Each day he offered most
devoutly
the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v7
3
Lives of Erard, and in his office, so that there are apparently fair reasons for claiming this holy man as a native of Ireland. Elsewhere, it is suggested, that perhaps he may have been the same as Erard, bishop of Ratisbon. This was probably a mistake, however, and founded on the false supposition, that St. Erard—who in that Life is represented as having been a brother—had been a native of Ratisbon. Perhaps, Hildulph had a brother named Eber- hard or Erhard. Still, it may be doubted, whether or not he had been the same as Erard of Ratisbon. 39 It is also to be observed, that Erard of Ratis-
bon is never called Eberhard,-* which circumstance implies an additional doubt.
In youth, Hildulph preserved the innocence he had acquired in baptism. He was free from every inclination towards vice, and on the contrary, he practised every virtue. He renounced every deceitful allurement the world presented. His noble disposition urged him to aid the poor and the afflicted. He is said to have been educated at Ratisbon/1 with his brother Erard. There, too, he received Holy Orders, and he became a cleric of Ratisbon. HavingheardonedaythosewordsofourSaviourappliedtohim "Hethat
is assigned to the present date. 3
This is stated, likewise, in two Breviaries
31 See the First Volume of this work, at January 8th, Art. ii. , for his Life.
32 See " Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," viii. Januarii. Vita S. Erardi, Appendix, cap. iv. , pp. 37, 38.
33 If Hildulph had a brother, Dr. Lanigan thinks he was different from Everard of Ratisbon.
34 IntheLivesandOfficesoftheSaint.
35 In Father Stephen White's "Apologia pro Hibernia," cap. ii. , p. 15, cap. iv. , p. 37, cap. v. , p. 64.
:
4I The three Acts of our saint published by the Bollandists have this statement in common. The Third Life relates, that Garibaldus governed the same Noricum or Bavaria, at the time, and that his daughter Teudolinda married Agilulph, King of the Lombards. It also states, that Theodobert, son of Childebert and Brunechilde, was then KingofAustrasia.
42 His feast occurs, on the 7th of No- vember.
This is positively stated, likewise, in the
43 See "The Popular Encyclopedia; or 36 See "Historic Catholicse Ibernise Conversations Lexicon," vol. vi. , Art.
Compendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. x. , p. 47.
37 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," viii. Januarii. Vita S. Erardi, pp. 32, 33.
38 See Mabillon's "Annates Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. xvi. , sect, xv. , p. 507.
40 This appears from records, where the etymologies of his name are given.
Strasburg, p. 421.
44 See Ferguson's Architecture," vol. i.
"
History of Gothic
3» See Rev. Dr.
History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xviii. , sect, vii. , pp. 104, 105.
Vol. VII. —No.
4.
Lanigan's
" Ecclesiastical
4S The accompanying view is from an
approved engraving, and drawn by William F. Wakeman, on the wood, engraved by Mrs. Millard.
46 He was born a. d. 652, and he died
a. d. Grimoald, mayor of the palace, 679.
caused his head to be shaved, after the manner of a monk, and he sent the young prince secretly to Ireland, in 659. . See M,
Le Dr. Hoefer's
"
Nouvelle Biographie N
194 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. ["July
shall leave his home, and who shall depart from his father, his mother, his brothers and sisters for my sake, shall receive an hundred-fold, and shall enjoy eternal life. " Whereupon, St. Hildulph resolved to leave his family and native place, so that he might truly labour to gain souls for Christ.
Cathedral and City of Strasburgh, on the River Rhine.
Dagobert II. * left it, or at least, that he arrived soon after that particular time. We are informed, that
about this period, in the city of Triers or Treves,47 certain religious men had
spread in the mostdistant places the fame of their good works and virtues. This
was doubtless in the monastery of St. Maximin. 48 Accordingly, our saint took
his course from Sicambre or Gueldres for that city, where he joined a monas-
tic order, and not dreading the rigours of penance, this soldier of Christ became
one of the monks. Among these he led a most fervent life. His piety was
so admired, that he was held in reverence both by his superiors and equals. **
It is supposed, that he lived there for many years in the practice of every virtue.
Generale," tome xii. , cols. 772, 773. May, on the>Othof June, and on the 12th of
47 Anciently it was known as Augusta September. Treviroium, and formerly it was regarded as 49 See Les Petits
" Vies des being among the most important as it was Saints," tome viii. , xie Jour de Juillet, p.
among die most ancient cities in Germany. Its Archbishop was the oldest there, and it is now a city in the Prussian province of the
Lower Rh'ine.
250.
Chapter, — r ii.
The writer of the first
48
His feast is held there on th. e 29th of
Acts knowing the date for Milo's death,
placed Hildulph after him, thinking the
latter flourished in the time of
Hidulf or Hildulph is said to have gone with
2
Florentius,* from Ire-
land to Alsace, about
the year 670. This latter afterwards became
Bishop of Strasburgh, now a noble city on the River Rhine, remarkable for the majestic cathedral begun there about 10 15, but not finished until
1365. 43
the most distinguished
specimens
of Gothic
dulph emigrated
to
It is one of
architecture now exist-
ing,^ while its tower,
474 feet in height, built ofhewnstone, is most
graceful and imposing in effect/5 He was appa-
rently that Hildulph,
who had accompanied
Florentius and it can ;
scarcely be doubted, but that the latter and our present saint were con- temporaries. However, it is possible, that Hil-
France, when its King 6
Bollandistes,
Pepin,
son to
July i i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 195
CHAPTER II.
ST. HILDULPH IS WITHDRAWN FROM THE MONASTERY BY ST. NUMERIAN—HE IS ELECTED BISHOP OF TREVES ON DECEASE OF THE LATTER—HIS ACTS WHILE BISHOP—HE RESIGNS THE SEE AND RETIRES TO THE VOSGKS MOUNTAINS—HE FOUNDS THE MONASTERY OF MOYENMOUTIER—HIS SANCTITY AND MIRACLES—FRIENDLY INTIMACYWITHST. DEODATUS—ONHISDEATHHILDULPHRULESOVERTHEABBEY OF JOINTURES WITH HIS OWN—HIS HAPPY DEPARTURE—RESPECT MANIFESTED TOWARDS HIS RELICS—COMMEMORATION OF HIS FESTIVALS—CONCLUSION.
It has been stated, that Milo, son to St. Leodwin, and who was bishop of Treves, had died a. d. 753, and that he had been immediately succeeded in
1 Weare
Charlemagne, had been king, at that time, when he assisted in the election
of St. Hildulph. But, it seems most likely, that the former writers of our saint's Acts mistook Pepin of Herstall, mayor of the palace, for Pepin, son to Charles Martel. The former flourished at an earlier period than the latter. AtthetimewhenHildulphhadbeenamonk,St. Numerian3 presidedover the See of Treves, and learning how distinguished the humble religious had became through his merits and perfect manner of living, the bishop drew him away from the monastery, and decreed, that he should be an assistant in the discharge of pastoral duties. These offices were performed with such zeal and piety, that the holy prelate resolved Hildulf should succeed, when his own career on earth had closed. Accordingly, when St. Numerian,4 Bishop of Treves, died, Hildulph was spoken of by the people as his successor, so greatlyhadhistalentsandvirtuesimpressedthepublicmind. But,hehad no inclination to assume such responsibility, although strongly urged on his acceptance. Our saint took the alarm, however, and he fled to a solitary place,* near the River Danube. 6 Here he thought to have remained in solitude and obscurity. The place of his retreat was discovered, nevertheless, and he was brought to Treves. There he was unanimously elected Bishop, about the year 666. 7 His appointment was likewise confirmed by the king, who was doubtless Childeric II. 8
The holy prelate lived a life of singular mortification and asceticism, and macerated his body, so that it should be subjected to the spirit, while he engaged in active pastoral duties. An enquiry has been instituted by the Bollandists, as to whether or not he had been bishop of Treves, because his
Charles Martel. The two other writers of some writers, his death has been assigned to the Acts succeeding followed that account, A. D. 657. See Les Petits Bollandistes,
the St. bishopric by
Hildulph.
told, likewise,
that 2 fatherto Pepin,
without further examination.
2 He reigned from A. D. 751 to a. d. 768.
Consequently he could not have been king,
at the time of St. Hildulph's advancement to
the bishopric.
3 Although the writers of our saint's Acts
have stated that Milo was then Archbishop ; yet, the Bollandists prove, that such a state-
and that Numerian was
" Vies des Saints," tome viii. , ve Jour de
Juillet, p. 47.
s The writer of his First Life states, that
he withdrew into Istria, but this is mani- festly absurd.
6 It was called the Ister, and hence the mistake of stating that Hildulph went to Istria.
7 to " Histoire Eccle- According Fleury's
siastique," tome viii. , liv. xxxix. , sect, xl v. ,
p. 524.
8 He governed Austrasie from A. D. 660 to
670, when he became King of France. He was assassinated A. D. 673. See CEuyres
Completes de Bossuet, tome x. Abrege He l'Histoire de France, liv. i. , cols. 1 1 79, 11 80.
ment is
incorrect,
the prelate then living. See
"
Acta Sane-
torum," tomus iii. , Julii xi. De S. Hildulfo,
Confessore, primum Archiepiscopo Tie- virensi, deinde Abbate Mediani Monasterii
in Vosago. Commentarius Prsevius, sect, i. , num. 8, and sect, iii. , pp. 209, also pp. 210 to 216.
4
His feast occurs, on ihe 5th of July. By
196 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July ii,
name has been omitted from one or two of the ancient catalogues recording
its prelates, as also on the ground, that his name has been placed immediately after that of Milo ; but they show, to the first objection, it may be replied, that in several instances, omissions of bishops, who undoubtedly lived and who discharged the duties of their episcopacy, have left blanks in prelatial lists of their Sees,? while this was especially the case, when bishops retired during their own lifetime; and again, we find on consulting old histories, that writers have often confused the order of events, and this appears especially to
have happened in the instance of St. Hildulph, whose earlier Acts seem to
have been interpolated by injudicious compilers of subsequent versions. The charity of this holy bishop towards the poor was especially most wonderful, and he possessed no earthly thing, that he did not most willingly share with them. The care of his diocese and of souls was an object that called for his most earnest solicitude. He laboured by his preachings, his exhortations, his reprimands, his visits, and his good example.
Each day he offered most devoutly the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. He was greatly devoted, more- over, to the exercises of prayer and meditation.
Among his episcopal functions, we are informed, that St. Hildulph trans-
lated the relics of St. Maximin,10 built a in his honour. This having chapel
happenedintheyear667. " Amonasterytocommemoratethatholyman had been founded in the fourth century. After the year 666, our saint intro- duced there the Order of St. Benedict. Hildulph augmented its revenues,
12
St. Paulin,^ the Bishop, had been buried at Treves, under a tomb of uncommon massiveness, which it was found very difficult to remove. This task was accomplished, however, by St. Hildulphe, who found the remains of his predecessor beneath, and having caused a shrine of cypress-wood to be made, he removed the relics, which were placed in it with much solemnity, and to a position he had destined for their reception. He built and endowed a monastery, like-
wise, in that same place. *4
For some time, Hildulf discharged all the duties of a vigilant and zealous
Bishop. 15 However, he had long desired, that another should fill his place, so that he might retire into the monastery of St. Maximin. According to some accounts, he selected St. Veomade, Abbot of that house, for such a charge ; while others state, that St. Basin succeeded. Quitting his See, Hildulph resolved to seek perfect retirement; but, he soon found, that it could not be obtained, within the limits of his own diocese. The people entreated—but in vain—that he should continue among them. The holy man sighed for more perfect tranquillity. He resolved on retiring to the Vosges Mountains, to serve God in solitude among its forests and wilds, then
16 1?
almost in a state of nature. In 671, he had resigned his See, and not long
and procured great regularity of discipline in that house.
u See Les Petits vestigator of ecclesiastical antiquities and p. 251.
9 been This has
manifestly proved by Dom. Edmund Martene, a most diligent in-
Bollandistes,
history.
10 According to a Life of that saint,
written in 839, this translation happened,
before the times of Milo and of King Pepin,
father to Charlemagne.
" Such is the date found in the Previous
Commentary to our saint's Acts in the Bob landists' work, sect, iv. , num. 54.
13 This Abbey was destroyed during the French Revolution.
'3 His feast occurs, on the 31st of August.
I5 Mabillon doubts whether he had been
a bishop or a chore-episcopus at Treves. He also states, that it is difficult to fix there the
period of his episcopacy. See "Annalcs
Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. xv. ,
" Vies des Saints," tome viii. , xi° Jour de Juillet,
num. lviii. , p. 487.
,6 "
See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's Lives of the Saints," vol. vii. , July II, p. 279.
,; According to the writer of the Life of Si. Deodatus. See Mabillon's "Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. xvi. ,
July h. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 197
afterwards, he secretly removed to the frontiers of Lorraine, to chose a suitable
place for his habitation. Whether in the first instance he took with him monks
does not appear from his Acts, although it seems to be established, that a numerous community soon formed under his direction. 18 Hildulph is stated to have retired about 676 to the Vosges, an extensive range of mountains in the east of France. It is probable, however, that his retirement might be
assigned to an earlier date.
We are told, that a wild boar, had there killed a
St. 2I
son of II. J 9 Dagobert
20
The
ha—d been
to life
num. xiv. , pp. 506, 507.
18
23 This is said to have been dedicated on "viii. Kalendas Martii," in St. Hildulph's Third Life.
24 This is said to have been dedicated on "xvii. Kalendas Novembris. "—Ibid.
2S Nothing of a reliable character is said, however, about their having been brothers.
26
See the Lives of St. Erard and St. Albert at the 8th of January, in the First Volume of this work.
2? See " Histoire Fleury's
—ed at a Hildulph settl
Begonis cellam, quae nunc sanctus Blasius vocatur. Fratres vero,
Ecclesiastique," tome viii. , liv. xxxix. , sect, xlv. , p. 524.
qui in praedictis cellis sub regimine S. Hil-
dulfi — aestimantur numero habitabant, quasi
28
Another account states, that Ebersheim
trecenti. " cap. xii.
Benedicti," tomusi. , lib. xv. , sect, lx. , pp. 487, 488.
" Chronicon lib. Senoniensis," i. ,
signifies
' 9 Son to Sigebert, King of Austrasie. He was killed in an insurrection of the nobles. See L. P. Anquetil's "Histoire de France. " Premiere Race dite des Merovingiens, sect. v. , p. 54.
20 21
See his Life, at the 2 1 st of July.
This was a commune of France, in the
Department of the Vosges, eight miles north of St. Die, and on the left bank of the
Ravodoh. See " Gazetteer of the
"
Lives of
a to the sister of St. See
vol. ix. , p. 408.
22 "
See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's
youth
brought afterwards called
World,
daughter Andreas Chesnius, Francise," tomus i.
"
Leodegar. Scriptorum Historic Fragmentum Histori-
again by place Moyen-Moutier
Arbogast.
or the Middle Monastery
denomination was obtained from the circumstance, that it lay between monasteries of St. Die Bon-Moutier, Senones and Estival. At Moyenmoutier,
23
likewise, Hildulphbuilttwochurches; oneinhonouroftheBlessedVirgin, and another in honour of St. Peter. 2* At a later period, he erected a third without the monastic enclosure, for use of pilgrims and infirm persons, who came to visit him and his monks ; this he dedicated to St. John the Baptist. He erected a fourth church, likewise, which he dedicated to St. Gregory. This latter he placed on a hill, southwards from the monastery, and in the middle of a ground-plot, which he had chosen to be a cemetery for his com- munity.
It is St. Erard of Ratisbon lived for some time with 2 5 when said, Hildulph,
he retired in the Vosges. 26 There he had founded his monastery. 27 St. Erhard is also said to have built a monastery near Schelestad in Alsace, and it was called Ebersheim, as supposed, because its name was taken from Erhard or Eberhard. 28 ItmeantthemansionofEberhard,intheopinionofMabillon. 2?
2 Thismonastery3°wasfoundedbyDukeEtico,Ethic3IorAtticus3 ofElsass,
who was father of St. Odilia. 33 The latter was baptized when an infant, by St. Erard, while St. Hildulph is said to have assisted at the ceremony.
Notwithstanding his retirement, Hildulph did not cease to receive among his
Richarius states, that owing to the con- flux of clerics and laymen to his place, St. Hildulph was obliged to construct different cells not far from his "
monastery: nempe ad septem abietes, ad sanctum Joannem de Hurimonte, apud Orbacum, apud sanctum Projectum, apud Visivallum, ad Altam petram, quae monasterio supereminet, ad locum in summitate montis, qui Roberti
fons ad dicitur, denique
where he founded a
religious community. 22
Its the
the Saints," vol. vii. , July 1 1, pp. 279, cam Alberti Argentinensis Chronico prse-
280.
the boar's habitation, 29 See " Annales Ordinis S.
3° In the second half of the seventh cen-
tury, this religious house is thought very generally to have been founded.
3I His signature is to be found affixed to charters and grants of Chilperic II. and Thierry, from a. d. 652 to a. d. 691. See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of the Saints," vol. vii. , July II, p. 279.
32 Atticus was the husband of Bereswinda,
fixum, p. 782.
i9S LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [Julyi t.
disciples many persons, distinguished as well by their birth as by their virtues. Soon his monastery was like to a hive filled with honey, and diffusing around a religious flavour. The Almighty had conferred on him the gift of miracles. Wherefore, many crippled and indisposed persons came to ask the favour of his prayers, and to be relieved from their respective maladies. He also exorcised possessed persons. 34 Even many seculars built houses around the monastic precincts, so that they might rejoice in spiritual and temporal bene fits ; wherefore, a spot which had been heretofore deserted and lonely soon became populous. Among those who came to live under him was St. Spinule or Spinulus,35 who had the gift of working miracles, but who died a long time before his superior. However, as we are told, fearing the crowds of people there arriving should interfere with regular monastic discipline and prevent the exercises of a contemplative life, Hildulph, prostrating himself before the disciple's tomb, prayed with tears in his eyes and even commanded him to cease from working such miracles. To prove the still greater virtue of monastic obedience, the blessed Spin obeyed the order of his former superior,norweresuchwondersafterwardswrought. 36 Amonghisdisciples, St. John and St. Benin or Benignus 3 ? were also distinguished. In fine, the reputation of St. Hildulph spread so well, that he. was regarded as a man specially sent from Heaven ; while princes and seigneurs liberally endowed
Moyen-Moutier and other religious houses founded by him, in that part of the country.
a motive similar to that of our saint, Deodatus 3* or quite
Through
Dieudonne had left his See of Nevers to live in solitude. He went to the Val du Galilee, where he built the monastery of Jointuress since called St. Die, as also was the town which afterwards grew around it. —It was about two leagues d—istant from Moyen-Moutier. For St. Deodatus afterwards
a warm attachment ; and, once each year, both Abbots met to enjoy the sight and conversation of each other. *° On that day chosen for this visit, both Abbots left their respective houses at the same hour. Wherever they met on the road, both went on their knees and prayed, giving each other the kiss of peace, and
—This holy accord-
called St. Die abbot of Jointures, our saint is said to have formed
then engaging in conference on the obligations of a spiritual life.
friendship lasted for eight years, until St. Deodatus died, a. d. 677 +
ing to other accounts a. d. 679. By the expressed wish of St.
Lives of Erard, and in his office, so that there are apparently fair reasons for claiming this holy man as a native of Ireland. Elsewhere, it is suggested, that perhaps he may have been the same as Erard, bishop of Ratisbon. This was probably a mistake, however, and founded on the false supposition, that St. Erard—who in that Life is represented as having been a brother—had been a native of Ratisbon. Perhaps, Hildulph had a brother named Eber- hard or Erhard. Still, it may be doubted, whether or not he had been the same as Erard of Ratisbon. 39 It is also to be observed, that Erard of Ratis-
bon is never called Eberhard,-* which circumstance implies an additional doubt.
In youth, Hildulph preserved the innocence he had acquired in baptism. He was free from every inclination towards vice, and on the contrary, he practised every virtue. He renounced every deceitful allurement the world presented. His noble disposition urged him to aid the poor and the afflicted. He is said to have been educated at Ratisbon/1 with his brother Erard. There, too, he received Holy Orders, and he became a cleric of Ratisbon. HavingheardonedaythosewordsofourSaviourappliedtohim "Hethat
is assigned to the present date. 3
This is stated, likewise, in two Breviaries
31 See the First Volume of this work, at January 8th, Art. ii. , for his Life.
32 See " Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," viii. Januarii. Vita S. Erardi, Appendix, cap. iv. , pp. 37, 38.
33 If Hildulph had a brother, Dr. Lanigan thinks he was different from Everard of Ratisbon.
34 IntheLivesandOfficesoftheSaint.
35 In Father Stephen White's "Apologia pro Hibernia," cap. ii. , p. 15, cap. iv. , p. 37, cap. v. , p. 64.
:
4I The three Acts of our saint published by the Bollandists have this statement in common. The Third Life relates, that Garibaldus governed the same Noricum or Bavaria, at the time, and that his daughter Teudolinda married Agilulph, King of the Lombards. It also states, that Theodobert, son of Childebert and Brunechilde, was then KingofAustrasia.
42 His feast occurs, on the 7th of No- vember.
This is positively stated, likewise, in the
43 See "The Popular Encyclopedia; or 36 See "Historic Catholicse Ibernise Conversations Lexicon," vol. vi. , Art.
Compendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. x. , p. 47.
37 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," viii. Januarii. Vita S. Erardi, pp. 32, 33.
38 See Mabillon's "Annates Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. xvi. , sect, xv. , p. 507.
40 This appears from records, where the etymologies of his name are given.
Strasburg, p. 421.
44 See Ferguson's Architecture," vol. i.
"
History of Gothic
3» See Rev. Dr.
History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xviii. , sect, vii. , pp. 104, 105.
Vol. VII. —No.
4.
Lanigan's
" Ecclesiastical
4S The accompanying view is from an
approved engraving, and drawn by William F. Wakeman, on the wood, engraved by Mrs. Millard.
46 He was born a. d. 652, and he died
a. d. Grimoald, mayor of the palace, 679.
caused his head to be shaved, after the manner of a monk, and he sent the young prince secretly to Ireland, in 659. . See M,
Le Dr. Hoefer's
"
Nouvelle Biographie N
194 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. ["July
shall leave his home, and who shall depart from his father, his mother, his brothers and sisters for my sake, shall receive an hundred-fold, and shall enjoy eternal life. " Whereupon, St. Hildulph resolved to leave his family and native place, so that he might truly labour to gain souls for Christ.
Cathedral and City of Strasburgh, on the River Rhine.
Dagobert II. * left it, or at least, that he arrived soon after that particular time. We are informed, that
about this period, in the city of Triers or Treves,47 certain religious men had
spread in the mostdistant places the fame of their good works and virtues. This
was doubtless in the monastery of St. Maximin. 48 Accordingly, our saint took
his course from Sicambre or Gueldres for that city, where he joined a monas-
tic order, and not dreading the rigours of penance, this soldier of Christ became
one of the monks. Among these he led a most fervent life. His piety was
so admired, that he was held in reverence both by his superiors and equals. **
It is supposed, that he lived there for many years in the practice of every virtue.
Generale," tome xii. , cols. 772, 773. May, on the>Othof June, and on the 12th of
47 Anciently it was known as Augusta September. Treviroium, and formerly it was regarded as 49 See Les Petits
" Vies des being among the most important as it was Saints," tome viii. , xie Jour de Juillet, p.
among die most ancient cities in Germany. Its Archbishop was the oldest there, and it is now a city in the Prussian province of the
Lower Rh'ine.
250.
Chapter, — r ii.
The writer of the first
48
His feast is held there on th. e 29th of
Acts knowing the date for Milo's death,
placed Hildulph after him, thinking the
latter flourished in the time of
Hidulf or Hildulph is said to have gone with
2
Florentius,* from Ire-
land to Alsace, about
the year 670. This latter afterwards became
Bishop of Strasburgh, now a noble city on the River Rhine, remarkable for the majestic cathedral begun there about 10 15, but not finished until
1365. 43
the most distinguished
specimens
of Gothic
dulph emigrated
to
It is one of
architecture now exist-
ing,^ while its tower,
474 feet in height, built ofhewnstone, is most
graceful and imposing in effect/5 He was appa-
rently that Hildulph,
who had accompanied
Florentius and it can ;
scarcely be doubted, but that the latter and our present saint were con- temporaries. However, it is possible, that Hil-
France, when its King 6
Bollandistes,
Pepin,
son to
July i i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 195
CHAPTER II.
ST. HILDULPH IS WITHDRAWN FROM THE MONASTERY BY ST. NUMERIAN—HE IS ELECTED BISHOP OF TREVES ON DECEASE OF THE LATTER—HIS ACTS WHILE BISHOP—HE RESIGNS THE SEE AND RETIRES TO THE VOSGKS MOUNTAINS—HE FOUNDS THE MONASTERY OF MOYENMOUTIER—HIS SANCTITY AND MIRACLES—FRIENDLY INTIMACYWITHST. DEODATUS—ONHISDEATHHILDULPHRULESOVERTHEABBEY OF JOINTURES WITH HIS OWN—HIS HAPPY DEPARTURE—RESPECT MANIFESTED TOWARDS HIS RELICS—COMMEMORATION OF HIS FESTIVALS—CONCLUSION.
It has been stated, that Milo, son to St. Leodwin, and who was bishop of Treves, had died a. d. 753, and that he had been immediately succeeded in
1 Weare
Charlemagne, had been king, at that time, when he assisted in the election
of St. Hildulph. But, it seems most likely, that the former writers of our saint's Acts mistook Pepin of Herstall, mayor of the palace, for Pepin, son to Charles Martel. The former flourished at an earlier period than the latter. AtthetimewhenHildulphhadbeenamonk,St. Numerian3 presidedover the See of Treves, and learning how distinguished the humble religious had became through his merits and perfect manner of living, the bishop drew him away from the monastery, and decreed, that he should be an assistant in the discharge of pastoral duties. These offices were performed with such zeal and piety, that the holy prelate resolved Hildulf should succeed, when his own career on earth had closed. Accordingly, when St. Numerian,4 Bishop of Treves, died, Hildulph was spoken of by the people as his successor, so greatlyhadhistalentsandvirtuesimpressedthepublicmind. But,hehad no inclination to assume such responsibility, although strongly urged on his acceptance. Our saint took the alarm, however, and he fled to a solitary place,* near the River Danube. 6 Here he thought to have remained in solitude and obscurity. The place of his retreat was discovered, nevertheless, and he was brought to Treves. There he was unanimously elected Bishop, about the year 666. 7 His appointment was likewise confirmed by the king, who was doubtless Childeric II. 8
The holy prelate lived a life of singular mortification and asceticism, and macerated his body, so that it should be subjected to the spirit, while he engaged in active pastoral duties. An enquiry has been instituted by the Bollandists, as to whether or not he had been bishop of Treves, because his
Charles Martel. The two other writers of some writers, his death has been assigned to the Acts succeeding followed that account, A. D. 657. See Les Petits Bollandistes,
the St. bishopric by
Hildulph.
told, likewise,
that 2 fatherto Pepin,
without further examination.
2 He reigned from A. D. 751 to a. d. 768.
Consequently he could not have been king,
at the time of St. Hildulph's advancement to
the bishopric.
3 Although the writers of our saint's Acts
have stated that Milo was then Archbishop ; yet, the Bollandists prove, that such a state-
and that Numerian was
" Vies des Saints," tome viii. , ve Jour de
Juillet, p. 47.
s The writer of his First Life states, that
he withdrew into Istria, but this is mani- festly absurd.
6 It was called the Ister, and hence the mistake of stating that Hildulph went to Istria.
7 to " Histoire Eccle- According Fleury's
siastique," tome viii. , liv. xxxix. , sect, xl v. ,
p. 524.
8 He governed Austrasie from A. D. 660 to
670, when he became King of France. He was assassinated A. D. 673. See CEuyres
Completes de Bossuet, tome x. Abrege He l'Histoire de France, liv. i. , cols. 1 1 79, 11 80.
ment is
incorrect,
the prelate then living. See
"
Acta Sane-
torum," tomus iii. , Julii xi. De S. Hildulfo,
Confessore, primum Archiepiscopo Tie- virensi, deinde Abbate Mediani Monasterii
in Vosago. Commentarius Prsevius, sect, i. , num. 8, and sect, iii. , pp. 209, also pp. 210 to 216.
4
His feast occurs, on ihe 5th of July. By
196 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July ii,
name has been omitted from one or two of the ancient catalogues recording
its prelates, as also on the ground, that his name has been placed immediately after that of Milo ; but they show, to the first objection, it may be replied, that in several instances, omissions of bishops, who undoubtedly lived and who discharged the duties of their episcopacy, have left blanks in prelatial lists of their Sees,? while this was especially the case, when bishops retired during their own lifetime; and again, we find on consulting old histories, that writers have often confused the order of events, and this appears especially to
have happened in the instance of St. Hildulph, whose earlier Acts seem to
have been interpolated by injudicious compilers of subsequent versions. The charity of this holy bishop towards the poor was especially most wonderful, and he possessed no earthly thing, that he did not most willingly share with them. The care of his diocese and of souls was an object that called for his most earnest solicitude. He laboured by his preachings, his exhortations, his reprimands, his visits, and his good example.
Each day he offered most devoutly the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. He was greatly devoted, more- over, to the exercises of prayer and meditation.
Among his episcopal functions, we are informed, that St. Hildulph trans-
lated the relics of St. Maximin,10 built a in his honour. This having chapel
happenedintheyear667. " Amonasterytocommemoratethatholyman had been founded in the fourth century. After the year 666, our saint intro- duced there the Order of St. Benedict. Hildulph augmented its revenues,
12
St. Paulin,^ the Bishop, had been buried at Treves, under a tomb of uncommon massiveness, which it was found very difficult to remove. This task was accomplished, however, by St. Hildulphe, who found the remains of his predecessor beneath, and having caused a shrine of cypress-wood to be made, he removed the relics, which were placed in it with much solemnity, and to a position he had destined for their reception. He built and endowed a monastery, like-
wise, in that same place. *4
For some time, Hildulf discharged all the duties of a vigilant and zealous
Bishop. 15 However, he had long desired, that another should fill his place, so that he might retire into the monastery of St. Maximin. According to some accounts, he selected St. Veomade, Abbot of that house, for such a charge ; while others state, that St. Basin succeeded. Quitting his See, Hildulph resolved to seek perfect retirement; but, he soon found, that it could not be obtained, within the limits of his own diocese. The people entreated—but in vain—that he should continue among them. The holy man sighed for more perfect tranquillity. He resolved on retiring to the Vosges Mountains, to serve God in solitude among its forests and wilds, then
16 1?
almost in a state of nature. In 671, he had resigned his See, and not long
and procured great regularity of discipline in that house.
u See Les Petits vestigator of ecclesiastical antiquities and p. 251.
9 been This has
manifestly proved by Dom. Edmund Martene, a most diligent in-
Bollandistes,
history.
10 According to a Life of that saint,
written in 839, this translation happened,
before the times of Milo and of King Pepin,
father to Charlemagne.
" Such is the date found in the Previous
Commentary to our saint's Acts in the Bob landists' work, sect, iv. , num. 54.
13 This Abbey was destroyed during the French Revolution.
'3 His feast occurs, on the 31st of August.
I5 Mabillon doubts whether he had been
a bishop or a chore-episcopus at Treves. He also states, that it is difficult to fix there the
period of his episcopacy. See "Annalcs
Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. xv. ,
" Vies des Saints," tome viii. , xi° Jour de Juillet,
num. lviii. , p. 487.
,6 "
See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's Lives of the Saints," vol. vii. , July II, p. 279.
,; According to the writer of the Life of Si. Deodatus. See Mabillon's "Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. xvi. ,
July h. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 197
afterwards, he secretly removed to the frontiers of Lorraine, to chose a suitable
place for his habitation. Whether in the first instance he took with him monks
does not appear from his Acts, although it seems to be established, that a numerous community soon formed under his direction. 18 Hildulph is stated to have retired about 676 to the Vosges, an extensive range of mountains in the east of France. It is probable, however, that his retirement might be
assigned to an earlier date.
We are told, that a wild boar, had there killed a
St. 2I
son of II. J 9 Dagobert
20
The
ha—d been
to life
num. xiv. , pp. 506, 507.
18
23 This is said to have been dedicated on "viii. Kalendas Martii," in St. Hildulph's Third Life.
24 This is said to have been dedicated on "xvii. Kalendas Novembris. "—Ibid.
2S Nothing of a reliable character is said, however, about their having been brothers.
26
See the Lives of St. Erard and St. Albert at the 8th of January, in the First Volume of this work.
2? See " Histoire Fleury's
—ed at a Hildulph settl
Begonis cellam, quae nunc sanctus Blasius vocatur. Fratres vero,
Ecclesiastique," tome viii. , liv. xxxix. , sect, xlv. , p. 524.
qui in praedictis cellis sub regimine S. Hil-
dulfi — aestimantur numero habitabant, quasi
28
Another account states, that Ebersheim
trecenti. " cap. xii.
Benedicti," tomusi. , lib. xv. , sect, lx. , pp. 487, 488.
" Chronicon lib. Senoniensis," i. ,
signifies
' 9 Son to Sigebert, King of Austrasie. He was killed in an insurrection of the nobles. See L. P. Anquetil's "Histoire de France. " Premiere Race dite des Merovingiens, sect. v. , p. 54.
20 21
See his Life, at the 2 1 st of July.
This was a commune of France, in the
Department of the Vosges, eight miles north of St. Die, and on the left bank of the
Ravodoh. See " Gazetteer of the
"
Lives of
a to the sister of St. See
vol. ix. , p. 408.
22 "
See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's
youth
brought afterwards called
World,
daughter Andreas Chesnius, Francise," tomus i.
"
Leodegar. Scriptorum Historic Fragmentum Histori-
again by place Moyen-Moutier
Arbogast.
or the Middle Monastery
denomination was obtained from the circumstance, that it lay between monasteries of St. Die Bon-Moutier, Senones and Estival. At Moyenmoutier,
23
likewise, Hildulphbuilttwochurches; oneinhonouroftheBlessedVirgin, and another in honour of St. Peter. 2* At a later period, he erected a third without the monastic enclosure, for use of pilgrims and infirm persons, who came to visit him and his monks ; this he dedicated to St. John the Baptist. He erected a fourth church, likewise, which he dedicated to St. Gregory. This latter he placed on a hill, southwards from the monastery, and in the middle of a ground-plot, which he had chosen to be a cemetery for his com- munity.
It is St. Erard of Ratisbon lived for some time with 2 5 when said, Hildulph,
he retired in the Vosges. 26 There he had founded his monastery. 27 St. Erhard is also said to have built a monastery near Schelestad in Alsace, and it was called Ebersheim, as supposed, because its name was taken from Erhard or Eberhard. 28 ItmeantthemansionofEberhard,intheopinionofMabillon. 2?
2 Thismonastery3°wasfoundedbyDukeEtico,Ethic3IorAtticus3 ofElsass,
who was father of St. Odilia. 33 The latter was baptized when an infant, by St. Erard, while St. Hildulph is said to have assisted at the ceremony.
Notwithstanding his retirement, Hildulph did not cease to receive among his
Richarius states, that owing to the con- flux of clerics and laymen to his place, St. Hildulph was obliged to construct different cells not far from his "
monastery: nempe ad septem abietes, ad sanctum Joannem de Hurimonte, apud Orbacum, apud sanctum Projectum, apud Visivallum, ad Altam petram, quae monasterio supereminet, ad locum in summitate montis, qui Roberti
fons ad dicitur, denique
where he founded a
religious community. 22
Its the
the Saints," vol. vii. , July 1 1, pp. 279, cam Alberti Argentinensis Chronico prse-
280.
the boar's habitation, 29 See " Annales Ordinis S.
3° In the second half of the seventh cen-
tury, this religious house is thought very generally to have been founded.
3I His signature is to be found affixed to charters and grants of Chilperic II. and Thierry, from a. d. 652 to a. d. 691. See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of the Saints," vol. vii. , July II, p. 279.
32 Atticus was the husband of Bereswinda,
fixum, p. 782.
i9S LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [Julyi t.
disciples many persons, distinguished as well by their birth as by their virtues. Soon his monastery was like to a hive filled with honey, and diffusing around a religious flavour. The Almighty had conferred on him the gift of miracles. Wherefore, many crippled and indisposed persons came to ask the favour of his prayers, and to be relieved from their respective maladies. He also exorcised possessed persons. 34 Even many seculars built houses around the monastic precincts, so that they might rejoice in spiritual and temporal bene fits ; wherefore, a spot which had been heretofore deserted and lonely soon became populous. Among those who came to live under him was St. Spinule or Spinulus,35 who had the gift of working miracles, but who died a long time before his superior. However, as we are told, fearing the crowds of people there arriving should interfere with regular monastic discipline and prevent the exercises of a contemplative life, Hildulph, prostrating himself before the disciple's tomb, prayed with tears in his eyes and even commanded him to cease from working such miracles. To prove the still greater virtue of monastic obedience, the blessed Spin obeyed the order of his former superior,norweresuchwondersafterwardswrought. 36 Amonghisdisciples, St. John and St. Benin or Benignus 3 ? were also distinguished. In fine, the reputation of St. Hildulph spread so well, that he. was regarded as a man specially sent from Heaven ; while princes and seigneurs liberally endowed
Moyen-Moutier and other religious houses founded by him, in that part of the country.
a motive similar to that of our saint, Deodatus 3* or quite
Through
Dieudonne had left his See of Nevers to live in solitude. He went to the Val du Galilee, where he built the monastery of Jointuress since called St. Die, as also was the town which afterwards grew around it. —It was about two leagues d—istant from Moyen-Moutier. For St. Deodatus afterwards
a warm attachment ; and, once each year, both Abbots met to enjoy the sight and conversation of each other. *° On that day chosen for this visit, both Abbots left their respective houses at the same hour. Wherever they met on the road, both went on their knees and prayed, giving each other the kiss of peace, and
—This holy accord-
called St. Die abbot of Jointures, our saint is said to have formed
then engaging in conference on the obligations of a spiritual life.
friendship lasted for eight years, until St. Deodatus died, a. d. 677 +
ing to other accounts a. d. 679. By the expressed wish of St.
