ON SAINT ANASTASIUS
BISHOP OF PAVIA IN ITALY.
IN THE YEAR DCLXXX.
HISTORICAL COLLECTION.
From Paul the Deacon and John Baptist de Gasparis.
Anastasius, Bishop of Parma in Italy (S.)
G. H.
The sacred memory of S. Anastasius Bishop
of Pavia, the Tables being cited
of the Church of Pavia, Sacred cult is conserved
at this XXX of May, in the present-day
Roman Martyrology: where Baronius
alleges some things from book 4
of the History of the Lombards published by
Paul the Deacon, who chap. 15 by others
chap. 44 these things has: In the times of Rothari King of the Lombards,
with the Arian heresy's perfidy stained,
almost through all the cities of his kingdom two Bishops there were,
one Catholic and the other Arian. In the city
also of Ticinum even now is shown, where the Arian
Bishop at the basilica of S. Eusebius residing, a baptistery
had, when nevertheless of the Catholic Church another
Bishop presided. Which however Arian Bishop,
who in the same city was, Anastasius by name,
to the Catholic faith converted, Christ's afterward
Church ruled. These things Paul the Deacon. They made mention
of the same Anastasius the Bishop, from the Arian taint to the true
faith converted, Bernard Sacco book 9 of the Ticinensian history
chap. 12, Antonius Maria Spelta in the History of the Bishops
of Pavia, and others. After whom John Baptist de Gasparis
in the year MDCLI, his name being concealed, published a Breviary
of the Life of the Holy Bishops of Pavia, who under the rite
double in the said Church are venerated, and prefaces that he by a long
inquiry from several Writers had collected what he brings forth.
They are of this kind.
[2] From the Arian sect converted, Anastasius the second, at Ticinum of a famous birth sprung,
from his tender years of piety and modesty before himself a torch bore,
so that nothing than his morals more honorable, nothing of the same
life's integrity brighter seemed. As an adolescent
into the Arian heresy he fell. A Presbyter made,
by Rothari King of the Lombards' zeal, of the Arians
Bishop is set over Ticinum, at the same time, at which
Magnus, the Catholic Bishop of the Ticinensians, presided.
But when both of his own accord and by religious men's
discourse the heresy detesting, with divine letters'
zeal inflamed, so much in every kind of virtues
he profited, that the Catholic Bishop dead
Magnus to the Pontificate of Ticinum's dignity elevated
he was. He indeed when of that sacred office the function
by no means to evade could, and made a Catholic Bishop, most prudently
and with the highest powers labored, that the committed to him of the Church
ship in the wished-for shore he might place. Who when
holily and piously very many by the gravity of words and sentences
from the depravity of life to the studies of honesty he led across,
it much more and more excellently with the most illustrious
examples of virtues did. with great piety and charity endowed, In the eyes of the mind to
eternal things' contemplation to be raised
admirable he was: for so much to divine things' consideration
he had accustomed himself, that no ever thing either prosperous
or adverse his mind from the intuition of celestial things
could avert. By charity he was illustrious, wherefore
whatsoever he had, with a liberal hand to the needy he bestowed,
and with so great vigilance to the poor's calamity he provided,
that all, from the grievous of poverty affliction, of their Prelate's
benefit relieved themselves glad testified. Asked
why the sinning are wont an excuse to bring,
when he preached lest anyone's heart should decline into words
of malice to excuse excuses in sins,
them to a sea-beast he compared, which appearing and soon
into the waters plunging itself hides: and said not
to be able anyone himself from sins to excuse, since written
it is; Seven times in a day falls the just man. To the general Synod,
under Pope Agatho in the year six hundred seventy-
ninth celebrated, he was present. At length passed
years twelve of pastoral solicitude, of his death
made more certain, he dies 30 May in the year 680. to contemplate the celestial things much more zealously
himself composed; until on the third Kalends of June, his soul
to his most benign Creator he rendered in the year six hundred
eightieth: and he was buried in the old Cathedral
at the right of the high altar under the Gospel
pulpit.
[3] Some things to Anastasius I are attributed. Thus far the said John Baptist de Gasparis of S. Anastasius
of that name the second, and Bishop the thirty-first:
of whom some things here narrated (especially of his toward the poor and
afflicted benignity, and the excuse of the sinning) by some
are attributed to Anastasius I, whom as a Saint Ferrarius in
the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy related on May XXVIII, having followed
Antonius Maria Spelta and Stephen Breventanus,
who him with the Title of Blessed honor. Which to have noted suffices.