ON S. DESIDERIUS THE MARTYR, BISHOP OF VIENNE IN GAUL.
IN THE YEAR 608.
PREVIOUS COMMENTARY.
On the chronology, author, and faith of the Acts: and on his death, translation, relics.
Desiderius the Martyr, Bishop of Vienne in Gaul (S.)
BY G. H.
Another Bishop of Gaul and Martyr, Desiderius, is venerated today, younger by some centuries than the other Bishop of Langres, of whom we treated above: who when he had rendered faithful ministry to the Church of Vienne under four of its Bishops for more than forty years, Chronology of his Acts. in the year 596 to S. Verus or Virus, on January 13 dying, was substituted: but in the year 603 driven into exile, for four years lived on the island of Levis: thence returning to his See, in the following year 608 he was crowned with martyrdom near the river Calarona, place of martyrdom, and in the village of Priscianus was buried. That parish is called at this time S. Desiderius at the Calarona, commonly S. Didier de Chalaronne, situated in the lordship of Dombes, and not far from there at the town of Thoissey the river Calarona flows into the Saône: and of burial. through which the body was borne down into the Rhône, and so brought to Vienne, and deposited in the church of SS. Peter and Paul outside the walls by S. Ætherius the Bishop; between whom and S. Desiderius alone sat S. Domnolus, dying about the year 618. He is venerated on June 16, and S. Ætherius on the 14th of the same month.
[2] The Life of S. Desiderius was written by a contemporary author, under Domnolus the successor, which hitherto unedited we give from an old Manuscript sent by our Petrus Franciscus Chiffletius from Dijon. A great part of it stands in plainly the same words in the Breviary of Vienne printed in the year 1522, Life written by a contemporary author from Manuscripts. divided into nine Lessons customarily recited at Matins, with the rest of the part cut off and omitted. No mention is made here of the body translated to Vienne, because that was done under the successor of Domnolus, Ætherius. Of this Life makes mention Jonas the ancient author in the Life of S. Columbanus the Abbot, written about the year 643, in which he has these things: "At that time Theodericus and Brunhild, raged not only against Columbanus, but also against the most holy Desiderius, Bishop of the city of Vienne. Whom first condemned to exile, with many injuries they strove to afflict; but at last with glorious martyrdom they crowned him: whose Deeds are written, with what and how great adversities he merited to have glorious triumphs before the Lord." Thus Jonas. Ado also Bishop of Vienne about the year 870 testifies that he wrote the Life of the same S. Desiderius, as is commended to ancient writings, praised by Jonas and Ado, Henry Canisius edited it in volume 6 of Antiquae Lectiones, and from him in the last Surius edition reprinted we have it: from which we subjoin the things which pertain to the Translation of the body to Vienne, because the rest are transcribed from the prior Life, with amplifications either of no moment, or to be subjected to censure, as it will appear to one comparing. There is also some Life of S. Desiderius in Boninus Mombritius, which is less approved, from which the history of the Translation is given. and there can be read what here is omitted. We also omit what we transcribed at Rome among the Fathers of the Oratory, taken from the monuments of the Church of Pistoia, since they were drawn from others. Fredegarius in his Chronicle describes the exile and martyrdom of S. Desiderius, but did not have the Acts already indicated, and therefore errs while he contracts his exile to two years, and makes S. Aridius the Bishop of Lyons guilty of the martyrdom, S. Aridius was not guilty of his death. of which neither his Acts, nor Ado, nor other ancients make mention. Rainaudus in the Indiculus of the Saints of Lyons defends his fame against Fredegarius, and his follower Aimoinus.
[3] Florus the Subdeacon of Lyons, more ancient than Ado, writes these things in his Martyrology: "At Vienne the deposition of S. Desiderius the Bishop, who by command of King Theodoric and Queen Brunhild was first stoned; and when now he was breathing his life out, struck on the neck with a club, and so killed." Notker pursues him with a long elogium, but from the Life written by Ado, that the same Apostolic man, Relics in Switzerland. he says, in the year 870, by the most holy man Beroldus the Presbyter native of those same places but now in the castle Turcicum (Türgi) attending to the services of Christ, with the relics of the same holy Martyr Desiderius and the pledges and combats of other Saints, directed to us established in the monastery of B. Gall." Hence he is venerated there with Ecclesiastical office under double rite. There is another famous monastery in Switzerland, commonly called Einsiedeln, that is of Hermits, or the cell of S. Meinrad, in which the head of S. Desiderius the Bishop and Martyr is preserved, testifies Bucelinus in Sacrarium Benedictinum. John Lieuræus in Antiquities of Vienne chapter 22 testifies, that he is venerated with public festivity at Vienne among the people on this 23rd of May. Many report him on February 11, on account of the translation of the body to Vienne, on which day also he is inscribed in the Benedictine Martyrologies, of Menardus and Bucelinus. The latter asserts that before he was a monk of Luxeuil, but is mistaken with Wion, who hands down that he was also Bishop of Lyons. He was not a monk of Luxeuil. But Constantinus Ghinius commemorates him in Natales Canonicorum on the 12th day of February, on which day he judges he suffered. Galesinius reports the same on August 4, but for what cause he does not indicate; meanwhile by his authority he is also remembered by Ferrarius on that August 4, as also on June 21, whom Saussajus followed in the Supplement.
LIFE
Composed by a contemporary author. From Manuscripts brought forth by Petrus Franciscus Chiffletius.
Desiderius the Martyr, Bishop of Vienne in Gaul (S.)
BHL Number: 2152
BY A CONTEMPORARY FROM MANUSCRIPTS.
This holy man, born in the city of Augustodunum (Autun) of noble lineage, because he was about to desire the justifications of the Lord at all times, as if by some presage of the future drawing his name with Daniel, a noble of Autun, in baptism was called Desiderius. Who from boyhood given to studies of letters, with supernal grace bestowing, among the scholars of his time was made eminent in secular knowledge alone, as will evidently appear in what follows. Then seeking Vienne, and adhering to B. a Naamatus the Archbishop of the same city, is diligently nurtured by him as a son by a father, He lives at Vienne under 4 Bishops: is imbued with ecclesiastical doctrines. But to this S. Naamatus in the rule of the Episcopate succeeded b S. Philip; in whose times the monastery of S. Andrew, by Romula Eugenia, daughter of Duke Ausemondus, was built in lower Vienne, and under testament was handed over to mother Church. For another monastery of S. Andrew higher up situated on the hill of the city was already, which B. c Leonianus, in the times of S. Avitus the Bishop of the same city had founded, where the same Romula had been nurtured under regular discipline. To S. Philip in the Episcopate succeeded Evantius, but to Evantius the holy d Virus. So in the times of these four Archbishops in the Church of Vienne the Saint dwelt as Desiderius; Made Deacon: and having received there the office of the Diaconate, among the Clerics he strove to serve God in good works. But with the holy man departing from this life, in his place B. Desiderius is raised as Archbishop, with S. Gregory the great Doctor at that time presiding over the Apostolic See. But that he shone abundantly in knowledge of letters, hence as I have said before, can be clearly proved, that when he was made Archbishop, then Archbishop. according to custom he had sent to Rome to obtain the Pallium of the Apostolic See, the aforesaid Blessed Pope e Gregory, with a letter directed reproved him vehemently, that he expounded Grammar to certain ones; admonishing that he should not do this further, because in one mouth with the praises of Jove, the praises of Christ would not have place.
[2] At that same time f Brunhild the most impious Queen held the kingdom of the Burgundians, Reproving Brunhild for incestuous nuptials, a most famous fosterer of the Arian heresy: whose husband King Sigebert while he proceeded against his brother Chilperic the King, residing in the city of Tournai, wishing to obtain his kingdom, and by two young men near the same city by God's judgment g by deceit was killed; the same Brunhild, with the lawful matrimony spurned, took as husband his nephew Merovech the youth, son of the aforesaid King Chilperic, h received. Which Chilperic hearing, and toward his son for so incestuous a marriage, which without his knowledge he had committed, with most just wrath gnashing his teeth; ordered the same son his Merovech, captured and tonsured, and ordained a Presbyter, in the country of the Cenomanni a monastery i to enter. But the Blessed Desiderius the Bishop the same Brunhild, both for that incestuous matrimony, and for her other depravities, inflamed by Divine zeal, began to reprove. Forthwith she is inflamed with excessive fury; and as Jezebel against Elijah and Herodias against John the Baptist so also now their imitator and follower Brunhild, against Desiderius is inflamed. She addresses noble and ignoble, plebeians and military, he is driven into exile: and against the holy man stirs the whole world. She seeks accusers, and that they may accuse him of some falsity, exhorts some, commands others; she also solicitously joins false witnesses, and that they may render aid to the criminators in the contrivance of falsehood by testifying, by the promise of rewards corrupts. Why say more? With the Devil instigating and the Lord permitting, the woman accomplishes what she attempted; and forces the holy man into exile on the island called Levis k to be dragged.
[3] But God, who Joseph sold in Egypt and placed in prison did not desert, was also clemently present to Blessed Desiderius directed into exile. For when entering the oratory, where he is honored by the miracle of the lamp not failing, and wishing to perform the customary course of the divine Office at night, he had with his own hand kindled a lamp; the Lord deigned to show such great grace, that from the Lord's day on which he had kindled it, through each day of the whole week coming one by one in turn up to the next Lord's day, neither was the oil diminished nor the wick of the lamp. l By the fame of so great a miracle the whole province is at once filled; and various run, and prove with their eyes by seeing the things to be true, which they had heard with their ears. Some also from various parts come sick to the Saint, and anointed by him with the same oil of the aforesaid lamp in Christ's name each one escapes his calamities. Among whom a certain leper came, and anointed by the Bishop with the aforesaid oil, was at once restored to his pristine health.
[4] Some also relate that heavenly manna was sent to him by the Lord, through a bird, just as to the holy Paul and Antony, and other prodigies. there transmitted. Once also, when by the faithful fearing the Lord and proceeding to him a vessel full of wine had been brought, and from there for a long time for all coming to him a banquet had been prepared, and now they did not think even one meal of refreshment could be had from it; behold suddenly one of the household servants suffused with the dew of tears, ran to the Pontiff, saying that the wine had altogether failed, and the vessel had remained empty. The Bishop, no way moved, nor held by sadness or sorrow, but with cheerful heart exulting in the Lord, prayed for a little while: then ordered the servants to go to see the vessel again. They obedient to his command, entered the place in which the vessel had been placed; and approaching nearer beheld it full of wine up to the brim; and at once with quick course returning to the Pontiff, what they had found with joy they reported.
[5] When therefore these and similar things Christ the Lord was assiduously working through his servant; Recalled from exile, and from there his fame through the whole province grew from day to day, the envious and insatiable persecutor touched by excessive ill-will, because she saw his glory more and more disseminated among the people; pretending herself moved with piety over him, ordered him to return to his own See, when now in exile he was settled to have been detained for four years. The people of Vienne, as if after the darkness of so long a time they saw a new light from heaven descend upon them, joyfully sang praises to God, and as to John the Evangelist once returning from the island of Patmos all the people of the Ephesians ran, shouting and saying, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord"; so also they to their Pastor coming far from the city ran out to meet him, and going before and following, in the voice of exultation and jubilation, led him to his own See.
[6] Yet that pestilent persecutor, filled with serpentine venom, did not cease to seek out tricks and counsels, by which she might be able to kill him, he receives ministers from chains through S. Severus. or if she could not do this, at least to irritate him daily. So she established a certain Judge in the aforesaid city, who would serve the pleasures of her miseries, and inflict the zeal of all snares upon the servants of the holy Church. And while the Judge of iniquity intended in such matters, so that he might provoke the holy Pontiff to wrath with all his strength; on a certain day, having seized twelve servants of the holy Church, ordered them to be consigned to the public prison, and bound them with chains in hatred of the blessed man. And when for a long time, not in workhouse, but in the deep gloom of prison they were detained; with B. Desiderius the Bishop praying for them, S. m Severus, who many years now had migrated from this life, and was buried in the church of B. Stephen within the walls of the same city, on a certain night among the burdens of chains stood in the midst of the imprisoned: and visibly rousing them sleeping from sleep, removed the bonds from their bodies: and so with the doors unlocked, compelled them to go out with him, and ordered them to depart free. So all with the bonds taken off them came together to the basilica of B. Stephen, and to the sepulchre of B. Severus; then hastening to S. Desiderius, they conferred no small joy, both on himself and on all the sons of the same Church.
[7] These therefore and similar miracles of B. Desiderius when they had come to the ears of the most excellent Prince Theodoric the King, Because he had counseled King Theodoric about marriage, sending legates to him humbly asked, that he might deign to be wearied as far as his presence: since he very much desired to enjoy his conversation. Soon the servant of Christ did not delay to obey the King's petition. Coming therefore he is asked by the Prince, whether it is better to take a marriage, than to revel through the misery of the flesh. At once the holy man by the example of B. Paul the Apostle answered him, that it is better to marry than to burn. And likewise, that on account of fornication each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband. But after the Pontiff had departed, when this his counsel by running fame had reached the ears of the aforesaid Brunhild the Queen; forthwith inflamed by excessive fury, with burning counsel she attempts to kill the servant of God; complaining that the King's love had grown cold toward her by his words. So by three impious counts, namely Beffanus, and Gasisredus, and Beto, ordered constant snares to be prepared for the Pontiff of God even within the doors of the church: and wherever he could be apprehended, ordered him forthwith to be killed. Then the holy man, with mind fixed on the Lord, undaunted chose to receive, By the order of Brunhild he is killed. what he had previously known to have been promised to him by the Lord: and hastening to attain the desired martyrdom, hence and into himself the lines packed with armed men with quick course he enters. When therefore the enemies in the territory of Lyons, near the river whose name is Calarona, espied him standing, and wished to kill him, and many of the people themselves with great weeping testified, that they wished by no reason to admit such things; then the Saint of God, with knee fixed on the earth, and prayer completed, offered his head undoubtingly, showing himself willing to receive the stroke of the striker. Suddenly one of the satellites of the impious, casting a great stone, struck the head of the Pastor; and soon by only one stroke of the stone the holy man fell to the earth. But when for a long time the soul pleasing to God by no means wished to leave its own seat; that perfidious one, having seized a stake with both hands, broke the neck of so great a Pastor. By such martyrdom therefore the soul of B. Desiderius migrated to the Lord, to receive from him glory and honor, through all ages of ages. Amen.
[8] But the body of the same with great honor in n Priscianus a village of Lyons they buried; where the Lord, of what merit he was, began by many signs of miracles to demonstrate: of which we describe a few, At the sepulchre the contracted are healed, because to relate all would seem too tedious. A certain poor man, of Roman origin, was so altogether contracted by the dryness of all his nerves and limbs, that he seemed to move only his head and tongue. And when by his friends in a basket for recovering health, through many places of Saints he had been carried, and had heard the fame of the virtues of B. Desiderius; he asked to be borne there. But where he had anointed his limbs with his holy blood, forthwith with the Bishop's grace working, restored to pristine health, unharmed he returned to his own. Another man also, by name Claudius, dwelling in the territory of Lyons, had a daughter, by name Seclisia, who with the assiduous corrosion of an adhering worm, with the soundness of her shins lost, continually limped, and now despaired of being further healed; her father persuaded her, that with faith seeking the holy Martyr's sepulchre she should implore his mercy. Which as soon as she fulfilled: and was able to touch that covering, with which the holy sepulchre was covered; and merited to be anointed with that holy oil; forthwith with the pain dispersed, most healthy she returned to her father's house. Many blind also there were enlightened, the blind and feverish. and some feverish were healed: also many other sick were freed by God's grace from various ailments.
[9] But B. Desiderius the Martyr suffered, and the twenty- seventh Bishop of the Church of Vienne, on the 10th Kalends of June, in the times of Theodoric the King and Brunhild the Queen. Chlothar indeed the most renowned King of the Franks, hearing that B. Desiderius, by command of Brunhild the perfidious Queen, had been killed as unjustly as cruelly, with God willing, fired with just wrath, and divinely animated to avenge so great a crime, ordered the same o Brunhild to be apprehended by his soldiers and presented to him, Brunhild is punished. and his court of Optimates being gathered, both for this and for other crimes; with the Franks judging her he commanded to be tied to untamed horses: and with arms and legs spread apart, torn limb from limb, with horrible death he caused her to be slain; and afterwards he ordered her bones to be burned with fire. With our Lord Jesus Christ reigning, who with the Father and Spirit lives and reigns through all ages of ages. Amen.
Notes.
ACTS OF THE TRANSLATION,
By the author S. Ado Bishop of Vienne.
Desiderius Martyr, Bishop of Vienne in Gaul (S.)
BHL Number: 2150
[1] So with the time elapsed, it seemed to the Pontiff of the people of Vienne and the most holy Clergy and the whole people, that they should prevail by their prayers upon Chlothar, at that time the pious King, that he might deign to grant them the limbs of the most blessed man, which as they had been buried, were preserved in the diocese of Lyons and in the place of his suffering. Which the same pious King clemently granted; for he saw they were asking a most worthy thing and most dear to God, With the faculty received from King Chlothar, and the affection of pious sons toward their father's reverence to be poured out. Who would not concede so great a work of piety to those seeking? Fathers ought to lay up treasures for their sons. He plainly laid up a treasure for them not failing in heaven, whom by the purple of his blood he over-clothed for the adornment of his sons; and sons ought to fathers the affection of pious charity and obedience, and from the desirable fruits of virtues to refresh them, that they refreshed by their taste and odor and satisfied in charity, may become a temple of beauty and one house of God in Christ. What grace of the pious mother Church is greater, than that she should see her sons walking worthily before God? a head of humility joined in the structure of charity, ministering vigor of fear and piety and good hope to the limbs?
[2] Both Clergy and people return swift from the Prince, because the desire of their heart, the desire of their love they had merited to obtain. It goes to the place of martyrdom. Blessed be God who put this in the heart of the King, that he should magnify our city, by the reception of our most blessed Pastor and his Martyr. The whole Church is gathered, a joy so famous is announced to all, are prepared crosses, are prepared lights, the bier with most precious vestments is composed, with festive ornaments all are clothed, and with such pomp of honor a procession is made to the holy Pontiff's martyrdom.
[3] I am about to relate a thing of devotion most full toward God. The peoples both of Vienne and of Lyons assemble in one; a pious altercation arises, nor without altercation is the body taken away. the people of Lyons claim to have the Martyr, the people of Vienne to receive the Pastor; and between both parties most beloved contention, while these claimed back the acquired, those the Patron. The former with whom the Martyr in God lived, the latter with whom and in flesh the master had lived. Why should I delay longer? While most perseveringly on each side for the love of the Martyr they remained in their opinion, night fell. The people of Vienne, who had loved more, and to whom a juster cause served, took counsel more subtly. Stealthily with the earth removed, unsealing the holy sepulchre, with a small boat with a fishing net prepared, they hide the body, and through a the Saône and Rhône send it ahead. With glad waters so holy a corpse the Rhône itself, about to serve its citizens, receives. Twilight returned, and the troop of Vienne with the empty bier returns on foot: the people of Lyons exult deceived by vain hope; but not long did so happy a theft remain hidden from them, and so they lost their gladness with despaired victory.
[4] But those who by ship were transferring the limbs of the Pontiff, when they came opposite b the village of Fasiana, landed at the shore, sustaining the holy troop on foot. There was at that time the field of Fasiana, With miracles done on the way, now as properly assigned to the poor of the holy Martyrs, in whose honor the Church of Vienne stands founded; for before (as the same Martyr, in his testament which he made to the holy Martyrs c the Maccabees, and to S. Maurice, and the six thousand six hundred sixty, commemorates) from maternal and paternal the same village, by lot had fallen to blessed Desiderius. In which testament, which in the presence of the holy Co-bishops he made with his own hand, under the obtestation of God almighty he constituted, that no one should presume to change his vow, made by the regard of piety, into anything other than what he himself had established. That if anyone, incited by the spirit of cupidity, should do so, if by repenting he did not change the sentence of his action, he should be made anathema forever. So the bearers of the holy corpse waiting in this village for those who came on foot through the land, in a most clean place meanwhile composed the holy limbs. What miracle then happened, I do not think to be silent. A woman vexed for many years by an unclean spirit, drawn there by the hands of her own, when she touched the place of the holy Martyr, at once was cured by divine power.
[5] But when B. d Ætherius then Bishop of Vienne, with the rest who had remained in the city, came, and with the holy bier carried by the arms of the pious, and the chorus of the blessed people, lifted the voices of those singing and chanting psalms to our God on high; whose breast there was so iron, so hard heart could be, who would not either emit a groan from too great exultation of heart, or bedew his face with tears?
[6] So with such a heavenly column going before and following, the body of the blessed man is borne up to the place of the sepulchre, which had been prepared with worthy veneration in the church of the most blessed Apostles Peter and Paul outside the city, it is borne to the church of SS. Peter and Paul, where also the limbs of many Pontiffs of the same city of Vienne are kept buried. And when now with aromatics and precious linens the most holy Martyr's body to be wrapped, was being handled by the Bishops' hands, what in praise of almighty God should not be passed over in silence, the wounds of the most holy head appeared so healed, that nowhere did it appear where the skin had been torn. still whole. For also the rest of the body, constructed with its joints and nerves, with healthy skin clothed remained, with choirs again chanting and Psalms antiphonally consonant.
[7] When the Saint of God was placed in the tomb for the protection of the whole city; soon a glorious woman, who had been once the wife of B. Ætherius in lay habit, but then truly a nun, Then a man blind from birth is enlightened. placed a man blind from birth next to the tomb of the Bishop and Martyr Desiderius, and admonished him to have faith. Divine power was present, which always glorifies its own, and of how great merit he was with God, who in that place was held, by evident signs showed. For in the sight of the whole Church the same blind man received light unexperienced. And many things there the Lord through his servant worked, which if anyone wished to write all, he would consummate the volume of a long work … The day of his translation, when he was translated from the territory of Lyons, from the village of Priscianus, into the suburb of Vienne into the Church of B. Peter, is observed on the 3rd Ides of February.