ON SAINT EXUPERANTIUS, BISHOP OF RAVENNA IN ITALY.
IN THE YEAR CCCCXVIII
HISTORICAL COMMENTARY.
On his cult, age and acts: and on various Synonyms to be distinguished from him.
Exuperantius, Bishop of Ravenna in Italy (S.)
D. P.
[1] The tables of the Roman Martyrology, the Tables of the Church of Ravenna being cited, this Saint on May XXX in these words celebrate: At Ravenna of Saint Exuperantius, Bishop and Confessor. In the Calendar of the holy Metropolitan Archiepiscopal Church of Ravenna and its diocese, Sacred cult. which we have for the year MDCLX, when we ourselves there were, is prescribed an Ecclesiastical office, of S. Exuperantius Archbishop and Confessor of Ravenna under the double rite. The Lessons of the 2nd Nocturn begin, "Of the blessed Father," of the Nocturn "Watch." The Mass "Thy Priests," from the Common of a Confessor Pontiff. His memory is inscribed in the Florentine Martyrology, both the MS. of Senator Strozzi and the printed of the year MCCCCLXXXVI. Ferrarius in the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy with this him adorns Elogium.
[2] Exuperantius, the XIX Bishop of the Ravennese, S. Ursus succeeded, with Honorius Emperor. Elogium from Ferrarius. A man he was grave and with great endowed charity, simple however and sincere, a tranquil leading life, and to the Church and people of Ravenna very useful. He Argenta, a town by no means to be despised, built; so called because to the Church of Ravenna silver it paid (as also Aureolum and Ferrara so called they think, because that gold, this iron to the same Church paid). Nor indeed to the same people less in spiritual things was he useful, since to the salvation of souls always he kept watch. But when years twenty his Church he had ruled, with good heaped works, the Cathedra to S. John Angelopta left, to the reward he flew away into heaven, in the church of S. Agnes buried on the third Kalends of June, with Zosimus Pontifex Maximus, in the year of salvation four hundred nineteenth. These things Ferrarius. The Life of S. Ursus his predecessor we gave on April XIII, of S. John, who the Angel saw, his successor, the Life will be given on November XXI.
[3] Hieronymus Rubeus in the History of the Ravennese various things of S. Exuperantius has, and in book 2 page 61, "To Ursus," he says at the year CCCXCVI, "of the Ravennese the Archbishop substituted Peter as Prelate," Agnellus, and who him almost word for word copied Ferrettus, falsely think, because the order of things done less, as it seems, they observed. For there is owed to Exuperantius this place: who nothing dissemblingly, In the year 396 created Bishop, nothing from concealment doing, a sincere, simple, and open mind bore: and with divine protection hedged, life he passed placidly, tranquilly, and gently. Then page 70. When Stilicho Sarus the Alans' Leader, to a tumult in the army to stir up, had impelled… to Ravenna a journey he directed… When to Ravenna he came, of Honorius the Emperor letters to the army of Ravenna by Olympius were sent, by which it was commanded that Stilicho they should seize, and into custody give. The matter perceived, Stilicho through the night into a temple for safety's sake fled. to the immunity of the Church he is zealous in the year 408 But when this Exuperantius the Archbishop had learned, lest it should be violated by the soldiers' injury the temple, he ran up: to Stilicho and the soldiers, that without a tumult the matter be done, to persuade he strove: since neither to Stilicho at length to resist were strength, and nothing else he could, than more Honorius to perturb, and his exulcerated mind to agitate: especially because the church entered the soldiers, before Exuperantius by oath affirmed, that it was not to them, that him to slay, by the Prince commanded, but only that captured in custody they should hold. With this assurance having gone out Stilicho himself to the soldiers gave. But not long after… to capital punishment was dragged away, in the year CCCCVIII.
[4] Afterward Rubeus page 89, when he had related the Epistle of Zosimus the Pontiff to the Presbyters and Deacons of Ravenna, given on the V Nones of October, Honorius the XII and Theodosius the VIII the Augusti being Consuls, that is in the year CCCCXVIII, he dies 30 May, subjoins. About the same time Exuperantius the Archbishop in Zosimus' Pontificate, on the third Kalends of June died: he was buried in St. Agnes' under a porphyry stone before the high altar. buried under the altar to him dedicated, In the following times in the middle of that temple under the altar to him dedicated, in a monument of marble when there was seen in our age the altar to the ground leveled, on the left for those entering the sepulchre is placed. The town Argenta, which before that time beyond the Po was, in that place where now a temple most ancient to S. George dedicated is seen, by him was built. So called most relate from the payment of silver, which of the town the inhabitants to the Ravennese Archbishop yearly to pay were bound: which to this day, since of that Church it is of the rights, is kept. Although Blondus by that name to have been called writes, because the Archbishops of Ravenna to three to themselves subject Churches, which the chief then they had, of three metals the names, which most noble seemed to be, imposed. Wherefore Aureolum, which a town is on a most pleasant Forlì hill, from gold; Argenta, from silver; and Ferrara, from iron called. These things Rubeus, with whom rather we judge S. Exuperantius to have ended life in the year CCCCXVIII, in the year 418. on this XXX of May, and therefore in the Epistle of Zosimus there is not made mention of any Bishop: and Zosimus himself by our calculation, which before the first volume of April concerning the chief ancient Roman Pontiffs we published, from life had departed still in the said year CCCCXVIII.
[5] Baronius in his Notes, when of this Exuperantius he had treated, adds these things. There is also another of the same name Exuperantius Bishop of Tortona, who was present together with S. Ambrose at the Council of Aquileia. He by Ughelli in Volume 4 of Italia sacra among the Bishops of Tortona is written Superantius, and is said to have flourished in the year CCCLXXIV, Other Synonyms of his, Bishops of Tortona and in Lucania, and the Tortona Church for forty years to have administered. But proceeds Baronius. There was of the same name Exuperantius, otherwise Superantius, a Bishop in Lucania, by sanctity distinguished, of whom makes mention Uranius in the passing of S. Paulinus Bishop of Nola in Surius Volume 3. Now there is said to S. Paulinus to have entered a certain Presbyter, from the parts of Lucania coming, sent by the holy Bishop Exuberantius, or by a man most illustrious his brother Ursatius. Ferrarius, in his Notes to the elogium of S. Exuperantius, asserts that he understood, no Bishop Exuperantius or Superantius in Lucania for a Saint to be held. Ughelli in Volume 7 of Italia sacra deduces the Episcopates and Bishops of Lucania, but, if his Index is to be trusted, none is found Exuperantius or Superantius in Lucania a Bishop. We wished these things to indicate to the reader, wrongly into Spain translated, for the reason that Tamayo de Salazar, in his Spanish Martyrology at this XXX of May, two produces Saints of this name, from Italy into Spain transferred. Of these one to him is S. Exuperantius Bishop of the Ravennese, whom he says at Uxama commonly Osma, in Hither Spain a Bishop, the Tarraconensian and Aquileian Council to have attended, then of the Ravennese made Prelate; and into Spain returned, the Council of Toledo to have attended; and again to Ravenna set forth, there with a glorious end to have rested. The other is Exuperantius in Lucania a Bishop, who before also had been Bishop of the city of Lucus, commonly Lugo, in Galicia. Tamayo de Salazar relies on the bare citation of recently devised Chronicles under the name of Flavius Dexter and Julian Peter: whose authority although now among men learned for the most part none is even in Spain, foreigners however some less cautious they deceived; to whom grateful it was there to find, whence the defect of desired notices for their fatherland's history to enrich they might supply, among whom we grieve to have been two friends of ours; namely D. Primus Aloysius de Tattis the Author of the Annals of Como, where concerning his Pliny, whom these feigned a Martyr for the faith of Christ in Spain to have died, and in some other places; and D. Hieronymus Fabri, in the Sacred memorials of the Church of Ravenna: who both by us afterward admonished of the foulness of those fabrications, which they would from our work's reading in places very many recognize, grieved that of the Acts by us illustrated the reading thus far to them had not fallen; nor by anyone they were warned that they should beware the fictions, with so great applause when first they came forth received and commended by the Spaniards.
[6] If other Saints of this name Bishops are required, there would be to be brought forward, S. Exuperantius Bishop of Cingoli in Picenum, by us related at the day January XXIV, and S. Exuperantius Bishop of Como, to be produced at the day June XXII. Abbot Piazza, in the Roman Sanctuary at this XXX of May, asserts to be celebrated the feast of S. Exuperantius Deacon Martyr in the church of S. Bartholomew on the island, where his body is preserved. another S. Exuperantius Deacon Martyr, But Panciroli in the Hidden Treasures of the city of Rome, in Region 9 church 1 asserts, this one with Sabinus the Bishop and other Martyrs to be venerated on the day December XXX: which more pleases. I believe however also Piazza concerning the day of the present-day cult, in that respect only assumed, that since the last days of the year enough and more are occupied with Birthday feasts, this day XXX of May also might have some of the same name Saint in the Roman Martyrology, why on this day he is venerated at Rome. although otherwise most diverse. And this example of the Romans can avail in excuse of others, who having received from Rome the bodies and names of Martyrs, them for themselves to be venerated assume on those days, on which such names in the Martyrology they find; although otherwise it to us less is approved, on account of the confusions from such license arising.
[7] Among the Epistles of S. Jerome one is in order XXXV, to Exuperantius, hortatory, that together with his brother Quintilianus he bid farewell to the world, and into Bethlehem himself betake; accordingly written after the year CCCLXXXIV, in which he for himself with his Paula a stable there seat established. It could therefore that have been given when still secular was our S. Exuperantius, first in the year CCCXCVI, Jerome's Epistle to Exuperantius a soldier or three years later according to Ferrarius made a Bishop. Who however will make us certain, that he not long before had renounced the world, and before he returned into Palestine Jerome? Who, even this denied, would dare to assert, one and the same person to be held, not however two of that name? Because however the aforesaid Fabri wished that Epistle to the Ravennese Exuperantius to have been given; although it could, not however is proved, to the Ravennese to have been given, and to his praise to make he thinks, that even under the military cloak and chlamys of the inner man's adornment he was zealous, and him the holy Doctor, worthy thought whom to a more sublime perfection he might invite, and to the communion of letters and of monastic exercise; let us touch something of that Epistle, nothing denying or affirming of him to whom it is given, whether he be the same or not, because nothing in either part can be brought forward from it in aid; nor are there other Epistles of Jerome to the same Exuperantius or his brother (a Presbyter as it seems or a Cleric at least) which if they were had, the matter to us perhaps would explain.
[8] He praising that of him still secular works, Among all things, says beginning Jerome, which to me of the holy brother Quintilianus's friendship have furnished, this even the greatest is, that thee to me unknown in body, in mind it associated. For who would not love him, who under the military cloak and habit does the works of the Prophets, and the outer man another thing promising overcomes by the inner man, who is formed to the image of the Creator? Whence also first to the office I provoke of letters; and I pray that to me an occasion thou give of more often writing back, that I may write more boldly. And a little after, exhorting to a generous of riches abdication, he subjoins: Cast away the burden of the world: do not seek riches, which to camels' crookednesses are compared: naked and light to heaven fly up, lest the wings of thy virtues the weights of gold press down. This however I say, not that thee covetous I have learned, he urges to abdicate riches, but that I understand for this reason still to soldiery to give work, that thou mayest fill the little sack, which to empty the Lord commanded. If therefore those who have possessions and riches are bidden all to sell and give to the poor, and so to follow the Savior; thy worthiness either rich is, and ought to do what is commanded; or still slender, and ought not to seek what it is about to expend. And in the end of the Epistle it he closes, by saying: and to himself at Bethlehem to be joined. And thou therefore the to be expended things do not seek, but the sought already bestow: that thy most valiant little recruit his Christ may recognize, that glad to thee from a far region coming may meet the father, that a robe he may give, that he may bestow a ring, that he may immolate for thee a calf fatted; and expedited with the holy brother Quintilianus to us quickly may make to sail. I have knocked at friendship's doors: if thou open, us frequently thou wilt have as guests.