse, yet not adverse, but rather consonant testimonies of the sacred Scripture manifests, teaches and confirms; while of him, who is praiseworthy without end, and in all his works admirable, by the Davidic voice it is announced, "Praise the Lord in his Saints." Ps. 50:1 and 87:36. And in that: "Wonderful is God in his Saints." And of these Saints under a certain admiration in Prophetic speech it is proposed: "Who are these who fly like clouds?" &c. And since he is the same best and infinite, wishing to have innumerable from whom he ought to be praised, for the greater glory of God just as from eternity according to the riches of his power he ordained, to Saints he gathers and joins Saints, that it is hinted to redound in the abundance of his praise while he says; "Praise him according to the multitude of his magnitude." But that he in the Saints as if specially shows himself praiseworthy, and in them is found wonderful, in their fruitful doctrine and salutary operation by granting miracles, and increasing their number; to ours doubtless, if we wish diligently to attend, is known to pertain salvation. And with so much greater devotion we ought to know, what in his servants for the increase of our salvation almighty God works, as our Fathers in similar things commendably and piously are known to have done, by how much greater fruit doubtlessly is believed to be about to be present.
Indeed we have understood from a certain rescript of happy memory of Pope Lucius our predecessor, after the Life written by the order of Lucius 3 was read, that from him through two Abbots of the Cistercian Order, provident and discreet men, and approved in holy religion, humbly and instantly on the part of the Order itself it was requested, that the blessed memory Peter once Archbishop of Tarentaise he ought to canonize. Who to the petition presented to him would have given pleasing assent, except that a certain inopportuneness of times and matters then denied the faculty of the requested work. Nor of his merits at all did he doubt: but nothing at that time of the miracles and his conversation had been noted in any letters: and it was fitting for the Brother to defer with the requested counsel of the community, mandating that of the acts and conversation of the said Father, those things which were certain meanwhile should be redacted into writings; that when an opportune time should be at hand, the Church of God might have certain and indubitable firmness, on which around those things which had been asked to be granted more securely and trustingly it could lean. Since therefore, according to the said mandate of our foresaid Predecessor, those things which the Blessed man shining forth with virtues performed in life; and the miracles, canonizing S. Peter which God through him after his death has worked, are collected faithfully and redacted into writing, which by the testimony of many commended we render approved; Since about these things by great and honest persons, as it was fitting to be done, we have been made more certain, to the foresaid petition to us, although unworthy, residing in the Apostolic See, likewise to the Roman Church destined giving assent; not so much for the reverence of the foresaid Order, to which willingly we have disposed to acquiesce in all pious and just petitions; as for the glory of the Lord to be dilated; the said memorable man, by the common counsel of my Brothers, we have canonized, and the canonized to the universal Church of God by the writings of the Apostolic See we announce. grants that it be celebrated with the feast of translation. Establishing that in all your churches or monasteries, of the same glorious Saint, namely Peter once Archbishop of Tarentaise, the venerable memory each year, on the third Ides of September, on which his glorious body was raised from the sepulcher with pious devotion, may be solemnly celebrated. Given at Rome at Saint Peter's the Sixth Ides of May. Of our Pontificate the first year, but of the Lord's Incarnation in the year one thousand one hundred and ninety-first.
In
the same way, with few things changed or added, was written to the Abbot and convent of Bellevaux, similarly also to all the Abbots of the Cistercian Order.
Caelestinus the Bishop, servant of the servants of God, to the beloved sons the Abbot and Convent of Bellevaux greeting and Apostolic benediction. The glory of divine praise around the most sacred memory of the Saints to be admired by all mortals &c. As above until establishing that in your and in all the monasteries of your Order of the same glorious Saint, namely Peter, once Archbishop of Tarentaise the venerable memory each year on the third Ides of September, on which his glorious body was raised from the sepulcher with pious devotion, may be solemnly celebrated. And these things since divine mercy has granted you such great grace, the same is confirmed by another Bull. that the said precious body in your monastery rests; Your Universality attentively we admonish and more pressingly exhort, that for the said precious Saint's memory solemnly celebrating up to this point unanimously you may attend, that the omnipotent Lord in your acts may be honored, and from his imitation to you the heap of eternal reward may be increased, So that with the Lord as author manifestly it can be acknowledged, in what way the sap of that holy root and doctrine in the fruits of the branches may remain and be preserved. Given at Rome at Saint Peter's, on the sixth Ides of May. Of our Pontificate the first year.
ON BLESSED AMATUS OF SALUDECIUM IN THE FIELD OF ITALY OF RIMINI.
ABOUT 1200 A.D.
PrefaceAmatus, Patron of Saludecium in Italy (S.)
D. P.
Saludecium is a town of the field of Rimini, within the roots of the Apennine mountain at XV miles distant, commonly called Saludez. In which place S. Amatus lived and died, and is held as the Tutelary of the place, Life lost in fire referred to by Ferrarius in the general Catalogue with these words: At Saludecium in Aemilia of S. Amatus the Confessor. They believed his life, who lived at the beginning of the XV century, the elders of the place, to have been there long ago written, together with his miracles, but with the sacristy burning (of which fire the year is not made known) with other writings to have been burned. Certainly with the said century already ending the Archpresbyter of that church James Antonius Modesti testifies, that traces of flames could be seen in the beams and roof of the greater chapel, even then half-burned: and adds Master Sebastianus Sericus (with whom his aunt Lady Bartholomea Modesti, formerly the sister of his father Master Sebastian, from the relation of the elders is restored before the year 1518, had been joined in matrimony) the same from tradition and relation of the elders had undertaken to be renewed, in favor of Master Francis Modesti, his uncle likewise, to whom it had been proposed the same life in Heroic verse to render. From this cause however it seems to have been done, that since the author had ordered to be transcribed for being placed back in the chest of the holy body itself, with that Poet weaving delays or even prevented by death, the very autograph of Sericus stuck among the documents of Francis from the year 1518, in which to him it had been sent, until 1598, in which the said grandson of both James Antonius found the same dedicated to the Bishop of Rimini Simon Bonadies. He however in the year 1511 made Bishop had died in the very year 1518 IV Ides of January as Ughelli writes: and it is verisimilar that some time before the Life was written, before to Venice to the said Master Francis to be transcribed it was sent, as the Epistle added at the end has, given V Ides of June, of the same year. Found moreover in Italian soon rendered James Antonius himself, and translated to Italian is published in the year 1599. and in the following year 1599 took care to be printed at Rimini: where again to the press it was subjected in the year 1610, whence we have it. But far more we make of the most faithful and ancient exemplar of the Latin Life itself in the year 1660 to have received from the Rector of our Rimini College Francis Via. For the author was, as from the style appears, truly such as his nephew praises, a man of great judgment, The Latin from the autograph is given. of singular doctrine and exemplary life: whose writing if Ferrarius had obtained, who from the Italian only life wove a eulogy for this Blessed, would have found not obscure proof of his time in which he lived, which the Italian interpreter as if less necessary neglected. For with the greatest verisimilitude our author proves, the death of the blessed man to have happened about the year 1200. What moreover pertain to the ancient and modern cult to be explained, are so clearly explained all things in the Life, that it is not necessary to preface more about him.
LifeAmatus, Patron of Saludecium in Italy (S.)
BY SEBAST. SERICUS FROM MS.
DEDICATORY EPISTLE
Sebastianus Sericus of Saludecium to the Reverend in Christ Father. Lord Simon Bonadies, Bishop of Rimini greeting.
[1] Why he offers this Life sooner Your singular, most outstanding Father, humanity toward all, and your special love for our country, daily impel me, that, if any proof of my benevolence toward you by my vigils and labors I can produce, I may omit nothing. But to me long and much hesitating, in what kind of writings finally to your excellence it might be permitted me to oblige; offered itself the history of Blessed Amatus, which after our return into our country in a coarser style on purpose lately I composed: For the deeds of the Saints with a certain simple truth rather, than with the pomp and allurement of words are adorned. A more pleasing matter therefore I judged I would do for you, than if any profane poem or Xenophon's Paralipomena (which as a youth for the sake of exercising my talent from Greek into Latin I translated) to your name I had dedicated. than Xenophon's Paralipomena formerly by him given to Latinity. Although the most eloquent man of Greek affairs, which Thucydides the Athenian prevented by death omitted, the history is found so varied and multiple, that it can exercise the most fluent any interpreter. For when your most holy morals, and the ancient in the primitive, so to speak, Church the norm of living of Bishops, by I know not what fate extinguished, in you alone in our times brought back into light I consider; but with these things which from the institutes of your life by no means abhor, like food more agreeable to a more delicate stomach I have judged to begin; that to these as if invited to domestic things, to the rest perhaps, and these certainly from your talent, with all doctrine and erudition most adorned, not foreign, with more ready mind you may be able to approach. Receive therefore, most outstanding Father, this little gift, the everlasting testimony of my observance toward you, and your benevolence toward my country: and let the Life of B. Amatus begin under your most illustrious name, both to the men of our time, and thereafter to posterity to become known. Farewell, and follow with the humanity which you have been wont your Saludecians.
PROLOGUE.
[2] The memory of past things at first less certain. When the use of letters among mortals had not yet been found, the memory of things done, most necessary for living well and blessedly, was not easily preserved. Indeed those who surpassed others by the benefit of longer age, partly what they themselves younger had received from other men of the same fortune, partly what they themselves had seen, commemorated to posterity. Hence it happened that each one with too great affection to those things which had happened either added many and indeed false, or (as for the most part are the talents of men) the deeds of the elders as if abhorring from their zeal, as uncertain to the hearers expounded. But after to the human race the splendid gift of letters from God was handed over; men began, what their elders had recounted to them, things done by the monuments of letters more faithfully to commit. For what are about to be more lasting and to endure for many ages, through the letters invented for the public good more certain began to be held, are wont to be made with more select zeal and greater industry, especially because they are about to undergo the sincere judgment of posterity. And when those who copiously wrote the deeds of others were seen, having obtained no mediocre glory, an enormous abundance of writers emanated. Some indeed of Kings or peoples both at home and abroad illustrious deeds undertaking to write, not only those whose deeds with their words they pursued; but also by abundance of speaking and beauty of oration themselves immortal made. and the Lives of Kings and Philosophers to be written: There were some who the life and morals of Philosophers, rather than warlike affairs, preferred to embrace; thinking that they by that kind of writing, which entirely to the institution of life pertained, could more consult the common utility: and that not without cause. For men are excited, born for embracing virtue, by the examples of most outstanding men: and there is no one, except lost in vices, who when he reads any rightly done thing, or hears the illustrious deeds of someone, does not praise, does not extol, does not admire, finally does not propose to himself for imitation according to his strength: whence Marcus Tullius Cicero, calls history the mistress of life not without reason.
[3] which that they may benefit much in forming morals, But that one to me finally in this business of writing rightly seems to use, who attempts to illustrate the life and morals of God's Saints. For of Kings and nations many and most illustrious things done by writers are mentioned; but of some it is to look at the drunkennesses, of some the monstrous lusts, the unheard of of many ferocity; so that if their best institutes you should desire to imitate, by the multitude of vices most gravely you would be offended: indeed the great virtues of Kings the greatest vices for the most part are wont to accompany. What of the life and morals of the Philosophers shall I say, whom so much antiquity respects and admires? They indeed, that they might catch the inept praises and applauses of peoples and the unskilled multitude, riches, in which sometimes they had abounded, as if their despisers, uselessly despised: just as that Crates of Thebes, a man once most rich, when to philosophize at Athens he was going, threw away a great weight of gold, saying, that he could not both virtues and riches at the same time possess. Another at Ephesus when certain richest youths, the followers of his wisdom, that before the people in contempt of riches the most precious gems they should break, he had impelled; of vain glory and most empty boasting by John the Evangelist deservedly was rebuked; then when by divine help to the former state the broken gems the Apostle of God had reduced, by the great miracle moved, with the illusions of the gentiles left the true religion of the supreme Founder of all he embraced.
[4] much more however the Lives of the Saints. But the Saints of God, not with riches thrown away for the sake of vain glory, but with those distributed to the poor; not laden with gold (that I may use Jerome's words) the poor Christ followed, by faith, as Paul says, conquered kingdoms, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, extinguished the impulse of fire, fled the edge of the sword, convalesced from infirmity, were made strong in war, turned the camps of foreigners: and since through all things they remained incorrupt, opened to us the way to that seat of eternity, which our Lord prepared for those loving him. Heb. 11:33 What therefore for the human race better, what more useful can be said or thought up? what also more worthily can be committed to memorable letters? what, that more consults posterity, do we have, than the doctrine, institution, persecutions and miracles of the Saints?
[5] That indeed in S. Amatus difficult, Therefore worth the trouble I judged I would do, the life of B. Amatus, who already shines with miracles of many years, according to my strength to recount. For when his most holy body with us in the church of S. Blasius, according to the means of the place, with the highest veneration is kept; almost unworthy was that even up to our age no one was found, who the memory of the most holy man
with letters, or at least rough ones, would illustrate: especially when by his merits and intercession with God, our country to have escaped many dangers is held for certain: although in our parents' age the history of his life committed to letters, as most other things of our church, by fire consumed many assert. I know I have undertaken a most difficult matter and one liable to the rebukes of many, because nothing certain is at hand which I could follow. For when it is explored that almost the three hundredth year has passed, with the monuments lost in fire, from when B. Amatus among humans is found to have been, and no monuments exist about him, someone will say, Who would be so light who anything about that man, although most holy, to a man of our age asserting would think to be believed? He if he should turn over in his mind what at the beginning we have prefaced, and in what way the memory of things done, in the first beginning of the life of mortals, yet not entirely to be neglected. through a certain succession is preserved, as if through the hands of men handed down to posterity; truly will not disapprove our labor, who from our elders received, and to us as boys often related, about the most holy man, to letters we strive to commit: to which we have been kindled, because his suffrage to us in our labors and greatest dangers not to have been lacking we have often experienced. Eccl. 39:13 In the sacred letters then it is handed down, "The memory of the just shall not depart, and his name shall be sought from generation to generation." But now to our undertaking let us approach.
The Titles of the Chapters, by which this Life was distinguished, while we according to our manner divide it, here described receive.
Chapter I. From what country B. Amatus is reported to have arisen.
II. Of the time of the life of B. Amatus and in what years he is said to have been born.
III. From what parents and from what family he is said to have been born.
IV. Of his domicile and food and care of his body.
V. Of the mockery which he suffered partly from his own, partly from strangers.
VI. Of his persecution and the infamy falsely imputed to him.
VII. Of some other miracles and signs of his making his holiness manifest.
VIII. Of his journeys and pilgrimages, and of their cause.
IX. Of his stature.
X. Of his death and burial.
XI. Of the miracles which after his death appeared.
XII. Of the translation of his body into the temple of S. Blasius where in his honor a chapel was built.
XIII. Of his various miracles, celebrated at diverse times, as they were related by the elders.
XIV. Of some miracles, which were in our age and memory.
CHAPTER I.
The country of B. Amatus, race, rigor of life: tolerance of contempt, and innocence.
[6] That B. Amatus was a Saludecian by nationality, among all, Situation of Saludecium whom I have ever heard speaking about him, is sufficiently established. For Saludecium is a town in the province of Flaminia on the hills, between the rivers Crustronius and Isaurus situated, from the upper sea about five miles distant, with most healthful sky and rich enough soil endowed, from the salvation of Decius as a certain Poet of our time not ignoble (whose name therefore I keep silent, lest I seem too much to favor my own, since shortly our age is about to follow him with wondrous praises) in his most elegant poem expressed, derived. For when Publius Decius the Consul against the Umbrians and Samnites was waging war, and nomenclature, in which following the footsteps of his father at length devoted himself for his country; brought to that place with part of the troops, from the impulse of the Cisalpine Gauls, who had come to the help of the Umbrians and Etruscans, he saved himself and the army unharmed. There are also those who say, that from Decius Brutus, there longer defended against the satellites of Antony, the name was given: who when Marcus Antonius, judged enemy of the country, by the order of the Senate he was pursuing; deserted by his legions, finally into the power of the enemies came, and by the order of Antony by Capenus the Sequanian was killed. Others assert that the whole that region once was the woods and pastures of the family of the Decii, hence Saludecium, as if Saltus-Decii (Wood of Decius) called. To me in such varied opinions of men about this matter it pleases to affirm, that by the Decii entirely the town was named, either because the domestic monuments of that family were there, or in whatever other way it happened that from them such name it obtained. But that before the rest is to be observed, that in the Saludecian field, and especially in the country places, several images of the Decii found, cast from diverse bronze, I have inspected. But about this matter perhaps more than was necessary. And so to explaining the life of B. Amatus let us return, and first at what times he lived let us narrate.
[7] In the year of our salvation two hundred above the thousandth among humans B. Amatus to have been, Born there about the year 1200 Amatus it pleases to conjecture: indeed I have nothing certain that I could follow; except that as a boy I often heard John of Jacob Augustinus, my maternal grandfather, mentioning, that to him in the same age existing (for he completed his hundred and fourth year) Sanctes Ferri, his grandfather, a most aged man, narrated, that he had a maternal grandmother worn with old age, who said that she as a young girl had a mother, whose grandmother had seen B. Amatus, in that time when the town of Saludecium on the mountain, where now the most ancient church of S. Blasius is seen, was situated; and many things she related of his living miracles, and the wonders which after his death appeared signs. But that there a town once was founded, the inscription in the first of the church, into this our present translated, sufficiently teaches, and the village placed near that mountain, which still commonly is called the old suburb. And so if Sanctes Ferri's most long age, then his grandmother's, together with the mother's, whose grandmother lived in the times of B. Amatus, the years you should count together; afterwards the old age of my grandfather, in our age almost incredible, you should contemplate; almost the three hundredth year, in which the most holy man laid down the burdens of flesh, you will find to have passed. And to this opinion I am more easily drawn, because certain documents of notaries, found above the two hundredth year, and read by me, of the fields of the Hospital of B. Amatus, while in them the sides are cited, make most open mention: from which the memory of the most blessed man at that time appears to have been long-standing.
[8] Of most honest parents according to the fortune of the town to have arisen, from honest parents, it is sufficiently established. I have heard some assert from the Marchini family, others from the Ronchi family born: but that to me, as most other things, has always been uncertain. But among all, from whom we have received the memory of the most blessed man, it is agreed, that he had parents in this town principal, who to others in wealth not inferior were. The father's name is not explored to me: that the mother had the name Sancta, then in diminished word, as is the custom in these regions, Sanctuccia, some report. He had an older brother, called Hieronymus: he was a tanner: but a sister, named Clara, who imitating her brother in holiness of life vowed perpetual virginity to God. He as a boy with his father lost, under the tutelage and care of his mother, whom in childhood orphaned soon of his brother remained. The brother had received a wife, sufficiently opulent for the means of the place. She with herself the small sister led to her husband Hieronymus, indeed with this mind, that to B. Amatus, when both had come to legitimate age, she might join a wife.
[9] shuns marriage prepared for him by his brother's wife: But he made an adolescent had set his mind elsewhere: indeed intent on prayers and frequent fasts, with the allurements of this world trampled, wholly he gave himself to religion; that of him what in Wisdom XXXIX Chapter is written can be said, "The just man set his heart to watch in the morning, to the Lord who made him, and in the sight of the Most High he will pray: he will open his mouth in prayer, and for his sins he will pray." Hence it happened that when his brother's wife noticed him shunning the marriage of the sister, B. Amatus with implacable hatred she persecuted, and him daily (as are the talents of women) before her husband Hieronymus of inertia and slothfulness she accused. and therefore departing from them, Nor did the morals of Hieronymus please the most holy man sufficiently, who unmindful of eternal salvation, only studied to gather wealth. For similarity of morals friendship, dissimilarity hatred for the most part is wont to bring forth. And so that more freely he might serve God, at the same time yield to domestic hatred, from his brother he withdrew.
[10] With the paternal goods divided with his brother, a domicile, which afterwards was called the hospice of B. Amatus or Hospital, he constituted for himself. There are who say that it was the paternal house, which to him in the division of inheritance fell. an austere and laborious life he begins: Others hand down that after his return from Galicia the last (for four times to the church of S. James the Apostle he set out) the said little house he built near the Orcearius mountain, that the more for receiving the poor it might be exposed, situated on the most frequented road. There therefore still as a young man and in green age established, food by hiring out his work seeking, what from the fields he received that whole daily to the poor secretly he distributed: while meanwhile with greatest fasts and frequent vigils he macerated and afflicted his body. For among the rest from meats perpetually to have abstained he is mentioned, on herbs almost and on the roots of plants always wont to be fed. Indeed even that he might extinguish the burnings of flesh, and avert the goads of lust, with an iron scourge, which still in his chest is seen, at about the third hour, in which our Lord Jesus Christ for our and all's salvation by the Jews most atrociously was beaten, himself he beat, the memory of the Lord's passion, as in mind, content with rude food and clothing so in body with himself bearing. Once a day, almost the whole time of his life, and that after the ninth hour, food to take he was wont. With care of body harsher within, that more what he was turning over in mind from men might be hidden, he used, indeed an inner tunic interwoven with hair-cloth, but in the inner part of cheaper kind, which religious men of monastic profession use, and that even to the heels brought down he wore. The upper was a garment, on either side from right and left open, which serving as a cloak, the outer tunic to the feet covered.
[11] When therefore B. Amatus, according to that document of the Apostle, and held as a fool. had presented his body, a living host, holy, pleasing to God, his rational service; and was unwilling to be conformed to this world; by its lovers to be held in mockery he began, so that almost by all he was esteemed a fool. Rom. 12:1 For those whom the world hates them equally it neglects and makes ridiculous, with divine scripture testifying, while of the Saints of God in another life existing it speaks: "These are they whom we held sometime in derision, and whose life we reputed insanity." Wis. 5:3 This opinion of the people had been increased by the daily speech of his brother, and also the bold tongue of his wife, of those speaking against the holy man still a youth. She indeed (as is light the womanly talent, and most prone to deriding) among the rest of mockeries which daily on him she meditated, Pissentunega
was wont to call him, from the longer garment, which we said he was wont to use, a new derision having devised. From there others imitating the woman, for many years by no other name the holy man called. But he, who from his early age had put on D. N. Jesus Christ, the derisions of the inept multitude with incredible patience tolerated, so that most at the beginning much wondered and were astonished; but afterwards, when by the curses and derisions of men he was not at all moved, to stupor and folly they ascribed it. He remained therefore some years with this opinion of the people, with fasts and prayers serving God day and night.
CHAPTER II.
The holiness and innocence of B. Amatus declared from heaven: pilgrimage, death.
[12] But longer the holiness of the man could not lie hidden, nor did God the best and greatest allow his servant by most stupid men for longer time to be despised: His holiness is revealed but exalted him (as in the book of Wisdom is written) before his neighbors, and with eternal name our Lord God inherited him. Wis. 15:6 For when by chance on a certain day with several he was cultivating a field (he was indeed wont, as I said above, to hire out his work, whence he might procure for himself food, with the fruits distributed, which from the paternal fields he received, to the poor of Christ) and had taken food at the ninth hour, as he was accustomed; for giving thanks to God separately from the others he set out. There when longer beyond custom he stayed, the lord of the field his son, still in tender age established, sent, that what the Saint of God was doing he might see. He after he came to the place, that little wood, praying upon him with celestial light, where B. Amatus was free for prayer, with great splendor surrounded he beheld, and also raised up on high from the earth praying he noticed. Whom the man of God when he had seen astonished at the novelty of the matter, and prepared to take up the course to the others, that he might disclose that vision; with bland speech from the undertaking he recalled, and Angelic song: asking and obtesting that to no one he should say, indeed much greater things were what God had prepared for those loving him. And while he was speaking these things, was heard by the youth a most sweet song of Angels, praising and blessing God. Then both to the work of agriculture returned. The youth then dissimulated, that to the Saint of God he might be pleasing, what he had beheld. But a little after to his parents what he had seen he secretly expounded: who also themselves, as are the morals and talents of men, that matter to many disseminated.
[13] After that opinion of the people about the holy man's foolishness from the minds of men gradually withdrew, with divine providence, by whose nod all things are ruled, disposing, and now to almost all his holiness was manifest; behold human depravity found something else, by which the most holy name of the man of God in some way might be stained. For when his sister, named Clara, the same brought into suspicion of incest with his sister a most religious woman and herself awaiting the kingdom of God, the fraternal house daily frequented, there arose a suspicion lest with her brother she was wickedly conducting herself: then a great rumor was excited, which Hieronymus the brother had increased, and the most bold tongue of his wife. For they were following with implacable hatred, as we have said above, from the beginning B. Amatus, a little after also the sister, seeing her follow her brother's footsteps: whom the people followed almost all and the neighbors, from long-lasting cohabitation suspecting, the matter for certain affirmed. Nor were lacking informers, who the Saint of God to the Prefect of the town would denounce, and falsely of incest accuse them. Nor wonder: for the Apostle says to Timothy, "All who wish to live piously in Christ Jesus suffer persecution." 2 Tim. 3:12
[14] The Prefect therefore by this iniquitous accusation brought to him, sent in haste a public messenger, and to the Prefect denounced his innocence to summon the Saint of God. But in the deception of those circumventing him God was present to him, and made him honest, and the lying ones (as is written in Wisdom Chapter X) showed who had stained him, and gave him eternal brightness our Lord God. For when the messenger had come to the house; by chance B. Amatus, I know not whither set out, returned home. While meanwhile the messenger at home was waiting, it was about the third hour, and the sun the rays from a certain window through the dark places of the house transmitting was making the appearance of a beam, and below it was a disk, on which the man of God his cloak to place was wont: which then, thinking nothing about the messenger, the man of God when he had placed it, is proved by the cloak hung on the sun's ray. it remained on high held by the solar rays. By the miracle of which thing moved the messenger, to the Prefect quickly returned; the whole matter, as it had been done, expounded. Meanwhile the matter brought to the Saint of God that to the Prefect he was being summoned; mindful of the precept of the Prince of the Apostles, which is, "Be subject to every human creature for God's sake, whether to the King as preeminent, or to the Generals as sent by him for the punishment of those doing evil, but the praise of the good"; with no delay placed in between to the Prefect he approaches, what from himself he wished about to ask. 2 Pet. 2:13 The Prefect when he saw him, now a little before about the miracle through the messenger made more certain, him benignly addressing, feigning himself for another time what he sought to defer, from himself dismissed.
[15] And now most certain opinion about the man's holiness with the universal people was present, and was increased daily with various and most certain arguments: for he who with him conversed, nothing except holy, nothing except what tasted of heavenly things from his mouth drew, that following which in the Psalm is read, "I will teach the iniquitous your ways and the impious will be converted to you." Ps. 50:15 By chance on a certain Lord's Day, in the morning, returning from prayer, on which daily without any interruption he insisted, met him a youth: by whom saluted when he had sat down, asked him, where he was going; whether he was going to give thanks to God, according to that, "I will adore at your holy temple in your fear"; Shows the avaricious despiser of the Lord's day the youth ingenuously confessed his error, that he was sent by his father to inspect the field lest by cattle it be devastated: To whom the Saint of God responding, "Look, " he said, "from the left downward into the valley below; do you see those walking around, going around those fields." Ps. 5:8 Then he said that he saw only one; and he was a citizen quite rich, who induced by avarice, as soon as he went out from his house was wont to visit the fields, of that Lord's precept unmindful, "First seek the kingdom of God." Matt. 6:33 Then B. Amatus, "Mount, " he said, "a little, mount on my shoulders, that how great is God's justice on the impious you may see. is led shamefully through his fields by a demon: And when raised up on high was the youth, breathless he began to cry out, and to ask and obtest that he should set him down, that he could not the most foul beast's sight sustain. He saw indeed a winged beast, with a cord tied to the nostrils of that avaricious one, through every corner of the field him drawing. And so set down at once on the ground the youth, very much terrified, he began to exhort, that he might be of good mind trusting in God: that he was the enemy of the human race, who men averted from the love of God to earthly things, in his own power, with divine justice permitting it, bound led: he should go himself, and on individual days, or at least on feast days dedicated to God, before he turned aside to other businesses, to God the best he should extend prayers: that himself on that day on which he had done this from diabolical snares and the envy of evil demons most safe would be. And so daily greater miracles and prodigies were brought forth.
[16] When from Rimini he was returning home, and had come to the Crustumius torrent, a torrent dangerously overflowing (for Crustumium is a torrent, the common people call it Concha, falling from the Apennine through Mount Feretrus, into the Adriatic sea running down: which the more it approaches the plain the more with broader bed it is brought, with mountain rains so growing, that those crossing for the most part the inundation of waters by surprise oppresses: and many in our memory in the middle of the bed caught, by the whirlpools of waters were absorbed) when there the man of God had come, surrounded everywhere by waters, immediately to divine help he fled. with cloak spread over it he passes: For the sign of the salvific Cross made for himself, his cloak over the waters he extended: soon with knees bent on it lying down, to the other bank unimpaired escaped, so that by the waters not even the cloak was sprinkled. There was present a great multitude of inhabitants, who at the banks for watching the inundations more closely were wont to approach, at first by the fear of impending danger struck, a little after at the great miracle astonished, and to the neighbors that matter, as it had been done, divulged.
[17] Likewise while on a certain day he was sowing turnips, recalled home on account of the arrival of the poor of Christ, orders turnips to be gathered on the very day on which he had sown them. whom to receive in hospitality he was wont; when he asked what he could give to them as food, he ordered his sister to go into the garden to gather herbs. The sister to him that there was nothing else in the little garden than turnips, which he himself on the same day had sown, answered. To whom the Saint of God, "Powerful is, " he said, "God, who his people Israel for forty years in the desert with manna, that is, with heavenly food fed, and water from the hardest flint to the thirsting crowd led out; turnips at the same moment of time sown to produce: she should go, and whatever by the nod of supreme God she should find, with herself bring." She immediately returning, turnips of remarkable magnitude, in the garden, where a little before the man of God had sown, found, brought. By which thing the guests and visitors, not moderately excited, divulged that miracle.
[18] With the holiness of the man of God disseminated through the whole region, at first to admiration, from S. James returning a fourth time afterwards to great honor by all to be held began: thence by frequent visitations of men daily he was agitated. There flowed to him not only the locals, but from neighboring places a great multitude. And so following the footsteps of the holy Fathers, who for avoiding the goads of ambition into great solitudes withdrew, on long journeys to most remote regions he set out, and especially to the seat of S. James the Apostle four times he proceeded. And when now a fifth time he was about to go, from the middle of the journey by an Angel recalled home he is reported to have returned. There are who say, founds a hospital: as we have said above, after the last pilgrimage a hospice for the poor of Christ near Mount Ocearius, beside the public road, where he had a paternal field, he built, which still keeps the name of its author, called the Hospital of B. Amatus; and in our age with riches, according to the means of the place, sufficiently increased, for receiving the poor it is exposed.
[19] Of grand stature rather than middling to have been, from the inspection of his body it is permitted us to behold. With long countenance and protracted face bringing forth meekness and a certain humility, with venerable and reverend appearance, that by nature for probity composed he seemed. In the about sixty-sixth year of his age, and about age 66 dies. as from the structure of the whole body and from the gray hair is seen, he departed life, with a will, by which the poor of Christ he constituted heirs, made: and was buried
in the most ancient church of S. Blasius, under the vault, behind the altar which first to those entering the temple meets: either because that was an ancestral sepulcher, or because then men, having most certain opinion of his holiness, that place of burial, as more august, chose.
CHAPTER III.
Miracles of B. Amatus after death.
[20] Buried four years he remained there, while meanwhile many approaching to his sepulcher, and after 4 years his uncovered body is illustrated by miracles: from various languors, and the same most grave, were healed. The sister, whom we mentioned, following her brother's footsteps, who had vowed perpetual virginity to God, having completed her course of life, is destined to be buried in her brother's monument. The sepulcher is uncovered that that corpse may be brought in: which opened the whole temple was filled with most fragrant odor. From there the body of B. Amatus to all approaching to be inspected appeared. There are who say, and for certain from my elders I have received, with no one procuring it, the bells, which were near the temple, longer to have sounded by themselves. With all astonished at the miracle, from the whole region a great concourse is made: and many sick, by the touch of the most holy body, were immediately healed. The Prefects of the Riminians, hearing the great miracles, immediately send messengers, ordering that body to be carried to Rimini, nor sufficiently safely could they be prevented by the Saludecians then. for which sent legates from Rimini when they could not bring it, When therefore with the highest devotion the body placed in a chest, on a vehicle, that more conveniently by beasts of burden it might be drawn, was placed; immediately the beasts, when they were being led to Rimini, began to go crosswise; nor by any means, that they should tend there, by goads or blows could they be compelled: whence the messengers, moved by religion from the undertaking desisted.
[21] I have heard also (which whether it is true, I would not dare to affirm: yet powerful is the supreme Maker through his servants much greater miracles to bring forth, according to that Prophetic, "Too much honored are your friends, God, too much strengthened is their principate") that when they saw they could not transfer the whole body to Rimini, at least the thumb they bring with themselves, the thumb of the right hand cut off they carried away with themselves: and when they had come to Rimini, and the matter as it had been done were expounding, that they had only brought with themselves the thumb said, lest the city of Rimini should entirely lack the relics of the most holy man: and when to show it they girded themselves, long sought in the boxes, but in vain, nowhere was it found. Ps. 138:17 With all astonished at the miracle, to view the most holy body messengers were publicly sent, who found the finger returned to its proper hand, that of the cut-off thumb not even a trace appeared. These things to us as adolescents by very many elders and the same most prudent were related, and for certain recounted: and was added that almost a hundred years had passed, in which the sacristy of our church burned in fire: by which it happened that the history of the most holy man, as many other things, was consumed.
[22] a proper chapel is established for him With a town founded a little after on this Saludecian hill, which before where now the most ancient church of S. Blasius is seen had been situated, with the title also of the church into this our present likewise translated; a peculiar chapel in the middle of the temple was built, and to him dedicated, where with the highest veneration the body buried still is seen. And so much was that place held in veneration, that certain Princes of this town, from the noble Cecolino family in it chose for themselves a place of burial: whose sepulcher in our memory honorably enough constructed, on account of the rashness and ignorance of certain ones in the repair of the chapel was very imprudently destroyed, and the memory of the best Princes was taken away from posterity. Which we have therefore written, that to how great honor that place, where the most holy man's body is preserved, in that time was held, may be discerned.
[23] where he shines with miracles, Many of his miracles are mentioned, which if individual to recount I should desire scarcely a measure would be found: yet some now occurring to me to commemorate is in mind. While I was a young boy I heard from men worthy of faith, that a certain soldier, who by chance in winter quarters here was staying, by some who pursued him with execrable hatred, was gravely wounded, and among other wounds the head from the front to the back was pierced by an arrow shot from a crossbow. a head pierced by an arrow he heals, And when all despaired of his health (indeed since the brain, vital member, was injured) he himself B. Amatus commending himself, and for his health vowing I know not what, after a few days unimpaired escaped.
[24] an energumen he frees, My mother often related to me as a boy, that there was a certain woman of our town, whose name, lest her house be afflicted with injury I have determined to be passed over with silence, was wont through clear intervals to suffer the illusions of demons, and so gravely sometimes was vexed, that scarcely by her domestics could she be restrained. She since she was most devoted to B. Amatus, before she was completely infested by demons, cried out to her own to lead her to the chest of B. Amatus continuously, there to find rest. And so by her own often was led; and also herself in the dead of night, when she saw herself being vexed, ran there, crying out, "B. Amatus help me." And when this often she had done, she was freed: she was wont then herself to say, that she by the intercessions of B. Amatus was abandoned by demons.
[25] averts the enemy from sacking the town When in the upper age this region was infested with arms, and most surrounding towns daily were sacked, with Nicolaus Picenino, who as another Mars then was reported, leading the troops of the Duke of Milan, and Zabuletum had been sacked by the soldiers of the same Duke; at night the same army moved toward Saludecium, with this counsel that the same town for plunder he might hand over to the soldiers, with scouts sent ahead as is wont to be done, who should inspect whether the town was guarded. There met them a man of grand stature, who in the way of the crossroad seemed to be on watch. They when they saw the man so found with quick step toward the town tend, back to them as soon as possible they returned, announcing the town to be most diligently guarded: thus with the matter undone elsewhere Picenino with his army went. But afterwards, when this through the neighbors to many of the Saludecians had been expounded, for certain it was believed B. Amatus to have been, who then had care of the town. Indeed then no watchmen either publicly or privately had been constituted. Indeed treaty and friendship of the Malatesta Princes with the Duke of Milan then had been; for him seen to be on watch. and safe then would be the townsmen had persuaded themselves. But a little after at diverse times, when suspicion of war was strong, and at night watchmen had to be set along the walls, I heard often a man, clothed in white garments, with the rest sleeping near the walls of the town walking around: whom the Prefect then of the town, who was wont to go around the watches, long that he might recognize him pursued, when near the church it had been come, from his eyes vanished.
[26] He related to several, with me still as a boy hearing, my great-uncle, that he had seen one, who of a war engine, averts a crossbow ball, which commonly they call arquebus, attempted to make a test, with a board placed quite recklessly near the wall of the church, where the chest of B. Amatus is situated, that against it the shot might be directed; with some accusing him, that he should not shoot where the body of B. Amatus was, they say he answered, nothing to himself with B. Amatus; with fire applied, the iron ball back behind the wall to the area where now the Praetorium is they say flew, and there was found: which thing great religion in the minds of men struck.
[27] restrains pestilence, Andreas Porcellius Sextinas, a venerable Priest, the nephew of Nicolaus Sextinas formerly the best Rector of this church, recently to me asking, why on the eighth Ides of May supplications and at the same time that most honorable offering publicly were made (for it did not seem verisimilar, on account of the consecration of the temple, of which on that day the memory is celebrated, so many and so ample for the means of the town to be performed) expounded that he had heard from the same Nicolaus, that in the year of the Lord 1448, when the whole this region a force of disease had invaded, and daily men almost innumerable were perishing, the townsmen by the persuasion of the same Nicolaus to the chest of B. Amatus together with him as leader by population approached, and poured forth prayers that the force of pestilence might cease. Which performed continually the pestilence ceased: in memory of which thing supplications and offerings publicly each year, on the day on which the temple was consecrated, were decreed.
[28] heals one full of fetid ulcers, I, when still I was a boy, remember to have seen a Priest, named Lord John Factoris, laboring with most grave disease. He was full of ulcers, so that great from his body fetor he emitted. And when by his domestics on account of the atrocity of sickness almost was deserted, to the suffrage of B. Amatus running back, to former health immediately was restored. And when all wondered, often I heard him proclaiming, himself by the help of B. Amatus to have been freed. Expounded moreover to us Dominicus Ambrosii, to all townsmen of our age sufficiently known, that Joanna his wife, laboring with quartan fever, a woman laboring with quartan, vowed I know not what to B. Amatus, and immediately convalesced. Antonius Francisci related to me, from the small town of Inferni arising, to me besides friendship also by spiritual relationship joined, that he had a son most gravely sick, and dysuria: who was held by difficulty of urine, so that scarcely through intervals of three days, and that small, water would emit. Finally to the help of B. Amatus when he had turned, from greatest tortures in emitting urine was freed.
EPILOGUE.
[29] These are what about the life of B. Amatus, and his miracles to be explained and to be committed to letters I have judged. the rest are hidden. Moreover to no one ought it seem wondrous, that I so few among so many almost innumerable miracles have recounted, the memory of which by the fault of our higher temple's Prelates almost has fallen, who studying avarice, only intent on receiving offerings, what to the cult and preserving the most blessed man's memory pertain hitherto have neglected.
EPISTLE.
Sebastianus Sericus of Saludecium
To P. Francis Modestus his Compatriot greeting.
[30] You ask this Life to be described to be placed by the Saint's body in the chest. The history of B. Amatus, so much demanded, at length to you I send. Reading and re-reading it, the double office of judge and author may you sustain; nor indeed do I fear that you by the love of the matter and the writer in any way may be deceived, although benevolently enough you it with wondrous praises before your brother (as he himself has related to me) have followed. I desire it with your most elegant poem, which about the praises of the most holy man composed by you I hear, if it shall seem expedient to you, to be added and associated, and through some most outstanding writer there at Venice on parchment to be transcribed, and reduced into a codex as ornate as possible to us be transmitted: which by the common expense of each of us adorned, the everlasting monument of our devotion toward the most holy man to be dedicated, and in his chest to be placed as diligently as possible we shall take care.
Farewell from Saludecium V Ides of June 1518.
[31] The above-said I have extracted word for word from the proper originals I D. Vincentius Sanctinus of Rimini, the trustworthiness of his transcript on the day of S. Blasius 1597, which to me through his servant sent the R. D. Archpriest of Saludecium, after his departure from the said place and visitation of the body of the very same
B. Amatus, to D. Protasius Ferrarinus our Canon and to me shown, in the return to the monastery after the pensions received from Mons Gordulfiensis, on day XX January of the above-said year 1597. The Saludecians also assert, as the said Reverend then said to me, A miracle performed in the translation of the body that in the translation of the body of B. Amatus, while into the church it was being carried, and the cattle-driver himself together with others put himself in, with the goad first fixed in the ground before the church itself: which when then he wished to take, he did not easily obtain, because it had produced roots: and astonished without it withdrew, which also into a great elm tree grew, as I myself saw.
[32] about the elm born from the cattle-driver's goad, Thus far the ancient transcript, given to us at Rimini: but the Archpriest who provided the opportunity for transcribing, in his Italian translation asserts the same as above about the goad, growing into an elm; and adds that this was done when the holy body was placed on a cart, that to Rimini it might be carried away. But if the body the Riminians sought in the fourth year after the Blessed's death, when first his sepulcher in the old church was opened, this miracle could not then have happened; since the said elm is seen before the church, not the old, but the new: I prefer therefore to refer it to the time of translation into this from that one. The other which the same Italian Interpreter adds of his own, is of more recent memory, and known by more certain testimony, and here by no means to be omitted: itself in his words, but rendered in Latin, let us hear.
[33] the body rendered immobile to those handling it not reverently enough. D. Francis Modestus, my uncle of good memory and my predecessor, had two Sacellans, who when on a certain day they had brought out the body of B. Amatus from his chest for the sake of dust shaking off, and had placed it on the altar; with the work which they intended performed diligently, but little reverently, since they had not cared to put on surplices nor to apply lighted candles; the body itself so weighty they experienced, that they could not in the chest place it back, however much they strove. At which novelty first they stood consternated, then to the younger of them came into mind, that perhaps for this reason it happened to them, because without befitting reverence the holy body to handle they had presumed. And so immediately returning to the sacristy, with linens and lights taken there, they returned to the altar, and before it kneeling humbly asked the Saint, that he would suffer himself to be placed back by them. With which prayer finished, they found the body most light and almost without weight: just as related to me one of them still living at Rimini, named D. Antonius Cecci, Pastor of S. Maria in curte.
[34] Moreover when the Saludecian people (as the same writes in the dedication to the Bishop of Rimini, who was Julius Caesar Salicinius, from the year 1591 until 1606 presiding over that Church) when, I say, the Saludecian people was held by the greatest desire long ago, in the year 1508 a new chapel founded. for an honorable Chapel for their holy Protector to be fabricated; nor however without external aids did they see themselves able to bring it to effect, especially at that time, when greatly attenuated were the means of each one, on account of the incredible apparatus of war, for recovering Ferrara made by the Most Holy D. N. Pope Clement VIII, in the winter of the year 1597 now nearest passed, suppliantly they came to the most Illustrious and most Reverend already named, that with his good leave it might be permitted them, what for the necessary uses of the hospital was left over, to expend on the fabric of the new chapel. Which kindly granted, were laid in the month of October of the same year: and the following soon April on day X the chapel began to be fabricated, to the top brought it was on day XXIII May: in which fittingly to be adorned was labored then, at expenses for it partly with gratuitous alms, partly with overabundant fruits to the Hospital of those farms, which as from the patrimony of the Blessed had proceeded, so to his honor fittingly seemed to be expended.
B. BERNARD OF THE ORDER OF PREACHERS WITH TWO LITTLE BOYS
OF SCALABIS OR SANTAREM IN LUSITANIA.
AFTER 1265 A.D.
CommentaryBernard of the Order of Preachers with two Little Boys at Santarem in Lusitania (B.)
BY THE AUTHOR D. P.
[1] About to give on XIV of this month of May the Life of B. Aegidius of Scalabis, of the Order of Preachers, such as from the old Mss. in Latin had been collected by Andreas Resendius, Mention of these in the life of B. Aegidius, and brought into light by Stephen Sampayo, both Lusitanian Professors of the same Order; when we had judged to expunge several episodes, doing nothing for our matter, after num. 17 we have also taken out those, with which Resendius interpolates the series of narration, asked to add a word about B. Bernard; and that more willingly, because since on this day inscribed is read in the Lusitanian Hagiology of Cardosus, and has public cult in the Santarem convent's church, as from the things to be said below will be established, about him to treat here we have proposed for ourselves, although the proper day of death (which was of the Lord's Ascension) cannot precisely be determined, because the year in which the matter happened is not known, with various noting various. The translation indeed of the Bodies, of which below was made in the year 1577, happened on day XIV January, and so is inscribed in the said Hagiology; but both that month to us has now passed, and the day with annual festivity is not venerated. The history therefore here receive, from the Chronicle of Antonius Senensis on the year 1250 thus described.
[2] the relation of the happy death in the Chronicle of An. Senen. To this decade I think or to some of the neighboring ones must be referred Fr. Bernard, a man of unblameable and most approved life, who in Portugal in the Convent of Santarem acting as Sacristan, some little boys, bearing the habit of our Religion, after the mysteries of Masses performed, was instructing in letters and morals. Who from their maternal houses bringing breakfasts, after they had served at some Masses, were wont to one chapel in the same church to turn aside and breakfast there to take. Moreover in it was on the altar there placed an image of the blessed Virgin, and in her bosom the little Jesus, who always is delighted with the humility of little ones and simplicity: who descending from his mother's bosom with them was breakfasting. After he had done this on some occasions, the little ones complaining the matter to the master report, narrating that that little one to their breakfast always descended, and brought nothing as a contribution. The prudent and religious Father, this matter from the mouth of the innocents perceived, instructed them, that if he again in the customary manner to them descended, they should so address him: "Behold, Lord, you always with us eat and nothing of contribution have been wont to bring to breakfast, invite therefore us and our master once into your Father's house." And so they instructed do, when the little Jesus in the customary manner to them descended: who agreeing to their petition, designated a certain day on which he would do it, and was the day of the Lord's Ascension, now and now imminent. This soon they refer to the Master, who preparing himself, that the celestial banquet he might attend, on that day early to celebrate himself disposed, with the same little ones ministering to him: and with the Sacrifice performed all three of them together ceased to live, and all three together in the same were buried in a tomb: and some time afterwards passed, their bodies were from the humble place to a higher translated, and placed in one sepulcher, which the Chapel of the Kings was wont to be called. And this miraculous history, was on the same sepulcher depicted: and through a certain tradition, received from the ancients, the fame to these our times has come.
[3] eulogy among the Blessed of the Order. The same hence transcribed the Author of the mirror of examples, Balinghem in the Marian Calendar, Bzovius in the Annals and several others. After the Rule of S. Augustine and the Constitutions of the Order of Preachers, printed at Rome in the year 1615, among men distinguished by Holiness, under the title of the Blessed Confessors of the Order, twenty-third is placed Fr. Bernard, in the convent of Santaren of Lusitania: who by a notable miracle with two little boys, whom in letters and morals he was instructing, by Jesus Christ to the heavenly banquet invited, on the very holy day of the Ascension of the Lord, after the celebration of Mass placidly dying, with the same boys merited to taste eternal delights. Resendius brushing the matter with few, indeed wrapping it in some general phrase, when he had said that with some prior revelation to Christ they were happily called, subjoins: When the Convent of cenobites after refection for action of thanks to the church returned, the master clothed in sacred vestments, with those most innocent Acolytes, near the altar in the Lord sleeping they found. It is however credible, either Bernard before he approached the altar last to have confessed his sins, what he had heard from the boys and what he hoped to have indicated to the Confessor; or the boys themselves with childish simplicity the same things which to the master, at home also to their parents to have related; and thence the series of the whole matter to have been learned, that it could on the wall, in the very plastering of lime, be depicted, and through the mouths of posterity be divulged.
[4] The said Resendius a little before, says this Bernard was, to S. Bernard Abbot of Clairvaux, as in name, so in dovelike simplicity, Whether different from him is Bernard the Vasco, in innocence of morals, and in virginal purity not unlike; by nation however a Vasco from the town of Morlana: whom B. Father Aegidius, when he ruled the Province of Spain, to monastic discipline with his betrothed left led first; and finally from the Caesaraugustanian monastery to the Scalabitan transferred: where finally also he died, and was buried, illustrious for many edited and notable miracles. Which words, as if said about another than him, of whose death and translation, adding one word about him, soon the same pursues those things which partly we have already said partly we are about to say; another from this Bernard the Vasco for himself the author of the precited little list of the Blessed feigns, and names him in the thirty-second place. Into the same stone seems to have struck Cardosus, when from this Bernard he distinguishes a synonymous another, in the same convent illustrious for miracles, and one hundred years later. whether the same matter happened in Majorca? But Francis Diagus in the Chronicle of the Order of Preachers of the Province of Aragon book 2 chap. 43 the whole that history with certain circumstances changed transfers to Majorca, and narrates that a little boy, novice of the Order, was wont the image of B. V. Mary, holding the son in her bosom, piously to contemplate, and wondering that to her little Jesus she never gave the breast, with infantile simplicity to have offered a small portion of his own measure: which when sedulously and constantly to do he persevered, was invited freely by the little Jesus that on the next Lord's Day to the house of his Father he should come to dine: but with the boy excusing that it was unlawful for him to leave the cloister without the license of the Master, and this commanding that himself also to come the little Jesus should command, together both on the Lord's Day died. These things more at length he, citing as author Master Sorius, judging that this history pertains to the year about 1348, because in that year, with the greatest part of mortals taken away by pestilence, it had been necessary to receive into Novitiate even boys. But I judge that the matter, of which no other in Majorca there exists notice, by the same reason was transferred there, when
with notable (as is wont) alteration of circumstances, by which the most attested miracle of the cock raised by B. Aegidius, in the Scalabitan field, in the book on the Lives-of-Brothers is attributed to a certain anonymous in the same Majorca.
[5] Indeed what had happened to himself, that as if about another Aegidius had related, from whose mouth itself there is narrated; with the place also kept silent, and how transferred there what pertained to Lusitania. lest the author of the miracle be known. Similarly perhaps another, to whom either divinely or from the prior Confession of Bernard had become known, by what reason and occasion he with his disciples had died; that very thing desiring in Aragon to narrate, kept silent the place, content to have said the matter: which not sufficiently faithfully committed to memory, by variously narrating the Aragonese altered; and from two boys, clothed in the habit of the Order, made one Novice, and that on the island of Majorca; just as the French, with whom about the cock had been narrated, to the same island the deed they referred. Perhaps also at a long time after the matter performed, with the history altered through the mouths of several received the Aragonese in the XV century or later; while it itself happened not very long after the death of B. Aegidius who died in the year 1265: for that to him survived Bernard is established from the Life of Aegidius num. 46, where it is said that he heard a vision, offered to a certain pious man at the very hour in which he died. And from this place are convinced to have erred those who referred Bernard's death to the year 1250 or even 40; and Antonio Senensis's conjecture by at least two decades to have erred.
[6] In the twenty-ninth year after, says Bzovius the bodies of the same dug up again, Translation after 29 years from the first burial. very white and incorrupt were found. This if from an ancient author received, deserves entirely to be believed; but I fear lest the Translation made in the year 1577 and in the Chronicle of Antonius Senensis through a mere typographical error ascribed to the year 1277, gave occasion to Bzovius of counting 29 years: Antonius certainly Senensis only says that some time afterwards the bodies were dug up again and translated: then under the note of year 1277 the same narrates all things, which Resendius in the Life of Aegidius, and from him Cardosus refer, in almost the same words, for the year 1577. This therefore corrected, the words of Antonius are these. At length in the year of the Lord 1577 (where the little word "at length, " the other in the year 1577, immediately subjoined after "the fame to these our times, " that is the year 1585, in which his works Antonius was publishing, "having been brought forth, " the said correction not obscurely proves) At length, he says, when in the same place, in which such a sepulcher was, a certain door it was necessary to open; were found of these holy bodies the Relics: and indeed of the little ones one covered with a linen, of the said Father however their Master with another. But what the same all those Relics of those three covered linen, was so white, whole, and incorrupt found, as if from a few days before it had been there placed. Hear now Resendius; In the year however 1577, he says, when in the same wall, in which this Holy Father Bernard with his disciples had been from a time immemorial buried, it was necessary to construct a certain door; the holy Relics of them, not without great devotion of the onlookers, were found. The Master's sacred ashes in a certain separate linen were placed, of those Innocents however in another similar; with virginal flesh in some part of the bones so glistening with snowy purity of fine linen, that the appearance of immortal resurrection in the now dead corpse it offered.
[7] described with notarial faith: The fame of this thing, says proceeding Antonius, soon through the city is spread; runs together soon to the astounding matter the whole people, and the devotion and memory which was held toward these Blessed is increased. And a public instrument to the memory of posterity, all these things, by witnesses first bound by oath examined, in writing are handed down. I fear lest this instrument, if however it still remains, equally with difficulty can be found as the ancient Mss., from which B. Aegidius's life and miracles Resendius received, I do not wish accordingly in those laboriously seeking again to lose time; let those see, whose interest it is to preserve such things better, and when for the common honor of the Order they are required more diligently to require: here for me it will be sufficient, until that freely is submitted, to indicate that Cardosus in the Commentary on VIII May expressly alleges the memorials left by the Masters Fr. Hieronymus de Padilia, Fr. Nicolaus Diaz, Fr. George Vogado, and Fr. Simon da Luz, witnesses through letters and virtues sufficiently qualified. He adds the same, that in this translation the bodies of the Master and the two boys were placed within wooden gilded statues, brought up to the cincture; and that they are preserved on the proper altar in the other wing of the cruciform temple, together with the very image of the Lord Jesus. The head however of B. Bernard is preserved in the Brigantine palace, obtained by the most insistent prayers from D. Catherine, daughter of Infante D. Edward and mother of Duke D. Theodosius.
[8] is referred on 14 January, The same moreover Cardosus on day XIV January referring the memory of the said translation, writes that from the open sepulcher a most sweet odor came forth, with present Fr. Michael of the Rosary Prior of the convent, Vicar General of Santarem, and two Notaries; before whom the bones taken thence in procession were brought to the major altar; then with notice of the matter to D. George de Almeida Archbishop of Lisbon, were prepared the statues above-indicated, within which placed the holy relics are, with the said Archbishop approving and personally assisting. And from that time they by the devout people are visited, especially in the Paschal feasts; and there are invoked on earth those whom with such great glory God has crowned in heaven.
[9] on 8 May in the year 1578 the bones seem to have been exposed for veneration. Meanwhile of the same chief memories in his Hagiology to be recalled chose Cardosus the day VIII May; which to me brings suspicion, that it was made not in the same but in the next year after the finding, namely 1578. For then with cycle of the sun 19, of the moon 2, Sunday letter E, Pascha was celebrated XXX March, and so the feast of the Ascension VIII May: which did not happen from the year 1235 in the whole rest of the XIII century, that the reason of the year of death could not have been considered in marking that day.
ON BLESSED ANGELO MARTYR OF THE CAMALDULENSE ORDER
OF MASSACIO IN ITALY.
YEAR 1458
CommentaryAngelo of the Camaldulense Order, Martyr of Massacio (B.)
G. H.
[1] The Sacred Camaldulense Hermitage is situated within the bounds of the diocese of Arezzo, on the top of the most celebrated Apennine mountain, and among the highest hills, by which Etruria is said to be separated from the Aemilian province. We when we stayed longer at Florence, in the year 1662 in the month of January approached these Camaldulense Hermits, nor did we wonder that it is called Sacred-hermitage, since the Hermits themselves seemed to us in their solitude to breathe truly holy life with the highest humanity, just as also their Elders, more solicitous that they themselves might pass life holily, than that of the Saints or Blessed of the Order the illustrious deeds done or their miracles to posterity in writing they should leave. Hence it is that their Acts not except meagerly we can mostly publish; which yet we judge to be less wondrous in Hermits devoted by institution to contemplation alone. Acts written by Augustinus Florentinus. From Monks of the same name (for Monks also and indeed more numerous, this sacred Order has, divided through noble Abbeys) it had to be expected rather that this work be undertaken for posterity. But these also either have written little about that subject, or what to others they wished to give by writing the life, could not obtain by their writings against the time wearing all things injuries. Therefore the more they are now to be esteemed by us, who scattered here and there memorials have studied to gather; among which Augustinus Florentinus a Camaldulense Monk: who about B. Angelo, Martyr of Massacio, in the second part of the Camaldulense Histories book 3 chap. 30, these things to us has brought forth.
[2] Time of martyrdom In the year one thousand four hundred fifty-eight, illustrated by his happy transit the temple of S. Mary of Serra, outside Massacio, Blessed Angelo, there a monk: who when of extirpating the Berlotanian sect as if author by his vehement preaching had been, by certain wicked men therefore was killed. miracles. At whose tomb God the Best and Greatest deigned to show many miracles in the very church, which now from his name of Saint Angelo is called. a church, For the sake of which thing, with him among the Saints of the Order related, this poem on the sepulcher at the most known altar was sculpted, of an Author unskilled in the metric art.
Holy Virgin, given as crown to Son and Father,
In the heavens assisting, may there be care of us to you.
The gem of monks Angelo lies in this chest.
memory among others. These Augustinus Florentinus. But Thomas de Minis of the same Order, in the Catalogue of the Saints and Blessed of the whole Camaldulense Order, printed at Florence in the year 1606, writes these things: B. Angelo of Massacio Martyr, a notable preacher, killed by heretics in the year of the Lord 1458: and was buried in the church dedicated to his name. Similar things has Archangelus Hastivillius, in the Romualdine or Eremitic history of the Camaldulense Order, printed at Paris in the year 1631.
[3] But the most diligent in collecting the Acts of the Saints of the Camaldulense Order and transmitting to us the R. D. Andreas Valemarius the Camaldulense, when he was Abbot of S. Laurence of Massacio, thus wrote to us: About B. Angelo (who now in Italian commonly called dal Massaccio) besides those things which Florentinus has in part 2 page 145 I will add some things. The church, the body under the altar. which even now is called by all of S. Angelo, is distant from this my monastery of Massacio one mile. His body lies under the major altar, and that I visited a week ago. feast 8 May. His feast is celebrated on day VIII May, with the neighboring peoples coming together. It is to be transferred to this temple of S. Laurence, and placed under the major altar, made from various polished marble pebbles skillfully, which therefore was left empty. Translation designated, Will be made however with God granting his translation in the month of May in the year 1664. Will be present then at the solemn translation the most Eminent Cardinal Cybo, with piety, zeal, vigilance, and the highest integrity outstandingly preeminent, the best Bishop of Iesi, with the fervid word of sermons and example feeding the flock of Christ. with the bodies of S. Tiburtius and Fortunia Together with the body of the said Angelo will also be transferred the holy bodies of S. Tiburtius the Martyr and S. Fortunia the Virgin and Martyr, taken from the cemetery of Priscilla on the Salarian Way and Calixtus at Rome, and translated here, to be placed under the same major altar. In my house I have the said Bodies of S. Tiburtius and S. Fortunia in sealed boxes, likewise also marble tablets, in one of which is sculpted thus Tiburtius, before and after which name is a palm. In the other however thus, Fortunia, after which name is a dove, in whose mouth a branch &c. We have also their authentics at Rome in the monastery of S. Romualdus,
which at the said time will carry with himself our Procurator general of the City.
[4] These things Abbot Valdemarius, who in attached letters had pledged that he himself after the translation made would transmit all things: which when not brought, the same of his promise we made mindful through letters: but on his behalf the office of Visitator general undergoing and absent at Faenza, replied the most Reverend D. Michael, Angelus Ferraccius, Abbot of S. Laurence of Massacio, on day XXVIII May 1677. The Translation indeed designated then, but not yet done to be, with the most Eminent Cardinal Cybo the Iesi mitres transferring to his kinsman the most Illustrious and most Reverend Laurentius Cybo, most vigilant himself also and best Pastor, with zeal of souls, prudence, integrity preeminent. The said however Iesi an Episcopal city, under which Massacio, is a city of Picenum between Senogallia and Fabriano, in which is the body of Saint Romualdus the Founder of the Camaldulense Order, of whom we have treated VII February.
Mai II: 9. Mai
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