Aygulphus

ON ST. AYGULPHUS, OR AIULFUS,

ARCHBISHOP OF BOURGES IN GAUL.

ABOUT DCCCXXXVIII.

HISTORICAL COMMENTARY

His elogia from various sources, praise among the Poems of Theodulf Bishop of Orléans, age, translation, profession.

Aygulphus, or Aiulfus, Archbishop of Bourges in Gaul (S.)

BY THE AUTHOR G. H.

[1] The fifth we give this month of May a Bishop of Bourges, to the Saints ascribed. He is S. Aygulphus, or Aiulfus, the forty-sixth Bishop, who died this XXII of May; on which day among the proper feasts of the diocese of Bourges, in the ancient Breviaries of Bourges, he is recalled; from which some of his life compendium transcribed from Rouen to us sent in the year MDCXLII John Westhouen, the cult 22 May, of our Society a Priest: whence also another, but only about the beginning in few words different, from a Ms. very ancient sent John Dardes, likewise of our Society That therefore, as a most certain monument, here we give.

[2] At what time the renowned of the people of Bourges Prelate Elbonius from human things was taken, long had lived in a certain hermitage the most holy servant of God Aygulphus the hermit, Elogium from the Ms. Breviaries. in his solitude noble for his life's sanctity, the fame of glory, and works. He with the celebrated radiation of his virtues so the minds of all to himself had drawn, that to the aforesaid Prelate, by the consent of all, through a Canonical election as Archbishop a successor he was taken. When therefore absent he was to be admonished of his promotion, was sent to him with letters a messenger: in whose favor this notable he is reported to have wrought miracle. When the hermitage had reached the hasty letters' bearer, and with hunger and thirst he was tortured; and nothing had the holy man of God which to him to deliver, since all things were lacking; appeared to them a great of stags company which passed, among which a hind there was: to which the blessed hermit, compassionating the messenger, ordered that it should remain in these words: Stand, hind. Which immediately obeying as to the voice of God, stopped. Which deed when he saw the messenger, it he approached, and inclining himself, its udder sucked, until refreshed he was. Whence it came, that that place even to the present day, Stand-hind, was named. There supervening after the epistle's bearer others, with difficulty and unwilling to Bourges he was persuaded to go, and was led. To him approaching the whole Clergy with the highest congratulation to meet proceeded, and him to his See honorably led. Set over the Church, not to himself to be sleeping, but for his flock to be watching he reckoned. His Episcopate he ruled for twenty-six years through turbulent times. He had withdrawn into his hermitage, when into a disease he fell, through which by a happy end he rested on the eleventh Kalends of June: on which day his deposition commemorates the Church of Bourges, as of one Confessor Pontiff. His mausoleum behind the altar placed is, with this inscription: Here rests, of Blessed Aygulphus the body And succeeded S. Radulphus, who about the times of Charles the Bald lived.

[3] These things from the said Mss. The years of the See twenty-six we judge to be taken from the year DCCCXII even to the year DCCCXXXVIII, or by one or another year later. The time of the See, For Elbonius his predecessor flourished in the year DCCCX, when in Indiction IV a copy of a Formata for Dodobert the Presbyter, that in his parish with Hercambaldus he might be able to remain, he inscribed to the Archbishop of Sens Magno. But his successor Radulphus in the year of Christ DCCCXLI, of Charles the Bald the King the first, in the month of March some donations made, which together with the preceding Formata have the Sammarthani in the Archbishops of Bourges. The author of the Patriarchium of Bourges in Philip Labbe a long of him encomium has, in which of his eremitic life these things he hands down:

[4] Another elogium from the Patriarchium of Bourges, The forty-sixth presided S. Aigulfus, otherwise Aiulfus. This Saint after the death of his parents still a young man being, having heard the Lord's voice, by which in the Gospel he said: If anyone wishes after me to come, let him deny himself and follow me; for what profits a man, if the whole world he gain, but of his soul a detriment suffer? immediately with poured forth mixed joys the sighs of his heart sending to the heavens, himself our Lord Jesus Christ of his own accord to follow, and to him the flower of the world trampled skillfully to serve as a soldier proposing, into a most hidden grove withdrew, saying with the Prophet: Behold I have gone far away fleeing, and I remained in solitude, awaiting him, who made me safe &c. Ps. 54, 8. He therefore of great Elias and John the Baptist an emulator being most fervent, in that secret of the desert vastness, by day and by night with the highest of soul delight the pious of the divine Scriptures intelligence and sense with mind to God excited meditating, in a short space of time in every kind of virtues perfect came forth. But when, growing clear of so great sanctity the tokens, of the blessed man the name far and wide shone; vacant of the Aquitanian Primacy the See, with the unanimous of all assent, the same true of God worshiper into the Pontiff of the Church of Bourges is elected. Which he when truly had learned, himself unworthy of so great an honor by humility's grace esteeming, flight took. But while subterfleeing in the interior grove's part he lurked, at length by him, who to the same the letters of the election of him made bore, by divine will was found. It happened moreover that very messenger, for many days in that desert wandering, to death even of hunger by want almost was reduced. To this indeed B. Aigulphus, as one wholly always with mercy's bowels overflowing, the man perishing of hunger compassionating, greatly was afflicted, that whence to him he might succor he had not. But amid these things he raising his eyes, by chance beholds of hinds a herd not far passing; and lifting his voice, to one of them to stay its step he orders in the name of the Lord, these using words: Stand hind. Which indeed not without a great miracle staying, inclined himself the famished that messenger, and sucking the hind's udders, strength immediately recovered. Hence to the same place an appellation was imposed, Stand-hind; but thence a custom grew, that with corrupted name Sagerzia it is called. Brought therefore S. Aygulphus, and immediately consecrated, on the Pontifical throne solemnly is placed.

[5] These things the author of the Patriarchium of Bourges in the century lately elapsed wrote, it is emended about the time of the See. but soon in the time of the See to him to be assigned much he hallucinates, while the old Catalogue, in which to have presided for years twenty and six it is said, by himself cited he corrects, as if one only year and some months from the year DCCCXL to DCCCXLII he had sat. But in the years also of other Bishops to be assigned very much he erred, which of S. Aigulphus below clearly we demonstrate. He moreover had withdrawn into his hermitage, (as the same Author has) and at length happily dying on the eleventh Kalends of June, The Church of S. Aigulphus. the hall of the heavenly kingdom joyfully to enter merited. Whose sacred bones with great of devotion affection by Christian faithful honorably are kept in the same place, where in his memory was constructed a Parochial church, from his denomination's word called in French Sainct-Au, or Sainct-Hou. These things there. In the general Register of the benefices of the diocese of Bourges, about the year MDCXLVIII printed, is placed this of S. Aigulphus parish, commonly S. Aoust or Ayeul, in the Archpresbyterate of Castrum Radulphi, commonly Chasteau-Roux or Casteau-Raoul, near the Indre river, from which by two leagues distant is the S. Aigulphus parish toward the city of Bourges, whose presentation pertains to the Abbot of Déols. Of some Relics of his in Champagne kept, and a bone translated to the Belgians, is treated in the Life of B. Mary of Oignies XXIII June, chapter X.

[6] Contiguous dioceses are the of Bourges and the of Orléans, and their Bishops by inner friendship joined, Theodulf Bishop of Orléans, Aigulphus namely and Theodulf, a man with singular doctrine endowed, but accused as if a partaker he had been of the conspiracy of Bernard the King against Louis the Pious the Emperor his uncle, on account of which of the Episcopate spoiled in the year DCCCXVII, lived at Angers an exile in a monastery: at which time he wrote a poem to Aigulphus or Aiulfus the Bishop, who then with great praise for some years had ruled his Episcopate. This therefore poem, by Sirmond published, is extant book 4 of his Poems number 4: which here we give.

[7] This to thee Aiulfus, Prelate most holy, I send Theodulf, a poem, an exile from exile. Noble and of fair character a boy thou hadst been once; he praises his boyhood, Now a man thou art, adorned with nobility's wealth. What was in the small boy a docile skill; Now remains in the great, the Thunderer granting, man. Signs as a boy of great virtue always thou hadst Great, teaching that great by lot thou wouldst be a man. So the sown things promise of a fruitful harvest the rewards, So of the bull in the tender calf the form lies open. The liberal arts to learn the zeal for thee at length Was, and culture from these for thy breast to have enough. his studies, But now of the divine word the dogmas to thee to deliver Is thy labor, and to the peoples the laws of heaven to report. Who then at the Grammarian's fountain didst take draughts, With Ambrosian now well with dew thou waterest minds. That thou livest holily a rumor scatters everywhere, Through the great mouths of men enough thy fame flies. All who shall set forth the praises' proclamations of yours, Which Suitegaudus that one is wont to report: illustrious works in the Episcopate, Suitegaudus, where probity, and the true, and faith, And all good things together associated remain. Him God, and the probity of his life, and the election of the Brothers Had set before, I mediating, to the holy flock: But badly the gnawing envy, the guile and fallacious deceit, an exile to himself an exile related. Of the Prelate from his proper See removed him. There is God in heaven, who him to his proper sheepfold may restore, That the care be of his proper, which was before, flock. He of your part bore to me kind words, And to me present thee gave by his mouth. While your good things to me he narrates, me he cherishes sick; And by thy acts my mind glad remains. He in turn strives from us these certain things to ask: Yours, and the answer, which to thee he may carry, he has: He reported to me the zeal, and the honor, and the manner, In which thou bearest of thy office the worthy burdens: In what way by examples and words to bear the leadership Thou ceasest not to the peoples toward the pious realms of heaven.

We beg that the desired may Christ give to thee aid. There are examples for thee of the Fathers former to be followed, By example and words that thou mayest be taught by thine: And thy doctrine on continuous days may grow, And that thou who the head art through the pious members mayest go. And to the Patriarchal of the first prelated honor thou art Of the See, and the kindly of the Fathers throng is subject to thee. Thence to remain to thee a prudent skill ought, That to all a pattern thou be, an honor, an order, a manner.

By how much thou art loftier, humble more to be remember, The grace of the high-throned may enrich thee kindly of God. Be to the good a lamb, a lion fervid be to the malign, Let this part love thee as a father, that one fear thee as a master. And when to the pious thou shalt be pious, and strict to the bitter, Thee this part as a mother let it feel, that one as a father. Let to thee be a generous hand, a placid heart, sweet words, Be thou upright and skillful, prompt to every good.

[9] But what do I, or whither me now my pipe leads? A Doctor's like I have now been made, I. and he asks his prayers. Thee I pray meanwhile, of our ruin be mindful, Pray that by prayers perhaps our evils he may lighten. Perhaps thee praying, and the Brothers' throng aiding, The Omnipotent pardon may give, having pity, to me: And us from exile may relieve, having compassioned, from this, Joseph who took out of prison, or Peter. Myself to God I confess sins many I have done, Which exceed in number rashly, the sand of the sea, And the rain's drops, the sea's wave, the stars of heaven Of herbs the shrubs, the seeds all of the soil. These are why into these hardships I am sent, Nor as they ought to be are evils so great to me. his innocence he indicates. Not against the King or his offspring, nor his believe his consort Did I sin, that by merits these evils so great I should bear. Believe my words, brother most holy, believe, That I of the objected by no means crime am guilty. That he should lose his scepter, his life, and his own grandson, These three things I never counseled, I. We add also a fourth, to me there was not that will In any way, that of things these evils so great should be: This I have cried, I cry, and I cry through the age, Until of the soul these members the liquor quickens. Who now believes not, will be compelled to believe at length, It will be come when before the throne of the great Judge. Who to me a witness will be pious and most just an avenger, To whom all things always naked and open remain. Who accepts not persons, nor gifts Loves, the equal equal loves every good. In his sight all most false things will lie open: Here the mind of another by the help of a witness needs not. Me thy, dear, cherishes sweet compassion, Brother: And of my sadness a part great to thee remains. May give the Father high-throned, heaven and earth governing, That of our gladness thou afterward partaker mayest go. I know thee with the flower of all good things wreathed, With the lamp of virtues to glow enough. Let to thee be life, health, and the grace of Christ the King, he wishes all happy things. May exist also the Omnipotent a patron everywhere to thee. Live to God happy through times long a Priest, And from good into better profit duly: farewell.

[10] Thus far Theodulf Bishop of Orléans, who to Charlemagne, as long as he lived among his intimate friends had clung, and his testament had subscribed, among the Royal Envoys a most ample and honored prefecture having held; Theodulf freed, but in what esteem S. Aigulphus, whose seems especially the ingenuousness and other virtues through Suitegaudus to have known, he himself with himself held, let the reader consider; as one to whom his affairs all he had opened, and by his help to be aided, and by counsel to be directed, in his, in the year 821 he died. which he suffered, exile in the year DCCCXVII and following, from which freed and to his See returned, in the year DCCCXXI died.

[11] S. Aigulphus in the year 828 sat in the Council of Toulouse, There is mentioned S. Aiulfus in the third Capitulary of Louis the Emperor, written toward the end of the year DCCCXXVIII, of those things which at Aachen in a private Placitum he established, when also the Councils of Bishops in four places to be held he ordered, and Envoys Royal through the whole kingdom he delegated. One of the said places was assigned Toulouse, in which convened Notho of Arles, Bartholomew of Narbonne, Aiulfus of Bourges, and Bartholomew of another See. Besides Ebbo Archbishop of Rheims, because against Louis the Pious the Emperor he had conspired, by the Bishops in the year DCCCXXXV deposed, wrote a little book, in the year 835 by Ebbo as Judge chosen. in which, he chooses as Judge of his offenses Aiulfus Archbishop of Bourges, with Bradaradus and Modoinus Bishops. Hence it is clear to his See rightly can with the ancient monuments be assigned years six and twenty, namely, as we said from the year DCCCXII even to the year DCCCXXXVIII or by one or another year later.

[12] He rested moreover this day in peace, and is venerated with the Office Ecclesiastical of a Confessor Pontiff. Elogium from Saussay. But Saussay in the Martyrology of Gaul with a long him encomium, but not without various errors adorns, and crowned with martyrdom asserts in these words: At Bourges the natal day of S. Aigulphus, Bishop of the same See and Martyr. He from his earliest age in divine letters instructed, and to Christ wholly to obedience devoted, into solitude withdrawing, with the roots of herbs and a hind's milk, which at fixed to him hours came, hardly while he lived, and by virtues a heavenly life on earth imitated; after the sudden of Ebroinus the Prelate of Bourges death, divinely elected of so great a See the Prelate, from the desert resisting drawn away, and by the whole Clergy and people with a solemn received encounter, after duly according to custom he was consecrated, with admirable of sanctity and vigilance Pastoral splendor to his Church shone forth: and at last for justice and charity contending, by a violent death and a glorious funeral the crown of martyrdom (while all Aquitania with warlike tumults was shaken) for the heap of his vows and the interest of his merits obtained. His body near Castrum-Rodulphi, in the church sacred to him, with much honor laid rests in a casket: to which from the stone sarcophagus, where it had been buried, behind the great altar, by John de Soliac Archbishop of Bourges, before years above three hundred eighty, it was brought with a fitting solemnity. These things Saussay. But whence has he, that with a hind's milk which at fixed hours came, he lived? The occasion seems thence seized, that the messenger bringing the letters of his election as Archbishop, once was with a hind's milk refreshed.

[13] Claude Robert, in the Archbishops of Bourges, asserts that Lord Roland Hebert the Archbishop, while on XXII May of the year MDCXXIII he visited the casket of the Relics of this Saint, found a Schedule such, which here we give. John by divine permission of Bourges Archbishop, of Aquitania Primate, to all the present letters about to inspect health in the Lord. Be it known that we in the year of the Lord one thousand two hundred sixty-nine, on the day Sunday, The time of the translation. on which is sung Misericordia Domini (that is the day XVI of April) the body of B. Aygulphus the Martyr we translated in the same Church of S. Aygulphus, from a certain sarcophagus stone, behind the great altar of the said church situated, in which long it had rested; into the present casket wooden, present with us religious men of Mollebec, of Cazalis of Benedict, and of de Cellis S. Eusitius the Abbots, and the noble Lady Agnes, Lady of Castrum-Radulfi, and other good men. In witness of which thing our seal, together with the seals of the Lords Abbots and of the Lady aforesaid, to the present letters we have caused to be appended. Given in the year and day aforesaid. Sealed with five seals of green wax. These things there: with the intruded by the transcriber through error the title of Martyr; just as is corrupted the year MCCLXIX, when ought to be written the year MCCLXXIX, in which in the cycle of the Moon VII of the Sun XXVIII the Dominical letter A Easter was celebrated on the second day of April, and the Sunday Misericordia fell on XVI April.

[14] What is assumed by Claude Robert and Saussay about the time, in which we established S. Aigulphus to have died, as if then was Aquitania all with warlike tumults shaken, is not proved: let us grant however it to be true, whether hence immediately can be inferred S. Aygulphus with martyrdom to have been crowned, Whether he was a Benedictine? against the ancient of the Church of Bourges monuments, and hitherto kept in the cult Ecclesiastical tradition. The feast of the translation celebrates Saussay at the day XVI April when also a Martyr he calls him; as again at the day X June, on which his memory again he celebrates: but on the following day XI June assert him to be venerated John Chenu and the Sammarthani, perhaps deceived, that the day be not XI June but XI Kalends of June, which is this XXI of May. Meanwhile at the said XI June he is referred by Menardus and Bucelinus, and is said him in a monastery by a probation of his long, according to the rule of S. Father our Benedict, strenuously to have exercised himself, into the desert to have withdrawn, and by Wion book 2 chapter 19 it is established a monk and hermit to have been. But these things in more ancient writers we find not.