ON THE HOLY ROMAN MARTYRS FABIUS, BEINIUS, EMMANUEL, FIRMUS, TOGETHER WITH MANY RELICS OF VARIOUS SAINTS
TRANSLATED TO VIENNA OF AUSTRIA.
The distinct account and approbation of each.
Fabius, Roman Martyr, translated to Vienna of Austria with other Relics (S.)
Beinius, Roman Martyr, translated to Vienna of Austria with other Relics (S.)
Emmanuel, Roman Martyr, translated to Vienna of Austria with other Relics (S.)
Firmus, Roman Martyr, translated to Vienna of Austria with other Relics (S.)
BY THE AUTHOR D. P.
[1] Vienna, Seat of the Caesars and Metropolis of Austria, among the more recent ornaments of sacred buildings, having been added to many older ones in this century, numbers an Imperial Convent, founded for the Theresian Carmelites under the Prefecture of the Venerable Mother Paula Maria of Jesus: [a] Venerable Mother Paula-Maria of Jesus, Discalced Carmelite, who there in the year MDCXLVI with celebrated fame of holiness departed on January XV, with the prodigious integrity of her body, even now incorrupt, attesting to the same, and no small number of miracles, by her intercession, as is believed, performed. Her Life, illustrious with admirable virtues and divine charisms, in a fairly thick volume, divided into four books and dedicated to Pope Clement IX, came forth at Rome in the year MDCLXIX, the name of the author being suppressed, who is said to have been R. P. Alexius Maria: [b] she acquires many Relics for her church at Vienna, a compendium of the same in the Italian language, divided into three books, R. P. Giovanni Andrea Alberti of our Society of Jesus had previously published at Genoa around the year MDCXLVIII under this title, Theopiste instructed by the examples of Venerable Mother Paula Maria Centurione Discalced Carmelite. Let the Apostolic See by its judgment increase the honors of so great a Virgin, both for other causes, and because she was most zealous in promoting the veneration of the Saints in the church of her Convent dedicated to S. Joseph, of whom many relics she received from Eleonora Augusta, widow of Ferdinand II Emperor, the most munificent foundress of that very place, and from Ferdinand III Most August Caesar and other persons of eminent dignity, and worthily exposed them to be venerated, with the approval of the Bishop of Vienna, whose entire instrument, rendered from German into Latin, it pleased here to exhibit, that some notice of so great a treasure might be imparted to pious readers.
[2] Philip Frederick, by the grace of God Bishop of Vienna and Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, to all who shall inspect, We make known and attest by this present public instrument to all who shall read it; that Rev. Sister Theresia of Jesus, Prioress of the Discalced Carmelites, together with the Venerable Convent of this City dedicated to S. Joseph, has humbly set forth to us, how the sacred Caesarean Majesties Ferdinand III King of Hungary and Bohemia Archduke of Austria, and Eleonora most august consort of Ferdinand II, of most pious memory, as Founders of this monastery, from singular and exceptional affection toward it, not a small quantity, both of whole bodies of saints, and of greater and lesser bones and sacred Relics have donated to the same, and respectively bequeathed dying by testament; of which although the names and instruments of Caesarean donations are present, yet not all the autograph and authentic testimonies of the Relics themselves: and therefore, to remove all ambiguity about them among posterity, they have earnestly entreated, that we recognize, inspect, discuss them by ordinary authority, together with other authentic sacred relics, by the Most Eminent Lord Cardinal von Harrach, Archbishop of Prague, and by ourselves, and by Lord Augustino Centurione of Genoa, donated to the same convent, anew authenticate, and declare to be held legitimate, and graciously concede that the Office be recited concerning various of them, as will be said below. [d] as truly given, Since therefore we in no way doubt the names and truth of the said Sacred Relics, although the authentic testimonies and instruments of all are not present; we are moved to assent to the petition of the aforesaid Nuns, for this reason also, that the above-mentioned Caesarean Majesties undoubtedly obtained them from other sacred and reliable places and persons, always pursued them with eminent veneration and devotion, and, that they might continually obtain the patronage and intercession of those Saints, perpetually and liberally donated them to the said monastery: and therefore the tenor and description of them, exhibited to us for Confirmation, we shall here subjoin.
3 4[5] [e] likewise from Eleonora Augusta There were also the following sacred Relics donated by her Sacred Caesarean Majesty the aforesaid Eleonora Augusta to the often mentioned Monastery, most of which are particles, those excepted of which special mention will be made.
Some particles of the Wood of the Holy Cross; of the Blood of Christ; and of the Milk of B. V. Mary.
Of the Crown of Thorns of Christ the Lord.
Of the Sudarium of Christ the Lord.
Of the Reed of Christ the Lord.
Of the Column at which Christ was scourged.
Of the Tunic of B. V. Mary.
Of the Sepulchre of B. V. Mary.
Particles of the Relics of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, Andrew, Matthew, and Matthias, and S. Mark the Evangelist.
Two particles of S. Faustina Martyr.
Some particles from the Bones of S. Sigismund the King.
Two ribs of S. Elizabeth the Widow.
Various bones of Unnamed Relics.
Of the entrails and sponge of S. Charles Borromeo.
Of the Entrails of S. Felix the Capuchin.
The Heart and one bone of S. Othilia the Virgin.
Of the heart, liver, and habit of B. Francis of Bergamo the Capuchin.
Of the arm of S. Melita Virgin.
Of the Skull of S. Eugenia Virgin and Martyr.
A fragment of S. Maximina Martyr.
Likewise of S. Pisistratus Martyr.
Some greater and lesser bones of the Trier Martyrs.
Some particles of S. Livius Martyr.
Likewise two parts of S. Linius Martyr from his shin.
A tooth of S. Fabian Pope and Martyr.
A tooth of S. Alexander Martyr.
A tooth of B. Matthew Carerius of Mantua.
A tooth of B. Osanna of Mantua.
Of the skull with other particles from the Society of S. Maurice Martyr.
Two large shin-bones from the Society of S. Zeno Mart.
Of the SS. Two Hundred Martyrs of the Order of S. Benedict.
Of SS. Felix and Adauctus MM.
From the Society of S. Gereon Mart.
Of SS. Gordian and Epimachus MM.
Of the SS. Brothers M. M. sons of S. Felicity.
Of the Pallium of S. Joseph.
Of the habit of B. John Capistran.
Of the habit of B. John of Bergamo.
Of the Chasuble, Bones, tomb, and cincture of S. Wolfgang Bp. and Conf.
Of the Hairs of S. Francis Conf.
Of the Pallium and undergarment of S. Ignatius Loyola Conf.
Of the Pallium of S. Clare Virg.
Of the habit of S. Francis of Paola Conf.
Of the Pallium of S. Gertrude Virg. sister of S. Charlemagne Emperor.
Of the Veil of S. Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi Virg. of the Order of Carmelites.
[6] Parts or particles of Relics.
[7] Finally the Most Eminent Lord Cardinal von Harrach the following Relics, [f] and from Card. von Harrach which he had brought with him from Rome, through his Nephew Lord Leonard Count von Harrach, donated to this monastery, namely:
[8] Since therefore we have inspected all the above-mentioned sacred Relics individually with our eyes, surveyed them with our hands, and grasped them, and have recognized them according to the catalog and description of them exhibited to us, at the same time considering the singular piety, devotion, and affection, with which the aforesaid Discalced Carmelite Nuns are more earnestly borne toward the Saints of God, and especially toward those whose sacred relics they possess in their convent; that with our Episcopal permission and faculty added, they may be able to expose them publicly in their church to the veneration and cult of the faithful, for promoting the greater glory of God and the honor of the Saints, and the more easily obtaining their efficacious patronage; by this present public instrument and our Episcopal authority we decree and declare, that all the aforesaid Relics of the Saints are by all to be held and venerated as such, and may be publicly exposed in the church, and the Saints themselves invoked; and concerning those of which special mention has been made above, the Office double or semi-double may be recited, which we have already otherwise indulged, and now again in writing concede and confirm. In faith of all which we have ordered the present this instrument to be issued through our Secretary, signed by us and strengthened by the impression of our greater seal under [it]. [h] a.d. 1657. Done at Vienna of Austria, in our Episcopal Curia, on the XV Kalends of January, in the year after Christ born MDCLVII.
Philip Bp. of Vienna.
[9] So far this instrument, submitted to us by R. P. Paul of All Saints, Definitor of the Discalced Carmelites through Germany and famous from various published Books: who striving to fulfill the meaning of his cognomen, earnestly asked us, that as we have treated on the XV of SS. Constantius and Felician Roman Martyrs, [i] Why their entire Catalog is here related carried to the church of the Theresians at Antwerp, so on this XXI of May, on which among the Nuns of the same Order at Vienna S. Fabius is venerated under the rite of double Office, of him at least we should make mention even among the Praetermissi, since he had understood that it is not our purpose to treat laboriously and individually about Martyrs of more recent memory published at Rome. So indeed we indicated in the brief Notice of the whole Work, published after the Notices of the threefold state, Ecclesiastical, Monastic and secular, fourteen years ago taken from our first Trimester. If however notable circumstances should occur, not common everywhere to such translations, of place, time, or persons, intervening in such Translations, which seem worthy of special memory; we readily and shall readily seize the opportunity offered, although not eagerly sought, of meriting well of communities, especially religious; as we have declared by more than one example, even after the published March, in April and May.
[10] But it pleased in the proposed title, besides S. Fabius who is venerated today, also to name S. Beinius, [k] and three others adjoined to S. Fabius. S. Emmanuel, and S. Firmus, because they are venerated within the next ten days: S. Beinius indeed on May XXVII with semi-double office, on account of two whole bones of the shins and other particles; S. Emmanuel however with double on the day XXXI,
and S. Firmus on June 1: in a different month indeed, yet not therefore to be separated from here, because his sacred body, or the chief parts of the body, were donated to this Convent by the Most Illustrious Lord Augustine Centurione, the brother of the praised Venerable Mother Paula Maria, and afterwards also Doge of Genoa. That donation was made in the year MDCXLIII: but that one is much later by which there came to Vienna, which I said is venerated on May XXX, the body of S. Emmanuel Christ's Martyr, [l] from which Emmanuel M. was added to the others in the year 1678. received from the liberal donation of the Most Eminent Lord Caspar Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church de Carpineo, Vicar General of Our Most Holy Lord Pope Innocent XI, and ordinary Judge in the holy City and its district, in the year MDCLXXVIII on the day XXXI of October. The letters of that donation and the sacred Relics themselves in August of the following year and on the VIII of it the Most Reverend and Most Illustrious Lord Wilderic Bishop of Vienna recognized, and approved to be exposed for public veneration. What else I might be able to say about these is not at hand, except that the name of Emmanuel can be believed to have been imposed by the designation of the finder or donor, since by no more certain examples is it proved that it was used among the Christians, groaning under the tyranny of the Gentile Emperors. By what indications moreover those, whose bones have been thus translated, are believed to have truly been Martyrs of Christ, with the instruments of the Donations being silent we cannot say: yet we readily attribute trust to the prudence of those, by whom the Most Eminent Cardinals appointed over so great a matter command that it be had.
[11] [m] The monastery had begun to be founded in 1628 As far as the monastery itself is concerned, about its foundation the aforesaid P. Paul wrote to me in this manner, summarizing the chief glories of it. When the Most August Empress of the Romans Eleonora consort of Ferdinand II, had long had it in her vows, from the intense affection by which she was borne toward the Virgin Mother of God Mary of Mount Carmel, and the Seraphic Mother Teresa, to found Discalced Carmelite Nuns at Vienna; finally in the year MDCXXVIII, on May XXX, she obtained for this the faculty by Pontifical diploma from Urban VIII, and from the Superiors of the Order four Nuns, to begin this work; namely two from the Convent of Genoa, V.M. Paula Maria of Jesus, and R. M. Maria Theresa of S. Onuphrius, and two from the Convent of Interamna of the Roman Province, namely R. M. Catherine of S. Dominic, and Maria Electa of Jesus: who on November 11 MDCXXIX arrived at Vienna, and were most honorifically received by the Most August and most pious Empress: who also from singular affection toward them, from November 11 until November VIII of the same kept them with her in the Caesarean court, and abundantly provided for all necessities. She also bought a house and suitable place, for erecting a monastery and church there. The first stone of this sacred building she herself laid in the year MDCXXXIII, on October XXII, [n] and the first stone of the temple dedicated to S. Joseph in the presence of Ferdinand II and the whole Caesarean Offspring. On the plaque placed on the stone, these words were read.
[12] To the honor of the most holy and undivided Trinity, to the perpetual memory of the matter. Eleonora Most Serene and Most August Empress of the Romans, Queen of Hungary and Bohemia, Archduchess of Austria &c. born Duchess of Mantua; assisting Ferdinand II ever August Emperor of the Romans, of Germany, Hungary, Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatia, Slavonia King, Archduke of Austria, Duke of Burgundy, Brabant, Styria, Carinthia, Carniola &c. Prince of Suevia, Margrave of the Holy Roman Empire, Burgau, Moravia &c. Count of Habsburg, of Tyrol &c. Lord of the March, of Pordenone and of the Salt-works; together with Ferdinand III King of Hungary &c. and the Most Serene Leopold Bishop of Strasbourg and Passau, and the Most Serene Archduchesses Maria-Anna, and Cecilia-Renata, of this sacred building and monastery of the RR. MM. [o] most solemnly placed in the year 1633. Discalced Carmelites of the Congregation of S. Elias of the Order of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, the first foundations at Vienna most solemnly laid, and with the greatest affect of piety and benevolence most devoutly dedicated to the Most Holy Patriarch Joseph, the Spouse of the same B. Virgin, on the day XXII of October MDCXXXIII. The Mass was sung and the stone consecrated by the Most Eminent Lord Cardinal of Dietrichstein, two Bishops ministering to him. Eleonora desired, her husband Ferdinand II being deceased, to aggregate herself to these sacred Virgins, and in this Most Holy Religion for the rest of her life to serve God and the Mother of God; but she was not permitted. Yet as often as it was lawful she would betake herself to this her convent, and was always accustomed to provide magnificent examples of piety and humility to the Nuns; about whom the history of her life and virtues is to be read, published at Vienna by R.P. Hermann Horst of the Society of Jesus her Confessor. Long also before her most pious death she wished to live with them, with no small consolation of her soul; and clothed in the habit of this Order, in their common crypt to be buried.