ON ST. DOMINICA THE VIRGIN
NEAR LAKE COMO IN INSUBRIA.
VI CENTURY
CommentaryDominica the Virgin, near Lake Como in Insubria (St.)
BY D. P.
The Como Church among the Insubrians presided according
to its own Catalogues thirteenth
St. Agrippinus, To her brother St. Agrippinus Bishop of Como buried together from year DLXVIII, to
DLXXXVI, on day XVII June to be commemorated,
who buried on the Comacine island there
rested, until the last destruction of that island,
from the order of the Emperor Frederick made in year MCLX,
when to the chapel of D. Peter his bones were translated; and
this also a few years afterwards destroyed, carried to the church
of Cold-Water, in year MCXLVII built by the Cistercian
monks, and deposited under the major altar; as on
the said day from more certain monuments proves the Martyrology
of New Como's author, Primus Aloysius de Tattis,
against Ferdinand Ughelli, of this last place's foundation
to St. Agrippinus himself ascribing: about which matter in the next
month more fully we must treat. Now what of that place
we have mentioned does St. Dominica, the holy Bishop's
sister, a little after him deceased, and near her brother buried,
and at once from one to the other place translated. In the praised
Martyrology, On the same day, namely on which the Cathedral church's
Dedication and the third translation of SS. Protus and Hyacinth
is commemorated, that is on this XIII May, is prescribed the cult
of St. Dominica the Virgin, sister of D. Agrippinus the Como
Bishop: who as her brother emulated in life
of sanctity, so with him merited from the Lord in
eternal beatitude to be crowned: whose sacred pledges
now in the church of Cistercian monks, near
the bank of Larius, with worthy veneration are venerated.
[2] Whatever about her now can be said or known has embraced
the author of this Martyrology, partly in his Annotation on it itself,
partly in a letter sent afterwards. The words
of the now indicated Annotation are these: About Dominica
the Virgin treats Lazarus Caraffinus Bishop of Como, Numbered among the Saints of the diocese by authors,
in the Diptychs of Bishops of this city num. 13,
and in the Catalog of Saints and Blessed, whose
bodies in the city and diocese of Como rest;
Philip Archinto, in the Tablet of Saints of the Como
Church; Quintilius Lucinus Passalaqua, in I Historical
Epistle; Francis Ballarinus, in the Como Chronicle
part 3 chapter 2; Peter Maria Campus, of the Piacenza
History book 8; Ferdinand Ughelli, of Sacred Italy
vol. 5 in the series of Como Bishops
num. 13; Robert Russcha Cistercian monk,
in the description of the Aquaefrigida monastery, which by Lodi
press in light he published in year 1619; and Lelius
Fravezziuz, in the New Como Diary on day
XVII June. We also about the same have somewhat discussed
book 8 of the New Como Annals from num.
73 to 77.
[3] No one doubts about the sanctity of this glorious Virgin:
yet the writers fight among themselves, she was not a nun at St. John the Baptist. what
and what kind was her life. For Francis Ballarinus,
undoubtedly affirms together with Ferdinand
Ughelli, that Dominica was in the asceterium of St. John
the Baptist, now of St. Margaret, at New Como a nun:
whom also he believes a companion of SS. Liberata and Faustina
about year of the Lord DXC, in which her to have died he thinks.
But in this monastery no flourishing either in tablets or
in pictures or in any greater tradition of this Virgin
memory: which without doubt would endure, if together
with the holy Sisters a common in this most celebrated
place life she had led. Plainly if Dominica had her
eyes there closed, some trace of herself there
she would have left: and the sacred Virgins, still there persevering,
this illustrious adornment would not despise: who
as with greatest piety Liberata and Faustina cherish,
so Dominica would venerate and to themselves claim.
[4] Against Ballarinus Robert Russcha thinks,
that she lived among the Nuns of SS. Faustinus and Jovita, nor at SS. Faustinus and Jovita,
whose asceterium once was on the Comacine island:
with which utterly destroyed by the New Como people, the Nuns
withdrew to the mainland, which Campus was called,
where they fixed a new seat. But neither ever
did the Nuns of Campus recognize Dominica,
nor about her do they preserve even a slight in the ancient codices of their
monastery monument. Wherefore by right is to be believed,
that Dominica with them had no domicile,
and indeed a virgin consecrated to God she did not
exist, as Ballarinus and Russcha contend, although
they disagree in assigning the monastery which she inhabited.
To these may we add, that since the Nuns of the island
migrated from the island, to the place which our
age they hold; if before with them to Christ pledged
had lived together Dominica, both her relics probably
they would have possessed, and them with them to the new cloisters
would have carried: especially since no reason compelled, that
they themselves of their venerable Sister's spoils should yield to the Cistercian
monks, more recent inhabitants of Larius:
since they only in the year of the Lord MCXLII these shores
inhabited; and to them no rights favored, that of Dominica
the body from the Nuns of the island they should extort.
[5] but she seems to have lived piously in the world. Therefore more in agreement with truth is, that Dominica,
not within the precincts of monasteries her virginity
inviolate preserved; but in the world, in worldly indeed
attire, but far from all vanity and feminine
levity; as it became her, who for herself an immortal Spouse
had chosen, and to him strove with all her heart's and body's
purity to serve. Those who before Francis Ballarinus
and Robert Russcha praised Dominica,
not even a word about her religion among
the female Ascetics of St. Benedict made. From which it is easily gathered,
that her belonging to so great a Patriarch's institute,
was wholly a fabrication of Ballarinus and Russcha.
Thus far that one: to which add, if you please, that it is exceedingly uncertain,
whether so soon after the death of St. Benedict (for he had died
in year DXLIII) Insubria had any monastery,
which the profession of the Benedictine Rule had received; which especially began to spread itself, after the Cassino monastery's
restoration under St. Petronace at the beginning of the VIII century.
[6] What pertains to the country of St. Dominica, she undoubtedly
had it common with her brother: on what foundation may she be said to have come from Cologne Agrippina? but I fear lest the form of the name Agrippinus
alone has caused, that he be by some
believed German, born at Cologne Agrippina; brought to Como
by divine instinct, near the end of St. John Bishop of Como's
time and the year DLXVII, who from acquaintance with his sanctity
took care with prior persuasions, that after his decease there should be elected
than from their own Clergy did Churches assume Bishops to themselves: if
however this happened, on occasion of a votive pilgrimage to the thresholds of the Apostles
I would believe Agrippinus
with his sister Dominica to have come to Como: about whose special cult
asked us to teach more distinctly the said R. D. Primus
Aloysius de Tattis, in these words responded in year MDCLXXVIII,
XIV March. The cult of St. Agrippinus is most explored:
for annually through the city and diocese
of New Como his memory we restore in
the ecclesiastical Office: her own church. but about B. Dominica what
you ask, I add that she indeed is not in our
annotated Calendar, but yet has a church at
the entrance of the Valtellina sacred to her name, in which
with great celebrity she is venerated.