ON S. LEO ABBOT,
IN THE TROYES DIOCESE OF THE GAULS.
6TH CENTURY.
HISTORICAL COLLECTION.
On his Life, cult and miracles.
Leo Abbot, in the Troyes diocese of the Gauls (S.)
BHL Number: 4843
BY THE AUTHOR G. H.
Mentuniacum, a village two from the Troyes city leagues removed, now from S. Leo the Abbot having received a name, commonly from his name Saint-Lue is called. In this place once a monastery had founded S. Romanus, From his name called. the first there Abbot, having obtained from Clovis the first King of the Franks a confirmation of the donation of certain estates: and dedicated it to SS. Gervasius and Protasius, of whom some Relics still are kept. Under this Abbot lived a monk S. Leo, made in the monks' governance Abbot, his Successor, in the year DXXX created Bishop of Reims, as more at length to his birthday the XXVIII of February we set forth. But that monastery Mentuniacum or of S. Leo, six hence centuries ago either by fire or by hostile irruption so utterly overturned and ruined was, that no at all of it survive vestiges, nor exist indications of a once-built there building, besides a Cross, which in the same place for the matter's memory erected remains. As writes Nicolaus Camuzatus, in the Promptuary of the sacred Antiquities of the diocese of Troyes, The epitome of the Life in Camuzatus to the History of S. Leo, which he asserts he extracted from the Troyes Church's Breviary, leaving a fuller history another: which lest to the public he should give that prohibited, because in many places maimed and truncated it was, nor among themselves the periods by any bond bound cohered. Of this fuller history (which we teach, and for a Supplement we wish to be granted) not even fragments could we obtain: therefore a compendium from Camuzatus receive.
[2] There was the man most blessed Leo the Abbot in a village, whose name is Mentuniacum, of the Troyes town, brought forth; whereby is described his sanctity, of parents indeed free, but freer in mind, more venerably growing up with age. He to schools delivered, with wonderful speed the science of the Psalms attained: and in all things and through all in the regular dogmas was erudite. Therefore B. Romanus, of the Mentuniacum monastery the Abbot, into Bishop of Reims elected, B. Leo of that monastery was made Abbot: for he was in chastity and abstinence most pure, in fastings and prayers most prompt appeared: and so great in himself he had charity, and benignity of faith, and purity of mind, that of his virtues the insignia in work shone. On a night therefore certain, while in the baptistery, after his duties performed, now his little body, on a most vile bed asleep, rest took; there came to him three men splendid, with a clear shining light, and death by the Saints to him foretold singing with voice unanimous a sweet song. Waking moreover the man of God, at the feet of them prostrates himself, adoring them; and their footprints kissing, with voice diligent with trembling and fear earnestly them addresses, saying: Whence are you? But they said: Strengthen your powers, do not fear. Said moreover one of them: I am Hilary a sinner, and these are S. Martin and B. Anianus. Wherefore, son, ships and oars by the overturning of the waves are imperiled, which the help of God we come to free: whence also when to you the third day we shall have returned, after S. Maurelius buried to the spiritual place with us you shall be about to go: so that more certainly you may believe, the venerable man Maurelius the Presbyter, from this light snatched away, has migrated to the Lord. Therefore on the second day at first dawn rise, and, with that praise of which he is worthy, bury him in the basilica of S. Ursio. Then he proceeding swiftly, what to him had been said faithfully fulfilled, and returned to his monastery own. Meanwhile the Priests, just as they had foretold, came: and they say to him: We are present, called to the spiritual banquet. Come with us. Answering moreover B. Leo said: A straight journey, my Lords, to proceed I could, if with you to the same place myself I had prepared. I beseech therefore that to me for three days respite you grant, that, what promised I have, to attain I may merit the death-bringing garment. Which moreover he asked obtained he had. and a three days' respite, Soon indeed the excellent man to an illustrious woman his niece directed: A command to you (he says) I will set forth, lady: for already our Father, leaving the world's lights, hastens that a light coruscant called he may receive in the future. Wherefore I beseech, that (what devotion had promised) a garment to him you transmit funeral. But she answering: Alas (she says) O Father mine, foolish and lying I have appeared, since his death later I hoped: therefore that with age heavy he was not, not it I prepared. But await I beseech three only days, and I will prepare it. She him for three days retained: and finished the lethal habit transmitted. But indeed the most blessed Leo, the garment received, migrated to the Lord.
[3] In the Register of benefices of the Troyes diocese, there in the year MDLXII published; S. Leo's parish and in the Register general of benefices of the Archbishopric of Sens, and of the Bishoprics of Troyes, Auxerre and Nevers, at Paris in the year MDCXLVIII printed, is named under the Deanery of Troyes the Parish of S. Leo, whose Patron is the Abbot of the Cella monastery, but the collation pertains to the Bishop, lord of the place, where notable its castle is seen. In this church the sacred body of S. Leo most reverently is guarded, and consecrated to the annual solemnity a day in the Troyes diocese the XXV of May is celebrated. So Camuzatus, in whom (but by a fault typographical) is read the 23 of May, instead of 25: which σφάλμα, into Arabic numbers or ciphers easily creeping wont, deceived Saussay in the Gallican Martyrology. it has the body in the altar, To this moreover XXV of May and the Sunday next following, to be celebrated
this feast with great concourse of peoples, from everywhere with great sense of piety flowing to the said church and his sacred body, enclosed in a chest of wood gilded, and to the major altar inserted, testifies Nicolaus Des-Guerrois on the Saints of Troyes. Usuard in his Martyrology at the said XXV of May inscribed him, in these words: In the district of Troyes of S. Leo Confessor. he is venerated the 25th of May. Which same things commonly in various Churches' Martyrologies Ms. and in the present Roman, and in Bellinus, Maurolyco, Galesinio, Canisius and others are read. In the Ms. Ado of the Liège monastery of S. Lawrence, these things are had: In the territory of Troyes of S. Leo Confessor and Monk: who so himself to the divine obsequies devoted, that even miracles through him the Lord deigned to work. Some of these are narrated by Des-Guerrois, which it pleases here from the French to give, until both these and many other things from the original Latin to us are sent; for not yet in that city could we find anyone, who such things would care for; although with several letters thither directed we strove to stir up the Troyes diligence, when of SS. Helena and Mastidia to be treated it was on the IV and VII of May. The text further French into Latin rendered thus has.
[4] Some harpers, not far from the village of S. Leo, wishing with their songs to recreate men, thence gain for food about to receive, drew to themselves alms, which better had been on the poor scattered. And behold there were found two men, who at the song of these harpers dancing, soon among themselves mutually began with fists to rise: and at length one the other with a dagger wounded so in the head, that the little skin of the cranium appeared. Captured this one, The captive his bonds of themselves loosed is freed: by the Count or Praetor of the place into prison is cast. The wretch, who conquered by anger had wounded the other, the night following in the silence from his captivity God having prayed, and through the merits of S. Leo His mercy imploring, saw before his eyes the Saint, like a Monk with a shaven head; by whom he was loosed from bonds and chains, and saw the gate of the prison open. At first these to him as in a dream seemed done: but soon fully waking, he found all in truth so to have happened: and with great gladness having gone out, his bonds soon brought to S. Leo; and acknowledging his redeemer, to him and God the due gave thanks. The tomb of the body of itself into another place withdraws: There succeeded S. Leo in the governance of the monastery of Mentuniacum the venerable Baudemundus: who to the honor of God desired to build a magnificent temple, and among other industries of his genius wished to translate the tomb of the body of S. Leo: and to that end he approached S. Winebaudus the Abbot (whose Acts we gave the VI of April) and his religious monks, that they would honor with their presence this of the body of S. Leo transposition. And behold before all this wonderful thing was done, that the sacred body was seen of its own accord to have moved, and into another place to have withdrawn.
[5] A war some had undertaken the King of the Franks Chlothar, two men that from the hands of marauding soldiers they might be freed, that the rebellious and seditious peoples to his empire he might subjugate; when some insolent soldiers, in the Troyes domain the husbandmen fiercely vexed, and everywhere places sacred and profane and churches to God and the Saints consecrated violated, spoiled, and burned. At which time two men, lest by the said rascals they should be spoiled or captive led away, into flight cast themselves; and when the pursuers otherwise they could not avoid, they ran into the church of S. Leo, and the gates closed, that there under the protection divine safe they might stand. Then those soldiers when another of avenging manner they did not find, the church set on fire and fled. And when now the fire everywhere all things consumed, the church being burned under the tomb of S. Leo they are saved, those two men to S. Leo fled, under his tomb themselves hiding: and, what supremely to be wondered at is, the remaining parts of the church by fire consumed, they safe and unharmed preserved were by Him, who the three boys saved in the furnace of Babylon. Which same virtue in them exercised all asserted.
[6] But because some by error this S. Leo different, is proposed Leo a Martyr at Troyes: but in this city only is venerated the said S. Leo Confessor. The same to his Martyrology Benedictine inscribed Hugo Menardus, confessing however in the Notes, not so certain it to be whether he was the Ecclesiastical Annals of the Franks at the year 535 number 7. Better, he says, it would have been the name to expunge, because S. Leo older is than B. Maurus, of the Order Benedictine on this side of the Alps the first founder. Menardus thinks him to have lived about the year of the Lord five hundred sixtieth: but whether not he was before the said year dead, to be doubted it could: because he is said not to have been at death with age heavy. Who him to the eternal joy called the Holy Bishops, were Hilary of Poitiers whose Acts we gave the XIII of January; S. Martin of Tours, and S. Anianus of Orléans; of whom that one the XI, this the XVII of November are venerated.