CONCERNING S. GUILLELMUS THE PRESBYTER
OF PONTOISE IN GAUL.
IN THE YEAR MCXCII.
CommentaryGuillelmus the Presbyter of Pontoise in Gaul (S.)
BY THE AUTHOR G. H.
Rigordus, Chronographer of Philip Augustus King of the Franks, in his deeds writes these things: "In the year of the Lord one thousand one hundred ninety-two, on the twentieth day of the month of November, there was a particular eclipse of the Moon after midnight in the sixth degree of Gemini, and it lasted for two hours. But in the following May, on the sixth of the Ides of that month, the day of his death at the time of the Rogations at Pontoise a certain Priest, English by nation, Guillelmus by name, strong in sanctity of life and morals, miracles migrated to the Lord. At whose sepulcher at the time of his death, the Lord cooperating, many miracles were done, the blind illumined, the lame cured, but others from various diseases fully restored to former health. pilgrimages, But the fame of so great a man being diffused through the world, made many come from diverse parts for the cause of pilgrimage to the place of his burial." Thus Rigordus. The sacred memory of this Thaumaturge on the said X of May, is inscribed in various Martyrologies, concerning whom in the Manuscript Florary of the Saints these things are handed down: "At Pontoise, of Guillelmus the Priest." In Greven in the Auctarium of Usuard, struck about the years MDXV and MDXXI, these things are read: memory in the calendars. "At Pontoise, of S. Guillelmus the Presbyter and Confessor, a man of great charity." Which same things are handed down in the German Martyrology of Canisius: and from this cited he is inscribed in the general Catalogue of Ferrarius. Richard Whitford in the Martyrology, which in English according to the use of the Church of Salisbury in the year MDXVI he edited at London, has these things on this day: "Likewise the feast of S. Guillelmus born in England, a man of great sanctity and of very many miracles." On which day also Saussay in the supplement of the Gallican Martyrology writes these things: "At Pontoise, of S. Guillelmus the Presbyter, illustrious by zeal for souls and by studies and arts of piety." But Pontoise, or Bridge on the river Oise, by some writers Isara, is a city six leagues distant from Paris: concerning which we treated more fully on VIII April, at the Life of S. Galterius the Abbot.
[2] Robert the monk of Auxerre, who flourished in those times, describes this history with some other circumstances: "In the same year," he says, "in the Bishopric of Paris at the castle of Pontoise, a certain Priest, Wilelmus by name, while he was performing with the people the Litanies, which are before the Ascension of the Lord, touched by a sudden ailment died. his virtues: Concerning him they relate, that he was of wondrous charity toward the poor and widows and orphans, and a vehement assailant of vices, and a most vigilant prosecutor of the divine office; and although dwelling in the world, yet altogether postponing the world: who how purely, how acceptably he served God, is plain from the showing of frequent signs, by which the Lord magnifies His Saint." Thus the said Robert, who seems to refer his death to the year MCXCII, but Rigordus to the year MCXCIII, while after the eclipse of the month of November of the year MCXCII he asserts the said Guillelmus dead in the following May. But we judge it must be read, in the preceding May, the time of his death the Rogation Sunday, in the year 1192 and thus by Robert the same year would be indicated. But this conjecture is excellently proved from the days of the Rogations or Litanies before the Ascension of the Lord indicated. For in the cited year MCXCII with the cycle of the Moon XV, of the Sun XXV with the Sunday letters ED, Easter was celebrated on the fifth day of April, the feast of the Ascension on the XIV of May, and the preceding Sunday on the X day of the same May on which he is said to have died, when he was performing the Litanies with the people: which very Sunday they seem in the Gallican Churches to have begun to be performed. But these things could not be referred to the preceding or following year; because then this Rogation Sunday fell, either on the XIX of May, or on the day XII of May.