The Lives of the Saints, Volume II (of 16): February

As the saint was one night saying Matins, he suddenly opened his window, and exclaimed thrice, "The Lord be praised!" Then he bent his head and said, "Simeon, the great father, is dead." And it was so, for the news reached Bithynia afterwards, that Simeon Stylites,42 the great anchorite, had died that night.

Many women having renounced the world, and placed themselves under the direction of Auxentius, a convent was built to receive them not far from his cavern, at the foot of the mountain, and the nuns visited his cell once a week, to receive instruction from his lips. At length, when he knew that he had not many days to live, he came forth from his hut, and visited the convent, where he prayed with many tears for the spiritual welfare of his children. Then he returned to his cave followed by a great multitude. Three days after he was stricken with a sickness which proved fatal; and he died on the 14th February.

S. BRUNO, B. M(A.D. 1008.)

[Roman Martyrology on October 15th, that being, as Baronius conjectures, the commemoration of a translation of the relics, as it is certain that S. Bruno died on Feb. 14th. Authority: – His life by his kinsman Ditmar, bishop of Merseburg, in his Chronicles, lib. 6; and mention by Marianus Scotus, and other chroniclers of Germany.]

The Sclavonic races in Prussia were some of the last to receive Christianity in Germany. S. Adalbert, bishop of Prague, had gone amongst the Lithuanians and Prussians, bearing the gospel, and, in 997, had fallen a victim to his zeal. Probably obeying the call of S. Adalbert, Bruno, a monk of Magdeburg, a man of good education, and kinsman to Ditmar, bishop of Merseburg, went on the mission to these heathen. Boleslas, king of Poland, sent, urging his coming, and, after having visited Merseburg, where he received episcopal ordination, Bruno, with many companions, entered on his apostolic mission. But the Pagans refused to hear the word of salvation, and, falling on the little band, hacked off Bruno's hands and feet, and put to death with him eighteen men who accompanied him.

February 15

SS. Faustinus, P., and Jovita, D., MM. at Brescia, a. d. 120.

SS. Crato, his Wife and Servants, MM. at Rome, circ. a. d. 273.

S. Agape, V. M. at Teramo, in Umbria, circ. a. d. 273.

S. Eusebius, H. in Syria, after a. d. 400.

S. Georgia, V. at Clermont.

S. Severus, P. in Valeria, circ. a. d. 530.

S. Quinidius, B. of Vaison in Vaucluse, circ. a. d. 578.

S. Berach, B. Ab. in Ireland, circ. a. d. 615.

S. Faustus, Monk, O. S. B.; circ. a. d. 607.

S. Walfrid, Ab. of Monte Virido, circ. a. d. 765.

S. Sigfried, B., Ap. of Sweden, circ. a. d. 1045.

SS. FAUSTINUS, P., AND JOVITA, D., MM(A.D. 120.)

[Roman Martyrology, and those of Bede, Usuardus, and others; but Usuardus, misled by the name, makes Jovita a virgin martyr. Three different versions of their Acts are published by Bollandus. None of these are the original.]

FAUSTINUS and Jovita were brothers, nobly born. Faustinus, the elder, was a priest; Jovita was in deacon's orders. During a time of persecution under Hadrian, the bishop of Brescia lay concealed, and the brothers strengthened and encouraged the fainting flock. The Acts of their Martyrdom are of such doubtful authority that it is unsafe to affirm concerning them more than that their zeal provoked the fury of the heathen against them, and procured them a glorious death for their faith, at Brescia. Their constancy, under the torments of boiling lead and red-hot iron, was the means of converting one Calocerus, who afterwards also suffered for the faith.

These saints are venerated as the chief patrons of Brescia, where their relics are preserved in the church dedicated under their invocation.

S. EUSEBIUS, H(AFTER A.D. 400.)

[Greek Menæa. Life from the Philotheus of Theodoret, c. 18.]

Was a hermit at Aschia, in Syria. Theodoret visited him, and was admitted into his cell. There is nothing remarkable related concerning him.

S. GEORGIA, V(DATE UNCERTAIN, BUT PROBABLY IN THE 5TH CENT.)

[Gallican Martyrology. Authority: – S. Gregory of Tours, De Gloria Confess., c. 34.]

This pious virgin was a native of Clermont, in Auvergne, where she served God like Anna, constantly attending in the temple. Very little is known of her life, which flowed on in calm simplicity, and would hardly have required a more particular notice than the insertion of her name, were it not for one graceful incident narrated by S. Gregory of Tours, to the effect that as her body was being carried to the cathedral for sepulture, a great company of doves or pigeons fluttered above the mourning train, and settled on the roof of the minster, whilst the last rites were being performed; and this the pious and simple people regarded as a token of divine favour.

S. SEVERUS, P(ABOUT A.D. 530.)

[Roman Mart. Authority: – S. Gregory the Great, Dialog., lib. i., c. 12.]

S. Severus was priest to a church in the district of Valeria, which is that part between the Tiber and the Velino, occupied by the cities Riete, Terni, and Narni. S. Gregory relates that on one occasion a message was brought him, whilst he was pruning his vines, that a dying man needed his pastoral assistance. Severus promised to go as soon as he had done cutting the vine he was then engaged upon. When he drew near to the sick man's house, the people ran out to meet him, saying, "Oh, sir! why didst thou delay? the man is dead." Then Severus entered, full of self-reproach, praying to God for pardon. And when he saw the dead body, he burst into tears, and beat his head against the ground, reproaching himself for his neglect. Then the dead man's spirit returned, and he opened his eyes, and sat up. So he made his confession and received absolution, and died shortly after.

The relics were translated to the monastery of Münster-Maifeld, near Coblenz, about the year 980, by S. Egbert, bishop of Trèves.

S. BERACH, B., AB(ABOUT A.D. 615.)

[Irish Kalendar. Two lives of this saint exist, but both are late, collected from oral tradition, and full of fable.]

The lives of the Irish saints were, for the most part, written from popular tradition, many centuries after their decease. They are characterised by a love of the marvellous and the grotesque, diminishing their historical value. The same quaint legends re-appear in almost all, or with slender modifications. It seems that every Irish saint yoked stags to his plough, and made bells come to him over the water. If some of these fanciful stories are here inserted, it is not that we desire a ready credence to be yielded to them, but rather because it is all that there is to be told about these saints, and some of them possess a strange beauty or are characteristically grotesque.

Berach is said to have been the son of Nemnald, descendant of Brian, Prince of Connaught, by his wife, Finmaith, who took him to be baptized by his uncle, S. Froech. And here follows a strange tale. When Berach was taken from the font, the mother wished to resume her charge of him, but "No," said the bishop, "let me have the bringing up of this little one; God will provide for his sustenance." So S. Froech took him, and when the babe cried for the breast of his mother, his uncle gave him the lobe of his ear to suck, and thence flowed a copious supply of honey. Now, when the boy was grown up, guided by an angel, he went to Glendalough, and there he settled, leading a monastic life under S. Coemgen. One day a wolf fell on a calf, belonging to the monks, and devoured it, then the cow ran lowing painfully about, and Berach, pitying her, bade the wolf come and suck her, and be to her in place of the calf he had eaten.

Now there was in the charge of S. Coemgen, a lad, the son of Duke Colman, who was very ill, and consumed with fever. As the boy fretted in his bed, and cried for apples and sorrel to quench his burning thirst, S. Coemgen said to Berach, "Go forth, my son, taking my staff, and bring me what the sick boy needs." So Berach went forth. And it was midwinter. Then he prayed to God, with whom nothing is impossible, for he was stirred with pity for the fevered child, and he went to a willow, and blessed it; then it thrust forth its little silky flowers, and these swelled and ripened into red apples, and beneath the willow the snow dissolved, and green sorrel thrust up its shoots and spread its delicate leaves; so he gathered of the apples a lap-full, and picked a large bunch of sorrel, and came with them to his master.43

And after some time, Berach went forth and built a monastery in a remote spot, Clon-cairpthe, in the desert of Kinel-dobhtha; but a certain wealthy man interfered to pull it down, and to disturb him in many ways. So Berach appealed for protection to the king; and when he came to the court his adversary arrived also, and was admitted by the porter, for he was well-dressed; but the door was shut against the abbot in his tattered clothing. Now it was winter, and the ground was white with snow, and rude boys, seeing the poor man, scantily clothed, shivering outside the gate, began to pelt him with snow-balls, but suddenly they were struck as by an icy blast, that they could not stir. And Berach saw that the snow had been scraped from the palace-door into a great heap. So he approached it, and blew upon it, and a flame crackled in the snow heap, and leaped up, and he stood and warmed himself at the flaming snow. Then, when the king heard what had taken place, he was full of wonder, and went forth, and besought the man of God; so he restored the boys to their usual activity, and quenched the blazing snow-heap.

S. WALFRID, AB. OF MONTE VIRIDO(ABOUT A.D. 765.)

[On this day Benedictine Kalendar; but Wyon, Menardus, and Ferrarius, on April 17th. The life of this saint was written by his friend and companion in monastic life, Andrew, who was third abbot of the monastery. Walfrid was founder and first abbot; he was succeeded by his son, Gimfrid, and then by Andrew.]

Walfrid, a native of Pisa, was married to a virtuous wife, by whom he had five sons. Both he and his wife then resolved to retire from the world. He founded and governed the abbey of Monte Virido, in Tuscany, near Volterra. There is nothing of remarkable interest in his life.

S. SIGFRIED, B. AP. OF SWEDEN(ABOUT A.D. 1045.)

[Anciently venerated in Sweden; named in the Cologne and other German Kalendars. Authority: – Joannes Magnus, Archb. of Upsal, Hist. Goth. lib. xvii., c. 18, 19, 20.]

The faith of Christ was first preached in Sweden, as has been already related (February 3rd) by S. Ansgar, in the ninth century; but the Swedes soon relapsed into their former heathenism, partly from want of a sufficient supply of teachers, till the reign of Olaf Scobkongr. This prince sent ambassadors to King Edred (others say Ethelred) of England, to renew the ancient alliance between the two crowns, and desired that some persons might be sent to him, knowing the Christian law, to instruct him and his people. Edred received the proposition with joy; and, assembling the prelates and chief clergy of his kingdom, exhorted them to make choice of proper missionaries for this great work. Sigfried, archdeacon of York, perceiving that most of those present shrank from the undertaking, as one hazardous and laborious, sprang to his feet, and offered himself for the mission. His offer was at once accepted. He was consecrated bishop, and then sailed to Sweden, taking with him his three nephews Sunaman, Unaman, Wiaman, and other companions. He landed in South Gothland, where now stands the cathedral of Wexiö, which, by the admonition of an angel, he caused to be erected; and there he made some stay, the king being at that time absent in West Gothland. The chief Jarl or earl of those parts came to see the strangers, and observed their conduct with interest; he was even present when Sigfried celebrated the Holy Sacrifice; of all which he gave an account to the king, informing him that he had seen the old man, as he called him, whilst he was standing at the table of his religion, raise above his head a most radiant and beautiful infant, who extended his arm towards him with a smile. The king sent for the saint, and, at his coming, went forth to meet him, and received him with joy; and, after he had been sufficiently instructed in the Christian faith and moral law, was baptized with his queen, and many of his nobles, and gave the saint the royal castle of Husaby to be converted into a church. For this it was well adapted, for the palaces of the Scandinavian kings and nobles consisted of huge halls with sleeping-apartments in what might be termed the aisles, and doors at both ends. By removing the partitions and beds, and blocking up one door, the building at once assumed the appearance of a stately church, of nave and side aisles, separated by huge square pillars of pine-wood. At Husaby, Sigfried long resided, till he had converted all West Gothland to the faith of Christ. But this was not effected without opposition, and his three nephews, Sunaman, Unaman, and Wiaman, to whom he had committed the care of the Church of Wexiö, were murdered, and their bodies cast into a neighbouring pool. The murderers were discovered, and the king would have put them to death, but they were spared at the intercession of S. Sigfried, but the king forced them to pay a blood-fine, which he offered to the bishop as the nearest kinsman of the deceased. Sigfried, however, refused to receive the money. The relics of the three brothers were miraculously discovered by a light hovering above the pool in which they lay. Their names have been recorded among the saints on Feb. 15th, along with their uncle, S. Sigfried. This loss of his coadjutors did not discourage the saint from the work of the Gospel, which he carried on with great success. He was buried in the cathedral of Wexiö, and canonized by the Pope in 1155.

February 16

S. Onesimus, Disciple of S. Paul, a. d. 95.

S. Onesimus, B. M. of Ephesus, a. d. 109.

S. Honestus, P. M., Ap. of Pampeluna, circ. a. d. 270.

SS. Proclus, Ephebus, Apollonius, MM. at Teramo, circ. a. d. 283.

S. Cornelius, M. at Rome, relics at Ghent.

SS. Elias, Jeremias, Isaias, Samuel, and Comp., MM. at Cæsarea, in Palestine, a. d. 309.

S. Juliana, V. M. at Nicomedia, circ. a. d. 309.

S. Flavian, H. in the East.

S. Eulalius, B. of Syracuse, after a. d. 503.

S. Tanco, B. of Verden, in Hanover, circ. a. d. 800.

S. ONESIMUS(A.D. 95.)

[There is much confusion between the S. Onesimus, disciple of St. Paul, and his namesake, bishop of Ephesus. Indeed, by many it is supposed that there was only one Onesimus, and that the runaway slave spoken of by S. Paul was afterwards bishop of Ephesus. The Greeks commemorate the first on Feb. 15th, and the second on December 1st.]

ONESIMUS was a Phrygian by birth, slave to Philemon, a person of note of the city of Colossæ, converted to the faith by S. Paul. Having run away from his master, he providentially met with S. Paul, then a prisoner at Rome, who there converted and baptized him, and sent him, with his canonical letter of recommendation, to Philemon, by whom he was pardoned, set at liberty, and sent back to his spiritual father, whom he afterwards faithfully served. The apostle made him, with Tychicus, the bearer of his Epistle to the Colossians,44 and afterwards, as S. Jerome45 and other fathers witness, a preacher of the gospel and a bishop. The Greeks say he suffered under Domitian. There was a bishop of Ephesus, after S. Timothy, of the same name, who showed great respect for S. Ignatius, when on his journey to Rome, in 107, and is highly commended by him.46 He was conducted to Rome two years after, and was stoned to death.

S. HONESTUS, P. M(ABOUT A.D. 270.)

[Commemorated at Pampeluna, as the apostle of that place, and at Amiens with nine lections, and at Toulouse, where his head is preserved. Besides being mentioned in these Breviaries, his name occurs in the Anglican Martyrology of Wytford, and in the additions to Usuardus, by Molanus. All that is known of him is found in the Acts of S. Firmin, B. M. See Sept. 25th.]

Honestus, a native of Nismes, was found by S. Saturninus, as he passed through that city, to be of so pious and zealous a disposition that he called him to follow him, as a disciple, and after he had fully instructed him, he ordained him priest, and sent him into Spain. He preached with great effect at Pampeluna, where he converted one Firmus, a senator, with all his house, and his son, Firmin, became his most devoted pupil. He so completely succeeded in the destruction of superstition in the minds of the people of Pampeluna, that he persuaded them to entirely overthrow a temple of Diana, which adorned their town. In some martyrologies he is called a martyr, but nothing is known of the place or manner of his death.

S. CORNELIUS, M(DATE UNKNOWN.)

The relics of this martyr, found in one of the Roman catacombs, were given by Pope Innocent X., in 1649, to the Jesuit church at Ghent, where they are enshrined in a silver reliquary, and are exhibited on Feb. 16th.

SS. ELIAS, JEREMIAS, ISAIAS, AND COMP., MM(A.D. 309.)

[Commemorated on this day by the Greeks, and in some Western Martyrologies. On this day also the Roman Martyrology. Authority: – Eusebius; Martyrs of Palestine, c. ii.]

In the year 309, the Emperors Galerius and Maximinus continuing the persecution begun by Diocletian, five pious Egyptians went to visit the confessors condemned to the mines in Cilicia, and on their return were stopped by the guards of the gates of Cæsarea, in Palestine, as they were entering the town. They readily declared themselves Christians, together with the motives of their journey; upon which they were apprehended. The day following they were brought before Firmilian, governor of Palestine, together with S. Pamphilus, and others. The judge, before he began his interrogatory, ordered the five Egyptians to be laid on the rack. After they had long suffered all manner of tortures, he addressed himself to him who seemed to be their chief, and asked him his name and his country. They had changed their names, which, before their conversion, were those of some heathen gods, as was customary in Egypt. The martyr answered according to the names they had given themselves, which were those of prophets, as Elias, Jeremy, Isaiah, Samuel, and Daniel.47 Firmilian then asked their country; he answered, Jerusalem, meaning the heavenly Jerusalem, the true country of all Christians. The judge inquired in what part of the world that was, and ordered him to be tormented with fresh cruelty. All this while the executioners continued to tear his body with scourges, whilst his hands were bound behind him, and his feet squeezed in stocks. The judge, at last, tired of tormenting them, condemned all five to be beheaded, and this command was immediately executed.

Porphyry, a youth, the servant of S. Pamphilus, hearing the sentence pronounced, exclaimed that the honour of burial ought to be accorded to these men. Firmilian, provoked at this boldness, ordered him to be apprehended, and, finding that he confessed himself a Christian, and refused to sacrifice, "commanded," says Eusebius, "that they should scrape and mutilate him, not as though they were dealing with flesh of a human being, but as with stone and wood, to the very bones, and the inmost recesses of the bowels. This being continued for a long time, he at length perceived that he was labouring in vain, as he continued without uttering a sound, or evincing any feeling, and almost totally lifeless, although his body was dreadfully mangled. But, as the judge was of an inflexible cruelty, he condemned him to be committed to a slow fire. One could then see Porphyry covered with dust, but with his countenance bright and cheerful, advancing on his way to death, covered only with his philosophical garb thrown round him like a cloak, and, with a calm and composed mind, beckoning to his acquaintance and friends, and preserving a cheerful countenance at the stake. When the fire was kindled, which was done at some distance from him, he attracted and inhaled the flame, and then, most nobly persevering in silence, until his last breath, he uttered not another word, save that which he uttered when the flame reached him, a call upon Christ, the Son of God, his helper."

Seleucus, an eye-witness of this victory, was heard by the soldiers applauding the heroism of these martyrs, whereupon he was apprehended, and his head was struck off.

S. Pamphilus is commemorated in the Roman Martyrology on June 1st; Elias, Jeremias, Isaiah, Samuel, Daniel, Porphyry, and Seleucus, on Feb. 16th.

The relics of S. Daniel are preserved at Bologna, in the churches of S. Cecilia and S. Gabriel.

S. JULIANA, V. M(ABOUT A.D. 309.)

[Commemorated by the Greeks on December 21st. The ancient Latin Martyrologies on Feb. 16th. The Acts are very ancient. They were certainly written before 600, when her relics were at Puteoli. Usuardus, whose Martyrology dates 800, speaks of her relics as at Cumæ, to which place they had been translated about the year 600. The Acts are not, however, to be trusted. They have apparently been interpolated by those who were not satisfied with their original brevity.]

S. Juliana was a Christian maiden, the daughter of heathen parents, very beautiful, and of good birth. Her father resolved on marrying her to the prefect Eleusius, but she refused, alleging, as her excuse, that she was resolved not to marry a heathen. Her father, much exasperated, beat her severely, and when he could not shake her constancy he gave her over to the prefect, hoping that the terror of appearing in court would quell her courage. But he was deceived. She enthusiastically confessed Christ, and her betrothed, brutally ordered her to be stripped and beaten before him, for his love was turned into rage and hatred. The more cruelly she was treated, the more resolved she seemed to become, and the more exasperated grew Eleusius. At last he ordered molten metal to be poured over her, and then that she should be thrown into prison, with her feet made fast in the stocks. On the following day he ordered her to be let down into a vessel of molten lead, and then he bade the executioner strike off her head.

The head of S. Juliana is preserved at Hal, in the Tyrol, but the chief portion of her relics is in the church of Notre Dame de Sablon, in Brussels.

S. TANCO, B. OF VERDEN(ABOUT A.D. 800.)

[Authorities: – Krantzius, Leslie, and Wion, in Mart. Benedict.]

Patto, abbot of Amabaric, in Scotland, having gone to preach the faith to the heathen in Germany, and being appointed bishop of Verden, in the kingdom of Hanover, Tanco, monk of Amabaric, was chosen abbot; but, desiring to follow his former superior, he resigned his charge, and sought Patto at Verden, whom he succeeded after a while, being the third bishop of that see. He is said to have fallen a victim to a barbarous mob who were enraged with him for denouncing their licentious and savage manners.

February 17

S. Mariamne, V., sister of S. Philip the Apostle, 1st cent.

S. Polychronius, B. M. of Babylon, a. d. 251.

SS. Donatus, Castulus, Magnus, and Companions, MM. at Teramo, circ. a. d. 273.

SS. Donatus, Secundian, Romulus, and Companions, MM. at Concordia, in N. Italy, a. d. 303.

SS. Theodulus and Julian, MM. at Cæsarea, in Palestine, a. d. 308.

SS. Loman and Fortchern, BB. in Ireland, 7th cent.

S. Fintan, P. Ab. of Cluain-Ednech, in Ireland, 6th cent.

S. Finan, B. of Lindisfarne, a. d. 661.

S. Silvine, B. of Auxy-les-Moines, circ. a. d. 720.

S. Fulrad, Ab. of S. Denys, in France, a. d. 784.

S. Constabilis, Ab. of Cavia, in Italy, a. d. 1124.

S. Evermod, B. of Ratzeburg, a. d. 1178.

S. MARIAMNE, V(1ST CENT.)

[Commemorated by Greeks only. Authority: – Nicephorus Callistus, Hist. Eccl. lib. ii. c. 89, of no weight, as he wrote in 1341.]

AFTER the Ascension of our Blessed Lord, S. Philip, with Bartholomew, and Mariamne, his sister, came to Hierapolis, where the people held in special veneration a monstrous serpent. The apostles, filled with holy zeal, rushed into the temple and drove the serpent from its sanctum, but the people, enraged, fell on them, and hung S. Philip to a pillar, and would have executed S. Bartholomew and S. Mariamne, had they not been terrified by the shock of an earthquake. They released SS. Bartholomew and Mariamne, who buried Philip, and then went into India.