ON ST. DESIDERIUS THE BISHOP,
AND VERY MANY OTHER MARTYRS,
AT LANGRES IN GALLIC CHAMPAGNE.
ABOUT 264.
Previous Commentary.
Desiderius the Bishop, Martyr at Langres in Gaul (S.)
Many others, Martyrs at Langres in Gaul (SS.)
BY G. H.
§. I. Gaul devastated by Barbarians. Acts of S. Desiderius. Sacred cult.
In the year of the Christian Era two hundred and fifty
four, Valerian and Gallienus his
son obtained the Roman Empire: who
stirred up a grievous persecution against the Christians.
Of these Valerian in the year two hundred and
fifty-nine was captured by the King of the Persians Sapor
and, stripped of his skin, perished; but Gallienus in the year 268,
with his brother Valerian, In the times of the Emperor Gallienus, was killed at Milan. Gallienus
was lost in luxury and wickedness: in whose time on every side,
both by barbarians and by tyrants (whom Trebellius Pollio
reckons thirty by their names) the Roman Empire
was lacerated; especially however Gaul, by the Vandals,
Alemanni, and other peoples of Germany was miserably devastated and occupied,
up to the times of the Emperor Probus, who reigned
from the year 276, up to the year 282. He, with the witness
of Flavius Vopiscus, with a huge army sought the Gauls,
which all, with Postumius slain, had been disturbed,
with Aurelian killed, were possessed by the Germans. Gaul was devastated, But such
great battles he there happily waged, that throughout the Gauls he received seventy
most noble cities. Which almost the same things
Probus wrote to the Roman Senate. But the principal one, who
had invaded the Gauls, was King Crocus, of whom Gregory
of Tours in book 1 of the History of the Franks chapter 30, chiefly by King Crocus, with the persecution of Valerian
and Gallienus indicated, adds these things: "In their
time also that Crocus, King of the Alemanni, with his army stirred
pervaded the Gauls. Under him many Bishops
of Gaul slain merited the crown of martyrdom: of
whom Gregory chapter 32, brings forth S. Privatus, Bishop of the city
of Gabali: under whom were killed S. Privatus Bishop of Gabali, whose illustrious Acts we have
from various Manuscripts to be given on the 21st day of August. There it is said, that suddenly
almost all the barbarian nations, with united intention,
burst forth, so that devastating East and West
they laid all things low, slaughtered peoples;
and with every region depopulated and emptied,
they left solitudes, horrible with wasteness. Of which the Alemanni
then with the Rhine crossed sought the Gauls, by number
even more than by valor strong: over whom Crocus
the King at that time presided, antiquity confirms. This
people therefore, innumerable in multitude, in the manner of locusts,
having pervaded the Gauls, terrified or destroyed all,
which also the ruins of great cities
attest." Thus far those Acts, which also in other ancient
Manuscripts of the same S. Privatus, are thus indicated: "Then the Alemanni
with their King, by name Crochus, with the Rhine crossed,
sought the Gauls." Surius edited the same Acts, but with a polished
style, and calls the King Storco, but in the margin
warns that "Crocus" should be read. They suffered under
the same King Crocus among the Arverni SS. Antholianus
and Liminæus, SS. Antholianus and Liminæus, also remembered by Gregory of Tours.
The Acts of the former we gave on February 6, of the other on March 29.
[2] Under this same Crocus the Lingones were subdued,
and their city, anciently Andomatunum, occupied, even now
ample and fortified, in the Bassiniacus countryside ascribed to Champagne
of Gaul, situated at the sources of the river Marne, about six
leagues from the borders of the Duchy and County of Burgundy, and S. Desiderius Bishop of Langres.
of which city the Bishops are Dukes and Peers of France. Of these
Lingones the Bishop S. Desiderius, under the same King Crocus
crowned with martyrdom, on this day May 23, every year
is venerated with solemn veneration. The Acts of his martyrdom, hitherto unedited,
we give from various ancient Manuscript codices, namely the Trier
of the monastery of S. Maximinus, Acts of martyrdom are given from Manuscripts. the Aroasian of the Canons Regular monastery
in Artois, the Beauvais once sent by Petrus Lovetus,
another of Christina Queen of Sweden marked number 81,
and finally another from our distinguished Legendarium, which from this
month of May up to the end of December we will often allege. The Author
of these Acts seems to be very ancient, and by Warnaharius
polished with a better style. We gave on January 17
the Acts of the Holy Triplets Speusippus, Eleusippus and
Meleusippus, also polished by the same Warnaharius, who in
the Prologue to S. Ceraunus Bishop of Paris (whose sacred
day is September 23) says, that he had recognized "the Deeds of the Holy
Twins, polished by Warnaharius: who in the suburb of the Lingonic city
obtained the precious consummation of martyrdom,
or of the Most Blessed Desiderius the Martyr and Bishop of that
city, just as the zeal of devotion had commanded, so most desiringly
by the zeal of service."
Thus Warnaharius, who establishes Crocus, not as King of the Alemanni,
as others reported, but of the Vandals: but otherwise
he treats of the same Crocus, and describes his death among the Arelatensians.
Following Aimoinus, in book 3 of the History of the Franks
chapter 1, from the writings of the ancients inserts, how Crocus
with the people of the Vandals, with the Suevi and
Alans also joined, attempting to storm Arles, by a certain soldier, Marius
by name, was captured and led through the cities which he had overthrown,
tortured by penalties he perished. Perhaps that Marius was the seventh
numbered among the thirty Tyrants, who is said by Trebellius
Pollio to be a strenuous man, and elevated by military
degrees up to the Empire. But these things have been said in more detail on February 6
at the Life of S. Antholianus the Martyr.
[3] The sacred memory is inscribed in the ancient Martyrologies,
and with this elogium in Usuard: memory in the sacred Fasti, "At Langres
the passion of S. Desiderius the Bishop. He, when he saw his people
vexed by the army of the Vandals, going out to supplicate
for it, was at once ordered to be beheaded: who for
the sheep entrusted to him willingly extended his neck, and
struck by the sword passed to Christ. There suffered
with him also several others from the number of his flock, and at
the same city were buried." Thus there, which plainly the same things are read
in the Roman Martyrology and at Ado: who concerning
the Burial of S. Desiderius adds these things: "There is buried
the blessed Martyr in a basilica next to the walls of the city, which the faithful
people committed to him by Christ, burial, by the special
love of him and pious devotion, took care to be made for protection."
Claudius Robertus the Lingonian, in Gallia Christiana
and the Bishops of Langres, says: "Desiderius was buried
in a Church, within the walls of the city, called now from his name,
church, and decorated with the title of Priory, which
before stood under the patronage of S. Magdalene: where also
the body of the Bishop himself was elevated on January 19
by William Bishop the 70th, which was done in the year
1314. feast, But on May 23 his solemn feast
is performed in the diocese, by the precept of Guido Bishop
the 85th, who died in the year 1480. In the Breviary of Langres
printed about the year 1604 there is prescribed of S. Desiderius
the Bishop and his Companions Martyrs the Ecclesiastical office
under double rite, and nine Lessons are taken from the Acts
to be given below. Other lessons are recited about the Elevation of the body,
also to be given below.
§. II. The time of martyrdom variously assigned by various authors. Cult at Genoa and neighboring places.
[4] James Vignerius, Priest of the Society of Jesus, prepared
for the press a Chronicle of Langres, of which he edited some compendium
in the year 1665, in which on page 13 he writes these things:
"The thousandth year of the city of Rome, the fourth of the Caesars Philippi,
The time of the See of S. Desiderius, of Christ 249, was, in which the secular
Games were celebrated, and at almost the same time other more sacred ones
at Langres, namely from the beginnings or birth of the new Pontiff.
This Desiderius, sought by the vows of all,
since destined by God, stood forth; under whose Bishopric
the Christian cause flourished, and took very much
increase. For we do not assent to Sigebert and others,
placing his slaughter under the Vandalic invasion of the year 407
or 408; or even (as they themselves wish) of the year 410.
from the opinion of Vignerius, We conclude from this that he lived most holily in the peaceful times of the Philippi,
and (after the Decii) of Gallus, Volusianus, and Valerian,
that with Valerian, after the unfortunate battle or by fraud
captured, and Gallienus the son recently reigning, namely
in the year of Salvation 264, Crocus, or Croscus, by others also
called Carocus, killed about the year 264. surrounded by a great band of Suevi, Vandals,
Alemanni, penetrated into the Gauls,
and besieged the citadel of the Lingones, Andomatunum.
Desiderius, the most vigilant Pastor, did not hesitate to approach
the barbarian Prince, to supplicate for the flock entrusted to him.
And while to the raging man divine vengeance
he threatened, he was at once ordered to be slaughtered and beheaded:
which he is said to have caught with both hands. and
to have carried it into the basilica of B. Magdalene founded by him:
which restored after many ages; and consecrated to his
tomb and name, even now endures."
Thus Vignerius. But of the head caught with both hands and
carried, there is no mention in the ancient authorities. But the handle of such
a fame or fable was seized in various Saints beheaded,
because their statues were accustomed to be depicted with the head before
the breast, by which only it was indicated, that they had undergone martyrdom
by beheading.
[5] Sigebert in his Chronicle for the year 411 writes these things:
"The Vandals with their leader Croscus pervaded the Gauls, in the Chronicle of Sigebert year 411, many
cities and Churches they overthrew. Croscus at last by Marianus
Prefect of Arles was captured, and through the conquered cities ignominiously
dragged back, was tormented to death. Under
this whirlwind among many were martyred, the Sedunensian
Florentinus and Hilarius, Desiderius of Langres
with Vincent the Archdeacon, Antidius Bishop of Besançon."
Thus there. SS. Florentinus and Hilarius are venerated on September 27,
and they are said in the Manuscript Acts to have suffered
under King Croscus, and the people of the Vandals barbarously
devastating Gaul, with no mention made of later
times. But the Acts of S. Antidius Bishop of Besançon, edited
by Chiffletius in part 2 of Vesontio, will in their time on June 17
or 25 be given and examined, because in them very many things
seem perversely heaped together, and among others about S. Desiderius
these things are read: "Whence it came to pass, that B. Desiderius,
Bishop of Langres, a verdant and fruitful
branch of the vine of the Lord, because he refused to obey their brutish
prestiges, namely to sacrifice to most vain divinities,
they stripped his neck inwardly with the stroke of the sword.
The memorable also Valerius, the disciple of the same eminent
Doctor, whom he had chosen for the office of Archdeacon,
twisted with manifold tortures, they rendered a companion
of the recruits of the heavenly army." Thus there.
S. Valerius the Archdeacon, wrongly called Vincent by Sigebert,
is joined by Vignerius to S. Desiderius,
as also having suffered under Crocus in the third Christian century, of whom
it must be treated on October 22. But Crocus or Croscus
(as the cited Acts of S. Antidius have it) when he came to Arles,
now destitute of a major army, captured by
Marius the Prefect, bound in chains, through the many cities he had laid waste
led back to reproach, and to the conquered
a victor presented to be avenged of injuries, after
the torments of many tortures finished his impious life with a wretched
death. Thus there, which the same things about the death of Crocus
are had in the Acts of S. Desiderius, and at Gregory of Tours,
by whom these things are said to have been done in the time of the Emperor Gallienus.
[7] The aforementioned James Vignerius
raises another argument for himself, treating of the sons of Constantine the Great, and hands down these things:
"Before these years namely 345 or 346
a national Council was held at Cologne Agrippina: Whether S. Desiderius was at the Agrippinensian Council in the year 346,
at which one is read to have been present, who could not at all have been present, Desiderius
Bishop of Langres, whether he, according to Sigebert,
afterward in the year 410 fell by the sword of the Vandals,
or far before, as we attest, perished.
So we certainly determine that Urbanus ought to have been written,
and there was an error in his appellation, just as
in many of the Bishops of Besançon, Reims, Metz,
Verdun, and certain Churches' nomenclature,
as Baronius, Sirmondus, and others have observed."
Thus Vignerius. or S. Urbanus, Urbanus Bishop of Langres is venerated
on January 23, of whose age, neither in his Life there
edited, nor in the Breviary of Langres is anything signified.
But suppose he was not present at the said Cologne Council, and
lived later: why might not some Desiderius, or Desiderius the 2nd, the second of that
name have been present, so called in honor of S. Desiderius the Martyr?
[8] Sacred cult at Genoa, The proper Offices of the Genoese Church, by command of Stephen
Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, Archbishop Duratius of Genoa, edited
in the year 1640, in the Calendar prefixed to this May 23,
prescribe that, of S. Desiderius of Genoa, Bishop and
Martyr under double rite. Philip Ferrarius for this
cause inscribed him in the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy, and from monuments
of the Church of Genoa writes these things about his earlier life and election
to the Episcopate on this May 23. "Desiderius,
God, where it is handed down he was born, worked the earth with the plough at the village of Bavari;
when the Lingones going to Rome to demand a Bishop,
named Desiderius (for they had been admonished
by an Angel, that they should choose as Bishop of their
city him whose staff fixed in the earth would germinate)
it happened to them to pass through there, where Desiderius
was: and thence miraculously summoned to the Episcopate. who, asking him the way, when they understood that his name was Desiderius;
and that his staff fixed in the earth, until he gave answer
about the way, they immediately saw flowering,
him, although unlettered, they had consecrated as Bishop.
Who divinely instructed, while discharging the Pastoral
office brilliantly, the Vandals rushing into Gaul
besieged the Lingones, and the city captured
they seize the holy Bishop … and to
Croscus the Duke they lead him, who … ordered him to be beheaded."
Thus there. Augustine Calcagninus, Penitentiary Canon of the Metropolitan
Church of Genoa, edited in the year
1655 the Sacra palma Genuensis; and in it in the first
place at length deduces in Italian the Life of the holy Genoese Martyr
Desiderius, Italian Life, Bishop of Langres, and then in Latin
subjoins a brief excursus of the Deeds of Saint Desiderius, Bishop of Langres, with a hymn about him and Prose,
according to the style of the Churches of Langres: which there can be read.
In the said Italian Life it is said that the Village of Bavari
is distant from the city of Genoa five thousand paces. Finally
is subjoined a long document of the donation of the sacred
Relic of S. Desiderius and of the translation to Genoa, Relics there. which
we also omit, and only give a Summary of it incised on a marble
stone in these words:
[9] "Of Saint Desiderius the Genoese, Bishop of the Lingones
and Martyr, the vertebra, which among the sacred relics of this Metropolitan Church
is venerated, Summary of the translation, was a treasure of the Kings and the Kingdom
of Gaul. Louis XIV, to Joannetinus Justinianus
Patrician of Genoa, who had deserved excellently of him and of his father Louis,
reckoning it little to have conferred the dignity
of Marquis, in order to add this part of his truly Royal heart,
wished it to be obtained from the same, to be given as a gift to the Most Eminent and
Most Reverend Stephen Cardinal Duratius Archbishop of Genoa
and to the Most Reverend Chapter and
Canons. Who mindful of the benefit,
to the most religious citizen vowed an annual and perpetual
sacrifice, as in the acts of John Baptist Badaracus
the Notary on July 3, 1654." Thus there. Of Desiderius
this Bishop, as Ferrarius notes above, the memory in
many cities of Italy is famous, feast at Castelnuovo. especially at Genoa
and Tortona: in whose diocese is Castelnuovo,
a very ample town and not at all obscure, of which
this holy Bishop is the Patron. The Castel-novo people
narrate a plainly wondrous thing, that their territory,
which before was filled with ferns, from the day on which
they vowed, ceasing from labors, to celebrate the festivity
of S. Desiderius, has been entirely without them, while however in the neighboring
regions they are seen. Masinus in his survey of Bologna hands down,
that some of his Relics are kept in the Church of S. Gabriel near
the Ravegnan gate. Relics at Bologna. His feast is also celebrated with Ecclesiastical office
in the Church and diocese of Milan.
[10] Among the proper Offices of the Saints of the Church of Arles,
printed in the year 1656, is prescribed the cult of S. Desiderius
under double rite, and at the end of the 6th Lesson these things are added:
"In the cemetery of S. Honoratus at Arles there was once
an oratory, dedicated to this glorious Martyr, in which
his relics rested, which afterwards were placed in the building of S.
Trophimus." Furthermore at Avignon D.
Bertrandus de Deucius, Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church Archbishop
of Embrun, built and dedicated a great church under the invocation
of S. Desiderius, and adorned it with a notable
Chapter of Canons, with a dowry also added
for Music. But they a few years ago, says D.
Richard Joseph de Cambis, Lord of Fargues, in
his memoirs sent to us after the year 1674,
supplicated the Chapter of Langres for obtaining
some notable relic of the now common Patron, and
obtained the first vertebra of the neck, as a part of that member
in which the Saint had suffered: which placed in the building of S. Nicholas
over the Avignon bridge, with the greatest solemnity
was then translated to the aforesaid Collegiate; and from there
every year is processionally carried around on his proper feast,
when his Office is held under double rite. Nor only is the Saint venerated there;
but also in the church of the College of the Society of Jesus,
on account of various of his Relics, there placed in the high
altar by D. Dominic de Marinis Archbishop
of Avignon, when he consecrated that church on May 9.
[11] The Elwangen monastery in Swabia, built by Heriolphus Bishop
of Langres, also took up the cult of S. Desiderius
of Langres, at Arles, at Avignon, with Commemoration of him in Lauds
and private Masses, on account of the veneration of the translation of the bodies
of SS. Sulpitius and Servilianus, as we said on their
natal day April 20. There is also at Elwangen some
tradition, as if S. Desiderius had baptized the Holy
Triplet Martyrs Speusippus, Eleusippus, and Melasippus,
whose Relics are also kept there, as
we said at their Acts on January 17, Cult at Elwangen in Swabia, where also they are said
to have been baptized by S. Benignus the Presbyter and Martyr. About the time of the coming and martyrdom
of him we have said some things on May 1 at
the Life of S. Andeolus the Subdeacon and Martyr, the rest will have to be said
at the Kalends of November his natal day. At Cologne
also there was a church, which is now called of B. Mary at the Indulgences,
once of S. Desiderius in Vallo, writes
in the Cologne Fasti Gelenius. That S. Desiderius has remained
in highest veneration among the Lingones is indicated by
very many parishes, which are noted under his name in the Register
of benefices of the said diocese, Various parishes named after S. Desiderius of which are in the Deanery
of S. Sequanus the parish of S. Desiderius of Charenceio, in the deanery
of Bèze S. Desiderii and Antreino, in the Châtillonais
on the Seine S. Desiderius of Mont-lior and of Laine,
in the Bar on the Aube S. Desiderius of Lepon, of
Monsan, and twofold of Corisiere, in the Vinemerensian S. Desiderius
of Chellajo. To omit other places; famous also
is among the Lotharingians the Sanctuary of S. Desiderius, a noble
town, like another equally famous in lower Champagne.
ACTS OF MARTYRDOM,
Polished by Warnaharius,
From 5 Manuscript codices and the Breviary of Langres.
Desiderius Bishop, Martyr at Langres in Gaul (S.)
Many others, Martyrs at Langres in Gaul (SS.) BHL Number: 2145
BY WARNAHARIUS FROM MANUSCRIPTS.
PROLOGUE.
How great a are the virtues in the elect and predestined Priests
of God almighty; the praises
of the most blessed Desiderius the Martyr, and Pontiff of the Lingonic city, The author excuses his thinness.
whose festivities of solemn custom we celebrate by the renewed circle of years,
manifest: whose deeds, although the unskilled rusticity
of the place is not able to publish in order;
he himself nevertheless by his bright virtues with God assisting does not cease
to manifest himself. b For innumerable are the things of goodness
of his virtues, the insignia, yet few c in speaking
our thinness of eloquence as is fitting can pluck.
gift, the more the speaker appears e tedious through ignorance
in narrating his virtues.
NOTES.
CHAPTER I.
The invasion of the Vandals. The martyrdom of S. Desiderius and his Companions.
[2] At that time, when the barbarian and Gentile
ferocity of the Vandals had come to ravage the provinces of Gaul;
In the invasion of the Vandals and with the Gauls conquered and overcome,
it greatly devastated also the cities of Gaul by warlike infestation,
and most cruelly depopulated all things in the rapine of plunder
by the instinct of cupidity; the will of God, the outcome
also of the matter and of the journey, led that nefarious people itself
with their King a Croscus to the city of Langres
itself. Then truly the most blessed Desiderius
in that city was discharging the Pontifical office, a Priest
most outstanding in virtues. And although b with a mountain set opposite
on the height there is a strong fortification by natural
exposure for the most part, the Lingonic city, and the joining of squared stones diligently
added makes the walls of that city itself
more secure; yet to prove the faith of the aforesaid Bishop,
and of those who, remaining in the holy
confession of Christ, are known to have obtained the glorious martyrdom
with the same; the multitude of the Vandals poured around
surrounded the city on every side, and in the siege
of perdition the city is encompassed from all parts. it is fiercely attacked,
Without delay with missiles, slings, arrows, and various weapons,
the Vandals attacking more sharply, with insistence of cruelty pressed on,
to overthrow the walls. On the other hand the most blessed
Pontiff Desiderius, with his Priests, or the rest
of the citizens, with S. Desiderius vainly imploring; from the wall cried out, saying: "We are servants of Christ,
we worship Christ our Lord the living and true
God, who established the whole world.
Do not commit a cruel crime upon us, by
which you may provoke the power of God to wrath against you."
[3] But since by the predestination of God, the predetermined day
of martyrdom had come; terror and fear at once
invaded all the citizens, and they tried no longer with any boldness of valor
to defend themselves, and he is intercepted. but driven back inside
the walls fleeing, where each should go was unknown.
But the Vandals rushing in with headlong course,
with the gates broken, entered the walls. But others with ladders set
against the walls rushing from a different part, sent fires
into the c pergama (citadels); with swords, and various javelins they laid low all the citizens
with impious slaughter: their age profited none,
impiety spared no sex or age: babes hanging at the breast
with their mothers, impious cruelty butchered:
one groan and lament of the dying resounded through
the whole walls.
[4] Finally the most blessed Bishop Desiderius is found
placed in prayer, S. Desiderius is led to the King and is presented to the gaze
of the King with the rest of the Christian worshippers.
He, by the Pastoral solicitude filled with grief
at the destruction of his citizens,
would not ask the Prince for himself; but more attentively prayed
that he should aid his perishing citizens, saying:
"If you are pious, now spare, best ruler, I beseech,
the wretched citizens, and that you may humbly restrain
the hostile hands of your men from such great slaughter of cruelty I altogether implore."
To this the barbarian Prince, harsh, with the asperity of natural
cruelty hard, swollen with the outcome of victory,
in barbaric speech replied to this holy Desiderius with a contemptuous
answer, which the blessed Bishop
was unable to understand by any capacity of intelligence.
And so what the Priest of God had previously begged
the most cruel King ignored. He vainly offers himself as a victim for others: He offered himself also for his
citizens, the pious Pastor with neck prepared as a victim, that
the ruin upon the perishing citizens might
cease at least somewhat. The impious ruler was moved by no piety:
but inflamed by the perseverance of cruelty, he ordered the head
of the Priest to be cut off: he commanded also several Christians
killed with them For throughout the whole pergama (citadels) those persevering in the confession of Christ,
on the same day were laid low everywhere by various
slaughter. Whoever, asked about the cult of religion,
said he confessed to believe in Christ, in nowhere
in the whole city could escape. O city of Langres,
why now suddenly remaining desolate, do you groan
over your citizens? You have on this account more by which to exult, with great glory of the Lingones. while you have acquired so many
at the same time as Martyrs for your protection.
Reckon nothing of temporal loss in your
estimation e which you should mourn; while without limit of price,
thence you now have and shall have gains without end
remaining wherein to rejoice f. You were saddened then by fires,
swords, plunders, with every example of humility into ash
reduced; whence now you are adorned, illustrated
with strength, and fortified with the suffrage of protection, thence you are
and remain in perpetuity glorious
beyond other cities.
NOTES.
CHAPTER II.
The Striker and the King are punished. The miracles and memory of S. Desiderius.
[5] So renowned was the beginning of the blessedness of the Martyr Desiderius,
The slayer of the saint perishes and the special grace of perfect love
in the pouring out of his blood, by sudden indications
upon his persecutors divine piety made plain.
His striker at once, condemned by the sense of madness, by the fury
of impatience seized; through the walls with horrible
voices crying out, with rapid course pushed his head
into the gate of the city; and emptied of brain by frequent
striking, lifeless there is contemplated by his frightened companions.
These things heard, fear and trembling penetrated the minds of all
the enemies astonished, and for a little while they ceased from
shedding blood. Finally not after
much time God the just judge, by the avenging of his holy
Desiderius the Martyr, or of the rest of the Martyrs of that
city, convicted, in b the city of Arles handed over Croscus
the Prince to his enemies. Who captured and
chained, and King Crocus at Arles for so long was afflicted with various torments
for a long time, until through most cruel and assiduous
slaughter he came to the destruction of death
according to his merit.
[6] But the most blessed Desiderius the Pontiff, on account of
his preceding conversation and zeal of good work,
merited the worthy crown of martyrdom, because
he was first found just and proven. Whose
beginning of life was chastity, sobriety, the largess of alms,
mercy on the poor, piety, probity of morals,
equanimity of patience, and so acceptable to God
was he found in all things, Adorned with every kind of virtue, that to the kingdoms of heaven, with the joined
militia of many martyrs, by his acquisition
with greatest blessedness he came. In his own city
the holy Pontiff was specially enriched with the gift of martyrdom,
in the same city also for the benefits of salvations
with the rest of the Martyrs he was buried with due
veneration. In time past, how much he was honored and beloved
by his citizens, the place of his burial seems to declare
by manifest indications, so much that
within the walls the love of the people poured out received
the body of the Priest for burial, he is worthily buried by his own. whom on account of the mildness of goodness
and constancy of sanctity it sufficiently loved
while alive. For if anyone shall come sick to his thresholds,
thence with God assisting he returns
strengthened; he shines with miracles: if terrified by sorrow, by the patronage of the holy
Martyr he immediately returns from there cheered; if blind,
lame, deaf, mute, vexed by the adverse part if he comes,
each one there obtains his own medicine and pristine
remedies without delay opportune.
[7] Among the other multiple insignia of his virtues,
the Martyr in his name does not allow perfidy
to be borne unpunished. Those swearing falsely upon his altar, or his name are punished. For if anyone within the precincts of his church,
with the name of Christ invoked, upon his holy
altar, with the device of falsity, mendacious shall attempt to commit
an oath, c by divine vengeance is at once condemned
by the sentence of perdition; faith through the faithful Martyr
is preserved. No one there, with divine
grace assisting, presumes in fallacious oaths to invoke
or to mention the name of the Martyr. O Martyr to be preferred
in blessedness, who has so much obtained
with God, that he can show after death,
that he hates iniquity, and loves truth; detests
perjury, condemns falsehood. The pious Pastor exhorts,
having care after death of his sheep, the good citizens,
that they may keep the integrity of the faith for the salvation of their souls
altogether without stain. He detests
the malignant, emulates perfidy, gives the example of perdition
more specially that they may amend.
[8] You have at last illustrious Priests, Primates,
and all the people of the Lingonic populace, of the renowned Martyr,
to whom is joined the troop of the rest of the Martyrs,
within the outstanding protection of the city, and the principal
guardianship of the city from him; without however from the three
Twin brothers d Martyrs the singular protection of the city
set forth, and the greatest adornment of divine
remuneration of the city. Truly there remains enough
in praise of this holy Desiderius the Martyr to be said more about his virtues,
but a greater prolixity of speech generates tedium
for the hearer. For to confirm
the truth of the renowned Martyr's witness,
the gate, where the striker for the crime he had committed, guilty,
by the impulse of his head destroyed himself, The gate where the lictor perished was thereafter shut. from the same time
provided no service of entry to travelers,
nor opened the customary entrance for going out from the city
further to the peoples: but blocked with stones, for indications
of offense, condemned rather perseveres. Finally
when the swordsman of the Priest cut down the sacred body itself,
opened. Where it pierced many leaves indeed,
yet by divine f preservation of the letters the path the effusion of blood
did not touch. The bruise in the book a certain
indication of the blessed Martyr's passion makes plain, and in
nothing disturbs the order of the writing for those reading. In each
the truth of the witness living, both is shown to the present people,
and is preserved by the ordination of God for those to come
always to behold; while to iron, the edge of its own sharpness,
to amplify the blessedness of this Martyr,
or to pierce the leaves of a book, was permitted, but
the divine words, there in the monuments of letters inserted,
to violate, on account of the glory of his Martyr, the omnipotence of God
did not permit; with our Lord
Jesus Christ reigning, to whom is honor and glory, virtue and power,
forever and ever. Amen.
NOTES.
HISTORY OF THE TRANSLATION
From the Breviary of Langres.
Desiderius Bishop, Martyr at Langres in Gaul (S.)
Many others, Martyrs at Langres in Gaul (SS.) BHL Number: 2146
[1] After the courses of many years, the venerable
Guido de Menenlis, Silver and gilded chests formerly Prior of the church of the blessed
Martyr Desiderius, caused a silver and
gilded chest to be made by wondrous workmanship for placing the body of the glorious
Martyr: which completed, he entered the way
of all flesh. Then William of
Duro-fortis Bishop of Langres, who was afterwards Archbishop of Rouen,
together with Stephen de
Noëris the Religious, for placing the body, who then was governing the Priory of B. Desiderius,
began anxiously to turn over in his mind, in what manner
they could magnify or elevate the holy body.
Hoping in the Lord, with the neighboring
Bishops, Abbots, Priors, Religious and Priests called,
with an innumerable multitude of Clergy and people,
for the solemnity of so great a mystery, by their mature
deliberation, the day of the elevation was assigned, namely in the year
of the Lord one thousand three hundred fourteen,
on the fifteenth of the Kalends of February. Therefore
with the venerable Bishop William, the Prior,
and the rest of the Religious and Priests descending, in the year 1314, January 19, found into the place where
the body of the blessed Martyr had been buried, they found
his stone tomb raised from the earth above,
closed with lead and iron, and firmly sealed.
The tomb finally being opened, such a fragrance of odor
emanated from his body all around, that it seemed
to those standing about, that the church was full
of balms and aromatics. with this inscription. So they found the body of the blessed
Martyr, with certain very authentic and
sealed letters, lacking all corruption, bearing witness of truth
to the most holy life and martyrdom
of the kindly Desiderius. The tenor of the said letters was:
"This pious Pastor and just Ruler, the distinguished Martyr of Christ
Desiderius, was the vessel of virtues in his life, and the origin
of all sanctity."
[2] These things seen, the precious body, pure and whole,
decorated with Pontifical ornaments, holding his own head
upon his breast in his hands, elevated with great rejoicing, by the deputies
was raised from the tomb, and shown to all those standing about.
How great then were the jubilations, how great
praises through the whole city day and night resounded,
the tongue does not suffice to narrate. and deposited at his altar. At length with the divine
services and prayers performed, the body of the blessed Martyr
was honorably deposited in the aforesaid silver chest,
adorned with various stones, before the Lord's altar of the Church,
dedicated in his honor.
[3] His right arm, one rib with chin
and two jaws, Some relics were carried to the church of S. Mammes. in the church of B. Mammes were
borne by the said Bishop, and in
silver were honorably stored. On the same day finally
God did such great miracles by the merits of the blessed Martyr, that
scarcely could anyone enumerate them, to his praise, who
lives and reigns forever. Amen.