ON SAINT NATALIS
ARCHBISHOP OF MILAN.
A.D. DCCLI
CommentaryNatalis, Archbishop of Milan (St.)
G. H.
The ancient cult of St. Natalis, on this XIII May
among the Milanese recurring, indicate the old
Missals of this Church according to the custom
of St. Ambrose, Sacred cult. of which kind we have ones in year MDXXII and
MDLX printed, and likewise Breviaries of year MDXXXIX, and of year
MDCXXXV, although before in the Breviary of year MDLXXXVII
his memory was omitted. Mentioned also by Galesinius
in his Martyrology, by Ferrarius in the general Catalogue and
another of the Saints of Italy, and by other writers of Milanese matters.
In the aforementioned Breviary of year MDCXXXV, for
a solemn Office is prescribed, according to the use of the said Church,
Lesson III about his life, which is of this kind:
[2] Natalis, Pastor of this Milanese Church,
was of wonderful fame of erudition and ingenuity: and especially
is reported about him, Eulogy from the Breviary, that Greek and Hebrew letters
he learned excellently. But the doctrine and his ingenuity's
force he also declared in writings, which against the enemies of the Catholic
faith he published. The heavenly merits moreover of him
were illustrated by many after death and in life miracles.
The relics of his body in the church of St. George,
which is called at the Palace, with the highest veneration
are preserved. Thus there, which same things are read in the Lessons
proper published for the use of those, who in that diocese the Roman
rite use, to whom is prescribed the Office under double rite.
In the Tablet of Archbishops of the Milanese Church, from the decree
of the Provincial Council IV held under St. Charles, that
eulogy is held.
[3] St. Natalis, in Latin and Greek erudition
very preeminent, from the Tablet of Archbishops and learned in Hebrew also, and an exceptional
worshiper of the Catholic religion, with Pope Zachary received the Archbishopric,
and conducted it so religiously,
that with many labors borne for the faith, at last
holily in the Lord rested III Ides of May, buried
in the basilica of St. George, which he built. He sat one year,
two months. Thus there. St. Zachary the Pope
presided over the Church from the month of December of year DCCXLI, until
the year DCCLII, and is venerated XV March, on which day his
Acts we have published. We subjoin what Ferdinand Ughelli
in the Archbishops of Milan about Natalis wrote.
[4] and Ughelli. St. Natalis was ordained Archbishop of Milan by St. Zachary the Pope
in year DCCXLIX,
or as others wish DCCXLVII. He was both in Greek
and Latin language most distinguished by skill, and the Ecclesiastical rites
he most skillfully knew. He wrote against the Arians,
whose heresy's relics seemed to be sprouting again.
For two whole years the Milanese Church he administered,
and the laurel of sanctity dying
he received from Stephen II Roman Pontiff, on III Ides
of May, on which very day his feast was begun to be celebrated:
and he was buried at St. Eustorgius, which temple
he had himself raised from the foundations, or as others wish,
at St. George in the Palace, where he had instituted a Canonry.
Moreover as concerning Natalis's burial writers
variously narrate, so by no means more constantly about the same Pontificate's
time do they bring an opinion. For as antiquity
is obscure, and therefore hidden; so while something
in it we try to fish out, by conjectures we conduct the matter;
about to test, whether we approach the goal, who lack the certain
reckoning of computing age, and of years.
Thus Ughelli. Panvinius in the Ecclesiastical Chronicle
assigns to his See two years, two months. That he
by Stephen II, in others III, Highest Pontiff among the Saints
was reported relate Ferrarius and Besutius: this one adds the basilica
of St. George by him built. Which almost all has
Paul Morigius in the Sanctuary of the city and diocese of Milan
page 76, where about the basilica of St. George he treats: but page
63 describes the basilica of St. Eustorgius without mention of St. Natalis.
[5] Time of his Episcopate from an ancient Catalogue. More certain seem to be what we have in part 3 of the Episcopal
Catalogue, not long after the very death of St. Natalis, as
to us seems, begun to be written, and afterwards even to year
MLXXXIV continued, in which these things are read: Natalis Bishop,
sat XIV months, died on the eve of the Ides of May, was buried
at St. George: at which place we said, that in place of the eve
of the Ides, seemed to be assumed the preceding day, when
he began to be venerated in the Church: because the very and true
day of death was impeded by the Translation of St. Victor, already before solemn; nor
were the Ides themselves free, which rather should have been assumed, by the Office
of St. Evasius Bishop Martyr occupied. There we showed
the time of the see cannot be more certainly established, than if ordained
in the month of March of year DCCXL, his death is placed in DCCXLI
in the month of May: in which very year Pope Zachary
began the Pontificate, but at the end of November; so that, according to
this calculation, than which not easily a more faithful one will anyone find,
Natalis's death seven months almost preceded Zachary's beginnings.
Nicholas Brautius in the Poetic Martyrology with this
distich honors him.
The exceptional Bishop to bring forth sacred meanings,
Apt was for the eloquence of the triple tongue.
[6] This same Natalis the Spaniards arrogate to themselves, as if
he had been before Bishop of Toledo, then of Milan, relying
on the authority of Dexter, Julian Peter, The same is also attributed to the Spaniards, and especially of Luitprand in
the Adversaria, in which he is said to have died XIII May in year
CCCLIV. But the authority of these recently devised treatises fails,
and no veneration is attributed to Natalis in the ancient
Toledo Breviaries and Missals, of which kind are by order
of Francis Ximenes Archbishop of Toledo published in year MD
and MDII, and others afterwards reprinted in year MDLI, MDCVII,
MDCXVI and MDCXXXVIII. If anyone however delights in these
little inventions, let him consult Tamayo Salazar in the Spanish
Martyrology and others cited by him, whom it does not please here to bring forth.
Some part will be touched on XXV May in the Life of St. Dionysius Bishop
of Milan, in year CCCXLV driven into exile, with substituted
in his place Auxentius, who for thirty whole years upon that Episcopate
incumbed, and scarcely late condemned as Arian, with shameful anachronism. the broad
sentence of deposition by Damasus eluded until death;
not about to bear that the Catholics their separately Bishop or Pro-bishop
should have in that city, where he could do all things, not
only under Arian Constantius, but also under Valentinian,
a most Christian Prince indeed, but to Arians by no means
troublesome. But by what reason would have allowed himself to be persuaded any Toledo
Bishop, that permitted to return from exile, with care of his own
Church dismissed, where he was about to have more readily for restoring
piety all things, he should stick in another's, where were most impeded
all things, on account of Auxentius's whom I mentioned presence and power?
With equal foolishness the same Natalis is feigned brother of SS. Justus and
Pastor the Martyrs, from a Spanish father Vital, who
from first nuptials in Italy Natalis, and from second in Spain
those Martyrs would have begotten.