Neadius

ON SAINT NEADIUS

THE WONDER-WORKER AMONG THE GREEKS.

Neadius the Wonder-Worker, among the Greeks (S.)

G. H.

In the most celebrated Greek MS. Synaxarium of the Church of Constantinople, which belongs to the Clermont college of the Society of Jesus at Paris, in these few words is mentioned this Saint on XVI May. And the memory of our holy Father Neadius. The same we found at Paris in MS. Menaea of the Fathers Preachers of the Congregation of S. Louis, as also in MS. Menaea preserved in the library of Cardinal Mazarin, & in these he is surnamed Wonder-Worker. Nor more hitherto about him could we draw out.

ON S. FIDOLUS THE PRESBYTER

ABBOT OF TROYES IN GALLIC CHAMPAGNE.

ABOUT THE YEAR 540

Fridolus Presbyter, Abbot of Troyes in Gallic Champagne (S.)

G. H.

Illustrious is in the ancient fasts of the Churches on the day XVI May the memory of S. Fidolus, Presbyter & Abbot, in the Tricassinian or Troyes city of Gallic Champagne: & first to the ancient apographs of the Martyrology of Jerome was added, Memory in the Fasts on 16 May: after S. Peregrinus Bishop of Auxerre, the name of the said S. Fidolus: namely in MS. codex of Echternach, written nearly a thousand years ago according to an older exemplar found by S. Willibrord in England: also in MS. codex Blume, which once belonged to the monastery of Weissenburg in the diocese of Speyer: finally in MS. of Lucca illustrated by Florentinus, & in MS. of Corbie printed at Paris: in this is written The Passion of S. Fidolus, in others better Deposition or Birthday. In the same way the name everywhere in Martyrologies most MSS. is inserted, as also in printed Fasts of Rabanus, Usuard, Notker & other more recent ones with today's Roman Martyrology. In some, by error of scribes or lapse of memory, he is called Bishop, who only Presbyter & Abbot was.

[2] We have the Acts of S. Fidolus double: of these some are very ancient & before the said Martyrologies were written: Acts older from MSS. & them from four old MS. codices we give namely of the Canons Regular of the monastery of Arrouaise in Artois, of the city of Soissons sent by Ludovicus Nicqueus Premonstratensian Canon, of the monastery of Longipons in the same city by D. Muldracus described, & another illustrious Legendary of ours. The same Acts published in the Promptuarium of sacred Antiquities of the diocese of Troyes Nicolaus Camuzatus, but with the miracle omitted, which is given in number 9, about wine preserved by the blessing of S. Fidolus, that it should not flow out, with the bung removed: besides seems here and there the style somewhat corrected. Other Acts are several centuries elapsed written by a man not sufficiently knowledgeable of antiquity, Acts later adorned by an unskilled person: who dilated the prior Acts with words rather than with illustrious deeds. Hence having narrated the miracles, he adds in number 15 the rest through the negligence of the writers of that time to have been omitted. Nor are errors lacking, which he confirms from the Deeds of the Franks: in which Theodoric King of the Burgundians, incited by his grandmother Brunichilde, war against Chlothar II King is narrated chap. 37, S. Fidolus was captured not under Theodoric King of the Burgundians, & continually the captivity of S. Fidolus to the said times he refers: but soon his ignorance manifested, while S. Cemelianus, S. Lupus's successor, he asserts then to have been Bishop of Troyes; who nearly an entire century earlier flourished, & participated in the Council of Orleans, held in the year of Christ 508 or following. The author of the prior Life, which seems before the said Theodoric King's of the Burgundians times to have been written, only under Theoderic King reports him led captive, which to have been done in the year 507, in the war of Chlodovaeus against Alaric King of the Visigoths we judge. For then, as Gregory of Tours writes book 2 of the History of the Franks chap. 37, but by the son of Chlodovaeus I. King of the Franks. with Alaric killed the greatest Auvergne people & first of the Senators fell, & Chlodovaeus directed his son to the Auvergnats: who going subjugated those cities from the borders of the Goths to the Burgundian limit to his father's dominions. Then therefore S. Fidolus, a noble youth & ordained as Cleric, from the Auvergnat country led, redeemed by S. Aventinus Abbot at Troyes, in his monastery first a monk, then Provost; then with him retiring into solitude, lived as Abbot until death, but how long he survived is not known. In the Acts nothing about his old age is indicated, that we seem able to assign to his death the year of Christ about 540. The Acts of S. Aventinus we illustrated on the day IV February, & about the situation of the monastery many things we discussed, bringing forth various things from the Lives of S. Fidolus into the open. Dacherius & Mabillon volume 1 of the Saints of the Order of S. Benedict assert page 198, that they passed over the deeds of S. Aventinus deliberately, lest they should burden the pages with foreign histories. But the later Acts of S. Fidolus they bring forth, from a scruple perhaps afterwards arising: nor in the previous Index do they at least apply an asterisk, those Acts are given from various Mss. by which they would designate that he does not seem to them a genuine alumnus of S. Benedict. We those Acts, on the Life of S. Aventinus we promised indeed to be given from three codices MSS. namely which to us were sent by Andreas du Chesne, then publishing some in volume one of the Writers of the History of the Franks page 552, & Petrus Franciscus Chifletius of our Society, & those which before from Gaul we had received. But since these also Philippus Labbe in volume 2 of the new bibliotheca of MS. books from the lessons of an old Ecclesiastical Breviary published; we do not wish now twice printed, & not greatly approvable to print again to publish: & we think it sufficient, if in the notes some thence we report. Among the more illustrious monasteries of Troyes is the Cell of S. Peter of Troyes, or the monastery of S. Peter de Cella in the suburb, about a hundred years after the death of S. Fidolus constructed, Body in the Cellan monastery, of which we treated on VIII January at the Life of S. Frodobert first Abbot on VIII January. In this monastery the body of S. Fidolus is preserved, teaches us Nicolaus des Guerrois, & confirms Saussay in the Gallican Martyrology, who concludes the eulogy of S. Fidolus with these words: His sacred remains in the Cellan monastery at the walls of the Tricassinian city long since laid up, there still are preserved in the sanctuary, as pledges of help & seeds of blessed immortality. Mention also Camuzatus on page 345. In the Register of the benefices of the Tricassinian diocese in the year 1612 there printed, among the Parishes of the Tricassinian Deanery is some dedicated to S. Fidolus & known under his name, whose benefice is presented by the Prior of Canisiacum of the Order of S. Benedict in the diocese of Châlons. Parish of S. Fidolus. Mention similarly of the same is made in the general Register of benefices of the Archbishopric of Sens & dioceses of Troyes, Auxerre & Nevers, printed at Paris in the year 1648. There is also another parish of S. Fidolus in the Langres diocese, commonly S. Fidol d' Estineis: whose Patron is the Abbot of the monastery of S. John. Ferrarius in the general Catalogue, with the Tricassinian Breviary cited, the same S. Fidolus celebrates on the day XV June: of which cult the cause we confess to us is unknown; nor would we wonder if Ferrarius, elsewhere often not most curious, here also his memory had failed him, that for XVI May he should write XV June.

LIFE

From IV MS. codices & the Promptuarium of Camuzatus.

Fridolus Presbyter, Abbot of Troyes in Gallic Champagne (S.)

BHL Number: 2975

FROM MSS.

[1] Most beloved Brothers, rejoice in the Lord, & with spiritual delight be glad, who to the solemnities of the most holy Father, namely Fidolus, have come together. For from the inmost affection of the heart praise the clemency of our Lord Jesus Christ, Exhortation to imitation. who through this most holy Priest's preaching deigned to lead us to the recognition of His name. Let us follow unanimously the footsteps of so holy a Doctor, that following we may merit to ascend to the heavenly kingdoms: who is known without doubt to have acquired so great grace in this most miserable age, that with prophetic spirit future things for sanctity of life he merited to behold. Let us not be of so great a Father degenerate sons, but the sanctity of his life let us imitate by the nobility of morals.

[2] Among the Auvergnats nobly born Whence he was sprung, we ought to investigate. For he was from the Auvergnats, an inhabitant of the city, & of noble race, who once by Theodoric the King, dispensing the sceptres of the Franks, while still a youth was led captive to a private seat, forced to serve a foreign command. Yet pre-elected to the country by God, to dominate himself in the city of Troyes, by the predestination of the Lord that to him manifest is to have come. And now in adolescence established, & with the office of Clericate unwilling he abandoned. & assumed into the Clergy he is led to Troyes, There the divine piety after the premised redemption willed him to remain; where himself, by confessing to the Lord, with admirable virtues he might publish. At the same time, the memorable man Aventinus the Abbot in that place with his Brothers, in a holy congregation, in divine cults in a monastery assiduously remained. redeemed by S. Aventinus the Abbot, Finally a spiritual admonition in vision foretold to him, that the captive Fidolus, exile from his region, coming to him, to be redeemed he should receive, & in common consortium with equal college retain. The man however, while often about the vision he reflected, sees after a little while before the door captives passing by. He asks if they had a captive, who was called Fidolus ^b. They say, Lord Abba, we do not refuse; if you wish to redeem the lot of the Church. He moved by mercy, giving twelve gold pieces, & both satisfied the cupidity of the robbers, & to the captive he succored with solace. Whom in the bosom of grace the excellent man most lovingly joined, with the bond of eternal charity receiving, made him a spiritual son from the captive; & not as a servant, but now truly he loved as a Lord.

[3] & proves himself to all: Here with liberty subject, & adhering to the most holy Patron's footsteps, so much divinely of devout compunction's grace he merited, that whatever to him in the cell of the Brothers had been enjoined, was at once accomplished by him. So great did he stand for cultivating arising devotion, that the speeches of the elders in all & in all things obediently he fulfilled. Thus with humility he performed the divine offices devoutly & firmly to better, created Provost that the place of Provost he should take up, & his Brothers by ordinary law he should govern. At the same time, with Aventinus the Abbot of his cell ^c departing, by fraternal conspiracy the most blessed Fidolus by assent of the monks all unanimous in the same place chose as Abbot. & then also as Abbot lives most rigidly Who as he received the entrance of the first ordination, he himself imposed upon himself the yoke of humility. Always indefective & most clement Fidolus the confessor, of doing penance existing as an example, with reclusion of his cell there prostrate, mind equally & limbs of body to the garment of haircloth he fitted. Not only did he exasperate the skin externally, but rather strengthened the soul internally. With the eating of three loaves spending the time of Lent, he reckoned to himself as victuals; the draught of cup

mixed with ash, [as] of the purest water settled, in thirst to his proper mouth he assigned. Was growing in daily fasts continually ^d such sparingness of food, that even at the time of the Lord's Supper a third whole loaf altogether remained.

[4] Praiseworthy fame about the Lord's servant was spread in the people, that in the fear of the Lord of perfect charity the most blessed man always had the effect. He illuminates 2 blind, To the testimony therefore of so great a man, with the Lord inspiring, let us declare in order from his marvels. Two blind men, constrained by the blindness of the eyes, when to the holy Abbot they had been brought rather by another's hand, than led by their own foot; with holy hand in the name of the Redeemer placed, when the sign of the Cross they merited to receive from him, gore sprinkling the scaly eyes began to flow, and so ^e to health brought back, the grace of light they were seen to have received, who long had possessed the darkness of eyes worn out. A certain little boy, Octavianus by name, from origin held back by debility of walking, so destitute of the office of feet utterly was, that the ground of the earth his unaided sole marked with no footprint. Whom his parents, in the desire of repairing the lame limbs, heals a boy weak in feet, carried with their own hands, at the Priest's feet they placed to be healed by him. The merciful man therefore on his pallet ^f received the little boy: & now on the third night he was vigilant in prayer, & the bond of binding the pious Lord through his intercession loosed: & such grace the Lord granted to him, that he who had been fettered in limbs, to highest soundness was forthwith restored.

[5] A certain man, by the rabid form of an adverse spirit moved ^g, lacerated himself with his own teeth, so that no one of men to him because of the rabies he had taken on dared to approach: also a furious man: because as a biting brawler the others he did not cease to lacerate. Whom the throng of men could not overcome, lines diverse with bond fourfold girded held him, & with diverse bindings detained the foulest. He gnashed with teeth, nor anything with noxious bites against passers-by prevailed. And when into the most blessed man's sight he was led, with human voice's vocable he began to call upon the venerable Fidolus ^h. Then he received with most firm devotion the abstinence of a triduan fast, that no longer the wretch afflicted with longer danger should lie under. He is shut up by him in a cell, whence he had come paying all praises, to the divine Trinity exulting he returns. A certain man, having endured labor, took away his horse from the cell. he stops the thief of his horse Who also for three days established on the way, & for as many nights, wishing to cross the Arciacas ⁱ castle, through the encompassing of prayer swiftly returns backward. Finally the guilty man could find no entrance for resting, whom the Priest's prayer had bound. On the third day indeed, with the cell at last recognized, which the multitude of men had not found, to his Lord who had stolen, the horse he presented brought back. & frees him from fever. Furthermore as if pierced by nails, he sat fastened, nor could the shameful man have descent, unless the holy man had commanded. The horse forthwith from the wicked rider the kindly man freed, & trembling from fevers everywhere the just Lord healed the broken man.

[6] To be added is another to the praises, & to be ascribed to wonderful virtues. A certain man, Fredulus by name, whose son the holy man from the laver of the holy font of baptism by the grace of spiritual faith had received, with premised petition, that the home of the same single one he should visit, charity obtained. In whose name with integral faith a flagon of unmixed wine fully he had preserved full: with the blessings of the venerable godfather he asked, that the holy hand should dedicate the vessel assigned to his name. With prayer placed above the man's wife meanwhile drew out the wooden plug, he preserves wine lest it flow out, & with him coming from afar fell to the ground the spigot. But by divine nod stood still the wave of falernian shut. Then the woman said: I beg, Lord, & I beseech, that with the cooling vessel emptied of wine's liquor, whence equally we may draw, your renowned piety may order it to be filled. Which said she runs back to the office ^k: the must, which by the seal of the Cross had stood firm closed admirable joy to the guests showed & to all invited. For long time also thence to all coming was the cup prepared, or be diminished. whence to each with bountiful drink poured to the neighbors always in heap was growing the expense. O that singular & infinite generosity, that in the use of drinking the humanity not be exhausted! For a certain woman, with sin intervening came a plague, he heals a blind & deaf woman, by which contracted she had lost sight & hearing. And when the wretched woman felt herself condemned by such oppression, & with incessant showers of tears she was lamenting, or knew not what she should do, by the zeal of her astonished mother & relatives to the holy Abbot led, soon with the kindly hand placed [l], continually the enclosed darknesses she escaped, & with clear eyes she merited to behold the heavenly lamp, & at the same time the opening of the ears & integral hearing she received: she truly twin soundness with great joy received, to her own she returned. We must also bring forth with our lips a most eminent indication of virtue.

[7] A certain most savage man, in his swelling ordination most insolent, by human elation proud, a certain youth, by the guilt of theft's crime damnable & subject, unable by prayers to free a guilty man, held thrust in chains: whose father grieving, with lamenting and swift course came to the servant of God, & with tears & sobs he brought forth his suggestion in indefatigable prayer. The holy man as he heard the suppliant for help, Aemilianus by name, with the staff, with which in prayer continually he leaned, to the aforesaid Judge with highest supplication directed ^m. Wherefore the impious one inflamed with the fury of anger, despised the staff & spurned the monk's company; to whom even the access of seeing he denied. Whence more on the guilty man, & more all torments with tortures he wrought. On the rack indeed most painful first having tortured, he ordered the soldiers to suspend him from the gibbet & to die; even unto the third day, that not even the lifeless body anyone should dare to take down for burial, he commanded. He however, who according to the tyrant's command after the third day hung on the wood, seemed as if with help of S. Fidolus to have stood with his soles upon his shoulder-blades placed sustained, that neither the tenderness of his neck, nor the quality of his throat the trouble of internecine destruction, keeps the suspended man unharmed. nor his body hanging would feel the loss of death. Therefore the father having obtained leave of taking down the offspring, that lamentably the little body taken down as if bereft he might restore to the earth buried; he when the bonds he struck, the death-doomed man leaped out, began with steps rejoicing to walk about the earth, & whom they hoped dead, they found alive: & to the others he attested when they asked, that he stood free, because partner of the Apostles to his feet had affixed the help. O unrighteous judge, marvel at the manifest work. To whom you had denied indulgence of his fault, mercy he could obtain, which ruinous infirmity delayed to show: & he who incurred your impiety, merited to be released to pardon. How preclare also through him the heavenly right hand showed a miracle, & how precious not should we hide in silence.

[8] A certain furious slave, with chance intervening injury to his Lord did. He fearing the irate Lord for the admitted crime, in flight sought the Most Holy man's monastery, & that mercy he might find suppliantly asked. Wherefore the holy man with humble & earnest petition his godfather besought, The slave with feigned reception into favor, that excused the fugitive to the pristine yoke of servitude might return. To whom the deceptive trick of nature & depraved cunning with serpentine mouth ministers, ⁿ & he promises that to the wicked man no punishment he will apply. Whom after return bound with most bitter chains, in ^o castle Tornoterum, he assigned in most obscure prison. Then, whom nothing escaped of the heavenly gift, the soldier of Christ with blessed ears merited to hear the deed. By the recognition of which thing saddened, in his proper cell persisting in prayer devoutly, that the pious Lord might avenge the injury done to him as suppliant he obtained. But he perceiving the door of the prison opened, but afterward frees the one shut in prison, suddenly free in mind & body all chains stripped of binding, seeking the cell of the holy man, indicated himself free, whom again he did not believe to be condemned. And he who had denied pardon to the home-born slave, fell into greater tribulation, that more than the one who had now escaped, he might stand a criminal, surrounded by burnings. O nefarious man! Where charity was imperfect, came sudden & superior calamity [p] [q], that neither bread nor cup's eating he could receive condemned by heavenly punishment, unless to the holy Abbot upon a wagon he came beaten, who with deceitful mind had exceeded the measure of charity. & he prays for punishment to be removed from the dissembling lord. Long it is moreover about each of his benevolent acts to dispute, but let us prepare such things in this life, that the preclare Abbot & pious preacher, namely Fidolus, us rejoicing & glad about his crown, with pious merits may deign to help with the Lord, to whom is honor & glory in ages of ages. Amen.

ANNOTATIONS.

l. The same: Ordering the sick woman to approach more closely, when over her eyes the sign of the saving Cross he had expressed, the openings of the ears also by inserting fingers he probes. But scarcely the space of one hour had intervened, when &c.

p. Some disease seems to be signified here: but the other Life when by chance among his house fire excited by gusts of winds had received strength, that now neither by waters nor anyone's virtue could be put down; thus all that were his it consumed, that of all things made destitute, also to those who before could envy his successes, miserable he appeared, & of his own calamity to the man of God now not false but true messenger he became. Nor further anything of solace with the Saint found.

q. There about his holy death, of which no mention is here, such a clause is added: adorned with virtues, But if anyone, with externals omitted, the eye of pure mind to interior things should turn, what plainly full of greater admiration & stupor is, in his life he would find; constancy namely of mind against the flesh's enticements, frequent victories over the ancient serpent, rising stings repressed by equanimity, envy & hatred conquered by charity. Knowing namely that he had not the fight with flesh & blood, but against principalities & powers & rulers of these darknesses, against spiritual wickednesses in the heavenly places, always that prophetic verse on his lips he repeated; I said now I have begun, this is the change of the right hand of the most high. Psal. 76. 11 But perceiving his last day approaching to him, those whom before he had instructed, the Father he addresses, that what he had taught his own according to their strength they should fulfill, after the course of present life with him fitting rewards to receive, in supernal light without end might rejoice… Then by languor seized, & now seeing the end of life imminent to him gave the time of all prayers to insistence, asking God, that if his errors he had not duly bewailed, God by accustomed goodness would remit, & clemently to him would forgive. Coming therefore the seventeenth of the Kalends of June day, & he piously dies on 16 May. the happy soul leaving the earthly habitation, accompanied by the choirs of Angels, to the Creator's presence is set, where with no end to be closed rest hitherto enjoys. There having received the reward of his happy labor, may he assist us conceded as companions of his honor, with his mercy granting, who lives & reigns through all ages of ages. Amen.