Ampelius

CONCERNING SAINT AMPELIUS

EREMITE AT GENOA IN LIGURIA.

V CENTURY.

Ampelius Eremite at Genoa in Liguria (S.)

G. H.

A double Life of S. Ampelius we obtained from Genoa, sent by the Reverend Father John Stephen Flisius of the Society of Jesus, Professor of sacred Theology, then also Rector of our College; one in the Italian idiom, the other in Latin. Concerning this one he wrote on the 30th day of August in the year 1670. The Life is given from a MS. To Liber the faith was given, and I send the Life of S. Ampelius, which I took care to have transcribed from an ancient manuscript book, made of parchment paper, which is kept by the Congregation of iron-smiths, who assemble in the Parish church of S. Stephen, of the monks of the Congregation of Monte-Oliveto, in which there is an altar dedicated to that same S. Ampelius. We have the proper Offices of the Genoese Church printed in the year 1640, and there is added on page 55 a Calendar of the Saints, Cult on 14 May. who are celebrated in particular Churches, and on the 14th day of May these things are read: In the Church of S. Stephen the feast of S. Ampelius Confessor, where his Body is preserved. This Ferrarius in the general Catalogue reports thus: At Genoa S. Ampelius Confessor: and in the Notes adds: From the Tables of the Genoese Church. His Body rests in the Parish church of S. Stephen, The Body at Genoa. where a chapel is erected to his name. He is the Advocate of the iron craft. In the MS. Martyrology of Ado, augmented in Italy and perhaps at Brescia, which we found among the MS. Codices of the Queen, on the same 14 May these things are had: On the same day S. Ampelius Bishop and Confessor. But he was not a Bishop, but only an Eremite. And this day is noted in the Acts to be that on which his body was translated to the said Church of S. Stephen. He is said in the Latin Acts to have died on the third of the Nones of October, but in the Italian Life on the fourth of October, but in neither way is it found in any Martyrology, nor is it annotated in the aforesaid Calendar. Meanwhile toward the end of the Life it is said that his feast is twice yearly more solemnly kept; and besides on the first Sunday of every month a Mass with chant is solemnly celebrated. But the translation of the body to the said church of S. Stephen happened in the year 1258, but this Life was afterward written, when the use of the aforesaid solemnities had already been for some time introduced. The author was a monk of the said monastery of the Congregation of Monte Oliveto, The author of the life a monk of Monte Oliveto who at num. 16 alleges a little book of his deeds preserved with the Consuls of the Iron-smiths: which seems to have been no other than that which we received written in Italian. Concerning the time in which he flourished it is clear from the Prologue, where he is said to have lived in the year 411 in the Thebaid, and thence afterward to have come into Liguria. This is the tradition of the Genoese, concerning which, as is said at num. 14, the Bishop doubting, is taught in a vision that it is true. We ourselves were at Genoa in the year 1662 and on the 13th day of March went to the church of S. Stephen, the venerable Abbot of that monastery leading us to the same, who showed us under the altar a marble chest, in which the body of the Saint was enclosed: but he asserted that the sacred head was even now kept at Bordighera, where he once led the solitary life.

LIFE

By a Monk of Monte Oliveto

From the Genoese MS.

Ampelius Eremite at Genoa in Liguria (S.)

BHL Number: 0394

FROM THE MS.

PROLOGUE.

[1] Kindled with the ardor of the pious devotion and wondrous sanctity of the kindly Confessor and Eremite, the most blessed man of God, and venerable Father Ampelius, I have studied to narrate to posterity certain prodigies of his virtue and signs, proved by the most worthy testimonies of truth-telling faithful ones to the praise of the Lord, and especially for the exhortation of virtues. The more ancient notice of the saint from the Lives of the Fathers. In the beginning indeed of which our narration we pray that the fruitful grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be present to us: by whose virtue and grace, according to the exercises of piety, the most blessed man and venerable Father Ampelius exercised himself by manfully soldiering for Christ. For in the times of Honorius and Theodosius the younger Augusti, four hundred and eleven years being passed from the beginning of the nativity of Christ, after the first men of our most sacred monastic order and of religious eminent sanctity and life, and the most reverend also and most solid Founders and Fathers, Paul the first Eremite, Antony and Hilarion, most holy Abbots, by the virtues of their merits then the luminaries of the whole world, the most blessed man of the Lord and venerable Father Ampelius coruscating with wondrous merits of virtues, signs, and examples, was held among the rest of the Eremite-dwellers and most illustrious Fathers of the Theban desert; as S. Petronius Bishop of Bologna, who with six men devoted to the zeal of sanctity devoutly sought, and saw, the lives of the Holy Fathers in Egypt and the Thebaid, and at last gave them over to writing worthy of memory, and set the name of that little book the Lives of the Fathers, in which concerning this venerable Father Ampelius he thus clearly says, namely: We saw also another Presbyter (that is an old man) in a neighboring region (that is the Thebaid) by name Ampelles or Ampellius, according to the custom of our country speaking as it were diminutively, and the rest. For Gennadius the Presbyter of Marseilles, in his book of illustrious men chapter 40 first asserts this, saying: Petronius Bishop of the city of Bologna in Italy, a man of holy life, and exercised from adolescence in the pursuits of monks, is thought to have written the Lives of the Fathers of Egypt

monks, which the monks may embrace as a mirror and norm of their profession; and the rest. Although some think that the light of the Doctors of the holy Church the most blessed Jerome wrote the aforesaid little book concerning the Lives of the Fathers. Yet it is most true, that he only described the Lives and Acts of the aforesaid most reverend Fathers Paul and Hilarion, and also of Malchus the Monk, contained in the same book; and almost the whole aforesaid book also concerning the Lives of the Fathers he translated from Greek into Latin. Yet it is to be noted, that concerning the most blessed man of God Ampelius the aforesaid most blessed Petronius speaks only up to that part of his following deed, where it thus begins, namely: All which things of that most holy John, and the rest. And although in the aforesaid book concerning the Lives of the Fathers, after the miracles of the aforesaid most blessed man of God Ampelius, there is inserted a certain excellent narration of the aforesaid most blessed John, made through Ampelius himself to the aforesaid Petronius and his companions; yet to set it here for the sake of brevity we reverently omit, inserting in its place the deeds of that man of God the venerable Father Ampelius, which, the Lord cooperating, he happily wrought in Italy in our parts. It is now therefore the hour, that we rise hence, and approach to the beginning of all his deeds: to which, the Lord favoring, with hurried steps of the soul we exceedingly hasten.

ANNOTATIONS.

CHAPTER I.

Things done in his life: his happy death.

[2] We saw also another Presbyter in a neighboring region by name Ampelius, a just man. He was a smith of iron, and worked the things which were necessary for the Brethren. At a certain time therefore while he was watching at the smith's works in the silence of the night, The iron-smith drives off a demon with red-hot iron: the devil changed into the form of a beautiful woman, came to him as if bringing some work. Then he, the glowing iron snatched with bare hand from the furnace, threw it into her face. But she crying out and wailing fled, so that all the Brethren, who dwelt round about, heard the wailing of her fleeing. From which now that man had it in use to hold glowing iron with bare hand nor to be hurt. To this man therefore when we had come, and he had received us most humanely, we asked of him, that he would narrate to us some things either from his own virtues, or those of them, whom he knew to be chief in holy conversation. Who at length the man of God commended to us most faithfully by his narration many things concerning a certain most holy man, John by name, leading the eremitic life. All which merits of the virtues of that most holy John for the present to narrate for the sake of brevity we reverently omit, because concerning the miracles and examples, signs and virtues of the aforesaid man of God the venerable Father Ampelius we intend to make a special discourse: and because the same virtues, which mercifully he wrought among us, and which also came to the notice of our littleness by faithful narration, for the zeal of devotion we have resolved especially to narrate to posterity for incitements to virtues. And therefore to narrate the miracles, virtues and signs of that man of God the venerable Father Ampelius let us suppliantly incline our mind and the powers of our mind.

[3] The venerable man of the Lord Father Ampelius therefore, as is said before, he came into Italy: and as also was truthfully preached to the ears of our venerable predecessors, and to us by them, by diligent narration; departing from the Egyptian and Thebaid Deserts, in which he first happily began to soldier for Christ the true King, came to Italy by prosperous sailing the Lord his companion and leader. And soon all devout he sought the desert, and in the Riviera of the city of Genoa most celebrated through the whole world, near the castle of Ventimiglia, in a place which is vulgarly called Bordighera by the shore of the sea, a little hut being built for himself under a certain rock of a certain stone, he dwelt alone serving God alone. There also lacerating the joints of his body day and night in manifold ways, and manfully trampling the enticements and wantonness of the world, namely pomps and riches he utterly spurned: and thus truly denying his very self, he duly took up his own cross: and thus poor and small in the world, with the eyes of his mind always raised to heavenly things, by following the poor Christ, the heavenly and eremitic life, as he was a just man, with a happy course laudably he led: so that, eminent in every virtue, as a faithful and prudent servant, he might faithfully bring back the talents doubled to his Lord. Which life indeed was so becomingly adorned with worthy morals, virtues, and examples, that to all coming there to him it was a most right way to the Lord as an example of salvation. For his life was in the highest silence, his morals tranquil and of wondrous meekness, and through all things a man as it were of the Angelic order. He was moreover besides benign, and mild, and modest, fervent in spirit, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, instant in prayer, pursuing hospitality, great in soul, placid in countenance, catholic in faith, and enriched with charity: his humility also was immense, and in all things he reckoned himself for nothing.

[4] This man therefore endowed with such graces and virtues, and thus occupied in the service of the Lord all the time of day and of night, he lives almost on the Eucharist alone, with all continence and most chaste institutions had now come to the highest merits. For on the Lord's day a certain venerable Presbyter from a neighboring dwelling always came to his cave to him, and there offered the sacrifice to the Lord for him. From whose hands indeed the servant of the Lord most devoutly received the sacrament of Christ: with which alone content not only that whole day, but even frequently a whole week, he took nothing else for food: And lest the powers of life should wholly fail, the spirit wasted and macerated with fastings he somewhat sustained with a little and rude food.

[5] To this man therefore when one day the ancient enemy envied his abstinence, he detects the frauds of the demon: and wished to filch the charity of the Priest, he transfigured himself into the Presbyter, who was wont to come to him; feigning that he had come for the sake of the Sacraments. But the soldier of Christ vigilantly understanding his fraud, with a certain indignation said to him: O persecutor of your own honor, and author of all fraud! O enemy of all justice, and inventor of all wickedness! Why by seducing the souls of Christians have you so rashly dared to immerse yourself in the very terrific and most sacred mysteries, which befit only the ministers of the Lord. But he said; I thought I could mock you by thus perverting your sense. And the servant of the Lord, fortified with the sign of life, said to him: O wretched one, are you not ashamed to speak such things? For by these your words you openly testify yourself a demon, and consequently condemn yourself. Which said, when the demon perceived himself truly conquered, and deceived by his own fraud, confounded with shame he vanished.

[6] There therefore the servant of the Lord was thenceforth more fervently persevering in the service of God, continually serving Christ by holy works, and assiduously giving himself to fastings and labors, tears and sighs, vigils and prayers, hymns and psalms and spiritual canticles. For with bare feet standing upon the bare ground he rarely sat or lay, and with little sleep standing he refreshed his body, and many times led sleepless nights. With most vile and most rough garments he covered his body, and with too great cold also afflicted himself: from which it came about that, an Angel heals his wounded feet. because for many years his feet had been immovable, they were broken open, so that blood flowed from them. O wondrous visitation of God, grateful consolation, bountiful largition of gifts, and dear also love toward his servant! For an Angel of the Lord was present to the venerable old man, thus saying to him: Servant of Christ, beloved Ampelius, rejoice, and be glad: for the Lord Jesus Christ, your prayers being received, and by the merits of your patience and penance, heals the scars of your body, and gives you an affluence of the heavenly word and of his knowledge. And soon he touched his lips and feet, and from the ulcers wondrously rendered him whole. And thence the grace of the Lord was diffused on his lips: for some he instructed in the word of God, others in abstinence, others by signs and virtues. He also did the work of his hands; and worked, without any reward and price, the irons necessary for the uses of men and beasts of burden.

[7] but he himself a lame man and various sick: At a certain time therefore a certain lame man, hearing the celebrated name and fame of Blessed Ampelius, desired to see him, that he might be cured by him. And when he had been set upon a beast of burden, that he might thus go to the cell of the servof God, it happened that the aforesaid animal had in its girth iron buckles, made by the hands of the man of God: but as his feet touched those buckles, immediately he was healed. Who at once going on to the servant of the Lord, received from him the words of life in his soul: and a blessing being given after the manner of a Father, he returned to his own. Each one reckoned himself happy, and was, if the servant of the Lord blessed him: for to all the sick of diverse infirmities, by the communication of this Father or the unction of blessed bread or oil, most entire health was restored.

[8] He knows things future and absent. To this man also was present so great a grace of virtue, that the spirit of prophecy rested in him, and he foretold things future as if present. In spirit indeed he knew as if present, the things which were done outside his presence. His conversation dwelling on earth, was always in the heavens: he was also an eremite and a monk, and wholly Apostolic.

[9] While therefore the man of the Lord still was thus skillfully spending his mortal life, in the same cave, Sailors invoking him are freed from a tempest. in the course of a long-lived and venerable old age; it happened also that for certain men sailing the sea swelled, which most vehemently growing, the ship among the stormy and marine waves was almost submerged. At length the sailors perceiving that human help was lacking to them, and that the danger of dire death was imminent; to the man of God the venerable Father Ampelius, to them now most known by the wondrous prodigies of his merits, who had his domicile near, devoutly and humbly, with the whole intention of their mind and all the powers of their soul they turned, more instantly imploring his help. Which as soon as the man of the Lord, full of the grace of God, knew in spirit; kindled after his manner with the ardor of charity, he hurriedly went out of his cell, and for them poured forth pious prayers to God: and his right hand being raised he made the sign of life, and blessed them, and straightway also the Savior's

example forthwith commanded the winds and the sea. A wondrous thing! and truly this servant of God, following the footsteps of his Lord. For suddenly by the will of God and the merits and prayers of his beloved servant, that fierce tempest ceased: and tranquillity being calmed on the sea, the sailors joyfully arrived unharmed at the desired port. Then afterward they went as quickly as possible to the man of God, and together with him, for their liberation received, rendered very many thanks to God: for from him they heard the sweet colloquies of the heavenly fatherland, and a blessing being received after the manner of a Father they returned to their own.

[10] But meanwhile while the man of God like a lamp shining shone most brightly to all; he was held both acceptable and dear to God and men through all things by these and also many other wondrous signs, merits and examples (all of which to write down would seem both long, and by reason of their magnitude perhaps some of the hearers would scarcely believe). And the day of his vocation being at hand, when the Lord willed to lead him for his labors into the joy of his Lord; his holy and laudable life, fortified with the sign of the holy Cross on his forehead and breast, on the third of the Nones of October, sleeping and resting in peace, He piously dies on the 5th day of October he finished. Whose glorious body the inhabitants of that region, devout men, and religious in morals, mindful of what life the man of the Lord had been; in a sufficiently noble Church, which there under his name they built as quickly as possible, according to due honor honorably entombed. Which church indeed plainly perseveres to all beholders even now: laid in a church dedicated to himself. for whose reverence also and miracles that place even hitherto is vulgarly called the Head of holy Ampelius. And that most happy soul of the blessed man, the burden of the flesh laid down, walled about by the society of the just, sought the secrets of heaven; in which received into the consort of the supernal ones, especially with Christ the Lord, to whom is always honor and glory, he lives. Amen.

ANNOTATIONS.

CHAPTER II.

Miracles wrought after his glorious death.

[11] Lest therefore the talent of narration of the venerable deeds of the venerable Ampelius of the living God, by passing it over, we sluggishly hide in the earth of oblivion; let us again most truly bring back to the memory of blessing some of the many miracles, after his glorious death wrought by the Lord himself through his virtue. For a certain one marvelous above others, which happened to a certain rustic, our venerable predecessors and Fathers faithfully reported by truthful relation, saying: While a certain husbandman in a field reaping, By a serpent constricting his neck was so weighed down by the heaviness of sleep, that the sickle being let go less cautiously he wholly fell asleep; by a kind of diabolical instigation a certain pestiferous serpent winding itself about his neck, by constricting the neck almost suffocated him. But the man roused by pain and anguish, and feeling near death, for a singular remedy and liberation, with the whole intention of his mind, to the man of God the venerable Father Ampelius straightway had recourse, and devoutly devoted himself to him; promising that as long as he should live he would yearly most devoutly visit his altar; and on his own shoulders also would venerably offer one mina of wheat. And he prayed that he might obtain by his merits and prayers to be freed from so great a danger. A wondrous business, and most worthy of relation! As soon as the rustic uttered the vow, a vow being made he is freed: the aforesaid pestiferous and huge serpent, its cruel ferocity laid aside, fell from his neck, and brought him no trouble, and restored to his former freedom the man felt himself wholly unhurt. Which miracle being seen, and the grace of liberation freely received from the Lord by the prayers and merits of his beloved servant, he visited the altar and Relics of the man of God, with the highest reverence and greatest devotion; and faithfully fulfilled the vow yearly as long as he lived.

[12] For neither is it to be passed over in silence, rather it is (as I think) to be commended to worthy memory, how the servant of the Lord, not only when he lived, but rather after his glorious death, always wholly overflowed in the Lord with the bowels of mercy and piety. And as we have learned sufficiently evidently by the faithful testimony and pious relation of those our predecessors and Fathers, they kindly reported with a clear voice another marvel of his piety piously done by him, a widow oppressed by a Magnate saying: For a certain widow woman, simple and upright, when she was cruelly oppressed by a certain Magnate, who had unjustly taken from her a certain house of her own, prevented by too great grief, before the altar of the man of God, in which his buried Relics were preserved, reverently and humbly prostrating herself, with most bitter tears and sighs, the merits of the servant of the Lord suffraging, suppliantly implored mercy from God, as is the custom of Christians. Who at length, a vow being made, by the merits of the man of God in a certain manner sure of the Lord's mercy, rose from prayer, as it were wholly bathed in tears; and returning to her own met the aforesaid Magnate. Whom when he saw her, his conscience moved from heaven, he kindly restored to her the house, she recovers the house taken away. and humbly implored that pardon also of the guilt be mercifully given him. These things are very wondrous, and truly this servant of the Lord was the most pious lover of just piety, and the most just defender of pious justice. Wonderful is God, who so many marvels daily wondrously works in his Saints, and who also leaving no time without a testimony of his goodness, even in our days testifies that his beloved servant the most blessed Ampelius pleased him, by various signs of salvation. To the most faithful relation of whose frequent signs, the Lord leading, let us again return.

[13] A certain Christian, while by the enemies of the Cross of Christ, Captured by Saracens namely the Saracens, he was held in captivity, and cruelly afflicted with diverse torments; the Lord granting, recalling to his own memory, what concerning the sanctity and miracles of the man of God the venerable Father Ampelius he had once heard, began devoutly to commit himself to him, and humbly to beseech him, and confidently to fix his own vows in him. Blessed be God who by the merits of his Saints is near to those, who are troubled in heart. But night coming on behold a most sweet voice sounded in that prison; it called the Christian by his proper name, and said: Rise, son, rise, and come forth. But he awaking answered: Lord who are you, and whither shall I go? for I am held most straitly with iron fetters, from prison he is freed: and the prison is most strongly shut. But he, whom you invoked, son, behold I am present: trust therefore, trust. Who at length this being heard, his strength being resumed in him, and all confidence assumed, confidently going forth, found the doors of the prison open, and unguarded by the keepers: and thus by the virtue of God and the merits of his beloved servant, the iron bonds destroyed, freed from prison the aforesaid Christian, to the city of the Genoese to his own with joy returned: and the altar and Relics of the man of God the venerable Father Ampelius, anciently with us honorably buried, with devotion and reverence he visited, and in testimony of so great a miracle there reverently offered the iron fetters. O most blessed man for whose so great merits of benefits we daily rejoice, our people is more often freed by his wondrous sustentation, the city of the Genoese is greatly relieved, and is assiduously governed by manifold and singular solace.

[14] A certain venerable Bishop, very devout to Blessed Ampelius, when on his festivity for preaching his miracles, The Bishop doubting concerning certain miracles, virtues, and signs to the faithful of Christ, he had been invited, as is the custom, by the Consuls of the iron-smith craft, and on a certain day in the little book of his deeds, which is preserved with those same Consuls, was reading those same miracles, virtues, and signs; it happened that he most vehemently doubted concerning some of his miracles, because in the book concerning the Lives of the Fathers, as in some of his miracles, he had read like things concerning a certain other holy man. Wherefore the Consuls of the aforesaid craft being called he thus addressed them. Brethren and dearest friends, I beseech you that you not wish to make me a liar, and to preach a falsehood to the faithful of Christ, by attributing to blessed Ampelius, the servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, the deeds of another, although such and greater things by the favoring clemency of Christ he could have done. Go therefore, for the miracles of the other being omitted, of his own, of which I do not hesitate, I will solicitously take care to make a discourse to the faithful of Christ. But the aforesaid Consuls, full of anxiety and sadness, withdrew to their own. Blessed be God, always the way, the truth and the life, who in the cause of his servant Ampelius was both witness and judge. For he glorified his servant, and in his glorification cured the wills of the doubters with the wound of doubt. The following night therefore, when the aforesaid Bishop after the matin lauds was half-waking resting on his couch, suddenly a light clearer than the light of day illumined the hiding-places of that bed-chamber. In the clearness of which light he saw a certain most beautiful King, accompanied by innumerable soldiers, sitting on a starred throne as on a tribunal. Which King indeed commanded the aforesaid little book to be taken, and in it the miracles of his servant Ampelius to be distinctly read through. And soon a certain one of the soldiers, in a vision he is taught that they are true. clothed in a white stole in the manner of a Cross over his breast, took the little book, and as the King had commanded read it through. All which being fully read through and by all in silence diligently heard and understood, because in it nothing of falsity was found, the King with a clear voice and a joyful face said: These indeed are the miracles of our servant Ampelius, and most truly are true. And straightway he judged those, of which the Bishop had doubted, to be the miracles of Ampelius, and worthily approved all things: and thus also restored the little book to its former place, and commanded the things contained in it to be preached to all. But the Bishop, by the presence of so great a vision was consoled and terrified; and hastily the Consuls of the aforesaid craft being called to him, narrated to them the series of the vision, which afterward also he preached to the faithful of Christ. It is plain therefore from these that the Bishop doubted not well: it is also plainly gathered, that even those of which the Bishop had doubted, were both the miracles of Ampelius, and were true which that King of Kings, namely Christ, by approving with his own mouth verified. Which also is most clear to have happened to a certain one of our Confraters and to the colleague of that same Confrater.

[15] Again we reckon laudable through all things to be inserted to the aforesaid merits and prodigies of that same man of God. A Genoese merchant For it happened, that a certain Priest of our most sacred monastery of S. Stephen of Genoa, associated himself with a certain Genoese merchant, that, about to make pilgrimage to S. James of Galicia, they might obtain pardon of their sins; and that by the prayers of the aforesaid holy Apostle they might persevere in the grace of God. But while they thus continued their journey, and had come to the parts of the city of Toulouse, that merchant from the burden of the journey

began to be very greatly weighed down in his shins, sick at Toulouse and the infirmity growing and his legs being inflamed he could not go forward on the journey, then for a remedy of health they remained in the aforesaid parts, and medicaments being applied they made a residence there of several days. At length seeing that the medicines did not profit him, and by no remedy of the physicians did he convalesce, but more and more the infirmity grew (as was the will of the Lord, as afterward clearly appeared, who knows all things before they are made, and who also mortifies and vivifies, willing the name of his majesty to be admirable in the whole earth, laudable from the rising of the sun even to its setting, gloriously to magnify in honor of his beloved servant Ampelius and to show in him a wondrous virtue by the divine will) the Priest inspired by the Spirit of God, with the sweet sound of his voice thus gently said to the Merchant; My most sweet Brother, if you truly and perfectly desire to be cured, it is needful that you have recourse to the singular remedy of our salvation; for which however to be more easily obtained turn to some of his Saints, S. Ampelius being invoked, and know, that in our monastery of S. Stephen of Genoa, are honorably buried the body and relics of the man of God the venerable Father Ampelius: who, as by truthful experience of miracles I have most firmly learned, of great merit with the Lord powerfully exists. Moreover most humbly betake yourself most faithfully to his salvation-bearing protection, that he may deign piously to implore grace for us from God: for he was always pious and propitious to all truly invoking him. Then the merchant, his mind confidently raised to God, taught by the most salutary doctrines of the Priest, and desiring to bring his salutary admonitions to effect, as also certain of God's mercy; began most devoutly to invoke the venerable Father Ampelius, the servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, in his patronage with God; promising, as most Christian men are wont, that as soon as he should from his pilgrimage return to his own, he would yearly most devoutly visit his altar on his solemnity, and his most sacred relics by celebrating. O wondrous piety of Christ, wondrous clemency, and wondrous also goodness, the singular protection of human infirmity to all invoking him in truth! For soon, the vow being uttered, when sleep had surrounded him, sleeping that very night he felt a certain breaking in his legs, without pain however, as if certain pieces of wood were broken; which breaking also the aforesaid Priest heard, not knowing however what it was. And the aforesaid merchant awaking, felt himself at once wondrously freed by a total liberation. And the Priest being called with a tearful voice, for the sweetness and admiration of so great a miracle, thus sweetly said: Immense thanks I give most humbly to my God, he is healed. who by the merits of his servant Ampelius freed me fully, repaired excellently my steps, and most graciously gave me to my former health. For most truly true are, most sweet Brother, the things which from your mouth I heard, and which also your faithful company concerning the venerable Father Ampelius, the servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, devoutly narrated to me. These things being said and done again and again both together, and singly very greatly rendered thanks to God, who declares far and wide the excellent merits of his servant. And thus rejoicing and always giving thanks to God, they hastily took up their own journey: and continuing their pilgrimage, sound and unharmed, they returned to their own: and the vow also, and the promise devoutly and faithfully they fulfilled: and again also to Christ the King, splendidly triumphing in the virtues of Ampelius, they rendered very many thanks: to whom is honor, virtue and glory, through the everlasting ages of ages. Amen.

CHAPTER III.

The finding and translation of the body.

[16] Since therefore it is glorious, and of eminent also and great benefit and merit, to set forth in order the deeds of the saints; and since with the highest veneration they are most devoutly to be worshipped; yet more specially are these to be venerated by us with worthy reverence, whose Relics we possess in our domiciles. For they help by their pious prayers: but with them there is a certain familiarity to us; and therefore it is greatly to be noted, in what order, by the divine clemency permitting, our most sacred monastery of the glorious Protomartyr of Jesus Christ the most blessed Stephen of Genoa was blessedly enriched with the most precious Relics of the man of God the venerable Father Ampelius. But as the fathers of our venerable ancient predecessors and most ancient predecessors and most worthy of all reverence and faith by truthful and faithful relation were wont to report to our aforesaid predecessors, and they themselves to us, The Relics of S. Ampelius, and as also in the deeds of his life it is most clearly found. The servant of our Lord Jesus Christ, namely the most blessed Ampelius Confessor and Eremite dwelling in the Egyptian and Thebaid deserts with other Brethren or Monks for some time, led happily a holy life and worthy of all praise. For there sufficiently flourishing, as a flourishing garden of virtues, he began to flourish: then however the Lord willing us by the clemency of his goodness, to be worthily enriched with the precious and venerable relics of his most faithful servant, dead in Liguria, and continually to be defended and governed by the merits and suffrages of his intercessions, the venerable man came to Italy, and dwelling in the parts then of the castle of Ventimiglia, and prevailing by celebrated fame and laudable virtue, his holy and laudable life as in the aforesaid deeds of his life is clearly had, there he finished.

[17] But after much course of time, namely in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ one thousand one hundred and forty; are indicated in the year 1140 when the Genoese long in the siege of the city of Ventimiglia, because the citizens of that same city had rebelled, with a great army on foot, on horse and naval sent soldiers; it happened, that very many of the men of the castle of S. Romulus and of Villa Regia (which by another name is called Villa of the Riviera of S. Stephen of Genoa, because to the aforesaid monastery through all things and in all things it is subject) being in the same siege, certain inhabitants of the county of Ventimiglia being captured, exacted from them too impiously the price of their redemption with the most severe torments. For it had been commanded in the army, that each one should treat the spoils taken by him at his pleasure. from the captives, a ransom being demanded: But when they confessed that they had no price of redemption, these threatened them much more grievous torments, saying; Choose one of two, either the price of your redemption, or we will make you end life by the punishment of a dire death. These things heard they groaning from the anguish of spirit, by the divine will as is believed said: If you permit us to go away free and immune, we will give you an incomparable treasure. To which when all assented the captives with one voice say: Here in the place, which is called Bordighera, the Relics of the man of God the Blessed Ampelius rest: for whose reverence and devotion permit us to go away free, as you promised. Then they, the Relics and caskets of the man of God being found, permitted those captives as they had promised to go away free with all honor, humbly asking pardon for the injuries inflicted. In such manner also the servant of the Lord was a protection to those captives. But at length when the Genoese had triumphantly subjugated the aforesaid city to their dominion, and both they of the city and of the county had sworn perpetual fidelity to them; soon the aforesaid glorious body of the man of God or the venerable Relics, from the aforesaid parts of Ventimiglia to a certain Priory or church, under the name of S. Stephen situated in the castle of S. Romulus of the diocese of Albenga, are deposited in the town of S. Romulus, which by Apostolic privileges in spirituals and temporals by right and anciently was subject to the aforesaid monastery of S. Stephen of Genoa, was sufficiently duly translated and worthily buried.

[18] Then however at length after the courses of many years, in the year 1258 when in the year of the Lord one thousand two hundred and fifty-eight by the authority of Alexander the fourth Roman Pontiff of good memory, between the then Reverend Father Lord Gualterius Archbishop of Genoa, and the aforesaid Monastery concerning the aforesaid namely church of S. Stephen, as above, situated in the castle of S. Romulus, with the church of S. Martin of the way of Bisamne, set outside the walls of the city of the Genoese, which then was subject to the aforesaid Archbishop, an exchange ought to be made mutually; and the venerable and religious men, Lord Jacobus then Abbot or Father, and the monks of our aforesaid monastery, being unwilling to be in any way deprived of so great and so precious a treasure of the venerable Relics of the venerable Ampelius; the aforesaid most glorious body of his, they procuring it most devoutly with diligent zeal of devotion, they piously ordered to be translated to the said often monastery: and it was in the aforesaid year on the second of the Ides of May honorably carried to the city of Genoa. on 14 May to Genoa to the monastery of S. Stephen And from the same, the faithful men of Christ flocking together in crowds at the coming of so great a Father, and hastily also rushing, the innumerable throngs of the Genoese going before and joyfully following innumerable Clergy and peoples, with lights and spiritual canticles, with the highest reverence and exceeding devotion, with joy and immense jubilation, the sacred Body of the man of God or the Relics to the church of the same S. Stephen, deposited in the altar, the Monks venerably deposited, and in his altar venerably placed: and, for the testimony of so great a matter to posterity, an epitaph written on marble stone they set in the wall there beside his altar.

[19] they are honored with a double feast, For there his feast is twice yearly solemnly kept, and is held with much reverence and devotion, and is duly venerably worshipped by all the iron-smiths of that same city of the Genoese: and also on every first Sunday of every month of the whole year, besides the aforesaid solemnities, and the 1st Sunday of the month. at his altar a Mass with chant is solemnly celebrated, with a commemoration of him at least, on account of the offices of other Festivities or Saints perchance sometimes concurring. To which Mass indeed, impediments ceasing, all the iron-smiths according to custom assemble: and by his merits God has worked many miracles; who lives unto ages of ages. Amen.

ANNOTATIONS.