Hildevertus

ON ST. HILDEVERTUS BISHOP OF MEAUX IN GAUL.

ABOUT THE YEAR DCLXXX.

HISTORICAL COMMENTARY.

Hildevertus, Bishop of Meaux in Gaul (S.)

BHL Number: 3943, 3944

BY D. P.

§ I. Concerning his cultus with proper Lessons, the bad faith of the Acts, and his age.

Celebrated on this day May XXVII in the Beauvais Breviary published with the note of the year MDLIV, and especially in the Church and diocese of Meaux, Cultus on May 27 the feast of S. Hildevertus, Bishop of the same Church: of whom in the Meaux Breviary, which we have printed in the year MDCXL, this proper Prayer is prescribed: "Almighty eternal God, who consecrated this day for us in honor of B. Hildevertus, your Confessor and Pontiff; grant us, we beseech, so to celebrate his solemnities with devout mind, that by his intercession the indulgence of our sins may be granted, and we may come to joys to remain without end." Then are prescribed for the second nocturn these three lessons, of which the first is to be recited from occurring Scripture, in the Lessons it is said the second and third proper about this Saint. We had transcribed these to be printed here; when we received from Paris three other older ones, transcribed by Petrus Januarius, born nobly, Curate of S. Theobald at Meaux, and that from an old Breviary written about the year MCCCVIII, under the Episcopate of Simon de Festuca. These therefore receive in place of those more recent, just as they were sent to us by R. D. Jacobus Cousinet Canon Regular at S. Genevieve.

[1] Blessed Hildevertus, by the nod of divine dispensation formerly Bishop of Meaux, educated piously, of parents according to the dignity of worldly excellence by no means lowest nor ignorant of sacred religion is known to have been begotten. His father was called Adelbertus, noble in birth, but more noble in faith. He, not for the cause of exercising unlawful pleasure, but for love of begetting offspring, took a wife, named Eva, fitting to him in manners and birth, beloved by God and lovable to her husband. There was born to them a son, whom they called Hildevertus, and they delivered him to B. Faro Bishop of Meaux to be imbued with sacred letters' studies: who in a brief space of time was imbued with the new and old Testament.

[2] ordained Cleric, But he as a boy, although young in age, was old in manners. But Saint Faro, seeing the simplicity of S. Hildevertus, all the Ecclesiastical Grades committed to him in order. With these as to the sense through all is consonant the IV Lesson of the said Breviary: not so the V Lesson, which to the ancient text adds the rigor of life and the Luxeuil Monastic life, beginning from these: we found the older things, which follow, thus transcribed. After the death of S. Faro Hildevertus the man of God, full of grace, obtained the Episcopal Chair. He was made therefore Bishop by God's judgment, then Bishop, and by the counsel and consent of the Clerics and of all who were present there. S. Hildevertus was generous in alms, diligent in vigils, devout in prayer, perfect in charity, profound in humility, distinguished in doctrine, illustrious in speech, most holy in conversation; the serenity of his face showed the sincerity of his mind. The Author of the new Lessons intent on these and other things to be more elegantly and verbosely set forth, concludes their fifth with the narration of a miracle, whence the older Lesson III takes its beginning in this manner.

[3] But there came to him a certain man, and cast himself at his feet, and besought him, with a dead one resuscitated for baptism, that to his son, dead without baptism, he would deign to lay his hand; that with the name of Christ invoked over the lifeless corpse, he might restore him to former life. He immediately assented to the sad prayers, entered the house in which the dead one lay, and prostrate on the ground for a long time poured forth prayers to the Lord, that he would raise him from the dead, and that he might be able to obtain the grace of baptism, and to serve the Lord Jesus Christ: and immediately the boy rose, and began to speak. Then he catechized him, and called him by his father's name Aldebertus. But after some time B. Hildevertus migrated to the Lord, He dies on May 27. on the sixth Kalends of June: and was buried in the basilica which at the sixth mile from the city of Meaux he himself had constructed. And he predicted that the body of his little son, whom from the dead he had raised, would die after seven years, and ordered him to be buried beside himself. The VIII Lesson of the more recent Office begins from the Saint's death, buried at Vigneliac and says that the church where he was buried, is in a village commonly called Vigneliacum: then it adds these things about the cultus: "But him whom alive many miracles had made distinguished, dead more have commended, both at Vigneliac, and in the Meaux Church; thence translated to Meaux. in which afterwards his sacred bones were placed; then at Paris in a Chapel, built under his name a little after his death, which now is the parish church of Holy Cross; and in the parish church of S. Lawrence, in which he is invoked with worthy cultus; then finally in the Rouen district, in the Collegiate church of Gournay, where in a precious case with great veneration his sacred Relics rest."

[4] Thus far the Old and New Lessons. Perhaps of the middle age between the two, of an author certainly by no means contemporary, Mss. Acts but writing long after the Saint's death, are Acts patched together from various reports and the tradition of the common people, of which we have obtained two; some longer, from the Mss. Codices of the monastery of Bec and of the Gournay church, by Petrus Lovetus and Andreas du Chesne; others shorter and communicated to us by Frederic Flouet from Rouen: in which there are some things, by no means consonant with truth: wherefore those omitted, we extract only a few which seem more probable. Everywhere it is said he was given to S. Faro the Bishop to be educated, still a little boy or five years old, or having completed the course of one lustrum, or certainly (as is said above) when by age it was permitted. Hence from his age something can be established about the time when S. Hildevertus lived and sat. Time of S. Faro his predecessor: We have various Acts of S. Faro to be illustrated on October XXVIII, the day of his death. In all it is said he was ordained Bishop in the time of King Chlothar II, and lived to come even to the times of Childeric the great-grandson of the same Chlothar, whom we have shown promoted to the kingdom of the Austrasians about the year DCLIX. This therefore is the time, in which S. Hildevertus instructed in sacred letters, after other sacred Orders, was also initiated to the Priesthood. From which time he led a far more constrained manner of living: for he kept almost daily fasting, nor used he any other garment, than woven from the hairs of goats. Thus the shorter Acts, with no added mention of monastic life, of which the longer Acts make memory, without however the place of the monastery being named, which the more recent Lessons cited above say to be Luxeuil in Burgundy. To this then S. Waldebert presided, who in the year DCLXV departed life on May 2, on which day we illustrate his life. Compendia of the Acts exist in Vincent book 23 of the Speculum historiale chapter 25; and in Peter de Natalibus, book 5 chapter 49.

[5] Various things are inserted in both Acts and the cited compendia about deeds done in the Episcopate, prudently omitted in the cited Lessons: some things suspect in the Acts: as if having gone to Rome by Pope Boniface he was kindly received, before whom he had celebrated the solemnities of Mass; and being sent by him to preach, he had visited cities and towns even unto Jerusalem: and seven years having passed in this pilgrimage, returning to Rome, he had given the Supreme Pontiff an account of his legation: whence by the order of the holy See returning to Gaul, he was received by S. Furseus the Monk of Lagny. These things are recounted at length in the said Acts. But no Roman Boniface sat then. For the fifth of that name was created at the end of the year DCXVII, dying in the year DCXXV, when S. Hildevertus does not yet seem to have been born. Nor can be understood Boniface VI, elected as Antipope in the year DCCCXCVII, long after the death of S. Hildevertus, two hundred years having elapsed. S. Furseus, founder of the monastery of Lagny on the Marne, four leagues from the city of Meaux (which is commonly called Lagny, and with similar contraction above is written Laniacus) before S. Pharo seems to have died, about the year DCL, as we have said at his Birthday January XVI. Therefore instead of S. Furseus the Monk, I would think it should be written, that Hildevertus was received by the Monks of S. Furseus. There is added in the said Acts and compendia this miracle: that his gloves, which he had drawn from his hands before consecration, were seen by a ray of the sun in the air sustained for three hours. Which in the Lessons cited above is not inconveniently omitted.

[6] Furthermore B. Hildevertus the Pontiff, the parts of the Pastoral office most holily performed, death about the year 680, was seized by sickness, with great grief of the Meaux citizens: and at length provided with the saving Viaticum, migrated to heaven on the sixth Kalends of June, about the year of Christ six hundred and eighty. Thus the shorter Acts. Hence to be corrected are Trithemius and Wion, of whom the former, in book 3 of On the Illustrious Men of the Order of S. Benedict, says he flourished in the year DCXL. On May 27, others 26, With more enormous error Wion asserts that he succeeded S. Faro in the year DCLXXXVI. To have migrated to the Lord on the sixth day of the Kalends of June also have the longer Acts, perhaps from the most ancient Lessons: and to these is consonant the more recent Meaux Breviary. But on the previous day, namely VII Kalends of June, that he died, transmit Vincent and Peter de Natalibus, and Trithemius followed, Wion, Menardus, Greven, Canisius, Saussay, and others. Mabillon in the 2nd Benedictine century, among the Pretermitted places S. Hildevertus, and through an asterisk prefixed designates him to be of those who appear to be German Benedictines: which when more clearly proved, we shall most willingly embrace.

[7] In the longer Acts is treated of the Translation of the body under these terms: "And not much time having elapsed, an Angel of the Lord through a vision addresses B. Majolus the Abbot, saying: by S. Majolus stirred by Angelic admonition. 'Arise and go to the basilica, dedicated in honor of the blessed Mother of God; and there beside the altar of the Blessed ones the bodies of Hildevertus the Bishop and of Aldebertus his little son you shall find buried. When you have proved this to be so, run hastening; and with provincial Bishops convoked, Priests, and also Levites, and the rest of the Clerics of the holy Orders, and also religious men and women, all the order of the matter, in what manner it has been done, announce: and to open their tomb with the greatest diligence ask them.' Having said these things, he was received into heaven. But in the morning rising the venerable Abbot, with all called whom the Angel had ordered, made known all things according to his word. Who hearing rejoiced greatly, and coming to the place divinely revealed to them with banners and crosses, with censers and lamps, on that very day, the body is elevated. on which from the earth the happy soul of B. Hildevertus was translated to the higher places, with hymn-sounding voices they raised the noble bones of both: from which great healing flowed forth to the surrounding sick, sight to the blind, gait to the lame, hearing to the deaf, cure to the paralytic, cleansing to the leprous, speech to the mute, with our Lord Jesus Christ granting it &c." Thus there which almost the same things, but with phrase changed, are read in the shorter Acts, and briefly touched in the compendia of Vincent and Peter.

[8] We have given the various Acts of S. Majolus Abbot of Cluny on May XI, but without any mention of such revelation: besides this Saint flourished at least three hundred years after the death of S. Hildevertus; but here he is said to be elevated and brought to Meaux, "with not much time having elapsed." So Mabillon, among the Pretermitted in century 3, That Majolus could have been the founder of the Cluniac Order, treating of S. Guitmar, doubts, whether it ought rather to be understood some other Majolus, who was nearer in place and time, namely the Abbot of S. Pharo. But the entire preceding narration is such, that the particle, "not," seems entirely to be redundant: for the place of the Bishop buried not so long ago did not need to be taught by revelation, and its truth proved by the very digging up of the body. Besides the Lessons in the feast of the Translation to be mentioned below say, that "after a certain series of years an Angel of the Lord appeared to Majolus the Abbot, perhaps then living at Lagny in the neighbourhood. in a place which is called Laniacus," which more fully would be written Latiniacus; nor is it not unlikely, that here at some time came Majolus of Cluny, for the cause of reforming the monastery, and joining it to his Congregation, as generally through all the provinces of Gaul he joined many.

§. II. Translation to Gournay, cultus, miracles; whether after the extinguished memory there of S. Guitmar Abbot of Centule?

[9] Both Acts and Lessons narrate, how the body of S. Hildevertus carried out from Meaux, came to a halt at Gournay, The body afterwards translated to Gournay, on the border of Normandy on the river Epte. This carrying out, although in the smaller Acts it is said to have been done some months after the first translation; elsewhere however either no time is defined, or a longer interval is supposed, especially in the Lesson which fifty years ago was sent to us from Rouen by P. Joannes Dardes, which with many circumstances not found elsewhere thus adorns and explains the matter: "The Lord Jesus, who in the Gospel said, 'No one lights a lamp and places it in hiding under a bushel, but on a candlestick'; wishing to manifest S. Hildevertus, and to show his virtues; after with many miracles he had declared his virtue in the city of Meaux, it pleased to prove also in the parts of Normandy in this manner. Luc. 11, 13 There were three Clerics, who by divine nod received his sacred body, and through many times and places carried it, and finally to Normandy came, there it stops and is retained, in the village which is called Gournay, where they stayed for a certain time. When however they wished to depart with the sacred body, the body remained immovable. Whence as if astonished and stupefied they came to Hugh, the Count of that place, narrating the deed. The Count hearing them rejoiced, hoping that with God's mercy favoring, what had begun, by the miracles and virtues of that glorious Confessor, would be consummated, and the whole province would be honored: and to the same Clerics he gave many gifts both in jewels and in other things. Wonderful matter! the Count wishing to prove whether it was the sacred body of S. Hildevertus, or not, ordered a great fire to be lit, and the holy head to be cast into the midst: but soon springing back, it passed into the bosom of the wife of the said Count. Why more? the year XXVII? on that day, namely * May XXVI, many were healed from various languors, … then the said Count placed his venerable body in a silver case honourably, as appears to those seeing."

[10] Mabillon at the cited place says, that the said Body by order of Walter Pontiff of Rouen, and in the year 1201 is translated to a silver case. through Hilbert Archbishop of Canterbury, was placed in that case in which now it is held in the year MCCI; but the head in a golden shrine, at the expense of Blanche wife of Philip VI King of the French, skillfully elaborated about the year of the Lord MCCCLXXV. What therefore if in the XII century verging to its end, we should say the Translation of the body to the Normans was made, almost two centuries after the first made by Abbot Majolus? Perhaps by this reason will be solved the difficulty, which Mabillon greatly tortured, in the Centula Chronicle of Hariulf, about the fourth Abbot of that place reading thus, in book 1, chapter 27. "Then, namely when the Centula and Jumièges monasteries began to be ruled by one and the same Abbot, truly holy and good faithful ones, There a church sacred to S. Guitmar Abbot, did not greatly care to commit what was being done to writings, who strove for this alone, that in the book of life they might deserve to be inscribed: whence we would have utterly been ignorant of the Abbots of that time, unless the venerable Abbot Angelrand (he who wrote the Life of S. Richarius the founder, and was the author for Hariulf himself of beginning the Chronicle) had taken some care of this: who while he was touching the Catalogue of the ancient Abbots, from them suggested one was Guitmar, whom he also titled a most holy man: and because of so great a man such a testimony deserved, it is worthy that by us little ones he be remembered, who by the mouth of a truly holy man is noted as Most Holy. He buried in the soil of Neustria rests, and in his name a dedicated church stands: who of how great holiness and justice he was, we indeed do not undertake to say, but to those who serve his holy body we commit it to be proclaimed."

[11] To these things Mabillon; "Would," he says, "that he himself had executed it! He made the Benedictines suspect, For the Canons of the Collegiate Church erected at Gournay, where S. Guitmar in the time of Hariulf, that is the XI century, was resting, and was illustrating the church with his name, allowed the memory of their primary Patron to be obliterated to such a degree, that not even the name with them is left. Only now among them is heard S. Hildevertus, Bishop of Meaux, Patron of his church; whom they confound with our Guitmar, when they read in the ecclesiastical Office that Hildevertus from a Luxeuil Monk became Abbot of the monastery of S. Richarius, then was Bishop of Meaux… But I know not whether the body of S. Hildevertus the Bishop was translated to Gournay, who afterwards obscured the memory of Abbot Guitmar and at last completely abolished it; or whether Guitmar by another name was called Hildevertus; although no mention of this matter, nor of the Centula prefecture in the Acts of S. Hildevertus, which I do not greatly approve." Nor do we approve those greatly, yet by such a recent Office, as is alleged by Mabillon (for the Lessons a little older related above mention neither Luxeuil nor Centula), we cannot be moved, that he is the same one who is venerated under the name of Hildevert: to receive a double title or name in the same Saint. I would rather say that the people of Gournay, moved by the authority of the Centula people, constantly affirming their fourth Abbot to have been buried and venerated at Gournay, at length consented to that conjunction of titles: but the Centula people at the beginning of this century, when their Hariulf was still hidden from them, struggling with worms and moths, and so the names of the first Abbots were held unknown; that fourth one, whom they believed to have been buried at Gournay by tradition handed down through hands, called Hildevertus, namely because this one alone was known to be venerated at Gournay. By such men certainly instructed Robert Chenu, around the year MDCXXVI Author of Gallia Christiana, in the Centula Abbots wrote: "S. Ildevertus, whose Relics are at Gournay": and so even in the Centula Sacristy today hangs a Tablet of the Patrons of the place, in which is named S. Idvertus. But at length the same Centula people began under the rite of a semi-double Office to venerate, not on this, but on the X day of December, S. Ildvertus who is also Guitmar: which I would say, after Mabillon's divination, was first assumed: for if they had done that before, he himself without doubt would have spoken more confidently.

[12] Therefore with these things in no way obstructing, which have no foundation in older authority, and granted that Hariulf speaks of the Gournay Canons (for that he speaks of them as certain Mabillon holds, but it is likely that the cultus of Guitmar with the church earlier ceased, not accustomed to assert anything rashly) all things seem to be reconcilable by distinguishing the times, in which Guitmar was buried at Gournay, and to the same brought Hildevertus. For Guitmar died about the year DCCL; Hariulf gave his Chronicle, by Lord Saxowal many years before begun, … completed in the year MLXXXVIII: after which year, until S. Heriverius's Translation to Gournay, about a hundred years having elapsed, could have sufficed, that the earlier S. Guitmar church there, which when Hariulf was writing was three centuries old, either by age introducing decay collapsed, or by some whirl of wars between the Franks and Normans then frequent was overturned, and even the very tomb of S. Guitmar dissipated; or with the bones raised from the earth secretly taken away in a chest ceased to be seen, and at the same time the cultus vanished, with the College of Canons which had been there before having dispersed. But when the Count of Gisors Castle, distant only five leagues, of whom even one had the name Hugh, around the year MCXXIV named by Ordericus Vitalis, than Hildevertus was brought to Gournay, and could have had a son or grandson of the same name as successor; when, I say, such or even some nearer Toparch and at the same time Lord of Gournay, plotted the restoration of the desolate place; opportunely it fell that the body of S. Hildevertus was brought there, and stopped by miracle; and so a new church under the name of S. Hildevertus arose, with the Normans little caring to renew the old patronage of Guitmar the Frank, especially with the body no longer appearing, which would attract the devotion of the peoples, and with a new guest shining with so many miracles. But that he is truly the Bishop of Meaux, perhaps secretly carried off, is the more easily believed, that his Church confesses long since to lack him, nor any other claims him for itself except Gournay. To me also it seems likely, that the Translation to Normandy was not made by public counsel of the Clergy, although otherwise it was not unusual for the cause of some ecclesiastical necessity through neighboring regions the bodies of Saints to be carried about; but by those three Clerics, intending to gain by popular piety, the sacred pledge was secretly taken away; and that to the nearby and hostile Normandy, where they would act more freely from the Franks, who would demand it back.

[13] and held Patron of the mad, However it be, since the Saint rested at Gournay and was illustrious for miracles, especially in healing the mad and otherwise disturbed, not only in Normandy, but also in France he began to be celebrated. Witness is the city of Paris, which once erected a Hospital, added to it a church, under the title of S. Hildevertus: whose cultus there, as primary Patron persists, even after that church being taken from the Hospital, was made parochial under the title of holy Cross. There in the parish of S. Lawrence is an old Confraternity of S. Hildevertus, into which the piety of the Faithful from old custom takes care to inscribe, if anyone they have at home mentally afflicted or possessed: and this is so commonly known, that when someone recently had committed murder, to deliver him from the guilt and, what was consequent, from death, it availed to produce the Album of the Hildevertine Sodality, in which already long since was inscribed the name of him who was sought for capital punishment. I would believe similar at Rouen is that, from whose Ms. P. Dardes gave us the following Miracle: which miracle could also have provided the occasion for the said devotion, by which the mad are commended to that Saint. Some however suspect, that from the affinity of words, Hildevertus and Vertigo, the beginning could be taken: since there are not wanting many common examples of Saints, taken into patronage from no other cause, than that their name is related to the evil, against which they are invoked, or there is something in art or any kind of work that inclines to it. The miracle itself is thus narrated.

[14] Since what we have seen and heard we ought not to cover with silence, fearing that of the threatening judge through Ezekiel; "I will make your tongue cleave to your palate, and you shall be mute"; we shall describe one of the wonderful things, which our Lord Jesus Christ, to the honor of his name and of the glorious Virgin Mary and of the kind-flowing Bishop Hildevertus, deigned to work. Ezech. 3, 26. There was therefore in a borough, from which a new bride alienated from her husband, which is called Enguin, a certain young woman, named Mathilda, whose father was Robert, mother was called Agnes: who their daughter tenderly loving, and providing for her in the future, destined her for nuptials. They gave her as wife to a certain merchant, named Nicholas: and that of many I may speak few, with the solemnities of Mass celebrated, and the joys of the nuptials completed, to the nuptial bed they came. But she in every way refused her husband's embraces, and as if raging with diabolic fury, with nails and teeth afflicting him, drove him utterly from her: which he afterwards intimated to her parents, but profited nothing. Not long after to Poitou he set out for trade, and there for almost a month stayed: then with business expedited he returned to his own, and was received with joy by the parents of his wife, a feast made for many friends, who after the meal departed. Then after an interval she somewhat slept beside the hearth. And when she had risen from sleep, her heart pained her, soon also deprived of speech and gait, and possessed, although little she had eaten: because she was not cheerful at her husband's return. So immediately alone she went out into the bushes, which was behind the house; and it seemed to her she heard the voice of many, making a great noise, and a certain one approached to her, and with extended hand seized her by the throat and strongly squeezed. She wishing to cry out, felt another, who placed two fingers in her mouth, whence she utterly lost the use of tongue and feet. But seeing her husband that she stayed longer than was right, sent to investigate what delayed her. The sent ones coming, found her rolled on the ground and as if dead. Which astonished returning they reported to their Lord: who continually running took her in his arms and carried her away: and fearing lest by her parents it be imputed to him, hastening went to them, and reported to them what had happened. From that hour therefore the demon vexed her, who had entered her, twice in the day, morning and evening. The parents grieving for the daughter's trouble, when through physicians they could not aid her, although they were wealthy; for her to God and his Saints they made vows and paid them, bringing her to be carried to the thresholds of the Saints. But the kindly and merciful God, whose judgments are a great abyss, had assigned her to his faithful one S. Hildevertus, and through his merits had decreed the demon to be expelled. So on Saturday before Ascension at Gournay to the church of the holy Confessor Hildevertus she came, first somehow restored at Gournay, which by the Canons of the church, clerics and laymen, was very often visited and comforted: for she was, as could be seen by externals, devoted to God, namely, in beating of the breast, in raising hands and eyes to the heavens, in giving of alms, in nods and signs sufficiently affable. And when on the morrow of the Ascension after Matins the Clergy among themselves spoke about her, and were inquiring of the manner of the infirmity, it is understood that she was vexed by a demon, of which in the Gospel is read, that the disciples could not cast it out, that it would not be cast out except by prayer and fasting. Matth. 17, 20. Trusting therefore in such oracle, we came to her, and with diligence we admonished, that of the snares of slippery age she repent, and have true contrition of heart, and promise to God satisfaction for things committed, and Confession of mouth with all affection of soul, if he should restore to her the office of tongue. Who to all our words, prone, as she was able, humbly assented. But considering her devotion, we asked from her, that she should show us by signs, if she wished to be communicated with the Sacrament of the Lord's body and blood; adding, that with such a guest the malign spirit could not long dwell. And immediately at the altar of B. Mary the Virgin a Mass, which for the sick is instituted, with her present on the bed, is celebrated. The Gospel according to Mark is not omitted, which we have foresent; and to all standing there, both Clerics and laymen, asking their charity in the Lord we declare, that for her they should beseech the Lord.

[15] Afterwards, on the Saturday at evening, and approaching the hour of her vexation, we came to the church to visit her: and many flowed in from the town and neighboring villages, then having suffered fainting, who by inspiration of God's grace came to so solemn a miracle. Read therefore over her the Gospel of S. John, "In the beginning was the Word"; and that of S. Mark, "Master I have brought my son to you"; and she many times sprinkled with holy water, we placed the text of the Gospel over her head, putting a blessed stole around her neck. Then we offered her sanctuaries to be kissed, a pledge in a silver cross of the Cross of the Lord, likewise also relics of holy Hildevertus: and we ordered, that as much as possible she say the Lord's prayer, the Apostles' Symbol, the Angelic salutation, and protect herself with the sign of the Cross, and commend herself to God's mercy. Which done immediately she began to be deprived of strength. Her limbs grew stiff as if they were iron, and she became as if dead. So with silence made, one of the Priests said: "Let us all pray to the Lord from the depths of our hearts, that he who marvelously created her and more marvelously redeemed her, and who inspired in her the breath of life, through the intercession of B. Mary and of the most glorious Confessor Hildevertus, may deign to free her from the demon; and open her mouth, as he opened that of Zacharias the Prophet, that with the bond of tongue loosened she may confess to the Lord, and let us singing say: 'We bless the God of heaven, and before all the living we shall confess to him, because he has done his mercy with us.'" Wonderful matter! Immediately it seemed to her, that the Mother of the Incarnate God stood before her, and said to her, "Mathilda, what are you doing? how is it with you?" She replied: "My Lady, I am very anxious." And she said to her, "Do not doubt, daughter, for near is the hour in which you shall be freed from this infirmity." And she said to her: "Lady, shall I be freed from my infirmity?" She replied: "Indeed." But she: "Who are you, my Lady?" "I am," she said, "Mother of the only-begotten Son of God. Heed what I say: Soon you shall be healed: and was freed. and when you have been restored to health, cause to be incensed the altar of S. Hildevertus, and mine, and afterwards yourself." Saying these things she disappeared. Afterwards it seemed to her that a silver bier, which is beside the altar, in which are the relics of S. Hildevertus, opened itself: and thence coming a Priest of God and Pontiff Hildevertus walked before her, and lightly touched her, saying: "Trust, daughter: for behold soon the mercy of God you shall obtain." Saying these things he disappeared. All these things she reported with tongue freed, after she obtained healing. But with the prayer of Clergy and people made, with some prostrate to the ground, most with bent knees, the Relics are placed; with the stole removed which was around her neck, with mouth most abundantly opened, with tongue more amply freed, the demon went out confused, with many tears poured forth for joy by the faithful. Then a certain Priest touched her tongue with a tooth of B. Hildevertus, and the tongue resumed between her mouth with the holy tooth, she closed her mouth and drew her lips. Without delay she opened her mouth, and the Priest, skilfully drew out the holy tooth: and she calmed, the Priest said to her: "Mathilda, cry out, 'Holy Hildevertus.'" And immediately with the bond of tongue loosened she cried out, "Holy Hildevertus," again and again. And again the Priest cried out to her, "Holy Mary"; and she, "Holy Mary." Afterwards admonished she cried out, "S. Lawrence." With these things completed there is begun, "Te Deum laudamus": which while it was sung with tears and the bells were rung, with great voices she exclaimed saying, "Incense the altar of S. Hildevertus, and S. Mary, and afterwards me: so the blessed Mother of God ordered to be done for me." Then with due honor the altars were incensed, and afterwards she herself by God's mercy was freed, with the merits and intercessions of the glorious Confessor and Pontiff Hildevertus intervening, whose memory is in benediction.

[16] Thus far the Ms. of the Hildevertine Sodality, for whose use, about two centuries ago, the Life was rendered into French: and an old transcript of this vision is with us, but is thus ended: The Relics themselves how held: "Our Lord did many miracles through S. Hildevertus while he lived; and daily still he does in the Collegiate church, founded under his name at Gournay: where his body venerably rests in a tomb, covered with silver: but the head, even now covered with flesh, is preserved separately in a rich case, fabricated of pure ducal gold. The Roman Pontiffs, duly informed of pilgrims daily coming there and the frequency of miracles, especially in the liberation of energumens and of those alienated from mind; granted various Indulgences, Indulgences: perpetually to be obtained by those, who in any year visit the church of S. Hildevertus on May XXVII and XXVIII. There is also in the village called Verre, where the Saint is believed to have been born, a gushing fountain, fountain: in a certain meadow, pertaining to his (as is reported) patrimony, from which the sick drinking, frequently drink health." Thus far that one: but Verre is a town of Picardy, a league and a half from Amiens, about ten distant from Gournay. The feast of the Translation usually celebrated on August XXV, Translation Aug. 25. I think pertains to that one, in which I have said the Holy body was translated to a silver case in the year MCCI: and there is for that day an Office wholly proper in Antiphons, Responsories and Hymns, and this Collect: "Grant we beseech omnipotent God, that we who celebrate with annual obedience of due veneration the Translation of B. Hildevertus your Confessor and Pontiff, against all things adversing us may be defended by the obedience of his intercession."