ON ST. RESTITUTA, VIRGIN, WITH CYRIL THE PRIEST AND TWO COMPANIONS, MARTYRS AT SORA IN CAMPANIA: AND ST. RESTITUTA MARTYR, TRANSLATED FROM ROME TO THE SUESSIONESE DIOCESE OF GAUL. ABOUT THE YEAR CCLXXII.
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.
Restituta Virgin, Martyr at Sora in Campania (St.) Cyril Priest, Martyr at Sora in Campania (St.) Two Companions, Martyrs at Sora in Campania (SS.) Restituta Martyr, translated from Rome to Gaul (St.)
BY D. P.
§ I. On the church and cultus of the Soran Martyr, and her body there, long sought and at last lately found. We distinguished on the third day of May the two Juvenals, one Bishop of Narni, the other a Confessor; whose bones (it is uncertain whence) Translated to Fossano, a city of Piedmont, Two Restitutas to be distinguished because of the sole identity of name for many centuries were estimated to be the Bishop of Narni's: nor even now can that opinion be removed from the people of Fossano, after at Narni was found with inevitable evidence the entire body of the Patron. If I do the same here, I think the Suessionese will receive it in the same way; who up to now have not at all doubted that the body of St. Restituta, which was translated from Rome into their diocese in the age of Emperor Louis the Pious, is of the very same who is celebrated as having suffered at Sora on this day. But fair-minded estimators of things will praise the counsel, nor will they think it detracts from the Suessionese, what for love of truth is left to the people of Sora: since they themselves shall retain their own Patroness, equally as the Soran one illustrious in miracles. Sora was a city anciently of the Samnites, the Volscians thence having been driven out, then a Roman municipium; where the Proconsul had a fixed tribunal for administering law, and from the time of the Apostles already it is believed some light of the Gospel shone forth. Of the former, who suffered under Aurelian It also boasts of having been wet with the blood of its own citizens, who, panting after the laurel of martyrdom, most willingly poured it out for Christ. Among these is reckoned St. Julian, who suffered under Antoninus Pius, whose Acts of Martyrdom we have edited on January XXVII. But there especially shone the constancy of St. Restituta, a Roman Virgin, church at Sora who under the Emperor Aurelian suffered martyrdom with St. Cyril the Priest and two Companions on this May XXVII, who afterwards honoured with her own church, was held the Protectress of the city of Sora and Tutelary Goddess.
[2] Collegiate This church was, when about the beginning of the XI century were written the Passion and miracles of the holy Virgin, of which below, and had no doubt previously been Collegiate, at least after the withdrawal of the Saracens: and such it is today, having under a Provost six Canons and two Beneficiaries. So dear was it to the Saint, that when the enemies in the year MCLVI were devastating everything with sword and flame, she did not allow it to be burned, by a miracle hindering the flames; as will be said below, and at Sora it is written more fully set forth in a great book or Catalogue, which once the Most Reverend Bishop of Sora, Hieronymus Joannellus, ordained at the end of August in the year MDCIX, but who departed this life in MDCXXXII, completed with singular labour and diligence. Hieronymus is praised by Ughelli, that as a good and pious Pastor he constructed the Sacrarium of the Cathedral church, and enriched it with sacred furniture; in which was found in 1609 his, as was thought, body, he translated the Bodies of SS. Deodatus and Julian Martyrs with solemn pomp, erected the Seminary from the foundations, and did other things publicly useful. It could be added, that among the first beginnings of his Episcopal care he took care to seek out, and believed himself to have found, the body of St. Restituta. For this is clear from a certain reply of Cardinal Borghese, given to him in the year MDCIX on December X at Rome, in this tenor: "The Lord has consoled us through what your Lordship writes concerning the body of St. Restituta, lately found there by your industry; and through the piety which in such an action you showed, deservedly to be praised and greatly esteemed. I acknowledge myself obligated for the benevolence with which you made me a participant of such happy news through your letter; and on this account I give thanks, desiring in turn, when occasion shall present, to expend my labour in your service."
[3] transferred to the Cathedral The original of this Letter was preserved with D. Paulus Valens, Provost of St. Restituta, as an instrument of great importance for proving the truth of the said invention; meanwhile the Primicerius of the Cathedral Church proceeded to suppress the authentic Act of it, having stolen from the chest of the very body, deposited by the aforesaid Bishop within the sacristy of the same Cathedral, for the cause as it was said, of dissension between both Chapters, and on the pretext of a certain scruple about the invention itself. Meanwhile Bishop John, the two above-named saints Deodatus and Julian caused thus to be translated, as we shall teach, of Deodatus indeed on September XXVII, but of Julian on January XXVII in the Supplement: for that other body he ceased to be solicitous; rather (as was afterwards discovered) he caused it secretly to be removed from the Sacrarium, and to be reburied in the place from which it had been taken: because the bones having been more accurately inspected (some particles of which he grieved had been prematurely distributed for Relics) and considering their mutual proportion, it had appeared that they were entirely those of an infant, and not of an adult Virgin, such as it was clear St. Restituta had been.
[4] Things being so, it pleased God to declare the pious zeal of the people of Sora, but the error being recognized, he is buried again. although frustrated of its intent, ratified and accepted by a memorable event for all posterity, which is thus narrated, by a Letter sent thence: "When in the year MDCLIV it happened that the city of Sora was shaken by a great earthquake, at the first shock the bell was given as a signal, that the people gathering in the church of St. Restituta should appeal to the common Patroness before the exposed Most Holy Sacrament. The Church of the Saint having fallen and been restored in 1654, The people gathered, prayed, returned with good hope thence: and soon the entire church collapsed, as if the Saint had taken the danger upon her own roof, willing to render the citizens and their houses safe. That this was the sense of all they seem to have demonstrated, when by truly memorable zeal, the wealthier giving alms, the poorer citizens contributing free labour, the new structure now standing and far more elegant than the former they constructed, as is read in the book of accounts written by Paulus Valenti the Provost; through whose hands all expenses, customarily drawn from the alms-chest, passed; just as also by his judgment the entire fabric was governed. And he himself indeed is twice read to have been in danger of his life, yet to have remained always unharmed by the help of the Saint; who also preserved all the workmen and their masters in the same cases unharmed."
[5] while the previously found body is prudently concealed, The more these things were known to the entire city, the more the desire urged it of seeing exposed to public cultus, what it thought to be held as a treasure in the Sacrarium of the Cathedral church. But the Provost and Canons of St. Restituta left no stone unturned, that with the controversy set aside they might obtain their wish; until at length, the constancy of the Primicerius overcoming all their effort, they judged that his death, who being an old man could not be far off, was rather to be awaited, than deaf ears beaten upon longer, although they had their new Bishop, taken from the Congregation of the Oratory of Perugia,
Thomas Guzzonius, not obscurely favouring their cause. But he, more by reason than by affection, or rather moved by divine impulse, was defining nothing; but in the year 1683 it is found, until God regarding the pious vows of the people of Sora, caused the true body of
St. Restituta, and the Relics of three Companions, and the heads of all four, to be found in the year MDCLXXXIII. Indeed, to those examining the writings of Bishop Joannellus it became known what had happened in that earlier matter; and how prudently the Primicerius had acted, and no less reverently toward the memory of the deceased, that he preferred to draw upon himself the odium of the people's frustrated wish, than to stir up scandal by revealing the committed error and confessing the truth, to which nevertheless no one in that heat of minds would have given credence — those who would believe Restituta truly found, and only through rivalry concealed. The whole history of the Invention mentioned was described by him who came to it after a few days, an eye-witness in part, our Conrad Janning; and this we shall give after the Acts soon to be praised.
[6] The memory of the same holy Virgin in the MS. Martyrology of the Vatican of the Church of St. Peter is read in these words: "In the city of Sora, the passion of St. Restituta Virgin and Martyr." Memory in the sacred Fasti, The same things are had in another MS. of the Vatican Library, under the sign of number 5940, which formerly belonged to the Church of Benevento. The followers were Maurolycus, Felicius, Baronius in the present Roman Martyrology, who (being himself a native of Sora) observes many things in the Notes, concerning the Proconsul there residing, and concerning the memory of St. Restituta still extant on the island of Fibrenus, where the Virgin of Christ underwent a noble contest for Christ, and victorious was crowned with martyrdom together with her companions. It is also thought that from the butchery of the holy Martyrs there usually performed, the Fibrenus river itself is today commonly called Carnellum, as if Carnarium. In the Acts of St. Placidus the Martyr, which Gordianus wrote, that river is found called Carnellus, so that you may know it is not a recent name. These things there Baronius, who in the Ecclesiastical Annals at the year 275 number 5 writes thus. "Under the same Emperor Aurelian, at Sora suffered the most illustrious Virgin Restituta together with her companions, under the Proconsul Agathius: whose noble contest illustrated by many miracles, deserved to be inserted in the Ecclesiastical monuments, and to be dedicated by an annual commemoration." Michael also Monachus, in the Sanctuary Calendar of Capua, second and third, says, that the memory of St. Restituta on this day May XXVII is celebrated. cultus also at Borbano. But on this day I understand was customarily blessed at Sora in her name flowers of Roses, which experience teaches, for the dispelling of fevers, with confidence in the Saint herself mediating, are exceedingly efficacious. The same is also said, at Borbano in the Abruzzi, on a similar day to be done, and with no less devotion the feast is there celebrated; for the people of Borbano believe themselves to possess the head of the same Saint, which a certain Bishop having found cast into the Carnellus river, translated to Borbano. But the people of Borbano will hardly prove that the head which they have is that of the Soran Restituta, since at Sora are had as many heads as the history of the Passion says were cut off; one of which to be hers the history of the Invention makes almost certain. § II. The Acts of the Passion and Miracles, described by Gregory Bishop of Terracina: the existence of the body at Sora proved. That the Acts of the martyrdom are preserved in the Soran Church
Baronius asserts at the Martyrology, The Acts, otherwise variously contracted, and that they are extant at Naples and at Rome in the Vatican Library we have likewise learned: but also that they are at Capua Sylvester Ayossa indicated to us by letters sent from there, and a compendium of the same, divided into three lessons, is had in the ancient Capuan Breviary, printed in the year MCCCCLXXXIX. Another much more prolix compendium, distributed into twelve Lessons, by the aforesaid Bishop Joannellus had been compiled (as the title bore) from the most ancient MSS. of the church of Atina; we received at Sora, written by the proper hand of the Episcopal Chancellor Joseph Porretta, and of the previously praised Most Illustrious and Most Reverend D. Thomas Guzzonius, Bishop of Sora, sealed with his seal, on February XII MDCLXXXII. Comparing this compendium with the greater Acts, we found that it had been excerpted from there word for word: and therefore its words, in the same order in which they are contained there, we separate from the others, including them in this kind of parenthesis []. But the greater Acts we give from the MS. Codex of the monastery of Brana, of the Premonstratensian Order in the diocese of Soissons, from the church of Arcy, into which it is commonly believed the body was translated, scarcely more than two leagues distant, as Nicolaus Belleforestius, Canon Regular of St. Augustine, in the monastery of Soissons of St. John the Baptist of the Vines, received it thence.
[8] with mention of Cyril and several companions, In these Acts (what does not so happen elsewhere) is treated of XXXIX Custodians converted by the Saint and their Torturers, who all together before her were beheaded, and also of St. Cyril the Priest and two companions, equally beheaded with the Saint. Cyril and the companions we have expressed in the title, because their passion is made plausible by the three heads found with the body of St. Restituta, and various bones not of one body: but of others we do not dare to augment the number of the Catalogue of Saints. For since neither were their bodies in honour with later generations, nor is any special cultus among the people of Sora known to have existed, we vehemently fear lest to the old tradition of the Passion of the Saint, rather than to a Legend, these conversions and martyrdoms have been added for the sake of ornament, as too often has happened in Acts written many centuries afterwards, and having almost nothing certain except the name of the principal Saint or female Saint and the martyrdom.
[9] Furthermore the Brana Acts were distinguished into two books: the first contains the Life and martyrdom, as they are adorned by Gregory Bishop of Terracina. the second the miracles, afterwards and with much more certain faith (as will soon be said) and more distinctly known. To these a third on the translation of the body into Gaul Belleforestius himself added from a French rhyme, printed about the year MDL, making it Latin and rendering sense for sense, with no account of the redundant words, as he himself in the added Epilogue below indicates: which we do not bear amiss in him, but that he has also described the second book, with redundant style moderately (as was his custom) contracted, falls inconveniently for our institute, by which we delight to exhibit ancient originals whole. Wherefore if anyone shall send us the genuine context for an accurate edition in the supplement, let him know the favour will be returned. The earlier books offer no author in the Brana Codex: from the first of them in the Catalogue of Saints of Italy a splendid epitome Ferrarius compiled, professing to have received it from the monuments of the Soran Church, in which the Acts written by Gregory Bishop of Terracina are preserved. The same Acts are attributed by Baronius in the Notes to the Martyrology. Both were preceded by Peter the Deacon On Illustrious Cassinese Men chapter 32, saying, that the said Gregory had previously been offered at Casino, and had written the Passion of St. Restituta the Virgin. From the same Peter, Gregory lived in the times of Alexius, who added book 2 on the Miracles done in the 11th or 12th century Henry, and John the Emperors: that is in the beginning of the XII century. John Baptist Marius adds in the Annotations to the said place of Peter, that Gregory was present at the year MCVI Council of Guastalla in Lombardy; and signed a certain Bull, granted to the Pisan Church in the year MCXXVI: yet does not teach whence he drew these things. But the Acts of the Lateran Council under Paschal II in Labbaeus teach us, in the year MCXII, gathered against the privilege of Emperor Henry, that at this Council was present and signed Gregory Bishop of Terracina. The same Gregory is the author of the second book on the miracles, which in the Preface he says he has known by truthful relation from those, in whose presence they were done, or even by those who themselves heavenly felt the same things performed. Likewise below number 8, describing the obscene illness of a woman cured by the Saint, he says: "As from her own retelling we have received: and number 14 of a soldier, who from prison had been led out he says: which all things to all who were present, he himself being present recounted." From which appears how these things narrated in that second book are of the best faith: because most things at least, from the proper Confession of those who had obtained benefits, are reported as received.
[10] according to whom the body was still at Sora in the 12th century But what was the opinion at that time concerning the Body of St. Restituta? Was she thought to rest at Sora or elsewhere? Indeed the very silence of Gregory, nowhere mentioning her Translation, either to Rome or elsewhere having been made, scarcely allows one to believe that it was made. But that the Body was unhesitatingly believed to exist at Sora, is manifestly understood from his second book, number 14, where he says, that a certain man freed from prison through St. Restituta, came hastening to the tomb of the Blessed One with offerings. And more expressly number 6 of another, similarly freed from prison, he reports that he hung up at the Body of the Blessed Martyr the thongs by which he had been bound: and number 7, that an energumen was carried to the Body of the blessed Martyr Restituta. When he speaks thus, that he treats of no other place or city, than of Sora, where they believed the Relics of the holy Virgin to be, becomes clearer than light to one reading the places just cited. The same opinion of the people of Sora has perpetuated even to these times: and to this day persons of the first rank there and chief, also from tradition, relate that their grandmother frequently used to come to the church of St. Restituta, for the sake of prayer; and bending her knees mostly near the little window, which was not far from the great altar, often said, that prayers should be directed there, where the Venerable Relics of St. Restituta lay hidden by the tradition of the elders. More clearly that tradition is proved by the following Prayer, which is read written in an ancient codex, and from time immemorial every year on March IX is solemnly chanted in the temple of St. Restituta by the Primicerius of the Cathedral, and confirmed by a proper prayer. after on that day all the secular Clergy, in memory of the city's having once been freed from war, institute a procession through almost all the crossroads, visiting only the church of St. Restituta, and there solemnly reciting the aforementioned prayer; which is such: "Be propitious, we beseech you, O Lord, to us your servants, through the glorious merits of this most holy Virgin and Martyr Restituta, who rests in the present church, that by her pious intercession we may be protected from all adversities. Through the Lord." § III. The same existence is confirmed, and from this it is concluded that the other is another, whose body was translated from Rome to Soissons in the XI century. To the aforesaid authorities and traditions of the Soran people great weight is added from the Chronicle of the land of Ceccano of the diocese of Ferentino, [conserved in the church of St. Mary of the river of the said diocese, as it is read cited in the great codex of the Soran Cathedral folio 14, namely: "In the year MCLVI,] [That in the year 1156 the church of St. Restituta could not be burned is attributed to her body placed there,] Indiction IV in the month of May, Simon of Sora (Baronius makes him Prefect of Sora) was killed by his enemies. The son of the said Simon took vengeance for him: he caused the entire city to be burned and plundered, except the church of St. Restituta, which he could never burn miraculously, because there is preserved the body of St. Restituta, and other bodies of Saints, which in the time of war were hidden in the said church." If they were hidden, as is expressly said, in the church of St. Restituta, it was done either before the middle of the IX century, or after: if after, then in vain is whatever is brought forward for the Translation made to Rome: but if before; what was that war, for fear of which the Relics were hidden, except a Saracen one? If you say that for fear of some earlier war the said Relics could have been hidden, and nevertheless afterwards on account of the invasion of the Saracens brought to Rome; you are in vain, nor does it appear when from there it could have been carried away, unless you have indicated the time of war and its kind or some circumstances. But why in the same place where once in time of war the Relics had been safe, were they not rather hidden again, than dispatched far thence into uncertainty; with the great consolation in adverse matters snatched from the citizens and as it were their asylum? Let us say therefore, that the bodies of St. Restituta and her Companions, as is clear, brought initially to Sora were long in veneration, and afterward by lapse of time on account of some imminent war were there hidden; thus on account of the subsequent tumults, both internal and external, which often most often afflicted Sora and other cities of Campania and Latium, so long lay hidden, until the very place fell into oblivion, where they had been placed, buried under various ruins of the temple. For in the Life book 2 number 12 it is narrated that the whole temple collapsed from its foundations: and this must have been done in the X or XI century. In the Chronicle also of Fossanova in Ughelli volume 1 it is reported, in the year MCIII Indiction XI, Sora was burned with seven churches. To pass over in silence the later calamities, especially toward the end of the XII century, brought by the Germans and their Duke Conrad, Count of Sorella. What therefore is wonderful if the Bodies of their Saints lay hidden, and were almost unknown to the people of Sora?
[12] Now since they were not so long ago found in the church, in which it was clear they had at one time been hidden; in a more dignified place, where the lately found bones are most probably believed to be hers. where profane corpses are not usually buried; in a subterranean Confession, which in ancient and even our times was the proper place for preserving the Relics of Saints; in such urns as cannot contain the body of one recently dead, and in which the bones found seem to have been thrown tumultuously as if martial fury had not granted leisure for arranging them more decently, yet so covered with a lid that they could be preserved: since these things, I say, and other indications make most probable the sanctity of the said Relics and their identity with the ancient Relics of St. Restituta and her Companions; but for the Translation asserted by some to the city of Rome, no argument is at hand; with even something at hand which dissuades it, as will soon be seen; the consequence seems to be, that if the body of any Restituta was translated from Rome to Gaul at some time, it was of another.
[13] We have a Translation of this kind transcribed by Belleforestius under the title of book three, where it is said, that, the Saracens coming with a great fleet against the Neapolitans and Romans frightened the people of Sora, all their more precious things, and among these the bodies of St. Restituta and her Companions, they translated to Rome and placed in the church of St. Peter, about the year
DCCCXL, nor do they seem to be said to have been translated to Rome under the year 844, Leo IV ruling the Apostolic See. He could here, although created only seven years afterwards, be named, because he gave the faculty of carrying off the body to Gaul in the year DCCCLI; for then to his father Lothair from Italy with the army returned Louis, to whose Constable the translation is ascribed. The great preparation of the Saracens reported, even before their fleet arrived in the year DCCCXLIV, could also have terrified the people of Sora, and impelled them, that the formidable increase of the barbarians, although hitherto often defeated by the Beneventans and barely defending themselves in a few places, they should escape by flight. From the whole of Campania finally a flight to Rome could occur, even with the Relics of the Saints. But these brought to Rome, nowhere more unhappily could the same people of Sora have placed than in the suburban Basilica of St. Peter: because that so feared fleet did not land in Campania, but the barbarians having attacked Rome first by the Tiber, devastated the Basilica of B. Peter Prince of the Apostles, taken away with the very altar, which had been placed over the tomb of the said Prince of the Apostles, all the ornaments and treasures. Thence afterwards, as Baronius reports from Leo of Ostia, making for Campania, by the sudden increase of the Carnellus river (which today they call Garigliano) prevented from despoiling Casinum, what they did further I have not learned; yet that they brought flight and devastation wherever they turned, is credible; nor would I wonder if on that occasion the church of St. Restituta near Sora was overthrown: but whatever was then done to the sacred bodies, that they were not at all carried away is persuaded by their recent invention, and concerning that other body that was then translated to Gaul one is forced to determine otherwise than the Franks pretend.
[14] I shall therefore say that the body of St. Restituta which the Franks venerate, is of a Martyr who suffered in the Roman City, which from some of the sacred Cemeteries was extracted, and in the sacrarium of the Basilica of St. Peter for some time deposited, until an occasion should arise of giving it to someone: although under the name of St. Restituta in 851, and finally was given to the Toparch Moreulius, following the army, after the victory over the Saracens besieging Benevento was reported in the year DCCCLI. But it must have been given and carried into Gaul, not only without the Acts of the Passion, of which there are none for those whose bodies are thus brought from Rome; but also without those open letters, with which now they are usually translated; because the use of writing such, useful indeed and entirely fitting, is of more recent institution. thence one was carried away to Gaul, Further when miracles were already increasing in the church of Arcy; and at the same time the desire to know something of the passion of so munificent a Saint, after the name of St. Restituta was sought in vain in the Martyrology of Usuard, which generally the Gallican Churches used; at length there was found someone who suggested that in the Martyrology of the Vatican Church (which was also of Usuard, but augmented with some Italian Saints) there were found at May XXVII these words: "In the city of Sora, the passion of St. Restituta Virgin and Martyr": then according to the most familiar custom in such matters but altogether inconvenient, as if there had been no other Martyrs anywhere except those whose names are had in the Martyrologies, it began to be believed that the Patroness of the people of Arcy, although brought from Rome not from Sora, yet had suffered at Sora, to whom the Acts of the Soran Martyr were applied. and thence by some cause brought to the Vatican Basilica, whence she had been received. But what was known of her at Sora, was offered to those inquiring, the work of Gregory Bishop of Terracina composed at the beginning of the XII century, on the Passion and miracles of St. Restituta of Sora: which translated into vulgar rhyme, the people of Arcy added whatever of the translation of the body from Rome to Gaul they had received from the tradition of the elders, or even by some medieval writing, not without chronological errors to be noted below. To this lightly founded but generally received credulity, leaning on it, in the Gallican Martyrology Saussay thus wrote, on this May XXVII; "At Soissons, in the famous monastery of St. John in the Vines, the festivity of St. Restituta Virgin and Martyr: of whom today crowned at Sora in Latium the universal Church recalls the birthday in its tablets: but the pledges brought to Gaul, in the church of Arcy of the said diocese, long since with worthy cultus deposited, rest." ACTS By the Author Gregory Bishop of Terracina. from various MS. Codices. Restituta Virgin, Martyr at Sora in Campania (St.) Cyril Priest, Martyr at Sora in Campania (St.) Two Companions, Martyrs at Sora in Campania (SS.) Restituta Martyr, translated from Rome to Gaul (St.) BHL Number: 7193, 7195
A. GREG. TERRAC. FROM THE MS. BOOK I.
Containing the Passion of the holy Virgin. Aurelian administering the leadership of the Roman commonwealth, Aurelian the Emperor persecuting the Christians, there arose a savage tempest of persecution against the servants of Christ: since, as is reported, the same
Emperor held the name of Christ so hateful, that he execrated even its very hearing. Whence with laws sent by him everywhere, the Christians by thousands were daily slain by all kinds of methods; some indeed exposed to beasts, others condemned to the mines; some by fires, others by stones overwhelmed: and so to cruelty as if to piety the impious vied in zeal, that according to the divine oracle they thought to render service to the Lord, if they could extinguish the Christian name.
[2] [In this storm therefore, there shone at Rome, in the region which is called Trastevere, a girl, by name Restituta, of comely appearance, of noble stock; St. Restituta the Roman, but far more comely in orthodox faith, and in the gift of all virtues: whose father was called Ethel, and whose mother b Dabia, both wealthy as much in vices as in dignities.
When the Virgin of Christ had now arrived at marriageable years, and by abundance of riches and the excellence of family (which usually has the most weight in such matters), a throng of noble youths was moved, that each one in rivalry should seek her as a bride; she was asked by her parents, whom she would chiefly choose from such great nobility. She replied that she had an immortal and heavenly spouse: and therefore not greatly desired the marriage of any corruptible]. "Let the corruptible go," she said, "and enter into matrimonies similar to themselves: to me, for whom a perpetual spouse stands in heaven, no mortal on earth is needed. she rejects nuptials: Furthermore concerning sterility I have no hesitation: because that magnificent Spouse, since he is the Son of a Virgin, daily generates innumerable sons of chastity: who will also give to me soon, as the Spouse of a virgin, to rejoice in manifold offspring, without any stain of corruption. Far hence, therefore, the corrupters of modesty, far also corruption, far also be all the pomp of corrupters, namely any ornaments of gold or silver: which although they flatter for an hour, offer no profit in the future to those who use them. Let rather shine in the face of the mind the pearl of faith, the hyacinth of most certain hope, and the carbuncle of charity glowing like fire. Adorned with these necklaces I shall await the coming of the heavenly Spouse: that with the wise virgins I may deserve to enter his chamber. By this answer, as is reported, she both satisfied her parents, and avoided the lasciviousness of the raging youths."]
[3] Asking constancy from God by prayers, [But when the persecution against the Christians overgrew excessively, and savage lictors ran here and there in the manner of dogs; Restituta, fearing human frailty, and at the same time consulting her virginal modesty, hid herself in the inner chambers of the house; and prostrate on the ground poured out this kind of prayer to the Lord]: "Lord Almighty, who through your Son the Word, namely your wisdom, in the beginning created all things from nothing; and who also in the fullness of times, through the same born of a Virgin, miraculously reformed lost man; who, the Son of a Virgin, the asserter of virginity, would give to us placed on earth to lead a heavenly life, that we might expect a heavenly reward; and those whom through various uncleannesses he had found companions of demons, by integrity of mind and body he made equals of the Angels: I ask you, creator of bodies, illuminator of minds, hope and life of the faithful souls; that in me your handmaid you may create a clean heart, and renew a right spirit; that, confirmed by a princely spirit, I may despise the burning darts of cupidity, esteem as nothing the furies of idolaters, and follow your holy Son, the spotless Lamb, in all things. And since the protections of age and sex are weak for me; I ask Angelic help from the heavenly camps, through which I may deserve to be protected, and to remain continually strengthened in your good pleasures; through your coeternal Son, with whom you live and reign in charity and the communion of the Holy Spirit, through all ages. Amen." [When she had prayed, an Angel of the Lord stood by her: is comforted by an Angel: at whose coming, first indeed, as is the custom of virgins, she was a little dazed, but afterwards she deserved to be informed by such an oracle: "Heard is, Restituta, your prayer: heavenly grace shall be with you always, through which you may overcome the carnal impulses and pomps of the demons, and be advanced to the success of all virtues."] "Know also that I am come by divine command for your protection. The master of discord indeed disposes to stir up against you the supporters of his perversity: yet fear nothing: with you is that immortal Spouse of yours whom you have loved, who is wont to crush his powers, and who will give you both victory in the fight and the crown of eternity."
[4] [When he had said these things, and withdrew the appearance which he had presented; Restituta, strengthened by such great promises and made cheerful, was relaxed into sleep. To whom the ancient enemy of the human race, dreadful with smoky mist, appeared, and threatening said: "What is it, Restituta, terrified by a diabolical phantasm, that so sweetly and pleasantly you rest? Perhaps you rejoice over the Angel's oracle? But before these things come to pass, with all my powers I shall rush against you into wars; I shall summon the troops of those serving me; that if triumph follow, it may not be, as you think, bloodless."] "I know that you plot ruin against me and my deities: but the contrivances of ancient fraud will not fail me, by which I shall diminish your powers." And saying these things, he drew forth a sword glittering in the darkness, which threatening against her he said: "With this sword I will gird one of mine, who shall be armed against your throat, and shall cast down to me your rebellious head: also the tongue contrary to me, in the cut-off head, silent, shall waste away." By these threats the Virgin of Christ somewhat terrified, with the standard of the Cross arms her forehead; and signing herself entirely said, "Let God arise and let his enemies be scattered, and let those who hate him flee from his face." At the voice therefore of the singer, the phantasm, slipping into thin air, disappeared. The handmaid of Christ then gave herself to the ground, and with these voices [began to call upon the clemency of the Lord: "Arise O Lord, help your handmaid: lest perchance my enemy say, I have prevailed against her. For greatly, O Lord ruler, your word has penetrated my heart. Therefore her whom this one has shaken with dire threats, may your holy clemency deign to relieve, and so to confirm in your love, that I may continually persevere in your services."]
[5] [She had prayed: and behold the salvation and life of the human race, Christ Jesus (according to what he had once promised, Christ appearing, before he should be invoked he would be present) to the blessed Virgin visibly stood by: and dispelling all fear from her, and delighting her by his presence; "Why," he said, "Restituta, are you troubled? Has it slipped from you that he is a liar, and the father of him? Do you not know, that conquered by the trophy of my Cross, and bound by his own flames, he wholly does not prevail, unless permitted? But know (by my permitting) that these things have been announced to you: so that he who through such threats hoped to dash the strength of your mind, dashed by your constancy, may withdraw, conquered by a girl."] she is ordered to go to Sora, "Now therefore girded for our warfare, attack him who wished to strike terror into you: go to the Soran city, that from his tyranny you may rescue the people redeemed by my blood, and join the creature to the Creator. Nor distrust because of the weakness of age or sex: for I am with you, by whose strength heaven is suspended, the earth balanced, the sea spread out." To whom Restituta; "Lord," she said, "consulting my virginal modesty, and avoiding the company of those living in lasciviousness, I have scarcely ever gone forth from home: and how shall I be able to go to the said city; especially when I am ignorant in what region of the world it is set?" And the Lord to her: "Tomorrow morning, when the rays of the sun shall have illuminated the earth, to that gate of the City which is called the Lateran, hasten most quickly: there will be at hand the guide of your journey sent by me, who will lead you to the appointed place": with which commands he restored himself to inaccessible light.
[6] But the Virgin, obeying the divine voice, in the morning quickly rises; she came to the place, as she had been commanded: and there translated by the angel companion of the journey, where she found the Angel of the Lord girded for the journey; to whom with downcast eyes, she thus began: "The cause of my coming hither to you I believe, Lord, you know: but what is hereafter to be done, decide: I am ready to fulfill whatever you shall have decreed." To whom the Angel: "You by the oracle of the divine voice have been admonished to visit the Campanian city Sora; which being distant from here almost forty miles, may exhaust us with a long journey, unless we take care to raise our strength through the rest of sleep." Restituta therefore offering assent to the useful counsel, gave herself to the ground, and committing her virgin limbs to such a couch, slept a little: whom the Angelic power assumed sleeping, and in an inscrutable way, transferred from the City to Sora. Awakening at morning, and seeing herself in the entrances of the gates, began to wonder vehemently: until easily conjecturing this had been done divinely, she rendered immense thanks to God, who has done all things whatever he wished in heaven and on earth.
[7] she heals a leper by prayers, Therefore with Christ as Leader, she enters that famous city, and turned aside into the house of a certain widow, whose son, wasting with the disease of elephantiasis, for two years and eight months had been afflicted, so that now his body did not obey the powers, but rather seemed to be the sepulcher of the soul. At these things the Virgin of Christ became eager, because she saw the door open to preaching, said; "Mother, put an end to sorrow: there is an almighty physician in heaven, who is able to restore your son to you: if zeal shall be in you, to revere him with worthy veneration." The widow becomes cheerful, promises that she along with her offspring will believe, if she fulfills her grateful promises. Without delay: Restituta with bent knees stretched her palms to the stars, and with these voices began to implore the supernal clemency:
"Eternal God, creator and author of all; be present, as you promised, to your handmaid: and what I ask faithfully, grant clemently: that while you cleanse him from leprosy, the minds of this city, infected with idolatry, may be purged by sacred Baptism, and praise your renowned name through the ages. and converts 40 men to the faith. Marvelous indeed: the matter followed the prayer: the multicolored disease disappeared, and to all seeing it the man stood healthy. At which prodigy the widow mother, with her whole household, was astonished: and because she could not contain herself, first bursting out in praises of God, she stirred up the entire neighborhood. There is [c] a concourse of those wishing to see both him who had so wonderfully recovered, and the most blessed Virgin who had been the author of so great a power. The young man therefore, more healthy in mind than in body; "This," he said, "O excellent citizens, is not the experiment of any physician, but the work of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Almighty God: who me, through his handmaid Restituta, sent here from the City itself, easily, suddenly, and entirely cured: whence it is undoubtedly clear, that we are his creation, who reforms us when he wills." When such a great prodigy was seen by them, and so evident testimony of the man heard, forty of them believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.
[8] Through the cured leper she becomes known to the Proconsul: But because the author of malice always opposes good beginnings; certain of the hearers, filled with a diabolical spirit, began to contradict the true assertions, and with stubborn mind to refute the wholesome admonitions. Whom the excellent youth, valuing little, and constantly rebuking the hardness of their mind, did not cease to sound forth the praises of Christ. Why many things? These things ran to the ears of the Proconsul Agathius: who immediately ordered the enemy of the sacred rites to be presented with hands bound behind his back: to whom he thus began: "Are the things that are said true, Cyril? or have you been made so foolish, that despising the gods of your fathers, you introduce new deities to the Roman world?" Cyril replied: "Plainly true, O Proconsul, I have left the weak gods, who could never help me nor themselves, and I cleave by faith to the omnipotent God Jesus Christ, who at the invocation of his name, with Restituta his handmaid interceding, so perfectly cured me."
Astonished at this, Agathius asked, where the woman of so great power was staying. "With us," Cyril says, "she lodges, to whom God has sent her favorably."
[9] brought to him, she professes the faith: Without delay the Proconsul hearing this, sending apparitors gave order, that they should bring her honourably, and present her at his tribunals. When this was promptly done;
"Tell," he said, "girl, what your name is, what your family, what your religion, finally what is the cause of your coming to us?"
She fearing nothing; "I am called Restituta," she said, "I am a noble inhabitant of the City, by religion a Christian, and at Christ's command sent here, for the cause of your salvation." The Judge perplexed at this, said: "We believe you are ignorant, girl, what the Imperial majesty has decreed concerning Christians: and therefore that you have not been afraid thus openly to profess yourself a Christian. But because you appear young, we spare your ignorance: that, the superstition being abandoned, you may obey the decrees of the Princes, nor does she desire him for a Spouse, and to the immortal gods burn incense, and offer sacrifices. And if you do this, soon you shall enjoy our marriage; and you who now live subject to poverty, will undoubtedly be opulent with great riches."
To whom the blessed Virgin: "Three things, O Judge, you seem to have proposed to me: of which one, as impious, I shudder at; the two remaining, as frivolous, I despise. But what you say you spare, is by no means sparing, but rather raging; while you persuade, the Creator being abandoned, to worship creatures for God, and the immortal Spouse being spurned, to receive you as spouse, who certainly cannot in any way compare yourself to him. He, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords; you, subject to an earthly King, and anxious from rebuff, never sleep secure: you now bright for an hour, but after a little will be the food of worms. O wickedness! to leave such a great good, and to seek such miseries!" At so sublime a response the Proconsul stupefied, and indignant within himself, said: "It is likely that you follow the deliriums of the Christians, who have not feared to bring this kind of trifle to our tribunals. But these ambages set aside, approach, and to the altars of the gods sacrifice, lest you experience what our power can do, nor is she terrified by threats: which thus your composed lies have despised." To these things the blessed Virgin: "We did not come for this, that we should be polluted by your sacrileges; but that we may teach you, drawn back from these, to serve one true God. By your threats we are not terrified: because stronger is he who promises protection, than he who threatens punishments."
[10] while she is scourged she sweetly sings: At so bold a response the Proconsul kindled, ordered her to be stretched out on the ground, to be most grievously beaten with scorpions. At once that is done which the savage fury had ordered: yet amidst the blows there sound no murmurs of one groaning, but rather a voice of jubilation and praise, thus sweetly singing to the Lord: "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because he has visited me his handmaid. Now I have received the insignia of my Spouse, and the splendid ornaments: by which though the outer man is corrupted, yet the inner is renewed by his grace." Hearing these things Agathius, said: "What is it, Restituta? Do punishments delight you? do tortures please you? to whom you give such a song to your Christ?" And the Saint; "Just so," she replied, "since as our Apostle says, 'The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the future glory which shall be revealed in us.'" Rom. 8, 18
[11] The Judge angry orders her to be thrust back into the prison dungeons, shut in prison and afflicted with hunger, she is divinely strengthened, and to be bound with chains having seven pounds of iron, and through seven days to be refreshed with no food or drink. All things are done as the wicked one had ordered: but not did that heavenly Spouse desert her. For an Angel sent descended: at whose coming the prison shone, iron chains were liquefied like wax, hunger departed, the Virgin took strength, and was strengthened. Thus more abundantly consoled, she rendered thanks to Christ the Lord: and behold while she was singing, suspended in the height of contemplation, there came to her in person the Lord Jesus Christ, locally the unlocal: who most powerfully strengthening her, fortifying her for future contests, set out a meal wonderful to tell, filled with heavenly sweetness: and blessing her with the hand by which he sustains heaven, returned to the right hand of the Father, whence he had never departed. O superabundant grace of Christ to the Virgin! Behold what is promised to the Saints in eternal life, is granted to her in the present life. The Virgin enjoys that wonderful countenance, in this corruptible flesh, which the Angels desire to behold. Furthermore the trembling guards, first were astonished as if dazed, then returning to themselves, and conjecturing that that had been a divine power, which had entered the prison with the doors closed, and crushed iron like mud; she converts 39 guards, falling at the feet of the Virgin, they began earnestly to entreat her, that she should teach them to worship that God, through whom they had seen so great miracles flash forth. She therefore rejoicing that of the spoils of Satan she now began to triumph, immediately sent from these very ones, who should announce in order to St. Cyril the Priest what had been done. And immediately came the venerable Priest where he had been summoned, and about thirty-nine souls, with Chrism also being applied, he baptized.
[12] But because emulation always lies in wait for virtue: behold some traitor, I know not who, went off, and revealed all that had been done to Agathius. Who being greatly disturbed, sends apparitors, who would offer Restituta, together with Cyril and all the Neophytes, at his tribunals. Meanwhile the Virgin of Christ began to instruct them how to respond, and to fortify them for the future contests. When they had stood by, raging Agathius; "Is it true," who all constant in the faith, he said, "what we have heard, that you having abandoned the immortal gods, whom the Princes venerate, worship some Christ I know not whom?" They as with one voice responding; "Most true," they say, "that we have rejected the useless effigies of dead men, and have believed the creator of all, Jesus Christ, the true and eternal God: by whose power we have seen the prison shine without human light, and this most blessed Virgin, refreshed with heavenly food, most powerfully strengthened against your furies. Whence know without doubt, that this faith with us shall remain with our life, whatever you say or do." Agathius could no longer bear it, but moved with bile he said: "Who are these profane ones, who so audaciously reproach us with the weakness of the immortal Gods? Let them be led to the golden shrine, and let them be ordered to burn incense to the sacred deities: if they refuse, let them be punished with capital punishment." Therefore led to the place, and being unwilling to offer to the images, they themselves became victims of Christ. In which place afterwards, the persecution being extinguished, and that very ancient shrine destroyed, the devotion of the faithful raised a temple in honour of the most blessed Mother of Christ and Peter the Prince of the Apostles.
[13] But the Virgin of Christ hearing the constancy and glorious end of the holy Martyrs, together with the venerable Priest Cyril, gave thanks to God, who from his sheep accepted a most pleasing holocaust. The wicked Judge perceiving this, was thus speaking to his men: "You see, O citizens, inhumane men, who esteem their gain the perdition of citizens. What counsel for restraining these things shall we take? Let them experience what they rejoice that others suffer, that of themselves they may justly groan who exult in the death of others." Without delay in the midst: he orders that with lighted lamps the bodies of the Saints should be scorched. they are crowned with martyrdom together with their lictors. But the external burning they could not feel, who burned with the internal heat of the Holy Spirit. Whence neither from their mouth did any groan proceed: but rather with clear voices they were blessing the Lord, who in the contest had been present, by whose mighty power and grace suddenly the burnings of the lamps were extinguished, and the eyes of the executioners darkened; so that in one and the same moment, both the light of the lamps and even the light of the unfaithful vanished. Therefore the ministers feeling of how great merit those were whom they had tortured; with miserable look and querulous voice they said: "Now we know who you are, and what God you serve we understand in our blindness: but restore both lights to us, that we may both with mind God and with eyes that sun may behold." By whose cries the Virgin of Christ moved, prayed to the Lord: and at the voice of the petitioner their minds are illuminated unto faith, and the lights, externally restored, are reformed unto light. Wherefore beyond measure astonished, with lofty voice they began to cry out; "One is the true God, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the merits of his handmaid has restored to us the lost light." These things were announced by the hearers to the Proconsul Agathius, who agitated by the goads of wrath, and judging them unworthy of his presence, ordered that without delay they should be beheaded. And these likewise instructed by the blessed Virgin, and baptized by the hand of St. Cyril, despising the warfare of the world, were enrolled among the troops of the Angels.
[14] [After these things bloody Agathius orders Restituta to be summoned: and seeing her, said to the soldiers and the people standing around: "What further shall we do with this sacrilegious one, in whom we have lost so many efforts? For with I know not what charms she has caused iron to liquefy, has produced light from nothing, has extinguished blazing lamps with a single word; and, what is more grievous, has almost despoiled me of my soldiers, while first [d] thirty, but now two by sleights of hand drove demented to perdition: St. Restituta affected with various reproaches, she has also despised the judicial censure, has blasphemed the sacred rites of the Gods, and has worked to make all do the same."] "Do we suffer, O men, to be conquered by a woman?" The crowds tumultuating and answering nothing certain, turned to her, he said: "Do you delight, Restituta, in such things? These are not praises, but crimes; for which to be sad, not rejoice, you ought. But let now superstition have an end: depart from this insanity, sacrificing to the gods.
For if you do this, you will be able to escape the horrible punishments which await you, and to pass as quickly as possible to our most pleasing marriage." [But she: "You have rhetorized, O Judge," she said, "and in the manner of orators have varied your words, magnified your sentences, and at last vomited forth the pestilence which lay hidden in your breast: but most certainly know, that I will neither sacrifice to your demons, nor have you, the servant of those, as Spouse. Furthermore the punishments which you threaten will be dearer to me above topaz and refined gold]: and death which is interpreted a passage shall continually pass into glory. Whence do quickly what you threaten you shall do: for my soul burns for the embrace of the heavenly Spouse, to whom I shall be presented the more beautiful, the more I shall have been attracted by you with grievous tortures."
[15] [The Judge confounded by such great assertions, and almost confounded to death, knew not what to do, adjudged to death, or what to say against her: until at Satan's dictation he gave a sentence of this kind, saying: "Since the Imperial edict is, that all worshippers of Christ should be delivered to a deadly death; we order Restituta, a Roman citizen, a sorceress by skill, leader and forerunner of the Christians, to be led to the bank of the Carnellus river, and there with her companions to be punished with capital judgment, and their heads to be sunk in the river: that the tongue may be given to fishes for food, which feared not to rise up against the gods." The victim of Christ is therefore led for sacrifice: and along with her companions on the way indulging in prayers, was hastening to the river; rejoicing and cheerful, as if going to the chamber of some illustrious man. So they came to the bank of the river: she is ordered with bent knees to extend her neck, she asks for a respite for prayer: after pouring forth prayers, she is beheaded with Cyril and 2 others, received it, bent her knees, and with her companions thus prayed to God: "We bless you, Lord Creator of all, who have led us to this hour, that taking up temporal death for you, we may soon by your grant be partakers of eternal life. Receive our souls, we beseech you, and render to your servants the gifts promised." And then with neck extended was beheaded the venerable Martyr of Christ and Virgin Restituta, together with Cyril the Priest] (whom she had healed and converted to the faith) and two other worshippers of Christ, on the sixth of the Kalends of June. [Whose heads the Carnellus for a time received, but heaven their souls forever to be preserved]; the bodies unburied were left to be devoured by beasts and birds by the executioners, who returning to the city announce the slaying of the Saints to those meeting them.
[16] At once a great commotion arose in the city; the faithful people gather, sons weep for their mother, disciples for their teacher, so quickly and secretly snatched away: and as best they could each one hastened steps to the waters, with the desire of seeing the corpses though dead. When they had come, is buried with them, and saw them mutilated without heads; grief is renewed, sorrow is increased, they run along the bank of the river, in case the wave of the river might have brought them somewhere: and not finding them, they take away the most sacred Relics, and bury them in the city beside the church of St. John the Baptist. In which place afterwards, the flame of persecution extinguished, in her honour a Basilica was constructed: and with very fitting order is now there honoured by the faithful, where she had once been oppressed with various tortures. There also are done, at the invocation of her name, with Christ favouring, many miracles: so that namely it may be known on earth clearer than light, with how much glory she enjoys in heaven. Not only in the place of her ashes, but also round about with miracles it shines, especially where her passion was and the celebrated memory of her name.
[17] The seventh day from her passion had run, when the most blessed Martyr of Christ and Virgin Restituta, accompanied by her three companions in the passion, in the midst of Angels shining, appeared to the venerable f Soran Bishop Amasius, the heads found by Bishop Amasius. saying: "Arise Father, and to the place of our passion hasten as quickly as possible: there our Heads you shall find, which by the persecutors having been sunk in the river, the wave lately brought to the bank. For the kindly Lord did not allow them to be food for animals, which to his people he granted by gratuitous piety for protection: and you, after you have collected them, shall join them to our bodies." Awakened therefore from sleep the Bishop, rejoicing reveals to the faithful the ministry brought to him from heaven. From the hearers thanks are returned to God, the voice of jubilation sounds in the tabernacles of the just. Without delay, the Bishop proceeds to the place, finds according to the tenor of the vision the venerable Heads of the Saints: which reverently he raised, and returning to the city joined to the bodies, and (as much as the narrowness of the time allowed) to glorious burial he delivered. But with how many prodigies through almost every day this most holy Virgin shines forth, witness is the city of Sora, and the surrounding Castles, which around their sick and bound feel frequent helps: which we, if the Lord shall grant, shall recount in their place, to his praise, who together with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives world without end. Amen.
ANNOTATIONS.
BOOK II
Containing miracles done in the XI or XII century, in the age of the writer Gregory.
PREFACE.
[1] Since almighty God in his Saints has always been wonderful, and through them not only living in the flesh, but also after chains and scourgings, Sufficiently certain miracles are written. after the punishments of multiple sufferings, and even the cutting off of the head, deigned to display miracles; of which some by the lack of writers are wrapped in silence, while others are reported faultily described; to the lucid setting forth of those miracles, which through the glorious Virgin and Martyr Restituta, after iron chains tightened up to the neck, after the persecutor's sword cutting off the neck, the heavenly dignity willed to work, free from every blot of falsehood, we approach. Which indeed not, as is usual, vagabond and mostly fictitious by report we have learned: but those which either of those in whose presence they were done, or certainly even those who in themselves felt the same things performed by heaven, by truthful relation we have known.
PART ONE.
[2] At a certain time therefore the people of a Campoli, by the precept of [b] Pandulph the great Count, by whose command and judgment they were constrained, exercised most grievous enmities of war against the people of Sora, so that they hostilely invaded whatever was met of civil property. The people of Sora on the other hand began to resist not slothfully, to attack the walls, to cut down the vines and trees, to drive off the spoils of cattle and often of men: and so great a terror of the people of Sora grew in the people of Campoli, that they did not dare except in their own country to remain. There were captured at that time of the people of Campoli nine, John [c] Mane, Lando Dominici, Adenulph Drusi, John Alberici, Adam of [d] Insula, Peter Doda (the names of the rest unknown we omit) who all in the manner of captives indecently enough were led away. There was also at that time in the same city a certain Knight from the family of [e] the Sevii, descending from a collateral line, unequal in his maternal lineage, named Peter Adulterinus; Nine captives, son of Peter Geraldus the Sevior, a fierce man and destitute of all humanity: who although by the common opinion of the citizens waged war, more particularly however with certain mercenary soldiers, whom he retained at his stipends, day and night did not cease to pursue [f] the Castellans. And because no bowels of piety seemed to be cherished in him, as many of the enemies as could be captured, were forthwith delivered into his custody: whom he kept with such care, that he was busy with the continual application also of various kinds of tortures. Wherefore not far from the Basilica of the blessed Martyr Restituta, with the public road in between, he built a prison, which with three triple walls, inside of wood, but outside of stone, he caused to be surrounded. But the space shut closely up, which between either middle was, was filled up with sharp brambles: beyond which most strong vines also, from the bottom up to the top of the building, on every side he led down. The roof above he laid out with wicker hurdles, weighed down with the burden of many stones. In the middle of the prison out of the strongest planks a cage, having a small door above, he set up; into which those nine captives by twos, with the feet of one to the other connected by an iron shackle, were thrown. Food only three times in the week, a scant bread and most sparing water was given: and with other torments, and especially the intolerable stench of their own dung and urine, those wretched ones were tormented.
[3] Now for almost two years they were afflicted with these distresses: when the time of the Lord's Resurrection approaching, namely on Holy Friday, on which the Lord ascended the wood of the life-giving cross to triumph, the Provost of the church of the Virgin Restituta, named Ado, approached the aforesaid Peter to ask for the prisoners; that for the reverence of the Lord's passion, and for their mutual friendship, with also certain sacraments of penance interposed (which he was accustomed to enjoin upon him) those captives might be released to hear the mysteries of so great a day, common to all Christians. He therefore at last won over by prayers and giving assent, those wretched ones came out of the cage, and were brought to the altar of the blessed Martyr: from whom so great a prison stench emanated, that scarcely any one was able to approach near them. After the solemnities were completed in the customary way, again Peter was asked, that for the fear of God he would consent, that they should not on this day be received back into prison. When that implacable man refused, divinely I think he was admonished by the same Provost, in these words almost: "You indeed invoke the Lord crucified for you: but his hand is able quickly and ever more quickly to snatch them out of your hands." And so it was done.
[4] On the night following indeed after the Lord's Resurrection from the dead, with St. Restituta appearing, when those wretched men had given themselves to sleep, the Virgin of the Lord Restituta is present: who offering herself visibly to them, said: "Rise quickly, go forth: do not delay: for behold the door of the cage is open." But because the said Peter through certain little women persuading flight had often tempted them, by no means did they give credence to the admonitions of the blessed Martyr: until again she returns to give credence to her words, and rebuking their unbelief; "What, most worthless mercenaries, are you doing?" she said. "Why do you delay, and despise my precepts?" To whom they; "Who are you," they say, "who urging us such things, bring forth such commanding words?" And she: "I am Restituta the handmaid of Christ: go forth from here, do not fear: for I will not abandon you, until you arrive at safe places." At this assertion made more secure, as best they could, one with feet straight, another with feet turned upward to heaven, helping each other and lifted up by the Virgin's hands, they go forth. The jailer indeed, who was wont to lie down at the door of the cage, being somewhat removed from there, was held by heavy sleep. As they were going out, and asking her, who was present, what they should do and where they should escape, she designated the place, and what they should do she taught. So approaching a certain very large stone placed in the foundation, they are led out. quickly with hands the soil being thrown out, they made a small opening, by which scarcely a small boy could go out, and without any trouble broke forth. As they did not know which way they should go, the Virgin gave herself as guide, and through the middle of the river showed the way: nor did she cease to provide guidance for them, until they had come to the Castle, whose name is Baucus [g], they came. Where by the Castellans, giving thanks to God and the glorious Martyr for their liberation, with their bonds broken they were given freedom: and immediately (as they had vowed) the aforesaid bonds returned to the church of the blessed Virgin carrying: in which until today, in token and testimony of so great a miracle, before the altar of the blessed Martyr, are seen hanging with all beholding.
[5] At the same time a certain Rustic, named John Rossii, of the town to which afterwards, by the same above named Peter Adulterinus, the appellation was given, with wood and iron coerced, in a place which is called at St. Benedict, beside the palaces of the Sevii, in a subterranean cave was held bound. Who when he was tortured with long starvation there and other oppressions; he made vows to Jesus Christ our Lord and B. Restituta, another captive making a vow, that if she would deign to rescue him from that penal place, he would dispatch the bonds by which he was bound to her most sacred temple, and would celebrate the glorious day of her Martyrdom with such expense as he could afford. Not long afterwards with time elapsed, when after long maceration in prison, the shackled man had given himself to nocturnal rest; the Venerable Martyr Restituta, exercising her usual benignity over him, is ordered to go forth by St. Restituta, and rousing him with her own hand; "Rise," she said, "to your feet, and these places being abandoned hasten to return to your own." When he had replied that he would eagerly do so, if he were able; the Saint added; "You indeed are able: but oppressed by inertia, you refuse to labour for your salvation."
[6] When once and a third time with such conversations she had exhorted him to go out; and on a certain day sitting alone he was meditating on flight; taking up a wedge, which he found there, he tore off a board from the cave, and so much as was the length of his stature digging from under the earth he came out. And because with guards stationed all around it was not easy to come to the door; very wonderful what follows: upon the beams of the building, as he was bound, he ascended, and first crossed all, before he reached the door: and at last realizing he was over it, he leaped down: and the door being unbolted he rushed out. After this he came to the place which is called Porta-nova, where a multitude of barking dogs caused him a new trouble: but with the Virgin's name invoked, in a wonderful way he escapes: all that troop of barkers surrounding him was put to flight. At last he turned aside to the gate which is called of the Cracks: where standing on the bank of the river [h], and not knowing what to do, or where he should go, suddenly a certain bird whiter than snow approached, which terminating the flight of its course before him, lifted up a great voice: that openly it might be given to understand, that without doubt he should pass through that way. Which considering with himself, he enters the river, and with all fear cast away vigorously and securely passed across: and being restored to safety, immediately to the body of the blessed Martyr, the thongs which he wore having been pulled off, he dispatched.
[7] A certain young man, of the city which the imposers of names upon things willed to be called Arces, while staying at Arpinum [i] in the service of a certain Soldier, on a certain day was seized by a demon: who immediately took away from him both voice and sense, a mute and foolish energumen, so much that bereft of reason, and leading life in a beastly manner, he was befouled with his own excrement. While therefore he was being led around through diverse places of Saints, and by no one's help had he deserved to be freed; finally to the body of the blessed Martyr Restituta he was brought. Where having stayed for some days, with no prayer being saved, led wherever he was hurried by the spirit, he migrated to other places. But coming to the place which is called Arcus-foruli, at last the Virgin gave herself meeting him, and expelled the wicked inhabitant from him, is freed. and restored both his sense and his speech equally. He afterwards not unmindful of the Lord's benefits, when to the tomb of the blessed Martyr returning to render thanks, had come back: there by the crowds rushing to him in zeal, and desiring to see the man cured from such evils, "Te Deum laudamus, te Dominum confitemur," with resounding voices was sung.
[8] A woman ill from prolapsed womb, That also I think by no means to be omitted, that a certain woman called Mary, the wife of a certain poor man, John-Bonus by surname, whose dwelling is seen near the venerable temple of the blessed God Bearer, while a few days after childbirth had elapsed, in order to rouse the fire with her mouth, was bending forward; suddenly the entire womb was poured out from the uterus, so that (as we received from her own retelling) the places of conception even seemed to be outside. Which nevertheless so monstrous and unbearable a malady that rude woman through shame for two whole years concealed. But when now both with pallor of countenance and with the leanness of the whole body increasing, and even with the foulness of garments she was urged, and the hidden illness she could no longer conceal; first to one, and then, as happens, to another in secret she revealed it, and so quickly the rumour flew through the whole city: and from neighbours and other women placed far away, various medicaments are brought: but no inner consolation could be applied. The annual solemnity of the most blessed Martyr Restituta meanwhile being repeated according to custom, when now the eighth day of the same festivity had come, and the woman heard the noise of the bells sounding together at Vespers; prostrate on the floor, she thus prayed to the Lord: "God, eternal Creator of all, who decreed your most glorious handmaid Restituta, to send here for the salvation of the city of Sora, for whose Confession the same holy Virgin willed her life to be consummated by martyrdom; through her blessed merits, help me your handmaid."
[9] When therefore she had thus prayed from the depths, and the hour of common rest succeeding, is healed by St. Restituta appearing. her weak limbs to sleep she had somehow relaxed; she is occupied by a vision of this kind in dream. There seemed to be present a certain person of great authority, with rosy face, radiant eyes, forehead glittering with gold and gems, who leaning on an elegant rod said: "What are you doing, miserable woman? Show, show me your sickness." She through redness refusing to reveal the shameful places: that venerable one approaching nearer, and, as it appeared to the sleeper, with her own hand pressing on the womb, with natural structure restored, reformed it in place. The woman awakened knew herself restored to health: and immediately descending from the bed, and applying her face to the floor, rendered immense praises to God. But behold again to the same woman sleeping again came that wonderful person; and a third time, whether she recognized herself entirely healed, asked. With her replying she was healed, the holy Virgin did not forget to ask, who it was who had done this, signifying that she was Restituta. Finally at morning made, the woman did not wish in silence to suppress so great a miracle done in her: but to whom she could, to some indeed for seeing, but to others for hearing she set it forth. With visible faith therefore the people of Sora being certified, what great praises they rendered to God, can scarcely be remembered.
ANNOTATIONS.
PART II.
[10] A certain noble matron Altruda, wife of a certain Judge by appellation Bonifacius, A woman afflicted from prolapsed intestine. whose dwelling is seen not far from the church of the blessed Martyr Restituta, while one day she was urged by the necessity of cleansing her stomach, withdrew to the more secret places of such an operation. But so great pain and so great an impulse of sudden weight followed; that beyond the manner of nature, the intestine came forth from the anus: which she also strove to restrain with her strength, but by no art could she. While she had hidden this for some time in silence; what shame forbade, intolerable pain compelled to reveal. Long time now with medicinal experiments had been spent in vain, and the sick woman devoutly entreated the help of the glorious Martyr: when on a certain night, the whole house weighed down with sleep, and she herself enduring wakeful cares, suddenly the fire which had been covered, seemed to her to burn. Around the fire she sees three venerable persons: of whom one to the woman, who was inquiring who they were, said: "Do not you know me?" And the woman: "I know you indeed dearest Lady, for you are the most holy Virgin of the Lord Restituta: but those who sit with you, I am wholly ignorant of." To whom the Saint: "Whom you see present, is my sister and companion B. a Celicia, but this man of the Lord is the blessed [b] Constantius." And the woman to her: "I beseech you, most pious Lady, the Saint being seen she is healed, succour me your miserable handmaid." And the Saint: "Willingly indeed I shall do that: for to this we have come." Forthwith therefore she approached the bed, and placed something most like a flower into her mouth, and went away: and immediately the woman thus to her former health was restored, that no sign of the routed infirmity remained in her at all. Who immediately, the whole household roused, what and how she had seen, and how she had been cured, with rejoicing related.
[11] About that time a certain Arpinian girl, while for her tender years, was still being carried in maternal arms, was deprived of the light of this sun, and blinded. a blind girl is illuminated: So the care of the wretched parents was, through many venerable places of Saints to bring her to be cured: but when going through diverse places they profited nothing, with the neck now refusing the troublesome burden, with weary feet much sorrow afflicted, they returned to Arpinum, with continuous prayers meanwhile and frequent sighs, the abundant clemency of God ceaselessly entreating. On a certain celebrated birthday of B. Restituta, when to the sacred solemnities of Mass all hastened, the parents of the blind girl understood the mother; turned to the Lord, in this manner she poured forth words: "Jesus Christ Lord, who alone as consoler beholdest the groans of those entreating, through the suffrages of your most precious Martyr, deign to illuminate my daughter." Marvelous to tell! the little one whom she had placed on the bedding a swift sleep seizes: and with the Mass Sacraments now consummated awakening, with the cloud of the eyes purged, she sees all things more clearly, and here and there without stumbling begins to run about. The astounded mother fills the house with great joy, and to all displaying her daughter, sets forth what had happened: and soon as she was able, to the memory of the blessed Martyr, according as her means allowed, bringing gifts and blessing God, she presented her daughter.
[12] But among the other miracles which omnipotent God, through the same most blessed Restituta, deigned to work, Basilica falling, the people go forth unharmed. none should be wrapped in silence which even in our recent memory he willed evidently to be performed. Her Basilica raised from the ground, the summit of the building was completed in a vault. The over-rising structure of the finished work, either through the carelessness and inexperience of the workmen, or the softness of the foundations, or even through the frequent shaking of the earthquake, with cracks and fissures extending to the bottom, began in process of time, without any ambiguity to threaten ruin. Finally the sacred Lenten fasts being upon them, on the solemn birthday of the Chair of B. Peter the Apostle, when the people more frequently gathered in the church for the urgency of prayers; amid the very morning solemnities of Mass the whole edifice suddenly began to totter. The mortar also, dropping from above and gradually falling, urged that they should go out. The walls also dissolved one from the other, and severed from the foundations, sustained only by divine power, seemed to await the departure of the people. Who at length the most sacred Office completed, and license to depart received from the Priest, going out in confused order, called upon the name of the Martyr: while the stones of the falling walls, as if urging the people to flight, between the steps of those going out, were carried, without any injury to anyone. But all having gone out and turning their faces from behind, by a momentary fall all that fabric, struck together and dissolved, fell to the ground from the foundations, the people rendering thanks and praises, that through the suffrages of the blessed Martyr it had so opportunely escaped.
[13] A certain Soldier, named Gallicus, in the parts of Etruria, of the town to which antiquity gave the name Gerbetum [c], A Soldier going out before Mass was finished, was a native: who from a vow and desire, decreed to visit the oratory of B. Michael the Archangel placed on Gargano; and having undertaken the journey he companionably joined himself to certain men of [d] Tudertum, having the same in their vow, and skilled in knowledge of the roads. They all proceeding together, and measuring out the long way by stations, approached the city of Sora which appeared in their way: and because the great fame of the miracles of the blessed Martyr Restituta had also reached them, they turned aside to her temple for the zeal of prayer. After they had prayed there for some time, and the offices of Mass were being celebrated; the aforesaid Gallicus, stirred by the noise of horses running together through the square, as is the manner of Soldiers to look upon such things, abandoning his prayer unfinished, went out rashly to contemplate the running of the horses. Otherwise, the order of the journey resumed, making toward the city of St. Germanus situated below Casino [e], and there about to lodge, they ended their course of that day. is rebuked by the Saint: But while their weary limbs renewed themselves with sleep, the venerable Restituta deigned to show herself to Gallicus sleeping; greatly and much rebuking him, that to the service of omnipotent God preferring the running of horses, irreverently too much he had abandoned her house; adding also that shortly her help would be most opportune for him. He therefore awakened, fearfully revealed to his companions what he had seen. Why many things? at length the way of the prayer according to vow being completed, with rejoicing they returned to their own.
[14] But not long afterwards; when the Margrave of that land, then shut into prison, above Aquaspendentes, for correcting crimes, was preparing himself for battle; Gallicus is enrolled under him, and afterwards in battle bravely fighting falls into the hands of the enemies; and led away as captive and bound with iron, into the deep well of Tutona's fortress is let down by a rope: for whose custody every night the mouth of the well was closed by stationary watchers with a millstone stone. While therefore the wretched man, by the prison darkness and grievous weakness of body was long tortured; the Martyr of Christ Restituta with great splendour stood by, and asked whether he recognized her. To whom he: "I remember indeed seeing your appearance, but I am confused by forgetfulness of your name." And the Saint: "I am," she said, "Restituta of Sora, who appeared to you resting at St. Germanus, and forewarned, as is now true, that my help would be necessary for you. And now to this end I have descended: that I may, as I promised, deliver you from there." Indeed to Gallicus inquiring beforehand about the time when these things would happen; "On the Lord's Resurrection it will be," she replied. And with these words she departed: and the darkness which had been driven away returned. Then Gallicus began, not a little to torment himself about the prolixity of the time, that he indeed judged the term of the Easter festivity to be longer, not understanding well the Martyr's oracle. But on the night of the next Sunday day, with no different splendour the Virgin returned to the prison, is led out by her. and began to exhort him to come out. He raising himself on his feet, is depressed by the gravity of the chains, and falling to the ground, is raised by the Virgin's hands: and with the stone removed by divine power from the mouth of the well, shackled, as he was, he was led out from the well. But how through the heights of the walls she made him to ascend and descend, and through two thousand paces as a faithful companion led him, it is not for us, as neither was it for him, to unfold. After she had him in a safe place; she more strictly orders, that to the church to render thanks, and the office which he had carelessly abandoned to render, he should hasten. Who obeying the commands, to the tomb of the Blessed One with offerings hastily came: and all things, as they had been done, to all who were present he himself present recounted.
[15] Sterility is taken away, At the same time a certain matron of the above-mentioned town, having used for almost three lustres without fail the bond of bed with her husband, nevertheless was unable to experience any sweetness of children. She having received the rumour of the said Soldier's liberation, which he himself published far and wide through the neighbouring places, turned to seek the suffrages of B. Restituta: that through her the Lord, with the mark of sterility taken away, would deign mercifully to grant a son. And because what true faith asks, the heavenly grace does not refuse; before the cycle of the same year had run, the name of mother, which by urgent prayer she had asked, she deserved to obtain, enriched with the gift of male offspring. Possessing therefore her vow, to the threshold of Restituta, more devoutly to render thanks she hastened: and the grace which had been bestowed from heaven, by her own report became known to all.
[16] a possessed woman is freed, It happened in the city of Sora, when a certain man and his wife, at the hour of supper had wished to recline at table, that the wife while blowing on a coal so as to light a lamp, was seized by a demon; and so by it shamefully tormented, that all despaired of her safety. But on a certain night, when for celebrating Matins, on the Nativity of the B. Virgin Mary, the Clergy and people had gathered at the church of B. Restituta; before the altar of the same blessed Martyr, the said possessed woman being offered, was restored to former health.
[17] a leper is cleansed. Nor is this to be passed over, that a certain Soldier, named Thaddeus, in the castle of the Soran territory which is called Insula, rejoicing in his wife and children, no less excelling in nobility of birth, dwelt. But so much was he sprinkled with the contagion of grievous leprosy, that now he was held in disgust and contempt by his wife, children, and the whole kin and neighbourhood. When therefore by the counsel of his parents the next day was set for him, that from the common consort of men on account of the vileness of the disease he should be perpetually separated; there came to him a certain brother-in-law of his, named Berardus: who admonished him among words of consolation, that he should beseech the blessed Virgin Restituta instantly, that in such great anguish of mind and body, by the obtaining of her prayers she would assist. Wherefore on that night Thaddeus, afflicted in body and spirit, with all effort persisting in prayer, asked the patronage of the Virgin Restituta. And when he had gone through the watches of the night not without flood of tears; he could not pass the rest without sleep. Therefore indulging in sleep, he saw the blessed Virgin standing by him, and with kindly hands wiping the wounds on his face, on his hands, and indeed on every side and dropping the swellings testifying to leprosy on the bed. Awakened from joy, and wishing to explore the indications of the same truth, he turned his eyes to the bed: and the cloths upon which he had lain, he found scattered with marks and notable stains of leprosy; and looking at himself, he recognized he was restored to perfect health; and after a few days had elapsed he came to Sora: where giving thanks, he offered a most precious silken cloth to the church of the Martyr Restituta, to her glory, to whom is honour and dominion through infinite ages of ages. Amen.
ANNOTATIONS.
INVENTION OF THE BODY
By Conrad Janning, an eyewitness in part, described.
Restituta Virgin, Martyr at Sora in Campania (St.)
Cyril Priest, Martyr at Sora in Campania (St.)
Two Companions, Martyr at Sora in Campania (SS.) Restituta Martyr, translated from Rome to Gaul (St.)
A. GREG. TERRAC. FROM THE MS.
[1] My second year staying at Rome had nearly run out, and it was from the Virgin's birth MDCLXXXIII; when on one and the same day two most happy messages were brought; one indeed to the entire Christian name, Concerning the Invention of St. Restituta of Sora, because of the lifted siege of Vienna of Austria by the most savage and most numerous enemy; the other especially to the city of Sora, because of the discovered sacred Relics of St. Restituta Virgin and Martyr and her Companions. Which discovery indeed to the citizens of Sora came as much more pleasing, the longer time that sacred treasure had been hidden, yet always and certainly believed, to lie hidden in the very temple in which it was found; the proximity of the desired good increasing the desire of obtaining. Participants also in the joy us the same invention made, which solves the doubt about the Gallic one, because of the Acts of St. Restituta soon to be published, the doubt was taken away, without it not so easily, certainly less perspicaciously to be solved, concerning the Relics of the holy Martyr of the same name, translated from Rome to Gaul in the IX century, and there generally believed to be the Soran one.
[2] At this very time when that message was brought, with the consent of the Moderators having been obtained, I was thinking of going to Mount Casino with Father John Francis Vannius, we went to Sora then in the Roman College Professor of the sacred language, and equally most zealous of the glory of the Saints and of imitation: and having begun the journey, with the most celebrated places of Mount Vulturellus (commonly now called Montorella), Subiaco and Mount Casinum visited, on the return we came to Sora on October V. We seemed to its Most Illustrious Bishop D. Thomas Guzzonius, when we explained the reason of our coming to Sora, as if sent from heaven. The day before that day, on which we left Rome, it had been decided not to go to Sora for certain reasons: but with letters arriving from there toward evening concerning the discovery of the Relics of St. Restituta, the plan was changed, because it seemed the very Saint was calling us thither, so that with the body and place inspected in person, her glory on the day May XXVII, now prepared for the press, we might more lucidly celebrate and claim her Saint to the people of Sora with more certain foundation.
[3] So we came to Sora, and most humanely received by the Most Illustrious Bishop, and most humanely received by the Bishop, we learned from his account and that of our Father Antonius Dominichinus, who had been present at the discovery, what had been done thus far. Namely, that the people of Sora, planning a new altar to be raised in the church of St. Restituta, in place of the one destroyed by the earthquake of the year MDCLIV now more elegantly rebuilt; while they dug a trench for laying its foundations, first they extracted a great mass of ancient debris; we learned the occasion and manner of the invention. then they found earth, not moved for many years past; and more solid than that which was not far from there, and had been dug up by Bishop Joannelli at the beginning of this century, with the sacred pledges sought in vain, which we now believe to be found. They detected here in digging some parts of partition walls and of pillars, and other things not obscurely indicating that there had been at this place at some time a Confession, as they call it, or some hypogeal sacellum. Finally they penetrated to certain rough stones, bearing some form of urns: which with the surrounding earth removed, were found to be covered by a lid and full of bones. Then the workers first marvel among themselves; soon call out to those present in the temple; cry out, that the Lord Canons and the Most Illustrious Bishop should be summoned; that something of sacred treasure had been disclosed to them.
[4] Three stone urns are detected These urns were three, unequal in size, near each other in place, yet not so covered by their lids, that much earth had not penetrated within, and been mixed with the bones. No names on the urns, nor any indications of veneration appeared, except a sign of the Cross, in rough form begun on the stone which covered the larger urn. Perhaps however indications of this kind had been placed inside; but which the length of time consumed by its devouring, as it had consumed the wooden chests themselves, which it is likely were enclosed in those stone ones. For some iron strips and several nails were afterwards found among the bones; in which the wooden chests seem to have been enclosed: and seemed to have served for joining the boards of wooden chests, especially with this sign, that with the rust of iron the wooden particles closer to it, as is wont to happen, having coalesced, still retained some appearance of wood, with no other trace of wood remaining. Furthermore the nails themselves, although thicker, are so eaten with rust, that more fragile than glass, they break into fragments like rotten wood, when lightly pressed by the fingers. Which raises greater wonder at the bones, in which not only the larger pipes of the arms and legs, but also the smallest little bones of the ears, which on account of their smallness can scarcely be detected by anatomists in cadavers, were found whole and hard. And these things at least most are said from the report of others; In one of the urns on the first night a flower grew up. although I have learned some afterwards by my own observation to be such, as they had been reported: and I also saw then a small flower of foreign appearance, which on the very first night having sprung up in one of the urns, appeared in the morning to the wonder of many; after the Most Illustrious one had ordered the said urns to be brought into the sacrarium, and the Relics taken out reverently he had locked away in a fitting place, and protected with his seal.
[5] We visited the island of Fibrenus, After this the Most Illustrious Prelate invited us to the place, renowned for the Martyrdom of St. Restituta, almost two thousand paces outside the walls. There is there in the river formerly Fibrenus, now Carnellus a small island, the same one (unless my opinion and that of others fail me) with that which Cicero, not very far from there, as they will, born to light, describes in book 2 De Legibus in these words: "We came to the island; and on it the palaestra and the chapel of St. Restituta, than this nothing is more pleasant: for as by this rostrum-like point Fibrenus is divided, and split equally into two parts, washes these sides; and rapidly slipping down, quickly flows together into one, and embraces only as much ground as is enough for a modest palaestra." Let Tully here understand whatever palaestra, certainly with no more glorious palm did he ever endow anyone, than our Restituta; as no one had ever fought there more strongly, than she. In this place on the bank of the river there still remains a little chapel, built in memory of St. Restituta, and from her name called. Entering with the Most Illustrious Prelate as guide, we judged especially worth notice the altar tablet, in the previous century probably painted; since it seems it cannot be of much earlier age. where she with her three companions is depicted. In it is represented in a more eminent form, with her name written around the diadem of her head, S. Restituta, having joined to herself three companions with their heads cut off: among whom however distinction is difficult, whether all are of male sex, or which of them is female. Certainly the number four of Martyrs is there distinguished perspicuously, and agrees both with the Acts, where the same is expressed, and with the bones now found which compose four skeletons, almost whole at least in their principal parts.
[6] In order that we might inspect this in person, the Most Illustrious Prelate brought us back to the city, The next day we inspected and cleaned the Relics themselves, to gather the next day at the sacrarium, where the Relics were stored for the time being. Therefore at the appointed time a meeting was held, with also some Religious of St. Francis approaching. In the presence of these and us, that is myself and the aforesaid Fathers Vannius and Dominichinius, and several skilled in surgery, with the Most Illustrious one ordering, the seals were unloosed, the cabinets opened, the Relics taken out and exposed to our eyes and hands: and, with the same Prelate willing, we began equally each one separately to clean the bones from dirt and adhering earth: which done the surgeons examined the same bones, compared them with each other, referred to a certain body, and replaced each in its place: and so finally there appeared, with four skulls, and the Surgeons composed them into four bodies: just as many incomplete skeletons, one suffering from the lack of more bones than the rest. There were however some, who because of this very defect thought it to be the body of St. Restituta rather, than of any of the Companions. But they leaned on a very weak argument; namely because in the Italian Life of the Saint it is read, one of which is thought to be St. Restituta's, that many Relics of her sacred body are preserved at Sora, and in other places of the Soran diocese. This can more solidly be proved by the testimony of the Surgeons: who from the said skeleton took both the bones of the elbow or its rays the larger and the lesser, and combined them with the bone of the humerus of St. Restituta, because it agrees with her sacred arm. which from all human memory was preserved religiously as such in the sacrarium, ornately enclosed in a silver case in the manner of an arm; and is wont in single years on the feast day and through the Octave of the holy Martyr to be set forth to the people for public veneration. With this, I say, undoubtable bone of St. Restituta the Surgeons composed the two aforesaid bones, joined them, measured them, by diligent inspection observed each one; and finally concluded, that it was wrong to doubt, but that those bones were of one and the same body, because of the entire proportion among them.
[7] These things done, some of the bystanders insisted with the Most Illustrious one, that through him it might be permitted them to take some of the bone fragments for Relics: but it was refused by the most prudent Prelate, unwilling that it might seem by his authority that any cultus had been permitted to those Relics, The Bishop does not give Anything of the Relics to those asking, not yet consulted with the Sacred Congregation of Rites: because this could be no slight impediment to the public veneration and exposition of the same, to be approved by the suffrage of the said Congregation. He ordered therefore the bones thus thoroughly cleaned to be again placed into the chests and stored in the same cabinet, from which they had been extracted, and sealed. The next day, with the Religious gathered who had been present at the said cleaning of the bones, but he orders them all to be enclosed again. and had knowledge of the other circumstances of the invention, individually were asked their opinion by the Most Illustrious one, what they thought of the matter as a whole; whether the discovered Relics seemed prudently to be believed to be of Saints Restituta and the Companions? They affirmed with unanimous consent all, with some adding other reasons or circumstances of their assertion.
[8] And these things indeed in our presence, as I said, in the year of salvation MDCLXXXIII at the beginning of October were thus done, Things hitherto done were described by the Notary and sent to Rome. and most things by the Notary received in writing, then to Rome, to obtain the consent of the Sacred Congregation of Rites for the public veneration of the Relics, were sent. And again more accurately an examination of the same on June XV in the year MDCLXXXV was instituted, as appears from the testimony of the Surgeons under the following tenor. "We the undersigned skilled in Surgery make faith and testify, that the Most Illustrious and Most Reverend D. Thomas Guzzonius, Bishop of this Soran city, took care that should be again inspected, recognized, and observed in his presence, as he had taken care other times, all the bones pertaining to four human bodies, not so long ago, namely in the year MDCLXXXIII, In the year 1685 the bones are again examined by the Surgeons, found in three stone urns, well closed and stored under the floor of some old subterranean church (commonly called sottocorpo), filled with debris, near the foundational wall of the Presbytery, under the principal altar of the Collegiate church, existing at Sora under the name of St. Restituta Virgin Roman, Martyr and Advocate of the same Sora. who composing the sacred bone of the arm with one of the bodies again, The aforesaid bones are thought to be of the said holy Martyr and of her three Companions equally Martyrs, and are preserved from the time of the discovery up to the present in the cabinet of the sacrarium of the said church, well closed with locks and protected by seals; nor have they hitherto been exposed to public veneration.
[9] We took the bone of the arm of St. Restituta, which from immemorial time was in veneration as her sacred Relic… to be brought; and we found and clearly recognized, that among the bones, which to complete the four bodies are wanting, that bone of the arm, an outstanding and venerable Relic, is also lacking; and pertains, as our opinion holds, and skill and art indicate, to one of those four bodies, and properly to that one which is thought to be of the Saint herself: because in this are two bones, namely the larger pipe and the smaller pipe, or the cubit and the radius, they judge it to have been entirely hers: which by reason of proportion, colour, age, agree among themselves, are rightly joined, and fit with the said sacred bone of the arm… not likewise with any other of the above-said bones. Nor on the contrary does that sacred bone agree, is joined, or fits well with any other of the discovered bones, but only with these two cubit and radius, or the larger and lesser pipe: just as at the request of the Most Illustrious Lord Bishop and in his and other experts' presence, we often made the test with exact observation. The rest we refer to our Attestations and those of other experts in the Acts of the undersigned Notary, specially deputed by the Most Illustrious Prelate, fully reported: and in testimony of the truth with our own hand to these we have subscribed. At Sora, on this day June XV MDCLXXXV. I Joseph Ruggierius, Neapolitan, dwelling at Sora, Surgeon Doctor of Salerno, make faith and attest, as above. I Sanctus Rinaldius of Sora, Surgeon and Anatomist, make faith and attest, as above. I the Notary Andreas Vernagallius of the Pisans, Apostolic Notary specially deputed, whose testimony is sent to the Congregation of Rites,
as in the Acts, by my own hand." The same Notary testifies that a copy of the foregoing Attestation, in the year MDCLXXXV on June XVI, was transmitted to Rome, that it might be attached to the copy of the entire Process, already transmitted to the sacred Congregation of Rites.
[10] which has hitherto decreed nothing. In the meantime I had hoped that the desired grace of Approbation would be obtained, before this Life was sent to the press: but the very many matters which to that sacred Congregation are daily brought, seem to have deferred that hope longer than our opinion. So let this be the end of our narration and pilgrimage, after I shall have appended a few things, which on Mount Vulturellus
(commonly Montorella) of which we made mention at the beginning, were done in my presence. On Mount Vulturellus a Mission is instituted, The first station of our pilgrimage was that mountain, on the very feast day of S. Michael the Archangel, which there is in the highest celebrity, with there gathering from the underlying villages and towns far and wide an almost innumerable multitude of men, for the cause of receiving the Sacraments of penance and the Eucharist: to whom that they may give ear our Fathers, every year eight or ten betake themselves there from Rome; and although on the day before the feast they begin to listen to those confessing, and most persevere through the whole night, nor do they grant themselves any leisure or rest until after midday of the feast (except the time of Mass), scarcely yet are they able to satisfy the pious desire of all. The author of so salutary an institution was Father Athanasius Kircher, after on the said mountain he had detected the temple of the Mother of God the Virgin, which near the place where St. Eustace once through the deer is reported to have been miraculously converted to the faith, begun by Father Kircher, long before constructed, but then was near ruin, as he himself describes more amply in the Preface to his Eustachio-Marian history: to which I refer the Reader who desires fuller knowledge of the place, the origin of the temple, and the Eustachian conversion.
[11] Here let it suffice to say, that with so great love Father Athanasius in that place toward the great Mother and her divine Boy was inflamed, [after he had there before the altar of the Mother of God been wonderfully consoled;] and so much sweetness of mind suffused him, that not in rough wastes among trackless rocks, but among the choirs of Angels in the heavenly paradise he thought himself stationed. Hence there persevered in him a very singular love of that place, whereby it was also done, that the first money which after this from the Most August Emperor was liberally supplied to him, as often at other times, he expended on restoring the aforesaid church, renewing the chapel of S. Eustace on the nearby cliff of wonderful height, with a small dwelling added, to serve our Fathers, when they came thither to undertake the mission, for lodging; indeed which he himself, while alive, often inhabited for several continuous weeks, that he might more closely enjoy his delights (so he called the Mother of God).
[12] But neither did the end of life put an end to that love, after death he willed also to be present there, as far as was permitted, and to love, to which dying he ordained his cleaned heart to be brought, with his heart bequeathed there to the Virgin Mother of God. The heart therefore immediately at his death taken from the body, for almost three years had been preserved in the Roman College: when at length our Fathers, intending to execute the pious wish of the deceased, enclosed it in a leaden casket, well soldered, about a palm long, half wide. This in turn similarly was enclosed in another made elegantly of white marble. Both bear this indication of the enclosed treasure, (engraved there, "The Heart of Father Athanasius Kircher of the Society of Jesus, who died November XXVII MDCLXXX." These thus prepared our Fathers had brought with them from Rome, and to be buried before the altar of the Virgin. and on the next day, that is on the very feast of S. Michael, in the afternoon, when the people had now dispersed, in my presence they dug a pit for the size of the casket before the middle of the altar at the iron grates, which enclose the altar: and having there hidden with its caskets the heart, they laid above it a stone of likewise white marble, square, which to the eyes of those entering displays this inscription: "Father Athanasius Kircher of the Society of Jesus, restorer of this temple, willed his heart to be here near the Treasure of his heart."
TRANSLATION OF ANOTHER S. RESTITUTA V. M. From Rome to the diocese of Soissons. From French into a Latin epitome contracted by Nicholas Belfortius Canon Regular. Restituta Virgin, Martyr at Sora in Campania (St.) Cyril Priest, Martyr at Sora in Campania (St.) Two Companions, Martyr at Sora in Campania (SS.) Restituta Martyr, translated from Rome to Gaul (St.)
FROM MS. OF BELFORTIUS.
After the Emperor Aurelian, with death intervening, was at the same time despoiled of life and of empire a; and the small flock of Christians, Peace being restored to the Church, not only began to breathe again, but also began to lay foundations of their future dominion through the world, so that in the city of Sora, now free faculty of professing Christ shone forth; not long after it was begun against the persecutors of the Martyrs to take action, with Agathius the President himself expelled from Sora, with his ministers, in part also worthy of punishment severely chastised. Then therefore by the order of Bishop Amasius [b] with a temple built, and Christians called from everywhere, the body raised shines with miracles: the bodies of S. Restituta Virgin and Martyr, S. Cyril, and many other Saints were raised, and stored in honourable cases: by whose glorious merits one could see the blind, lame, dropsical, and mentally afflicted being healed; and praising and glorifying omnipotent God in his Saints, returned with joy to their own.
[2] and in the 8th century from fear of the Saracens But as in human affairs nothing is solid, especially when we sin; after many years it happened, namely with [c] Leo IV the supreme and most excellent Pontiff ruling the Apostolic See, with [d] Lothair ruling the Romans and Franks, that the [e] Agarenes with a great fleet came against the Neapolitans and Romans. Wherefore the Soran people, as if foreseeing future calamities, which also pervaded Sora itself, took care to have all their precious goods borne to Rome: and among these especially, far surpassing and excelling all the rest, translated to Rome the bodies of the most blessed Restituta, B. Cyril, and many others; which delivered to the Supreme Pontiff himself and commended, are placed in the church of S. Peter, in the year of the Lord about eight hundred and forty [f].
[3] Lothair meanwhile, having heard of the coming of the Agarenes, although already burdened by old age, did not wish to be absent from a war so necessary: but what the excellence and faith of so great a King required, and as much as advanced age allowed, soon having held deliberation with his Princes, he designates his son Louis II of this name King, by the Toparch Moreuil, who accompanied Louis II into Italy, and imposes upon him the duty of undertaking this holy expedition. And because there was need of mature action; besides the diligence which both father and son were excellently exercising; there is also summoned a brave, prudent, and magnificent man, who being augmented with the dignity of Constable, would gather soldiers, and would be the first councillor for the King's son. Now he was, whom by another name they called the Lord de Moreüil from a certain domain of his so called (for it is the custom in Gaul, that nobles take their names [g] from some chief place of their domain) who, as he was a strenuous and sagacious man, soon gathers the military forces, and the assigned province he satisfies. With all things prepared which were necessary for the journey, the old father lovingly kissing his son charges him especially, that in his name to the Venerable Leo he should impart greatest greeting and obedience, then that from Moreuil's counsel and opinion he should not depart; finally, ever mindful of his office, what is to be done sagaciously he should foresee.
[4] Louis therefore surrounded with a brave army, makes for Italy [h]; whose desired arrival, how pleasing to God and to be received with the people's votes the Supreme Pontiff judged, after the barbarians were conquered, by edicts of the famous ringing of bells he testified. At once with the forces of the Italians and Gauls joined, all prepare themselves for battle: in which it cannot be said how excellently the Gauls' army conducted itself; how excellently it performed deeds, against this dregs of the Agarenes: which indeed was so utterly destroyed (with the help especially and great efficacy with God of the Pontiff's piety) that no oblivion can ever erase the glories and triumphs of that victory. With the enemies slain, and their spoils which they had snatched around the city and neighboring places, with great part given to the Gallic soldiers, Louis came to Rome: where having delayed for some time, precious gifts offered by the Pontiff he humbly refused; adding moreover, that as to a father everywhere and always he would be at hand. But gifts the same Pontiff offered to Duke Moreuil, in gratitude for the labor undertaken for Christ: and the Roman people likewise received the rest of the Gauls quite humanely, now esteeming as nothing their other goods, before the sweetness and joy of received liberty.
[5] the Pope giving, it is borne to Gaul, Now about that time when his return to Gaul was being prepared, a desire seized Moreuil of asking for some holy Body: that for the highest reward would be that gift to him, if he could obtain it, that this might be done more honourably, he persuaded Louis to interpose himself as mediator, for obtaining the body of S. Restituta Virgin and Martyr; to whom in his fatherland he marvelously trusted to render due honours. This was most pleasing to the King, and as both hoped, the Pontiff was easily persuaded to grant the petition, which was sprinkled with no stain of avarice: and so possessing their wish, with thanks given, they prepare for return to their fatherland.
[6] When toward the borders of their fatherland they hasten, and in the city of the Florentines they lodge; it happened in that very house, to which the King had turned aside with Moreuil, that the son of the family by sudden misfortune departed from life. Killed at Florence is raised, All are saddened, weep, lament. The King and Moreuil, while grieving for the lot of the afflicted, with strong faith in God raised up, cause the lifeless body to be placed on a bier, and then to be set before the body of the Virgin; and that by Restituta's merits he be restored to life, unanimously they ask. Wonderful in us is God's piety, and from him Restituta's power! Immediately that young man, with the bitterness of death taken away, began to break out into deep and joyful voices, testifying the miracle done in himself, and with bent knees extolling the power of omnipotent God in his Martyr with the greatest praises he could. By so illustrious, notorious, and irrefragable a miracle stupefied all the Gauls, with pious affections immediately to the praises of God and the Virgin in one voice they joined.
[7] two energumens are freed, Nor indeed did God will only there to glorify the martyrdom of his beloved Spouse: marvelous to tell, how many stations were made, almost as many miracles flashed forth. Of which kind it must not be passed over that most celebrated one, by which a little later this side of Florence, two men seized by a demon, and deprived of the office of their senses, when at the King's order they had been presented before Restituta; the blessed Virgin triumphing in the heavens, brought such force on the sworn enemies of mortals, that immediately with horrid voice having let out they went out; but those men, taken from harsh slavery, and to former health restored, no longer as before would afflict themselves with insult, indeed even gave worthy praises to Restituta.
[8] they come to a small town of the Suessionese province A great space of journey they had now made, and the occasion of time and place seemed to demand, that to a private home each one should turn (unless perchance one might be detained by such great common joy of all) when Moreuil, for the sake of duty, asks for dismissal. But the most pious King, knowing himself the more obligated to recall God's benefits, the more God himself by singular benefit had subjected innumerable mortals to him, whom he should precede by good example, not slothfully he weighed, would not in that state make him dismissed: but with prompt mind, he also recognizes his parts to lead the holy body to the appointed place of Moreüil [i], which in Picardy is situated at the tenth mile from the city of Amiens. While they were making the journey, and not far from them was a certain little town of the Suessionese province, which equally pertained to Moreuil; he began to entreat the King more earnestly, that the passing through there for his clemency he would allow. Which indeed though for the King it was little in his wish, namely that the ruined place worn down by wars was by no means apt for hospitality; nevertheless by divine nod it was done, that with the King consenting all betook themselves there.
[9] When they had come to the town, and the body of the Virgin reverently received, there a fountain springs up, and a dead boy revives, in a certain chapel there, much neglected and uncultivated through infrequency of Masses, they had deposited; again Restituta shines more and more daily by miracles. For a fountain, never seen by any mortal, by sudden origin began to gush forth. What more now? or who shall speak the powers of the Lord, shall make all his praises be heard? Behold a boy dead from the womb of his mother, who had felt neither the life of soul or body ever, by his parents brought to the virginal body, and by the devout prayer of the surrounding people commended, in a wondrous manner immediately lived. But this corporeal life evidently was not enough for that little one: he thirsts for a fountain of water leaping up unto eternal life, to that he aspires, calls for, with clear and sonorous voice demanding baptism, before the King, before the Princes and the people: which soon by a certain Priest, a man tried and honest, he obtains.
[10] the body remains immobile in Arcy: After this Moreuil disposes to take up the journey, and to translate Restituta to his castle of Moreüil, that he might satisfy his devotion there: but when he tried, to bring it out of the chapel; the body began so much to grow heavy, that by no force at all could it be moved from its place. And when again with great care all were busy that it should be lifted: again the little boy is present, a little before through baptism freed from the yoke of diabolical captivity; again instructs the men, excellent in knowledge of great things: and that they should halt their step there, "Artecy, Artecy," he calls out in the Gallic tongue: by reason of which words, that place was very fittingly called
Arcy [k]: and Moreuil understood, that it was the will of God, that in that place the body of the Virgin should remain. Otherwise also on that day many were cured from various kinds of diseases, namely leprosy, blindness, madness, convulsion of the limbs, and diabolical infestation.
[11] So Moreuil, although he had determined to convey Restituta elsewhere, yet because so it had seemed to God, committed himself entirely (as was fitting) to His divine judgment; meanwhile rejoicing not a little, a church is also erected. that both places were of his domain. Wherefore to those who had accompanied him, with kind affection he repaid thanks: and so all having parted from one another, each to their own places returned, with good and best heart proclaiming and magnifying the grace of omnipotent God, who had willed to enrich the Suessionese diocese with so incomparable a treasure, through whom diseases would be driven away, and the devil's power for harming would be most effectively repressed. Finally Moreuil orders his subjects, to raise some worthy temple, in which according to the boy's voice the relics of the Virgin might with due honour be preserved. Which soon with workmen called from everywhere, with greatest diligence and ardour of mind, was constructed, to the glory of God, who is blessed forever. Amen.
ANNOTATIONS.
APPENDIX.
Two miracles added by Nicholas Belfortius.
Restituta Virgin, Martyr at Sora in Campania (St.) Cyril Priest, Martyr at Sora in Campania (St.) Two Companions, Martyr at Sora in Campania (SS.) Restituta Martyr, translated from Rome to Gaul (St.)
FROM MSS. OF BELFORTIUS.
[12] Among other ornaments which commend and make illustrious the city of Soissons, A certain man in 1588 not undeservedly can be reckoned the frequency of towns, with which, like a King surrounded by his soldiers, it is on every side surrounded. Of which number not to be despised is that which is placed at the foot of the mountain, running for forty miles in almost continuous tract into vines, distant not fully two miles from the city, across the river Aisne, called Bucy a. It contains more than three hundred families, of which one inhabits a certain house there of ours, which from the sacred building there constructed received the name of S. Margaret. Its tenant, John de Caix called, when at one time he had reported to us, that the aforesaid little chapel would soon fall, unless ripely it were met; there were sent to inspect it Lord Peter Benartius Priest our Procurator, and Philip Guillerius Subdeacon. hesitating about pilgrimages and the invocation of Saints, Who with all things examined returning to us, the said John, for the sake of honour, wished to lead them back to the middle of the road: and on the way a discourse arising about superstitions among them, he related that in the year of the Lord MDLXXXVIII in the month of March he had set out for Sarmosia [b], for the funeral rites of his uncle John Berthini. These celebrated according to custom, while the hereditary assets were being entered in the records; he proposed that the deceased was held by a vow of pilgrimage. Those who oversaw the making of the records did not hesitate to scoff: that prayers said in any church were equally valid with God, as those done in the basilica of St. Nicholas or other similar ones, which by pilgrimage are celebrated: that one God alone without an advocate must be approached: that the labour was vain, which men cause for themselves in undertaking so many pilgrimages.
[13] with children sick to death, Hence John (as to me carefully inquiring of the matter he ingenuously confessed) although not into sin, was nevertheless brought into troublesome thoughts. With which while he wrestled now into the third month; suddenly his daughter (besides unusual behaviour, with which immediately occupied she became as it were demented) began to be tortured by bodily disease, that with the use of speaking lost a candle blessed for her in the Christian manner, was not indeed applied, but was prepared to be applied. The father, fluctuating with various tide of mind, where to turn he did not know: until with the thoughts strongly cast from his mind, to the Arcy church of holy Restituta his brother should be sent, [c] who lived at Sarsogny, he judges, willing to undertake that pilgrimage briskly. So at once he sent off a servant: but his brother being absent, the servant returns the matter unfinished: except that the same John's son, whom shortly before for John's feast the father had brought to Sarsogny, obtains health, his brother having been sent to S. Restituta. and there in the house of the grandfather had left, was likewise sick with disease, and the candle blessed for him on the same night, on which also for his sister, was prepared, he announced. Soon John, with no delay interposed, himself goes to his brother: whom, having now returned to Conde [d], he begs to bring him help. He without delay sets out: and as soon as he reached the Virgin's parish (only one hour was left of the day then declining into night, as he afterwards reported) the sick girl is dissolved into sleep: which completed, before dawn at the start of the hour, both in soul and body sound and cheerful she was found. The boy with scarcely four days interposed, equally recovered. Who now will be so estranged from faith, that he does not detect the Virgin's benefit, by which both for the father a sounder faith and for the children desperate bodily safety has been restored?
[15] [The body of S. Restituta brought to the Suessionese monastery of S. John of the Vine,] About to make the sacrifice of Mass, for the office of Sub-hebdomadary falling upon me, on the twenty-second day of October of the year MDLXXXVIIII, I was attending to cleansing my conscience; when raising my eyes a little, I saw through the choir of our church two men, the body of B. Restituta the Virgin enclosed in a silver case carrying on their shoulders. Of these one, named Claudius Servantius, placed his work in cutting stones: the other, called Antonius Furillon, made his living by the rope-making trade: now the former was very well known to me long since. What this matter was I did not then wish to ask: until the Sacred Office completed I heard, that on account of the savagery of monstrous war, the body of holy Restituta, brought from yesterday into the city; but on this day, by the said two with the Parish Priest following, Lord Nicholas Messerius, with a few others most easily brought to us: until under almost the very entrance of our monastery [f], it suddenly began to falter and to overwhelm the spirits of those carrying it, and to weigh down the shoulders with so great weight, and even the handles of the case itself thus to drive crosswise, and to slip from their shoulders; that they, fearful in mind and failing in body, with voice intercepted scarcely could implore help. So when I marvelled at the novelty of the thing it did not suffice to have heard the testimony of the most loving Brothers, unless I immediately approached John de Burgo, a man very faithful, discreet and grave, who almost the whole that week had spent with us: because we gladly used his service, both at other times, but especially during that time, in which our church had come into the order of public station.
[16] it bears down its bearers severely By whom sufficiently and more than sufficiently confirmed, namely by an eyewitness, I did not think it necessary to ask further of others; until at length some time having elapsed, this my testimony to posterity I judged should be confirmed by the assertion of others. Which indeed they so confirmed, that they said; at the very beginning of the burden taken up, they did not seem to bear something, but rather to be borne, so cheerful and agile they walked: but when they had come to the cross of Pauleu, which separates the precinct of our monastery from the rest of the city; then with the case gradually growing heavier, and violently resisting, they suffered such great difficulties, that under the burden they bent, and at last approaching the choir of the church, because no one was meeting them. scarcely with panting throats they drew breath. As to this matter, since the judgments of our men were diverse, those at last seem to me to have attained the true reason of it, who said this happened therefore, because we had not intended to receive the holy Virgin with ecclesiastical rite: for of the body of holy Magdalene something similar is read. Which kind of sin we judge the more ought to be pardoned by God, that we would willingly have met them, Thence it is brought back to the Arcy town, if it had been intimated by the Parish Priest, otherwise not slow to adorn sacred matters; but then crushed by so many troubles and calamities and disturbed, that he was even worthy of pity. But not long after the citizens of Arcy demanded back the body of their Patroness. We who wished to harm no one, although in some way unwilling, yet without any contradiction returned it: and as far as Scissummontem with attention we accompanied. And so in its ancient Arcy church (as I believe) until now [g] it is preserved.
ANNOTATIONS.
EPILOGUE.
Restituta Virgin, Martyr at Sora in Campania (St.) Cyril Priest, Martyr at Sora in Campania (St.) Two Companions, Martyr at Sora in Campania (SS.) Restituta Martyr, translated from Rome to Gaul (St.)
[17] Friar Nicholas Belfortius greets the Reader.
Since concerning the memory of this blessed Virgin we are gladly engaged, Attestation of Belfortius. and a small note still remains in the preceding book, there is something I would like said by me in a few words, lest someone think that I rashly applied my mind to writing. For there was for me no light occasion to the Lives of the Saints, the very Translation of B. Restituta of which we have just dealt last. For not then yet had I thought of any writing: until the case of the said Virgin being brought, mindful myself, that as a boy churches were destroyed for me, and sacred things were burned by the Sacramentarians, I wished to know, whether in the case itself the Life of the Virgin was contained. Since it was denied, and only in French in the Arcy church I had heard it existed; I was greatly tortured in mind, through one and another month now; until Lord John de Cancy a physician of Soissons, then still ignorant of my desire, through a chance comment somehow indicated, concerning the Latin Life received from the Brana Ms. that he had seen a Latin one in the monastery of Brana; while passing through there he took refuge at Soissons, in the year MDCX. So I wrote [there that the codex might be sent to me, and as soon as I could have it I began to transcribe]: which while I did, and at times tired from writing, as if for the sake of rest, I would unroll the codex, especially excellent and ancient; many other histories of Saints not printed occurred. Fearing lest these also perish in such bitterness of times, I willed to join them with the Life of S. Restituta.
[18] with other Acts of Saints, Meanwhile I do not know how my mind gradually grew to greater things: namely that whatever leisure remained from the common burden of Religion, the whole I should confer upon the Lives of the Saints, then indeed quite incurious, whether they should be printed in my lifetime or not. When I had now collected many, and the French troubles were heating daily: by license of my Superior, after some dangers great enough, I came to this Belgium: where feeling that my labour was not unwelcome to the pious (so much so that a certain learned man took care of having a good part transcribed, to what end I do not know) indeed perceiving that more by them than by myself it was esteemed; with more confident mind I dared to make public this small labour of ours. But of these enough. Now I would say these things, that to all it may appear, how not by some presumption was I carried away, but by a multiplied occasion I was attracted to writing: which certainly never would have come to mind, if I had seen France pacified, or the more learned willing and able to be occupied about these things. [and concerning the history of the Translation made into Latin from a French rhyme.] Now indeed that book which precedes last in order, up to the twelfth chapter exclusive, into Latin we have translated, rendering sense for sense, with no account had of the redundant words, in the year of the Lord MDXCI, from the verses, which in Gallic idiom also forty years ago were printed, and at Arcy are sold to coming pilgrims. But what from chapter XII more recent follows, as I could I published by my own effort; that confessing my own ignorance ingenuously, so also the grief I do not dissimulate, by which I am quite grieved that the most Christian and certainly better than us our Fathers, especially in this France, did not commit many things once done to letters, which would now be most useful for us.
[19] New miracles of S. Restituta; But further, since our most lost morals block the way to miracles; even this is an exceptional argument of Restituta's holiness, that miracles even today do not fail her. Surely in these last years Lord Nicholas Messerius, our Canon Regular, and the same Parish Priest of Arcy worthy of trust, has seen many things done in his presence, which I had been determined to set forth, but it has not been granted. As to what even with the more learned unwilling or impeded I have dared to undertake, let pious worshippers of the Saints take it in good part, I ask again and again. And what in the preceding book for the dignity of the matter I could not provide, let them supply that for their own devotion and seek out themselves. Of the following Hymn, pious and devout, although the laws of meter it does not always observe, that the author was an Arcy Parish Priest or some Vicar, and the same a Canon Regular of S.
John of Soissons, I am easily induced to believe from the last verse, and also from the rest of the ecclesiastical Office of the Virgin, in which the same author has clearly emulated that Office, A hymn is added. which is sung by the Brothers of the aforesaid monastery on the feast of S. Augustine. We finally that same Hymn, received from the Arcy church, in some obscure places we have restored, and as a colophon here we have added to the glory of Restituta: by whose prayers may save us the Holy of Holies Jesus Christ; who with the Father and the Holy Spirit is one and only God blessed forever. Amen.
HYMN.
Restituta Virgin, Martyr at Sora in Campania (St.) Cyril Priest, Martyr at Sora in Campania (St.) Two Companions, Martyr at Sora in Campania (SS.) Restituta Martyr, translated from Rome to Gaul (St.) Let us together praise the martyrdom of Restituta the Virgin: Let us give hearts, hands, mouths to her service: That with Christ we may reign through her suffrage. Restituta born at Rome, of noble lineage; Dedicated to Christ alone, by vow of chastity, Spurns the world, refusing the throng of suitors. Piously the Virgin's infancy entreats Christ, Lest by a man her chastity be corrupted. An Angel consoles her, promising aid. The demon, saddened by her vow, draws his sword, To the sleeper threatens fierce punishment of death: The trembling Virgin entreats heavenly remedy. The demon flees; the Virgin is illumined with light of heaven: Christ is present, speaks to her with sweet consolation. He admonishes that Sora be sought by the blessed Virgin. While the Virgin confesses she does not know the country of Sora: Christ commands her to go forth through the Lateran way, Here promising to find a guide and protection. To the sacred words she yields: City with home is left: Lying on the ground she rests, by an Angel is snatched up,
And while she does not know herself being carried, at the gates of Sora is set down. Restituta led to Sora by Angelic light, Not silent from the praise of God commands in the name of Christ, That Cyril's flesh be safe from the rottenness of leprosy. God praises the Soran people, the miracle being known: The Gentile becomes Christian by the seal of faith, The shrines of idols she spurns, with danger despised. With the sacred fountain renewed, the Christian assembly, Beheaded by command of the raging King: Which crowned with the Saints, reigns on the throne of heaven. The savage president marvels, and grieves more atrociously; The Virgin is presented to him, whom he addresses more blandly, Exhorts that she sacrifice to the gods, lest she be punished more grievously. Steadied by faith the Martyr of Christ, fearing nothing Of his angry mind, says: "These are guests of demons, To whom with you with sad end equal punishment will be." The impious King orders Restituta to be tortured, To be handled with scorpions, nor does he overcome her: For she could not be separated from Christ by pain. The Bride of Christ is visited by the army of heaven, Is satisfied and healed by the Angel's presence, Is baptized, in the prison's custody she is beheaded. After this the King orders the Saint to be hemmed in by lamps: But they grow cold, nor does the Virgin know herself burned by fires. The blind torturer cries that he is healed by the Saint's prayers. Finally therefore she is ordered to be consummated by the sword. By like vow Cyril is beheaded by the impious one: By their prayer we ask to be crowned with joy. To the Trinity be everlasting glorification, To the Unity Coeternal jubilation of heart, To which may the maternal prayer of the Virgin lead us. Amen.