ON ST. BAUDOLINO, CONFESSOR, AT ALESSANDRIA,
EIGHTH CENTURY
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY
Baudolinus, confessor, at Alessandria of the Statielli. (S.)
BY H. D.
[1] The elogium from Paul the Deacon. Forum, now called Villa del Foro, a village 2 km distant from Alessandria of the Statielli, on the right
bank of the river Tanaro [A. Amati, Dizionario corografico dell' Italia, vol. VIII, p. 1371; vol. I, p. 191.] , is held to be the native soil of St. Baudolinus, or Baodolinus [In the charters of Alessandria the contracted forms of the name Baurino, Bailino, Borino, etc. occur quite often, as Fr. Gasparolo notes in the Rivista di Storia, Arte, Archeologia della Provincia di Alessandria, vol. XVIII (1909), p. 86. Apart from a certain affinity of the names, that most learned man rightly perceived that St. Baudolinus has nothing in common with St. Baudelius, otherwise Baudulus (Act. SS., May vol. V, pp. 194–197).] , who in the age of Liutprand, king of the Lombards († 744), won a great reputation for holiness. Paul the Deacon covers his deeds in these few words Historia Langobardorum, VI, 58. : "In the times of this king there was in the place whose name is Forum, beside the river Tanarus The river Tanarus = Tanaro. , a man of wonderful holiness named Baodolinus, who shone with many miracles by the aiding grace of Christ. He often foretold things to come, and announced things absent as though present. Finally, when King Liutprand had gone hunting in the forest of Urbs [“The forest which they call Urbs”, Hist. Lang., V, 37; “having gone out to Urbs, a most vast forest”, V. 39.] , one of his companions, trying to strike a stag with an arrow, unintentionally wounded the same king's nephew, that is, his sister's son, named Aufusus Aufusus, nephew of King Liutprand. . When the king saw this, since he loved the boy greatly, he began with tears to lament his mishap, and at once sent one of his horsemen to run to the man of God Baodolinus and ask him to supplicate Christ for the boy's life. While he was going to the servant of God, the boy died. And the servant of Christ said to him as he arrived: 'I know why you have come; but what you were sent to ask can no longer be done, because that boy has died.' When the man who had been sent reported to the king what he had heard from the servant of God, the king, although he grieved that he could not have the effect of his supplication, nevertheless clearly recognised that the man of the Lord Baodolinus had the spirit of prophecy M. G., Script. rerum Langob., p. 186. ."
[2] He is also commemorated in the Novalesa Chronicle: "In the times of this man Liutprand there was at Forovicus St. Baodelinus M. G., Scr., vol. VII, p. 98. ." Since the chronicler learned this from Paul the Deacon, it is plainly of no weight, and whatever the ancients handed down about Baudolinus is reduced to a single testimony. Everyone sees that this is very little indeed, and that there is nothing in it from which the year of the holy man's birth and death and the beginnings of his cult could be deduced. The sacred body There is no room for doubt that his body lay long at Forum, until it was carried with solemn pomp to Alessandria, where it is now said to be kept. It is brought to Alessandria. They say that the church sacred to his name was raised in 1189, about the twentieth year after Alessandria was built [Ghilini, Annali d'Alessandria, at the year 1189, ed. A. Bossola, vol. I (Alessandria, 1902), p. 81.] . Whether or not the relics were brought here by order of Alexander III it does not help to inquire, since the pontiff died in the year 1181. It is of greater moment to have noted that the church in which the remains of St. Baudolinus were venerated by the people of Alessandria had annexed to it a house which is counted among the most ancient monasteries of the Order of the Humiliati, and that it came about from this that the Humiliati enrolled Baudolinus in the number of their saints [H. Tiraboschi, Vetera Humiliatorum Monumenta, vol. I (Milan, 1766), p. 122. Tiraboschi treated St. Baudolinus, pp. 212–23, better than anyone. On the Humiliati L. Zanoni has recently written, Gli Umiliati nei loro rapporti con l'eresia, l'industria della lana ed i Comuni, Milan, 1911.] .
[3] Of the lessons of the breviary of the Humiliati In the year 1483 there was published at Milan a breviary "according to the style and custom of the Order of the Humiliati brethren [On this and the other editions of the Breviary of the Humiliati read J. Wickham Legg, The Divine Service in the Sixteenth Century, illustrated by the Reform of the Breviary of the Humiliati in 1548, in Transactionis of the St. Paul's Ecclesiological Society, vol. II (1890), pp. 273–95.] ", in whose calendar there is announced on the third of the Ides of November "Baudulinus, bishop and confessor", while in the body these words are read: "On St. Baudulius, bishop and confessor of the Order of the Humiliati, of nine lessons. Let all things be done as in the common of one confessor pontiff." In the editions that soon followed the first, nothing seems to have been changed. But in the edition of the year 1548, which Tiraboschi had in hand Op. cit., vol. I, p. 223. , and thereafter, there was inserted into the breviary of the Humiliati a proper office of St. Baudolinus, with the lessons which they call historical. These we shall print below from the printed leaves which were sent to our predecessors in the eighteenth century Now in the codex of the Royal Library of Brussels 8936–38, fols. 230–232. , and which seem to agree with the old editions of the breviary [In lesson I, there is in the Milan edition of 1751, which Tiraboschi uses (pp. 214–215): … he was a native of Alessandria; but in the old ones and in ours: Alessandria of Europe.] . Very many things which Paul the Deacon did not know are narrated of our saint in these lessons, as for example that he distributed his paternal inheritance to the poor, that he lived beside the church of the Mother of God which was at Forum, that he was taken as a colleague by the bishops of Tortona and of Acqui, and that he worked wonders, the chief of which concern vegetables growing from seed in the very hour, a tunic spread upon the waters and carrying the saint, geese obedient to his voice, a hind offering milk to him when he was thirsty. To say nothing of the miracles, which were either collected from the mouth of the common people or received from a pious teller of tales, who does not see that each and every one of these things, destitute of contemporary testimony and set forth according to the pattern usual with hagiographers, is worthy of no consideration? Therefore, lest we waste time and oil, nothing need be added about the episcopate of St. Baudolinus, whose see was never designated, and who on that account some have dreamed was a chorepiscopus; nor need we ask whether he is really to be called a confessor of the Order of the Humiliati, seeing that he lived four centuries before the first Humiliati were born. Nor are they worth mentioning who through mere carelessness added new errors to those drawn from a muddy spring [For example H. Ménard, Martyrologium Sanctorum Ordinis S. Benedicti (Paris, 1629), p. 741, asserts that our saint, whom he calls Bundolinus and Bandolinus, was bishop of Alessandria della Paglia, that is, of the Alessandria which was built in the year 1168. G. Bucelinus, Menologium Benedictinum, pp. 769–70, copying Ménard almost word for word, opines that Bundolinus or Bandalinus "professed the rule of our holy father Benedict among our fathers the Humiliati".] .
[4] sources. Although most of those who afterwards wrote about St. Baudolinus narrate more or less what is read in the breviary of the Humiliati, yet the man who composed the proper office of St. Baudolinus is not to be said to have been the first to invent these things. For he seems to have used a manuscript commentary, now lost, which the nephew of Giorgio Merula [On Giorgio Merula a great deal has been collected by F. Gabotto and A. Badini Confalonieri, Vita di Giorgio Merula, in the Rivista di Storia, Arte, Archeologia della Provincia di Alessandria, vol. II (1893), pp. 7–66, 279–356; vol. III, pp. 3–69, 151–73, 227–350.] wrote in Latin about St. Baudolinus, and which was afterwards used by Fr. Archangelo Caraccia, O.P., who in the year 1600 published a fuller Life of the same [Vita del glorioso santo Baudolino protettore della città d'Alessandria. Alessandria, 1600; ibid., 1655.] . At about the same time Fr. Giovanni Pietro Tani († 1615) likewise compiled a Life of St. Baudolinus in the Italian language. Writers of Lives of St. Baudolinus. We have the little book, never printed so far as I know, among the Bollandist Collectanea at the 10th of November, with this note of Fr. Bolland: "I received it from Milan from Fr. Giovanni Battista Verace, 20 January 1644. The author is Fr. Pietro Tani, who also composed several Lives of saints. See Alegambe in the Bibl. Soc. p. 263 Codex 8936–38 of the Royal Library of Brussels, fols. 233–237v. ." He had no documents in hand, and gave credence to the anonymous nephew of Merula. This man's commentary was also used by several others, in whose books you would look in vain for anything that the author of the lessons has not at least touched. In the latter's work, then, we have an apt epitome of a prolix work, whose loss we need not so greatly regret, duly furnished with little fables. Caraccia was followed by Gallizia [Atti de' Sancti che fiorirono ne' dominii della reale casa di Savoia, vol. V (1757), pp. 1–18.] , G. M. Donna Orazione panegerica in onore di S. Baudolino, Alessandria, 1782, 39 pp. , G. A. Scazzola Elogio di S. Baudolino, Alessandria, 1830, 29 pp. . G. T. Canestri [Vita di S. Baudolino vescovo protettore della città e diocesi d'Alessandria compilata colle regole della più esatta critica, Tortona, 1818, 24 pp.] , G. Buzzi Cenni storici sulla vita di San Baudolino, Turin, 1849, 95 pp. , G. Novelli Della vita e del culto di San Baudolino vescovo, Alessandria, 1873, 48 pp. attempted to write the Life of the holy patron somewhat more carefully, in a historical rather than an oratorical manner, yet not in the way that could have been expected after Tiraboschi's critical collection, had they only weighed accurately the testimonies adduced. Most recently, however, Francesco Gasparolo, an assiduous investigator of the history of his homeland, who has deserved well of our work by sending pamphlets and papers on St. Baudolinus, published a letter of Sassi, librarian of the Ambrosiana, in which the grosser errors about our saint are refuted [San Baudolino patrono della diocesi Alessandrina, in the Rivista di Storia, Arte, Archeologia della Provincia di Alessandria, vol. XVIII (1909), pp. 83–91.] . The same most kind man informed us that there exists in the library of the city of Alessandria a manuscript Life of St. Baudolinus compiled by Burgonzio. This, however, G. Novelli used diligently. Therefore it did not seem worth spending time in elucidating it.
[5] Various indications of the cult. From the ancient Statutes of the city of Alessandria, which were compiled in the year 1297, it is established that already in the thirteenth century the day sacred to St. Baudolinus, which is the 10th of November, was numbered among the "feasts to be celebrated"
[Codex Statutorum magnificae communitatis atque dioecesis Alexandrinae (Alessandria, 1547), p. CCCI. Cf. Novelli, same vol., p. 37; L. Fontana, Bibliografia degli Statuti dei comuni dell' Italia superiore, vol. I (Turin, 1907), pp. 18–21.] . If Ghilini is to be believed, already in the year 1189 the people of Alessandria took a vow to offer wax every year on this day to St. Baudolinus, which, as Caraccia testifies, was renewed by a public instrument in the year 1599, and was beyond doubt ratified in the diocesan synod of the year 1602 [Universae Constitutiones synodales ecclesiae Alexandrinae hactenus repertae, Alessandria, 1711. Cf. Novelli, same vol., p. 37.] . After Pius VI had issued the brief Paternae caritati on the 27th of May 1786, on the reduction of feasts, by which, besides the more solemn days to be observed in all places, the obligation of precept was restricted to the feast of one patron only, namely, for each whole diocese, the one who is the more principal patron of the city in which the episcopal see is, it was decreed by the capitular vicar, the see being vacant, Archdeacon Chenna, in a letter given on the 3rd of July of the same year, that the feast of St. Baudolinus, bishop and confessor, as principal patron and protector of the city, should thenceforth be kept in the whole diocese. When in the year 1805 the see of Alessandria was united with those of Casale, Tortona and Bobbio, the office and Mass of St. Baudolinus were extended to the new diocese of Casale under the rite of a greater double. But when the diocese of Alessandria was restored in the year 1817, St. Baudolinus began again to be venerated as principal patron under the rite of a double of the first class with an octave. Until the year 1893 the office was from the common of confessor pontiffs, apart from the verses and the antiphons at the Magnificat and at the Benedictus. In the year 1893 proper lessons of the second nocturn were added Cf. Novelli, same vol., pp. 41–42. .
[6] Of the recognition of the relics After the body of St. Baudolinus had rested a long time in its own church, it was recognised by Fr. Vincenzo Montesanto, in the presence of Cardinal Ottavio Paravicino, then bishop of Alessandria, in the year 1595, as is narrated at length in the instrument drawn up five years later by order of Fr. Vincenzo, then bishop of Teramo, and approved by Cardinal Paravicino, who had by then renounced the see of Alessandria; its words are worth reporting.
The instrument of the year 1595. Brother Vincenzo Montesanto of the Order of Preachers, by the grace of God and of the apostolic see bishop of Teramo, prince of Teramo and count of Bisenti, etc. To each and all who shall inspect the present letters we give assurance and attest in the word of truth how in the year 1585, at which time we presided over the convent of the Holy Cross and of All Saints of Bosco, of our Province of both Lombardies, we resolved to transfer to a more fitting place the sacred relics of the saints Valerius, bishop and martyr [That Valerius, bishop and martyr, is otherwise unknown. Cf. G. T. Canestri, Vita di S. Baudolino… coll' aggiunta di alcune notizie relative a S. Valerio altro protettore della città, pp. 21–24.] , and Baudolinus, bishop and confessor, laid up in the church of the aforesaid holy confessor in the city of Alessandria. Wherefore the most illustrious and most reverend Lord Ottavio Paravicino, Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, then most worthy bishop of the church of Alessandria, at our request, and accompanied by very many priests and other religious and secular men, on the appointed day entered the said church, which belongs to the said convent of Bosco, and having prayed at the altar of St. Baudolinus himself, situated on the right of that church, he went to the rear part of the said altar, where there was a certain tomb built of bricks and mortar and, as it appeared, ancient, in which the body of the said holy confessor was said to have been laid up. And having prayed again, the said most reverend Lord Cardinal ordered a certain mason called for the purpose to remove certain marble stones with which the said tomb was covered. When these had been removed, all who were then present, looking in, saw nothing but spiders' webs here and there, and in the middle of the floor of the said tomb a clod of earth covered with spiders' webs; and when the aforesaid most illustrious Lord Cardinal had begun to turn it over with a piece of wood, suddenly a fragrance of wonderful odour burst forth, whereby all were filled with wonderful consolation. And since there was no natural cause present or that could be considered, it seemed right to refer the novelty of so great a thing to those most holy bones mixed with ashes, especially because with the said ashes and sacred relics there were found certain little fragments of a smoothed casket, yet gnawed by worms and utterly consumed by damp and age, which of themselves could have smelled foul rather than sweet. By the hands, then, of the same most eminent Lord Cardinal, the aforesaid bones with part of the skull were most devoutly laid up and kept (read fuerunt) in a certain wooden casket made ready there at that time for the purpose. And likewise the sacred relics of the body of the above-said St. Valerius, which had previously been in a certain coffin, were placed upon the altar dedicated to his name. At each and all of which things we ourselves were present, and we saw them with our eyes and our hands handled them, and we remember that they truly and really happened thus. In faith whereof we have caused the present letters of testimony and truth to be made, have subscribed them with our own hand, and have ordered them to be secured with our greater seal.
Given at Teramo, in our episcopal palace of Teramo, on the 18th day of August 1600.
Signed: Brother Vincenzo Montesanto, bishop of Teramo.
Muzio Ciancio, notary and clerk of the episcopal curia of Teramo, etc.
We ourselves remember and attest that all the above-written things are true, at that time and exactly as they are here recounted.
Ottavio Paravicino, priest Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, on the 2nd of September 1600 Novelli, Della vita e del culto di San Baudolino, pp. 47–48. .
[7] The recognition of the year 1600. The chest duly sealed by Cardinal Paravicino was opened again in the year 1600, on the 13th of January, by the venerable man who was put in his place, Pietro Giorgio Odescalchi, and he placed it in its former position Novelli, pp. 38–39. , until in the year 1601, on the 9th of September, having organised a solemn procession, he carried the relics of SS. Baudolinus and Valerius around the city and brought them back into the same church. The body of St. Baudolinus was laid again in the chapel which then belonged to the Dominican fathers living at Alessandria [I. B. Sala, in the Life of the Ven. Fr. G. Odescalchi, 34, Act. SS., Propylaeum to May, p. 11.] , where it remained untouched until the year 1803. In that year, namely, the church of St. Baudolinus was destroyed and his relics were translated into the church of St. Alexander, The translation into the cathedral church. then, in the year 1810, into a lesser chapel of the church of St. Mark, which is now the cathedral, and finally, by a new solemn translation, into the first chapel to the left of the high altar, where they rest even now.
THE OFFICE OF ST. BAUDOLINUS
Baudolinus, confessor, at Alessandria of the Statielli. (S.)
From the breviary of the Humiliati. Cf. Prel. Comm. no. 3.
On St. Baudolinus, bishop and confessor.
At First Vespers.
Antiphon at the Magnificat. Baudolinus sows vegetable seeds in his little garden: a hungry wayfarer coming upon them eats of them, sprung up in that very hour, and is astonished at the miracle.
Prayer at the Hours. Be propitious to us your servants, we beseech you, O Lord, through the glorious merits of this your holy confessor Baudolinus, that by his loving intercession we may be protected from all adversities. Through our Lord.
〈At Matins.〉
First lesson. This man outstanding in holiness, whose feast we keep today, Baudolinus by name, was a native of a town once famous which was called Forum, but afterwards, as things declined, was reduced to a small village, and is now called by the inhabitants Villa del Foro [Forum is one of the towns whose inhabitants flocked together there after Alessandria was built. Cf. Prel. Comm. no. 1.] , where shepherds keep their huts, not very far from Alessandria of Europe.
Second lesson. Bereft, then, of both parents, when it pleased the Most High, Baudolinus, after he saw that all these human things which are held first by those who look up to them, supported by no strength of their own, flow away and slip, resolved to keep his mind from the desire of them and to give himself above all to those things which, being firm and everlasting, bring forth security of life and tranquillity of mind and carry their devotees into heaven.
Third lesson. Moreover, in order to accomplish the matter with a mind the more free, and to be able to follow his pursuits, he sold whatever he had possessed from his father's inheritance, and whatever money was raised from it he spent entirely on relieving the want of the poor and averting the hardships of the wretched.
Fourth lesson. Stripped, then, of all things as well as of the desire of them, he sought a solitary place beside the church of the Virgin Mother of God which was at Forum, of ancient religion but little frequented by the people. There, devoting himself day and night to fasting and prayer, he won so famous a name for holiness that many mortals flocked to him, asking for one thing and another.
Fifth lesson. He was renowned for very many miracles: by which it came about that two bishops, namely of Tortona and of Acqui, before whom he had been falsely denounced through the envy of certain religious, adopted him as the associate and colleague of their bishoprics, though he refused.
Sixth lesson. At length, foreknowing his death, he rested happily in the Lord on the fourth of the Ides of November, in the reign of Liutprand, king of the Lombards. His body, translated from Forum to Alessandria by order of Alexander III, supreme pontiff, who gave that city its title and name, is laid up to this present day in the church established under his name.
Gospel. A certain man going into a far country, etc., with its Homily.
〈At Lauds.〉
Antiphon at the Benedictus. While the man of God is on his way to Tortona, mounting with the bishop's messenger a tunic spread upon the waters, in the name of the Lord he crossed unharmed the river Burmida Commonly Bormida. , then impassable by ford, as though he had been carried by a ship.
At Second Vespers.
Antiphon at the Magnificat. At the commands of Baudolinus the geese come and obey his word [Hence it is the custom of painters to portray St. Baudolinus in the midst of geese fleeing on this side and that.] , a hind offers him drink from her full udders. Let us therefore magnify the Lord, who is mighty, and has worked great things in his saint Baudolinus.