ON ST. LUPUS,
BISHOP OF LIMOGES IN AQUITAINE.
AFTER DCXXXVII.
HISTORICAL SYLLOGE.
After the elogium from the Breviary treating of his age, and the elevation of the body.
Lupus, Bishop of Limoges in Aquitaine (S.)
G. H.
Limoges, a city of first Aquitaine Episcopal, glories that it the Christian faith received from S. Martial its first Bishop. Among his successors is reckoned the sixteenth S. Lupus, whom with solemn veneration under a double rite venerates this XXII of May the Church of Limoges, in its own city and the whole diocese; and in the second Nocturn at Matins these of his virtues recites Lessons.
[2] Lupus, of praiseworthy life a Presbyter, of the tomb of S. Martial the faithful guardian, Elogium from the Breviary of Limoges, as with wonderful sanctity he flourished, so not without a miracle of the Church of Limoges was made Bishop. The Prelate having died the Clergy and people, doubtful whom they should appoint, when at the sepulcher of the most blessed Apostle prayers they had poured forth, among themselves at length it was agreed, that two notable for probity, Lupus and another likewise a Priest, to the King of the Franks Chlothar should be sent: who whichever he wished to be ordained should bid, almost all however the votes upon Lupus concurring. When that legation the holy man, from all ambition estranged, for some time had refused; by importunate prayers prevailed upon, the journey he undertook. But since with no other nobility, than that which from virtue is taken, with no splendor of garments notable he seemed; not to him easy to the King lay open the access. By divine will it was effected, that Chlothar's son, with a grave fever seized, in vain the physicians' remedies tried, the Queen with tears and a three-day fast afflicted, by the offered by the man of God sacrifice was healed. By that miracle moved the King was, that to Lupus he consented, nor except with many gifts endowed to depart suffered. The opinion which of himself among the people he had excited, in the Episcopate he did not disappoint; as who, by dignity loftier, by sanctity was sublimer Lupus, not a wolf, nay a Pastor most vigilant. Illustrious finally for miracles, the course of his life most religiously completed, the laid-up of justice crown he received in the heavens on the eleventh Kalends of June. His sacred body in the church of S. Michael of the Lions laid with solemn rite, God the sanctity of his most faithful servant by illustrious miracles declaring, was by Gerald the Bishop of Limoges from the earth raised, in the year of Salvation one thousand one hundred and fifty-eight.
[3] Thus far the Lessons of the Breviary of Limoges, in the year MDCXXV printed. The same with his own phrase set forth Saussay in the Martyrology of Gaul at this XXII of May. On which likewise day his sacred memory is inscribed in the Ms. Martyrology Carmelite at Cologne kept and the Ms. Florarium, memory in the sacred Fasti. likewise in the printed fasti of Maurolycus, Felicius, Ferrarius; and under the name of Lupinus in the Martyrology of Cologne and Lübeck about the year MCCCCXL printed, and in Greven in the Auctarium of Usuard.
[4] The King, by whom to the Episcopate promoted the Saint was, was Chlothar II, in the year DCXXVIII having died, The time of the See. and seems his by Sichildis son Charibert or Aribert, afterward King of Toulouse, then by his sacrifice from a fever freed. But S. Lupus subscribed the foundation of the monastery of Solignac in the territory of Limoges, by S. Eligius made on the X Kalends of December, in the year X of Dagobert the King, of Christ DCXXXI. Not seems afterward long to have survived: for succeeded him Simplicius, who died when S. Eligius still a layman was, and so before the year DCXL. Consult his Life book 2 num. 28, as in Surius at the Kalends of December it is extant by S. Audoenus written. Bernard Guidonis Bishop of Lodève, on the Deeds of the Bishops of Limoges chapter 2, these things briefly observes. S. Lupus by Chlothar King of the Franks (for of two there was the altercation) was elected: whose body, from his own raised tomb, was placed in the Church of S. Michael of the Lions, in the year of the Lord 358 where an error appears of the copyist, and perhaps to be read in the year 558, or something similar.
[5] Gaufredus, a monk of the monastery of S. Martial of Limoges and Prior of Vosius, chapter 15 of the Chronicle, treats of the Saints in the Episcopate more illustrious, and these things interposes: The Archangel's Church Superior adorns Lupus that great, not of the flock a devastator, miracles wrought. but of the sheep a most watchful Pastor: who in the beginning of Henry King of England, son of Gaufredus Count of Anjou, signs and miracles very many at Limoges wrought. The said Henry II made was King of England in the year MCLV, under whom (as is added chapter 54 of the same Chronicle) the Body of S. Lupus Bishop of Limoges was raised from its own tomb, because the walls of the Church of S. Martial were rebuilt. Then a great of the peoples throng at Limoges flowed together, the elevation of the body. on account of the multiplicity of signs, which the Lord through that Prelate unexpectedly deigned to exercise. Which above is said to have been done in the year MCLVIII by Gerald the Bishop: who lived even to the year MCLXXVII, having died then on the Kalends of December.