ON SAINT ANASTASIUS BISHOP OF PAVIA IN ITALY.
IN THE YEAR DCLXXX.
HISTORICAL COLLECTION.
From Paul the Deacon and John Baptist de Gasparis.
Anastasius, Bishop of Parma in Italy (S.)
G. H.
The sacred memory of S. Anastasius Bishop of Pavia, the Tables being cited of the Church of Pavia, Sacred cult is conserved at this XXX of May, in the present-day Roman Martyrology: where Baronius alleges some things from book 4 of the History of the Lombards published by Paul the Deacon, who chap. 15 by others chap. 44 these things has: In the times of Rothari King of the Lombards, with the Arian heresy's perfidy stained, almost through all the cities of his kingdom two Bishops there were, one Catholic and the other Arian. In the city also of Ticinum even now is shown, where the Arian Bishop at the basilica of S. Eusebius residing, a baptistery had, when nevertheless of the Catholic Church another Bishop presided. Which however Arian Bishop, who in the same city was, Anastasius by name, to the Catholic faith converted, Christ's afterward Church ruled. These things Paul the Deacon. They made mention of the same Anastasius the Bishop, from the Arian taint to the true faith converted, Bernard Sacco book 9 of the Ticinensian history chap. 12, Antonius Maria Spelta in the History of the Bishops of Pavia, and others. After whom John Baptist de Gasparis in the year MDCLI, his name being concealed, published a Breviary of the Life of the Holy Bishops of Pavia, who under the rite double in the said Church are venerated, and prefaces that he by a long inquiry from several Writers had collected what he brings forth. They are of this kind.
[2] From the Arian sect converted, Anastasius the second, at Ticinum of a famous birth sprung, from his tender years of piety and modesty before himself a torch bore, so that nothing than his morals more honorable, nothing of the same life's integrity brighter seemed. As an adolescent into the Arian heresy he fell. A Presbyter made, by Rothari King of the Lombards' zeal, of the Arians Bishop is set over Ticinum, at the same time, at which Magnus, the Catholic Bishop of the Ticinensians, presided. But when both of his own accord and by religious men's discourse the heresy detesting, with divine letters' zeal inflamed, so much in every kind of virtues he profited, that the Catholic Bishop dead Magnus to the Pontificate of Ticinum's dignity elevated he was. He indeed when of that sacred office the function by no means to evade could, and made a Catholic Bishop, most prudently and with the highest powers labored, that the committed to him of the Church ship in the wished-for shore he might place. Who when holily and piously very many by the gravity of words and sentences from the depravity of life to the studies of honesty he led across, it much more and more excellently with the most illustrious examples of virtues did. with great piety and charity endowed, In the eyes of the mind to eternal things' contemplation to be raised admirable he was: for so much to divine things' consideration he had accustomed himself, that no ever thing either prosperous or adverse his mind from the intuition of celestial things could avert. By charity he was illustrious, wherefore whatsoever he had, with a liberal hand to the needy he bestowed, and with so great vigilance to the poor's calamity he provided, that all, from the grievous of poverty affliction, of their Prelate's benefit relieved themselves glad testified. Asked why the sinning are wont an excuse to bring, when he preached lest anyone's heart should decline into words of malice to excuse excuses in sins, them to a sea-beast he compared, which appearing and soon into the waters plunging itself hides: and said not to be able anyone himself from sins to excuse, since written it is; Seven times in a day falls the just man. To the general Synod, under Pope Agatho in the year six hundred seventy- ninth celebrated, he was present. At length passed years twelve of pastoral solicitude, of his death made more certain, he dies 30 May in the year 680. to contemplate the celestial things much more zealously himself composed; until on the third Kalends of June, his soul to his most benign Creator he rendered in the year six hundred eightieth: and he was buried in the old Cathedral at the right of the high altar under the Gospel pulpit.
[3] Some things to Anastasius I are attributed. Thus far the said John Baptist de Gasparis of S. Anastasius of that name the second, and Bishop the thirty-first: of whom some things here narrated (especially of his toward the poor and afflicted benignity, and the excuse of the sinning) by some are attributed to Anastasius I, whom as a Saint Ferrarius in the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy related on May XXVIII, having followed Antonius Maria Spelta and Stephen Breventanus, who him with the Title of Blessed honor. Which to have noted suffices.