ON S. PRIMAELUS THE PRIEST,
HERMIT IN ARMORICAN BRITTANY.
CommentaryPrimaelus the Priest, Hermit in Armorican Brittany (S.)
G. H.
Corisopitum is an Episcopal city of Gaul in the western part of Armorican Brittany, which is called Cornubia, whence also the city itself is often called Cornuvallia, or also Quimper-Corentin, from S. Corentinus its Bishop, whom the Cathedral Church together with the Virgin Mother of God acknowledges as Patron. Acts from the Life of S. Corentinus. The day of his birthday is December XII: in whose Life, transmitted to us from an ancient Breviary, some things pertain to S. Primaelus, of whom we here treat, and are of this kind.
[2] When S. Corentinus for the sake of visiting had gone to the Presbyter, The pious colloquy of both. a just and religious hermit, named Primaelus, much colloquy and conference being made with him concerning holy morals and the religion of the Catholic faith, he remained there with the holy Priest, and taking together the food of charity, with thanksgiving they praised and blessed the Lord, who had joined them on that day, and the following night they diligently spent in divine praises, psalms, hymns and spiritual canticles. But morning being made, the dawn shining, the man of God Corentinus willed to celebrate the Mass of God, as he was wont. But the host hermit, busying himself to prepare the things necessary for the altar, ran to the water. And since he was lame, and the water much removed, of necessity he made much delay. Whence the man of God, much wondering, and going out to meet him, On account of the water to be sought afar with labor, saw the lame man with much labor and fatigue carrying water, and piously, as was fitting, had compassion on him. His eyes therefore of body and heart being raised to God, with great desire and suppliantly and devoutly he prayed, that to the most Christian lame man, exceedingly fatigued on account of the too great distance of the water, the pious and merciful God would mercifully grant a nearer spring. Without delay: so pious God for the Saint's desire piously satisfies. by prayers a spring is elicited. For under the staff on which he leaned he saw a most clear spring burst forth and flow, by the flowing grace of Him who had prepared water from the rock in the desert. Which when the lame man saw and knew, how astonished he was, with what gladness of mind and cheerfulness he gave thanks to God, I could neither impress with a pen nor express with the tongue.
[3] Thus there: which same things Albert le Grand in his treatise on the Saints of Armorican Brittany in the Life of S. Corentinus related: and in the alphabetical Index at the end of the book asserts, Sacred worship. this XV day of May assigned to the veneration of S. Primaelus. In the Proper of the Saints of the distinguished Church of Corisopitum printed in the year 1642, the same things contracted in compendium are contained in the Lessons concerning S. Corentinus wont to be recited, and is prescribed the feast of S. Primaelus the Confessor, under a semidouble rite, to be celebrated in the Church of Corisopitum on this XV day of May: but the rest are done of the Common of a Confessor not a Pontiff. The Collect, Adesto. In the second Nocturn the Lessons, The simplicity of the just is derided. In the third Nocturn the Homily on the Gospel, Let your loins.
[4] The meeting of these Saints happened, when S. Corentinus was only a Priest, afterwards consecrated Bishop by S. Martin the Bishop of Tours, that even hence concerning the time, in which S. Primaelus flourished, some notice may be had, namely that his age pertains to the fourth century of Christ.