Albertus

ON ST. ALBERTUS, BISHOP OF MONTE-CORVINO IN APULIA.

YEAR 1127

Albertus, Bishop of Monte-Corvino in Apulia (St.)

BY AUTHOR D. P.

After John XIII the Roman Pontiff ordered the church of Benevento to be Metropolitan, not only were several from among the old Bishoprics subjected to it, Life written by Richard his successor. but also new ones on the occasion of the instituting of suffragan Prelates increased their number. Thus in the eleventh century were adorned with the Episcopal title Vulturaria, a mountain city of the Further Principality, and another city then for the first time founded and called Monte-Corvino: the dignity of both of which titles now in the sole Vulturarian conjunction remains united, also polished by Alexander, likewise Bishop, from the year 1433. The Bishopric of Monte-Corvino the Saint, of whom we are intending to treat, Albertus, first and alone filled up with celestial honors. Richard, elected there not long after him, wrote his Life: which Alexander Gerardinus, Prelate of Vulturaria and Monte-Corvino, polished with a more brilliant style, a man famous for many published and written monuments, before he set out for the West Indies, about to rule the city of St. Domingo, with whose Episcopal title.

[2] The deeds and praises of this Alexander from the writings of Onuphrius Gerardinus Ferdinand Ughelli first published, is given from MS. in tome 7 of Italy sacred, testifying that the same wrote the lives of his predecessor Bishops: and among these this one of St. Albertus, which as he received from the autograph itself, so he liberally handed down to us, in the same 7 tome already printed. Hence therefore we give it. But we omit the hymns, to be recited in Sapphic meter at Vespers, Matins and Lauds; which Ughelli writes are of the same Alexander, and we do not doubt: with the hymns of the proper office omitted. since we understand he elaborated diverse little works also in verse, and indeed in Sapphic the Life of St. Benedict. Here it suffices to indicate that in those hymns is contained the sum of the Life written in prose, and by the same the ecclesiastical cult of St. Albertus is brilliantly proved, and indeed a solemn one through a special Office. That the body was translated to Vulturaria and there most decently preserved, we hold for certain; since the city of Monte-Corvino is now lying leveled to the ground, and nothing of it remains at this time, except certain traces of the Episcopal church and walls, Ughelli says, treating of the Bishops of Vulturaria.

[3] he died not in the year 1037 The year in which St. Albertus died, the one thousand thirty-seventh, the faulty transcription showed to us and to Ughelli; and indeed disturbed the whole order of the Corvinian Bishops, but posed no small difficulty to us: the solution of which before we undertake, it must be shown clearly, that year conflicts with all the characters expressed in the Life of St. Albertus. Let the first be the year of the founding of the city on Monte-Corvino, which Alexander prefaces was in his time the 463rd year. Alexander died septuagenarian in the year 1525, born therefore in the year 1455: Bishop he is said to have been created about the year 1496, but to have written the Life of St. Albertus in the year 1499. since Monte-Corvino was not yet a City, So that, though it is very unlikely, we concede namely, that Alexander counted 463 years from the founding of the city to the year of his birth, it would have had its beginning only in the year 992; how then could Albertus, who came into the city already founded only as a five-year-old, have died in the year 1037 from long-lasting old-age blindness? But if you lead those 463 years to the time of the written Life (as the common manner of men's speaking and the greatest probability persuades must be done), only in the year 1036 would Monte-Corvino have begun to have the form of a city.

[4] Another character, convincing that the Saint did not die in the year 1033, and the Normans recently brought into Italy; is taken from his very birth from a noble stock of the Normans. Now the first from that nation, forty in number, who having completed the Jerusalem pilgrimage, landed at Salerno, and wondrously freeing the city from a Saracen siege so much won to themselves the minds of Prince Guamerius and of the nobles, that by common counsel legates were sent to their own with gifts, by which that people might be not so much invited as drawn into Italy against the Saracens; the first, I say, those forty, with Leo of Ostia then living and attesting it after about sixteen years, came in the year 1003. But the legation had no effect, before the year 1019; in which, Rudolph the Norman, with a few of his own having fled from his country to Pope Benedict, and directed to the Beneventans, a second notable victory was had against the Greeks, no less troublesome to Italy than the Saracens had been: the fame of which victory being brought into Gaul, moved Count Richard, that a very great multitude of Normans, with their wives and children prepared for the journey, not only should he not impede but also should compel to go in aid of Rudolph, and there to fix a new colony of the people, at which time, Albertus (if the year of death were not faulty) ought to have been not far from octogenarian.

[5] Therefore I think that in the autograph for the year of death was written in numeral letters the year 1127 where some drowsy one instead of C read and transcribed X, but 1127, and extending the numbers at length, the one thousand thirty-seventh. Now this being posited, we think the series of Corbinian Bishops should be so ordered, that from those successor was of Adeodatus, whose names are had, the first to sit was Adeodatus; and in the year 1059 he was present at the Roman Council, summoned by the order of Nicholas II, as Ughelli testifies, not without a suitable argument, as we judge, although he does not express it. To Adeodatus mediately or immediately succeeded Beatus, to Beatus Albertus: about the 10th year of the founding of the city brought there as a boy with his parent, if he was more than ninety when he died. To St. Albertus Crescentius, an iniquitous man, predecessor of Peter, given to the blind old man not so much as Coadjutor as persecutor, as long as he lived, and therefore not predeceasing him (as Ughelli writes, with the words of the Acts not sufficiently weighed), but surviving him by a very short time. With whom removed from life Peter succeeded, named here in no. 12, and contemporary with Roger, King of Sicily ruling from the year 1102 to 1154; contemporary also with Raus, Bishop of Vulturaria, extinct about the year 1129, so that the very miracle, by which Raus is read to have been saved, immediately after St. Albertus's death, with the memory of his merits still fresh, happened.

[6] after whom Richard, contemporary of Peter of Benevento, These can be excellently confirmed from the age of Peter of Benevento, Archbishop, by whose exhortation Richard composed the Life of St. Albertus, as Alexander prefaces. This Peter (with Ughelli himself approving, and with the public instrument which Vipera produced agreeing) held the Metropolitan see in the year 1148 and (as the same Ughelli against Vipera proves by the authority of a bull, from Pope Anastasius in Indiction I of the Pontificate in the 4th year, given to the same Peter) was still among the living in the year 1153: so that Richard, contemporary with him, could not have immediately succeeded Albertus a hundred years before; as Ughelli wrote, unmindful of ages to be compared among themselves. Add, that with the Episcopal series so constituted, that Richard followed Peter the Corvinian Bishop, nothing whatsoever will be in this whole Life, which Alexander received from elsewhere than from the first author Richard; having promised in the Exordium, not a supplement, but only a more lucid style. But Richard could have been immediately succeeded by Rofridus, present in the year 1179 at the Lateran Council; and him indeed Ursus, and finally in the year 1221 a certain Raus, distinct from the above-mentioned Vulturarian: after whom for the remainder of the 13th century the gap-filled catalogue of the Corbinian Bishops fails in Ughelli: nor have we so far found from elsewhere, whom between Raus and Rogerius, flourishing in the year 1310, we can place.

LIFE

By Alexander Bishop of Vulturaria From the MS. of Ferdinand Ughelli.

Albertus Bishop of Monte-Corvino in Apulia (St.)

BHL Number: 0231

BY ALEXANDER, BISHOP, FROM MS.

[1] I Alexander Gerardinus a Bishop, least of all Bishops and faithful of God, when I was traversing my diocese, and gathering the Lives of the superior Pontiffs my elders; I discovered that most holy Albertus, of the noble stock of the Normans, had led his life uncultivated; although at the urging of the most ample Peter, Archbishop of Benevento, Richard Bishop of Monte-Corvino composed it. Therefore, with the great love, by which toward the great Father Albertus I am driven, I have determined to write it in a more lucid style.

[2] In the four hundred sixty-third year from our time b, when the illustrious city of Monte-Corvino was being founded, with the fame of the abundance divulged everywhere, A boy led to Monte-Corvino, very many peoples came together to inhabit it: among whom when from the town of Planisium c very many came, John, father of Albertus, betook himself also there, with Albertus his little boy of five years. Who taking the beginning from the work of piety, built the church of St. Nicholas, which we now see demolished, on the very border of Monte-Corvino and Lucera. and instructed in letters, But when he handed over his son Albertus to be imbued with literary discipline, you would see the divine work shining in him: since from the first time he avoided the commerce of women, and had youth and the rest of his age occupied in fasting, in the adornment of temples, and continual prayer to God, and showed himself as the common father of the poor.

[3] With the Blessed Bishop dead, two days before the nativity of the Lord, the Clergy, people and d Count, he is created Bishop; who at that time had that province, by common vote chose Albertus as pastor of his country, fleeing and refusing to undertake such a burden. But when he was compelled by force, he did not wish to be consecrated before he raised his temple, small and uncultivated, to the honor of God high and celebrated. Then with the fame of sanctity growing daily, e the Duke of Apulia and the other nobles to confess their crimes began eagerly to flock to him. he loses his sight: And lastly, when with prayers, fastings, assiduous weeping and great meditation before God he attenuated his body; the light of his eyes he lost.

[4] At which time manifest miracles began to appear in him. For on a certain day, when according to his custom before the door of the curia he was sitting, for one thirsting water is turned into wine, at a time of summer exceedingly burdensome; and he felt someone passing by that place; having asked who he was, after he heard him to be the servant of John Limi, having inquired whence he came; when he said he was bringing water from the fountain, he asked for a little water. Which when he handed in a vessel, and Most Holy Albertus applied to his mouth, by God's great wonder it was at once changed into wine. Wherefore when Albertus wished to drink, he said, My son, why have you deceived me? I was asking for water, you have given wine. The servant marveling at the great thing, with a great oath affirmed, that he had given pure only water; and therefore, when he gave water again, it was again changed into wine. By which miracle the great name of Albertus began to be.

[5] invoked he frees a captive, And a little afterwards when William Count f of Rotellum, was torturing a certain captive with heavy fetter and harsh prison, and he was not sufficient for so great a labor; the name of Albertus he began to invoke with a loud voice: whom on the following night he saw coming in sleep and saying: Arise, and go from here. Who when he awoke, and it seemed that command had been real; for a long time he was stupefied, then on another night, when he appeared again, he began to ask who he was: who replied he was Albertus, Bishop of Monte-Corvino, who was telling him to go from there. Which thing when he tried in vain, he thought the dream was vain. And at length, when on the third night he came, he said, that he was so fatigued by that labor, that he would not return again. Soon amid speaking unexpectedly he seized him, and beyond Termulas left him at a place neighboring Monte-Corvino among the vineyards. Who in the morning afterwards when he went to Albertus, and with a wondrous kind of praise pursuing him was giving thanks, because by his power he had at last escaped from the harsh prison; Most Holy Albertus replied. Do not ascribe this to me, son, but to the immortal God, who with wondrous power raises the crushed and frees those bound. Which miracles Lemarchus g, Archbishop of the Beneventan see, heard from Desiderius and Albinus, who of venerable grey hair were aged, and had seen these things; when according to the custom of an Archbishop he was visiting Monte-Corvino, and with great zeal from every quarter was inquiring into the miracles of Albertus.

[6] he is troubled by Crescentius his Vicar Then with old age progressing in length, on account of the light of his eyes lost, you would see him have the divine spirit and foretell the future. For when the Clergy, people and Count of the province, on account of his old age and blindness, gave him as Governor Crescentius a Priest, a powerful man and full of crimes; and he wished that the life of Albertus would be brief; Albertus said to him: Crescentius, I affirm to you that shortly you will be a Bishop h: yet you will have all things adverse in that office. Which indeed by a miracle of God was true afterwards, when the impious man committed the life of the most holy Albertus to boys, friends, and evil men: who by the deceit of demons now were leading him through cliffs and rough places of mountains, so that he frequently fell; now great voices over his aged head they were sending forth; now they were throwing his shoes and garments into the fire. Often with great laughter throwing water on the most holy face they were saying; O Lord, it is raining, cover yourself: great rains are now pouring forth. Nay also when he slept in the midst of July and August's heat, they put very many cicadas near the head of the most holy man. All which things he with the most equable mind by tolerating was praying God, that He should wish to render no evil for that matter. But at length the divine vengeance appeared, and by the manifest judgment of the eternal God some of them by harsh exile, some by cruel death, and some by poverty and harsh prison wretchedly died.

[7] and at last most piously he dies, And when at last God wished to free Albertus from that labor, at once the whole city far and wide was moved by the fame of Albertus dying. So when men, women and boys came running to him with great weeping, they began to proclaim with a loud voice: O our guardian; O public parent of all! O salvation! O defense! O public and private hope of our country! what shall we do hereafter? Behold, Father Albertus, that liberty which we have while you are alive, with you now dying we lose. Then he with his body already deprived of strength, with a joyful countenance, opening his once-loved lips to his people blessed them, and saying that it would be the last speech which he would make to his people, he taught them to live piously and justly; and with his body now languishing, blessing again; he departed from life as if sleeping, on the Nones of April i in the one thousand one hundred twenty-seventh year from the birth of our Redeemer.

[8] The funeral is honored by a miracle, Then on the following day, when the most holy body with great weeping of all was being borne to the sepulchre, they saw a little rod of smoke, touching heaven, being sent forth from the body of the dead man, which filled all the air far and wide. And then Russus, a man of approved faith and sanctity, who thought that his eyes had grown dim, with the smoke now vanishing together with the sacrifice, began with a loud voice to give thanks to the immortal God, who at that time opened such wondrous works. And a little afterwards a great crowd of sick people was seen going to the tomb, and by a manifest miracle of Albertus returning with health.

[9] a contracted woman is loosed, Among the others soon after his departure, the fame of the holy man moved Basilica, a woman of Alife, to seek Monte-Corvino, who for two years at k Alife had been contracted in her whole body, and in no member whole: And when she disclosed to her host, that she was going to that city with a taper according to custom, to see the holy sepulchre; the host brought the matter to the Bishop: who desiring to do a thing pleasing to the people, first gave thanks to the eternal and immortal God, who in that age opened wondrous works to the people: then he caused that woman to be led before the sepulchre. Who when she was praying day and night with tears poured out, by chance it happened on the day on which the miracle occurred, that the Lord and the people of the city were convening in that temple to conduct public business of the country: when suddenly they heard the woman rendering with loud voice praises both to God and to B. Albertus: nay also very many clearly perceived, the broken bones returning to the ancient state of the members. Wherefore with the whole city running to the temple with great joy, she publicly confessed, that by divine revelation she had come to the tomb.

[10] A little afterwards a certain Benedict from Bicari l a town, which is at the eighth milestone from thence, a paralytic and mute is healed, when with grave and long sickness in his whole body he labored, and with use of hands and feet lost he was now also losing the speech of his tongue; to the temple of St. Albertus he caused himself to be led. Where when for a whole week in vain he had prayed, with great anger he withdrew from there, reporting that by Albertus's aid all rejoiced, but he was withdrawing without the aid: and in that manner he entered by night the temple of the town of Serra. Where when he had spent the night, he saw most holy Albertus coming in sleep and saying: Why, brother, do you walk sad and grieving? when those things which are of God's will are by no means in your will. But rise: by this infirmity you will no longer be burdened. Who at once awakening, found himself sound in his whole body; and so returning to the temple of Albertus, with great joy of all long in that city he remained. And at almost the same time another miracle was done with Bishop Richard present.

[11] an energumen woman is freed, When innumerable throngs of women and men were flocking there, and many miracles were daily being done, it happened that a certain woman, by name Mary, by the hidden judgment of God was occupied by a demon, who with her husband Albert was living both in good name and great love. In so great a matter the husband was stupefied, the neighbors wondered, kinsmen grieved; but she with a horrible voice was raging, was twisting her face, gnashing her teeth, striking her breasts; and with a grim gaze looking upon each, was tearing her face, clothes and her whole body. Wherefore the husband, when in vain he had implored the help of physicians, came to the temple of St. Albertus: where with his wife set before the sepulchre, when he believed that she ought to become milder, she being made more angry, for three whole days barking in the manner of dogs, horrible inhuman voices, unheard wailings, and horrendous growlings with the whole people amazed she sent forth. At last when the husband in no way withdrew from there, but determined to stay there the whole time and to invoke the Holy Trinity, the spirit unable any longer to stay in her, at once threw her to the ground: where with belly, breasts, and the whole chest made swollen, an immense spirit, changed into a lurid poison, with great labor she vomited out. By which miracle Bishop Richard and the people moved appointed up to the ninth day to pray for her, with a portion of citizens distinguished, who by night should guard her. But on a certain night, when they slept a little, a great multitude of crows suddenly began to surround the whole temple, and one with great force seized her: whom when it was lifting from the earth, they awakened and stupid at last with great labor freed her. Wherefore Bishop Richard, having called John m, Bishop of Vulturaria and a venerable man, to counsel, when they had discovered the error of the woman, enjoined her to cross to the holy Sepulchre in the East. Which journey indeed she completed with great joy, and returning to the temple of Albertus, shortly there died.

[12] those endangered at sea Another miracle also must by no means now be passed over, confirmed by a certain letter of the venerable Raus, Bishop of Vulturaria, to the venerable Peter, Bishop of Monte-Corvino, to the clergy and people of the city written. When Raus by Roger, the most glorious King of Sicily, was called to Palermo, and from Salerno to the nearby parts of n Balnearia, which are places near the Pharo came; a great storm having arisen he asked the sailors, that they enter the port of Balnearia. Which thing when they were trying to do, with the wind rising to immense proportions, through the midst of the seas they were cast with great peril. Wherefore the Bishop, much more moved than before, began to publicly promise all the goods which he had, if they should touch land. Then the sailors with great weeping replied, that they were lost: and with a wind arisen between the West and the North, are miraculously brought to port: by a certain miracle through most narrow cliffs they escaped. Then through the narrows of the Pharo as they were being carried, nor did they have any hope of safety, with all the multitude despairing, Raus began to invoke the name of St. Albertus. And at once he saw a man clothed in white raiment, of honorable appearance and joyful countenance, coming to him, saying: I am here, whom you call: I am Albertus. Wherefore when Raus rolled himself at his holy feet, Albertus raising him up, said, Be of great courage, Raus my son; the port immediately you shall touch, and by God's great mercy, between going and returning, all things favorable shall be for you. And when he had said these things, at once he vanished. Wherefore Raus, coming forth into their midst, proclaimed: Live with secure mind all who are here: great miracles have I seen. Nor had he fully narrated them, when they saw the ship as if flying passing over the highest mountains of waters, and unexpectedly entering the port. At which miracle, all who were in the ship came together as one, and gave innumerable thanks to most holy Albertus. But Raus returning from Sicily, at once went to the holy sepulchre of Albertus, received with wondrous joy by the Clergy and people of Monte-Corvino.

[13] We read, what by no means must be omitted, that St. Albertus, when above the altar he was holding the host of Christ consecrated, and was praying with great tears, that He would signify to him by what things he could acquire salvation of his soul, and He did not answer; said, My Lord, To Albertus once sacrificing, I will never dismiss You from my hands, unless previously You shall have answered. And with Him not answering, he adjured Him. Who at last answered that these seven things were to be done by him. First, if every day you feed me, that is, if for the love of me you shall daily give one obol, more will it profit your soul and be grateful to me, than if after death they should offer for you one mountain of gold that from earth should touch heaven. Second, Christ teaches seven very meritorious acts. more does it avail to shed one tear every day while you shall live, than if after death so many tears flowed out for you that they could make one lake. Third, it pleases me enough, if on any night from delightful sleep you shall withdraw yourself, and with whole heart pray to me: which thing will benefit your soul more, than if at your death ten thousand men should cross to war for the faith of Christ in your name. Fourth it will be greatly pleasing to me, if in a doubtful matter you shall take in good part all things which by others shall be done and wrought, and you shall not send forth any murmurs about your neighbor, and you shall correct him erring between yourself and him: which certainly will avail more, than if you should complete a fast of seven years on bread and water. Fifth; which pleases me more than all, if with good spirit you shall remit a grave offense to your enemy: which indeed will be more useful to your soul, than if going to St. James of Galicia, at each mile you should find a field full of rods, with which in such a manner you should beat yourself, that far and wide your blood in every mile you should pour out. Sixth is, if at every time you shall esteem yourself less than every creature; which is true humility, and will profit your soul more, than if you should sustain many hospitals of the poor, and should refresh the thirsting and hungry throng of men every day. Seventh you shall beware, as long as you shall live to make any judgment with rash mind: which will be pleasing to me more, than if whole days in prayer you should pass, and at all times also fast, and all your goods for the love of God give. You shall strive therefore Albertus, if you shall desire to obtain my glory, to fulfill these things in mind and work.

NOTES.