Frederick

ON BLESSED FREDERICK,

BISHOP OF LIÈGE AND MARTYR.

PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY. Concerning his cultus, the Life written by a contemporary, and another fuller, which is still desired.

A.D. MCXXI.

Frederick, Bishop of Liège and Martyr (B.)

BY G. H.

[1] The memory of this holy Bishop is referred

to various days: and first in

the third part of the Saints' Novalis,

with the Canons Regular of Red

Valley near Brussels, exists Ms.

Epitaph of B. Frederick Bishop

of Liège and Martyr, Memory in the Fasti April 26,

whose feast is the twenty-sixth

day of the month April. On which day Greven the Carthusian

of Cologne in the Auctary of Usuard, under the note of years MDXV,

and MDXXI printed, writes thus: "Likewise of blessed memory

Frederick, Bishop of Liège and Martyr." The same things

are read in the Germanic Martyrology of Canisius. But

that he died on VI Kalends of June transmits the Monk of Liège

of S. Lawrence in his additions to the Ms. Life of him, and chiefly on May 27 the natal day, Molanus

in the Natales of the Saints of Belgium from the history of the murder

published by the Liège Clergy, Miraeus in the Fasti of Belgium, Fisen

in book 9 of the History of Liège chapter 30, who edited his Life on

this day May XXVII. On the same day in the Roman Martyrology,

but augmented with Belgian Saints inserted, at Liège in the year

MDCXXIV in French printed, these things are read: "At Liège of holy

Frederick, Bishop of Liège and Martyr." The same things

are had in Ferrari in the general Catalogue: held by many as Saint, with

whom him Fisen also honors with the title of Saint, and the same title

is even before the Life to be given below has of this kind: "Of

S. Frederick Bishop of Liège." In another compendium of the Life

which the Ms. codex of Utrecht of S. Salvator presented to us,

this title is prefixed: "Life of S. Frederick of Liège

Bishop." But Willotius in the Belgian Hagiology celebrating him on this

day, only calls him Blessed, Miraeus

calls Venerable, Molanus removes every title.

Saussay (which is wonderful) entirely omits to praise him

either among Saints or Pious. Aegidius of Aurea-vallis

chapter 22 asserts that he migrated to the Lord on II Kalends of July:

were followed Sammartani in the Bishops of Liège, by others is referred to June 30.

and Ferrari in the said Catalogue.

[2] His Life was written by a contemporary author, Nonnus Renerus,

who was then present, Life written by Renerus a contemporary is given from Mss. as at the bottom of the Life testifies

another Monk of the same cenobium. We found it ourselves at Liège

in the Ms. Legend of the Saints, in the said cenobium of S. Lawrence,

with all goodwill received by the Abbot and cenobites

in the year MDCLXVIII. The said Aegidius of Aurea-vallis

inserted the same Life, but here and there changed, into his treatise

on the Bishops of Liège, and toward the end has these things:

"His Life Lord Renerus Monk of S. Lawrence

of Liège wrote with elegant speech, a man of great

knowledge, who composed many other works":

among which is the Life of B. Wolbodo Bishop of Liège, which

we edited on day April XXI. Toward the end of this Life the praised

above Monk of S. Lawrence has added these things: In another Life the Martyrdom is expressed, "Many

other things through his servant the Lord deigned to work miracles,

which were written by some Cleric,

but I could not have a look at them." Molanus seems to have had them

submitted to himself from the Aulne library, as wrote

"To all the sons of the holy Catholic Church the faithful who

are at Liège." In this account his martyrdom is thus expressed:

"When Frederick was feeding the flock of the Lord in holiness

and justice, the supporters of Alexander were exercising

his unconquered patience with many oppressions: but

also in the second year of his administration they offered the man of God a poisoned

cup, by which one of his eyes was knocked out,

and the other extinguished: and when slow death

followed, they renewed the former cup: whence

on VI Kalends of June he gave back his soul to heaven." Thus Molanus

but Chapeavillus in the cited said codex of Aulne writes thus:

"The iniquity of them, the supporters of Alexander, was completed,

with one of his cup-bearers I know not how

corrupted with gifts, secretly mixed poison in his cup. He himself,

as he was of honest simplicity, without consulting what

it was, drank, was made sick, illness grew,

he fell into bed: then the workers of iniquity strengthened,

repeated the cup of death. The Priest drinks a second time,

pain prevailed, the venom penetrated each limb;

knocked out one of his eyes, extinguished the other.

You would see his skin inflated in all his veins, and his vital parts

extended like a hide-skin." Moved by these to seek another, whence they were taken,

Life from the Aulne monastery, we sent letters there:

but it was in vain whatever great diligence applied by men most religious

at the same time and most officious, as in the name of all

D. Hilarius Parent wrote back to us, sending some

epitome of his deeds from the Mss. of the Acts of the Bishops of Liège,

in which equally nothing about poison is read, as

in the Life by Renerus.

[3] Among others nevertheless, to whom after the death of the Duke

of Louvain Godfrey the Bearded, and Alexander, after Adalbero

substituted in the Episcopate, freer faculty was of writing the truth, alleging the same cause of death, Martyr

was Frederick held, as suffering for the condemnation of the Simoniac

heresy and the defense of the Catholic faith,

as Lambert the Lesser speaks, and with him the rest of the writers,

who honor him with the title of Martyr. But his Epitaph

is such:

"Closed in this tomb a simple dove without gall,

Who to you brought back the live olive of peace. Epitaph,

Bearing a sublime heart, wholly cleaving to the Scriptures,

Despised in himself, what flourished by nobility.

There was more horror, than honor of this name.

Of the Catholic People as Pontiff, Frederick,

Christ chose, Pope Calistus consecrated.

But the Pontifical election was despised by the wicked.

Then raging Simony, falling into another's bronze (debt),

Wars, gave to yours; arms, to his own; to you, Holy one, poison.

These you bore, nor were you conquered, in a two-year contest:

But you enjoy now with the supernal a perennial reward.

Therefore at once Christ's Bishop and Martyr you were,

To whom you commend yourself on the fifth before Kalends of May,

May the glory of virtues teach you glorified:

Receive worthy of yourself, Bishop and Martyr, the crown."

[4] These verses, perfectly Leonine throughout, prove to us the antepenultimate

verse, as it is read here, to be genuine; not

likewise that, day of death, which by others substituted in Aegidius is had thus:

"July or July's ninth under the Kalends's light."

Where neither is any sense, nor can the day XXX of June

be had, which some substitute, and which perhaps was of the elevated

more honorably tomb. There is indeed even in this, which we retain

verse an obscure sense; for the day of death seems to be indicated

on the fifth before Kalends of May, which would be April XXVII:

but it can and ought to be understood, what others were saying, the fifth day

of departing May, before the Kalends, namely of the following month

of June. In the year MCXXI most agree. One Abbreviator of the Acts of Liège

with the Aulne people, and the year. has the following

year MCXXII. But thus it would be necessary that Frederick died in the third year

of his Pontificate, whom however all others say to have died in the second:

with which rightly agrees, what the same Abbreviator says.

"Consecrated by Pope Calixtus at Reims

on VII Kalends of November": for the year MCXIX; having

the Dominical letter E, made that day October XXVI fall

on Sunday, suitable for Episcopal consecration; not so

the year MCXX, which leap had Dominical letters

D C, and so October XXVI composed with Feria III.

[5] Alexander Wilthemius, in a certain answer to our Bolland,

Author of the Epitaph, of the author of the Epitaph above placed (whom

I do not know whence either of them learned to have been the first Abbot

of Lacensis, in the monastery of the Trier diocese near Coblenz,

named Gilbert) says he saw his tomb in the crypt,

under the choir, most elegantly adorned with mosaic work,

on whose limb around were read these verses, written

in capital letters:

"Distinguished by birth, by merits more distinguished Abbot

Gilbert, lies here: rule of virtue to all,

with the title of Abbot, or with the name of Monk performed.

On the eight Ides when the Lion is regal of the Sun, that is, 8 the year Gilbert I Abbot of Lacensis?

He departed life: may he rest in blessed peace."

(Of July,

I would like to know by what argument it can be proved that Gilbert wrote the Epitaph

for Frederick: otherwise the place and time fittingly agree.

For the monastery of Lacensis is not so far distant from Liège, but only

a journey of two days; but it began to be founded

in the XI century, yet seems to have received its perfection and first Abbot

Gilbert only after the year MCXII, according to Gabriel

Bucelin; that easily he could have outlived B. Frederick, even by many years.

LIFE By the contemporary Author Renerus Monk of Liège of S. Lawrence.

From the Ms. Legend of the same cenobium.

Frederick, Bishop of Liège and Martyr (B.)

BHL Number: 3153

BY RENERUS FROM THE MS.

[1] After ^a Otbert Bishop of Liège had died,

a great dissension arose in the election. For ^b

the Duke of Louvain and the more noble drew Alexander

the Archdeacon to their part: and because

they thought with him, provided he himself act prudently, they reveal it. He went to ^c Henry the Emperor, S. Frederick disapproves the investiture of Alexander made by an excommunicate:

with the said Nobles, and from him received the Pastoral

staff: and on returning was received only by two

Congregations, of which he himself was Provost.

For Lord Frederick, Provost of the greater church,

had forbidden the rest of the churches to receive him:

and sent the citizen Franco, who afterwards died as a Monk,

to investigate those who had been present. At that

time the Pope had ordered, that no one should receive investiture

from the hand of the Emperor. And when Alexander

with the Duke of Louvain and a great retinue, with almost two

Congregations following, had entered the church;

a certain Anchorite entering the church,

with two goat-skins covered before and behind,

with long hair, prolix beard, and wholly hairy, approaching

Franco himself, saluted him, and said: "I know," he said, and according to the prophecy of an anchorite.

"that you do not know me. But hear the word of the Lord:

for I have been sent by God to announce future things to you. This one who comes in now

holding himself for Bishop, know that he

shall not prosper, nor be established. The Lord has chosen for himself

another, who indeed for a short time will be Bishop, but

shall suffer many tribulations for the faith and ecclesiastical

religion: but after his death the Lord will work wonders through him ^d. To him will succeed in the Episcopate

the beginning shall prosper, and be feared, but gradually

shall fail, and at the end shall be despised. ^f A third shall be ordained

Bishop, yet shall not die." With these things said

he departed: sought afterwards he never appeared,

but of his words none fell to the ground.

[2] ^g For the Archbishop of Cologne, having known the promotion of Alexander,

himself elected Bishop is consecrated by Pope Calixtus: commanded the people of Liège that he should not be received

as Bishop, summoning the chiefs of the Churches

to be present before him on Palm Sunday, that the matter more certainly

he might discuss. Called once, twice, three times Alexander,

did not come. So they elected at Cologne Lord Frederick,

Provost of the greater church, as Bishop

of Liège, after S. Lambert the twenty-seventh:

who consecrated by ^h Pope Calixtus in the Council of Reims,

returned barefoot to his country: and a multitude of the whole clergy

and people went out to meet him, and there was great joy

among the people. The said supporters meanwhile, wasting away

in themselves, increase in malice, omitting no trouble

which they could bring upon him. But Alexander

in the castle of Huy was awaiting the promised coming of the Duke and Count ⁱ Lambert

of Muhel. But Lord Frederick, and his brother ^k Godfrey Count

of Namur, princes of the army of the Lord's host, seeing

that evils were multiplied, gave themselves as a wall

for the house of the Lord, exposing themselves to dangers. For

with necessities arranged they make for Huy: but the inhabitants of their own accord

opening outside, came forth to meet, surrendering themselves and all

their things. But they having entered, began to attack the castle;

the forces of the adversaries broken, when meanwhile the Duke with a great army

is announced approaching, to whom that the passage might be obstructed

certain ones running to the bridge which was wooden, with axe

and adze cast it down, and so the Duke's coming was

frustrated. But on the other side Count Lambert,

through a narrow path, which is between the river Meuse

and a most rough rock, with horses removed because of the difficulty

of the place, with a great multitude of his own was approaching.

To him the Bishop's brother running to meet, where he could be heard

by him: "So," he said, "do you come in arms against me,

to whom from just cause you have made homage?" But he gnashing

with anger, "All," he said, "homage from this day ^l I renounce."

Then the Bishop's brother, "And I you," he said, "as a perfidious one

with this lance through the middle of your false mouth pierce."

He said, and casting the spear pierced his throat. He grievously

wounded by the blow, fell, was held, was committed to chains.

Meanwhile the Duke with grave anger returning ineffective,

was devastating all the towns of the Bishopric or County of Namur,

and was joining all strong men to his troop,

and to Liège in a strong hand he came. And returning

the Bishop himself together with his brother, frequent

and inexorable assaults equally repels,

victor he dies in the 2nd year of his ordination: by the grace of God being victor in all. But

when now all things seemed pacified, in the second year

of his ^m Ordination he migrated to the Lord.

How holily, how laudably he lived in the Episcopate,

as the Apostle teaches all Bishops ought to live,

was clear to all: nor was the efficacy of divine virtue

lacking at his sepulchre. For there some sight, others

hearing, illustrious by miracles: others gait received, paralytics were healed,

mutes spoke, and besides all the sick

were recovering.

[3] the sepulchre is honored by light: Meanwhile the natal day of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul

came; and the faithful people of Liège,

lest the sepulchre of so great a man for long should lack the honor of light,

took counsel. The elders ordained a fraternity

to be initiated, with the rest consenting to this very thing.

Each one meanwhile hastens his donation according to his power:

but by the disposition of the Lord, who wished his Saint

to be glorified, it pleased to be deferred to the following Sunday.

But the vows of the good are not diminished by delay.

They are present on the appointed day, but envy always follows virtue.

Some of the Canons came,

asserting nothing of religion to be in this deed: that rather

from the present donation the pavement should be repaired

over the Pontiff's sepulchre: in vain the envious resisting. this much pleased

God and the blessed Martyr Lambert. So with this trick

of religion they tried to keep the people away, lest the earth,

from which miracles were done, be carried off. But the Lord rejected

the counsel of vanity, and showed the vows of the humble

to be pleasing to him. Healed are, the bent over, For a grown girl, dragging

herself with too great collision of the kidneys on her buttocks, before None

he raised at the tomb of the Saint healed. Besides a boy

blind from birth, the same power which illumined the Evangelical one,

without mud and water of Siloam. "O foolish and slow

of heart to believe!" Parents, kinsmen and friends, and

all who were present, with great cry to the praise of God

and the holy Pontiff filled the church for the illumination

of the said adolescent: the blind from birth, yet the Clerics

and Canons resisting with stubborn mind, said in no way

would they believe, unless those whom at home with their alms

they fed sick they should see healed. It was Sunday

then; pressing therefore with great mockery

to see they wish, awaiting the outcome of the matter, if anyone

of them should be healed; like Jewish perfidy, which the crucified

Lord mocked, saying: "If he is the Son of God let him descend

from the cross, and we believe in him." Indeed neither then

did our Redeemer descend from the cross, who on the third day

afterwards rose; nor now did Christ's servant

Frederick yield to the mockery of his enemies.

[4] a sick decrepit one, On the fifth Feria at the sixth hour of the day, a little woman, in

the very sickness decrepit, by truly divine virtue he restored to health.

She was sustained by their charity,

in the hospital which by name "Ad catenam" ⁿ is called. Another

girl too, afflicted with long-lasting blindness, lay there,

and prayed earnestly, a blind woman, that whom she had heard

so wonderfully cured, she might deserve to see; that she might be both

a sharer of help and praise: nor was she defrauded of her desire:

for before None she received sight. A certain

little old woman also, whose feet had stuck to her buttocks, and

her sides to her ribs, with the sun now declining, three contracted, healthy

leaped forth on the same day; nor only was she healed,

but also as if a young woman renewed in vigor.

So the virtue of the Trinity by three miracles glorified its Saint

on that day. The day which dawned next, no less

was illustrated by miracles. Two women

contracted there were restored to former health.

A man also recovered from the same infirmity.

[5] a woman bedridden for two years, Meanwhile the opinion of such great deeds spread everywhere.

Wherefore a certain sick woman, who had never

for two years gone out of her chamber, with hope of recovering

health asked to be carried to the same: and on a chair,

because she could not bear the hands of those touching her,

she was brought. And entering the basilica of S. Lambert, with what voice

she could said to those carrying her: "Beside his sepulchre

place me: indeed of what piety this man was I am not ignorant,

and indeed he will have mercy on me, unless (which God forbid) before

God he has changed the garment of charity; for I know how great

his goodness was. For what sick man was ignorant of him?

what needy did not use his help?" While she with feminine

complaint said these things, placed not far from the sepulchre of the man

of God, the pain and desire of salvation grew: and when

she had passed a sleepless night there, on the second day's first

morning, with the Lord hearing the desire of the poor,

she rose unharmed, giving praise to God and

to his Saint.

[6] In that very moment, with all astonished at the marvel of the matter,

another miracle appeared. a useless arm, A certain woman had so far

lost her right arm, that more it was

a burden than help to her: for it had stiffened folded

and twisted. She when she had come to the sepulchre of the Saint to be venerated,

was restored to desired health. I would add many

similar things to similar, unless this present miracle had occurred to my mind. There was dwelling in the suburb, not

far from the oratory of S. Bartholomew, ^o a little woman for three years

having suffered illness, possessing the office of a stick rather than of feet:

therefore against right abandoned by her husband,

with the alms of neighbors she was leading life in obscurity.

Who attracted by the opinion of the holy Pontiff's virtues, for three years lame, in hope

of mercy thence came. And when among many sick who

lay there she was being more burdened, to the altar

of S. Gertrude she withdrew: where removed from all tumult

she more attentively prayed the Father of mercy, lest the removal of her bed

be for her a delay of health. The matins of the Friday

were then being chanted by the Canons. But behold

a little before the rise of dawn, to one standing by her,

"Now," she said, "take this stick, hitherto

most necessary to me; but I shall go to give thanks for my health."

To her going the Canons after praises ended ran to meet: at their asking she related the history of her event.

There is sudden joy for all, they go back to the Choir,

singing "Glory in the highest to God."

[7] Greater succeed great: for on the third feria there was

brought there a sick woman of fourteen years, a sick one for fourteen years,

who almost despaired bound herself by oath, that she would take nothing

of food, unless she should deserve healing. Marvelous matter!

What she should do, where she should turn she did not know, after

cries and pains. She lay almost lifeless: but now

the day had flowed by, the night also led savage darknesses

into this misery: but with the day risen she was healed, with sickness departing.

The next day a certain girl from Huy had come to Liège

to the market, another vexed by pains of the kidneys, to buy for herself necessaries: where

hearing what miracles were done in that place, she turned aside there

to ask about the sickness and infirmity of her kidneys;

and standing and supporting her infirm limbs with a stick,

in the middle of the church, because the multitude had blocked the access to

the sepulchre of the Saint, she was praying saying:

"Take this stick, Lord, and through the merits of the holy Confessor

restore health to me here." A vessel was placed standing there,

in which water was prepared from the earth of his sepulchre:

to which she, thirsting more for health

than for water, approached and drank. Wonderful speed! As soon

as she drank, she recovered healed, gave thanks. To this

memory of the Saint, another recovers the use of her hand, a woman laboring with grave misfortune

was lying. For there had come upon her hand a

disease, which made it cease from all work.

She therefore having spent the whole day in prayer, with evening

now declining, felt invisibly the hand to be afflicted

with a vehement contraction. Yet judging this

to be done divinely, she bore it patiently: when behold

she marveled at the health bestowed on her, and gave thanks to God

and to the holy Bishop. [p]

ANNOTATIONS.

EPITOME

From the Mss. Acts of the Pontiffs of Liège, in the Library of the Aulne monastery.

Frederick, Bishop of Liège and Martyr (B.)

BHL Number: 3156

[1] Frederick the XXVII Bishop of Liège

succeeded Otbert in the year of the Lord ^a MCCXIX (read: 1119).

But after Otbert's death the clergy and people, the nobility

and the common people began to disagree.

Alexander, Archdeacon

and Sacristan, with Duke Godfrey and many other Nobles favoring,

helping, and present, from the hand of the Emperor Henry the fifth, who by the Pope had been excommunicated,

received the Staff and Ring:

but the Archbishop of Cologne, by Apostolic and his own authority,

ordered the people of Liège not to receive him.

But afterwards on the appointed day, Lord

Frederick, Provost of the greater Church elected,

at Reims, in a Synod of CCC and more Bishops,

is blessed by Pope Calixtus there present. Yet

afterwards, a long contention was made between them, because

Godfrey the Duke of Louvain helped the part of Alexander,

Gilbert Count of Duras, Renerus

Standard-bearer of the Liège militia, Lambert Count of

Mont-acutus, and almost the whole familia of the Church with

their forces; but the part of Frederick was helped by Godfrey

Count of Namur, his brother Walleranus

Count of Limburg, who afterwards became ^b Duke,

Gossuin of Falcon-mount, the City almost entire, and

all the Abbots of the Bishopric. This Frederick, with

his brother Godfrey Count of Namur and a small

hand of soldiers, conquered Godfrey Duke of Louvain

with the said Counts and a great army, devastating his Bishopric

with slaughter, fire, and rapine,

near Huy in battle: and with Count Lambert of Mont-acutus

captured and many others

from the Duke's part, shamefully compelled him to flee, and

without delay besieged the Castle of Huy, with the people of Huy favoring,

strengthening and helping, in which was

the said Alexander: and not long after, the castle

and those who within rebelled he received in surrender.

Among these Count Lambert had ransomed himself by hostages.

But the Duke of Louvain, having understood the Castle

captured, with a great army gathered, with Lambert

Count of Mont-acutus besieged Huy on either side,

one of them on one side, the other on

another. But when the said Duke of Louvain with his men,

had bravely fought the people of Huy, and had come up to the bridge

over the Meuse, the people of Huy strongly resisted;

and as far as beyond the mountain of S. Stephen ^c they were put

to flight, with many from the Duke's part killed and submerged in

the Meuse… At length with peace restored to the Bishopric

of Liège, with Alexander confounded, Frederick

in the second year of his Ordination migrated to the Lord,

in the year of the Lord MCXXI: and was buried in

the church of B. Lambert, and after his death is said

to have shone with many miracles.

ANNOTATIONS.