ON SAINT THEODORE,
BISHOP OF LUCCA IN ETRURIA.
IN THE IV CENTURY
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY
On his cult from various sources, and his Life from manuscripts.
Theodore, Bishop of Lucca in Etruria (S.)
G. H.
[1] Franciscus Maria Florentinius, after the Hieronymian Martyrology illustrated by him, published a small Hieronymian Martyrology, or rather Kalendar, Sacred cult from a very old parchment book of the library of the Canons of Lucca: in which on this XIX of May these things are read: On the XIV of the Kalends of June, of Pudentiana the Virgin. At Lucca, of Theodore the Bishop. Of S. Pudentiana we have treated on this day. Of S. Theodore the Bishop treats Ferdinandus Ughellus in volume I of Italia Sacra among the Bishops of Lucca, Elogium from Ughellus, and adds this elogium: The III Bishop S. Theodore, who to some is Theodomus, and to certain ones also Theodolus, was elected about the year CCCXXIV. He administered the Church committed to him piously and holily for some years, and rested in the Lord, illustrious both living and after life with miracles: whose feast is observed at Lucca on the XIX day of the month of May. His sacred body they translated from the church of S. Donatus into the Paulinian temple, then to an altar consecrated to his name, where these things engraved are read: Here is the body of S. Theodore de Dombebrigis, who was Bishop of Lucca: concerning whom Franciottus in his Life and Ferrarius in the Catalogue, and from Ferrarius: namely of the Saints of Italy, in which he writes these things: Theodore the III Bishop of Lucca (whom they relate to have been begotten of the Turringhelli family) was raised to that dignity on account of his exceptional virtues. He, made Bishop, strenuously contended against the Arian perfidy, which was ranging through Italy, and preserved the flock committed to him unharmed from that plague. But when he had most holily presided over his Church for a long time, heaped with merits he flew away to the heavenly fatherland on the VI of the Ides of August. Whose body was afterward translated into the temple of S. Paulinus on this day, on which his festivity is celebrated. The same Ferrarius mentions him in the general Catalogue of Saints, noting concerning him that by others too he is treated on the VIII day of August: on which in no annals at all, not even those of Lucca, nor in Ferrarius himself do we find his name. In the Florentine manuscripts of the Grand Duke and of Carolus Strozzi the Senator these things are read: At Lucca the deposition of S. Theodore the Bishop, who is buried in the basilica of S. Donatus, in which formerly that Prelate had been, ruling wonderfully.
[2] Franciottus in his History of Lucca more amply deduces these things which have been said here, after narrating the miraculous liberation of Ansaldus the Presbyter, of which below: Formerly, he says, the city of Lucca, on account of its singular devotion toward this servant of God its Protector, Luminaries formerly offered to him. was wont every year on the Vigil of his feast to set out luminaries: toward the expenses of which the Bishop, the Prefect of the fabric, and the whole neighborhood contributed money. In the year MCCCXC, when he had been enrolled in the number of the Saints, his body was on the XIX of May translated to the church of S. Paulinus, The body translated. in which until now it is preserved, and his feast is celebrated with solemn devotion in this city. Some Acts of S. Theodore, to be recited annually by way of a sermon on his feast, we found at Florence in a manuscript Legendary of the Medicean library of the Grand Duke of Etruria, shelf XX, and we transcribed them: which same we had earlier received from a manuscript Legendary of the Lateran Church, by the favor of the Illustrious Lord Julius Cinus. These we give here, although, by whom or when they were composed, is nowhere added: yet because no mention is made of the Body translated to the basilica of S. Paulinus, even from this it seems it can be gathered that they were written before that time, and perhaps very long before. The canonization, however, if it was made by the Roman Pontiff after the manner of that age, falls in the first year of Boniface IX, of which some Bull concerning that matter must once have existed. The Reader will laugh at Ughellus and Ferrarius disagreeing about the name of the family, knowing on how no foundation such things are defined.
LIFE
From the Florentine and Roman manuscripts.
Theodore, Bishop of Lucca in Etruria (S.)
BHL Number: 8087
FROM THE MANUSCRIPTS.
[1] The festivity of today is handed to memory of S. Theodore, Confessor and Pontiff, on whose merits the whole assembly of the people of the city of Lucca is securely adorned with praises. For after the glorious and insuperable triumphs of the Apostles and Martyrs, the lofty merits of the Confessors shine forth. Chaste from adolescence, Indeed he so freely pursued the course of his contest that he did not, as the age of children is wont, indiscriminately join in wantonness; but in all ways longed to please God, and gave favor to no evil-speaking. For although the times of persecution were lacking, yet from the band of spiritual wickedness wars were always waged inwardly. vigilant in the keeping of the commandments; Holy Theodore therefore so drew himself with vigilant mind to the keeping of the commandments, that nothing harmful was bruited about concerning him. For he was given to the grace of a wonderful simplicity, bound by the bond of charity, so that he loved all the grades of his Order as if sons. Toward the popular orders moreover he was so solicitous, that all venerated him with exceeding affection as a father. For so great was in him the force of continence, that in his members he felt nothing at all of such a kind. To the vigils and prayers of parsimonies too he was so intent, that never did the praises of Christ cease from his mouth. For daily he did not cease to preach to the people, lest he should be excluded from the sheepfold of the Lord, always burning that in mind, that for the talent received he might offer to the Lord the gain of souls; lest he should appear empty before the sight of God. So great a solicitude for the poor was in him, that for the sake of hospitality he called all; solicitous for the poor: turning in his heart that sentence of B. Job, saying: I was a father of the poor, and I comforted the heart of the widow: my door was open to the traveler, and I did not eat my morsel alone. Job 29:16 and 31:17
[2] imitating the disciples of Christ and the Martyrs For the Lord worked wonders through His servant, who for our sake clothed in flesh conferred on His disciples many receptacles, by bestowing on them the gifts of charisms, and moreover conferring power on all to heal all infirmities and all pains, namely of those who would come to His knowledge with pure heart and entire faith. This teaching therefore the holy Martyrs followed, who like Orions b offering their neck to the throat-knife, poured forth their rosy blood for Christ. Of these the holy Confessors were imitators: who like the Hyades bursting forth in rains, scattered their doctrine over all the climes of the world: and abundantly watered with them the souls of the perishing, which had been deceived by diabolical fraud; now by terrifying with harsh punishments, now by promising eternal joys; as if from a certain vehicle of dregs they drew them to the supernal realms of the poles, from whose college
it is to be reckoned that B. Theodore the Prelate is. For rightly did he obtain the name of his dignity: for Theodore in the Aeolic tongue, in Latin is said given by God: for you see of what merit he truly is, who deserved to have in himself the name of the Lord. he brought forth great fruits: For truly a vine fructifying in the house of the Lord, with branches extended, he showed himself sweetly to pluck fruit. He instituted an abundance of new fruits, by which the thirsting might be inebriated: and he showed the minds of the husbandmen capable of obtaining the life of perennity. But neither is it to be passed over, that of his immaculate life we ought by zeal of charity to keep silent somewhat, that it may openly be given to understand how much this man lived in simplicity and of how great merit he was, as the appended miracle indicates: because (as we have already said above) the holy Church, if the time of persecution does not threaten, has in peace lilies, in war roses: because contests are not lacking to the saints, and all who wish to live piously in Christ suffer persecution. 2 Tim. 3:12
[3] For a certain man named Rabiolus, while he beheld the wealthy threshing-floor of the holy Man, The burning of his harvest the devil through the temptations of his deceit so sharply inflamed his heart, that he set abundant fire to the corn, that he might take away every support from the servant of God and from those serving along with him; the ancient enemy plotting this, that he might drag the mind of the holy Man to ruin through the detriment of loss, who inwardly was guarded by the presence of the Holy Spirit. But when the country-folk beheld the abundant fire set round the circuit of the floor, with grave grief they hastened to announce it to the venerable Father, saying: Alas Father, hasten at once, he stays it by prayer: for all our support and all the crops are burnt. But the Man of the Lord, hearing this, with quickened step went to the floor, not greatly worn with grief, because he was confident of the Lord's piety toward him. But as soon as he beheld the floor, his eyes lifted upward, he besought the Maker of the world: that He who was able to rescue from the burning the three children placed in the furnace of fire, so that not even their trousers c were singed, would so deign to keep his wheat unharmed from this fire. Whose desirable effect he forthwith obtained: for the fire, which seemed to burn the crops, by the merits of the man of God was not able to contaminate either the chaff or the wheat. Who forthwith gave himself to the ground, rendered thanks to almighty God, and commanded his servants that they should carry all the wheat by wagons to his dwelling. But the Man of the Lord, not elated with human boasting, but with humble spirit and contrite heart, as he had been accustomed, supplied all things that were necessary toward the needy, fulfilling that Prophetic saying: He dispersed, he gave to the poor, his justice remains for ever and ever. Ps. 111:9 Truly blessed is he who by working justice merited the heavenly seats, and left the rule of rectitude to posterity.
[4] Therefore when the fame of the holy man grew far and wide, many came to him from all around, that they might be protected by his blessings; and, instructed by his honeyed words, might salubriously return to their own. But many sick from the neighboring parts flowed together to him for the sake of healing, by the imposition of his hand he drives out diseases: and he, laying his hands on each, the Lord granting it, by the zeal of prayer cured them. For this Saint did not cease to gain souls for God from the talents conferred on him, so that through the sluggishness of torpor he should offend nothing before the confident judgment, but should hear the desirable voice offering with fruits, fulfilling that Prophetic prediction which says: But coming they shall come with exultation, carrying their sheaves. Ps. 125:6 For truly this man with tears cast the seed in the hearts of the faithful, what he teaches others he himself fulfills in deed that he might reap it with abiding joy: striving to double that which he had received single; that he might deservedly obtain the reward of accumulation for that which he willingly disbursed. Hence indeed it is clear; that this holy man held burning lamps in his hands, which not in secret but in the open afford the light of good working: so that his glorious life might be imitated by those who in the house of the Lord strive to obtain the copious gift of grace. For first he exercised himself in the best morals, afterward preached to others. For thus the excellent preacher Paul says: I chastise my body and bring it into servitude; lest, while I have preached to others, I myself become a reprobate. It was very unworthy to succumb to so great a burden, unless he should also supply strong things to others. 1 Cor. 9:27 Therefore B. James the Apostle says: Be doers of the word and not hearers. Jas. 1:22 For this holy man showed himself a despiser of the world, and showed himself a doer of the law. For thus elsewhere it is said by the Prophet: I have not hidden thy justice in my heart, I have spoken thy truth and thy salvation. Ps. 39:11 But the Man of the Lord, by working and announcing justice, merited that dwelling, which David proclaiming says: Lord, who shall dwell in thy tabernacle, or who shall rest in thy holy mountain? By the pronouncement of the Holy Spirit: He that walketh without blemish and worketh justice, it is understood: Such a one enters into the tabernacle of the Lord. Ps. 14:1, 2 For he who is a hearer of the voice and not a doer, is repelled outside, as the Lord says in the Gospel: Amen I say to you, I know you not whence you are. Not that the Lord is ignorant, who knows all things before they are made: but he by no means acknowledges the reprobate, because he does not find them in faith and in the work of good action. Matt. 25:12
[5] But the Man of the Lord Theodore, from his early age until the decrepit life of old age, he died on May 19 always mighty in rich works, and performing the services of God, happily consummating the contest of his course, departed to the Lord: whose natal day is observed on the XIV of the Kalends of June. His venerable body is laid up in the basilica of B. Donatus the Bishop d, in which formerly that Prelate had been, ruling wonderfully: but the citizens, in order to entreat the aids of his benefits, he is honored with an altar: built an altar above the body of the blessed Man, that the blessed Confessor by his prayers with the Lord might deign to help them.
[6] But neither is it to be passed over to recount some miracle concerning so great and venerable a Man, which was done after his death. For from the relation of certain venerable men it was learned, concerning a certain religious Presbyter, Ansualdus by name, dwelling in a little field, whose name is Villa-nova. For this aforesaid Priest, greatly loving God, by nights and days frequented the church of B. Theodore the Confessor with his services. But on a certain night, pressed down by heavy sleep, the rains bursting forth, so great an inundation of the river Auser e swelled beyond the wonted course of its bed, In an inundation of waters that it overflowed the whole plain of the city of Lucca with raging waves. But the religious Presbyter, after he had shaken from himself the sleep of the deep and quiet night, recognizing nothing of what had been done, attempted to go to that place where with vigilant mind he was intent, the journey having been undertaken. But when little by little he had begun to fix his steps, he looked far off: and saw himself surrounded by waves, so that he by no means dared to advance. He, struck with exceeding terror, knowing not at all what he should do, the pious Priest is carried to the church by S. Theodore appearing: his eyes lifted upward, besought the Maker of the world, that by the prayers of B. Theodore he might deserve to advance from that mass of waters. To him forthwith B. Theodore appeared amid the collisions of the waters, and set him upon his shoulders: and through that whole inundation of the gulf going with free step, set him before the door of the church, to which with devout mind he afforded his service. But he, fallen at his feet, rendered immense thanks for so many benefits which he had conferred on him: but with the force of love heaping up in his inmost breast, he began to inquire who he was who had afforded him such salutary aids. To whom at once he who had carried him said: I am Theodore, who afforded you support for your faithful frequentations and prayers, which you sincerely exhibited. And these things being said, he vanished. But the aforesaid Presbyter forthwith gave himself to prayer, promising to God that never again would he serve the pomps of this world, nor henceforth would commerce profit his house. For setting himself a dwelling next to the same church, and there day and night devoting himself to prayer, until the length of time remained, but afterward, the weight of the flesh cast off, he migrated to the Lord Christ.
[7] Let us all therefore venerate the festivity of B. Theodore the Prelate, and let us implore his help, that he may be an intercessor for us with the Lord, Conclusion. to whom that he might worthily live he afforded service, and by his intervening merits may we deserve to be purged from the squalor of all sins, which may He Himself deign to grant, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns God, through the infinite ages of ages. Amen.