ON ST. ALPERTUS, PRESBYTER AND CONFESSOR,
IN THE DISTRICT OF CESSIMA IN THE TERRITORY OF TORTONA IN ITALY
A COLLECTION
On his cult and deeds.
Alpertus, presbyter and confessor, in the district of Cessima in the territory of Tortona in Italy (S.)
BY J. S.
The cult of St. Alpertus, Ferrarius in the General Catalogue at this day has thus: At Tortona in Liguria, of St. Alpertus the confessor. He adds in the annotations: From the registers of the church of Tortona, in which his body is preserved. There stands in the territory a church and abbey dedicated to St. Alpertus at the village of Cessima, in which his miracles are seen painted on the wall. In what sense what is here said of the painted miracles is to be understood is gathered from the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy by the same author: for there he subjoins to the eulogy presently to be given this annotation: No Acts of Alpertus survive; save that in his abbey, under his image long since painted on the wall, these words are read: How St. Alpertus, when he was at the Pope's table, turned water into wine. This one miracle only is there painted, and no others, so far as I judge. Further, Ferrarius in each Catalogue insinuates that the relics of this Saint are kept in the cathedral church of Tortona, and asserts that this is gathered from the registers of that church.
[2] the chief part of whose body is said to be kept in his own church: Nevertheless I judge that the Saint's whole body is not in the cathedral of Tortona, but only some relics; and that the chief part of the body is kept in the Saint's own church. Of this I am persuaded by the accounts which in the year 1662 Giovanni Battista Chapuis, canon of the cathedral church of Tortona and prefect of theological matters, sent to our Elders, who records this: On the day V (of September) in the ancient Calendars a double Office of St. Alpertus the confessor is marked, and his relics are in the cathedral. In the synod of Tortona of the year MDXCV, among the sacred relics of the cathedral is noted: Of the bones of St. Alpertus the confessor. And in the same synod, in the description of the churches, under the title, In the place of St. Pontius and its parish, is found: The parish church of St. Alpertus de Butrio, under the title of St. Alpertus the confessor, an abbey: which indeed is ancient, but has now been given in commendam. There is there a very large chest with the Saint's effigy carved on it in a monastic habit. Besides, St. Alpertus is the title of a canonry of the cathedral. These things sufficiently indicate that the relics of St. Alpertus which are kept in the cathedral are certain bones; and therefore that there is no fit reason why we should deny that the chief part of the body is kept in its own chest. That the church of St. Alpertus too, although it is called an abbey, is parochial, is clear from what has been said.
[3] Ferrarius gives such a eulogy: Alpertus, a monk and priest, is handed down to have led his life at Cecima, a village of the territory of Tortona: who, being accused before the Supreme Pontiff of celebrating when by no means fasting, a few things known of his deeds. having set out to him, proved his innocence by a miracle. For before the Pontiff and three Cardinals he turned into wine the water which he had blessed. Returning home, when he had served God for some while in all sanctity, on the Nones of September he passed to heaven. His body, buried in the same place, shone with many miracles, while innumerable sick and infirm flowed together from every side to his tomb, and made vows for the health they had obtained. In which place a church was dedicated to his name (which was turned into an abbey, and is named the abbey of St. Alpertus and of Butrio). A sarcophagus is still shown, in which his body is thought by the inhabitants to be kept. Thus far Ferrarius, whose statements have now been sufficiently explained. Of the time in which St. Alpertus lived I find nothing.