ON ST. MISSOLINUS
PATRON OF TARBES IN NOVEMPOPULANIA.
The ancient and present cult of the Saint.
Missolinus, Patron of Tarbes in Novempopulania (S.)
D. P.
The metropolis of the Bigerrones in Novempopulania (commonly called Gascony), Tarba, or Tarbia, acknowledges as Patron St. Messolinus; which became known to us in part from the Gallican Martyrology of Andreas Saussay, Father Pierre Possin acting, when in his Supplement at the IX Kalends of June we read thus: In the territory of Tarbes of St. Missolinus the Confessor, honored with the cult of sanctity among the Tutelars of the diocese by the Church of Tarbes itself. This light of whatever kind being received, I sent letters to the Reverend Father Pierre Possin, lately returned to Toulouse, that he should endeavor to learn something more distinctly of him, and to teach us. He did in his manner what was asked most diligently, and from the Reverend and admirable Father du Clos Rector of the College of Tarbes, belonging to that Congregation of Presbyters which took its name from a special care of instilling the rudiments of Christian Doctrine into the untaught, received a response, given on the XXV of June MDCLXXXII.
[2] Now he says (as Possin relates) 1. that he strove with all effort to draw out something of St. Missolinus, Tarbes is understood, what kind of cult there still perseveres. there known, whom some call Messelinus. 2. that nothing could be found in the Archives; because the raging Calvinists, Tarbes being once occupied under the leadership of Montgomery, burned the registers of the churches. 3. that there is shown in the Collegiate church of the city of Tarbes a huge stone sepulchre, behind the greater altar, in which was deposited the body of St. Missolinus, after he died. 4. that every year on the day XXIV of May a supplication is wont to proceed at Tarbes, through the streets and squares, of all the Orders of that city, to render (as they relate) thanks to God for the benefit of the city freed on such a day, by the help and prayers of St. Missolinus, from the incursion and assault of enemies; who these were, or when they raged, is not said. 5. that there are also borne everywhere through the mouths of the common folk wonderful narrations of St. Missolinus, but little credited by the more prudent, because they lack the testimony of writers.
[3] Thus far he: from which I learn, that not in some lesser town of the diocese of Tarbes, The inspection of the tomb is urged, which alone is understood from the words of Saussay; but in the very Metropolis the body of the Saint was once buried, and perhaps even now that sepulchre is had, if it was not violated; which I would advise to learn by inspecting, with some hope of finding, as often happens, some more certain indication of the kind and time of his life, or of the elevation of the body once made.
[4] As regards the popular narrations, handed down by hand, even after the loss of any Writings if ever there were any; that prudent men deservedly have no great faith in them (since it often happens that even the Legends themselves of several Saints, preserved in writing, and approved by the patience of many centuries, are found either wholly or in part fabulous; because they were patched together not from certain knowledge, but from light and uncertain little traditions or merely gratuitous inventions) yet I judge that not all are to be neglected, but to be discreetly collected; and the collection of popular narrations of him, to this end at least, that posterity may know what was once in any way handed down from the elders; and may judge whether on them at least some likely conjecture can be founded; but the power be snatched away from the smatterers, in order to a criticism and prudent conjecture. of obscuring more and more matters sufficiently obscure from antiquity, by the addition of new circumstances and the change of the old according to each one's fancy. Therefore I think he will do a thing worth the trouble, who would collect those narrations of St. Messolinus, as they now stand; those being marked, which perhaps can be convicted of certain falsity; and on the contrary others being praised, which have some connection with a more certain history, or at least are not adverse to it: if perchance some likely judgment of the whole matter to be formed can be elicited from them, even for the instruction of the faithful people.