ON BLESSED JOLUS OR GIOLUS, HERMIT OF SELLANO IN UMBRIA.
YEAR ABOUT MCCCXV.
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.
Jolus or Giolus, Hermit, of Cellani in Umbria (B.)
BY THE AUTHOR C. I.
§. I. His cult & today's, the state of body lately inspected; image found & sculpted.
Sellanum or Sillanum, now a town is with walls girded, in the diocese & territory of Spoleto, three almost & a half leagues from Spoleto distant to the summer sunrise; Sillanum a town of Umbria, most diverse from Sillanum a city once of Sardinia, equally as from another Syllanus, of Volaterran field a fortified citadel, to which (by Leandro Albertus's testimony) leads an approach, difficult, narrow, sinuous way, of width not above feet three, with work in stone cut, the mountain encircling. The first of Sillanum or Spoleto inhabitants, on day VIII June, equally as the citizens of Septempeda, venerates on 8 June S. Severinus Bishop, venerate, as their Patron, S. Severinus of Septempeda Bishop, we learn from Iacobillus volume 3 on the Saints of Umbria in the life of B. Jolus, on day V December by him related. About Septempeda, now commonly Sanseverino, & his just mentioned Patron, we have treated proximately premised on the eighth day. Sellanum on this ninth to us supplies B. Jolus, his once inhabitant & Hermit; of so obscure name, that to Ferrarius, under the beginning of the running century the General Catalogue of Saints, & 9 of the same B. Jolus Hermit. who in the Roman Martyrology are not, studiously weaving, nowhere has become known. Has become known however to Iacobillus, in year MDCLXI the third volume on the Saints of Umbria printing, perhaps from this, that under that time his sacred Relics inspected, & in a new box placed were, & of his matter fame more widely spread was.
[2] to whom once given the Saint title Is established meanwhile that of Blessed, nay & Saint title to our Jolus from all men's memory attributed, & veneration & cult expended was by his countrymen. For in hands even now are instruments public, both original, & legitimately transcribed; which are preserved by the Reverend very Lord Nicolaus Bartoli, Plebanus & Vicarius foraneus of Sellano, & teach, three from here centuries customary was, to be offered to S. Jolus anathemas, to be left money to his church through tables public & testaments, & festive of him light to be acted. is shown from testaments Some from instruments those hither pertaining with their words to have noted will help. Among the older is found a Testament, in year MCCCXCII on day XI February asked from Nicolaus the Notary of Sellano, in parchment written: in which Giolus is called holy. Testament of Thomas Buscaini in year MDVII, VII January asked from Euangelista Dominici; & another of this Euangelista, in the same year on day X May asked from the aforesaid Thomas Buscaino, so have; the first indeed: Item left to the church, where the body of B. Giolus rests, a florin one of money, in apparent work of the said church. The other indeed: Item left scuta five of money, to the new church, where rests the body of B. Giolus, in apparent work of the very church. Another likewise of Nuntiata, asked in year MDXXVII, XIII October from Sebastiano Passarino, so among others to be read offers: Item left from vow to be placed one image wax, to the likeness of one creature, in the church of S. Jolus. Finally in the testament of Gregorianae de Crescentio, on day XIII October of year MDXXVII made, these are read: Left for soul of him florin one, of which let be made one Office in the church of S. Jolus of Porta magna of the said citadel, namely of Sellano.
[3] To these to see is in the archive of the Episcopate of Spoleto a codex, in year MCCCXCIII written, where leaf 86 these can be read: Of the church of S. Mary near the gate of Sillano. Is in it B. Giolus, who found is in the church of S. Lawrence of Octagio. Older also memory about B. Jolus is found in a membrane, which is preserved in the archive of the Community of Sellano, with three keys locked, & with tables other public. & contains ancient statutes of the said Community, so among others having: MCCCLXXIV, in the time of the Pontificate of our most holy Lord Gregory XI. About the festivity of B. Giolus. In public Acts of the same Community of year MDXXX, on day XVII January, are read the following: In the present & before all things the praised Commissioner & Architect, Defender, Counselors & Massarii or Santenses of the said church, said, designated, & judged, the said church to be & to be fabricated, walled, & built in the church of S. Jolus, near the great gate of the said citadel of Sellano, near the way & other sides. There in year MDXXXIV on day XIV May are related those: For the fabric of the church of B. Mary Plebis of Alva to be erected, for as elsewhere deputed was, in the place, where still exist vestiges of the church of S. Jolus. And XV June of the same year, in the instrument of the fabric of the church parochial of Sellano, asked from Camillus Dardani Spoletano, Vicar of Sellano, is read: Upon the fabric of the church to be erected & fabricated within the said citadel; in the place where now exist vestiges of the church of S. Jolus, near the great gate & walls of the Commune. Similar are read in other tables public, which nothing it concerns here to conglomerate. From brought abundantly is established, the Saint title to Jolus attributed, vows made, anathemas offered, the festive day assigned once was.
[4] What kind of cult to him now is expended Nor indeed less solemn the same cult at this time is, than once was. Certainly, with us hesitating & doubting, on what day of B. Jolus the festive light is acted, the fifth of December, on which is referred by Iacobillus, on account of Translation; or indeed the ninth of June, on which he died; answered P. John Francis Vannius, in the College ours Roman of sacred language then Professor, with letters XVI July MDCLXXXIX at Rome given, the Feast of B. Jolus to be celebrated IX June in the citadel of Sellano & all its district, which embraces villages twelve; & to be said in the same feast Mass of the Common of Confessors not Pontiffs. from the time when inspected last the body. Augment without doubt has received the cult of B. Jolus, from which of the same admirer eximious, very Reverend Lord, above mentioned Nicolaus Bartoli, the care of that church bearing, the body of the Blessed to be inspected, to be purged, & more decently to be placed with facility of the Most Eminent Cardinal Fachenetti, Bishop of Spoleto, solemnly took care in year MDCLX, VIII June, as he himself on day III September of year MDCLXXXVII wrote in Italian to this sense:
[5] & found image of the Blessed ancient: On day VIII June of year MDCLX, with obtained faculty of the Most Eminent Cardinal Fachenetti Bishop our, & assisting P. Constantius Gubernale, of the Society of Jesus Presbyter, at my request, inspected was the body of B. Jolus, which years CCC & more whole was, & then also such (as to parts all, namely of bones, as from Iacobillus a little after we shall see) found was; the box altogether putrefied & by decay consumed, breathing most sweet odor. When indeed was renewed the box & the altar for a while was dissolved; appeared above the little window & gratings in it iron, through which to sight & veneration was open of sacred deposit the box; appeared, I say, the image of B. Jolus, which on bronze cut. which to be painted, & then in year MDCLXIV in bronze to be cut at Rome I took care. Besides an instrument public to be made I ordered about the same image, as also about the translation of Relics, & other all there pertaining. Hitherto Lord Nicolaus Bartoli, who of the image indeed & instrument of it made an example to us transmitted, of the Translation not likewise; although repeatedly it we sought. The image that here with omitted parerga in bronze again to be cut we took care; which with instrument about it made, the following paragraph will give.
§. II. Public instrument about the invention of the image of B. Jolus, its description, & the author of the life are proposed.
[6] In the name of the Lord. Amen. On day X of the month of March MDCLXIII, The body with the facility of the Bishop Indiction I, with Alexander VII supreme Pontiff sitting, in his year VIII. When it is that the very Reverend P. Constantius Gubernalis, Priest of the Society of Jesus, with faculty to himself granted from the Most Eminent & Most Reverend Lord Cardinal Caesar Fachenetto Bishop of Spoleto, the body of B. Jolus the Hermit of Sellano, closed in a certain little box wooden, has placed in a certain cabinet, more decently is placed, behind the altar greater, toward the choir, of the church of S. Mary Plebis of the same land of Sellano, that there it might be preserved; until under the same altar, where before it had been, it would be placed back. And because of all the piety & religion toward the blessed citizen & Patron, on account of not intermitted of benefits series, so had grown hot, that with as most decent cult to be placed there they wished; iron grate, so that thus might be for the living for protection, for posterity indeed for piety's excitement; & first this counsel took on of Sellano city inhabitants, indeed who from Roman heaven greater of religion seeds toward Celestials drew; & for that cause with collected gift a grate or transom, of iron indeed, but to the place's dignity responding, made; that under the same altar of B. Jolus the most holy Relics placed, & to security would lie hidden, & at the same time to all would lie open for veneration. Of which indeed grate of this form is. In the center shines a star, with twelve rays crowned, with orbicular figure surrounded. Hence with twisting flow double trees emerging, even advance, skillfully elaborated. until with deceiving topiary heaven they fashion illustrious, for the whole altar's anterior face to be covered. Hence kneeling crawl little branches, which now leaping into of leaves shadows, now whirling into fibers, now into little keys growing; now finally varied, but always ingenious tumult, waxing wild, with such of happiness success at the same time are united, that either iron you would believe to grow into branches, or art true to fashion trees. In the upper of the star part a crown with lemma, B. Jolus of Sellano, is of the whole work the end & coronation.
[7] When therefore so distinguished work, in which liberality of those conferring gift & ingenuity of artificer is exhibited, to be placed was; & on that account to be demolished the altar said: & when there most ancient B. Jolus's image painted was; that, what in elapsed times were exhibited of veneration signs, might be known to all. Hence is that, Image of him, under the altar found, with standing as many as possible & undersigned witnesses, I the undersigned, requested by the most illustrious & very Reverend Lord Nicolaus Bartoli, Plebanus & Vicarius foraneus of the said land, with diligently inspected altar, saw above a certain window, with small twigs iron fortified, descending to the place where the body of the same B. Jolus had been, an image, which of such is. A man defunct, as upon a bier extended, represents the effigy: hence are two candelabra, torches burning bearing: habit & garments similar to those with which themselves clothe Hermits, of what kind he was, with scapular yet to the form of those, which religious from the Franciscan family, who Conventuals are called, bear. Beard not very long; but yet of an old man: head with crown is encircled clerical & with rays adorned. Feet bare, the highest poverty; hands around the breast folded, divine, which living he had in vows & now possesses, refer embraces. Of length however this image is of palms seven; which although the above-said Lord Plebanus has taken care with colors to be expressed, & why here is described. that true copy of it would be preserved; yet that to immortality through this instrument & public letters, with paintings & marbles more firm, would be consigned; I the undersigned diligently these noted, before & with present Lords Archangelo Barnocchio & John Buscaino of Sellano, witnesses to the present called.
I Phoebius de Phoebiis Vissanus, of Spoleto diocese public of God & Apostolic by authority Notary, & to the present of the same Community of Sellano Vicarius, me subscribed & publicly registered.
[8] Hitherto the instrument of Invention, which & the image itself so brilliantly described proposes, that scarcely it concerns it otherwise here to represent, unless perhaps, because more slowly stir minds things sent through the ear, & read, than which are to eyes subjected faithful.
But that nothing be lacking, receive here also epigraphs two, which to his image added Rev. D. Nicolaus; one in the highest, the other in its lowest part. That thus sounds: Image most ancient of B. Jolus the Hermit of Sellano, Dedicated is to Card. Fachenetto. which is on the altar greater of the church of the people of the same place, where three hundred from here years his body is venerated & with miracles shines. The lower however epigraph dedicates the same image to the Most Eminent & Most Reverend Lord Caesar Cardinal Fachenetti, Bishop of Spoleto, Nicolaus Bartolus, with this epigram added about the Saint:
To all unknown so Jolus lived in caverns Extinct to the world, that he might have lived to God. Dead by human (what a wonder?) is painted art; A face can alone living refer God.
[9] About the found image of times first what I know, Life by whom & when put together was. to letters committed the Life of B. Jolus Ludovicus Iacobillus; & refers in Volume 3 of the Saints of Umbria, on day V December, by reason of Translation, which on that day of year MDXLVI to have been done says. From that however, that to December he transfers that Life, with no its mention made in June, when especially the feast is venerated of B. Jolus; I am confirmed in the opinion above indicated, that very obscure his fame was; & to Iacobillus, his June in year MDCXLVII printing, not yet had become known: but when was printed at last December in year MDCLXI, when recently inspected again Body had been, into notice his to have come; & to month that, lest altogether it would be excluded, to have referred the Life: which he himself wove indeed, but almost from sole tradition & relation popular; which how much of faith merits in matter so ancient, prudent any through himself may judge. We what from him in Italian sufficiently yawning are written, here the same in Latin we propose.
LIFE FROM ITALIAN OF JACOBILLUS.
Jolus or Giolus, Hermit, of Cellani in Umbria (B.)
[1] Sellanum, once a villa, now a town with walls surrounded, native soil was of B. Jolus, into light brought forth under the middle of the XIII century, of parents rustic indeed, Jolus's parents rustic; but with fear of God well endowed: in which when similarly they had educated their son, he strove with whole effort to decline occasions of sinning, & to approach closer to God, through rest, through prayer, through penance. Wherefore he instituted eremitic & solitary life on the mountain, which is called Major, hermitage Mons Major. in the borders of the territory of Sellano & of Rupislibera, which commonly is heard Rocca-franca, in the district of Foligno; & he enclosed himself in that mountain's cavern a certain, from which near is, which now there is seen, the church of S. Lawrence. Here at this place gave himself the Blessed to body's tortures, by sleeping on the ground, fasting & praying. Here when scarcity was of waters, to pray began himself God, Miracles in water & from a stone neighboring most limpid he elicited a fountain, which to this even day to flow does not cease; & by inhabitants, from everywhere frequently running together, devoutly & confidently is drunk, for repelling manifold infirmities, which & by drinking they repel not rarely, & to pristine are restored health. & fire performed. Wondrous indeed it is, that sometimes, with raging sharply winter, going forth from cavern his Jolus, asked in neighboring villas coals to himself to be given, & them from a fire-shovel received in bosom his, & carried into the cavern, with no part burned or hurt garment.
[2] At his death spontaneously sound bells. After he so had lived, with merits equally as with years full, the debt of nature paid on day IX June, about year MCCCXV; not less famous after death with miracles, than was with virtues in life. For soon, with God willing, sounded the bells of the mother church of Sellano, with no one them ringing. Hence aroused Sellanians ran together hastily with great number, about to bring to themselves of the defunct the body. But snatched away that violently was by neighboring peoples: & with wishing to demand it in whatever manner the following night by Sellanians, Taken away the body evident danger was imminent of bloody battle; which to be entered without doubt would have been, unless a new prodigy had impeded the engagement. For what they were attempting sufficiently with danger, happily they took away the Sellanians the Body, report not without prodigy the Sellanians, & to some before they carried, than it would learn those from whom taken away it had been. Then indeed those aroused, with little chariot fleeing pursue armed: & would have caught those loaded with sacred burden, unless dense behind the fleeing had rushed in fog, which the pursuers from advancing further & ways to find did not allow; & so, with wandering & erring through the mountains all hope of recovering the treasure took away. with fog covered, Unharmed therefore the Sellanians carried to themselves the body of B. Jolus, & placed near the walls of the town, & in his honor erected there a temple. While indeed thither was being brought the sacred body, touched it a lame man, who to move himself from place not could, & immediately rose whole.
[3] & with the lame recovering gait, a temple to him they build; In year MDXXV to the aforesaid church a great extension added the Sellanians (nay rather from the ruins of it new there they raised, & indeed after year MDXXXIV, as above to gather is at no. 3: into which then in year MDXLVI the Body translated was, as soon will be said) about to erect that into church mother parochial, in place of the ancient parish, which outside the town situated had been, under the title of S. Mary. Completed as was the new edifice, brought there V December the sacred Body, & placed under its altar principal, from which to a new is translated, gave to the new parish the name of S. Jolus, which same already from year MCCCXCII & earlier, to have given to his church is found, in monuments namely of our Commentary, no. 2 & 3 brought forth. Under the same further altar today rests the Body; appearing to those looking through a little window the loculus, in which is enclosed; & representing a painting his image, in the manner of a Hermit clothed. In the same church is celebrated festive his light the day after S. Severinus, the Sellanians' Patron; in year 1546 on day 5 December: & the Body to the people in highest veneration is. We however his Life have referred to V December, on which sacred Relics of the same in year MDXLVI translated were into the new edifice, presiding over the Church Roman Paul Pope III; & enclosed in the box with the body are in memory of the matter coins some, of the aforesaid Pontiff & Peter Leo Farnesius, & again is inspected in year 1660. 2 June; General his, with image distinguished. In year MDCLX on day IX June, on the feast B. Jolus's light, again was inspected the Body,; & was discovered, the box to have putrefied, & of the body with dissolved flesh nothing except bones to have remained, all however & each; which its own each place in a new ark placed, & with seal well fortified, behind altar greater of the church above said of S. Mary, which of Sellano parochial is, placed for a while were, until again would be translated. Found also are in the box putrefied, what I have said coins; & odor from the bones into the present even time stands forth most sweet. Hitherto Iacobillus, from popular almost tradition.
[4] From the time of inspection last, began devotion of the people in a wondrous manner to be increased toward the holy Patron their; & thence it was done, from which more celebrated his cult was that to orations even panegyric in praise of him went forth from time to time of the word of God Preachers not ignoble: among whom appeared also the Reverend P. Antonius Rossi of our Society, who to the Most Eminent Card. Fachenetto in the last years of life a sacred Confessions was. He when in year MDCLXXVI at Sellano, increased also by panegyric, helped by companion P. Antonius Maria Manfredi, in the manner of our Society a Mission of eight days had instituted, in various ways the rude people to penance & piety cultivating; on the third of labors his day, in honor of B. Jolus, the Sellanians' Patron, an oration had, which then composed more by the author at Rome to be printed took care D. Nicolaus Bartoli & to Cardinal Fachenetto dedicated. To Card. Fachenetto dedicated. To be seen can be that of P. Antonius about B. Jolus to deserve well zeal with a five-year period after by mutual benefit compensated to have been (is indeed among Celestials an agreement a certain & common joy without envy) by S. Francis Xavier; when this to him, at Spoleto in the house of the Cardinal to despair of physicians sick, was present, to be beheld himself with eyes offered; & with somewhat harshly I know not for what cause reprimanded, health returned. But to the panegyric I return, to which the author inscribes the title in Latin, thus sounding: A mystic star, small to the eye, great to the mind; & shows B. Jolus, among men to few known, with God by glory of merits distinguished to be, & benefits to those invoking, himself with liberal hand to confer. The rest of the oration nothing it concerns to pursue, since in it more is displayed art rhetorical, than is established historical truth; which other there none, than which just from Iacobillus brought forth is. More would that sometime become known!