CONCERNING SAINT CONSTANTIUS
BISHOP, BURIED IN ITALY.
CommentaryConstantius Bishop, buried in Italy (S.)
BY THE AUTHOR G. H.
[1] The sacred memory of this holy Bishop is inscribed in several MS. Martyrologies. Of these is a certain Beneventan one written five hundred years ago, His cult and church, which is now kept in the Roman Library, marked number 5949, where toward the end of the Martyrology on this 14 May these things are read: At Benevento S. Constantius Bishop. 1 At Benevento, Another is under the name of Usuard in the Library of the Queen of Sweden marked number 428: in which the same things are indicated in this manner: In Benevento S. Constantius Bishop. A third is kept at Rome in the church of S. Peter, which has these things: In Benevento S. Constantinus Bishop and Confessor. Marius a Vipera in the Catalogue of the Saints, whom the Church of Benevento celebrates with a double or semi-double rite, asserts that S. Constantius, Bishop, is venerated there by Ecclesiastical office under a double rite, and that a sacred church was raised to him at Benevento, formerly Parochial. These things concerning his cult among the Beneventans.
[2] Another city, illustrious by the patronage of S. Constantius Bishop, 2 At Capri, is Caprea or the city of Capri Episcopal, situated in the island of the same name of the province of the nearer Principate. Capaccius, in the description of this island and city, asserts, that the Cathedral Church, dedicated to S. Constantius Bishop, was formerly distant from the city of Capri one thousand five hundred paces, then translated into the city and called by the name of S. Stephen.
[3] 3 At Massa Lubrense. The third Episcopal city is Massa Lubrense, not far from the island of Capri, but more near to the metropolis Sorrento, where on the top of a mountain is a temple erected to S. Constantius the Patron of the Massenses, whose feast day is kept with a solemn concourse of peoples both here and at Capri on 14 May, and each city contends that his sacred body is preserved in its Church. Then Ferrarius makes mention of S. Constantius Bishop on this 14 May in the general Catalogue and in the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy, in which from the monuments of the Church of Benevento and of Capri he brings forward this elogium.
[4] Constantius, begotten of the most illustrious stock of the Emperors, since he excelled in doctrine and sanctity of life, is set over the Church of Constantinople: at which time the Western Church was afflicted by heretics: A compendium of the Life from Ferrarius. to whom the holy Bishop opposing himself, brought back many to sanctity. He both living and dead was illustrious by miracles. Certain men for the cause of penance on account of most grave offenses bound with iron, are reported to have been divinely loosed by him, the iron bonds being dissolved after the manner of wax. When he had met death, his body carried to Capri, brought many benefits to that city. For when the Agarenes, Calabria being devastated, sought Campania with a fleet, and had put in at Capri, and the citizens terrified with fear had fled into the caves; a certain old woman, who had not been able to flee with the others, the help of S. Constantius the Patron of the island being implored, obtained liberation. For when the holy man having consoled her had disappeared, soon a horrible tempest arising compelled the enemies to depart: which they report to have happened in the year of salvation 891. These things Ferrarius, which nearly the same has Marius de Vipera, only those things being omitted, which are narrated concerning the iron bonds dissolved.
[5] But a difficulty remains, how he is said to be Archbishop of Constantinople, since no Constantius is found to have sat there. There were there three Constantines, The Episcopal See. of whom the first under the cruel Emperor Constantine sat about the year 677 and in the Greek Menaea on the 29th day of July seems to be set forth as a Saint, by these words, the memory of Constantine Patriarch of Constantinople, nothing being added, for which on the 30th of July in the MS. Synaxary of the Church of Constantinople is had the memory of our holy Father Constantine the younger, Patriarch of Constantinople: but this one if he died abroad, does not seem to have been venerated at Constantinople. The second from Copronymus surnamed like himself, on account of communion of the same Impiety raised to the throne, with the same afterward having suffered calumny underwent a capital sentence, about the year 767: but this one did not merit to be inscribed in the Calendars. The third finally of the same name surnamed Lichnudes first in the XI century came to the Throne of Constantinople. Since therefore not even any Constantine is found, who under the name of Constantius could come into the veneration of the Italians; it remains that either some Constantia be found somewhere, of which this man was Bishop; or that under the Patriarchate of Constantinople he be believed to have held some other Episcopal or Archiepiscopal See whatever; but from either head the error of those making him Archbishop of Constantinople would proceed.