ON ST. APOLLINARIS OF BOURGES, ARCHBISHOP, IN GAUL, IN THE YEAR DCXI.
SYLLOGE.
Of his cult, the time of his episcopate, and his Eulogy.
Apollinaris, archbishop of Bourges in Gaul. (S.)
BY C. S.
This Saint, Archbishop of the city of Bourges, which is the metropolis of the First Aquitaine, This little-known Saint is announced by Ghini on 23 July, is so little known to the martyrologists that I long hesitated whether he should be reviewed among those who claim a place for themselves in our Work by the title of certain cult, or only among the Passed-over. For, to pass over the older martyrologists, among whom (if you perhaps except one) there is deep silence about him, you will seek him in vain both among other more recent ones, and in André du Saussay in the Gallican Martyrology, and (what is of greater weight) even in Châtelain himself, the most diligent investigator of the Saints of Gaul, in the Universal Martyrology. Of the more recent, however, again except Costantino Ghini, who in the Birthdays of the holy Canons announced this Apollinaris, by I know not what title of festivity, at the 23rd day of July in these words: St. Apollinaris, XXIX bishop of the church of Bourges, who sat nine years, and after a praiseworthy life rested in peace about the year DCXL.
[2] in the Hagiologium of Franco-Gaul on 5 October My Predecessors saw these things when they were giving the Saints of the month of July; but since Ghini alone had him on that XXIII day, and they read elsewhere that the memory of the same Apollinaris is observed on the day before the Nones of October, they judged that he should be deferred to this day, so that he might be treated then, more certain things about his cult and deeds being meanwhile brought forward. But in the Hagiologium of Franco-Gaul, which our Philippe Labbe published in print, his memory is had on the 5th day of October in this manner: At Bourges, the deposition of St. Apollinaris, bishop of the same city. This was noted there among the Passed-over, the reader being referred, for the reasons alleged in the same place, to today's 6th day of October. That he died on the same 5th day of this month is written by the Anonymous writer of his Eulogy, to be recited below from Labbe's New Library of Manuscripts, by Jean Chenu in the Chronology of the archbishops of Bourges, and by Nicolas Catherinus, or Catherinot, likewise in the Sanctuary of Bourges. My Predecessors also promised in volume 2 of January, page 167, in the Commentary on St. Sulpicius Pius, prelate of the same see, number 16, that St. Apollinaris would be treated at the 5th day of October.
[3] But indeed, however much the 5th day of this month was perhaps his day of death, in the Calendars of the Breviary of Bourges on the 4th and 6th of this month, in our manuscript copy of the Calendar prefixed to the Breviary of Bourges, printed in the year 1625 by the authority of the most illustrious Roland Hébert, archbishop of Bourges, there is read at the 4th day of October: Apollinar. mem., that is, memory or commemoration of Apollinaris. On the contrary, in another likewise manuscript copy of ours of the Calendar of the Proper Offices of the diocese of Bourges it is said of St. Apollinaris: His memory is made on the VI of October. With this latter agree Claude Robert, the brothers Sainte-Marthe, and likewise Denis de Sainte-Marthe, each in his own Gallia Christiana, of whom the words of the last are these: His feast or memory is kept on the day before the Nones of October. These things impelled me to decide that, notwithstanding the silence of the martyrologists and even of Châtelain himself about this Prelate, a place should be given him on this day among the Saints and Blessed (since until now he has been placed in our Work only among the Passed-over). And lest I seem to have done this rashly, let us weigh the alleged testimonies a little.
[4] Labbe professes at the head of his Hagiologium of Franco-Gaul on which day we give him, that he excerpted it from an ancient Martyrology of the abbey of St. Laurence of Bourges; and at the end he commends it thus: This manuscript codex, almost eaten away by age and worn by continual use, copied long ago from some older one, either of the same monastery of St. Laurence or of the abbey of St. Sulpicius, and from time to time enriched with new additions, ought to be dear to all the learned beyond its weight in gold. I could wish that that learned editor had added in the same place whether the announcement of St. Apollinaris was one of those additions
or not; for thus it would have been more evidently established concerning its antiquity. Perhaps he would have done this in the Concordance of the discrepant Martyrologists promised in the same place, or in the twelve books of Observations on the Authentic Martyrology of Franco-Gaul, which I do not find recorded among the Works of the same Labbe in the Library of our Society. For which reason, although I cannot rightly doubt that this announcement too is very old, speaking above of this Martyrology I said: If you perhaps except one of the older ones.
[5] That the body of the same Apollinaris was held in sacred veneration at Bourges in the 16th century, as at least anciently certainly venerated. in which the said anonymous monk of Saint-Sulpice wrote, is certain from these words of his: His venerable body awaits the glory of the future resurrection in the church of St. Austregisilus de Castro (at Bourges), where it is honoured with great devotion of the people. Finally, that his annual feast, or sacred memory, was accustomed to be observed at Bourges, the Calendars of the Breviaries of Bourges alleged by me above prove; and this also was attested by Catherinot, himself a native of Bourges and royal senator in the 17th century, and finally by Denis de Sainte-Marthe, although he could have known that Apollinaris was omitted by Châtelain. Therefore, whether by chance or for a certain reason Apollinaris has no place here in the Martyrologies of Châtelain and others, the things already alleged do not permit me prudently to doubt that he has had legitimate cult among his people of Bourges from antiquity, which is enough for him to be reviewed here among the Saints or Blessed.
[6] No Acts of his exist, except the Eulogy to be given. If now you ask of me his deeds, none, at least that I know of, exist, except his Eulogy in the Patriarchium of Bourges, that is, the History of the archbishops of Bourges, which the said Labbe published from the autograph manuscript codex, once of the monastery of St. Sulpicius of Bourges, in volume 2 of the New Library of Manuscripts, page 34. The learned editor judged its Anonymous author to have been a monk of Saint-Sulpice, and it is established that he is not older than the 16th century; since he ends at the beginning of the episcopate of Jacques le Roy, who was advanced to it in the year 1537, as Denis de Sainte-Marthe testifies in volume 2 of the Gallia Christiana, column 98. But whether other older monuments lighted the way for this Anonymous author cannot be gathered from the whole of that eulogy; and it itself is such that it runs out rather into distinguished praises common to almost all Saints than narrates particular deeds. Since, however, others are wholly lacking, I shall reprint it from Labbe, after I have set down first a few things about the time of his episcopate.
[7] He sat between SS. Eustachius and Austregisilus, The said Anonymous places St. Apollinaris between St. Eustachius, or Eustadius, and St. Austregisillus, or Austregisilus, in the twenty-ninth place in the series of the prelates of Bourges. Jean Chenu and Claude Robert agree; but the brothers Sainte-Marthe assign him the twenty-sixth place; Denis de Sainte-Marthe the twenty-seventh, or twenty-eighth, since in the same place he set down two in the twenty-fourth place, namely Felix and Remigius. Nevertheless all the same agree on placing Apollinaris in the middle between Eustachius and Austregisilus. As regards Austregisilus, that he immediately succeeded Apollinaris is established from the Life of the same St. Austregisilus written by a contemporary Anonymous author and given by our Henschen at the 20th day of May, in whose chapter 2 there is read thus: Apollinaris the bishop dying at Bourges, St. Austregisilus, elected in his place, is substituted by all with the consent of the king.
[8] from the year 603 until 611; Henschen, in the Commentary preliminary to the said Life, referred the beginning of St. Austregisilus's episcopate to the year 612, the reader being referred to the 6th day of February, in the Commentary on St. Amandus, bishop of Maastricht, where from calculations adduced there he determined that St. Eustachius, the immediate predecessor of St. Apollinaris, died on the last day of the year 602, and Apollinaris, to whom nine years of episcopate are generally attributed, in the year 611, the last year of the episcopate of both, Eustachius and Apollinaris, being incomplete. He had Le Cointe agreeing with him here, others dissenting, who tied the death of St. Eustachius to the year 607. I think one should by no means depart from the opinion of Henschen and Le Cointe, unless more certain things occur at the 31st day of December, on which St. Eustadius is announced by Châtelain in his Universal Martyrology, the year of Christ 607 being written in the margin as his year of death.
[9] not until the year 615. These followed the author of the Eulogy to be given, who described the time of St. Apollinaris's episcopate thus: The same most holy patriarch Apollinaris sat nine years, from the year of Christ DCVII to the year DCXV, blessed Pope Boniface presiding at Rome, who obtained from Phocas the Caesar that the temple at Rome which was called the Pantheon should be consecrated as a church of the holy Mother of God and of all the Martyrs of Christ, Chlothar the second, Theodebert and Theoderic reigning in Francia. The persons mentioned here fit the opinion of Henschen very well; for in the year 611, in the month of October, St. Boniface IV was passing the twelfth year of his Pontificate, and there were then reigning Chlothar II in the kingdom of Soissons, Theodebert II in Austrasia, and Theoderic II in Burgundy. But on the contrary, in the year of Christ 615 St. Boniface had already died, at least from the month of May; Theodebert, however, from the year 612, Theoderic from 613; and only Chlothar II then survived, monarch of the Franks. As much, then, as the notes of the princes written on it tell against the Anonymous himself and the others who tie the death of St. Apollinaris to the year 615, so much they favour Henschen, with whom accordingly we think the year 611 is by all means to be retained.
[10] I have already said, on the testimony of the same Anonymous, that the body of St. Apollinaris lay in the church of St. Austregisilus, His sacred bones are said to have been scattered by the Calvinists. and was accustomed to be honoured there with great devotion by the people. This church is situated outside the walls of the city, called St. Austregisilus de Castro, in French Saint Outrille du chateau, concerning which Denis de Sainte-Marthe may be consulted, volume 2 of the Gallia Christiana, column 118. I do not know whether anything of the relics of St. Apollinaris survives there or elsewhere, the said Sainte-Marthe saying at column 16: And he (St. Apollinaris) lay long in the church of St. Austregisilus de castro beside the walls of Bourges: but the Calvinists scattered his sacred bones in the year MDLXII.
EULOGY
By an Anonymous author, a monk of Saint-Sulpice in the suburb of Bourges.
From the New Library of Manuscripts of Philippe Labbe, volume 2, page 34 and following.
Apollinaris, archbishop of Bourges in Gaul. (S.)
By a Monk of Saint-Sulpice.
Distinguished for learning and humility, Twenty-ninth a there presided St. Apollinaris, a man of most accomplished wisdom, who also, strong in the virtue of the highest and singular prudence, always ordered with a tranquil mind the care of ruling souls imposed on him and the ministry handed over to him. For he was by nature gentle and placid, and at the same time not moderately learned: in whom also, set in the highest honour (which in him ought equally to be praised and wondered at), there was the highest humility; but, God working magnificently about him, his admirable modesty, repressing with all effort the loftiness of his honour, served more and more to his glory, by which namely he so lowered the fasces of his majesty that, yet retaining the authority of Apostolic grace, he appeared not base, but humble.
[2] Moreover, the most holy Man, suffused with divine grace, so burned with the fire of charity (on whose wings he was loftily carried up to the high summits of the virtues) that not only did charity itself cleave inwardly in his heart, but it was also read outwardly in his face; he rules his own by love rather than by terror, and because he strove to rule by love rather than to lord it by terror, he was seen by all to be no less loved than feared; and on this account it came about that whatever was enjoined by the holy Prelate each one fulfilled not compelled but willingly. Add that there was so great a bond of love between the Father and the sons that the sons thought even the sorrows of the Father their own, and the loving Pastor showed himself such to them that he believed the sufferings of all and the infirmities of each his own, and wept over them as his own.
[3] by words and examples, admonitions and alms Finally, as he invited the faithful and devout flock abundantly by sacred teachings to the love of perennial life, all strove with an enormous affection of faith to imitate his doctrine, which they had heard, and the examples, which they had seen. And if his exhortation moved anyone too little towards his own salvation, he, as he knew it to suit the manners of each one's nature, now in secret, now openly, now severe, now gentle, bound him by lively speech. For he was effective for princes unto correction, for clerics unto direction, for the common people unto instruction, for the guilty unto fear, for the afflicted unto solace. Add to this that, since the poor, pilgrims and strangers were very greatly his care, and he received them all with enormous joy and eagerness, a frequent multitude of the needy flowed together to him from different parts, assigning to whose relief whatever he could have, he reserved nothing for himself, nothing for his own, except food and clothing for the present days; so that at times (faith alone remaining entire with him) his whole substance was exhausted.
[4] instructing all, he brings great fruits, yet working no miracles. Amid these things, while this Prelate, worthy of looking up to, exhorted all by his emulation to a sober and chaste life, it is incredible to relate with how great zeal of religion the piety and devotion of the citizens of Bourges towards God grew up, their love and compassion towards their neighbour, their careful keeping of the laws; with how great tranquillity also, God being on this account made propitious to them, all the provincials, joyful and secure, pursued peace. O happy Bourges, which have obtained so great a Father, radiant with the vigour of an Apostolic spirit and the honour of his countenance! And if it be asked why this glorious Confessor of Christ did not show outwardly signs of power, this answer will be given: since indeed it is greater to have virtues than to exhibit signs of virtues; and since his whole life shone full of virtues, it is plainly to be reckoned in every part of it as a great miracle.
[5] He delivers his last admonitions to his own. But when the time of his calling drew near, and the heat of a dire fever was already pressing him to his end, his most beloved disciples from the clergy came together to him with many of the people of the city, to commend their souls to his holy soul, soon about to go out of the prison of the flesh, and to receive, after the manner of sons, the last blessing of their loving Father. To whom the Man of God, making a careful discourse about contempt of the present life and desire for future beatitude, at the last brought forth these words: Dearest Brethren, let no one make light of the times of penance granted; let no one, while he is able, neglect the care of acting well for himself: yet fix the anchor of your hope in the eternal fatherland, make firm the intention of your mind in the true light, keep peace, love truth; and the God of peace will always be with you. Amen. Then, when the loving Father saw them weeping abundantly, he said: Why, O little sons, does a passing so necessary for me move you so much? Do not, I pray, mourn any longer, because this is not death but a passing, whither Christ the Lord calls whom He shall find ready: there is therefore nothing at present for you to mourn, since you see me ready.
[6] After these things, bidding Farewell to all, a prayer having been poured out with a certain unwonted fervour of spirit, and having prayed well, he dies, and is honoured. he bestowed upon them the gift of blessing, and so, fortified with the life-giving Sacraments, he breathed out his spirit amid the words of prayer on the third day before the Nones of October in the year of the Lord's Incarnation DCXV b. His venerable body awaits the glory of the future resurrection in the church of St. Austregisillus de Castro, where it is honoured with great devotion of the people c. The same most holy patriarch Apollinaris sat nine years, from the year of Christ DCVII to the year DCXV d, blessed Pope Boniface presiding at Rome, who obtained from Phocas the Caesar that the temple at Rome which was called the Pantheon should be consecrated as a church of the holy Mother of God and of all the Martyrs of Christ e, Chlothar the second, Theodebert and Theoderic reigning in Francia.