ON SS. CAIDOCUS AND FRECHORIUS, OR ADRIANUS, AT CENTULA IN PICARDY.
CENTURY VII.
HISTORICAL COMMENTARY.
On their age, burial, cult and translation.
Caidocus, Priest of Centula in Gaul (S.)
Frechorius, or Adrianus, Priest of Centula in Gaul (S.)
BY THE AUTHOR G. H.
[1] Ponthieu, or Ponticum, of Picardy toward the British Ocean a district is, SS. Caïdocus and Frechorius, the faith they promulgate in Ponthieu. at the right bank of the Somme, with its chief city Abbeville. Its Ecclesiastical history described Ignatius Joseph de Jesu Maria, a Carmelite Discalced; and after the indicated ruin, through the incursions of the Vandals and Attila King of the Huns made, when also the Christian faith almost extirpated was, the second of the Christian religion in the said Ponthieu founders chapter 13, inquiring, of all the first he assigns two holy Hibernian Presbyters, who there came: of whom one was named S. Caidocus, the other S. Adrianus: who both there life holily passed, and their sacred Relics in the monastery of Centula left. The founder of this monastery was S. Richarius: whose Life, by Alcuin Flaccus, in the time of Charles the Great, not so much written as reformed, we gave on April XXVI, his birthday. From it here we excerpt, those things which to these two Saints pertain.
[2] It happened at that time (of which below we shall treat) two Priests, from Hibernia having set forth, in sanctity flourishing and with virtues' merits shining, of whom the former Caidocus was called, the other indeed Frichorius, from the parts of Hibernia into the Ponthieu to have come regions. from the inhabitants' injuries But by the rustics and common people of that place, on account of the unwontedness of their manners, they were not received, nor with worthy of their sanctity honor treated; but rather with injuries afflicted and with reproaches chastised, from their borders they began them to expel. Whose violence and wicked presumptions the future of God servant Richarius met, and Christ's servants from the hands of the impious snatched, and with all benignity them led down into his house; God providing, that they might be protected and he might be saved. by S. Richarius they are protected: Nor the lamp of God's grace kindled, longer could be hidden; but laid open, the light of sanctity and of preaching far and wide to the salvation of many scattered. For having introduced his guests, with great charity's honor, he tended: and them to him the word of God preaching, with all humility and intention he heard. whom by their preaching they convert. Nor in vain into good ground the seed of the word of God was scattered: but what by ear he heard, this radically in his heart he retained, and a hundredfold into the barns of Christ fruits germinated. Therefore from the preaching of God's servants and the inspiration of divine grace compunct, to tears converted, a confession of his sins made; and in the sight of the omnipotent God ardently pardon seeking, with tears he absolved, what ignorantly from adolescence's enticements he sinned: and who the Lord received in his servants of hospitality's grace, was received by the Lord in mercy and piety.
[3] These things from the said S. Richarius' Acts, to which we add, those things which Ingelramnus the Abbot of these Saints in the metrical Life of the same S. Richarius has chapter 2 in these verses:
Then also Ponthieu deserved to shine, the district, The same are asserted in the poem of Ingelramnus. Perchance with the radiance of two Priests beaming. The name of the elder of whom had been Caïdocus, Excellent in merits whom Hibernia sent to us. From them the people scorning to hear salvation, Receives them not worthily, nor with worthy treats honor: But rather from their own began to drive from the bounds.
Whose cruel violence the Holy Richarius moved; and the just snatching from the fierce folk, Lodging he gave, held, and cherished kindly, Disposing God, that both might be saved: And kindled long by the divine light the lamp Nor could be shut, but its rays into the wide it stretched. For the pilgrims after he received into his house, To them bodily means he bestows, from them Solicitous of holy life taking the gains. Nor any barren soil received the seeds of the word: But into his mind he inserted, what of flesh he took by ear, How many also of Christ's grains he bore to the barns.
[4] they came not in the time of Sigebert I King of the Austrasians, Thus far the ancient Acts of S. Richarius. There exists in volume 4 of the Spicilegium, by Luc d'Achery published, the Chronicle of the Abbey of Centula, by Hariulf the Monk in the year MLXXXVIII written: from which, the superfluous things rejected, was composed also a Life of S. Richarius, which from a MS. of Centula and another our codex we have; in which the time of the coming and preaching of the Hibernian Saints thus is explained. It happened however at that time, at which Sigebert the King with his wife Brunehild, the throne of his kingdom established at the city of Metz, * the Eastern France was governing; two Priests, in sanctity flourishing, and with virtues' merits shining, from the parts of Hibernia into the Ponthieu to have come regions, &c. Which here of Sigebert the King intruded, nor to the time nor to the place congruous, from the Life of S. Columban likewise an Hibernian are taken. Chlothar the first, in the year DLXI having ended life, succeeded Sigebert with his brothers three, in the year DLXXV slain. He had at that time the kingdom of Soissons, under which were the Ponthieu regions with the rest of maritime France, another of the brothers Chilperic: whom in the year DLXXXIV succeeded Chlothar II, but of Chlothar II or of Dagobert. in the year DCXIV made Monarch of the Franks, having died in the year DCXXVIII; leaving his son Dagobert, of whom alone makes mention Alcuin. In his time S. Richarius built the Centula monastery, already before by the Hibernian Priests to a holier life to embrace moved. It could have happened under Dagobert's parent Chlothar II, S. Columban from mortal life now long ago having departed in Italy; under whom these Priests before to have lived, altogether is not established: since Alcuin and others only say, from the parts of Hibernia into the Ponthieu to have come regions.
[5] they die at Centula old men. Of the rest of the life and death of these Priests these things are subjoined by Hariulf, chapter 6 of the Centula Chronicle: The now said moreover men of God, after the course of life measured out, of immortality having attained the prize, the heavenly seats by their entrance gladden: the Centula church founded by their bodies they ennoble: now indeed almost ruined by their prayers they sustain. Nevertheless although we now their passing have explained, let the Reader know, that they, until they grew old, in divine works at Centula abode. There flourished among the Abbots of Centula S. Angilbert, in the year DCCCXIV from mortal life stripped on February XVIII: at which day his Life I gave. He the sepulchres of these Saints adorned with some verses, which Hariulf in the Chronicle page 473 thus published: Epitaph of S. Chaidocus the Confessor.
[6] Under this mass is covered Chaidocus, by right a Priest: Epitaph of S. Caidocus, Whom Scotia bore, the Gallic land covers. He of the Lord Christ gladly the precepts followed, Despised his fatherland's, in mind blessed, wealth. Hence for him grew the abundance of a hundredfold fruit, And he reaps the ample rewards of the ethereal soil. To him Angilbert, relying on piety the mistress, Both for the tomb a song and the tomb composed.
Likewise another about his companion Fricorus, or Frichorius:
In earthly body who is seen to be buried, Joys for his merits heavenly glad he has. and of S. Fricorius, This was Fricorus, with Chaidocus associated: Whom to itself granted Centula rejoices exulting. He in virtue strong despised the prosperities of the world: And to him now living a great glory is open. When it pleased God, the realms of the heavens he sought: Now by Angilbert's song he shines. Amen.
Jacobus Malebrancus, book 2 on the Morini chapter 55, called Adrianus. this one Fricoraeus calls, and adds, the surname to the Ponthieu people unharmonious left behind, Adrianus to have been called.
[7] The bodies elevated by S. Gervinus: We have another Chronicle in MS. of Centula, by John Capella in the year MCCCCXCII compiled, and from it we gave at the day March III the Life of S. Gervinus Abbot of Centula, in the year MLXXIII having ended life: concerning whom in num. 21 these things are had: He translated the bodies of SS. Caydocus and Fricorius or Adrianus the Confessors, and then: And on the instant he elevated the bodies of SS. Caydocus and Adrianus, and them placed in a chest or bier of silver, with stones precious adorned. Which Hariulf the author contemporary, book 4 chapter 32 thus commemorates: The holy also Confessor Caydocus', and that his companion's bodies from the earth he lifted: and their Relics more becomingly placing, to the faithful peoples to be honored he decreed. The Relics in the altar: He had treated in chapter 18 Hariulf of the crypt by S. Gervinus constructed, and four in it erected altars: in the greater of which, among the relics of the holy Confessors, is placed the name of Caydocus.
[8] The names in the Fasti of Centula 30 May. In the old Martyrology in MS. of the Church of Centula, to which here a greater faith is owed, of both the cult to this day to pertain is indicated in these words: In the convent of Centula SS. Chaidocus, Fricorius, and Maldegisus, of whom the two first to B. Richarius at the beginning of holy conversation Teachers were. In the old likewise Calendar, which in Volume X of his Spicilegium d'Achery inserted, thus is read: In the convent of Centula of the holy Confessors Caydocus, Adrianus and Madegislus. Of the third soon to treat, we seem this to be able to say, that more certainly known his Birthday could have moved the Centula people, that those two of unknown day Saints likewise to be commemorated they should institute. Saussay in the Martyrology Gallican, and Menard in the Benedictine, in the Appendix of those whose birthday they were ignorant of rejected, with a long encomium celebrate. John Colgan, elsewhere on other days, no rendered of his deed reason, related S. Caidocus the Apostle of the Morini on January XXIV: and again celebrates on March XXXI, SS. Adrianus and Caidocus Apostles of the Morini, very many things heaping from Alcuin and Malbranc, and likewise from Saussay and Menard. Henry Fitz-Simon, of the Society of Jesus a Priest Hibernian, from Rome hither sent in the year MDCXI a Catalogue of the Saints of Hibernia, then at Douai in the year MDCXIX printed, chiefly 1 April. in which are celebrated on the Kalends of April, SS. Sadoc, by others Caidocus, and Adrianus. There had gone before John Wilson in the English Martyrology in the year MDCVIII printed, and then in the year MDCXL reprinted: in which an elogium from the Life of S. Richarius excerpted is set forth. Having followed the same Thomas Dempster, both in the Scottish Menology in the year MDCXXII printed commemorated. Finally, the English Martyrology being cited and then the Scottish, the same celebrates Ferrarius in the General Catalogue. The Relics in the monastery of Centula on that day also to be venerated, observes Mabillon, in his Notes to the Life of S. Richarius.
Annotata* otherwise Germany.