ON ST. DOMINICA THE VIRGIN NEAR LAKE COMO IN INSUBRIA.
VI CENTURY
CommentaryDominica the Virgin, near Lake Como in Insubria (St.)
BY D. P.
The Como Church among the Insubrians presided according to its own Catalogues thirteenth St. Agrippinus, To her brother St. Agrippinus Bishop of Como buried together from year DLXVIII, to DLXXXVI, on day XVII June to be commemorated, who buried on the Comacine island there rested, until the last destruction of that island, from the order of the Emperor Frederick made in year MCLX, when to the chapel of D. Peter his bones were translated; and this also a few years afterwards destroyed, carried to the church of Cold-Water, in year MCXLVII built by the Cistercian monks, and deposited under the major altar; as on the said day from more certain monuments proves the Martyrology of New Como's author, Primus Aloysius de Tattis, against Ferdinand Ughelli, of this last place's foundation to St. Agrippinus himself ascribing: about which matter in the next month more fully we must treat. Now what of that place we have mentioned does St. Dominica, the holy Bishop's sister, a little after him deceased, and near her brother buried, and at once from one to the other place translated. In the praised Martyrology, On the same day, namely on which the Cathedral church's Dedication and the third translation of SS. Protus and Hyacinth is commemorated, that is on this XIII May, is prescribed the cult of St. Dominica the Virgin, sister of D. Agrippinus the Como Bishop: who as her brother emulated in life of sanctity, so with him merited from the Lord in eternal beatitude to be crowned: whose sacred pledges now in the church of Cistercian monks, near the bank of Larius, with worthy veneration are venerated.
[2] Whatever about her now can be said or known has embraced the author of this Martyrology, partly in his Annotation on it itself, partly in a letter sent afterwards. The words of the now indicated Annotation are these: About Dominica the Virgin treats Lazarus Caraffinus Bishop of Como, Numbered among the Saints of the diocese by authors, in the Diptychs of Bishops of this city num. 13, and in the Catalog of Saints and Blessed, whose bodies in the city and diocese of Como rest; Philip Archinto, in the Tablet of Saints of the Como Church; Quintilius Lucinus Passalaqua, in I Historical Epistle; Francis Ballarinus, in the Como Chronicle part 3 chapter 2; Peter Maria Campus, of the Piacenza History book 8; Ferdinand Ughelli, of Sacred Italy vol. 5 in the series of Como Bishops num. 13; Robert Russcha Cistercian monk, in the description of the Aquaefrigida monastery, which by Lodi press in light he published in year 1619; and Lelius Fravezziuz, in the New Como Diary on day XVII June. We also about the same have somewhat discussed book 8 of the New Como Annals from num. 73 to 77.
[3] No one doubts about the sanctity of this glorious Virgin: yet the writers fight among themselves, she was not a nun at St. John the Baptist. what and what kind was her life. For Francis Ballarinus, undoubtedly affirms together with Ferdinand Ughelli, that Dominica was in the asceterium of St. John the Baptist, now of St. Margaret, at New Como a nun: whom also he believes a companion of SS. Liberata and Faustina about year of the Lord DXC, in which her to have died he thinks. But in this monastery no flourishing either in tablets or in pictures or in any greater tradition of this Virgin memory: which without doubt would endure, if together with the holy Sisters a common in this most celebrated place life she had led. Plainly if Dominica had her eyes there closed, some trace of herself there she would have left: and the sacred Virgins, still there persevering, this illustrious adornment would not despise: who as with greatest piety Liberata and Faustina cherish, so Dominica would venerate and to themselves claim.
[4] Against Ballarinus Robert Russcha thinks, that she lived among the Nuns of SS. Faustinus and Jovita, nor at SS. Faustinus and Jovita, whose asceterium once was on the Comacine island: with which utterly destroyed by the New Como people, the Nuns withdrew to the mainland, which Campus was called, where they fixed a new seat. But neither ever did the Nuns of Campus recognize Dominica, nor about her do they preserve even a slight in the ancient codices of their monastery monument. Wherefore by right is to be believed, that Dominica with them had no domicile, and indeed a virgin consecrated to God she did not exist, as Ballarinus and Russcha contend, although they disagree in assigning the monastery which she inhabited. To these may we add, that since the Nuns of the island migrated from the island, to the place which our age they hold; if before with them to Christ pledged had lived together Dominica, both her relics probably they would have possessed, and them with them to the new cloisters would have carried: especially since no reason compelled, that they themselves of their venerable Sister's spoils should yield to the Cistercian monks, more recent inhabitants of Larius: since they only in the year of the Lord MCXLII these shores inhabited; and to them no rights favored, that of Dominica the body from the Nuns of the island they should extort.
[5] but she seems to have lived piously in the world. Therefore more in agreement with truth is, that Dominica, not within the precincts of monasteries her virginity inviolate preserved; but in the world, in worldly indeed attire, but far from all vanity and feminine levity; as it became her, who for herself an immortal Spouse had chosen, and to him strove with all her heart's and body's purity to serve. Those who before Francis Ballarinus and Robert Russcha praised Dominica, not even a word about her religion among the female Ascetics of St. Benedict made. From which it is easily gathered, that her belonging to so great a Patriarch's institute, was wholly a fabrication of Ballarinus and Russcha. Thus far that one: to which add, if you please, that it is exceedingly uncertain, whether so soon after the death of St. Benedict (for he had died in year DXLIII) Insubria had any monastery, which the profession of the Benedictine Rule had received; which especially began to spread itself, after the Cassino monastery's restoration under St. Petronace at the beginning of the VIII century.
[6] What pertains to the country of St. Dominica, she undoubtedly had it common with her brother: on what foundation may she be said to have come from Cologne Agrippina? but I fear lest the form of the name Agrippinus alone has caused, that he be by some believed German, born at Cologne Agrippina; brought to Como by divine instinct, near the end of St. John Bishop of Como's time and the year DLXVII, who from acquaintance with his sanctity took care with prior persuasions, that after his decease there should be elected a Bishop. Not so easily in those times from elsewhere than from their own Clergy did Churches assume Bishops to themselves: if however this happened, on occasion of a votive pilgrimage to the thresholds of the Apostles I would believe Agrippinus with his sister Dominica to have come to Como: about whose special cult asked us to teach more distinctly the said R. D. Primus Aloysius de Tattis, in these words responded in year MDCLXXVIII, XIV March. The cult of St. Agrippinus is most explored: for annually through the city and diocese of New Como his memory we restore in the ecclesiastical Office: her own church. but about B. Dominica what you ask, I add that she indeed is not in our annotated Calendar, but yet has a church at the entrance of the Valtellina sacred to her name, in which with great celebrity she is venerated.