ON SAINT ELEUTHERIUS,
AT CHIETI IN THE PROVINCE OF ABRUZZO IN ITALY.
HISTORICAL COLLECTION
Concerning his body, its finding, and translation.
Eleutherius, at Chieti in Abruzzo (St.)
BY THE AUTHOR D. P.
Near the city of Chieti, which in the year 1539 Pope Clement VII adorned with the prerogative of Archiepiscopal dignity, and in the very pomerium of the city, is the monastery of St. Mary of Civitella, Among the Celestines the body: founded about the year 1295 for the Benedictine monks of the Congregation of the Celestines, flourishing in religion and discipline until today, as Doctor Hieronymus Nicolinus of Chieti in the History of his fatherland teaches book 3 chapter 2, published in Italian at Naples in the year 1657. Here Caesar Busdragus, eighth in the number of Archbishops, translated from the Church of Alessano on August XI 1580, more honorably laid up the body of a certain St. Eleutherius lately found. But it had been found four months before his promotion, with a little chart of this kind: Here is deposited the body of St. Eleutherius, by Queen Joanna, this name on this day in the Calendar. in the time of Brother Peter the Hermit: and because in the old Calendar of the Church of Chieti, on the day XXI of May is found the name of St. Eleutherius, without any other explanation of degree and condition, it was judged not insipidly, that it was he whose body anciently venerated by the people of Chieti, and at length translated into this church, had again come into oblivion.
[2] Not so prudently done Ughelli judges, that some have judged him to have been Bishop of the city, Whether he was a Bishop since not even is added the title of Bishop, which yet in certain others, Saints equally of unknown time, inscribed in the same Calendar, is added. Those however or the more recent tables made by them following, Ferrarius, in the general Catalogue of Saints lacking in the Roman Martyrology of the year 1625, the name being wrongly expressed, noted Helterius or Eltherius Bishop of Chieti, whose Acts are wanting. In our manuscript Florarium also the same title of Bishop is added in this manner: In Apulia St. Eleutherius B. and M. under the Emperor Hadrian in the year of salvation 119. But it appears by this addition, that he was confused with him, of whom in the same place on April XVIII is read: At the city of Messina of Apulia, of the holy Martyrs Eleutherius the Bishop and Anthia his Mother under the Emperor Hadrian in the year of salvation 119. Of those we then treated, and the errors here interwoven and others we detected: but now we advise, that of Eleutherius, Bishop of Aeca, not of Messina, who suffered at Rome, the body, was partly translated to Constantinople, partly honored at Rieti in Umbria. But if it were not established that the entire body was found at Chieti, we should deservedly suspect that some confusion in writing the name of the place had crept upon the writers. Now all cause of suspecting that ceasing, it follows, that the author of the Florarium can seem, or even ought, to the bare name of Eleutherius, found on this day, to have received all the rest from April. From which day I wish the reader also to remember, that I treated of the Aecan Episcopate of that Eleutherius in Apulia, lest perhaps on account of the name of Apulia, sometimes extended also to the Abruzzians, anyone doubt, whether from him who today is venerated to that one was transferred the title of such a See.
[3] As it is, the memory of the Translation made by himself the Archbishop Caesar left to posterity, under this formula, related by Ughelli Tome 3 of Sacred Italy column 933, printed about the year 1659: Here rest the bones of the body of St. Eleutherius, formerly by Queen Joanna, in the time of Brother Peter the Hermit, Finding March 11, Translation December 26, 1580 standing in an altar of the house of Brigantia, in this church, in a certain casket (as in a certain little chart, found in the casket itself, it was written) by the Most Illustrious and Most Reverend Lord Caesar Busdragus of Lucca, Archbishop and Count of Chieti, on the day XXVI of December, the Prior in this monastery being Brother John Andrew of Valenzano, found in this chest on the day XI of March of the year 1580, laid up again by the said Most Illustrious Lord, who to those visiting the said body on the said days (namely of the Translation and of the Finding) of any year, granted forty days of true indulgence for each occasion. Nor is there doubt but that afterward, when it was decreed that the chief feast as by an ancient rite should be kept on May XXI, to the same was extended the same or even a greater Indulgence, asked of the Roman Pontiff and obtained. Queen Joanna, of whom here mention is made, seems to be the first of this name, who with various fame and fortune reigned from the year 1343 to 1386, from which down to the time of the other Joanna, by others called Joanella, more than 33 years flowed. If anyone shall find anything certain concerning Peter the Hermit, who seems to have presided over the place either as Abbot or Prior, he will be able to judge more certainly also of the time of the earlier translation.
[4] That venerable deposit now lies (as Nicolinus writes) in the chapel of the Canon Don John Bernardine de Sanctis, of Chieti, one bone translated to Salerno, within a chest of gilded wood, whose two ampler sides through transparent crystals exhibit the sacred body to be beheld; the two shorter ones at the head and feet, represent the painted image of the saint, mitred as of a Bishop. But when many years ago there had come to Chieti Don James of Naples, Abbot of Corropoli in Abruzzo; by the favor of Don Anthony Casola of Galliano, then Abbot of the convent of Chieti, he obtained one bone of this Saint, to be given to the city of Salerno: for receiving which, when he had taken care to have an elegant statue made at Naples, the Archbishop Cardinal Sanseverino went forth with his Clergy to meet it: but how great miracles there the Saint piously invoked works, is manifest to all and the people of Salerno testify. Of these things if we shall have received anything thence, we shall the more gladly here append it, there he shines with miracles. by how much the less we hope to obtain notices older than those related. Lucius Sanseverino, translated from the Archbishopric of Rossano to that of Salerno in the year 1612, was adorned with the Cardinalitial Purple by Gregory XV in the year 1622; and Urban VIII being elected after Gregory's death on the day VI of August of the following year, returning to Salerno, in that same year he died on December XXV: whence it could be established concerning the year of the aforesaid Translation, were it not doubtful whether it was not made, before Lucius was called to Rome for the hat.