Part 29

[Of local veneration only, at Nivelles; mentioned in some of the later Martyrologies, and called, sometimes Saint, sometimes the Blessed. Authorities:--A Life contained in the Acts of his daughter, S. Gertrude, (March 17th), Fredegar, and other early French historians.]

The Blessed Pepin of Landen[60] died on February 21st, in 640, or 647, at Landen, where he had also been born, in all probability. He was buried at Landen, but afterwards, at what date is unknown, his body was translated to Nivelles, where he reposes beside the altar of his daughter, S. Gertrude, and where one tomb enshrines his body and that of his wife, S. Itta, and that of his nurse. On the day of his translation, a great procession of people bearing candles accompanied his relics from Landen to Nivelles, and during the long course, the wind, though very violent, did not extinguish one of the tapers, says the story. This prince has always been venerated at Nivelles and Landen as a saint, though he has never been canonized, and every year, in the Rogation processions, his reliquary is borne, together with those of S. Itta or Iduberga, his wife, and S. Gertrude, his daughter. To Pepin is attributed the foundation of the Church of S. Mary, which subsists to this day at Landen.

SS. GERMAN, AB., AND RANDOALD, PRIOR, MM.

(END OF 7TH CENT.)

[Commemorated as a double in the diocese of Basle. Not noticed in any other Kalendar. Authority:--A Life by a contemporary, Bobolen, Priest, at the request of the Monks of Münsterthal, who asked him to put in record what had taken place under their eyes.]

S. German was a native of Trèves, son of a man of senatorial rank, named Optardus. His brother Opthomar became a favourite courtier of king Dagobert, and afterwards with the saintly Sigebert, King of Austrasia, (February 1st.) When German was quite young he was given to S. Modoald, bishop of Trèves,[61] that he might be educated in all the knowledge of the times. At the age of seventeen the boy longed to devote himself wholly to God, in the monastic life, and as his parents were dead, he asked permission of his preceptor, but Modoald answered that he dare not give him the requisite permission, without the consent of the king. The boy then evidenced his sincerity by at once disposing of all his possessions. With three other boys similarly disposed, he went to the blessed Arnulf, a holy bishop living as a hermit at Herenberg, and grew to man's estate, disciplining himself after the example, and by the advice, of his new preceptor. Then he sent two of his companions to Trèves to bring to him his little brother, Numerian, who was still quite a child;[62] and migrated first to Remiremont, and thence, followed by numerous monks who had placed themselves under his direction, to the famous abbey of Luxeuil, which was then ruled by S. Waldebert, (May 2nd), who had him ordained priest, and sent him to found a house in the valley of Münsterthal, or Val Moutier, in the Jura, which was given to him by a nobleman of great piety named Gundoin, the father of S. Salaberga, (September 22nd.) The Münsterthal is a grand and romantic defile, traversed by the Birs. The huge cleft through which the stream passes testifies to the mighty convulsion which has forced the horizontal strata to assume their present almost perpendicular position, resembling gigantic walls on either side of the old Roman road which passed through it, and served as the line of communication between Aventiacum (Avenches), the most important town of Helvetia, and Augusta Rauracorum (Rheinfelden.) German found the old road blocked up with fallen rocks, so as to be impassable. He cleared these away, and enlarged the entrance to the gorge, and settled with his monks at the present Moutier. On the death of his protector Gundoin, Duke Boniface Kattemund succeeded to the government of the land, and crushed the poor people with his taxes. He also traversed the country exacting large sums from all who could pay, and wasting the lands of those who refused. On his appearance in the valley, the abbot German and the prior Randoald went to meet him, to implore him to deal less harshly with the people; but Kattemund repulsed them with insolence, and allowed some ruffians of his suite to fall on the helpless monks, strike off the head of the prior, and transfix the abbot with a lance, whilst they were kneeling in prayer in the church of S. Maurice.

S. GEORGE OF AMASTRIS, B. C.

(BEGINNING OF 9TH CENT.)

[Mentioned in no late Martyrologies; but commemorated by the Greeks on this day. Authority:--A Life written towards the end of the 9th cent.]

S. George was born of parents who had long been childless, at Cromna, near Amastris, in Paphlagonia. When three years old he fell into the fire, and burnt his hands and foot, but though disfigured by the scars, he was not thereby deprived of the use of these members. When a youth, he secretly fled his home, and retired into a mountain, followed only by one servant, and lived among the rocks the life of an anchorite, with an old hermit whom he there discovered. When this hermit was on the point of death, he bade George go to the monastery of Bonyssa, and serve God there. George obeyed, and among the monks he distinguished himself by the perfection of his self-control. On the death of the bishop of Amastris, the citizens elected George, whose fame had reached them, and sent a deputation to announce to him their choice; but George steadfastly refused the proffered dignity; whereupon the deputation forcibly carried him off to Constantinople, where the patriarch, S. Tarasius, who had known him as a boy, gladly agreed to consecrate him. But the Emperor interfered, and nominated some one else. The patriarch, however, would not yield, as George had been canonically elected. He nevertheless, brought forward the two candidates, and bade the clergy and people proceed to a new election, and decide which was to be chosen. As the lot fell again upon George, the patriarch resolutely rejected the imperial nominee, and ordained George. He was received at Amastris with demonstrations of the holiest joy. During his episcopate Asia Minor was overrun by the Saracens. George, foreseeing an incursion, and finding that the farmers and peasants could not be induced by others to take warning, and flee in time, went round the country, cross in hand, and urged all to escape within the walls. The threatened incursion took place, and the Saracens, not being in sufficient force to take the city, retired without having done serious damage.

[60] See further, S. Sigebert, (February 1st.)

[61] He was Bishop of Trèves about 622, and is honoured as a saint on May 22nd.

[62] He became afterwards Bishop of Trèves, and is venerated on July 5th.

February 22.

S. PETER'S CHAIR _at Antioch_, A.D. 37. S. ARISTION, _at Salamis, 1st cent._ S. PAPIAS, _B. of Hierapolis, in Phrygia, beginning of 2nd cent._ SS. MARTYRS _in Arabia, circ._ A.D. 304. S. PASCHASIUS, _B. of Vienne, circ._ A.D. 313. SS. THALASSIUS AND LIMNÆUS, _HH. near Cyrus, in Syria, 5th cent._ S. BARADATUS, _H. in Syria, circ._ A.D. 460. S. MAXIMIAN, _B. of Ravenna_, A.D. 556. S. MARGARET of _Cortona, Pen._, A.D. 1297.

S. PETER'S CHAIR AT ANTIOCH.

(A.D. 37.)

[Roman Martyrology; the ancient Roman Martyrology, called that of S. Jerome; Bede; Ado; Usuardus, &c.]

Under this name is celebrated the foundation of the see of Antioch by S. Peter the Apostle, before he went to Rome, so that this day may be called the birthday of the Church and Patriarchate of Antioch. Through the coincidence of this Christian festival with some ancient pagan solemnities, its observance has become surrounded by spurious usages, at least among the Northern races. These usages were so rooted into the habits of the people, that the Church, unable to eradicate them, sought to give them a Christian significance, and to substitute the feast of the Chair of S. Peter for the _cara cognitio_ celebrated by the pagans of the Teutonic races on this day. This heathen festival was a commemoration of deceased relations by a great banquet, called in Flanders the _dadsisas_, or death-wake, on the 27th Feb., the day on which, in the North of Europe, the year was supposed to begin.

S. ARISTION, DISCIPLE OF CHRIST.

(1ST CENT.)

[Latin Martyrology. S. Aristion is not mentioned in the Greek Menæa. No Acts exist, but he is mentioned in the Apocryphal Acts of S. Barnabas. The Apocryphal Synopsis of the 72 Disciples, by Dorotheus of Tyre, does not mention S. Aristion, but S. Jerome mentions him in his Ecclesiastical Writers, c. 18; and Papias quoted by Eusebius, lib. iii., c. 39.]

Aristion is mentioned by Eusebius in his account of the writings of Papias. Eusebius quotes the words of Papias, who says, "If I met with any one who had been a follower of the Elders anywhere, I made a point of inquiring what those Elders taught; what had been said by Andrew, Peter, or Philip; and what by Thomas, James, John, Matthew, or any other of the disciples of our Lord; and what was said by Aristion, and by the priest John, disciples of the Lord; for I do not think that I derived so much benefit from books, as from the living voice of those that are still surviving."

Papias inserted in his book, says Eusebius, many accounts given him, concerning our Lord, by Aristion. It is much to be regretted that the book of Papias is lost.

S. PAPIAS, B. C.

(BEGINNING OF 2ND CENT.)

[Roman, and all Latin Martyrologies. Authorities:--Eusebius, lib. iii. c. 39; and S. Jerome, De Scrip. Ecclesiasticis, c. 9; epist. 29, ad. Theodoram.]

Papias lived at the same time as the illustrious Polycarp, and had the privilege of conversing with those who had known and heard the Apostles, as also with Aristion and the priest John, who had been disciples of our blessed Lord. He wrote a work entitled "The interpretation of Our Lord's declaration," in five books, containing various parables of Our Lord not contained in the Gospels, and other portions of His doctrine. Papias was visited at Hierapolis, where he was bishop, by the daughters of S. Philip the Apostle, and from them also he derived much information. Papias does not seem, from Eusebius' account, to have been a man of much mental power. He says, "He was very limited in his comprehension, as is evident from his discourses." Nor had he much acuteness of judgment, for he is accused by the same writer of having inserted in his work much that was fabulous.

SS. MARTYRS IN ARABIA.

(ABOUT A.D. 304.)

[Roman Martyrology. Authority:--Eusebius, lib. viii., c. 12.]

Nothing more is known of these martyrs than that in the persecution of Maximin they were slain with the axe.

SS. THALASSIUS AND LIMNÆUS, HH.

(5TH CENT.)

[Commemorated by the Greeks. Authority:--The Philotheus of Theodoret, c. 12. Theodoret knew these hermits, and visited them. He wrote whilst the latter was still alive.]

Thalassius was a hermit, living on the side of a hill near the village of Pillima, in the diocese of Cyrus, in Syria, then governed by the famous Theodoret, the ecclesiastical historian. Under his direction was disciplined Limnæus, who, as a boy, having a too glib tongue, learned to control it by imposing on himself, for many years, complete silence. Limnæus afterwards became the pupil of the hermit Maro. He lived in a sort of court, made of rough stone walls, open to the sky, with a little door and window. Through the latter he spoke with the people who visited him, but he suffered none, save the bishop, to enter through the door. One day, as he went forth, he trod on a viper, which bit his heel. He put forth his right hand to withdraw the venomous beast, when it turned and fixed its fangs in his hand, and when he endeavoured to grasp it by the left, it bit his left hand also. He was bitten in more than ten places before he could disengage the serpent, yet he would not allow the wounds to be dressed by a physician, but signed them with the cross. He suffered great torture from the bites, but recovered. He loved to assemble the blind around his cell, and teach them to sing hymns to the glory of God. For their accommodation he built two houses adjoining his cell, and he devoted himself especially to their spiritual direction. Theodoret wrote of him when he had spent thirty-eight years in this manner of life.

S. BARADATUS, H.

(ABOUT A.D. 460.)

[Greek Menæa. Authority:--Theodoret, in his Philotheus, c. 27; who wrote whilst Baradatus was still alive, and from personal knowledge of him and his manner of life.]

S. Baradatus held so high a position among the solitaries of Syria, that the Emperor Leo, wishing to know the opinion of the Eastern Church touching the council of Chalcedon, wrote to him, as well as to S. Simeon Stylites and S. James the Syrian. All we know of him is derived from the account left us by Theodoret, bishop of Cyrus, who calls him the admirable Baradatus, and says that he manifested his ingenuity in discovering new austerities. Baradatus at first dwelt in a hut, but afterwards he ascended a rock and built himself a cabin, so small that he was unable to stand upright in it, and was obliged to move therein bent nearly double. The joints of the stones were, moreover, so open that it resembled a cage, and exposed him to the sun and rain. But Theodosius, patriarch of Antioch, ordered him to leave this den, and the hermit, at his advice, chose one more commodious. He spent most of his time in prayer, with his hands raised to heaven. His clothing was of leather, which covered him so completely that only his nose and mouth were visible. Theodoret says that his knowledge of heavenly things and doctrinal perspicuity were very remarkable. His answer to the Emperor Leo is found appended to the Acts of the Council of Chalcedon.

S. MAXIMIAN OF RAVENNA, B. C.

(A.D. 556.)

[Roman Martyrology; insertion by Baronius on Feb. 21st, by mistake, apparently, for Maximian died on Feb. 22nd. Authority:-An ancient life used by Rubæus in his Hist. Ravennæ.]

The story of the elevation of Maximian to the Archiepiscopal See of Ravenna is by no means edifying. He was a deacon at Pola, and was one day ploughing up his land when he lighted on an immense treasure, which had probably been hidden at some time of invasion, and never recovered. He was at a loss what to do with this wealth, but, after some consideration, he killed his ox, disembowelled it, and filled the belly with money, and also a pair of tall goatskin boots he possessed. Then he presented all the rest to the Emperor Justinian, and it was quite sufficient to highly gratify the monarch, who, however, claiming all treasure-trove as belonging to the crown, asked Maximian whether he would swear that this was all he had found. "It is all but what is in my boots and belly,"[63] he answered; and Justinian, not seeing through the equivocation, allowed him to depart, promising to reward him for what had been given to the crown. Shortly after, in 546, the see of Ravenna became vacant, and Justinian, remembering the deacon, appointed him to the archiepiscopal throne, and he was ordained thereto by Pope Vigilius, on Oct. 12th, 546. But the people of Ravenna had already canonically elected a successor, and refused to acknowledge the archbishop sent them by the emperor. They even refused to admit him into the city, and he was obliged to lodge in the suburbs. Those who took part with Maximian desired to carry a complaint to the emperor against the citizens, but Maximian would not permit it. He preferred waiting patiently, till the hostility of the people and clergy should die away. His course was wise, and it succeeded in the end, for the people of Ravenna, seeing it was impossible to resist the will of a despot, yielded their right, and admitted Maximian into possession of the see. He spent his ten years of rule in building and adorning the churches, using for that purpose the money "in the boots and belly," and exhibited such gentleness, piety, and prudence, that he gained the love of his flock, and was regarded by them as a saint.

S. MARGARET OF CORTONA, PENITENT.

(A.D. 1297.)

[Leo X. allowed the festival of this saint to be celebrated in the diocese of Cortona on Feb. 22nd. Urban VIII. extended this faculty to all congregations of the Order of S. Francis, in 1623. She was canonized by Benedict XIII., in 1728. She is mentioned by Ferrarius in his Catalogue of the Saints of Italy, on this day, but, probably on account of the coincidence of the day with the Chair of S. Peter, the festival of S. Margaret is usually observed in the Franciscan Order on the day following, Feb. 23rd. Authority:--A Life written by Friar Juncta, her Confessor; but he trips lightly over her life before her conversion, saying nothing concerning it but giving only vague allusions. For fuller details we must go to some of the writers on the Saints of the Franciscan Order, and to Ferrarius.]

Margaret was a girl of Alviano, in Tuscany. Her good looks attracted the attention of a young nobleman, and, led astray by passion and love of dress, she deserted her father's house, and followed her seducer for nine years. One day he went out, followed by his dog,[64] and did not return. Some days passed, and, at last, the dog appeared at the door, and, plucking at Margaret's dress, drew her forwards, as though it wished her to follow. She obeyed the animal, and it led her into the wood, and began to scratch where dry leaves and sticks were thrown over a sort of pit. She hastily uncovered the spot, and found the body of her lover, who had been assassinated, frightfully decomposed. The shock was great. She went sorrowfully to her father's house, but he refused to admit his fallen daughter, urged thereto by her step-mother. Then she sought the protection and guidance of the Minorite friars at Cortona, and, after two years, she entered the third order of S. Francis. Her director had now to restrain her enthusiastic self-mortification. Knowing that it was her beauty which had turned her head and led her astray, she wanted to cut off her nose and lips, but was peremptorily forbidden by her confessor. Then she desired to make public confession in Cortona of all her iniquities, but was also forbidden this. She, however, went, one Sunday, to her native village, with a halter round her neck, and, casting herself down before all the congregation, expressed her deep sorrow for the scandal she had caused there. Her conversion took place in 1274, when she was aged twenty-five. The rest of her life was spent in penance for her sin. At length, worn out by her austerities, she died on the 22nd February, 1297, in the forty-eighth year of her age.

Her body is preserved at Cortona.

In art, she appears contemplating a corpse, or more often a skull at her feet, whilst a dog plucks at her robe.

[63] Apparently a vulgar expression used at the period to mean, "All but a mere trifle."

[64] _Catella_ is the word in Ferrarius; in art it is a dog.

February 23.

S. MARTHA, _V. M. at Astorga, in Spain_, A.D. 251. S. PRIAMIAN, _B. M. at Ancona_. S. POLYCARP, _P. C. at Rome, circ._ A.D. 300. S. ROMANA, _V. at Rome, circ._ A.D. 324. S. SERENUS, _M. at Sirmisch, in Hungary, circ._ A.D. 327. S. PRIAMIANUS, _B. M. at Ancona_. SS. ZEBINAS, POLYCHRONIUS, MOSES, AND DAMIAN, _HH. in Syria, 5th cent._ S. DOSITHEUS, _Monk in Palestine, circ._ A.D. 530. S. FELIX, _B. of Brescia, circ._ A.D. 652. S. EARCONGOTHA, _V. Abss. at Faremoutier, end of 7th cent._ S. MILBURGH, _V. Abss. of Wenlock in Shropshire, 7th cent._ S. LAZARUS, Monk at Constantinople, circ. A.D. 870. S. CELSUS, _B. of Trèves, circ._ A.D. 980. B. PETER DAMIANI, _Card. B. of Ostia_, A.D. 1072.

S. MARTHA, V. M.

(A.D. 251.)

[Roman Martyrology. Authority:--The ancient Acts, which are not, however, in their original form; but the substantial authenticity of the facts mentioned by them there is no reason to dispute.]

This blessed saint suffered in the reign of Decius, under the proconsul Paternus. He ordered her to be racked, and beaten with knotted sticks, and then taken back to prison. She seems to have been noble by birth, and wealthy, for the proconsul endeavoured to persuade her to relinquish her religion and marry his son. She, however, constantly refused, declaring that she had chosen Jesus Christ as her heavenly bridegroom. She was then ordered to be executed with the sword, and her body to be cast into a foul place. It was withdrawn from this place by a pious matron; and her relics are preserved at the monastery of Rivæ de Sil, and in the church of Tera, in the diocese of Astorga.

S. SERENUS, M.

(ABOUT A.D. 327.)

[Roman Martyrology; also the ancient one of S. Jerome. In the Anglican Martyrology of Richard Wilson (1608) on Feb. 24th. Authority:--The genuine Acts; of these there are two editions; one, the most ancient, given by Bollandus, terse and short; the other, by Ruinart, longer.]

Serenus was by birth a Greek. He quitted estate, friends, and country to serve God in an ascetic life. Coming with this design to Sirmium, the modern Sirmisch, or Mitrowitz, in Hungary, he there bought a garden, which he cultivated with his own hands, and lived on the fruits and herbs it produced. When persecution broke out, he hid himself for some months, but, on its abatement, he returned to his garden. One day there came thither a woman to walk. Serenus, knowing that she had come there to meet a lover, gravely rebuked her, saying, "A lady of your quality ought not to walk here at unseasonable hours, and this, you know, is an hour you ought to be at home. Let me advise you to withdraw, and be more regular in your hours and conduct for the future, as decency requires, in persons of your sex and condition." It was usual for the Romans to repose themselves at noon, as it is still the custom in Italy. The woman, stung at our saint's remonstrance, retired in confusion, but resolved on revenging the supposed affront. She accordingly wrote to her husband, who belonged to the guards of the Emperor Maximian, to complain of Serenus as having insulted her. Her husband, on receiving her letter, went to the emperor to demand justice, and said, "Whilst we are waiting on your Majesty's person, our wives in distant countries are insulted." Whereupon the emperor gave him a letter to the governor of the province, to enable him to obtain satisfaction. With this letter he set out for Sirmium, and presented it to the governor, conjuring him, in the name of the emperor his master, to revenge the affront offered to him, in the person of his wife, during his absence. "And who is that insolent man," said the magistrate, "who has dared to insult such a gentleman's wife?" "It is," said he, "a vulgar fellow, one Serenus, a gardener." The governor ordered him to be immediately brought before him, and asked him his name. "It is Serenus," said he. The judge said, "Of what profession are you?" He answered, "I am a gardener." The governor said, "How durst you affront the wife of this officer in your garden?" Serenus: "I never insulted any woman, to my knowledge, in my life; but, I remember that, some time ago, a lady came into my garden at an unseasonable hour, with the design, as she pretended, of taking a walk; and I own I took the liberty to tell her it was against decency for one of her sex and quality to be abroad at such an hour." This plea of Serenus having put the officer to the blush for his wife's conduct, he dropped his prosecution against the gardener and withdrew.