ON ST. GERMANA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR, IN THE PRIORY OF ST. GERMANA NEAR BAR-SUR-AUBE IN GAUL,
Perhaps in the V century.
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY. Of the cult of the Saint and the Acts to be published.
Germana, Virgin, M., in the priory of St. Germana near Bar-sur-Aube, in Gaul. (S.)
BY J. S.
Du Saussay, in the Gallican Martyrology, page 1247, gave the old Martyrology of St. Sabinus of Lavedan, The memory of St. Germana in some Martyrologies: in which at the Kalends of October St. Germana is announced in these words: At Barrum Castrum, the birthday of saint Germana, virgin, in the territory of the city of the Lingones. There are various towns of the same name which are called Barrum, even in the very diocese of Langres, distinguished however by the names of the rivers to which they lie adjacent: for one is called Barrum ad Albam, in French Bar-sur-Aube; the other Barrum ad Sequanam, commonly Bar-sur-Seine. There is also Barrum Ducis, but that is not in the diocese of Langres. Du Saussay also, in his own words, announces St. Germana at 1 October in words indicating martyrdom, and in the castle of Bar, without distinction of the synonymous towns. But Arthur in the Gynaeceum, omitting mention of the martyrdom, which however he hints at in the Annotations, mentioned St. Germana in the castle of Bar-sur-Seine, of the diocese of Langres. So Chastelain announces St. Germana at Bar-sur-Seine, and says she was slaughtered by the Vandals, as the Acts have it. Jacques Vignier, presbyter of our Society, who became known by writing the Chronicle of Langres and other books, in the year 1659 sent to Bolland, together with the Acts of St. Germana, some notices about the Saint, and among these from a certain Martyrology
manuscript, which he does not name, he produced the following words at 1 October: The birthday of saint Germana, virgin and martyr, who, the persecution of the cruel Vandals having been settled, suffered when she would in no way bend herself to their base and shameless wishes; beheaded by them for the observance of chastity and the confession of the name of Christ, she passed to heaven with the palm of martyrdom and the honour of virginity, crowned with her own blood. These things are also consonant with the Acts.
[2] St. Germana has a priory dedicated to her name near Bar-sur-Aube on a hill, in the priory of her name near Bar-sur-Aube on which she is said to have been buried from the beginning in the church of St. Stephen. Hence, moreover, it is clear, as also from the Acts themselves, that Arthur and Chastelain erred when they announced the Saint at Bar-sur-Seine: for she should have been announced either at Bar-sur-Aube, or on the neighbouring hill, where there is a church formerly called St. Stephen's, now St. Germana's. The praised Vignier mentions that priory of St. Germana in the Chronicle of Langres at the year 1076, in which he places the conversion of St. Simon the count, by whose liberality the priory of St. Germana was given to the abbey of the Jura together with several others. The second, he says, sacred to St. Germana, is placed on the neighbouring hill, namely at Bar-sur-Aube, where the first priory was. Our Chifflet makes mention of the same in the Collection in manuscript with us, and by him it is called the Priory of St. Stephen and St. Germana of the Hill of Bar-sur-Aube, etc. I bring forward no more, because they have already been recited at XXX September on St. Simon, §10, where they can be read. Indeed what has been brought forward suffices to prove the Saint's cult, and to show that her priory is near Bar-sur-Aube, where she is also believed to have been buried after she had been killed in some neighbouring place.
[3] She is venerated with a twofold festival, and by the piety of the people. Concerning the festivals of St. Germana Vignier noted these things: Further, the feast of St. Germana is celebrated on the Kalends of October: likewise on XIX January. I do not, however, think it is celebrated through the whole diocese of Langres. For the same also says: Of St. Germana the Breviaries of the church of Langres, whether manuscript or printed, which I have hitherto seen, have nothing: nor also the Lectionaries, although Claude Robert cites them in Gallia Christiana. Robert may perhaps have cited one of the Lectionaries from which the Acts to be given by us were copied. Concerning the further cult of the Saint Vignier says some things were communicated to him by the lord Bénigne Cenrey, presbyter of Langres, whom he also calls a most learned theologian. I transcribe the very words: As often as, the sun having burned too long, the earth, gaping with cracks, longs for rain, the clergy and people are assembled, who, vows having been conceived, carry the sacred head of the virgin Germana, enclosed in a silver case, from the hill into the town with as much piety and devotion as they can. Whence presently the ground is watered with sudden rains: nor has such a hope ever disappointed the husbandmen. Moreover, those whom fever harasses have themselves led to the hill, or at least go to the spring sacred to blessed Germana, situated at the foot of the hill, pray, make vows: and while praying not rarely, a slumber flowing lightly into their limbs, they fall asleep, and often out of that very sleep they are awakened sound, cheerful and joyful through the merits of Germana the martyr.
[4] The Acts to be published: the Saint's age less certain. Concerning the Acts which the praised Vignier sent, a few things come to be observed. The title prefixed to the apograph is: The Passion of St. Germana, virgin and martyr, on the Kalends of Oct. He testifies, moreover, that they were transcribed in the year 1656 from three manuscript codices, partly of the priory of St. Germana, partly of the church of St. Machutus. We judge that they were composed for the ecclesiastical Office, because they are divided into nine lessons. Claude Robert, in the catalogue of the bishops of Langres, mentions the Acts, and calls them the Life of St. Germana, under Guido 2, whom he puts as the 67th bishop. About the antiquity of these Acts I cannot say much: for I believe them ancient indeed, if we wish to look back from our age: but they were probably put together some centuries after the death of the Saint. Hence we can attribute to them no other authority than that from these Acts it becomes known what the tradition about St. Germana formerly was among the people of Bar. The death of the Saint, if we adhere strictly to the Acts, is to be fixed towards the beginning of the V century, that is, about the year 407, towards the beginning of which the Vandals burst into the Gauls: for the slaughter of the Saint is attributed in the Acts to the Vandals. Vignier, in the Chronicle of Langres, page 29, preferred to look to the Huns and their king Attila, and believed that the martyrdom of St. Germana was to be fixed immediately after the battle of Châlons, that is, in the year 451. But if the authority of the Acts does not suffice, as I shall readily admit, for fixing the martyrdom certainly under the Vandals, much less can we fix it under the Huns from conjecture alone. Hence it does not seem that it should be certainly fixed even in the fifth century, in which first the Vandals, then the Huns, laid waste the Gauls. For if the Saint fell, as is believed, in defence of her chastity, that could have happened even much later.
ACTS
By an anonymous author.
From three manuscript codices.
Germana, Virgin, M., in the priory of St. Germana near Bar-sur-Aube, in Gaul. (S.)
BHL Number: 3451
By an Anonymous.
The Saint, near Bar-sur-Aube, to a priest As we have heard, and our fathers have told us, at the time when the detestable ferocity and insatiable rage of the cruel Vandals emerged within the borders of Gaul, not only wretchedly overturning all the basilicas and places dedicated to God, but also condemning faithful and Catholic men to unheard-of punishments and a most shameful death, there dwelt on a hill, to whose summit the market-town of Bar a lies adjacent, a most beautiful girl named Germana, distinguished in morals and life, full of faith, shining with chastity, gracious in the sight of God and men. There was staying moreover at that time in the same place a certain venerable priest, exercising pastoral care in the basilica which was founded in honour of blessed Stephen the protomartyr b, to whom the most sacred Girl daily carried with diligent service waters for washing his hands and, for the divine service c, for pouring into the most holy vessels of the altar and of the table of God.
[2] This reverend priest of God very frequently exhorted the most blessed Handmaid of Christ serving piously, to reject the transitory delights and the perishable allurements of this world, instructing and teaching her, by living justly and piously and chastely, to prepare the dwelling of her mind as a most pleasing habitation for the Holy Spirit. Diligently obeying his salutary admonitions, the Virgin led an angelic life on earth, keeping herself a stranger to every defilement, and turning her feet away from every evil way. She applied herself to frequent fasts and assiduous prayers, and, secretly covered with a hair-shirt, waiting she waited for the Lord coming to the wedding with her, to the everlasting banquet of the heavenly feasts, about to enter happily into the heavenly nuptials with lamps filled with the oil of gladness and exultation and with the gifts of good virtues.
[3] In those days the aforesaid most nefarious multitude of the execrable Vandals, she falls into the hands of the Vandals: by whom, in vain coming to this place as chance led them, upon the banks of the river whose name is Aube, which flows past on the Eastern side at the foot of the said hill, suddenly pitching their most wicked camp, occupied the whole surrounding plain with horrible and barbaric onset. The blessed Virgin, then, according to her customary habit, going down to the spring from which she had been wont to draw, found there some of the profane army sitting, refreshing the weariness of their labour and journey. When they beheld her coming, having considered her beauty, and greatly admiring so great a comeliness of the Girl, they rejoiced exceedingly, thinking that she could easily be subdued and bent to their desires. They burned therefore in their lusts; and first they strove to soothe her with coaxing words and soft flattery: but when they saw that they could not bend her heart to what they desired, they began to deter her with reproaches, threats and savage blows. But the blessed Virgin, changed from her purpose neither by terrors nor by allurements, chose rather that her body should be exposed to punishments than to corrupters.
[4] solicited and harassed in many ways, So, then, the Spouse of Christ, keeping inviolably the constancy of faith, the purity of mind, the integrity of body, could not be overcome by any art by the ministers of Satan; nor would she consent to the faithless in anything: keeping herself unpolluted, she rendered them full of confusion and stupor, wondering that they could neither break her mind nor bend it to their wishes. The enemies of God, then, having learned that the blessed Virgin was a Christian, at once rush upon her, and perhaps would have swallowed her alive, had not the Lord dwelt in her. Nevertheless, with reciprocal thrusting, they shamefully pushed her one to another, and handling her quite indecently, like those who play a game of ball, at once throwing to one another her whom they were holding, in this manner they sharply afflicted the Handmaid of God. Vexing the innocent Girl with such and many other mockeries, the impious men at length decided that she should be led to their judge: who was then their leader, and was pre-eminent with chief power over that most nefarious band.
[5] she is set before the leader. When she would not consent to him either, Presented, then, to the sight of the faithless and unmerciful judge, he, inflamed by the most special beauty of her loveliness, his atrocious countenance laid aside [*], and the face of a malignant tyrant put off, strove to soften her with calm and tranquil speech and flattering allurements. But the fool, labouring emptily, poured out his words in vain: because the blessed Virgin, like the deaf asp that stops its ears, by no means inclined her hearing to his shameless wishes. He promises besides an abundance of gold and silver and precious garments, and the headship over all the women of his household, if she would give free assent to his will. But all these things were reckoned by her as nothing and empty: and all these being disregarded by the blessed Virgin, she chose rather to be abject than to dwell in the tents of sinners. O praiseworthy constancy! O impregnable faith! O manly woman! who, so often tempted, yet never stood changed! What will soft and effeminate men say, when they hear of the victory of martyrdom even in the fragile sex, and of a woman forgetful of natural tenderness, following the footsteps of Christ, not walking after her own desires? They fear to go forth on the way of salvation, and, torpid with the sloth of security, in the cowardice of their heart they do not blush to do d. What woman of the present time would stand immovable in so great a whirlwind of affairs, would triumph as victor in so great and such a conflict? This was done by the Lord, and it is wonderful in our eyes.
[6] by his command the Virgin's head is cut off. The impious judge, then, perceiving that he was achieving nothing, but that all his speech was failing in vain labour, confounded and greatly troubled, commanded the rebel to be quickly removed from his sight, and her most sacred head to be cut off without delay. And at once the ministers of death, the satellites of the devil, the most bloody assassins, seized her; and, every appearance of humanity laid aside,
forgetful of piety and mercy, they dragged the innocent Virgin to be beheaded, blessing and praising God, who not only kept her body uncorrupted from all pollution, but also granted her triumph over the profane and truculent judge. One of them, seizing a sword, stretching out his unhappy right hand, irreverently cut off the head of the Innocent, neither deferring to God, nor sparing the Virgin, nor having regard for honour or fame. Behold by how happy, how glorious, how triumphal a death the blessed virgin Germana passed from the world! Behold how, happily exchanging heavenly things for earthly, eternal for perishing, crowned with her own blood, by a blessed end with the palm of martyrdom she rested in peace! Who would doubt that this most sacred Virgin reigns with Christ in heaven, and clings continually to his chaste embraces, for love of whom she poured out her blood, and did not fear at the words of the impious, nor sought the glory of earthly dignity? Being made perfect in a short space, she fulfilled a long time, and was taken away, lest wickedness should alter her understanding; since, comparing the transitory, deceitful and unjust glory of this world with its delights, she ran panting with the whole desire of her mind to the joys that shall remain without end.
[7] The most sacred head of the most blessed Virgin having then been cut off, She is said to have carried her own head, the most bloody murderers withdrew exulting, thinking that they had utterly extinguished the name of her whom living they had not been able to overcome. And although she seemed to die in the eyes of the foolish, who rejoice when they have done evil and exult in the worst things; we nevertheless believe that she lives perpetually in the heavenly court: and her memorial shall not be forsaken for ever. For in order that the King, to whom all things live, and for whom our bodies do not perish in dying but are changed for the better, might prove that the blessed Virgin reigns with Christ even after death, she began to carry the severed head, gathered up in her own hands as though she were living, in her arms over a long stretch of land e, and in this manner making for the basilica, as though life were her companion, as though she were wearied from the roughness of the steep journey and the difficulty of the longer way, she sat down in a certain place, laying down the head which she was carrying in her lap, as though she were waiting for someone who would gather her up and render the due service to her funeral.
[8] And the priest whom she had been wont to serve, hearing of the event, but she was buried in the church of St. Stephen. sad and mournful, he and certain faithful went down with him to the place where she was, and finding her as we have said before, they gathered her up with weeping and tears, bearing her into the basilica of Stephen the protomartyr, and there honourably, according to the measure of their means, committed her body to burial. By whose name and monument this place is held distinguished: by the title of her name it is called Mont-Sainte-Germaine. For although it had before been called by another name, it was decreed by the faithful that thenceforth it should be called in perpetuity by posterity Mont-Sainte-Germaine: which name is held celebrated and spread abroad not only in the neighbourhood, but also in remote parts. And the most sacred virgin and glorious martyr of Christ, Germana, was buried in the said church on the fourteenth before the Kalends of February f, where she never ceases to give her patronage to all who shall approach to beg her suffrages with devout faith and faithful devotion. We implore thee, therefore, pious virgin Germana, of sweet memory, that by the intervention of thy prayers Jesus Christ may adorn us with the increase of good works, drive away strifes and discords, send the bonds of peace and love, take away diseases, grant health, make us thy servants continually embrace discipline and religion, wash away the filth of all our uncleanness and depravity, always increase faith and devotion in us, fill us with charity, adorn us with patience, crown us with perseverance, and lead us to the joys of eternal happiness, where face to face thou dost unceasingly contemplate Christ, and followest the Lamb whithersoever he goeth: which may the same God and our Lord Jesus Christ deign to grant us, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns through all ages of ages. Amen.
[9] Some benefits obtained by her patronage. At a certain time, when for the business and the repairing of the ruins of the church of blessed Stephen the most sacred head of blessed Germana was being carried through various places to the faithful peoples to seek their alms, it was by chance carried into the castle which is called Beaufort g; where God almighty deigned with majesty to declare her merits, so that all the sick, the feeble as well as the lame and the feverish, or those labouring with other sicknesses, who had gathered there, having received their former health, went away with thanksgiving. It happened also in our times, as is set forth by the action of religious men and by the report and testimony of venerable men, that when one day a house contiguous to the oratory of blessed Stephen had been set on fire with a violent blaze, so that the violence of the winds carried the balls of flame on to the neighbouring roofs of the basilica, and it now came into doubt for no one that it would be burned by the conflagration of the nearby blaze; then, God inspiring him, one of the bystanders, having brought the most sacred head of the blessed Virgin, set it against the oncoming flames. Then suddenly in the eyes of all the very flame was driven back, and, consuming only the house which it had seized, as we believe through the merits of the holy Virgin it spared the church. Like to this was what happened when in the same little village a certain house had been set on fire, and the air was clear, the sun bright with serene rays, they brought there the most sacred head h; and at once a very dense rain began to pour down, by which the conflagration of the whole growing fire, utterly extinguished, wonderfully ceased. But thou, O Lord, etc.
ANNOTATIONS.
[] perhaps lies*