ON S. TUDINUS ABBOT
OF CORISOPITUM IN ARMORIC BRITAIN.
CommentaryTudinus, Abbot of Corisopitum in Armoric Britain (S.)
G. H.
Corisopitum, an Episcopal city of Gaul in the Western part of Armoric Britain called Cornwall, acknowledges as its first Bishop S. Corentinus, and venerates him as its chief Patron, from whom it is also called Quimper-Corentin. The Acts from the Life of S. Corentinus. In his Life, transmitted to us from a very old Breviary and to be edited on the XII day of December, are contained some few Acts of S. Tudinus, which excerpted thence we propose on this day, which is reckoned to be his birthday.
[2] God omnipotent disposed, that Corentinus at a fitting time should be placed upon the candlestick. Offered with S. Corentinus and Guengaloeus to S. Martin, for the Bishopric, For Cornwall demanded a Bishop, whom it did not have: and chose three men of holy name and worthy reputation, namely Corentinus, Guengaloeus and Tudinus, to be sent to Tours to S. Martin Archbishop of Tours, that of them he should consecrate a Bishop, and send him back consecrated to the diocese of Cornwall. B. Martin therefore called to himself his Clerics, discreet and honest: and when he had noted in Tudinus learning and honesty, in Guengaloeus eloquence and religion, in Corentinus reverence of person, simplicity of countenance and humility of heart, and venerable sanctity in all things; the holy Spirit inspiring, he chose S. Corentinus, his companions demanding it, as Bishop of Cornwall, although reluctant and unwilling, and commanded him to be prepared for consecration, as was fitting. The man of God Corentinus is consecrated Bishop by B. Martin, and with his holy companions is sent back to the Cathedral See of Cornwall… Without delay, since he knew his companions, Guengaloeus and Tudinus, commendable in sanctity and science, he blessed them as Abbots, that they might help him in propagating the Catholic faith. he is blessed as Abbot by S. Corentinus. For he had asked of the Metropolitan S. Martin, when he had been consecrated Bishop, that he should impose the hand of benediction on his aforesaid companions, and send them back to Cornwall as blessed Abbots. But Saint Martin, as he was of dovelike simplicity and serpentine prudence, kindly answered him in this manner: By no means, dearest Brother Corentinus, by no means is it expedient, that we bless your Abbots: lest this example among posterity be drawn to a consequence, and derogate from your dignity. Go rather to your See, and use your liberty: and these your two companions, according to the prescription of S. Martin. whom we believe to be worthy by the proof of their religion and discretion of merit, in your Church by Episcopal authority bless as Abbots. These therefore according to the counsel of S. Martin being blessed as Abbots, at length resolved in a holy death, he who had lived to Christ, dies in Christ.
[3] Thus far those Acts, which also Albert le Grand in his treatise on the Saints of Armoric Britain in the Life of S. Corentinus published in French, Cult on the 9th and 10th of May. and in the Alphabetical Index at the end of the book assigns the birthday of S. Tudinus to the ninth day of May with the proper Offices of the notable Church of Corisopitum printed in the year 1642. But in these, on account of the double feast of S. Gregory Nazianzen, it is transferred to the following and tenth day of May, on which the feast of S. Tudinus Abbot is celebrated under a semidouble rite, and all things are prescribed from the Common. The Prayer Intercession, the Lessons in the second Nocturn, The day of Blessed Tudinus, in the third Nocturn a Homily on the Gospel, Behold we have left all things. But on the XII of December, in the sixth Lesson concerning S. Corentinus, the same things concerning Guingaloeus and Tudinus contracted into a compendium are recited. But the feast of S. Guingaloeus is prescribed on the III day of March, Guingaloeus other than S. Winwaleus related on the 3rd of March. under a double rite in the Cathedral Church, this cause being added, because he was a companion of S. Corentinus; and proper Lessons are prescribed to be recited in the second Nocturn, in which no mention is made either of S. Corentinus or of S. Tudinus: as neither in the triple Life which we edited on the said III of March: where in the preceding Commentary we showed, that that S. Winwaleus was born about the year 555, that is about 58 years after the death of S. Martin the Bishop: so that necessarily from that Winwaleus another Guingaloeus the companion of SS. Corentinus and Tudinus seems to be established: which can be more accurately examined at the Life of S. Corentinus. Saussay knew nothing of the cult of S. Tudinus, and accordingly into the Catalogue of Saints, who do not have their own histories or birthdays, rejected him with this eulogy: Guingaloeus and Tudinus, men of holy estimation, presented, with S. Corentinus, to B. Martin Metropolitan of Tours, that whom of these three he willed he should promote to the Bishopric of Corisopitum.