Nonnosus

ON ST. NONNOSUS, PROVOST OF THE MONASTERY OF MOUNT SORACTE IN ETRURIA, IN THE CHURCH OF ETRURIA,

In the sixth century, about its middle.

PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.

The Saint's memory in the sacred Calendars: the writer of his Acts, St. Gregory: the place and time in which the Saint flourished.

Nonnosus, provost of the monastery of Mount Soracte, in the Church of Etruria. (S.)

BY J. S.

Although St. Nonnosus had as the herald of his praises St. Gregory, and his veneration is ancient enough, The Saint inscribed in the Martyrologies. as will afterwards be shown from the translations of his body, yet I find no memory of him among the older martyrologists made public. Nevertheless Peter de Natalibus recorded him as a saint in the Catalogue, bk. XI, ch. 97, where he recites an elogium from St. Gregory. The same the author of our Ms. Florarium announced in the fifteenth century in these few words at the 2nd of September: Likewise of saint Nonnosus the monk. The Lübeck-Cologne edition of Usuard of the year 1490 has added on the same day the memory of saint Nonnosus in this manner: On the same day, of saint Nonnosus the monk. The edition of Belinus which followed: Of Nonnosus, monk and confessor. Molanus added more concerning the saint in these words: Of Nonnosus, monk and confessor, of whom Gregory writes in bk. 1 of the Dialogues, ch. 7, that among other miracles he moved a huge stone by his prayers, repaired a broken lamp, and increased oil. Canisius nearly agrees in the German Martyrology. Baronius rightly added the place in the Roman Martyrology, but less rightly the title of abbot; for he has thus: On mount Soracte, of saint Nonnosus the abbot, who by his prayer removed a rock of huge mass, and shone with other miracles. Ferrari in the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy expressed the whole elogium of Gregory, that is, the Acts to be given, to which he adds, taken I know not whence: He fell asleep in the Lord on the IV of the Nones of September. Finally Castellanus celebrates St. Nonnosus on the XIX of August and on the 2nd of September, because on the former day he is venerated at Bamberg, as was observed in our work among the passed-over entries at that same XIX day of August.

[2] Some deeds of St. Nonnosus St. Gregory the Great recorded in bk. 1 of the Dialogues, ch. 7, St. Gregory the Great wrote his Acts: as he had learned them from contemporaries and most trustworthy men, whom he himself names. One of them was Maximian, prelate of Syracuse, to whom for this cause St. Gregory wrote letter 51 of the third book of the new edition, which is of this kind: My brethren, who live familiarly with me, by every means compel me to write briefly some things about the miracles of the fathers which we have heard were done in Italy. For which matter I greatly need the comfort of your charity, that you may briefly indicate to me those things which come back to your memory, and which you have happened to have known. For of the lord Nonnosus the abbot, who was beside the lord Anastasius of Pentoma *, I remember that you related some things which I have consigned to forgetfulness. This therefore, and any others there may be, I ask to be impressed in your letters, and to be sent to me with speed, if however you are not yourself hastening to me. That what Gregory here asks was granted by Maximian is clear from the beginning of the elogium to be recited. Moreover this holy Maximian, of whom we treated in our work at the IX day of June, before his episcopate had been abbot at Rome of the Gregorian monastery, and at that time, or already before, had doubtless learned what he knew of St. Nonnosus. Another witness adduced by Gregory is Laurio, an aged monk of a neighboring monastery, whose abbot St. Anastasius had been on familiar terms with saint Nonnosus. Gregory's account, therefore, is most worthy of credit, even though it contains marvels.

[3] Gregory was writing these things while there was still living Maximian, who is said to have died in the year 594, the time and place in which the Saint lived: by others 596. But since Gregory brings forward only the authority of two old men, it is likely that St. Nonnosus had by then been dead thirty or forty years. For this cause I have fixed his death about the middle of the sixth century, with an extension of many years in which he might have lived later or died earlier. Mabillon in the Acts of the Benedictine Saints, vol. 1, p. 246, where he gives the Saint's elogium from Gregory, notes in the margin about the year DLXXVI, but alleges no reasons. The most illustrious de Aste in his Annotations on the Roman Martyrology, about the year DXX. Castellanus broadly assigns the sixth century. The place our Predecessors briefly described thus in the treatise on Anastasius at the XI of January: It is a mountain of Italy in the Faliscan territory beside the bank of the Tiber, called by the ancients Soractes and Soracte, now commonly the mountain of St. Sylvester, from the monastery which in honor of St. Sylvester Carloman built, as Aimoin testifies in bk. 4, ch. 60, or at any rate restored: for there was before this a monastery on Soracte, as will be clear below from St. Gregory. Leander (as also others) says that this name was given to the mountain because on it St. Sylvester the Pontiff once lay hidden: but those hiding-places of Sylvester are today commonly rejected as fictitious. Mabillon and others ascribe mount Soracte to Etruria. But that is to be understood of ancient or entire Etruria, not of the present grand duchy of Etruria, since it is in that part of Etruria which belongs to the supreme Pontiff, between the town of Nepi and the Tiber: it is commonly called S. Oreste, as the place is named by Castellanus.

[4] Finally there occurs a doubt whether St. Nonnosus was abbot of his monastery, he was not abbot, but provost of the monastery. as he is called in the letter of St. Gregory recited; or rather provost, as he will be called below. Wion in the Lignum Vitæ calls him abbot with Baronius. But Menard in bk. 1 of the Observations on the Benedictine Martyrology, p. 321, writes thus: St. Nonnosus was called abbot in this Martyrology: but he was only provost in the monastery of mount Soracte, as St. Gregory says in bk. 1 of the Dialogues, ch. 7, who also says that he was under the father of the monastery. Mabillon in vol. 1 of the Annals, p. 170, has this on the matter: Gregory in the letter to Maximian, bishop of Syracuse, says that he had forgotten what the latter had related to him about the lord Nonnosus the abbot, who was beside the lord Anastasius of Pentoma; and he desires again to learn these things from him. Here is a double error, both that he calls Nonnosus abbot, who was only provost; and that he writes Pentoma for Suppentonia: both which mistakes Gregory corrected in the first book of the Dialogues. The error in the title of abbot could easily creep upon St. Gregory, while he had not yet sufficiently known the Saint's deeds, about which for that reason he questions Maximian. But he doubtless taught Gregory by his letters that St. Nonnosus was not abbot, but the second officer of the monastery, who at that time was called provost, now commonly prior. Of the provost the Rule of St. Benedict treats in ch. 65. Nevertheless Mabillon himself doubted whether Nonnosus was of his own Order, since he printed his Acts in smaller characters, as he was accustomed to do with those about whose Order he doubted. To these I subjoin the Acts, being about to examine the translations of his body below.

*. better, of Suppentonia

THE ACTS

By St. Gregory the Great, bk. 1 of the Dialogues, ch. 7.

Nonnosus, provost of the monastery of Mount Soracte, in the Church of Etruria. (S.)

BHL Number: 6247 By St. Gregory the Great.

[The Saint, a familiar of St. Anastasius abbot of Suppentonia, and notable for humility,] Gregory. I shall now tell you something about a neighboring place, which I have learned by the account both of the venerable man Maximian the bishop and of Laurio, whom you know, a veteran monk, each of whom survives to this day: which Laurio, namely, in that monastery which beside the city of Nepi is called Suppentonia ^a, was brought up by Anastasius, a most holy man. Which Anastasius indeed was continually joined to Nonnosus, a man of venerable life, provost of the monastery [b] which is situated on mount Soracte, both by the nearness of the place and by greatness of manners and by zeal for the virtues. And the same Nonnosus lived under a most harsh Father of his monastery: but he always bore his manners with wondrous equanimity. And so he presided over the Brethren in gentleness, as he often out of humility soothed the Father's wrathfulness.

[2] by prayer he moves a huge rock from its place, But since his monastery is situated on the very summit of the mountain, no level ground lay open for the Brethren to cultivate even the smallest garden; but one very small space had grown out on the side of the mountain, which a mass of huge rock naturally projecting occupied. On a certain day, while Nonnosus, a venerable man, was thinking that that place could have been fit at least for growing herbs for seasoning, if the mass of that rock did not hold it, it came to his mind that fifty yoke of oxen could not move that mass. And when despair had been felt of human labor, he betook himself to divine comfort, and gave himself there to prayer in the silence of the night. And when in the morning the Brethren came to that place, they found that a mass of so great size had withdrawn far from that place, and by its withdrawal had given the Brethren ample room.

[3] At another time also, when the same venerable Man was washing glass lamps in the oratory, he repairs a broken lamp, one fell from his hands, which was shattered into innumerable pieces: and he, fearing the most violent fury of the Father of the monastery, at once gathered all the fragments of the lamp and placed them before the altar, and gave himself to prayer with heavy groaning. And when he had lifted his head from prayer, he found the lamp whole, which in fear he had gathered in fragments. And thus in two miracles he imitated the powers of two Fathers: in the mass of rock, the deed of Gregory [c], who moved a mountain; and in the repairing of the lamp, the power of Donatus [d], who restored a broken chalice to its former soundness. Peter [e]. We have, as I see, new miracles from old examples.

[4] Gregory. Do you wish to learn something in Nonnosus's working about his imitation of Elisha also? and multiplies oil. Peter. I wish it, and eagerly desire it. Gregory. When on a certain day old oil was lacking in the monastery, and the time for gathering olives was already at hand, but no fruit appeared on the olive trees, it seemed good to the Father of the monastery that the Brethren should go round about to do work for strangers in gathering olives; so that from the wage of their work they might carry off a little oil for the monastery. Which the Man of the Lord Nonnosus forbade to be done with great humility [f], lest the Brethren, going out from the monastery, while they sought gains of oil, should suffer losses of souls. But since on the monastery's trees a few olives seemed to be, he ordered them to be gathered and put in the press, and however little oil could come out, to be brought to him. And it was done, and the Brethren brought the oil received in a little vessel to Nonnosus the servant of God: which he at once placed before the altar, and, all going out, he prayed, and afterwards, the Brethren being called, he ordered that they should lift the oil which they had brought, and by pouring a little should divide it among all the vessels of the monastery, so that all might be seen to be filled with the blessing of that oil: which at once, empty as they were, he caused to be closed. But on the following day, when they were opened, all were found full [g]. Peter. We prove daily that the words of Truth are fulfilled, which say: My Father works until now, and I work.

Aldobrandini, archbishop of Ravenna and Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, at the beginning of the seventeenth century restored the monastery on mount Soracte, and placed in it reformed Cistercians, that is, of the Foglianti Congregation. Hear Ughelli in vol. 2 of the Italia sacra, col. 395, in the article on Pietro Aldobrandini:

And on mount Soracte he furnished to the Cistercian monks of the congregation of the Foglianti an ancient dwelling of former days, more elegantly repaired, to be inhabited, a more suitable revenue being applied, which might suffice for those who were to serve the Godhead day and night. Of the cult restored there we shall treat afterwards. c. He designates St. Gregory, bishop of Neocæsarea, surnamed the Wonderworker, whose like deed is everywhere celebrated, and in whose Life it is narrated by St. Gregory of Nyssa, as the editor observes. That Saint is venerated on the 17th of November. d. The editor of St. Gregory's Works with Mabillon understands St. Donatus, bishop of Arezzo and martyr. And in fact in the Acts of St. Donatus in Mombritius the miraculous repair of a broken chalice is asserted. But those Acts are written so confusedly that the deeds of two men named Donatus seem mingled, namely of the one of Arezzo and of the one of Eurœa in Epirus. Consult what was said in the treatise on St. Donatus of Arezzo at the VII of August, and in that on Donatus of Eurœa at the XXX of April. e. This Peter, who converses with St. Gregory in the Dialogues, was a deacon, of whom he himself has thus at the beginning of the Dialogues: My most beloved son Peter the deacon was present, bound to me familiarly in friendship from the first flower of my youth, and my companion in the search for the sacred word, etc. An historical elogium of this Peter Mabillon gives in vol. 1 of the Acts of his Order, p. 497. f. By modestly persuading the abbot that it was not expedient, as the words with great humility suggest. g. A like deed of the prophet St. Elisha is read in 4 Kings 4.

THE SAINT'S POSTHUMOUS GLORY

That is, an appendix concerning the translations of his relics, his cult and miracles.

Nonnosus, provost of the monastery of Mount Soracte, in the Church of Etruria. (S.)

BY J. S.

§ I. The body of St. Nonnosus translated to Freising: the author of the translation and the time are investigated, and other matters pertaining hereto are elucidated: the finding of the body at Freising in the twelfth century. [ ] The body of St. Nonnosus formerly translated to Freising, Freising, an episcopal city, situated almost in the middle of Bavaria on the river Isar, and to the prelate subject as to a prince, has possessed for many centuries the most precious body of St. Nonnosus, whom as its patron it venerates with great piety. But it is not altogether established whence and at what time, or by whose exertion, the men of Freising obtained this treasure. For whence the body of St. Nonnosus was translated to Freising I find nowhere sufficiently set forth; and about the time of the translation and its author there are various opinions of various men, which I shall presently begin to discuss, when I have noted a few things about the place from which it could have been translated to Freising. We cannot doubt that the body of St. Nonnosus was buried in the monastery of mount Soracte, of which he had been Provost, or Prior, as at this time the second superior of Benedictine abbeys is more commonly called. Nevertheless his sacred body does not seem to have remained in that monastery, which was destroyed by the Lombards, until the Freising Translation; but to have been translated to a safer place. Antonio de Effectis in the Italian little Work on the Monuments of St. Nonnosus, of mount Soracte, and of the adjacent places, which was published at Rome in the year 1675, part 1, ch. 4, p. 27, writes in Italian what I render into Latin: The said monastery was destroyed by the Lombards, and in what way the body of St. Nonnosus was carried to Freising, a city of Bavaria, I shall say in its own place. Others believe that by some hermit, or by a Bavarian or Flemish monk, part of the body was carried to the said city, where it is even today venerated with notable veneration; but part to the Castle of St. Elias, the citizens of the place affirming from ancient tradition that those relics are preserved in their church together with the relics of St. Anastasius the monk, though they do not know the determinate place. That tradition of the inhabitants of the Castle of St. Elias brings in the suspicion that the body was first carried thither: but the ignorance of the place and the interruption of the cult still more persuade that it was not left there.

[2] The said writer presently subjoins the following: Unless we prefer to say with Platina that Pope Adrian I, when he foresaw the sacrilegious barbarity of the Lombards, ordained that all relics should be carried from the holy places and cemeteries to the city, and it had probably before been carried to the Castle of St. Elias: lest they be profaned by the impious. Whence to the Castle of St. Elias, which was fortified and therefore called a Castle, these relics of St. Nonnosus and others from neighboring places may have been translated. I do not indeed find the passage of Platina which he cites, in the life of Adrian I; but the deed is such that it is credible that it was done by several Pontiffs. The same writer in part 2, ch. 2, p. 768, where he treats of the Freising translation, brings forward other things which increase the suspicion that the body was first translated to the Castle of St. Elias, and thence afterwards to Freising: which some have believed happened by stealth. For he speaks thus of the tradition or report of a furtive translation: That the same report flourishes even today in the Castle of St. Elias Fr. Stella testifies in the Life of St. Nonnosus, both printed and manuscript, since the inhabitants of the place believe that there is still found in their church, dedicated to St. Anastasius, the tomb of St. Nonnosus without his relics, which were secretly carried off thence by traveling Religious.

Since he said above that it is the tradition of those citizens that the relics of St. Nonnosus are today kept in an unknown place of their church, and now on another's opinion asserts the same of the tomb, it may be suspected that the opinions of the inhabitants are divided, and that some would have only an empty tomb remain, but others that the relics of St. Nonnosus are still had in the church of the Castle of St. Elias. The assertion of both parties makes it likely that the body was at some time translated thither; but it appears certain enough from elsewhere that the relics were not left there, as will be clear from what is to be said about the Freising translation, of which I shall now begin to treat.

[3] the monuments from which the history of the translations must be sought: Karl Meichelbeck, of the Order of St. Benedict, published in our century the History of Freising, comprised in two volumes, in which that learned writer in various places treats of the translation and findings of the body of St. Nonnosus. That from this Work, compared with the little Work already praised of Antonio de Effectis, the history of the translation of St. Nonnosus could be gathered, I had sufficiently perceived when I undertook to elucidate the Acts of St. Nonnosus; but I grieved that very many miracles, wrought at the time of the translation and afterwards, were wanting to me; when most kindly there came to our aid the most reverend lord Ildephonsus, abbot of Weihenstephan, who not only communicated to us the desired miracles, but also added a learned Collection by which he might show me the way to dispatch this history of the translation more easily. I shall therefore gratefully use the labor bestowed by that most learned abbot: I shall also use the labors of R. Fr. Maurice Chardon, rector of our college of Constance, by whose industry all things were collected for us and sent, and besides not a few miracles which will be given below, rendered into Latin from the German idiom. This commemoration of men who have deserved excellently of the Acts of St. Nonnosus had to be premised as a token of a grateful mind, by which also it will come about that the reader may understand what I mean when I shall name the Collection of the most reverend abbot of Weihenstephan.

[4] [some attribute the translation to Hitto and to the ninth century, but others to Nitger and to the eleventh:] Some attribute the translation of St. Nonnosus to Hitto, who is sixth among the prelates of Freising, and who administered that church laudably from about the year 811 to the year 835, as Meichelbeck tries to show in vol. 1, where he treats fully of Hitto's deeds. This opinion connects the translation with the ninth century. But others, and more writers, assert that the body was translated to Freising by bishop Nitger, whose beginnings Meichelbeck referred to the year 1039, his end to about the year 1052. If therefore their opinion is true, the body was translated in the eleventh century. Antonio de Effectis strives somehow to reconcile both opinions, who judges that part of the body was first carried to Freising by Hitto, but another part translated thither in the time of bishop Notger. Since none of these opinions is destitute of its own reasons, it must be diligently investigated which appears the more probable.

[5] In the Proper of the Feasts, or Breviary of the diocese of Freising, various men are reported who said that the body was translated in Nitger's time; which was printed in the preceding century, at the 2nd of September there are three lessons concerning St. Nonnosus, taken from St. Gregory, with this addition at the end: Whose sacred body, carried hither to Freising by bishop Nitger, is honorably kept. Hund in the Metropolis Salisburgensis, vol. 3, p. 435, recites from an old Ms. book a German elogium of Nitger, in which the translation is ascribed to him. For this opinion Antonio de Effectis in part 2 of his little Work, ch. 2, adduces also the authority of Marcus Chingen of the Society of Jesus, who was confessor of the bishop of Freising, and being asked about St. Nonnosus answered thus: After diligent inquiry I have found this. The body of St. Nonnosus, who was provost of the monastery situated on mount Soracte, was translated to Freising by Nitger, bishop of Freising… Of this sacred body, after the twofold fire by which the church of Freising utterly perished, there are now had only three larger bones with some few relics. So he, before the other part of the body was found. The same writer adds the words of the vicar general of Freising, who supports the same opinion. Ægidius Ranbeck in the Benedictine Calendar at the 2nd of September wove an elogium of St. Nonnosus from St. Gregory, and likewise ascribed his translation to Nitger, as I learn from the said Collection of Ildephonsus, abbot of Weihenstephan, who there recited that whole elogium. Finally the same opinion was embraced by our Hansiz, vol. 1 of the Germania sacra, corollary 10 at the end, where he records the feast of the Saint instituted at Passau * in these words: Most lately among the proper feasts of the diocese of Passau has been reckoned St. Nonnosus the abbot, whose body, once carried from the monastery which was on mount Soracte to Freising by bishop Nitger, then discovered by John Francis, prelate of Freising, in the year MDCCVIII, on the XXVII day of January, and exposed to public veneration in the following year, on the 2nd day of September, at once became famous by many benefits. Raymond the bishop ordered his feast to be kept on the same 2nd day of September under a semidouble rite with proper lessons throughout the diocese of Passau. These things I have recited, that that extension of the cult, to which the most recent finding of the body gave occasion, might at the same time be understood. But now let us likewise report the chief foundations of the former opinion, which attributes the translation to Hitto.

[6] Meichelbeck in vol. 1, p. 117, in the section on Hitto has thus: arguments favoring Hitto are also given, I read in a certain old codex which is kept in the renowned monastery of Andechs that by Hitto, bishop of Freising, not only the bodies of SS. Alexander and Justinus, but also that of St. Nonnosus the confessor, were brought to Freising. That we may say this to be credible we are moved the more easily in proportion as it is the more certain to us that this Saint's feast was already noted in the Freising Liturgy, written before the thousandth year of Christ, and that indeed in large rubricated letters, as Gamans observed. Certainly that those three sacred bodies were found together in the restoration of the cathedral church made by bishop Albert I, we shall say elsewhere. Three arguments are here mentioned together, each of which has its own force. The first is from the authority of an old codex, which, however, is easily outweighed by those just brought forward for the contrary opinion. The second has a more effectual force, provided the antiquity of the said liturgy is sufficiently established: for it is not credible that the memory of St. Nonnosus was inscribed in the Freising liturgy before the Saint's relics were carried thither. The third has a certain likelihood, because the bodies were afterwards found together; yet not much efficacy for proving, as will presently be clear.

[7] but of these the first and third are of small moment, In the second argument I should most readily acquiesce, did not Meichelbeck himself bring forward other things by which its force is not a little weakened. Hear the said writer in the section on Nitger, p. 248, where he thus opposes the same argument to the other: To whom also the domestic catalogues of the bishops add another encomium, namely that Nitger brought from Italy to Freising the body of St. Nonnosus, provost or prior of the monastery of Soracte, daily famous for wondrous benefits to the wretched. But that we should not so easily assent to this opinion Gamans stands in the way, who writes that in the Calendar of a most ancient Freising liturgy, written before the thousandth year of Christ, he found the feast of St. Nonnosus, and that expressed in large rubricated letters; so that the body of that holy Confessor would seem to have been kept at Freising many years before Nitger's episcopate. Whence it is better rather to assent to those parchments in which that translation of St. Nonnosus is asserted of bishop Hitto, as we have noted elsewhere. I confess that that reasoning is rightly drawn out; but I doubt whether the foundation on which it rests is so solid that it can firmly sustain so great a structure. Certainly all the Freising monuments, namely the Breviary, the catalogues of the bishops, the German instrument adduced by Hund, and the judgments of others already mentioned, far outweigh one codex of Andechs, whose antiquity is not stated. Besides, that the bodies were found together in the twelfth century proves nothing, since the bodies of SS. Alexander and Justinus did not remain in the place in which they were first deposited, but were translated to the cathedral, and there found. Those three sacred bodies could therefore have been joined when they were translated to the cathedral.

[8] but the second, which is the chief one, is thus weakened Now let it be permitted to ask, whence Gamans knew that the said Liturgy was written before the thousandth year? If he had had certain marks of that antiquity, he would doubtless have expressed them. And so I scarcely doubt that he judged of the antiquity of the Liturgy from its characters, as some writers are wont to do, who at a mere glance at a Ms. codex presently pass judgment on its antiquity, and define with certainty in what century the codex was written. But let those learned judges of ancient codices pardon me if I do not attribute so great a certainty to their judgment as they perhaps think should be attributed to the examination of their own eyes; if, I say, I think that they can easily go astray by very many years, nay and now and then by a century or two. Moreover, that there has here been an error in the century of the Liturgy's writing is my strong suspicion, partly from what has been said, partly from what Meichelbeck himself again wrote in the section on Hitto, p. 116, in this manner: To Hitto's praises chiefly belongs this, which one of the monks of Weihenstephan, a writer of the eleventh century or at most of the twelfth, added at the IV of the Ides of December to the Martyrology of the venerable Bede in these words: "Hitto, bishop of Freising, who in that place first began the service of God with one provost and six prebendaries; who also brought hither St. Alexander and St. Justinus from Rome." I read in another Weihenstephan codex that the foundation of that college happened in the year of Christ DCCCXXX… But the translation of the bodies of the holy Alexander, Pope and martyr, and of St. Justinus the priest, we see referred to the year of Christ DCCCXXXIV, in which they write that Hitto came to Rome and, being kindly received by Pope Gregory IV, was presented with those sacred and other relics at the feast of Pentecost.

[9] These words, I say, compared with the preceding, bring in the suspicion to me [from the silence of various writers, so that it must yield to the arguments of the contrary opinion, which appears the more probable:] that not by Hitto, but by Nitger, the relics of St. Nonnosus were obtained, and that the said liturgy was written under the same Nitger or later: for both that monk of Weihenstephan, a writer of the eleventh or twelfth century, and the others mentioned, who assigned the year and day of the translated bodies of SS. Alexander and Justinus, seem neither to have been able to be ignorant of, nor to keep silence about, the body of St. Nonnosus, if it had been obtained by that same

Hitto. This argument is confirmed by the donation which among the instruments of that same volume, p. 353, n. 709, Meichelbeck published: for in it is read: This was done in a public synod on the mount of St. Stephen, where the bones with the dust of saint Alexander and saint Justinus are seen honorably buried. The instrument is of the year 860. And the author subjoins certain words of the Weihenstephan Chronicle, by which is established the translation of the bodies of SS. Alexander and Justinus from the said monastery to the cathedral of Freising, but likewise without any mention of St. Nonnosus. It appears therefore certain enough that the body of St. Nonnosus was not in the ninth century joined with the bodies of SS. Alexander and Justinus, and that those erred who thought that those three bodies were translated to Freising together. And to this error occasion could have been given by the finding of those bodies in the cathedral of Freising, where they were afterwards found together, as we shall see. But other writers, who attribute the translation of St. Nonnosus to Nitger, did not fall into that error concerning the bodies of Alexander and Justinus translated with him; and both for this cause, and because they seem more numerous and older, I judge their opinion more probable than the other, yet so that I shall readily go over to the contrary opinion if by certain reasons the asserted antiquity of the Freising Liturgy is shown.

[10] There remains to be briefly examined the opinion of Antonio de Effectis, it is not likely that a part was translated by each of the said bishops: who believed that some relics of St. Nonnosus were translated by Hitto, but others afterwards obtained by Nitger. No other reason fights for this opinion than that some attribute the translation to Hitto, others to Nitger, and that the writers can thus easily be reconciled. But the age of those writers does not attribute to them so great an authority as to compel us to a reconciliation of this kind. For the other reason the said writer had alleged the various fires of the church of Freising; and since at that time only three larger bones of St. Nonnosus were known to be had at Freising, he conjectured that the other part of the body, which he suspected had been translated by Hitto, was consumed by fire before Nitger's times, and that this was the cause why Nitger obtained the part left in Italy. But this reason has utterly collapsed after the greater part of the body, which had long lain hidden, was found in the year 1708. For that those three bones were separated from the rest of the body when the relics were first found in the twelfth century, that they might be exposed to the veneration of the faithful, is far more likely and credible than that that separation happened on account of a twofold translation, which is supported by no authority.

[11] the occasion and manner of the translation is uncertain. On what occasion or in what manner the relics of St. Nonnosus fell to the church of Freising through Nitger cannot be certainly defined. Antonio de Effectis in part 2, ch. 2, writes that it is the constant report and tradition of the church of Freising that they were secretly carried off from Italy by Flemish monks, and handed over to the church of Freising. To the men of Freising themselves I leave the judgment of this tradition, since I do not find it in their own writings, and since the relics could have been translated in many other ways, namely by the emperor, who in Nitger's time was crowned at Rome, and afterwards returned into Bavaria; by Nitger himself, whom it is established to have been in Italy; and finally by legates who could have been sent for this cause. I do not know, therefore, whether what the said author writes in Italian deserves much credit (although otherwise like things have now and then happened), which I render into Latin in this manner: Signor Giovanni Carlo Ferrucci, musician of the most serene elector of Bavaria, to whom it had been written that he should give information in what way those relics had been translated to Freising, answered: by those Flemish monks who, coming from Rome, were returning by that road into Flanders: and that this is not only the opinion of the vicar general, but the ancient tradition of the clergy of that city.

That the same report flourishes even today in the Castle of St. Elias, Fr. Stella testifies in the Life of St. Nonnosus, both printed and manuscript, since the inhabitants of the place believe that there is still found in their church, dedicated to St. Anastasius, the tomb of St. Nonnosus without his relics, which were secretly carried off thence by traveling

Religious.

[12] The body of St. Nonnosus found in the twelfth century with two others, That the body of St. Nonnosus was afterwards found on occasion of the restoration of the cathedral church, Meichelbeck narrates in the section on Albert I, p. 357, in these words: The foundations were to be laid, as we have just said, for the new structure of the cathedral basilica, and the diggers had long applied their hands to the work, when lo! three bodies were found, which aged men contended were those of the holy Alexander, Pope and martyr, of Justinus the confessor, and of Nonnosus the monk, carried by bishop Hitto from Rome to Freising. But since credit was not given to those witnesses, those sacred bones lay neglected for some time not only without veneration, but even without any custody, and at last were now to be carried outside the entrance of the church. But when the bearers had brought those sacred remains to the place of the church door, they were by no means able to set foot outside the church precinct, so that, the matter being more weighed and more maturely discussed, there was no one who did not understand that what the men heavy with age had asserted was true. Hence, minds being at once turned to other counsels, a little wooden shrine was built, in which those sacred bones might be covered for the time, while the new fabric of the church rose up. Many prodigies which happened at that little shrine increased the faith of the unbelieving, when from the bodies of the possessed the malignant guests were cast out, the blind received the use of their eyes, and mortals harassed by various other kinds of diseases were set free. Thus God willed that the bones of his Saints should thereafter be honored with a greater cult of the faithful. These things on the credit of Freiberger. But whence he excerpted that narrative remains hitherto unknown to us: and meanwhile we again suspect that very many parchments and papers of Freising either perished by the carelessness of those at home, or were lost by the fraud of outsiders.

[13] Truly that the sacred pledges of the divine Nonnosus were, by saint Eberhard, archbishop of Salzburg, and deposited in the crypt of the cathedral church, where it long lay hidden. and by our most religious prelate Albert, laid up in a raised tomb of the crypt of the cathedral church, with illustrious tokens afterwards added, appeared by God's wondrous providence, when the most exalted and most reverend prince and bishop of Freising, John Francis, on the XXVII day of January in the year MDCCVIII beyond all expectation uncovered and opened that tomb. Of which matter it will be possible to treat with a full hand in its own place. Thus far the said writer, with whom I shall set forth in its own place the finding and translation of this sacred treasure, which, after the translation just set forth, again, save a few bones, passed into oblivion. Moreover, as regards the time of the body's deposition in the crypt, that deposition was made in the year 1161, as is clear from the inscription which in the year 1708 was found with the sacred bones. This inscription is read in the German little Work which Benedict Eberschwang published in the year 1709, and there at p. 29 it is expressed in this manner: ANNO. INCAR. DNI. M. CLXI. ANNO. ALBERTI.

FRISING. EPI. III. PRÆSENTE. EBERARDO. SALBURG. ARCHEPO. TNSLATU. T CORP. SCT. NONNOSI. CFESO. POST. INCENDIU. IN.

HANC. CRIPTA. The seal of each prelate was also found. That of Salzburg has this inscription round the circuit, published by the same author at p. 34: eberhardus. Dei. gratia. salzeburgensis. archi. eps. And this was on the seal of Albert of Freising: ADALBERTUS. DE. GRARIA. FRISINGENSIS. EPS. These monuments leave no doubt about the time of the translation.

*. Passau § II. The cult of St. Nonnosus restored on mount Soracte in the past century; relics sent thither from Freising; benefits obtained there.

[ ] The cult began to be restored in the monastery of mount Soracte; The monastery of mount Soracte being destroyed or deserted, and the relics of Saint Nonnosus translated to Freising, his memory, or at any rate his cult, had utterly faded away in the former place, until about the middle of the seventeenth century it was brought about by the piety and industry of certain monks that it was as it were raised again from the ashes. This history is fully narrated by Antonio de Effectis, a contemporary of the events, in part 2, ch. 3, whose account I shall transfer hither partly in summary, partly by rendering his very words into Latin, as shall seem expedient to our purpose. I said in the Annotations on the Acts, letter b, that the monastery on mount Soracte was restored, and to the reformed Cistercians handed over about the beginning of the seventeenth century by the most eminent Aldobrandini. But, as on account of the perpetual dangers of lightning it had often before been deserted, so again from this monastery, partly destroyed by lightning, the said Religious had withdrawn into the hermitage of St. Mary of Graces, as into a place less exposed to lightning. One had remained to guard the monastery, Fr. Andrew of St. Bonaventure, born at Borgo San Sepolcro, who, armed with great confidence in God, led there a solitary life, and was led by a tender piety toward St. Nonnosus, since he knew that that same place had been inhabited by him. So much had he already accomplished, says the said de Effectis, that in the year MDCLV, on the VII day of August, he obtained from the sacred Congregation of Rites the faculty of celebrating Mass (of St. Nonnosus), and in the year MDCLVIII, on the VII day of September, the faculty of reciting the Saint's Office from the common on his feast day. This was the beginning of the restored cult.

[15] and there notice was obtained concerning the feast and the relics at Freising: In the same year 1658, on the XX day of November, being about to return from Rome into France, Fr. Pierre Naude, a French priest of the Order of St. Paul the first hermit at Troyes in Champagne, with a lay companion, climbed mount Soracte. This priest, while he was surveying the places of the monastery memorable for the miracles of St. Nonnosus, narrated that on his journey through Bavaria he had come to a certain city in which the feast of St. Nonnosus was kept with a most solemn rite, and that he had seen lessons of the Office composed from St. Gregory, in which were reported the miracles whose narration he was hearing in his survey of the places. Since the name of the city had slipped from the said Father Naude, he promised that he would use all diligence on his return through Germany, that he might be able to tell where the Saint's feast was celebrated. Fr. Naude stood by his promises, and on the XXIII day of January of the year

1660 he sent to the monks of mount Soracte, enclosed in his letters, a testimonial of Johann Jakob Gasner, vicar general of the prince and bishop of Freising, which was conceived in these words: The vicar in spirituals general of the bishopric of Freising. By these presents we make known and attest that the sacred remains of the venerable body of St. Nonnosus the confessor, whom, as they report, it is established by trustworthy monuments to have lived at some time in the monastery of mount Soracte — remains translated by Nitger, bishop of Freising, to this cathedral church — are still at present honored with the pious and religious cult of Christ's faithful, and that his yearly memory, as of a singular patron, is celebrated on the 2nd of September with a solemn Office by the clergy of the said diocese: in faith whereof these presents are strengthened with the seal of the office which * we bear, and with the subscription of our hand, which were given at Freising on the XIX day of November MDCLIX, etc. This testimonial, together with the proper lessons of the second Nocturn, as they are recited at Freising, the monks of Soracte received through the lay companion of the aforesaid Father Naude on the

XI day of April of the year 1660.

[16] [Albert Sigismund, bishop of Freising, sends the relics asked for by the men of Soracte,] The monks of Soracte, having received this notice, zealously labored to obtain some part of the Saint's relics. They therefore pressed with prayers upon the most reverend lord Giacinto Fantozzi and D. Arcangelo di Lazzara. And these, using the help of Fr. Michael Estmor of the Society of Jesus, penitentiary at Rome for the Germans, sent letters both to the most serene prince of Freising and to his confessor, R. Fr. Marcus Chingen of the Society of Jesus. To these letters, in which a part of the relics of St. Nonnosus was begged, the most serene prince Albert Sigismund assented, and gave one bone with authentic letters which we shall presently recite, committing the care of sending it to his said confessor. And he, using the first occasion, committed it to be carried by R. Fr. Georg Moligni, Rector of the Society of Jesus at Munich, who was going to Rome with the R. Fr. Provincial to the general congregation; and thus the relics came to Fr. Michael Estmor, who with others carried them on the III day of July of the year 1661 to the most eminent Cardinal Antonio Barberini, who was Commendatory abbot of the monastery of St. Sylvester on mount Soracte. He also showed the most eminent Cardinal the letters of R. Fr. Chingen, given on the XX of March of the year 1661, in which this was read: At length I send the relics of St. Nonnosus with the authentic instrument through the R. Fr. Rector of Munich, etc. My most serene and most reverend prince most graciously charged me in his name, etc.

[17] The most eminent lord opened and recognized the relics, decently wrapped with letters, and secured with various seals, as also the authentic instrument joined to them, which I shall insert in this place, since by it many of the aforesaid things are confirmed. Antonio de Effectis, from whom we have taken all these things, recites it at p. 176 in this manner: Albert Sigismund, by the grace of God and of the Apostolic See bishop of Freising, Count Palatine, duke and Landgrave of Leuchtenberg, to all, etc., greeting, etc. With notice of the undersigned matters there came to us in the past year MDCLX letters of the most reverend D. Giacinto Fantozzi of the Land of Sant'Oreste, anciently called of St. Edistus, vicar general in spirituals and temporals of the most eminent and most reverend D. Cardinal Antonio Barberini, abbot and perpetual commendatary of the abbey of the Three Fountains at the Aquæ Salviæ of the City, and of St. Sylvester on Mount Soracte, of the said land of Sant'Oreste, of no diocese, of the Province of Siena: letters of the secular clergy of the same land, of the Prior and monks of the Reformed congregation of St. Bernard of the Cistercian Order in the monastery of saint Sylvester and of B. Mary of Graces dwelling on the said Mount Soracte, and of the community and men of the said Land of Sant'Oreste, in which it was contained that, when the said secular clergy and the aforesaid monks heard read in the Roman Martyrology every year for the second day of September the feasts of the Saints, and especially: "On Mount Soracte, of St. Nonnosus the abbot, who by his prayer removed a rock of huge mass, and shone with other miracles," they marveled and often spoke together, sighing and grieving that of such a Saint on the said Mount, where he passed his life, no feast was kept, nor was it known where his sacred body and his holy relics were extant; and in this state the ages of so many years passed by.

[18] At length in past years, God permitting,

in which is set forth the occasion of the relics asked for and sent, lest the vows of those sighing and supplicating should be in vain, and by his own inspiration, that to that Saint some honor might be paid, it was humbly asked of the S. Congregation of Rites that it would deign to grant leave at least of celebrating the Mass of the said Saint on his feast day, which was kindly granted: and afterwards petition was made for the faculty of reciting the Office of the same Saint, and it was kindly granted by a decree of the same sacred

Congregation, which stands inserted in these presents.

Things being thus, by the special providence of God, from whom all good things proceed, and who is not deceived in his own disposing, it happened that on the summit of this mount Soracte, on which the said St. Nonnosus dwelt, a certain French priest and hermit, named Pierre Naude, gave the inhabitants of that place notice of a certain Proper of the Saints of the diocese of Freising, which he, the Frenchman, while on his Roman pilgrimage he lodged there, had seen, and had read in it the life and miracles of this saint Nonnosus, which hermit besides took upon himself that on his return from the City he would again seek out with zeal that same old lodging of his, turn aside there, and diligently inquire about that proper Office of saint Nonnosus, and would send it back transcribed to him; which he abundantly performed, to the praise and blessing of the Lord, on the XI day of April in the year MDCLX. There they found with joy that the sacred body of St. Nonnosus, carried hither to Freising by bishop Nitger, is honorably kept. Wherefore all the aforesaid petitioners, keenly inflamed with desire of this treasure, unanimously and with one voice earnestly asked and besought us and our beloved chapter that they would deign to grant them some part of the holy relics of St. Nonnosus, which they desire to honor as far as they can, and decently to place in some spot of a special altar to be erected, and devoutly to venerate; praying also on their knees, adoring and beseeching him, that he would deign to be brought back to his first place and ancient dwelling, from which for six and more centuries he has been absent, and by the presence of his holy relics would deign to renew his memory in the said monastery for the consolation of the petitioners, etc.

[19] and their genuineness: We therefore, Albert Sigismund, the aforesaid bishop, and the cathedral chapter of the church of Freising, having called in for this learned and pious theologians, decreed that this very bone of St. abbot Nonnosus should be brought forth from the chamber of our greater sacristy, in which like treasures are wont to be laid up, with which we gladly honor those petitioners in the Lord, assuring them that it is truly a bone from the body of the often-named St. Nonnosus, which without all doubt and scruple can rightly and piously be exposed to Christ's faithful for public veneration. In conclusion we too humbly beseech almighty God that what by our own merits we cannot, we may on both sides obtain by the patronage of this holy Abbot. Given at Freising in our episcopal residence on the X day of February in the year MDCLXI.

Albert Sigismund, bishop of Freising, in place † of a seal. From this instrument it is clear that the translation of the body to Freising was without hesitation attributed by the men of Freising themselves to bishop Nitger and to the eleventh century, and not to Hitto and to the ninth century. It is clear secondly that the whole body of St. Nonnosus was not hidden before the last finding of the year 1708, but that a part of the body was kept separately, from which the men of Soracte received their particle. These were three larger bones with lesser relics, as was said at n. 5: nor is it to be doubted that on occasion of these bones, which were in veneration among the people, the greater part of the body, which was deposited underground in the crypt of the cathedral church, was gradually given over to oblivion.

[20] [the relics, recognized by Cardinal Barberini, are given to the collegiate church of St. Lawrence;] Moreover the most eminent Barberini, when he had recognized the relics and perceived that all was rightly ordered, wrapped the piece of bone that had been sent, which was five fingers long, in the presence of all who were there, in an elegant cloth of red color, and placed it in a modest case of ebony, to which various ornaments had been added. This case, sealed with three seals of Spanish wax, the most eminent lord committed to R. Fr. Odo Conti of the Society of Jesus, who was visitor of the abbeys of that same Cardinal. At last R. Fr. Conti carried these relics in the month of April of the year 1663 to mount Soracte, where they were received with great solemnity, and after they had been honorably carried round to various churches, they were deposited in the collegiate church of St. Lawrence, where with other relics they are honorably kept in the sacristy. All these things are fully reported in the Italian Life of Antonio de Effectis, often praised, who elegantly sets forth the solemnities of the several churches to which the relics were carried. The same matter is more briefly reported in an Italian writing which was printed at Rome in the year 1684, and which Meichelbeck reprinted among the instruments of his second volume, p. 400 and following. This latter writing I shall chiefly follow hereafter, both because there all things are narrated more succinctly, and and above all because there are reported some things which happened after the Life was already written. From this Life, however, I shall take all that was passed over in the Roman writing, and especially the benefits which have been obtained by the Saint's patronage, of which I shall presently subjoin two, narrated in the Life, part 2, ch. 3, on occasion of the aforesaid solemnities.

[21] Hell tried, says the said Antonio at p. 183, in their translation one benefit to disturb the pious solemnity, and by the howling and terrifying cries of the possessed to turn aside the people's modest devotion elsewhere. Nor were divine prodigies wanting in so devout a translation, such as there were in the translation of the protomartyr Stephen, reported by St. Augustine, or in the glorious finding of the cross, as holy Church sings: "Faith is strengthened, divine prodigies are present, and the mighty works of God are disclosed."

For, when festal fires were being sent forth from cannon in various places, a burst cannon struck the gunner on one of his temples with a deadly blow. Whence he fell to the ground with his strength failing, and was so badly hurt that the spectators wept for him as one dead. But being helped by St. Nonnosus, whom he invoked, he suddenly raised himself on his feet, ran to the altar to give him thanks, and remained whole and sound. He, after the Saint's altar was built which was erected to him in the church of St. Sylvester, hung up a votive tablet as a token of the grace received.

[22] To this prodigious benefit the same author subjoins another in this manner: and another granted to those invoking the Saint's aid. Among the birthday feasts of this Saint, who was being born again in the memory and devotion of the people, a woman experienced his effect, who on that day, laboring in difficulty of childbirth and languishing half alive, was admonished by those attending her to invoke the Saint whose relics at that very hour were being carried through the square, and she happily bore a son, and, his father Domenico Ricciotti also consenting, gave him the name Nonnosus, as born to his glory and a true son of his favor. Nor did the use of this name remain within the walls of Soracte, but at Civita Castellana, Tivoli *, Nepi, Narni, at Rome in the City and the neighboring country, at Loreto and other places where through graces obtained by many inhabitants the fame of his power and holiness is known, it has today been received by frequent use and custom that infants are named with the name of Nonnosus, since that name is pleasing to all, as Nonnosus himself is, and irksome to none.

. which . Tivoli § III. The further promotion of the cult in Italy: various benefits granted to divers persons.

[ ] [The first altar of the Saint on Mount Soracte, the first feast, and the first Mass, at which a sick woman is healed:] The writing printed at Rome in Meichelbeck, p. 402, thus continues concerning the promotion of the cult of St. Nonnosus on mount Soracte after the aforesaid things: Then there was built in the church of St. Sylvester (that is, in the church of the monastery in which the Saint lived) the first altar in honor of St. Nonnosus: and in the year MDCLXIV, on the 2nd day of September, his first feast was solemnly celebrated, which is continued every year with a procession of the clergy and of the confraternities of Sant'Oreste, all the people following with musical singing and torches, wax candles, and tapers. The sacred relics are carried to the church of St. Sylvester, and are placed upon the altar of St. Nonnosus, decently arranged and adorned; and the Sacrifice of the Mass having been solemnly sung, and the blessing given to those who kiss the relics, thence the procession of suppliants returns to the former place. Antonio de Effectis adds in ch. 4, p. 186, that the first votive Mass was celebrated at the aforesaid altar of St. Nonnosus on the XI day of January of the year 1664, at the request of a sick woman who by the Saint's patronage obtained health, even though the physicians despaired of her life; and who afterwards in the month of April came to the altar with her husband and kinsfolk to fulfill her vow, and took care that a Mass should be celebrated in the Saint's honor.

[24] the cult extended, a lamp hung before the altar, an image engraved: The same writer after a few things subjoins that in the same year 1664, on the XXVI of January, it was granted by the sacred Congregation of Rites that it should be lawful for all priests, secular and regular, who came to the church of St. Sylvester, to say a votive Mass of St. Nonnosus at his altar. In the same year, as he continues, in the month of April, a lamp was lighted which should burn perpetually before the Saint's altar. The oil of this lamp is frequently asked for by many, both neighbors and those far distant; and yet it is never lacking to the lamp, because pious men supply it abundantly. An image of the Saint too was engraved on copper in the same year, and many thousands of copies were printed and sent not only to neighboring cities but even to remote provinces. These and like things the said writer relates fully, who presently subjoins on what occasion that yearly procession was begun in which the relics of St. Nonnosus are carried from the collegiate church of St. Lawrence to the church of St. Sylvester: and the solemnity being there performed, they are carried back to the former church, as was said above from the Roman writing. Take the matter in summary.

[25] [a yearly procession instituted on occasion of the benefit here reported: the Saint chosen as patron:] R. Fr. Stella, Prior of the monastery, had asked the clergy three days before that a like procession should be instituted on the Saint's feast, the 2nd day of September. But the clergy had excused themselves, both on account of the heat and lest the thing should pass into a custom. Two days later, on the very eve of St. Nonnosus, the sky, which had been serene, suddenly began to darken, and so great a storm of winds, lightnings, and thunders arose that it struck vast fear. The house of the lords Caccia was struck by lightning and shattered in various parts, and the marble by which the corners of the house were supported was torn away. The shattered [ ] with rubble of lime was filling the very bed in which Giovanni Filippo Maria Caccia was sleeping, yet in such a way that he himself was wholly unharmed, but so terrified by the near burning and the sulphurous stench that he both begged the help of St. Nonnosus and implored the aid of his household and neighbors. These at once ran up in great number, and saw in that same chamber the doors broken, the walls thrown down, the bed filled with earth and rubble of lime, the bedposts scorched and discolored with smoke: upon that same bed they saw a huge board fallen, torn away from a great cornice which had been faced with wood. This board alone, without the lightning, was fit to bring death, had not the kindly hand of St. Nonnosus been present. Since these things were believed scarcely to have been able to happen without a miracle, and the benefit was attributed to St. Nonnosus, a procession was presently proclaimed, and instituted on the same day with a wondrous concourse of men and no less piety, especially of the kinsfolk of the most noble man who had escaped unharmed from so great a danger, as is more fully narrated in the Life. And this procession was thereafter continued every year, and besides, in the following year, on the 1st of March,

St. Nonnosus was enrolled among the patrons of that place, on the testimony again of Antonio at p. 192.

[26] Since in the same year 1664 an image of the Saint had been honorably placed in the abbey of St. Stephen near a town of the Roman territory an image placed in an abbey near Sermoneta, where the abbot is healed, which by the Italians is called Sermoneta, the abbot of the said monastery himself experienced his effectual patronage, as the same Antonio de Effectis reports at p. 193. Take his words rendered into Latin: On the VII day of August (of the year 1664) lord Ruggiero Caetani, abbot of the aforesaid abbey of St. Stephen, when, being about to return to Sermoneta, where the lord prince of Caserta was, he wished to mount his horse and touched its back with his spurs, before he had seated himself firmly, the impatient horse by a bound threw off the rider, who struck his head upon a great and hard rock, and it was broken in many places with danger of death. The wounded man lay and was without voice and almost all sense: but by the help of Fr. Prior and the other Brethren he was carried into the monastery, all judging that he would die. So afterwards wrote

Fr. D. Angelo of St. Benedict in a letter given on the XXVII of August, from which I have recorded the event. But because I remembered the graces which God bestowed on the sick through the merits of St. Nonnosus, I commended him as much as I could; and in the presence of many persons sent by the most excellent lord prince of Caserta to inquire about the state of the said lord abbot, I took his holy image, which I carried for this purpose upon my breast, and, a brief prayer being poured out for the health of the said lord abbot, I reverently kissed it, and commended the same to him, that he should sign with that same image, in the manner of a cross, his head, which pained him beyond measure. Moreover I stirred him up to conceive confidence in the said Saint, that he might be healed. On the following day in the morning he was somewhat easier; and by the counsel of the physicians and surgeons, and by the order of the said most excellent lord prince, who now dwells at Sermoneta, he was carried in a chair to the aforesaid city, that he might be more easily treated.

He took with him the holy image, keeping it in his chamber as a sacred pledge, and by the grace of God and the merits of St. Nonnosus he was healed and the pain ceased. He adds that the said abbot in thanksgiving contributed to the cost of a new altar, which in the following year was erected in honor of St. Nonnosus in the church of St. Stephen, where also a feast began to be celebrated in the same year. This was the second altar built in honor of St. Nonnosus in Italy.

[27] many altars of the Saint erected, two benefits: Another at almost the same time was built at Rome in the church of St. Pudentiana, of which and of others erected elsewhere the Roman writing in Meichelbeck, p. 402, writes thus briefly: Moreover there were afterwards erected about twenty-five other altars in honor of St. Nonnosus in divers places, at Ventimiglia too in the dominion of Genoa, in Lombardy, and at Rome in the church of St. Pudentiana of the said reformed monks of St. Bernard, where the feast of St. Nonnosus is celebrated, begun in the year MDCLXVI, and continued every year, with a noble and elegant furnishing of the altar and chapel, which, together with an offering * of wax candles, the lady princesses de Altieri send thither, who also with many illustrious lords come to that feast to venerate and honor the Saint. From the Italian Life, p. 194, we understand whence that exceptional piety toward St. Nonnosus of the most noble family de Altieri had its origin, from which at that time Pope Clement X presided over the whole Church. For he narrates that the most illustrious princess, wife of prince Gaspare de Altieri, labored in a difficult childbirth, and, St. Nonnosus being invoked, happily bore a son. To the same altar the most excellent lady duchess of Bracciano ordered a votive tablet to be hung, the same Life testifying, because, when she had been despaired of by the physicians, being anointed with the oil of the lamp which burned before the Saint's altar, she had happily obtained her former health.

[28] the Saint's image and the oil of the lamp sought by many; three benefits: To these benefits the author of the said Life presently subjoins another in this manner: Continual are the benefits which this Saint bestows even at Rome on those who flee to him. Hence a poor woman, who lived near the aforesaid church, when she was sitting upon the window of the house; and this, being torn away from the wall, cast her with it so wretchedly headlong into the square that she was thought dead. When Fr. Prior of St. Pudentiana ran up with the Saint's oil, although she was all covered with blood, bruised and broken, in a short time she returned sound. Since everywhere so powerful a patronage of St. Nonnosus appeared, we cannot wonder that his images and the oil of his lamp were sought by many, and sent into various parts, as the said Antonio de Effectis testifies was really done, who reckons by name among those who asked for and obtained the aforesaid things the most eminent Cardinal Carpegna. He, having received the Saint's image and the oil of the lamp, testified in a letter afterwards sent to the monks that he had been freed from a certain disease: and in testimony of the grace received he sent a chalice to the monastery of St. Sylvester, that they might use it for the altar of St. Nonnosus. By the same remedy, as he presently adds, there was healed at Rome in the House of Maidens, which is commonly called Delle Zitelle, a certain girl, niece of Fr. Paolo Donati di Cellene, from whom she had received the image and oil. To this he subjoins another more wonderful, which happened in the same house to a virgin fifty years old, whose name was Paola, her surname Zappata, because she had been introduced into that house by a Cardinal of this name. Take the writer's words rendered into Latin:

[29] another most wonderful prodigy, The unhappy woman (Paola) lay in bed, because she had found no remedy for the paralysis by which for nine years she had been powerless to move, and so afflicted that she could not even bring her hand to her mouth, much less help herself in necessary things. At the persuasion of a companion, being anointed again (with the oil of St. Nonnosus) and the Saint being invoked, whose image she had by her, in the night time, while the others slept, she heard it said to her distinctly: Paola, Paola, arise. At this voice the sick woman, weeping and trembling, shuddered, believing it to be the voice of a certain companion of hers who had died a few days before, by whom she was being invited to another life. When after long terror and weeping she had fallen asleep again, she was again called and invited to rise and take the staff which was set at the head of the bed… Three times this invitation was repeated. At the last of these, rousing herself in the night of Tuesday the XXVI of February, she answered that she could not because of her incurable disease. Arise, was replied to her, FOR YOU ARE HEALED. At once, no less astounded than obedient, she raised herself from the bed without any help; and stretched out toward the staff her right hand, which for nine years had been without motion and all action: she ran to the bed of Benedetta, who likewise had long been sick, and lay in the next bed. When she was awakened by the sound, she tells her the miracle. She persuades her to give thanks to God, and to put off until the morning the publishing of the miracle, lest she should disturb the place of those sleeping, and create some murmuring at so unseasonable an hour. But scarcely was it light when, the deed being made known, Paola was seen wholly joyful to walk freely, and to publish with a true testimony that knows not how to deceive the marvels of St. Nonnosus. Straightway the matter was carried to Cardinal Antonio the protector, a little before returned from France, who, being presented by Fr. abbot Stella with images of three different forms, venerated the Saint greatly. Abbot Carlo Vaina, superintendent of the maidens, collected lawfully a true account of the deed, attested by the oath of their physician, Giovanni Antonio Antonelli, and on the XVI day of May strengthened by an instrument and public process of Giovanni Carlo Lamperino, chapter notary; which at last is now also confirmed by a great votive tablet, sent to Soracte on account of the grace granted to Paola. But although the girl was free, she went on leaning, on account of some weakness, on the staff commended to her by that nocturnal voice. But on the Saint's feast day, the 2nd of September, a lamp being lighted before some image of his, and two candles upon the pious and small altar where she prayed, and the litanies being recited after her manner, when she rose from prayer, she refused thereafter the support of the staff, her former strength and entire health being recovered.

[30] After these things the same author affirms at p. 198 that by the invocation of the same Saint two men were restored to their mind. two frantic men brought back to their mind: the cult again extended: The first was called Giuseppe Quintino, an inhabitant of Civita Castellana, who for thirteen months had been bound with a chain on account of frenzy. He, by the care of his sister Prudentia, was anointed with the Saint's oil, and other exercises of piety were used in honor of St. Nonnosus, whose patronage was implored.

In this way Giuseppe received health of body and mind, and a votive tablet in which the deed was represented was sent in thanksgiving to the church. He was healed on the IX day of September of the year 1666. The other's name the author keeps silent, because he had been healed before his madness had become commonly known. Many things the same writer joins to these concerning altars erected and the cult of St. Nonnosus extended to various places, which for brevity's sake I pass over. It will suffice to report one briefly which he has at p. 201, namely that in the year 1667 an indult was granted by the sacred Congregation of Rites that it should be lawful for all monks of the reformed Cistercian Order to recite the proper Office of St. Nonnosus on his feast, wherever an altar dedicated to the Saint had been erected. The same author records at p. 195 an inscription carved on marble in honor of St. Nonnosus, and another at p. 199; likewise various things about the veneration of the Saint begun among the Benedictines of Monte Cassino, and other like things, which may be seen in him. But the remaining benefits which he records I go on to transfer hither.

[31] a benefit conferred on two sick men, Piergrossi, quæstor of the castle of Nazzano of the Benedictines, passing behind a horse in a narrow place, was so grievously struck by the kicks of the horse that struck him that one knee was put out of place, and with many bruises on leg and thigh he seemed brought into danger of death. The help of St. Nonnosus was implored by all. A surgeon was at once at hand, by whose help the bone of the knee was restored to its place. After an hour the violence of the pains ceased, and he was brought home on horseback. And being anointed with the oil of the health-bringing lamp, within a few days he was healed, giving thanks to the Saint both that he had escaped a greater danger and that he had been quickly freed from the evil. Thus Antonio de Effectis at p. 202, a little more at length. Another benefit he narrates at pp. 206 and 207, which likewise take in summary. In the year 1669, in the month of May, Giovanni Giacomo Bell'huomo, canon of Tivoli, from an abundance of blood which he was emitting from his mouth without intermission, the helps of physicians being applied in vain, lay bloodless and languishing in the most immediate danger of death. The Saint's oil was brought, and the dying man anointed with it. Presently the flux of blood ceased, and the sick man began so to recover that in a short time he regained his strength and entire health; and being sound, in thanksgiving he notably promoted the cult of St. Nonnosus in the city of Tivoli.

[32] [a wondrous devotion toward the Saint, and a benefit given to one sick of a fever:] Among these things the said author elegantly continues the spread of the veneration of St. Nonnosus, and the wondrous concourse of the people to his chief church, dedicated to St. Sylvester on mount Soracte. But since I may not be so prolix in these matters, I have recorded only a few benefits which the same writer narrated out of many, not doubting meanwhile that many more happened: for this is suggested by the most rapid spread of the cult, the countless gifts which are offered at the Saint's altars, and the fervent devotion with which the oil of the lamp, the images and medals of the Saint, and other like things are sought by many.

He narrates at p. 211 that there came to mount Soracte R. Fr. Michele Chiavazzi, provincial visitor of the Order of Clerks Minor, who, gladdened by that exceptional devotion toward St. Nonnosus which he learned from his survey of the place, related that lately to the church of his Order at Marino (it is a town, capital of a small commonwealth, between Romagna and the duchy of Urbino) there had been sent a tablet of St. Nonnosus in fulfillment of a vow of Giovanni Francesco Duozi, a minister of the Roman court, because by the intercession of St. Nonnosus he had been freed from a malignant fever with which he had begun to labor at Marino. As this benefit could easily have escaped the writer, so doubtless many others escaped him: and he himself in various places suggests that far more things were done than he has committed to the memory of posterity.

[33] The Saint's Office permitted to more. Before I altogether dismiss this writer, I have judged that one thing more should be recorded from him: In the year MDCLXXII, he says at p. 211, among those things concerning new Saints which were added to the Roman Breviary by the preceding Pontiffs and by our most holy Lord Clement X, among the Offices AD LIBITUM there was also admitted the proper Office of St. Nonnosus for all those who serve under the rule of St. Benedict, and for those churches in which an altar dedicated to the Saint has been erected. These things being gathered from the little Work of Antonio de Effectis,

I return to the Roman writing published by Meichelbeck, in which there remain certain later facts.

*. in the Italian, for "offerta" read "con offerta" § IV. The cult more widely propagated: other relics sent by the men of Freising to mount Soracte. [ ] The Office and Mass of St. Nonnosus in the monastic Breviary and Missal: In the past holy year MDCLXXV there was printed a book whose title is: Monuments concerning St. Nonnosus, composed by abbot Antonio de Effectis, and dedicated to the most eminent Cardinal de Altieri, chamberlain of the holy See, and now

commendatory abbot of St. Sylvester, says the said Roman writing, which I shall go on to render into Latin, with a few things interposed here and there for elucidation: And the most eminent lord, out of zeal for piety and devotion toward St. Nonnosus, honored this holy Abbot in that same holy year by obtaining from Pope Clement X of happy memory the faculty of taking care that he should be inserted into the monastic Breviary at the prayers of the Benedictine monks. So indeed it was done, the Saint's Office being printed in that most beautiful monastic Breviary in folio which in the year MDCLXXVII the most eminent prince, the lord Cardinal of Baden, took care to have printed in Germany; and also in the new monastic Breviaries and Missals which were printed at Venice in the year MDCLXXVIII. There is had there in its own place, the 2nd of September, the Office and Mass of St. Nonnosus. And the Office is kept with a double rite; and the Saint is honored in holy Church by all the monastic Orders.

[35] This devotion toward St. Nonnosus was instituted under the patronage of Jesus, the veneration of the Saint widely propagated: Mary, and Joseph. And God is greatly wonderful in this his Saint, since in every place where some altar has been erected to him, notable benefits are granted, especially in his own place of St. Sylvester on the mount of Sant'Oreste. So by a corrupted word is mount Soracte called. Some would have this corrupted word arise from St. Edistius, others from St. Sylvester. Antonio de Effectis in the said little Work, part 1, ch. 5, discusses this matter, and would have the common name Sant'Oreste to be ancient, yet not derived from any saint Orestes, but from the superstitions of the heathen. From wherever the name arose, I have expressed the common name, and by it is designated the town at mount Soracte. I return to the Roman writing, which thus continues: Where in these past years, there now running the twenty-first year from the erection in that church of the first altar in honor of St.

Nonnosus, there has been a sufficient concourse of people from all those places and lands round about, even from the City of Rome and other distant places, as is gathered from the vast quantity of tablets and votive tablets which are seen in that church of St. Sylvester; as also at Rome in the church of St. Pudentiana at the altar of the said Saint; at Sermoneta in the dominion of the lords Caetani, at Caprarola, at Ventimiglia, of which above, at Perugia, at Borgo San Sepolcro, and in many other places, which for brevity's sake are passed over. And so let the Order of the aforesaid monks of St. Bernard count itself happy that God has willed to be served by it on this occasion, pertaining to his greater glory.

[36] other relics sent from Freising to Rome, Nor do the aforesaid monks cease to labor, as far as they can, to promote this devotion and the name of St. Nonnosus. From the year MDCLXXIX they obtained other relics of St. Nonnosus for their church of St. Pudentiana in the City through the favor and recommendation of the most eminent lord Cardinal Litta, archbishop of Milan, of happy memory, who was then protector of their Order. He at the beginning of the month of August of the aforesaid year pressingly and effectually wrote for this end to the above-mentioned most serene prince Albert Sigismund, bishop of Freising, who at once with most generous spirit, through two of his canons who were coming together to Rome to the thresholds of the Apostles, sent relics of St. Nonnosus, placed in a case closed with a seal, which in length was one palm. Moreover, when the said canons had understood that the aforesaid most eminent Litta had died, they handed over the said case to the most eminent Cardinal Cybo. He, when he had kept it by him for some time, then, God inspiring him, on the XXXI day of August of the year MDCLXXXII, handed it over by the hand of a notary to the monks of St. Pudentiana. And by the ordinance and grant of faculty of the most eminent Carpegna, vicar of the supreme Pontiff, the case was opened and the relics recognized, which were found to be a particle of a bone from the last part of the leg, whose thickness and size were about three fingers. There had been added an authentic instrument, and a letter of the most serene prince bishop of Freising, written to the above-said most eminent Litta, and given on the XX of August, in the year MDCLXXIX.

[37] [which were divided among various churches, and a particle also given to the church of St. Sylvester:] A modest particle of this sacred pledge the most eminent Carpegna desired for his own devotion. The chief part was given to the church of St. Pudentiana; another lesser part, which was of the size of one joint of the little finger, was granted and given by order of the lord Cardinal Cybo to the churches of B. Mary of Graces and of St. Sylvester on mount Soracte. This, enclosed in an elegant and honorable case of ebony, which various ornaments, a small statue of the Saint, and modest figures of angels of gilded copper adorned, to the greater praise and glory of God and honor of St. Nonnosus, the most reverend Father D. Florentius of St. Catharine of Perugia, abbot general of the said Order of the reformed of St. Bernard, wished to carry to the above-said monastery on Soracte, accompanied by many other Roman monks of the same Order. Moreover, having kept it for some days in the said monastery of the Graces, on the Sunday within the Octave of the Epiphany, the IX day of January of the current year MDCLXXXIV, in the morning, accompanied in a solemn procession of suppliants by the Roman monks of the Order and those of the same monastery of the Graces, and by two confraternities of Sant'Oreste, with a vast multitude of men and women following, he carried it to the church of St. Sylvester, situated on the very summit of that mountain. Moreover the same most reverend Fr. General sang the Mass; and Fr. Prior of St. Bernard at Rome, D. Francesco of St. Michael the archangel of Rimini, assisted him as deacon, who after the Gospel was sung elegantly and piously preached a sermon in praise of St. Nonnosus, and on the return of these sacred relics to their place and ancient dwelling, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph being their patrons. The sermon pleased, and was praised by all; the church was so full that the multitude could scarcely stand, notwithstanding the cold weather and snow which had fallen in those days. Of all these things there are authentic instruments drawn up by the hand of notaries.

[38] Thus far the author of the said writing, who at last thus concludes his account: [it is God's work that the cult, interrupted for so many centuries, has been renewed in Italy.] It is manifestly perceived (from what has been said) that it is God's will that after so many hundreds of years this Saint should be honored in holy Church, and that in these our times his memory should be renewed; and therefore of this event of St. Nonnosus it must be said: "It is the work of God, the hand of the Lord has done this. This was done by the Lord, and it is wonderful in our eyes." To the divine Majesty, and to the above-said patrons and protectors, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, let thanksgiving, praise, honor, and glory ever be rendered; and may they ever at all times be praised and blessed by all, etc. Thus far the monument printed at Rome in the year 1684 and published without the author's name. What he says, that the Saint's memory was renewed, he understands of mount Soracte and other places of Italy, not of Germany, to which I now at last return, that I may exhibit to the reader the last finding of the Saint's relics, and the very many miracles which followed. § V. The greater part of the body, which had long lain hidden, found at Freising, and afterwards solemnly translated. [ ] The place was at Freising in veneration, and healthful to many, Although certain bones of St. Nonnosus were known to the men of Freising and in veneration, as we have already seen, yet the greater part of the body long lay hidden, until in the year 1708, on the XXVII day of January, it was happily found by the most exalted prince and bishop of Freising, John Francis, in the crypt of the cathedral church, which the said prelate was striving to adorn with new ornaments. The occasion of the treasure's finding, and the finding itself, Meichelbeck narrates so exactly, who was able to survey most of it, that I have thought his account should be transferred hither. Having premised what I have already reported, in vol. 2, p. 440, he thus sets forth the matter itself: The most reverend and most illustrious D. John Sigismund Zeller of Leiberstorff, bishop of Bellina, coadjutor bishop of Freising, provost of the cathedral church, etc., … had resolved to build a new altar to the honors of the divine Nonnosus in the vault or crypt of the cathedral church. That this might conveniently be done, it pleased the most exalted prince (John Francis) to survey the place, lest the workmen should attempt anything beyond the wishes of his mind. He came therefore to that place of the vault where there then stood the altar of the divine Margaret, adhering to no wall, except that behind it there was seen a certain tomb, nearly three cubits high, and so built up of stones in an arch that under the tomb set above men could creep: which also was healthful to many, especially to those who suffered in the back, since, there piously invoking God, they crept on hands and feet, without its being certainly known to them who lay hidden in that place as their Benefactor, by whose intervening intercessions and merits they were freed from pains of the back. Nay, there was not one man who could affirmatively tell what that walled arch meant. This one thing only the sacristans mentioned to the bishop who inquired: that every year, on the II day of September, they were ordered by a most ancient custom to set there during the time of the divine office two lamps with burning wax candles.

[40] where the body was happily found, That narrative moved the bishop's mind, exceedingly desirous to know what mystery at last lay hidden there. Therefore by his order the masons at once set their hand and begin to open the coffer: when lo! there presently appeared marks of a great treasure deposited there. And so, that the whole matter might be done circumspectly, the masons were ordered to cease until a public notary should be summoned who might behold in person what was being done, and, if the matter required, might draw up a public instrument. There was therefore at once sent one who should order the notary quickly to be present. There was accordingly at hand a noble and most distinguished man, D. Anton Pockmair, doctor of both laws, aulic councilor of the most exalted prince, and syndic of the most reverend and most illustrious cathedral college, notary public by imperial authority, whom the prince had eagerly awaited. There were present grave men to be witnesses of the coming event. These were presently required to enter in public records, together with D. the notary, what should come to pass. Then by the prince's order the stone cover was immediately removed; and this being lifted, there was seen a certain little chest, which the most exalted prince at once drew out with his own hands; and with inexpressible jubilation of heart he perceived that he had found the bones of the most blessed Nonnosus, once prior (others call him abbot) of the monastery of Soracte under the rule of the divine Benedict, whom already for some hundreds of years the church and diocese of Freising had reckoned among their patrons and had venerated, which is established both from what has been reported elsewhere and from continual practice. This was further indicated by the seals and signs set beside it of S. Eberhard, from monk and abbot of the Order of St. Benedict of Biburg made archbishop of Salzburg, and of blessed Albert, the first of that name, bishop of Freising, who were found to have laid up and buried those sacred remains there in the year MCLXI.

[41] which was meanwhile carried to the bishop's chapel, How great a joy that finding, as most unexpected so most happy, brought both to all the beholders and most of all to the most fortunate finder himself, no man can express with a pen; yet the tears poured out from jubilation of hearts sufficiently betrayed it. Therefore at once all who were present fell upon their knees, and most devoutly saluted their divine Benefactor as brought again into the light and restored to them, and rendered most abundant thanks to God and to that same divine Nonnosus for that plainly heavenly grace. The most exalted prince could scarcely be satisfied with the sweetest sight of his treasure, since now he read from a leaden plate the description of his found treasure, now contemplated the insignia of those who had hidden the treasure there, now drew forth the gold coin set beside it and displayed it to his people, and, not without a torrent of delight, most graciously invited them to congratulate him on the priceless drachma found. And so, that that treasure of his might not be far from his heart, he translated it with the utmost devotion into his own court chapel, where the public notary closed the chest and sealed it with the seal of his notariate impressed in two places.

[42] From that time the most exalted prince day and night applied himself most fervently to this care, that those sacred remains should be splendidly adorned as far as might be,

until all was ready for an honorable translation. and might in due time with a most festive pomp be brought back into the cathedral basilica. The whole city itself, as soon as the report of the most happy finding grew strong and the prince's purpose became known, prepared itself with every possible zeal to adorn that translation. Moreover in that intervening time in the aforesaid court chapel a vast devotion of the faithful toward the divine Nonnosus blazed up, and very many Eucharistic hosts beyond custom were there offered. The most exalted prince also gave most laborious pains that not only should the gymnasium hall be most happily brought to the desired perfection, but also that there should be prepared there a notable theater, where in the following year the deeds of the divine Nonnosus, written by our St. Gregory I, supreme Pontiff, might be exhibited to spectators in a dramatic performance. The care of the whole business was taken upon himself by the most reverend D. Wolfgang, often praised hitherto, abbot of Michelfeld: of which matter we shall adduce more below.

[43] The translation, made in the year 1709, on the 2nd day of September, With magnificent preparation, the same author narrates from p. 442 in these words: For the rest (as we began to say above), it cannot be told according to the dignity of the matter with how great cares from that time the most ardent breast of the prince boiled, that the sacred remains of the divine Nonnosus might with most worthy majesty on that Saint's feast, namely the 11th of September, be brought back into the cathedral basilica. Among other things especially the vault, or crypt of that same cathedral church, was at that time wondrously adorned. There had also already stood in the new gymnasium hall a notable theater, the whole work being directed by the most reverend D. Wolfgang, excellently painted by two lay brothers of our Order, Luke of Benediktbeuern and Carloman of Weihenstephan. The sacred bones themselves of saint Nonnosus had been adorned with most precious embroidered work.

For the festal procession all things had been prepared, wherein no labor, no expense, no outlay of anything whatever was spared.

[44] Afterwards, the feast being at hand, longed for with so many sighs, and with many ecclesiastics present, namely the 11th day of September, otherwise sacred to the divine Nonnosus, the most exalted prince, among other guests most notable for most illustrious nobility and various dignities, invited also with singular favor from our Order the most reverend lords Quirinus of Tegernsee, president of the congregation, Placidus of Frauenzell, Maurus of Andechs, Ildephonsus of Weihenstephan, Wolfgang of Michelfeld, Magnus of Benediktbeuern, Placidus of Ettal, and Benedict of Scheyern: to whom presently were added the most reverend lords abbots Placidus of the divine Peter at Salzburg, and Bonaventure of Reichenbach: all which most reverend lord prelates brought with them from their monasteries religious companions. And how great was the number of the other strangers hastening to Freising, the reader will conjecture from this, that within the space of one hour only, through the one gate of the city, more than a hundred wagons and other carriages and coaches of that kind arrived. Moreover that whole most worthy-to-be-seen festival was thereafter performed in the following order, which I write as an eyewitness through the whole octave.

[45] On the first day of September, which was a Sunday, and with the citizens themselves increasing the festivity, sacred to the holy Guardian Angels, the first vesper Office of the divine Nonnosus our most exalted prelate himself sang with a most magnificent rite, and gave a truly glorious beginning to the feast awaited with such ardors: from which time through the whole remaining octave, by the clemency of the Roman Pontiff, they could obtain a full remission of penalties and faults who had performed the prescribed prayers and other pious works after the custom. Then after Vespers and Compline the ministers of the cathedral church were ordered at once to join the matin Office with Lauds of the next day's feast, since manifold other labors demanded the whole of the next day for themselves. Meanwhile in the whole city nowhere was there any ceasing from labors, since no one seemed to himself to have satisfied his most delightful zeal toward the most blessed Nonnosus, or to have hitherto made preparations equal to his wishes: and not a few spent the greatest part of the night that they might contribute something, at least according to the measure of their strength, to the increase of so great a festival.

[46] on the 2nd day of September of the year 1709 On the very day of the magnificent translation dawning, when the hearts of the greatest as well as the least were already melting with a certain heavenly and God-filled sweetness, the festal sound of the bells being heard, the lesser canonical hours were performed in the cathedral church: which being finished, the most sacred relics of the divine Nonnosus, most decently placed on two precious biers, were laid by the priests on a stage likewise splendidly erected, near the neighboring collegiate church of the divine John the Baptist, in which meanwhile all the other bodies of saints which were up to then kept at Freising awaited the triumph of their fellow-citizen of heaven, the divine Nonnosus, which they were to adorn.

[47] the prince of Freising himself, The sixth hour being heard, our most exalted prelate, clothed in his accustomed ankle-length garment of violet color, and most sweetly venerable with the by no means obscure signs of a certain God-filled comfort shining forth from his most gracious face, betook himself with all his court ministry to the aforesaid stage, where, in the presence of eight mitred prelates of our Order, he was most humbly received by the most reverend and most illustrious cathedral college, and also by the lord canons of both the notable collegiate churches of the divine Andrew and Vitus, and by all the rest of the most numerous clergy, secular and regular. The most exalted prelate afterwards taking his seat with the others, the music, composed with singular genius and artifice in honor of the divine Nonnosus, most sweetly sang the praises of that same most blessed tutelary Patron, with musical instruments of every kind, and especially trumpets and drums, most joyfully accompanying; nay, with brazen engines too most delightfully bellowing with fire-belching thunder from the mount of the divine Vitus.

[48] with solemn pomp, But now that I should set my hand to fully describing the most famous triumph that followed, I cannot be persuaded, best of readers; but to the booklet to be cited by us below, published at Freising by Fr. Benedict Eberschwang of Frauenzell, then staying in this court, I would most kindly refer you, and I again warn that the most ardent and piously ambitious zeal of the citizens, even of strangers, the most devout efforts and merits of craftsmen of every kind and of the sacred confraternities cannot here be matched with worthy praises in a few words. This at least I cannot here conceal from you, that the most magnificent part of this sacred procession, which followed the numerous and, as far as could be, splendidly adorned cavalry, the guilds of workmen, and the pious confraternities, was so studded with its ominous, as they call them, figures, banners, and vast cars that it most beautifully served as a prelude, in order, to the comedy that was to follow in the theater. The whole direction and arrangement of that pomp was the work of the most reverend D. Wolfgang, who also, as we have said, composed the dramatic action itself.

[49] Since that great line of so many men fully equaled the greatness of the vast space with many other relics honoring the procession, which was to be traversed from the cathedral church to the gate of St. Vitus; thence in a straight course through the whole length of the city as far as the hospice of the Holy Spirit; thence again up the mountain to the cathedral church, there followed first those things which were to excite the greatest veneration of themselves, namely the most sacred bodies and relics of the patrons of Freising, studded with various companies of religious and of clerics, in the following order. In the first place, therefore, were carried the sacred remains of the divine Felix the martyr, accompanied by the venerable convent of the RR. FF. Capuchins, whom the ardor of sacred devotion had called from Erding to Freising together with the most devout citizens of that place (who had added a notable reinforcement to the cavalry of Freising): and these were followed behind by the RR. FF. reformed of the Order of the divine Francis of the convent of Freising. Next were the sacred remains of the divine Prosper the martyr, escorted by the venerable college of the Premonstratensian Canons of Neustift, bearing burning tapers. The third place was held by the precious statue of the divine Vitus, the religious brothers of the common Benedictine-Bavarian house of studies, which was then erected in the renowned monastery of Weihenstephan, showing devout attendance and likewise carrying burning tapers in hand. The sacred ashes of the divine Batho again some of our religious, who had followed their abbots hither, accompanied, themselves also attesting veneration with lighted candles. The body of St. Placidus the martyr was carried before the reverend fathers of Weihenstephan. The sixth place fell to various notable relics of divers heavenly citizens, which the next lord canons of St. Paul, as also the canons of St. John, with other vicars appointed to the office of the choir, honored. After these went the canons of the notable collegiate church of the divine Vitus, with the effigy and sacred ashes of the divine Sigismund, king and martyr, carried before them. There came next the lord canons of the notable collegiate church of the divine Andrew, thronging in their own array the silver image of our divine Corbinian and his most sacred bones.

[50] Next was carried the most ancient image of the most blessed Virgin Mother of God, painted by the divine Luke, transfers the body of St. Nonnosus on a silver bier most skillfully adorned with gems, raised high and resting on the shoulders of six lord parish priests, the lord court choirmasters treading in their steps, who, alternating with the harmony of trumpets and drums, celebrated the praises of the divine Nonnosus, of whose sacred remains a great part thereafter, conspicuous with gold and gems, was carried before the most reverend lord canons of the cathedral church, likewise on priestly shoulders (as were all the other relics hitherto recounted). There came in behind those who continually ministered and kindled incense to the nearest and chief remains of the most blessed Nonnosus (among which was his sacred head). Moreover twenty religious of our Order encircled these very most sacred relics, namely eight most reverend lord abbots, resplendent in pontifical adornment, of whom always four submitted their shoulders to the most holy burden by turns: likewise eight religious fathers, assisting as many of those prelates: and four fathers, professors of sacred theology, of the sacred canons, and of philosophy in the above-said house of studies, who carried the canopy, or baldachin. Interspersed among these there walked in comeliness the episcopal pages, conspicuous with burning torches, the line of the episcopal guard somewhat further off guarding both sides against the crowded throngs of the people.

[51] to the cathedral church, Next in the steps came the most reverend and most excellent lord John Sigismund Zeller, free baron of Leiberstorff, etc., etc., bishop of Bellina and coadjutor bishop of Freising, notable in pontifical adornment and with a taper. Then, after the episcopal cross, our most exalted prelate himself closed the whole sacred pomp, splendid in the habit mentioned above, and bearing indeed a taper in his hand, but breathing from his face fiery love toward his tutelary Nonnosus. There joined themselves after some paces many other most reverend and most illustrious guests, the domestic court, and a mixed multitude of other followers, almost without number, burning with sacred love and applause, nay even with tears. And there resounded between various most festive salutations, made by companies of citizens with muskets discharged through various appointed places of the city. Through the city were seen various paintings, eloquent in the most beautiful praises of the divine Nonnosus, among which those held the chief esteem which hung in great number from our gymnasium: to which, however, scarcely, and hardly even so, yielded those which the RR. FF. reformed of St. Francis set up outside their church in the public street with notable genius and pencil, second to none in seraphic ardors toward God and the divine Nonnosus. To repeat anything of the multitude of the beholding people is superfluous.

[52] where he sings Mass with solemn rite. The sacred pledges of the divine Nonnosus being brought back into the cathedral basilica and laid on the high altar, the Ambrosian praises were sung with a notable variety of voices and instruments, with the crash especially of trumpets and drums and of cannon, and with the repeated murmur of lesser muskets most joyfully sounding between very often. Presently the most reverend D. Quirinus, abbot of Tegernsee, mounted the pulpit, adorned with a rochet, as they call it, and with a precious pectoral cross hanging from his neck, who, that he might make the divine Nonnosus equal to the most blessed Benedict himself, delivered a copious sermon. The most reverend hierarch of Freising himself subjoined the high Office, amid the almost innumerable Sacrifices of other priests, with eight prelates of our sacred Order assisting, bearing mitres on their sacred heads: and the companies of citizens mingled their congratulations with a repeated discharge of muskets and with the roar of brazen engines, not without an abundant joy of tears in the beholding people, who, melting with more than earthly comfort, neither wished nor, had they wished, could have denied it. An end being put to the festivity of so great a day in the cathedral church, the most exalted prince returned to the episcopal court amid new applause of field-pieces and muskets, and there entertained about three hundred most honored guests (among whom twelve mitred heads stood out) at a most sumptuous banquet.

Thus far Meichelbeck. § VI. The remaining matters pertaining to the aforesaid translation: various things printed in the Saint's praise: relics given to various persons: some already long kept at Bamberg; the Miracles to be published. [ ] [The eight-day festival of the translation, and various things published in print in the Saint's praise:] This feast of the translation, which we have given from Meichelbeck, was solemnly continued for eight days, with a different orator each day discoursing in praise of St. Nonnosus from the pulpit, as may be seen in the said writer, who beheld all things and narrated them fully: in these matters, indeed, since they pertain less to our purpose, I would not be more prolix. Of the various little Works printed on that occasion in the Saint's praise he has this at p. 448: The panegyrics most eloquently delivered within this octave of the translation of St. Nonnosus in the cathedral church, as also the whole eight-day festival, Fr. Benedict Eberschwang, professed at Frauenzell in Lower Bavaria, and domestic father and ecclesiastical councilor of our most exalted prince, afterwards brought forth into public light for the everlasting memory of the matter by the benefit of the press: who himself in that same octave had published another offspring of his own industry, called St. Nonnosus revived, in which from Italian as well as Latin autographs the wonderful propagation of the revived cult of the divine Nonnosus through Italy and Germany is learnedly and solidly demonstrated. Of our professors at Freising at the same time Fr. Georg Zöde of Benediktbeuern, professor of poetry, submitted to the press and to all men's eyes another little Work, to which he prefixed the title: Freising's hidden protection, at length after some centuries made manifest: in which with illustrious genius and a pleasant contest of six meters he most sweetly sang the benefits of the divine Nonnosus, until then unrecognized, bestowed on the city of Freising, winning for himself by his great desert vast praise among poets of the better vein. All those little Works were kindly sent to me by R. Fr. Maurice Chardon, and would have been of great help, had I not had the very sources from which those writers drew, and had I not judged that the sources should be preferred to the streams.

[54] Of the end of the aforesaid translation Meichelbeck writes this at p. 448: where the body is now laid up, the miracles customarily published every year: Truly the relics of the divine Nonnosus, that eight-day festival being ended, were brought back to their own altar, gracefully prepared in the vault of the cathedral church, where, as they thereafter had, and even now have, very many worshipers, so even now they dispense benefits both very many and very great, which are not only accurately wont to be written down by the ministers of the cathedral church, but also, at the yearly recurrence of the Saint's feast, are published from the pulpit to increase the devotion of the faithful. Moreover the yearly memory of the finding of the divine Nonnosus, on the XXVII day of January, is wont to be commemorated every year at the above-said altar with an Office (which is wont to be sung by one celebrant and two assisting Benedictines), the court music accompanying. Of the place where the sacred treasure is deposited, the most reverend abbot Ildephonsus wrote thus to me in the said Collection: The sacred body of D. Nonnosus is laid in the crypt of the cathedral church of Freising toward the south, where on the top of the altar an image of the Saint, encircled with gilded rays, is conspicuous. Below it two angels support the head, or skull, exposed to public veneration in a chest covered with transparent glass. Behind is read this inscription: "In honor of St. Nonnosus, patron of this church of Freising, the solemn translation of his sacred bones, lying hidden for five hundred and forty-seven years, and gloriously found in the year of the Lord MDCCVIII, on the XXVII day of January." Of the place where the body was found he subjoins this: A few feet hence from the altar, at the wall, stands that arch which we said was healthful to those creeping through (of which above, n. 39). And since in its uppermost part, fashioned in the manner of a tomb, the nobler relics of the Saint are laid up, for memory's sake these words have been cut on the marble in front: "The tomb where the greater part of the body of St. Nonnosus lay hidden for DXLVII years, a notable relic now placed in it, in the year MDCCIX." For the rest, the votive offerings hung up here and there, some of them precious, sufficiently indicate in what esteem suppliants both formerly held and to this day hold the patronage of B. Nonnosus.

[55] [the bones found compared with those known before: it is doubtful whether the part found lay hidden] Meichelbeck at p. 448 frames a certain objection for himself, and answers it in these words: I would not here dissemble that there were some who believed that the relics of the divine Nonnosus from the year MCLXI to the year MDCCVIII were unknown to all. But that assertion is made doubtful for us by John Freiberger, canon of Freising, when he writes that Philip, in order the forty-seventh bishop of Freising, decreed that thereafter the remains of St. Nonnosus should be adorned with a more splendid cult: from which it plainly appears that Philip and the men of his age had some knowledge of his relics. But however contrary these things may seem to one another, they can yet easily be reconciled. There were placed separately certain parts from the body of the divine Nonnosus, and they were kept in the sacristy with the bones of SS. Alexander and Justinus. Of these Philip was altogether aware, nay also his successors, as is certain. But the remaining bones, incomparably greater in number and more worthy, which the most exalted John Francis most happily found in the above-mentioned little chest, were altogether unknown. The parts which were outside the tomb in the sacristy were compared with those which had been deposited in the tomb: and the physician at once understood that both belonged to one body; and therefore that the lesser portion indeed had until then been known, but the greater part of the relics had until then been a hidden treasure.

[56] [for many centuries, and this is the less likely, since afterwards its memory could have been lost:] These words indeed clearly show that both parts of the relics are of St. Nonnosus; and they also prove that Freiberger could have spoken of the lesser part, which was always known. Nevertheless, since it cannot be proved from what time the memory of the body deposited in the crypt perished, and since this ignorance could equally have had its beginning after the times of the prelate Philip, who flourished at the beginning of the sixteenth century, it remains uncertain how long the part of the body that was found lay hidden, especially since Freiberger lived at the same time as Philip, and published his little Work under his episcopate, and thus nearly two centuries passed after him before the finding. Truly I should not believe that that treasure lay hidden from the time when it had been deposited in the crypt, or began to lie hidden shortly after. But I rather suspect that it passed into oblivion after the rise of the Lutherans and Calvinists, for fear of whom it could first have been concealed, lest it lie open to plundering if at any time the heretics should prevail at Freising. And a treasure concealed and known to few is sometimes altogether given over to oblivion, because those who alone know the treasure sometimes by some chance do not transmit knowledge of it to posterity. This conjecture of mine rests on the fact narrated before, that the sacristans on the 2nd of September, during the time of the divine office, were ordered by a most ancient custom to set two lamps with burning wax candles in the place where the body was found. There is no doubt that this was done in honor of St. Nonnosus; nor can it be doubted that such a charge was given to the sacristans by those who knew the treasure, and who wished it hidden from the people and even from the sacristans themselves, that it might lie hidden more safely. But it does not appear likely to me that that custom of the sacristans, who were ignorant of the cause of the thing, was continued for five centuries and more, that is, from the deposition of the body in the crypt: and therefore it is no more likely that the relics lay hidden so long. Nay rather I should believe that they began to be concealed after the times of the prelate Philip, and on this occasion were gradually given over to oblivion, yet so that the place remained for the people's veneration and the custom of lighting candles persevered until the finding.

[57] But whatever be truer in these matters, which I gladly leave to the reader's judgment, the relics recognized and enumerated: certain particles given to others. the most exalted prince and prelate ordered the relics that were found to be recognized and enumerated by men skilled in anatomy, as the instrument published in German in the Nonnosus revived, p. 32 and following, teaches, where there is read an ample catalogue of the relics of St. Nonnosus which are kept at Freising, not only those recently found, but at the same time those which were kept separately in the sacristy. Moreover from these the said prince gave various particles to his guests, as is read in the said instrument. Of these Meichelbeck too at p. 447 has thus: Further, although the eight-day festival, memorable to all ages among the men of Freising, came to an end today (the IX of September), yet the most gracious prince did not yet dismiss his guests, but only on the following day gave the most reverend lord abbots leave to depart, having first given each of them certain particles from the sacred remains of the divine Nonnosus. In the year 1724 the same prince of Freising received from the prince of Fulda a part of the relics of St. Boniface, bishop of Mainz, on the testimony of Meichelbeck at p. 478, where he presently subjoins: That our bishop might repay a grateful return to the most exalted prince of Fulda, a little after he sent to Fulda something from the bones of the saints Corbinian and Nonnosus.

[58] At Bamberg long ago, before the last finding of the body, relics of St. Nonnosus were shown in the church Relics and a feast at Bamberg in the monastery of St. Michael: or sacristy of the monastery of St. Michael. Certainly our Papebroch in the Ms. Roman Journey, p. 69, among the relics of the said abbey which he testifies were shown him, reckons the head of St. Nonnosus. This, however, I can with difficulty reconcile with the catalogue of the Freising relics of St. Nonnosus, since there the whole head is said to have been found at Freising. Castellanus in the universal Martyrology announces St. Nonnosus at the XIX of August, and says that he is honored at Bamberg with a special cult. At the same day in our work in the Passed-over entries this is read: St. Nonnosus, abbot or provost of the monastery on mount Soracte, is announced by Castellanus and in our papers as one who is solemnly venerated at Bamberg on the XIX of August on account of notable relics, etc. Sollerius, who wrote this, by our papers here designates the Index of Saints of Bolland, who noted from Ms. Benedictine

Calendars that the Saint is venerated in the Bamberg monastery of St. Michael, and that relics are there had. I should believe that on the XIX day of August the said relics were translated to the monastery of St. Michael, and that therefore the Saint's cult was fixed to that day. Certainly in various Ms. Benedictine Calendars I have found him announced on that day. For the rest, I would not here inquire from what time the abbey of St. Michael has possessed the said relics of St. Nonnosus: for it could have received them at the same time at which the body was translated to Freising, or afterwards, after its first finding; but of these matters I can determine nothing certain. No more should I dare to affirm whether it is a part of the head, or another part of the body, which they possess.

[59] The Miracles to be published, partly printed in German, partly manuscript; Before I put an end to this Commentary, a few things remain to be said about the miracles presently to be published, which were done after the last translation of the body. The earlier ones, that is, those done in the first two years from the translation, are narrated in a German booklet under a longer title, which thus abridged I render into Latin: The benefits of St. Nonnosus, patron of the cathedral church of Freising, which from the time of the translation, that is, from the year MDCCIX until the 2nd of September of the present year MDCCXI, have befallen. This booklet a certain German of ours put into Latin, from whose translation I shall publish it in the first place. After this collection there will follow other benefits not yet published, which have been sent to me with this title prefixed: Various benefits bestowed by St. Nonnosus on his clients, especially through the oil of the lamp hanging at his altar, reported from their own confession, from the year MDCCXI to the year MDCCXLIV. These R. Fr. Maurice Chardon, rector of our college of Constance, often praised before, rendered into Latin from a German Ms., who sent them together with the other Freising monuments.

[60] another not added to them. The most reverend lord Ildephonsus, abbot of Weihenstephan, who most kindly communicated all those things, at the end of his Collection narrates another, writing thus: Meanwhile, since many things of which public testimonies survive are not contained in the said booklet, it has seemed worth while to append especially this. The most reverend lord Anton de Fraporta, knight of the Holy Roman empire, canon of the cathedral church of Freising, doctor of both laws, and still surviving in a peaceful old age, once returning from the Tyrol, here, where the Isar (it is a torrent running out from the Tyrolean Alps into Bavaria) is already navigable, retraced his journey to Freising carried on a raft, but with the most immediate danger of life, his safety being even given up for lost, had he not with confidence invoked our Saint, being on the point of being drowned again and again. We see in the crypt near the altar, as they call it, a votive tablet whose inscription is in the Vernacular. In the inscription, which it is not necessary to express entire, the matter is said to have happened in the year 1718, on the VIII day of April, near Munich, where, being thrown into the Isar by the dashing of the raft against a wall, by the intercession of St. Nonnosus he was preserved unharmed, although, now rising above the water, now submerged, he was easily carried a thousand paces by the river. Thus the inscription a little more fully. Now I subjoin the remaining miracles, illustrated with annotations.

THE MIRACLES

Printed in German in the year MDCCXI, and rendered into Latin. By some translator of the Society of Jesus.

Nonnosus, provost of the monastery of Mount Soracte, in the Church of Etruria. (S.)

from the German printed edition.

PREFACE.

[The author writes neither the history of the life nor of the translation, but the Miracles,] Since not long ago, and only two years since, both the Life, so full of miracles, and the description of the most happy finding and of the most magnificently celebrated feast of the translation of the glorious and holy abbot Nonnosus, great tutelary patron of this most illustrious cathedral college of Freising, were committed to public print, both in eight panegyric Orations elegantly delivered in the time of the solemn Octave, and also in a special booklet (whose title is Nonnosus Revived), to the satisfaction of all with all circumstances, it is judged superfluous in this present booklet to make mention of these things. But the sole aim and end in this undertaking is to add something small from our old and newly found treasure of graces concerning the glorious abbot Nonnosus, namely what has been done by him from that time, and how helpful and wonder-working the holy father Nonnosus has shown himself to all by his powerful patronage and by the distribution of immense graces; when, namely, it pleased divine providence to bring him again into the light after so many centuries in which he lay hidden ^a beyond all men's memory, by that wondrous and most happy finding which was made by the most exalted and most reverend lord John Francis, prince of the Holy Roman empire and bishop of Freising, our most gracious lord — to the highest comfort and greatest joy not only of this most illustrious city of Freising, but of every man.

[2] And truly the most powerful God seems, in compensation for this long oblivion, now to will to be truly glorified in his holy servant Nonnosus with so various and public a veneration;

[at least some of those which happen in great number not only at Freising but in other places too,] since for sufficient testimonies there are those great benefits which both young and old, and persons both of nobler and of the lowest condition, in their grievous inward and outward troubles and bitter afflictions daily obtain through the most powerful intercession of the wonder-working holy father Nonnosus. Which indeed have not all, but only some of them, been comprised in this small little Work, in order that the honor and renowned name of the worker of marvels, saint Nonnosus, may be the more spread abroad, and thus it may be plain to everyone how great a treasure of graces almighty God has again given in these afflicted times to all Freising, and how powerful a tutelary Patron. But indeed our great and wonderful father Nonnosus shows himself as a most splendid sun, who does not keep the rays of his graces for himself, nor illumine Freising alone with them, but wondrously scatters them in every direction, nor denies his aid to anyone whosoever flees to him with true confidence in any necessity whatever.

[3] chiefly through the oil of the lamp burning before the Saint's altar, Where moreover it must be most briefly observed in what various ways St. Nonnosus is wont to impart his gracious aid to the afflicted sons of men, whether by the offering of a waxen image, or by the promise of a votive offering, or otherwise by the observance of some certain devotion, and especially by creeping into the crypt to his stone sarcophagus, where indeed, hidden, he has always wondrously worked; and in whatever way at last devotion and an inward impulse may give each man occasion for seeking help: yet he chiefly wills to bestow his greatest benefits in the oil which burns perpetually before his altar in a lamp, as so many afflicted people daily experience more than sufficiently in its use in their most perilous calamities: and therefore he seems, as a special sign of his great liberality and fatherly mercy, to hold in his hands a branch of olive [b]. Which indicates to us that great miracle which he wrought on mount Soracte, where, all oil failing, with only a few olives pressed, he filled all the vessels in the whole monastery.

[4] the use of which is commended. Nay, after in the year MDCLXIII, a petition being made, one particle of the blessed body of saint Nonnosus was sent from Freising to Rome, and thence afterwards, a procession so magnificent being instituted that no pen could sufficiently describe its vast pomp, was translated to mount Soracte, where saint Nonnosus served his God in the highest holiness; the holy abbot Nonnosus there, and in many other places and cities in which altars had been erected to his honor, and wherever care was taken that oil should burn before them in a lamp, wrought and bestowed almost all his greatest miracles through the use of the oil, and also by the power of his mighty intercession. Since therefore the greatest God wills to glorify his great servant Nonnosus toward his devout lovers chiefly by the power of oil, as of a sign properly attributed to him of his helping liberality, these few things alleged will be to all and each a proof, that in every event and in occurring pains they may flee with confidence to our holy father Nonnosus, and seek undoubted help through the use of his miraculous oil, that almighty God may still more be praised and celebrated in his great servant and helping father Nonnosus.

ANNOTATA.

A NOTICE TO THE READER.

[The author teaches why all the benefits could not be narrated in order, or even reported at all:] Concerning the benefits here noted it must be observed that they could without doubt have been committed to writing in a better order: but since at the beginning the frequent benefits received were not at all recorded, but only by degrees were persons brought to this, that they took care to have them noted for the greater glory of saint Nonnosus, therefore this could not conveniently be done, and for that very reason not all the benefits could be reported: which, however, hereafter, since benefits bestowed by the patronage of St. Nonnosus are now for the most part published from the public pulpit, will be observed with all care. Moreover, although it would be fitting, for a due attestation of a grateful mind concerning benefits received, that everyone who obtains some benefit from St. Nonnosus should indicate his name, yet it will suffice if such a person, for grave causes and perhaps on account of some hidden difficulty, with his name concealed, at least by writing or by word makes known the benefit received.

[6] The kindly reader will also find that some among the benefits set down (although this could have been done with more, some of those reported authentically proved. or perhaps would have been done, if time and circumstances had permitted) which saint Nonnosus bestowed by his help and intercession, have been inserted in this booklet, to his honor and glory, and also to the greater faith and confidence of Christ's faithful, approved by the force of an ordinary examination and of the sworn statement of witnesses, which will be a small notice to the beloved reader. But let him meanwhile most humbly adore the great providence of God, which we wondrously experience in his glorious servant Nonnosus, and make himself by continual veneration a partaker of the great benefits which the wonder-working father St. Nonnosus at all times imparts to his own in all necessities.

CHAPTER I.

Benefits conferred on various persons in the year 1709. Miracle I. In the year MDCCIX the Reverend Fr. Heinrich Maerckl, a hermit at Fischbachau ^a at the place commonly called Maria Pirckstein, [A hermit creeping through the cave of the tomb is restored from grievous pains of the loins:] near the Tyrol, on the first of September, namely the day before the following most magnificent feast of the translation of St. Nonnosus, came to Freising. But throughout that whole night (not even knowing for what causes) and on the following day, he felt such great and intolerable pains in his loins that it was impossible for him, though his desire was very great, to be present at the great procession: nevertheless, considering his long journey, and out of ardent fervor toward the most wonderful holy Father Nonnosus, using all his strength, at length with heavy labor he came into the most illustrious cathedral church to the altar of St. Nonnosus, where with the greatest difficulties and much distress he could scarcely endure through one holy sacrifice of the Mass. And when now in this place of graces, and on the day of the new festival, before the relics of St. Nonnosus, on bent and feeble knees he was pouring forth fervent prayers, he stirs up firm confidence, spends all his strength, betakes himself to the stone cave through which they were wont to creep, and in which for so many centuries without any knowledge the sacred body of abbot Nonnosus lay hidden, and creeps through it with the utmost devotion. After this was done, all pain also at once left him, so that, sound in his whole body, he could again set out on his journey home.

II.

[8] The noble and pious lady Maria Katharina Renoth, wife of him who is here chamberlain to the most exalted prince, testifies that for a long time she was most perilously afflicted with a continually increasing dropsy: a noblewoman healed of dropsy by a vow, and, after she had used various remedies and medicines here and there, yet no effect of health changed for the better followed; and at length on the IX day of October she placed her hope in the wonder-working saint Nonnosus, and, a vow being made, obtained the health she desired.

III.

[9] The learned lord Benno Seitz, cantor and schoolmaster here of the most famous collegiate church of St. Andrew, another from grievous pains of the body, on account of a most miserable condition and dangerous defects of the body, continually suffered very great pains, and since all human remedies applied were in vain, nor were the pains mitigated by them, on the IX of October, a vow being made, he fled to the great holy father Nonnosus, by whom also he was very soon heard, and freed from intolerable pain.

IV.

[10] The very reverend lord Franz Dur suffered such great pains of the head another from pains of the head, that it seemed to him that on account of the violent sickness he was almost becoming out of his mind. Whatever remedies he applied, none mitigated the pains. At length he was inwardly urged to place his hope in the wonder-working St. Nonnosus, which he did on the XII of October; he made a vow, and afterwards was suddenly freed from the raging pains of the head.

[11] Lorenz Millbaur of Niederlern in Lower Bavaria makes known another from a grave disease. that he long endured a violent pain of the heart; whence at length he was confined to his bed, and fell into a most grievous disease. Then, since, many remedies being applied which all did no good, he knew not whither to turn, there came into his mind what not long before he had heard of the great and wonder-working St. Nonnosus. He therefore raises his spirit as soon as possible and vows on the XXV of October to this Saint one sacrifice of the Mass. From that time all pain of the heart ceased, and most happily he recovered his former health.

VI.

[12] Maria Mechtild was in great fear on account of a certain tumor [A woman, anointed with the oil of the lamp, is freed from a tumor grown on her breast,] which had grown on her breast: and since it, like a devouring cancer, had spread from one place of the body to another, in her anxiety she knew not what to do. But when she had heard such things of the wonderful oil which perpetually burns in the lamp before the altar of St. Nonnosus, she conceives a vow, goes on the XXVIII of October with confidence to the cathedral church, asks for oil from the aforesaid lamp, and after she had obtained this and afterwards at home had anointed the afflicted part, with pain all the tumor vanished.

VII.

[13] Nikolaus Hupfauer, a shepherd here at Freising, otherwise born at Taufkirchen [b], another from a tumor and pain of the hand, likewise confesses with the utmost token of a grateful mind the kindly aid of the holy father Nonnosus. For quite unexpectedly there had grown on his hand a tumor of the size of a pigeon's egg, which not only caused him great pains but also hindered his daily work: and since by the use of natural remedies he could not remove such a tumor together with the pain, he makes a vow to the great tutelary patron St. Nonnosus, asks for a little oil from his lamp, anoints the tumor with it: and it at once vanishes together with the pain.

VIII.

[14] The very reverend and pious lord Philipp Hermann Schabberger, another from a dangerous carbuncle eating away his finger, licentiate of both laws and pastor at Vilsheim [c], by his own handwriting confesses that by chance the index finger of his left hand was attacked by a phagedena [d] to be little regarded and very slight. To drive it off, he applied one or two poultices, which, however, could in no way heal the said phagedena: but from it there came forth a virulent carbuncle of vast size, as it is called, or, according to the report of the surgeons, a perfect carbuncle [e], which not only ate away that whole finger and swelled up the whole hand with great burning, but also inflamed the whole arm with inexpressible pains, so that even the physician who was called to him, though he expended the best remedies and the greatest diligence, could give the sick lord no other hope of healing than that in such circumstances a contraction of the finger and no use of it must necessarily follow. When therefore the aforesaid lord pastor saw that in human remedies there was no hope, he turned to sacred things. To his afflicted mind Freising occurred before all, that there he might place his hope in the great wonder-worker St. Nonnosus, which also he very soon did with the utmost confidence, promising that, if he were freed from this perilous state, he would set out for Freising, and there, besides using the sacred mysteries, he would offer to the holy abbot Nonnosus, as a due token of a grateful mind, a votive Mass. But behold a wondrous thing. In a very short time all pain vanished together with the danger, so that the finger, almost wholly despaired of and lost, became again quite straight and, as before, fit for use. For this very great grace and benefit, besides the due thanksgiving, the lord pastor today, the XXVIII of November, fulfilled his vow at the altar of St. Nonnosus.

IX.

[15] The honorable and most excellent woman Maria Theresia Penckmayr, and a woman from a dangerous vomiting left after childbirth. citizen and iron-merchant of Freising, also experienced the kindly aid of the holy father Nonnosus in the greatest danger of death: for when on the XX of September she had been tormented with the pains of childbirth and had brought forth a male child into the light, a little after she was afflicted with such deadly weaknesses that on account of assiduous and continual vomiting it did not seem possible that she should obtain any longer stay of life. The lord physician, called thither, did not indeed cease to prescribe all fitting remedies: but since all strength had failed her weakened nature, none of them profited anything, or brought any hope of healing. Wherefore, destitute of all temporal help, she conceives a firm confidence in St. Nonnosus; and vows that, if she were freed from this supreme danger of death by his intercession, she would take care to have a votive Mass celebrated in his honor, and would place a waxen image of the B. Virgin upon his altar. Scarcely had the afflicted woman uttered the vow from her heart, when all who were present saw with the utmost amazement that in a single moment that dangerous and deadly vomiting ceased, and that her nature, weakened even unto death, strengthened itself from hour to hour, and in a short time all health returned. For which great grace and visible aid she at once ordered a Mass to be paid in due thanksgiving to St. Nonnosus.

ANNOTATA.

A carbuncle is a crusted ulcer raised by blood turned into black bile and boiling up, and beginning from a pustule like those of the burnt, or even without this. At the beginning those who suffer from this malady scratch the part exceedingly: whence pustules break out, now several, now one, slender like grains of millet, and when these are broken a crust is drawn over, as if from red-hot iron, now ashen, sometimes black, and at the same time adhering with its deepest root and in a manner fastened, not without gnawing. And the rest of the flesh set about is endowed with great heat and grows black, and shines like bitumen and pitch: which is an exact indication of black bile. The fever is far more violent than that raised by erysipelas. These things sufficiently indicate the gravity of the malady. Yet the author subjoins more, explaining in what way it infects the neighboring parts of the body, as here presently follows.

CHAPTER II.

Benefits and miracles of the year 1710. On the XXI day of December ^a, of the noble and generous Lord Johann Ulrich Haid [b], A girl near to death is healed by a vow, doctor of both laws, advocate and judge of this territory, a little girl of nearly six years, named Katharina, from convulsions caused by toothache fell into such weakness that, her head being enfeebled and her face pale, her eyes stiff, and her limbs already stiffening, she was exposed to the nearest danger of death, just as before, twice, on account of a like case and unexpected malady, one or another of his children within a very few hours ended life by too premature a death. And so the aforesaid lord Haid, when this affliction pressed on, conceived a firm confidence, after God, in St. Nonnosus, to whom he fled, and, to obtain his beloved daughter's former health, devoted her to him with one Mass and two tapers. The vow being uttered, at once the pain left his daughter, who was already struggling with death, and on the same day she was restored to her former health. And she herself (praise and thanksgiving be to God almighty and to his wonder-worker St. Nonnosus) to this very hour enjoys perpetual health without any further malady. So great a benefit the said lord Haid, having paid his vow, testified by his own bond secured with a seal on the X of January of the following year MDCCX.

XI.

[17] Christoph Streicher was afflicted with no small grief on account of a beloved boy who was eighteen weeks old,

because he suffered a very great and dangerous swelling of the eyes, so indeed that the beloved boy, since the various remedies applied did no good, was in the utmost peril of losing his sight. Wherefore in this necessity the father conceives firm hope, and devotes his son to the wonderful St. Nonnosus, and very soon goes thither and asks for a little oil from the lamp burning before the altar of St. Nonnosus: and after he had afterwards devoutly anointed his son's eyes with it, the swelling suddenly vanished altogether. This great benefit the parent with due thanksgiving, to the praise and glory of the holy father Nonnosus, made known on the XVI of January, and caused it to be committed to writing.

XII.

[18] The pious woman Magdalena Schnapper, a citizen here and wife of a tanner, an old man so afflicted with a failing of spirit that he was like a dead man, to the greater honor of the holy abbot Nonnosus confesses that Melchior Schnapper, her husband's father, when in the morning he had gone out of this city in health and had wished to climb the hill near the collegiate church of St. Vitus, suddenly, beyond all expectation, suffered a deadly swoon, and that indeed in such a way that, even when balsam was applied, no sign of life could be perceived in him. Meanwhile, when the men who came up did not know what to do with this old man, who was in the last danger of death, this sad case is announced to the aforesaid Magdalena Schnapper, who was at home in childbed. She without any delay sent some of her household outside the city, who should see by every means that they at least carried the old man home, though dying. After she had ordered this, that same Magdalena Schnapper, moved in this sudden terror by an inward instinct, as soon as possible placed all her confidence in the great and wonderful man St. Nonnosus, made a vow joined with fervent prayer, that by his most powerful intercession (if indeed it was God's will to call the aforesaid Melchior Schnapper from this temporal to eternal life) he would obtain at the least this much, and prolong his life so long that, fortified with the last Sacraments, he might pay the debt of nature at home. Meanwhile Schnapper, struggling with death, was carried in a sedan chair through the city home, and gave no sign of life; nor was any perceived by the bystanders: he cast whitish foam from his mouth, and was like a dead man.

[19] In so great misery the aforesaid Schnapper repeatedly renewed her ardent prayers and invocation with the utmost confidence, together with her vow, by another's vow he receives entire health: and most earnestly begged the kindly aid and patronage of St. Nonnosus, promising that she would take care that this benefit be published from the public pulpit. Hear now a wondrous thing. At such fervent prayers that Schnapper, as though bereft of life, suddenly strengthens himself, and begins, many others being present, not without the utmost amazement of all, at once to speak. Afterwards too without further delay with the utmost sorrow he confessed, and was fortified with the most holy Sacrament, as with his last viaticum, as everyone believed. And what is the more wondrous: after half an hour he could move altogether, and afterwards on the same day at Vespers, between the first and second [c], he could go to bed alone without the support of anyone else; and thus by the most powerful intercession of the most wonderful St. Nonnosus he was not only snatched from manifest death, but also obtained his health in a wondrous manner. All these things were examined by lawful and sworn witnesses and committed to writing. So great a benefit Magdalena Schnapper herself, with due praise and immense thanksgiving, to the honor of St. Nonnosus, her vow being piously paid, ordered to be published from the pulpit of the cathedral church.

XIII.

[20] The most reverend and most illustrious Christoph Heinrich, free baron de Sandizell, canon of the cathedral church of Freising, etc., a horse suddenly healed by its master's vow: had one of his horses whose two feet had swollen exceedingly, and after various remedies otherwise received in use had been applied to them without any effect, the aforesaid most illustrious lord placed all his hope in the holy abbot Nonnosus, and promised in his honor a sacred sacrifice of the Mass and a silver votive tablet. After this at once on the same night, with the utmost wonder, all the swelling, which had appeared so dangerous, vanished, and the horse became sound, such as it had been before. The vow was afterwards paid on the XXI of March to the due honor of the Saint and in thanksgiving.

XIV.

[21] a dangerous fever driven off by the Saint's oil, The most illustrious and noble lady, countess of Heimhausen, after God gives glory to the wonder-working father St. Nonnosus alone, that by his aid and intercession she was snatched from a grave and manifest danger of life. The aforesaid most illustrious lady was attacked about the XIV of May by a malignant fever, to which there had been added so terrible a vomiting from the stomach that everyone thought that her flourishing youth, on account of her failing strength and the extreme danger of life, must be mown down by the cruel scythe of death. And since other remedies availed nothing to obtain health, she turned with the utmost confidence of heart to heaven, and above all most fervently implored the kindly aid of the holy father Nonnosus; she sent besides to seek some of the oil which burns in his lamp, and ordered herself to be anointed with it. After this all the vomiting, together with the fever dangerous even unto death, suddenly ceased.

XV.

[22] A certain woman of eighty-five years of age had for some time been afflicted with such great pains of the eyes the gravest pain of the eyes, that she was altogether believed to be in danger of suffering the loss of her eyes and of being rendered wholly blind. Since therefore no remedies at all had availed, she asked with the utmost confidence for oil from the lamp of St. Nonnosus; she anoints both eyes with it, and as soon as this was done, at once in a single moment all pain vanished, and she most happily retained the former use of her eyes. This notable benefit she afterwards on the XX of May, her devotion being performed and due thanksgiving made, testified and made known before the altar of the holy father Nonnosus.

XVI.

[23] On that very day, namely the XX of May, a certain woman of seventy-two years, a dangerous malady of the breast, after she had paid her vow in the crypt at the wonderful St. Nonnosus for a great benefit, and had given the greatest thanks, publicly testified and confessed that a very large lump had grown on her breast, and that she had suffered the greatest pains in it. All remedies applied were fruitless, and since there was no hope of healing, she was believed about to die on account of the vast danger. At length by an inward instinct she raises her spirit, and with great confidence flees to the great saint Nonnosus, sends to seek some of the oil from his lamp, and after she had anointed the afflicted place with it, she not only felt herself better, but, what is most to be wondered at, that great tumor suddenly vanished, and she obtained the health she had longed for.

XVII.

[22] foul ulcers of the mouth, Katharina Heillmayr, of Aest, had a daughter named Anna, who for nearly forty weeks had been so grievously afflicted with a rotting of the mouth that many ulcers broke out on her mouth and lips. The afflicted mother, desiring an end of her misery, knew not what remedy to apply, that she might free her beloved daughter from this malady. Set in these great straits she remembered the great wonder-worker St. Nonnosus. She therefore as soon as possible placed her hope in this holy tutelary Patron by a vow, asked for oil from his lamp, and ordered her daughter's eaten and afflicted mouth to be anointed with it. Which being done, as soon as possible the pain ceased, the rotting of the mouth ceased, and in a short time the eaten mouth was made whole again. Wherefore the mother, her devotion being performed before the altar of St. Nonnosus, set forth so great a benefit in words on the XXVIII of August, and desired it to be noted down to the due honor of her helper St. Nonnosus.

XVIII.

[25] Likewise on the XXVIII of August Maria Heillmayr, daughter of the aforesaid Katharina Heillmayr, again a fever, to the honor of the holy father Nonnosus, and in thanksgiving for the greatest graces, publicly confessed that she had for some time been afflicted with a dangerous fever, and that indeed in such a way that, on account of its longer continuance and the greatness of the pains, her face began to grow livid. And since by no other remedy could she remove this evil guest, with great confidence she promised St. Nonnosus that, if she recovered her former health by his aid and patronage, she would come with some other girls, clothed in white garments, to Freising to his holy altar, and there with them would pay ardent prayers and thanks. Such a vow being conceived, she afterwards ordered herself to be anointed with oil from his lamp, and quite wondrously by the helping hand of the graces of St. Nonnosus at once recovered her former health.

XIX.

[26] Maria Thallmayr, a citizen of Freising, was afflicted with so great a pain of the left arm sharp pains of the arm. that for a long time she could not raise it, and so was not able to undergo her accustomed labor. She applied some remedies from time to time, yet without any effect, until at length she fled solely to the common saving patron and wonder-worker now, St. Nonnosus. With trusting mind she makes a vow, and anoints the afflicted arm with oil from the lamp of St. Nonnosus. This being done, she was presently freed from all pain, and could use her arm, as before, without any hindrance. This illustrious grace and benefit she afterwards on the XXXI of August, a waxen arm being offered and her prayers performed, wished to confess publicly, and took care to have it noted down to the greater honor of our great tutelary patron St. Nonnosus. The same above-said person testifies that at other times too she suffered sharp pains of the left arm; but that, after she had used oil from the lamp of St. Nonnosus, she was by his powerful intercession restored to perfect health.

XX.

[27] A certain person, who for grave causes was unwilling to give her name, A vow being uttered, a certain person is freed from a secret affliction, in a certain dangerous condition, from which she could not be freed in any other way or by other remedies applied, fled with great confidence to the holy father Nonnosus. She conceived a vow, and wished besides, if by the aid of St. Nonnosus she should be made mistress of her desire, that the grace received and the benefit should be published from the public pulpit to the greater glory of God and of the holy father Nonnosus. The vow being uttered, as soon as possible she was most kindly heard by the great worker of marvels St. Nonnosus, and was freed by her vow from her great and secret affliction. Which being obtained, on the XXX of July, at the ardent prayers and desire of this person, this benefit received was, to the greater glory of St. Nonnosus and in thanksgiving, not only entered in the register, but also publicly published.

XXI.

[28] The honorable and pious woman Anna Maria Millinger was afflicted with such dangerous pains of the breast that from them she was in danger of death. a woman with dangerous pains of the breast,

When therefore in such straits and afflictions, after various remedies applied, she knew of no further medicine to obtain health, she conceived confidence and made a vow to the holy father Nonnosus, promising also that she would take care, to his honor and to the magnifying of his holy name, that the grace received should be published from the public pulpit. When the vow had been made, the pain gave way, and with the utmost joy she was restored to her former health, as on the X day of May she publicly confessed, and it was committed to writing.

XXII.

[29] Agnes Gehrhauer, who was born at Landsberg [d], had her left arm attacked by a grave malady another with a grave malady of the arm: and so great a pain that for a long time she could not perform her accustomed duty. But since other medicines availed nothing, she could in her great necessity seek no other aid than from the helping father St. Nonnosus. To him she eagerly fled: and a waxen image being promised, she used oil from his lamp. These things being done, she was made mistress of her vow, and freed from all pain of the arm. Which grace received she afterwards, to the honor of the holy father Nonnosus, on the XV of January made known and ordered to be noted down.

XXIII.

[30] That our great tutelary father St. Nonnosus shows himself as a newly found treasure of graces, a certain maiden obtains peace of mind, and can extend a helping hand in all afflictions, both inward and outward, is clear from the following fact, which the person to be named testifies with her own hand. I, Anna Maria Schwarz, the unmarried daughter of the court fisherman here, before God and all the beloved Saints make manifest and known to everyone that in the year MDCCVII I fell into so great an inward affliction, and had to live continually in so wretched a state until the year MDCCX, that I thought I should be deprived of the use of reason from sheer sadness. After therefore the finding of the great St. Nonnosus took place, and his great miracles were now everywhere celebrated, I, besides a certain devotion, out of a special and filial confidence in the holy father Nonnosus vowed a holy confession and Communion with the hearing of one Mass at his altar, promising besides that, if by the intercession of St. Nonnosus I were freed from my misery, so great a benefit of heaven I would publicly declare and confess with my name added. The vow being uttered, I was freed from so long a misery of life, and again obtained the desired peace of my mind: for which inexpressible grace be praise and thanksgiving before all to God almighty, and then to the glorious holy father Nonnosus.

XXIV.

[31] Maria Pichler, unmarried, in lifting a sack full of grass had so wrenched her limbs another the restoring of a wrenched body. that for more than three hours she could not stand with body upright. Wherefore, on account of the longer-lasting pains, and because she feared lest perhaps something in her body were broken, in this great necessity with raised spirit and great confidence she fled to the holy Father Nonnosus, to whose honor she promised that she would hang up a votive tablet and perform some work of devotion. The promise being made, as soon as possible all pain ceased, and without any trouble she could again, as before, undertake her work. This benefit, which she obtained by the intercession of St. Nonnosus, she afterwards on the XIX of November made known to his honor and in due thanksgiving.

ANNOTATA.

CHAPTER III.

The earlier miracles of the year 1711.

XXV.

Sebastian Hagn, a citizen and maker of laces here at Freising, [A man freed by an anointing with the oil of the lamp from pains of the knee and arm,] had long suffered the greatest pains in his right knee, as also in his right arm. He used various remedies and poultices to free himself from this malady: but he experienced that by none of these did he obtain any relief or comfort; until at last with firm faith and solid confidence he fled to the holy father Nonnosus, to whom he vowed a certain exercise of devotion; and after he had used oil from his lamp and anointed himself with it, in both places the pain together with the swelling vanished, as he himself made known on the X of February to give thanks most humbly and to the honor of the wonder-working St. Nonnosus.

XXVI.

[33] Maria Anna Hagn, wife of the aforesaid Sebastian Hagn, his son with a dangerous affection of the eye, had likewise with the utmost confidence devoted to the wonderful St. Nonnosus her son, who had suffered sharp pains of the left eye and was in danger of losing his life. She asked besides for oil from his lamp, and anointed with it her son's sick eye: which being done, in a short time all pain vanished, and her son, snatched from all danger, again obtained health of the eye. Such a grace received the mother herself, after she had paid her ardent prayers and most ardent thanksgiving in the crypt at the altar of St. Nonnosus, took care to have noted down on the X of February.

XXVII.

[34] Ursula Mayr, wife of the trumpeter of this city, had for some time suffered the gravest pains of her left foot, a woman with pains of the left foot, and since by the use of other medicines she was nothing better, she stirred up in her mind a great desire of seeking some aid from the helping father St. Nonnosus; and so with the utmost devotion she made a vow and anointed herself with oil from his lamp: which being done, she was presently freed from all pains, as she herself testified on the XV of February to the honor and glory of St. Nonnosus.

XXVIII.

[35] The pious woman Anna Maria Schnapper, a citizen here and wife of a tanner, a boy with convulsions, was afflicted with the utmost grief because she knew not with what remedies she could bring help to her little son, who labored under the gravest convulsions joined with crying ^a, and free him from further danger; at length she devotes her son to the wonderful father St. Nonnosus. Scarcely was the vow uttered when the disease ceased, and the boy recovered entire health. This visible effect of favor the mother made known to the due honor and praise of St. Nonnosus.

XXIX.

[36] The aforesaid Anna Maria Schnapper at another time, for a moderate interval, had her ears ringing so violently that she feared lest she were in danger of losing her hearing. In such affliction she fled with confidence to St. Nonnosus: her mother with a ringing of the ears, she vows some gift and a certain pious exercise: and by the visible intercession of St. Nonnosus all ringing of the ears ceased.

XXX.

[37] Sigismund Schnapper, a citizen here and a tanner, suffered such great pains of the breast a man with pains of an oppressed breast. that on account of the excessive oppression he was driven into the greatest straits, especially because he knew of no remedy by which he could free himself from so great a trouble. The one refuge which remained to him was St. Nonnosus, to whom with the utmost confidence, prayers being poured out, he devoted himself together with a waxen breast, and most happily too was heard by the powerful intercession of this holy Father, and was freed from all pain and oppression.

XXXI.

[38] Maria Heigl, a carpenter's wife, of Attenkirchen, suffered such intolerable pains of both eyes

The pain of the eyes taken away by a vow and an anointing with the oil: that from their violence she no longer knew what she should do. All other remedies applied brought no relief; but the pain always grew greater, so that she even feared lest perhaps she should be wholly deprived of sight. At length, since she had heard such things of the benefits of St. Nonnosus, by an inward instinct she stirs up great confidence in this holy Father by the uttering of a vow; and afterwards anoints both eyes with oil from his lamp. Which being done, from that time and that very hour she was freed from all pain, and altogether obtained the desired health of her eyes.

XXXII.

[39] Elisabeth Zwey, a citizen here and wife of a carpenter, by a vow and prayers before the Saint's altar, a pain of the feet, was afflicted with such great pains of the left foot that she could not walk without a staff. And since she was ignorant of the cause of this malady, and greatly feared something more dangerous, she fled to the common helper and tutelary patron St. Nonnosus. She vowed him a waxen foot, and certain prayers: then she used all her strength, and with the help of a staff betook herself, though not without the utmost difficulty, to the crypt and altar of St. Nonnosus: and after she had there fulfilled her vow and poured out the most ardent prayers, without further delay she was freed from all pain of the foot.

XXXIII.

[40] Anna Eder for three whole years labored under a pain of the sides [b], as also a long-lasting pleurisy: so that during this time she endured many and frequently inexpressible pains. She applied many remedies to be freed from this long-lasting misery; but none of them all was so effectual as to impart the desired health; until at length she placed her hope in the great wonder-worker St. Nonnosus. By his powerful intercession and helping hand, after the vow was fulfilled and the most ardent prayers poured out before his holy altar, she recovered in that same hour; and was happily freed from the bitter pain of the sides so long endured.

XXXIV.

[41] The most illustrious lady Maria Magdalena Eleonora, countess of Haimhausen, an illustrious lady after a vow happily gives birth: born free baroness de Rechling, in extreme necessity manifestly experienced the most powerful aid and patronage of the wonderful St. Nonnosus, to whose greater honor and to the amplification of his holy name the aforesaid most illustrious lady countess handed over a written account of the matter. For when she was with child, and both before and in the very birth was subjected to straits perilous even unto death, she uttered a vow to St. Nonnosus, imploring his aid, and promised that she would take care that the benefit should be publicly published, her name not being kept silent. Then she not only happily brought forth her child, but afterwards also on all other occasions remained free. This notable benefit she herself, after God, ascribes to the great wonder-worker St. Nonnosus, and gives due thanks.

XXXV.

[42] The helping and kindly hand of our great tutelary patron and holy father Nonnosus was also experienced in his necessities by the upright man Jacob Passauer, a certain man's little son healed, and afterwards an ox: a citizen here at Freising and a tanner, who himself testified in writing to various benefits, giving the greatest thanks to St. Nonnosus, as will be clear in what follows. To the honor of God and of his servant St. Nonnosus, I hereby publicly make known that some weeks ago I sought aid from the said St. Nonnosus in two afflictions, and most happily found it, not without comfort. First my little son had fallen into a disease, to whom convulsions had often come on: that therefore I might free my little son from this misery, I placed all my hope in the holy father Nonnosus: I devoted him to him with a small prayer and a cheap votive offering: which being done, not only did all the convulsions cease, but also the little boy was in a short time freed from his other disease. Secondly an ox had fallen sick, one exceedingly necessary to my household, and that so dangerously that I had to reckon him as good as lost. But when, after a sermon delivered in the cathedral church, I had understood from a public announcement from the pulpit that some benefit had been imparted by the intercession of St. Nonnosus, I at once betook myself into the crypt to the altar of St. Nonnosus, poured out there my slight prayers to obtain aid for the sick ox, and added a small gift. Then I went home again, and found the above-mentioned sick ox already wholly safe and sound. Which benefit I believe fell to me so much the sooner because, in paying the aforesaid prayers, I firmly purposed that, if I were heard in this matter, I would take care that it should be publicly published to the honor of St. Nonnosus, even with my name added. This therefore I perform with grateful mind, and most humbly beg the great St. Nonnosus for his powerful intercession further for me and mine.

XXXVI.

[43] The honorable and pious woman Haimperger, here a citizen of Freising and wife of an embroiderer, a woman wondrously freed from a bone sticking in her throat. when after enduring an illness she wished again to go to church, ordered a broth to be prepared for her beforehand, that she might strengthen her weak stomach and wearied body. But while she was eating, unexpectedly she swallowed a little bone, equal in size to the joint of the greater finger, in such a way that the little bone stuck in her throat, and the aforesaid Haimperger could scarcely draw breath, much less speak, and so began not only to grow livid in her whole face, but even to vomit blood and almost to go mad. In this great misfortune and danger of life the husband of the aforesaid Haimperger ardently admonished and exhorted her that in this necessity she should place her only hope in the wonderful St. Nonnosus, which also she very soon did, devoting herself to the holy helping Father by a certain pious work. But now hear a wondrous deed. Suddenly after the vow was uttered the bone sticking in her throat vanished, and that indeed in such a way — so that the matter may appear the more wondrous — that neither he nor Haimperger herself to this day know whither it went: but she was at once healed. Besides, on this matter, for greater security, sworn witnesses being called, an examination was instituted [c]. To God and to his wonderful St. Nonnosus be therefore eternal thanksgiving, praise, honor, and glory; to whose greater promotion this great miracle was afterwards publicly published from the pulpit in the year MDCCXI, on the XXIV of May.

ANNOTATA.

CHAPTER IV.

The continuation of the miracles of the same year 1711.

XXXVII.

Sigismund Schnapper, an honorable man, a citizen here and a tanner, A certain man's foot healed after a vow to publish the benefit, was troubled in the year MDCCX by an ulcer arisen on one of his feet. Wherefore on account of continual pains, both in walking and also in working, he not only suffered great difficulty, but was also at some times incapable of both. To drive off this ulcer he used various poultices and ointments. But since he did not feel that by any of them he was better, he fled to the best surgeon, St. Nonnosus, to whom he devoted himself by promising some work of religion, and at the same time promised that, if the healing of his foot should follow by his patronage, he would take care that this benefit should be publicly published from the pulpit. As soon as the vow was uttered, his foot mended from day to day, and in a very short time was wholly healed.

[45] [and, the publishing being neglected, the malady returning was taken away by a second vow:] For the health obtained the above-said Schnapper indeed rejoiced, but, by I know not what negligence and forgetfulness, he in no way took care that this benefit received from St. Nonnosus should be published from the pulpit, as he had promised. What at last happened? In the very next year, namely in the now-passing MDCCXI, the old pains again attacked the foot of Sigismund Schnapper, and his ulcer, as before, gaped open. He at once remembers that he had been most ungrateful toward his holy helper St. Nonnosus, and had not stood by his promises. He therefore collects himself and grieves over his error, with most humble prayers added: and with the utmost confidence repeating his vow, he promises that, if aid were again brought him by the patronage of St. Nonnosus, he would manifest to everyone, to his honor, not only the new benefit but also the negligence ungratefully committed. From that time and that same hour in which this new vow was uttered, the pains again ceased, and Schnapper himself obtained a second time the perfect healing of his foot. This benefit obtained he himself afterwards as soon as possible ordered to be made known from the public pulpit in due thanksgiving and to the magnifying of the holy name of the great wonder-worker St. Nonnosus.

XXXVIII.

[46] The honorable man Georg Nehr, a citizen here and a shoemaker, likewise colic gripes taken away by a vow, in the year MDCCX was suddenly seized with such violent colic pains, continued for five or six days, that on account of the excessive violence of the pains everyone commonly despaired of his recovery and of the preservation of his life. In these dangerous and deadly straits, since all that had been applied availed nothing, he lifts his cast-down spirit with the utmost confidence to the wonderful St. Nonnosus, that in so great a misery he might stretch out to him a gracious and helping hand and turn away the danger of death almost at hand. Then he vows that he will take care, in honor of this great Father, that two sacrifices of the Mass be celebrated at his altar, and that he will hang up a votive tablet. A stupendous thing! Scarcely had the aforesaid Georg Nehr uttered his vow thus when suddenly the intolerable torment ceases, the colic gripes cease, and the sick man most happily obtains his former health.

XXXIX.

[47] In the very next year MDCCXI the aforesaid

Georg Nehr was again seized by a most grievous disease: and afterwards the same man's disease of the joints, for through his whole body arthritis ^a had with the utmost force so prevailed that he could use neither his hands nor his feet, nor was he even able to lift those limbs. In such trouble and frequent pains he again knew not where to seek aid save from his old helper and kindly father St. Nonnosus. And so again with the utmost confidence he fled to him, and vows one sacrifice of the Mass, to be celebrated at his altar after health was recovered: he added that he would most humbly pay his prayers with thanksgiving. His prayers poured out with confidence the admirable saint Nonnosus heard as soon as possible, and again imparted perfect health to the grievously afflicted sick man. These two benefits, greater than can be explained, Georg Nehr with most humble thanksgiving wished to be made known and committed to writing to the greater honor of St. Nonnosus.

XL.

[48] A memorable benefit, which the renowned St. Nonnosus of prodigious beneficence bestowed another disease with the gravest pains, and which was conferred on him, the religious and reverend lord Franz Anton Pez, a priest here at Freising, testifies with his own hand, as follows. On the X day of February MDCCXI almighty God sent upon me so inexplicable and so bitter a malady of the left foot that in the six whole years in which I have now lain sick I never suffered such great pains, and that indeed in such a way that, since half of my body as far as the sole of the foot had swollen, I could not even move my foot, and for fourteen whole days had to be lifted from the bed in a sheet, and so laid back in it. All the remedies prescribed and applied, which I used abundantly, availed nothing; but only, as I think, created for me greater and more violent pains. For this cause, since all human helps and remedies were of no effect, having conceived firm confidence, I promised St. Nonnosus a Mass to be said to his honor, a votive tablet, two candles of white wax, and something small, according to my slender means, to be put into the treasury. A wondrous thing! Scarcely had I uttered this vow when at once I felt a notable change and a mitigation of the pains, and gradually these violent pains wholly departed and vanished.

XLI.

[49] Maria Gulder, of Neustift, suffered the most violent and grievous pains of the head, and in no way knew by what remedies she could be freed from these pains. a violent pain of the head, But when her grief continually grew on account of the violence of the pain, she at length fled with great confidence to the holy father Nonnosus, and devotes herself to him, a certain pious work being promised. This being done, she was freed from all pain of the head, as she desired.

XLII.

[50] The honorable man Sebastian Rainalder, a paver at Neustift, pain of the eyes and teeth, some years since had so suffered in his eyes and teeth that the continual and immense pains which he endured seemed almost intolerable: and although he applied many and various remedies to the malady, yet none of them all could avail him for healing. And so, since natural remedies were fruitless, he resolved to seek spiritual ones. Wherefore with the utmost confidence he places his hope in the wonder-worker St. Nonnosus. He vows that, besides some gift to be offered, he will also take care that in the cathedral church of this city, at the Saint's altar, a solemn Mass be celebrated in his honor. The vow being uttered, the pains at once began to cease from day to day, and in a short time he recovered entire health. Wherefore first to almighty God, and then to his helper St. Nonnosus, he gave endless thanks, and took care that this great benefit should be publicly published to the amplification of his holy name.

XLIII.

[51] Johann Willhelm, an honorable man and a tailor at Wolfersdorf, a dangerous swelling of a bone, for four whole years had his right hand disfigured with a vast swelling of the bone, not without great inconvenience. To drive off this malady he used during all that time various remedies, which, however, were all of no effect and without any result. At length a short time ago the swelling opened with violent pains. When he was thus driven into great cares and straits, not only on account of the increased pains, but also because it was rightly to be feared lest he should suffer another and that a great danger from his hand, in these straits, since he had already heard many wonders of St. Nonnosus, he stirs up in his mind great confidence, by which he might flee to the patronage of St. Nonnosus. He vows therefore that, to his honor, here at Freising before his altar in the crypt, besides a gift to be offered, he will perform a certain exercise of religion. He girds himself without delay for the journey and betakes himself to Freising: and after in the said crypt before the relics of St. Nonnosus he had offered a little gift and had performed a pious work with the utmost devotion, all pain at once ceased, and the gaping swelling of the bone vanished. This benefit obtained the aforesaid Johann Willhelm in due thanksgiving, and to the perpetual praise of St. Nonnosus, made known in writing, and made known to everyone.

XLIV.

[52] Sebastian Zänglmayr, a man of honorable life, a grave malady arising from a fall, likewise acknowledges in a written account the wonder-working and beneficent hand of saint Nonnosus: for when not long ago he had fallen so grievously and dangerously that he could no longer move himself, much less walk, but had to lie in bed, with the utmost confidence he fled solely to the father renowned for prodigies, St. Nonnosus: he vows that in his honor he will once pay the prayers of the Marian rosary, and will offer a waxen image, and finally will put something into the treasury. As soon as the vow was uttered, he immediately (most humble thanks be to almighty God and to the great St. Nonnosus) began to be better, and thus in a very few days recovered.

XLV.

[53] Simon Binder, an honorable man, a citizen here and a shoemaker, pain of the eyes, together with his wife testifies that his little daughter long suffered the greatest pains of the eyes. That the parents might free their beloved daughter from these, they applied various remedies, which, however, availed nothing. At length, confidence in St. Nonnosus being conceived, they fled to him. They devoted their daughter to him by some religious work and a little gift to be offered. These things being done, at once the pains of the eyes together with all danger vanished.

XLVI.

[54] Johann Habert, a man of honorable life, a citizen of this city and a trumpeter, pain of the feet, for a long time suffered the greatest pains of the feet and most violent stabbings. But when he had already used various remedies, yet without healing or effect, with the utmost confidence he vowed to the holy father Nonnosus that he would offer him a waxen image and pay certain prayers. The vow being uttered, at once by the powerful patronage of the wonderful St. Nonnosus the sharp stabbing ceased and all pain vanished; for which benefit he gives due thanks first to God, then to the holy father Nonnosus.

XLVII.

[55] Eva Ober, born at Landshut [b], who now for many years to this day has been in service here at Freising, pain of the teeth lessened, on account of a tooth unhappily drawn, for nine years, and indeed at some times, suffered such violent and intolerable pains of the teeth that for that cause she very often had to give over food and the most necessary drink and all labor. In so many years she could find no remedy by which to free herself from this malady. In that long-lasting affliction she devoted herself by one sacrifice of the Mass and certain appointed prayers to St. Nonnosus here in the crypt, and also often used oil from his lamp. These things being done, the violent pains, recurring on certain days, so passed away that she can at least bear the pains calmly, and perform her works, and enjoy the necessary food and drink. This therefore, that she might fittingly give due thanks to St. Nonnosus, she wished to be publicly published.

XLVIII.

[56] The reverend in Christ and religious lord Georg Schnevogl, afflictions of body and mind, a Paulinian [c] in the most illustrious cathedral church here at Freising, testifies that in the past month of March of the now-passing year MDCCXI, by the patronage of St. Nonnosus and by the use of oil from his lamp, he was heard on various occasions in certain afflictions of body and mind. For which benefit he desired, by publicly giving his name, to render most humble thanks to the holy father Nonnosus.

XLIX.

[57] Eva Peur, widow of a stableman here, in lifting something had so wrenched some part of her body and pains of a wrenched body. that for a long time she endured the greatest pains: and because these did not cease, and she was hindered from her work, she placed her hope in the holy father Nonnosus, and promised that she would take care that a sacred sacrifice of the Mass should be read to his honor.

Hence by the aid and patronage of the wonder-working saint Nonnosus she began to be better and was healed.

ANNOTATA.

CHAPTER V.

The continuation of the same miracles. Johann Polzinger, of Tüching near Freising, publicly testifies to the honor and glory of the holy father Nonnosus freed by the Saint's aid from pain of the eyes, that for a very long time he was afflicted with the most violent pains of the left eye, from which the various remedies applied could in no way free him; until at length he fled to the wonder-working saint Nonnosus, and with firm confidence implored his powerful patronage, which also he manifestly experienced: for, as soon as he had uttered his vow to this great Patron and helper, and had anointed his eye with oil from his lamp, the pains ceased, and he obtained perfect health of his eye.

LI.

[59] Anna Maria Grebmayr, an upright woman and a citizen of Freising, long-lasting pain of the teeth, for a whole year was so grievously afflicted with intolerable pains of the teeth that all the remedies applied could in no way free her from the said pains. But afterwards she placed all her hope solely in the great father Nonnosus: and as soon as she had promised him a waxen tooth, and had offered it in the crypt at his altar, joining ardent prayers, by the powerful patronage of St. Nonnosus she was freed from that bitter pain of the teeth.

LII.

[60] Ursula Mössner, a woman earning her living here by her own labor, a pain of the side, for a very long time suffered the greatest pains of the side: and since she could obtain no remedies by which she might be freed from such pains, with the best faith she fled to the wonder-working St. Nonnosus. She betook herself to the crypt; she offered a waxen knife ^a at his altar, and, ardent prayers being poured out, by the prodigious aid and patronage of St. Nonnosus all pain of the sides ceased.

LIII.

[61] Joseph Anton Grainlehner, of Eggenfelden [b], a manifest and present danger of life, unmarried and a painter, in a present danger of life experienced the manifest aid of the glorious father Nonnosus. For when, night now coming on, he wished on horseback to betake himself to a certain castle, he came into a dark wood, through which he went on so long that, straying from the right road on account of the excessive and thick darkness, he almost did not know where he was, or whither to turn.

Yet he was unwilling to remain through the night in the wood; but let his horse go always forward, though not without great danger to his life. For as he thus went on continually by a way always more and more uncertain, at length, three hours having now passed, he came to the very summit of a mountain. There, since in no way could he picture to himself the situation of the place, a great horror seized him, since he feared lest in such a case of the darkest night he should fall unexpectedly into the utmost danger. Wherefore he dismounted from his horse, and lifted his mind, stricken with fear, to heaven, and by an inward instinct with firm confidence fled to the wondrous protection of the father St. Nonnosus, ardently invoking him, that in that necessity he would stretch out a helping hand, and, turning away all danger, would bring him back into the way: then he vows that, if he escape the danger, besides some prayers to be paid, he will hang a votive offering at his altar to the honor of St. Nonnosus. These pious vows being made, he cast himself on his knees, meaning by creeping to try whether perhaps with his hands he could find some path. But behold! Scarcely had he crept forward two or three paces at the most, when with the utmost horror and trembling he perceives that there remained no ground there but a precipice overhanging the Isar, as it presently came into his mind, flowing past below, where necessarily, had he not dismounted from his horse and made his vows to St. Nonnosus, he would have been hurled together with the horse from the top of the mountain into the river. Being freed from so manifest a danger of life, at once in that very place he gave thanks with his whole heart to his most powerful helper St. Nonnosus; then all trembling he seized his horse and led him back into the wood, until at length the darkness of night was put to flight, and he himself at first dawn (the place where he had been in danger of his life having first been considered not without horror and trembling) came again from the byway into the right road. So notable a benefit Grainlehner himself impressed deeply on his mind, and then, that he might give due thanks to the wonder-working father St. Nonnosus, most religiously fulfilled his vow.

LIV.

[62] The honorable and pious maiden Maria Magdalena Schnevogl here confesses pains of the foot, that for a long time she was troubled with great pains of the right foot. In this great affliction she flees to the holy father Nonnosus: and therefore she betakes herself to the cathedral church, and creeps through the crypt to the stone sarcophagus, where now a particle of the relics of St. Nonnosus is deposited, and in which formerly his sacred body had lain hidden for so many centuries: and pious prayers being poured out there, she offered at the altar of the holy father Nonnosus a waxen image. These things being done, as soon as she rose from her prayers, she at once felt herself entirely healed, and without any pain could return home. For this grace she attributes immortal praise first to God: then she gave most humble thanks to the great wonder-worker St. Nonnosus.

LV.

[63] Johann Abraham Zweckstötter, born at Carrodunum [c], a dangerous ulcer, but at that time a pupil of the famous abbey of Weihenstephan [d], in the past spring was seized with a fever: but after the fever, remedies being applied, had left him, a little after there arose under his shoulder a very great ulcer. But when a surgeon had been called to heal him, as soon as he saw the ulcer he shrank from it; nor could he promise the aforesaid youth healing before four or five months. Meanwhile for some time poultices were applied, which created for this youth such violent pains that he could neither enjoy necessary food nor take rest by day or night. But when in the space of ten days he had scarcely filled three hours with sleeping, and therefore from want of sleep the strength of his body was failing; and when moreover it was feared lest some greater malady should befall, the youth was admonished by his Father director to flee to the holy wonder-worker Nonnosus, and to implore his aid to obtain health. And so the upright youth with great confidence promises that he will not only run through the beads of the Marian rosary in prayer and offer a waxen image, but also creep three times through the crypt near the stone sarcophagus of the Saint. On the following day, namely the XXX [e], with great desire and hope he goes to Freising to the altar of St. Nonnosus, and there with the utmost ardor fulfills his vow. A moment after he seems to feel himself better, and experienced it more on returning home, because he could now more easily and without pain lift his arm on high. On the same day toward evening, when the surgeon wished to apply a fresh poultice, and had it in mind to open with his instrument the ulcer, which on the preceding day had been moderately uncovered by the poultice, and to insert a tent, not without terror and the greatest amazement he saw that the ulcer had already wholly subsided; and when on the following day, on account of the novelty of the thing, he wished to see whether the ulcer had truly vanished, neither he nor the others present found either swelling or any other sign of ulcer. But the youth from that time, although before for two years he had needed every week medicines, has to this hour remained sound and unharmed. To God most high and to the great wonder-worker St. Nonnosus be immortal and immense thanks for so great a benefit.

LVI.

[64] A certain person consecrated to God, who was occupied with certain business, with grievous pains of the body, was suddenly seized with the greatest pains of the body, so that she rightly feared lest on account of the danger she should be altogether confined to bed, and thus necessarily be hindered from the business appointed. In these straits and cares the said person with the utmost confidence fled to the holy father Nonnosus, and promised that, besides a waxen votive offering and something to be put into the treasury, she would creep through the crypt to the stone sarcophagus of St. Nonnosus. The vow being uttered, on that very day the dangerous pain wholly ceased. And that she might show herself grateful for this benefit, she afterwards fulfilled her vow to the honor and praise of the holy abbot Nonnosus with most humble thanksgiving.

LVII.

[65] The honorable and well-born Johann Georg Poll, a rupture, a citizen here and a leather-dresser, and a guardsman of the most exalted prince, likewise experienced the kindly aid of the holy father Nonnosus, while he was in the greatest affliction on account of his son. For his son, also called Johann Georg, in the fifteenth year of his age suddenly began to suffer from a rupture, which for a time the boy out of shame was unwilling to reveal to anyone; but at length on account of the pains he could not longer conceal his malady from his parents. The parents then in their horror knew not what to do, and how to free their son from this malady. In these straits they neglected all human remedies and helps, and only with the greatest hope and firm confidence fled to the great wonder-worker St. Nonnosus, and devoted their son to him.

This being done, they went together with the boy's grandmother for some days into the crypt to St. Nonnosus, and there persisted in their piety: the boy himself there several times crept with devotion through the stone sarcophagus of St. Nonnosus, and afterwards anointed himself with oil from his lamp. These things being done, each time the malady was diminished; and when the ninth time he anointed himself with the oil, the aforesaid dangerous rupture wholly vanished, so that not even the least sign of it can be seen to this hour. In due thanksgiving they afterwards took care that this great benefit should be published from the public pulpit, to the amplification of the honor and glory of St. Nonnosus.

LVIII.

[66] A woman who for some continuous days had suffered the greatest pains of a certain disease, by another disease, in that affliction fled only to the holy father Nonnosus, and promised that she would take care that a sacred sacrifice of the Mass be celebrated once, and moreover would offer something else. This being done, the pains ceased on that very day, and she obtained the health she longed for: for which benefit to God and to the great saint Nonnosus be eternal praises and thanks.

LIX.

[67] A certain person had for about two years a vast swelling on her left hand, and by a vast swelling on the left hand. which for all that time very often brought her the greatest pains. Since therefore by no other remedy could she drive it off, in this misery she devoted herself to St. Nonnosus by some gift to be offered and other pious works. The vow being afterwards fulfilled with great devotion, at the very time of prayer the swelling so vanished that only a slight trace of it remained. This illustrious benefit and manifest miracle, to the highest praise of God, and that she might give most humble thanks to her so kindly helper St. Nonnosus, she made known to all who were at that time present in the crypt. And when a little after even that remaining and least trace of the swelling wholly vanished, she ordered this grace to be published from the public pulpit, to the greater honor of this her holy tutelary Patron and to the amplification of his praise.

ANNOTATA.

CHAPTER VI.

The remaining printed miracles.

LX.

The most illustrious and generous lord Johann Christoph Egkher, The Saint heals a dangerous disease and a grievous pain of the head, lord of Käpfing and Liechtenegg, master of the horse of the most exalted prince, etc., to the praise and honor of God almighty first, and of his venerable Mother, and of his helper the illustrious St. Nonnosus, and in thanksgiving testifies in writing that in his most grievous disease and most dangerous state he placed his hope in the holy father Nonnosus, and promised him that he would take care that in his honor certain sacred sacrifices of the Mass should be celebrated, and moreover that he would put some gift into the treasury. These things being done, he experienced the Saint's powerful patronage and manifest aid. Nay also, when the aforesaid most illustrious lord was suddenly attacked by an intolerable pain of the head, and it had swollen exceedingly all round and in the middle, he ordered himself to be anointed with oil from the lamp of St. Nonnosus, and after a quarter of an hour all pain so departed that afterwards to this time he has felt such pains no more. This notable benefit the often-mentioned most illustrious lord, to pay immortal thanks and to the honor of St. Nonnosus, wished to be made known to everyone and announced from the public pulpit.

LXI.

[69] The ingenious lord Thomas Pfärte, musician of this court, by a disease thrice repeated, likewise devoted his little son to St. Nonnosus in a certain dangerous disease, by whose patronage and by the use of oil from his lamp the boy was a second time also freed from this disease. But since the said harmful disease again a third time attacked the boy, he fled again with greater faith and confidence to the wonder-worker St. Nonnosus; and, after he had poured out ardent prayers and had anointed the affected part with oil from the Saint's lamp, he promised that he would take care that the grace received be announced from the public pulpit. Then his little son again obtained a cure divinely given, and to this day enjoys full health. In due thanksgiving the father afterwards made this known by a public announcement.

LXII.

[70] Katharina Pader, living in Neustift ^a, not knowing for what cause, he restores speech to a dumb woman: for four whole years so lacked the use of her tongue that at last, although she used all her strength, no word could for a long time be perceived from her. At that time she used various remedies given here and there, and also the services of a surgeon, yet all availed nothing to restore the use of her tongue. Meanwhile the newly found body of the holy abbot Nonnosus, on the day when the feast of the translation was most splendidly celebrated, was deposited in this most illustrious cathedral, where the above-said Katharina Pader was inwardly urged to seek help from this new Patron. She therefore vowed with the utmost faith and confidence that, to the honor of the wonder-worker St. Nonnosus, she would pay some certain devotion, and would hang a votive offering at his altar. Take a wondrous thing. The vow being uttered, at once in that very hour and at the same time speech was so restored to her that everyone could perceive her speaking. But, although afterwards she performed the promised works of devotion at St. Nonnosus's altar with due thanksgiving, yet, as she herself confessed, on account of her present poverty, and with forgetfulness coming on, she omitted to hang up the votive offering promised. Nevertheless she enjoyed continual speech, but such as was heard to be hoarse. But at length, after frequent promptings that she should gratefully keep what she had promised to her great Patron and helper, in this present year MDCCXI she ordered a votive offering to be made, and afterwards, joining ardent prayers, hung it at the Saint's altar. This being done, she obtained by the patronage of St. Nonnosus an even more perfect speech, and uses it to this hour without inconvenience. This exceptional benefit, in thanksgiving to the perpetual praise and glory of the great abbot Nonnosus, she made known and took care to have published from the public pulpit.

LXIII.

[71] A certain lady of the first rank, who for certain causes would not willingly reveal her name, he heals a woman wounded by a fall, yet confesses in writing to the honor and glory of St. Nonnosus that by an unexpected fall a wound was inflicted on her which not only increased more and more from day to day, but also brought her the greatest pains. In such straits and such affliction she fled to none other than to the great wonder-worker St. Nonnosus, in whom she placed her hope, vowing to him that she would take care that a sacred sacrifice of the Mass be celebrated to his honor; and moreover using oil from his lamp, with which she anointed herself daily. Doing these things, in a very short time, no other remedy being applied, she was freed from this malady of the body and from the bitter wound. This favor she wished to be announced from the public pulpit in due thanksgiving and to the greater honor and glory of the holy father Nonnosus.

LXIV.

[72] In a like affliction Wilgefortis Kopseder, living in Neustift, as also a boy's wound. experienced the beneficent and helping hand of the wonderful St. Nonnosus: for when her little son, named Matthias, nine years old, suddenly incurred some malady of the body [b], the poor woman knew not what to do with her son. But since the mother was unwilling to entrust the boy to a surgeon, she neglected all natural remedies, and with the utmost confidence turned to the common and great father and patron St. Nonnosus, most ardently imploring his powerful patronage, and anointing her son's wound with oil from his lamp. In this way as soon as possible all pain ceased, and the son was wholly freed from the malady of his body, and so healed that not even the least trace of it remained. Concerning which sworn witnesses were heard and examined by the court. This notable and inexplicable benefit, in thanksgiving and to the perpetual praise and amplification of the name of St. Nonnosus, was publicly announced from the pulpit.

LXV.

[73] Maria Marck, a poor mother of a family here, was long afflicted with such great pains of her limbs and stomach A woman freed from a pain of the joints and a malady of the stomach, that, deprived of all human help and remedies, she in no way knew by what means she might free herself from so great an affliction and manifold pains. At length in her weakness, with the utmost confidence she fled to the kindly father St. Nonnosus, and promised that she would pay in his honor some appointed devotion, and would put something, as far as her poverty allowed, into the treasury. These things being done, a little after, by the powerful patronage of St. Nonnosus, she was freed from the violent pain of her joints and the grievous weakness of her stomach, and was wholly healed.

LXVI.

[74] Sebastian Heinrich, a carpenter at Vötting near Freising, a man with a long-lasting fever, with the utmost pains, and with a wearing away of his strength, for eighteen whole weeks struggled with a tertian fever, from which neither the helps of physicians nor other remedies applied could free him. But as soon as with firm faith and confidence he fled to the wonder-working father St. Nonnosus, and promised him, besides certain prayers and another exercise of devotion, that he would take care that a sacred sacrifice of the Mass be read to his honor, he was at once freed from the long-lasting fever, and most happily recovered his former health. This excellent benefit he afterwards made known in due thanksgiving and to the greater honor of the holy father Nonnosus, and took care that it be published.

LXVII.

[75] Lorenz Pals, an honorable blacksmith of Freising, in a place here called Pichl, testifies in writing that for more than ten years he endured such a ringing in his head that he wholly lost the hearing of his left ear. In so long a time he applied very many and various remedies. But when by none of them was he better, another with a ringing in the head, by which he had lost the use of one ear, much less freed from such an inconvenience and from that grievous affliction, at length he placed his hope in the great wonder-worker St. Nonnosus, to whom he fled, vowing one sacrifice of the Mass and some small thing to be put into the treasury. The vow being uttered, that troublesome ringing in the head as soon as possible ceased, and he recovered the hearing he had lost by the powerful patronage of St. Nonnosus.

LXVIII.

[76] At another time the above-said Lorenz Pals again manifestly experienced in his afflictions the kindly aid of the great St. Nonnosus. and with a grievous pain of the eyes. For, when for more than eight days he had been troubled with grievous pains of the eyes, he again fled to his helper the holy father Nonnosus; and vowed that, to obtain the healing of his eyes, he would once run through the prayer-beads of the Marian rosary, and would put something into the treasury. He therefore goes to the crypt and altar of St. Nonnosus, and begins the prayers he promised. But behold a prodigy! While he runs through the sacred chaplet, at once he feels himself better, and in that same moment the pain of the eyes vanished. These two great benefits he noted down in most humble thanksgiving and to the perpetual praise of the great St. Nonnosus, and took care that they be announced publicly from the pulpit [c].

ANNOTATA.

THE MIRACLES

Done from the year 1711 to the year 1744, rendered into Latin from a German Ms. by the translator R. Fr. M. C. Nonnosus, provost of the monastery of Mount Soracte, in the Church of Etruria. (S.) ^a

from a German ms. By the patronage of St. Nonnosus, a pain of the head and neck, Anna Katharina Schuech Leuttner, a maiden, was tormented with a vast pain of the head and neck: she flees to the holy and prodigious father Nonnosus, anoints herself with oil from his lamp, certain prayers being paid and a modest coin cast into the treasury. The pain at once gave way. To God and St. Nonnosus be endless thanks!

[2] a fever, Simon Sämer of the village of Vötting [b], seized with a fever and sharp pains of the head, devoted himself to St. Nonnosus, and promised a Marian rosary and money to be spent on the Saint's honors. No sooner did he promise than the fever left him. Let due thanks be to God and St. Nonnosus!

[3] a rupture, A projecting swelling, and a rupture coming on with great pains, so cast down the strength of Georg Kizes, a baker, that he was believed likely to be unequal to the labors of his craft. The oil from the lamp of St. Nonnosus raised him up, with which he anointed himself, after he had promised the Saint a waxen image and a small coin, and to recite three chaplets.

[4] Anna Graf, wife of a mason and citizen of Freising, a pain of the side and of the teeth, for nearly a whole year endured unheard-of pains of the side: in a moment she recovered, when she devoted herself to St. Nonnosus, full of prodigies, with only a single Rosary and an offering of money. The same woman with her five-year-old child experienced the same helper in bitter pains of the teeth, as soon as by vow she promised that she would offer two waxen images.

[5] Johann Paul Peibl, a mason at Vötting, being touched with hemiplegia on the left side, hemiplegia, called St. Nonnosus into his vows: oil from the lamp being applied and certain prayers joined, he was restored to his former vigor and returned to his labors.

[6] Johann Christian Karl Immel, court printer, blindness from smallpox, and his wife commended by vow to the holy father Nonnosus their little son Joachim Benedict, blind now for some days from smallpox, a modest offering into the treasury being promised, and an appointed prayer. They added that, if the light of his eyes returned, they would take care that this benefit should be publicly published from the pulpit. Presently his eyes were anointed with oil from the lamp, entire sight returned, and the parents with the utmost thanksgiving freed themselves from their vow.

[7] Pains of the back greatly troubled Maria Maurer of Weihenstephan. a pain of the back, These the oil from the lamp of St. Nonnosus soothed and wholly wiped away, whom as patron, a sacrifice of the Mass being promised, with two tapers and a task of prayers, she had invoked full of confidence.

[8] A twofold benefit Maria Pichler, a maidservant, received by the aid of St. Nonnosus. pains of the sides and of the head, First for pains of the sides and heart she found a remedy, oil being drawn from the lamp and these parts anointed, offering a waxen knife with the recitation of the Rosary out of religious observance of her vow. Then violent pains of the head at once ceased, when she applied oil again from the lamp, and, a waxen head being offered and the Marian chaplet recited, showed herself grateful to the holy Benefactor.

[9] That like pains in the foot were instantly driven off by an anointing with oil from the lamp, Franz Pey, a musician in the collegiate church of St. Andrew, testifies; a pain of the foot, and he offered in the Saint's honor a waxen foot, prayers, and an appointed sum of money.

[10] In the utmost pains of the teeth and ears Maria Helena Jacquemin made a vow to St. Nonnosus. pains of the teeth and ears, She was heard, and paid her vow, when she paid the appointed prayers and the offering, and took care that the benefit be publicly published.

[11] Gripings of the bowels recalled to Wilhelm Schuester of the city of Landshut the prodigious aid of St. Nonnosus. gripings of the bowels, He vowed a pilgrimage and a waxen gift: and with those vows he began to be healed.

[12] Maria Ursula Jochart, when her legs had suffered a defect of hands and feet, a malady of the legs, was able neither to work nor to walk; a vow being made to St. Nonnosus, with a single rosary and a certain votive offering she bought back her health.

[13] Her little son Franz Nonnosus, whom convulsions had brought to the last extremity, made Maria Anna Schumager, wife of the court trumpeter, convulsions, uniquely anxious. When all art and nature refused to heal, St. Nonnosus was at hand, to whom she had vowed a Mass to be read, and the child revived from the death which was feared.

[14] An infant had passed only thirteen weeks in living, ulcers, and was foul with many ulcers. The parents commit him to the protection of St. Nonnosus, anoint him with oil from his lamp, and, a few prayers being paid and a waxen image set up, they see him recover.

[15] deadly convulsions, The eleven-year-old daughter of Andreas Manhart, Magdalena, suddenly overwhelmed by convulsions, had given no further sign of life: when it came into her parent's mind to entreat St. Nonnosus: he pours out prayers, and takes care that a Mass be read, and afterwards perceived that his daughter was well sooner than he had thought. That the benefit might become known to all, he ordered it to be published from the pulpit.

[16] a malady of the eyes, Ægidius Vinderle, who worked for a nailsmith, for three months now sought a remedy for healing the pains of both eyes: he found an eye-doctor in St. Nonnosus, and for so great a benefit gratefully paid a waxen token, prayers, and a modest coin.

[17] an ulcer, Balthasar Körnberger, of the same craft, born at Landshut, was afflicted with a most evil ulcer in his right foot, which by no art closed up: the wound closed as soon as he applied oil from the lamp of St. Nonnosus, and, praying piously, set up the memorial of a waxen votive offering and something of alms in the treasury. This benefit too, since it seemed unusual, was published from the pulpit.

[18] a fever with cough and pleurisy, A malignant fever, a violent cough, and moreover a pleurisy fell upon Johann Michael Berckmann, a citizen and linen-weaver of Freising, so that against these maladies no human remedy seemed to remain. Wherefore, taught by this threefold disease to make haste, he ran to St. Nonnosus, and strives to entreat him as his Physician, a vow being conceived of divers prayers and of a waxen and a monetary gift. He, not hard to persuade, that very night both compelled the fever to yield, and the troubles of the cough and the injuries of the sides to be silent.

[19] two other necessities, A twofold and grave necessity compelled the most illustrious lady countess de Trauner, born free baroness de Bodmann, wife of the supreme marshal of the court of Kempten [c], to flee to St. Nonnosus. Having experienced the manifest hand of the Saint, that she might show herself grateful, she sent a messenger to carry a golden ring crowned with a diamond to Freising to the remains of the divine Patron, and openly to proclaim the benefits received.

[20] a disease of a father and daughter, Likewise Heinrich Baur declared himself debtor for a twofold benefit, when he, held by a grave infirmity, the Saint's aid being invoked, recovered a second time, and his daughter Maria Katharina, brought into the last peril of life, happily escaped. That this gift of heaven might be made public to all, he religiously conceived a vow.

[21] an ulcer with convulsions, Maria Barbara Kärpf, wife of a court musician, hastened to commend the health of her daughter of the same name to the holy Abbot, when a twofold hostile ulcer, to which vast pains and convulsions themselves had been added, compelled her to despair of her life. The ulcer broke at once, and in a moment the convulsions with the pains grew quiet. Joyfully she paid her vow, having promised that for a whole year at the Saint's altar she would weave the Marian chaplet with a modest gift of money.

[22] another malady of the body, His health also, long grievously afflicted in a certain part of the body, Joseph Anton Teneberger owes to the patronage of St. Nonnosus. He promised the Saint appointed prayers, and a public memorial before all the people of the benefit received; and bent him easily to his vows.

[23] pains of the foot and eye, After Ursula Pointner of Gartelshausen with her child passed into the protection of St. Nonnosus, the oil applied from his lamp took away from the mother the most bitter pains in her foot: to the child it restored health of the eye.

[24] Maria Gerbl, wife of a citizen of Freising, lay down from the gravest injuries of back and belly, pains of the back and belly, and, appointed prayers being promised and an offering of money to be spent on the Saint's honors, the sick woman soon breathed again from her ill health.

[25] By a certain leap Maria Anna Kögl, the little daughter of the Hostess of Unterbrück, and two lame little girls are healed. had grievously hurt her foot, so that, many counsels and remedies of surgeons being unsuccessfully applied for some years, the force of the malady grew ever wider and eluded all art. At length the mother, having piously handed her over to the protection of St. Nonnosus, anoints the ill-affected foot with oil from his lamp, with a wondrous effect; for a little after she began to walk alone and to go about freely. The mother freed herself from her vow when, besides other things, the benefit being published from the pulpit, another crutch on which her little daughter leaned she hung at the Saint's altar as a memorial of a grateful mind. Confidence afterwards grew in the mother, and a second time she wished to experience St. Nonnosus favorable to her vows. Her tiny child, who for a year and a half could stand on neither foot, she anoints with the same oil, and at once marveling beholds her steps grow firm.

ANNOTATA.