ON SAINT QUINIBERTUS
MONK IN HAINAUT.
HISTORICAL COMMENTARY.
The notice from Molanus: the Quercetan Priory under the Maricolian Abbot.
Quinibertus, monk in Hainaut (St.)
G. H.
John Molanus in his Additions to Usuard, in the year MDLXVIII printed, these things writes on this XVIII of May: Near the monastery, which is called Maricolus, of S. Quinibertus the Confessor, who with innumerable miracles in our days shone. The same Molanus, in the same Additions twice republished, The notice published by Molanus: this only has: At Quercetum of S. Quinibertus the Confessor, of whom in the Index of the Saints of Belgium the same things somewhat more fully he draws out: S. Quinibertus the Confessor, was Prior in Salesium near Quercetum, in the Priory of the Maricolians: where with very many he shone miracles. His feast is observed there & at Maricolus on the day XVIII of May. The places are of the diocese of Cambrai in Hainaut. Finally in the Birthdays of the Saints of Belgium, from a rescript of Lord Jacobus de Barlaymont, Benedictine of Maricolus, these things he reports: At Quercetum of S. Quinibertus the Confessor, who is a Maricolian Saint: for the place of rest was of the Priory of the Maricolians: in which also he is thought to have dwelt. About him written I received from Maricolus: About B. Quinibertus all things to us are uncertain, except the bare name, inserted in our Calendars under the solemnity of a middle feast. A little wooden chest, in which his bones & relics they believe to be contained the natives, at the village which commonly we call Serlesches, in our age also with frequent miracles of healings shone forth, as some still surviving are authors. But the props, supports & vehicles of those healed, which to the memory of the benefits obtained had been left with the temple itself, by the crime of the Franks, by a foul fire perished. Thus far Molanus, whom follow & transcribed by others. Canisius in the Germanic Martyrology, Wion, Dorganius, Menardus, Bucelinus in the Benedictine Martyrologies, Daurotius in the Calendar, Ferrarius in the general Catalog. But Miraeus in the Belgian Fasti these things writes: S. Quinibertus the Confessor is venerated by the Benedictines in Hainaut monks of Lessies, & rests in the village Serlesches, with frequent miracles of healings formerly renowned. These things there. But I suspect that instead of "of Lessies" monks, who about him nothing know, by some lapse of memory intruded, the Maricolians should be put back. Here however Saussay, no further examination applied, by that levity with which the Gallican Martyrology as a youth he patched together, dared to write, that the deposition of S. Quinibertus the monk with annual veneration is venerated at Maricolus, Quercetum & Lessies: who of Salesium formerly a little ascetery the moderator, great there published of holy conversation monuments; & after he went to glory, in the Serleschian village entombed, frequent of healings to his suppliants furnished long ago, by his precious intercession with God, benefits. These things he. But the Maricolian monastery was founded by S. Humbert, about the year DCLXXX having died on XXV March: to which day his Acts we gave. But how long after was erected the Priory near Quercetum, & at what time there lived S. Quinibertus, is not clear. It appears that Molanus used Salesium for Sarlescium in the Index of the Saints of Belgium, & hence two places were made for Saussay, the little monastery Salesium & the village Seleschum: but that nothing certain remains, except the cult of the Relics & the memory of sanctity; by which titles a place to him in this work we give.