4® The feast of this
illustrious
Abbot falls onthe21stofMarch.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v9
, Septembris iii.
Vita Pro- in Poitou, a.
d.
349.
His feast is celebrated
at Poitiers, on the 29th of May. See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Viesdes Saints," tome
vi. , xxixe Jour de Mai, pp. 292 to 294.
Hence, it can be inferred, that Adso's state-
ment of the familiarity passing between St.
Martin of Tours, and St. Maximinus of have been a Slavonic and not a German Treves, and their journey to Rome in com- people.
pany, cannot be admitted. The latter had 3J See Edward Gibbon's *' History of the
liber primus explicit/' See
"
Ac:a Sancto-
lixior, lib. i. , cap. iv. , nums. 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, with notes, pp. 644, 645.
31 These people were spread along the banks of the Oder, and on the sea-coast of
Pomerania and Mecklenburgh, at an early period. Originally, they are supposed to
48 LIVESOETHEIRISHSAIATS. [September3.
church, as likewise the hospice, fell into ruin. Frequently, too, those establishments and their possessions were seized by seculars and treated with small regard, even in the mediaeval times. When Garibalde, Bishop of Toul, died about the year 735, he was succeeded by Godon, who presided over the See for about twenty years; and during that period the city was burned, when the archives of his church were reduced to ashes. 33
Nevertheless, the veneration of the faithful for our saint continued, and
through the whole diocese of Toul, his feast was solemnly celebrated, so that
it became a matter of sacred obligation to cease from servile work on that
day ; while it seems probable, that although ruinous, the Church of St. Peter
had not been wholly deserted, nor had the religious services there been
discontinued, although shorn much of their early splendour. However,
in the southern suburbs, where an ancient Abbey of the Benedictines stood,
oneArchembald3*ruledasAbbot,betweentheyears936and948. Tohim,
St. Gauzlin,35 Bishop of Toul, committed the Church of St. Peter, and the
care for its restoration, on condition that he should send some of the religious
of St. Afre36 to dwell there, and to sing the Divine office, at the tomb of
St. Maunsay. During the lifetime of St. Gauzlin, the work of repairing St.
Peter's was commenced, but it was not completed, at the time of his death,
a. d. 962. During his pontificate, a woman, blind for seven years, and who
lived in the villa of Count Widon,3? was led on the vigil of St. Maunsey's
feast to his church, where she desired to remain for that night. However,
her request was not granted. Then taking her place with others before the
closed doors, and praying with great fervour to the saint in the middle of
the night, burning lights suddenly appeared to her restored vision. She gave
thanks to God and to his saint in loud ejaculations of gratitude. Another
miracle was in favour of a soldier's 8 who lived on a farm wrought daughter^
notfarfromToul. Shewasregardedasapossessedperson,andinastateof mental derangement, wherefore she was bound with cords and left in charge
of keepers. However, her parents brought the girl to the oratory of St. Maun- sey. There she was allowed to remain within the church that whole night, with a single guardian. She returned to her home restored to a sound state of mind. Another poor person, whose body was covered with a leprosy, called Elephantiasis,39 approached the church, and as having lived on alms, he humbly presented a portion of salt at the saint's shrine, and prayed there
Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire," place after that date, since the ruined church vol. iv. , chap, xxx. , p. 52. Dr. William in which the body of St. Maunsey had been
Smith's edition.
33 See Dom. Aug. Calmet's "Histoire
Ecclesiastique et Civile de Lorraine," tome i. , liv. xi. , sect, lxvii.
34 By Adso, he is styled Ilerchemboldus. In two charters, dated a. d. 941 and 942, his name is written Archembaldus, as found in
"
Augustine Calmet's Histoire Ecclesias-
tique et Civile de Lorraine, "tome i. Preuves de l'Histoire de Lorraine, col. 348 and 350. 35 His feast is celebrated on the 7th of
September.
36 His festival is held on the 5th of August.
* In a document which bears date 5 Idus Octobris, a. d. 936, ihe signature of this Count Wido is found. See Calmet's " His-
deposed was not at that time given by Bishop Gauzlin to the Abbey of St. Apre.
38 Her father was named Stephen.
» " A disease affecting chiefly the legs and feet, which, becoming rough, scaly, and swollen, have been compared to an elephant : the skin gets thick, unctuous, and insensi-
toire Ecclesiastique et Civile de Lorraine,"
tome i. Preuves de L'Histoire de Lorraine,
col. 344. The miracle here recorded took sey.
ble, and the li—mb occasionally attains an "
enormous size. " Dictionary of Science, 'Literature, and Art," by W. T. Brande and
Rev. George W. Cox, vol. i. , p. 764.
*° One of these was wrought in favour of
a distinguished cleric, who had been brought to the last extremity through fever ; while another named Drogo, who was a soldier, and a native of Dulmensis, in the circle of Westphalia, was in like manner restored, owing to his faith in the merits of St. Maun-
September 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 49
some
he had prostrated himself on the floor and then suddenly arising, he found
a new vigour in his limbs, the leprosy entirely disappearing. It seems to have been the mediaeval custom for those affected with fevers or other maladies to be carried to the shrine of St. Maunsey, where they devoutly sought his intercession on their behalf; and various instances are recorded by Adso of cures thus effected,* while he declares, it should be impossible to remember all that came to his knowledge, or that were related in reference
1
to the holy patron of Toul. *
The people of Toul were always accustomed to celebrate St. Maunsey's
festival as -a special Holyday, and they regarded it as one to be observed by
abstaining from servile works or unnecessary travelling. Indeed, the con- trary custom was regarded as bringing with it some such danger as had
were delivered from a which was — religiously. Suddenly they danger, likely
with fervour. • Soon he great
experien—ced
impression
to certain
with loads of salt through Gondreville on that festival day, and who made light of the popular veneration. Having journeyed towards the Moselle River, which they desired to cross, the oxen yoked to their waggons became restive, and could not be controlled by the drivers, who had nearly been carried over a precipice. Seeing the danger that threatened, those peasants felt a sudden remorse for having violated St. Mansuy's day. They then implored his pardon, and solemnly vowed thenceforward to observe it
nearly happened
waggoners
to have been attend—
A venerable man
ed with the forfeit of their lives. 43
Grimaldus by name had been appointed Abbot over the monastery of St.
Afre, chiefly through the instrumentality of St. Gauzlin. On one occasion, a cow belonging to the community had been stolen, nor was there a prospect
of her recovery. But, having prayed to St. Maunsey, on the following day, most unexpectedly and to the great admiration of all the monks, that animal returned to her proper stall. Soon after this account, Adso records the happy demise of St. Gauzlin,44 who was interred at Bouxieres-aux-dames, in the church of that religious community of Benedictine nuns founded by himself. He died in the year 962.
Born in the city of Cologne, and highly educated, especially in all branches of ecclesiastical learning, on the death of Gauzlin, Bruno, Arch-
bishop of Cologne and Duke of Lorraine, appointed Gerard45 in 963, to
41 "
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
Septembris iii. , Vita Prolixior, lib. ii. , cap. i. , ii. , pp. 645 to 647.
42 So called from Bar-le-Duc, its capital,
and it lies between the Marneand the Moselle
in Lorraine. See M. Vivien de Saint-Mar-
"
succeed,
approbation
Nouveau Dictionnaire de Geographie Universelle," tome i. , p. 351.
43 See Les Petits Bollandistes, " Vies des
Ecclesiastique et Civile de Lorraine," tome i. Preuves de l'Histoire de Lorraine, col. 335,
336.
45 See a very complete account of this dis-
tinguished prelate in Les Petits Bollandistes, "Vies des Saints," tome iv. , Jour xxiiie
d'Avril, pp. 623 to 632.
46 Surnamed the Great. He became
tin,
Saints," tome x. , 433*
Jour
iiie de
Septembre, p.
44 Adso states " :
Emperor of Germany, a. d. 936.
He was of
a
dies vii Idus Septembris agitur. "
the Saxon line,
and had
inherited
Cujus
depositions See the Vita
prepon- derating power in the north of Germany, Prolixior, lib. ii. , cap. ii. , pp. 647, 648. which he greatly increased by his own
success in war. He died on the 25th of December, A. D. 967. See Dean Henry
"
Adso is mistaken in the account that St. Gauzlin was in the forty-fourth year of his con- secration as since his
Hart Milman's
History of Latin Chris-
bishop, predecessor, Drogon, died on the iv. of the March Nones, A. d. 922, which a Charter of Charles the
tianity," vol. iii. , book v. , chap, xii. , pp. 305 to 316.
of 2 who continued to travel Barrois,*
of the Otho 6 of the and Emperor I. ,* clergy
with the
people of Toul, and he was consecrated at Treves. One of his earliest cares
Simple, King of Fiance, proves, dated on the "
same year and day. See Calmet's Histoire
on his back—for
D
5o LIVESOfTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September3
was to visit the church in which reposed the body of St. Maunsey. There he prayed with great devotion, and took a vow, that he would endeavour to effect its entire renovation. He resolved on seeking aid from a powerful patron. With such a view he obtained a charter from the Emperor Otho I. , 4 ? dated in the year 965, on the iv. of the June Nones. This confirmed the possessions, privileges and rules of the monks therein living, and who were under the Order of St. Benedict. *8 He not that
foundation, butheliberallyendowedit. 4^ Moreover,headvancedthePrioroverSt. Peter's monasterytothedignityofanAbbot. OnthesiteofSt. Peter'soratory,a celebrated Benedictine Abbey was built, and it was dedicated to St. Mansuy. s°
The choir of the Abbey Church was erected over the saint's tomb.
Various translations of the holy Bishop's relics are on record. It is said, that about the year 971, St. Gerard, Bishop of Toul, repaired that church
dedicated to St. Maunsey's memory, and that afterwards, he solemnly translated the relics of the holy patron from the place of their deposition, to one more suitable for their reception. The relics were placed in a wooden shrine within the church, and before it the monks sang their office, with their accustomed rites, while the faithful frequenting the sanctuary to pray received many benefits through the saint's intercession. Moreover, it is related of this pious prelate, that a band of Greeks and Scots having arrived in Toul, he maintained them at his own 1 In an
had
altars, at which they offered prayers to God, according to the manner of their respective nations. 52 It is supposed, that the disturbances of the time in their own countries5* brought those strangers to seek an asylum in his city
expense. *
During times ot great drought, and when a loss of the growing crops was feared, the clergy and people of Toul sought the saint's shrine in solemn procession, and devoutly trusted that the prayers of their Patron should procure for them fertilizing showers. This was illustrated in a miraculous manner, during the period of St. Gerard's incumbency in the see of Toul. 55 An unusually dry season had visited the country all around ; the earth cracked open, and vegetation was burned up, through excessive heat ; the labours of the husbandman seemed destined to produce nothing of value from the land; even the sky presented very extraordinary phenomena. Deeming these to
from the charitable bishop. 54
4? See an account of this celebrated Em- side of the ancient walls of the
city,
in the
"
peror in Jules Zeller's
magne," tome ii. , chap, xiii. , pp. 250 to 385.
4® The feast of this illustrious Abbot falls onthe21stofMarch. SeeanaccountofSt.
Faubourg de St. Mansuis.
5I " Hie cation Gnvcorum ac Scotto-
rum congregasse, ac propriis stipendiis aluisse dicitur, divisis inter illos altaribus in
Benedict and of his Order in
"
Histoire
oratorio, ubi Deo supplices laiules peisolvcrent
Complete et Costumes des Ordres Monas-
tiques, Religieux et Militaires, et des Con-
gregations Seculieres des deux Sexes," par
le R. P. He'lyot, avec Notice, Annotations et Complement, par V. Phillipon de la Madelaine, tome iv. , Premiere Partie, pp. 5 et seq.
49 See Mabillon's " Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," at A. D. 982. Tomus iv. , lib. xlix. , num. xiii. , pp. 8, 9.
50 Besides a fine copper-plate engraving of a map, representing the former Diocese of Toul, in Dom Augustin Calmet's " Histoire Ecclesiastique et Civile de Lorraine," tome i. there is another Plan de la Villede Toul, on which its position is shown near the northern
Mabillon's " Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus iv. , lib. I, num. cii. ,
p. 90.
sa This account seems to indicate, that both
the Greeks and Irish, who are here alluded
to, prayed in their own language, and used
their own peculiar rites of worship, differing from those of Gaul.
53 Especially in Ireland the Danes and Norwegians committed great devastations during the ninth and tenth centuries, as noticed in our Annals.
54 See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Vies des Saints," tome iv. , Jour xxiiic d'Avril, p. 625. ss See Dom Calmet's Histoire Ecclesias- tique et Civile de Lorraine," tome i.
Histoire d'Alle-
,
only completed
morepatriot—
oratory they
separate
September 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 51
be indications of the Divine displeasure for the sins of his people, and at their request, the holy Bishop Gerard instituted a fast for three days, at the end of which time, the shrine of St. Maunsey, containing his blessed body, was to be borne in solemn procession over the parched fields. While litanies and hymns were sung by the clergy and a vast number of the laity assembled, and while they thus moved to the church of St. Apri or Epvre, which was a stage to be reached by the processionists ; suddenly the clouds lowered, the lightnings flashed, and loud peals of thunder followed. Then came torrents of rain, which drenched the multitude present, but which
brought refreshing showers on the fields, the object so earnestly sought. Nor was this the only remarkable occurrence to be related. Sindebard, Count of Toul, was about to have his hand cauterized, because it had withered and caused him great agony \ yet, remembering the merits of the Patron saint, he most earnestly desired leave for carrying that shrine, in which the sacred remains were deposed. This permission he readily obtained, and with Immon, a noble officer in the bishop's service, he walked in that procession. When the shrine was returned to the place in which it usually had been deposited, Mass was commenced, and at its conclusion, the Count found all pain removed from his hand. This he raised up before all those who were present, as a manifestation of St. Maunsey's merits and intercession^6 Immediately after these occurrences, and having placed the sacred remains in the church,5? after vigils and devotions of the previous night, it was solemnly dedicated in honour of the Holy Mother of the Man-God and ofSt. Maunsey. Thenceforward,severalremarkablemiracleswerewrought in it through their intercession, and numbers of devout worshippers were favoured with remission of their sins. Another miracle is related regarding a boy, who had long been a cripple, owing to some spinal contraction. His father, a rustic, had conveyed him in his arms for ten successive years to the tomb of St. Maunsey, but without any alleviation of his son's sufferings. One day, a certain Jew reproached the poor man for his credulity ; when suddenly, the boy who had been laid on the pavement before the shrine felt himself able to arise and walk, to the great admiration of the devout persons who were present. 58 Moreover, on another occasion, and on a Saturday night, while the monks were engaged reciting the Divine Office, and preparing for the Sunday's services on the morrow, St. Gerard, happening to sleep in their monastery at that time,s° had an apparition of St. Maunsey,60 who seemed to enter the chamber with an effulgence of light. Approaching the bed on which the bishop lay, the latter found a hand laid on his body, and
"
heard a voice calling out,
vigils, why are you buried in so deep a slumber ? for the kingdom of Heaven comes not to those sleeping, but to the wakeful. '' At once the bishop arose, and not without some shameful feeling and excitement, he hastened to the church and joined the choir, although not in good time, as the office had long before commenced. 67
Preuves de l'Histoire de Lorraine, Historia
Episcoporum Tullensium, cap. xx. , col. 101.
56 The old writer, who records the
then maintained at the charges of the church. 59 It is stated, the bishop had been much
venerable aspect, his habit being of a white colour.
6l This narrative Adso had from St. Gerard himself,andheaddsinconclusion: "Cujus rei testis non sine sui pudore refert, quid in illo sit passus secreto cubiculi virtute prae-
:
57 This raisedfromitsfoundations.
ipse
previously
Ibid.
Bishop
Gerard had
Why sleep you ? while others keep their pious
fatigued, owing " 6o
previous
miracle, adds
—testis certus, si a quolibet fuerit requisitus. "
Cujus rei adhuc est
s8 In continuation the chronicler remarks, that when he wrote, that boy was living and
foregoing
.
to
He seemed of large stature, and of a
labours
52 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September3.
On several occasions, when the plague prevailed in the city and country around Toul, the people offered prayers to St. Mansuy, and bore the shrine
containing his body in public and solemn procession. We have an account 62
of that deadly plague, which visited the city during the pontificate of St.
Gerard, when great numbers of all classes and of both sexes were stricken
with the pest. This usually proved mortal after an illness of three days.
Whereupon, St. Gerard resolved on proclaiming a fast for three days, at the
end of which time, he intended removing the saint's shrine from the place in
which it had been deposited not long before, and having called the people
together, a procession was formed to the church of the Blessed Virgin at
Ecrouves,63 near Toul. From that time forward, the plague was known to
have decreased in virulence. Yet, public apprehensions were not wholly
allayed, when a second and much greater procession took place to the Bene-
dictine 6* at 6* where the nuns were to receive the Convent, Buxeria, prepared
precious remains. In that place, also, Bishop Gerard spent the night. Multitudes assembled to join the procession from the villages and farms along the route, both going and returning ; nor was the River Meurte an obstacle to their pious zeal, for many persons forded it, although swollen with a night's rain. On the return to St. Maunsey's church, the sun shone out with remarkable brightness, while the enthusiasm of the people was mani- fested in tears of joy, shared even by their saintly bishop. Although abating, the plague had not altogether ceased, and a third procession was ordered, when the bodies of St. Maunsey and of St. Epvre were brought in their respectiveshrinesthroughthestreetsofToul. Afterwards,thepestentirely
relief and
of the 66 people.
to the
St. Gerard had granted the villages of Angeria and Molesiac to the
monastery of St. Maunsey, as dependencies for its maintenance ; but, he afterwards revoked this grant, and then he remarked a sudden failure of his strength and health. He became so spare and debilitated, that, he had no appetite, nor could he sleep, Especially for three weeks did he continue in this state, and had abandoned all hope of recovery. Despite the objections raised by members of his household, he expressed a wish to be conveyed to the monastery of St. Maunsey. This happened in the year 974, when he was afflicted with that severe malady, which his physicians were unable to heal through the ordinary courses prescribed. The bishop was restored, however, by invoking the aid of St. Maunsey, and by making a visit to the holy Patron's shrine and monastery.
A remarkable miracle, wrought in favour of an English girl through the merits of St. Maunsey, took place in the year iooq. 6? She had been accessory
stanti beati Mansueti. "—Vita prolixior, lib. by no religious vow.
ii. , cap. iii. , p. 649. 6s The modern French name for it is
disappeared
great
joy
63
and St. Gerard, adds :
ita superveniens irruperat, ut ad unum the Moselle, about five hours' journey from
The old chronicler in relation to Toul Bouxieres-aux- dames. It is situated on the
"
quemlibet, exceptis aliis diversarum eccle- siarum, locum, sicut idem pontifex non sine
gemitu memorabat, denos vel septenos mor- . fuorum loculos sub oculis aspiceret inferri tumulandos. "
Ilanc urbem clades River Meurte, and near its junction with
Ccen—obium Sancti conservat ab igne 63 The chronicler remarks that, the place voraci. " See Dom Augustin Calmet's
was remarkable, also, for the many miracles
there wrought.
64 This had been founded by St. Gauzlin,
and it was tenanted originally by Benedictine
nuns. In the last century, an abbess and Benedicti," tomus iv. , lib. lib. , sect, xxv. , canonesses were the occupants, but bound pp. 209, 210.
Toul.
^ In certain Latin hexameter lines, written
in praise of St. Gerard, we read, that he s—aved
the Monastery of St. Mansuy from fire
"
:
" Histoire Ecclesiastique et Civile de Lor- raine," tome i. Preuves, &c. ; Ilistoiia Epis- coporum Tullensium, cap. xxxv. , col. 133.
67 See Mabillon's " Annates Ordinis S.
September 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 53 to her mother's death, in conjunction with her brother, a cleric, who had
68 For this crime, were both con- they
resolved on a avenging
family injury.
demned to a punishment common at the period, which was, to have iron
bands fastened about their arm and 6^ were also to body. They obliged
undertake a pilgrimage, so that while visiting Jerusalem, they might expiate in some measure, their matricide by prayer at the holy places. 7° On return- ing, the guilty brother died, but his sister Godelinde visited Toul, to obtain reliefthroughtheintercessionofSt. Maunsey. Thisinpartwasexperienced, as one of the bands loosened on her arm, the other remaining fast. She was accompanied through a motive of charity, by an innocent brother, named
1
Rodulf ; and they next resolved on a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Oldericus,?
of 2 when had come to the forest of patron Augsburg. ? However, they
the
the Vosges mountains, where the monastery known as Vallis-Gaiilese had been founded by St. Deodatus,73 Godelinde had a vision of St. Maunsey in her sleep, and she was recommended by him to return. This warning she would not take, but continued her journey towards the city of Strasburg. Again the vision was repeated during her sleep ; yet notwithstanding the dangers of the journey represented to her, she would persevere in her resolution. The sufferings and privations endured by the pilgrims were great beyond expression ; but, she at length returned to Toul, in the extremity of misery, and offered up her prayers with vigils at the tomb of St. Maunsey. Whenshedespairedofrelief,themomentofmercycame. Theironband burst asunder, and fell from her arm. Astonished at such a result, she fainted on the spot ; but soon her senses were restored, and she returned full of joy and gratitude to the country of her birth. 74
68 " These were of noble birth both on the
father's and mother's side. When about to
die, the father commended his children to
the care of his wife ; but, after his death,
unmindful of the trust committed to her, she
again married, and her second husband,
while retaining the daughter in her paternal
castle, most inhumanly cast out her brothers,
and deprived them of their natural inherit-
ance. Stung to frenzy by this conduct, the si aliquid inconsuetum et capitale crimen cleric, with an armed band, and in the dead
hour of the night, entered the castle, with the aid of his sister. Proceeding to the bed- chamber of his mother and step-father, he endeavoured to kill the latter, but the deadly weapon transfixed the body of the former.
69 It would seem the provocation had been
so great, and probably the parricide having
been unintentional, the culprits escaped
capital punishment ; but, they were obliged Vosges territory. His feast is held on the
to bear iron bands or chains, closely bound on the naked body or limbs. In this case, the brother had " toto trunco corporis artatur
19th of June.
74 The more circumstantial details of this
miracle, as given in the Bollandists' "Acta
strictis circulis," while the sister accepit duos in sinistro brachio. " During the ninth, tenth, and eleventh centuries, such a punish-
ment was frequently inflicted on parricides, or those who murdered relations in blood, sometimes for a term of years, and sometimes
Sanctorum," thus concludes :
Praedicti
for a life-time
;
while were as they enjoined
tamen circuli pendent ad pedes crucifixi
Domini, quorum prior Kalendis Januarii
proruit, necnon alter XIII. Kalendas Junii
cecidit anno ab Incarnatione Domini nono
et milessimo, pontificante Tullense ecclesi—am
domne Bertoldo Indictione vii. " episcopo,
Tomus i. , Septembris iii. De S. Mansueto
Epis. et Conf. Miraculum quod contigit
an expiatory penance to visit Jerusalem, Rome, or some other place, where saints were
Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. iv. , sect, vii. , pp. 87, 88.
70 Certain abuses seem to have arisen from this usage. Thus, in a Council, held at Aix- la-Chapelle, in the time of Charlemagne, it
"
rantes et servientes et pcenitentiam agentes, secu—ndum quod sibi canonice impositum
"
sit. " Sirmond, Conciliorum," tomus ii. ,
p. 154-
71 St. Oldericus or Uldaricus is venerated
on the 4th day of July.
72 Formerly called Augusta Vindelicorum. 73 Bishop of Nevers and Apostle of the
was decreed,
non sinantur vagari et decep- tiones hominibus agere . . . isti nudi cum ferro, qui dicunt se data sibi poenitentia ire vagantes. Melius videtur, ut,
commiserint, uno in loco permaneant labo-
""
held in particular veneration. Examples of anno Mix. , auctore anonymo, pp. 651 to
this kind are to be found, in Mabillon's
653.
54 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September3.
CHAPTER III.
STATE OF TOUL DURING THE MIDDLE AGES—REPUTED CANONIZATION OF ST. MAUNSEY BY POPE LEO IX. —VARIOUS TRANSLATIONS OF HIS RELICS—THE CATHEDRAL OF ST.
at Poitiers, on the 29th of May. See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Viesdes Saints," tome
vi. , xxixe Jour de Mai, pp. 292 to 294.
Hence, it can be inferred, that Adso's state-
ment of the familiarity passing between St.
Martin of Tours, and St. Maximinus of have been a Slavonic and not a German Treves, and their journey to Rome in com- people.
pany, cannot be admitted. The latter had 3J See Edward Gibbon's *' History of the
liber primus explicit/' See
"
Ac:a Sancto-
lixior, lib. i. , cap. iv. , nums. 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, with notes, pp. 644, 645.
31 These people were spread along the banks of the Oder, and on the sea-coast of
Pomerania and Mecklenburgh, at an early period. Originally, they are supposed to
48 LIVESOETHEIRISHSAIATS. [September3.
church, as likewise the hospice, fell into ruin. Frequently, too, those establishments and their possessions were seized by seculars and treated with small regard, even in the mediaeval times. When Garibalde, Bishop of Toul, died about the year 735, he was succeeded by Godon, who presided over the See for about twenty years; and during that period the city was burned, when the archives of his church were reduced to ashes. 33
Nevertheless, the veneration of the faithful for our saint continued, and
through the whole diocese of Toul, his feast was solemnly celebrated, so that
it became a matter of sacred obligation to cease from servile work on that
day ; while it seems probable, that although ruinous, the Church of St. Peter
had not been wholly deserted, nor had the religious services there been
discontinued, although shorn much of their early splendour. However,
in the southern suburbs, where an ancient Abbey of the Benedictines stood,
oneArchembald3*ruledasAbbot,betweentheyears936and948. Tohim,
St. Gauzlin,35 Bishop of Toul, committed the Church of St. Peter, and the
care for its restoration, on condition that he should send some of the religious
of St. Afre36 to dwell there, and to sing the Divine office, at the tomb of
St. Maunsay. During the lifetime of St. Gauzlin, the work of repairing St.
Peter's was commenced, but it was not completed, at the time of his death,
a. d. 962. During his pontificate, a woman, blind for seven years, and who
lived in the villa of Count Widon,3? was led on the vigil of St. Maunsey's
feast to his church, where she desired to remain for that night. However,
her request was not granted. Then taking her place with others before the
closed doors, and praying with great fervour to the saint in the middle of
the night, burning lights suddenly appeared to her restored vision. She gave
thanks to God and to his saint in loud ejaculations of gratitude. Another
miracle was in favour of a soldier's 8 who lived on a farm wrought daughter^
notfarfromToul. Shewasregardedasapossessedperson,andinastateof mental derangement, wherefore she was bound with cords and left in charge
of keepers. However, her parents brought the girl to the oratory of St. Maun- sey. There she was allowed to remain within the church that whole night, with a single guardian. She returned to her home restored to a sound state of mind. Another poor person, whose body was covered with a leprosy, called Elephantiasis,39 approached the church, and as having lived on alms, he humbly presented a portion of salt at the saint's shrine, and prayed there
Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire," place after that date, since the ruined church vol. iv. , chap, xxx. , p. 52. Dr. William in which the body of St. Maunsey had been
Smith's edition.
33 See Dom. Aug. Calmet's "Histoire
Ecclesiastique et Civile de Lorraine," tome i. , liv. xi. , sect, lxvii.
34 By Adso, he is styled Ilerchemboldus. In two charters, dated a. d. 941 and 942, his name is written Archembaldus, as found in
"
Augustine Calmet's Histoire Ecclesias-
tique et Civile de Lorraine, "tome i. Preuves de l'Histoire de Lorraine, col. 348 and 350. 35 His feast is celebrated on the 7th of
September.
36 His festival is held on the 5th of August.
* In a document which bears date 5 Idus Octobris, a. d. 936, ihe signature of this Count Wido is found. See Calmet's " His-
deposed was not at that time given by Bishop Gauzlin to the Abbey of St. Apre.
38 Her father was named Stephen.
» " A disease affecting chiefly the legs and feet, which, becoming rough, scaly, and swollen, have been compared to an elephant : the skin gets thick, unctuous, and insensi-
toire Ecclesiastique et Civile de Lorraine,"
tome i. Preuves de L'Histoire de Lorraine,
col. 344. The miracle here recorded took sey.
ble, and the li—mb occasionally attains an "
enormous size. " Dictionary of Science, 'Literature, and Art," by W. T. Brande and
Rev. George W. Cox, vol. i. , p. 764.
*° One of these was wrought in favour of
a distinguished cleric, who had been brought to the last extremity through fever ; while another named Drogo, who was a soldier, and a native of Dulmensis, in the circle of Westphalia, was in like manner restored, owing to his faith in the merits of St. Maun-
September 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 49
some
he had prostrated himself on the floor and then suddenly arising, he found
a new vigour in his limbs, the leprosy entirely disappearing. It seems to have been the mediaeval custom for those affected with fevers or other maladies to be carried to the shrine of St. Maunsey, where they devoutly sought his intercession on their behalf; and various instances are recorded by Adso of cures thus effected,* while he declares, it should be impossible to remember all that came to his knowledge, or that were related in reference
1
to the holy patron of Toul. *
The people of Toul were always accustomed to celebrate St. Maunsey's
festival as -a special Holyday, and they regarded it as one to be observed by
abstaining from servile works or unnecessary travelling. Indeed, the con- trary custom was regarded as bringing with it some such danger as had
were delivered from a which was — religiously. Suddenly they danger, likely
with fervour. • Soon he great
experien—ced
impression
to certain
with loads of salt through Gondreville on that festival day, and who made light of the popular veneration. Having journeyed towards the Moselle River, which they desired to cross, the oxen yoked to their waggons became restive, and could not be controlled by the drivers, who had nearly been carried over a precipice. Seeing the danger that threatened, those peasants felt a sudden remorse for having violated St. Mansuy's day. They then implored his pardon, and solemnly vowed thenceforward to observe it
nearly happened
waggoners
to have been attend—
A venerable man
ed with the forfeit of their lives. 43
Grimaldus by name had been appointed Abbot over the monastery of St.
Afre, chiefly through the instrumentality of St. Gauzlin. On one occasion, a cow belonging to the community had been stolen, nor was there a prospect
of her recovery. But, having prayed to St. Maunsey, on the following day, most unexpectedly and to the great admiration of all the monks, that animal returned to her proper stall. Soon after this account, Adso records the happy demise of St. Gauzlin,44 who was interred at Bouxieres-aux-dames, in the church of that religious community of Benedictine nuns founded by himself. He died in the year 962.
Born in the city of Cologne, and highly educated, especially in all branches of ecclesiastical learning, on the death of Gauzlin, Bruno, Arch-
bishop of Cologne and Duke of Lorraine, appointed Gerard45 in 963, to
41 "
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
Septembris iii. , Vita Prolixior, lib. ii. , cap. i. , ii. , pp. 645 to 647.
42 So called from Bar-le-Duc, its capital,
and it lies between the Marneand the Moselle
in Lorraine. See M. Vivien de Saint-Mar-
"
succeed,
approbation
Nouveau Dictionnaire de Geographie Universelle," tome i. , p. 351.
43 See Les Petits Bollandistes, " Vies des
Ecclesiastique et Civile de Lorraine," tome i. Preuves de l'Histoire de Lorraine, col. 335,
336.
45 See a very complete account of this dis-
tinguished prelate in Les Petits Bollandistes, "Vies des Saints," tome iv. , Jour xxiiie
d'Avril, pp. 623 to 632.
46 Surnamed the Great. He became
tin,
Saints," tome x. , 433*
Jour
iiie de
Septembre, p.
44 Adso states " :
Emperor of Germany, a. d. 936.
He was of
a
dies vii Idus Septembris agitur. "
the Saxon line,
and had
inherited
Cujus
depositions See the Vita
prepon- derating power in the north of Germany, Prolixior, lib. ii. , cap. ii. , pp. 647, 648. which he greatly increased by his own
success in war. He died on the 25th of December, A. D. 967. See Dean Henry
"
Adso is mistaken in the account that St. Gauzlin was in the forty-fourth year of his con- secration as since his
Hart Milman's
History of Latin Chris-
bishop, predecessor, Drogon, died on the iv. of the March Nones, A. d. 922, which a Charter of Charles the
tianity," vol. iii. , book v. , chap, xii. , pp. 305 to 316.
of 2 who continued to travel Barrois,*
of the Otho 6 of the and Emperor I. ,* clergy
with the
people of Toul, and he was consecrated at Treves. One of his earliest cares
Simple, King of Fiance, proves, dated on the "
same year and day. See Calmet's Histoire
on his back—for
D
5o LIVESOfTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September3
was to visit the church in which reposed the body of St. Maunsey. There he prayed with great devotion, and took a vow, that he would endeavour to effect its entire renovation. He resolved on seeking aid from a powerful patron. With such a view he obtained a charter from the Emperor Otho I. , 4 ? dated in the year 965, on the iv. of the June Nones. This confirmed the possessions, privileges and rules of the monks therein living, and who were under the Order of St. Benedict. *8 He not that
foundation, butheliberallyendowedit. 4^ Moreover,headvancedthePrioroverSt. Peter's monasterytothedignityofanAbbot. OnthesiteofSt. Peter'soratory,a celebrated Benedictine Abbey was built, and it was dedicated to St. Mansuy. s°
The choir of the Abbey Church was erected over the saint's tomb.
Various translations of the holy Bishop's relics are on record. It is said, that about the year 971, St. Gerard, Bishop of Toul, repaired that church
dedicated to St. Maunsey's memory, and that afterwards, he solemnly translated the relics of the holy patron from the place of their deposition, to one more suitable for their reception. The relics were placed in a wooden shrine within the church, and before it the monks sang their office, with their accustomed rites, while the faithful frequenting the sanctuary to pray received many benefits through the saint's intercession. Moreover, it is related of this pious prelate, that a band of Greeks and Scots having arrived in Toul, he maintained them at his own 1 In an
had
altars, at which they offered prayers to God, according to the manner of their respective nations. 52 It is supposed, that the disturbances of the time in their own countries5* brought those strangers to seek an asylum in his city
expense. *
During times ot great drought, and when a loss of the growing crops was feared, the clergy and people of Toul sought the saint's shrine in solemn procession, and devoutly trusted that the prayers of their Patron should procure for them fertilizing showers. This was illustrated in a miraculous manner, during the period of St. Gerard's incumbency in the see of Toul. 55 An unusually dry season had visited the country all around ; the earth cracked open, and vegetation was burned up, through excessive heat ; the labours of the husbandman seemed destined to produce nothing of value from the land; even the sky presented very extraordinary phenomena. Deeming these to
from the charitable bishop. 54
4? See an account of this celebrated Em- side of the ancient walls of the
city,
in the
"
peror in Jules Zeller's
magne," tome ii. , chap, xiii. , pp. 250 to 385.
4® The feast of this illustrious Abbot falls onthe21stofMarch. SeeanaccountofSt.
Faubourg de St. Mansuis.
5I " Hie cation Gnvcorum ac Scotto-
rum congregasse, ac propriis stipendiis aluisse dicitur, divisis inter illos altaribus in
Benedict and of his Order in
"
Histoire
oratorio, ubi Deo supplices laiules peisolvcrent
Complete et Costumes des Ordres Monas-
tiques, Religieux et Militaires, et des Con-
gregations Seculieres des deux Sexes," par
le R. P. He'lyot, avec Notice, Annotations et Complement, par V. Phillipon de la Madelaine, tome iv. , Premiere Partie, pp. 5 et seq.
49 See Mabillon's " Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," at A. D. 982. Tomus iv. , lib. xlix. , num. xiii. , pp. 8, 9.
50 Besides a fine copper-plate engraving of a map, representing the former Diocese of Toul, in Dom Augustin Calmet's " Histoire Ecclesiastique et Civile de Lorraine," tome i. there is another Plan de la Villede Toul, on which its position is shown near the northern
Mabillon's " Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus iv. , lib. I, num. cii. ,
p. 90.
sa This account seems to indicate, that both
the Greeks and Irish, who are here alluded
to, prayed in their own language, and used
their own peculiar rites of worship, differing from those of Gaul.
53 Especially in Ireland the Danes and Norwegians committed great devastations during the ninth and tenth centuries, as noticed in our Annals.
54 See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Vies des Saints," tome iv. , Jour xxiiic d'Avril, p. 625. ss See Dom Calmet's Histoire Ecclesias- tique et Civile de Lorraine," tome i.
Histoire d'Alle-
,
only completed
morepatriot—
oratory they
separate
September 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 51
be indications of the Divine displeasure for the sins of his people, and at their request, the holy Bishop Gerard instituted a fast for three days, at the end of which time, the shrine of St. Maunsey, containing his blessed body, was to be borne in solemn procession over the parched fields. While litanies and hymns were sung by the clergy and a vast number of the laity assembled, and while they thus moved to the church of St. Apri or Epvre, which was a stage to be reached by the processionists ; suddenly the clouds lowered, the lightnings flashed, and loud peals of thunder followed. Then came torrents of rain, which drenched the multitude present, but which
brought refreshing showers on the fields, the object so earnestly sought. Nor was this the only remarkable occurrence to be related. Sindebard, Count of Toul, was about to have his hand cauterized, because it had withered and caused him great agony \ yet, remembering the merits of the Patron saint, he most earnestly desired leave for carrying that shrine, in which the sacred remains were deposed. This permission he readily obtained, and with Immon, a noble officer in the bishop's service, he walked in that procession. When the shrine was returned to the place in which it usually had been deposited, Mass was commenced, and at its conclusion, the Count found all pain removed from his hand. This he raised up before all those who were present, as a manifestation of St. Maunsey's merits and intercession^6 Immediately after these occurrences, and having placed the sacred remains in the church,5? after vigils and devotions of the previous night, it was solemnly dedicated in honour of the Holy Mother of the Man-God and ofSt. Maunsey. Thenceforward,severalremarkablemiracleswerewrought in it through their intercession, and numbers of devout worshippers were favoured with remission of their sins. Another miracle is related regarding a boy, who had long been a cripple, owing to some spinal contraction. His father, a rustic, had conveyed him in his arms for ten successive years to the tomb of St. Maunsey, but without any alleviation of his son's sufferings. One day, a certain Jew reproached the poor man for his credulity ; when suddenly, the boy who had been laid on the pavement before the shrine felt himself able to arise and walk, to the great admiration of the devout persons who were present. 58 Moreover, on another occasion, and on a Saturday night, while the monks were engaged reciting the Divine Office, and preparing for the Sunday's services on the morrow, St. Gerard, happening to sleep in their monastery at that time,s° had an apparition of St. Maunsey,60 who seemed to enter the chamber with an effulgence of light. Approaching the bed on which the bishop lay, the latter found a hand laid on his body, and
"
heard a voice calling out,
vigils, why are you buried in so deep a slumber ? for the kingdom of Heaven comes not to those sleeping, but to the wakeful. '' At once the bishop arose, and not without some shameful feeling and excitement, he hastened to the church and joined the choir, although not in good time, as the office had long before commenced. 67
Preuves de l'Histoire de Lorraine, Historia
Episcoporum Tullensium, cap. xx. , col. 101.
56 The old writer, who records the
then maintained at the charges of the church. 59 It is stated, the bishop had been much
venerable aspect, his habit being of a white colour.
6l This narrative Adso had from St. Gerard himself,andheaddsinconclusion: "Cujus rei testis non sine sui pudore refert, quid in illo sit passus secreto cubiculi virtute prae-
:
57 This raisedfromitsfoundations.
ipse
previously
Ibid.
Bishop
Gerard had
Why sleep you ? while others keep their pious
fatigued, owing " 6o
previous
miracle, adds
—testis certus, si a quolibet fuerit requisitus. "
Cujus rei adhuc est
s8 In continuation the chronicler remarks, that when he wrote, that boy was living and
foregoing
.
to
He seemed of large stature, and of a
labours
52 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September3.
On several occasions, when the plague prevailed in the city and country around Toul, the people offered prayers to St. Mansuy, and bore the shrine
containing his body in public and solemn procession. We have an account 62
of that deadly plague, which visited the city during the pontificate of St.
Gerard, when great numbers of all classes and of both sexes were stricken
with the pest. This usually proved mortal after an illness of three days.
Whereupon, St. Gerard resolved on proclaiming a fast for three days, at the
end of which time, he intended removing the saint's shrine from the place in
which it had been deposited not long before, and having called the people
together, a procession was formed to the church of the Blessed Virgin at
Ecrouves,63 near Toul. From that time forward, the plague was known to
have decreased in virulence. Yet, public apprehensions were not wholly
allayed, when a second and much greater procession took place to the Bene-
dictine 6* at 6* where the nuns were to receive the Convent, Buxeria, prepared
precious remains. In that place, also, Bishop Gerard spent the night. Multitudes assembled to join the procession from the villages and farms along the route, both going and returning ; nor was the River Meurte an obstacle to their pious zeal, for many persons forded it, although swollen with a night's rain. On the return to St. Maunsey's church, the sun shone out with remarkable brightness, while the enthusiasm of the people was mani- fested in tears of joy, shared even by their saintly bishop. Although abating, the plague had not altogether ceased, and a third procession was ordered, when the bodies of St. Maunsey and of St. Epvre were brought in their respectiveshrinesthroughthestreetsofToul. Afterwards,thepestentirely
relief and
of the 66 people.
to the
St. Gerard had granted the villages of Angeria and Molesiac to the
monastery of St. Maunsey, as dependencies for its maintenance ; but, he afterwards revoked this grant, and then he remarked a sudden failure of his strength and health. He became so spare and debilitated, that, he had no appetite, nor could he sleep, Especially for three weeks did he continue in this state, and had abandoned all hope of recovery. Despite the objections raised by members of his household, he expressed a wish to be conveyed to the monastery of St. Maunsey. This happened in the year 974, when he was afflicted with that severe malady, which his physicians were unable to heal through the ordinary courses prescribed. The bishop was restored, however, by invoking the aid of St. Maunsey, and by making a visit to the holy Patron's shrine and monastery.
A remarkable miracle, wrought in favour of an English girl through the merits of St. Maunsey, took place in the year iooq. 6? She had been accessory
stanti beati Mansueti. "—Vita prolixior, lib. by no religious vow.
ii. , cap. iii. , p. 649. 6s The modern French name for it is
disappeared
great
joy
63
and St. Gerard, adds :
ita superveniens irruperat, ut ad unum the Moselle, about five hours' journey from
The old chronicler in relation to Toul Bouxieres-aux- dames. It is situated on the
"
quemlibet, exceptis aliis diversarum eccle- siarum, locum, sicut idem pontifex non sine
gemitu memorabat, denos vel septenos mor- . fuorum loculos sub oculis aspiceret inferri tumulandos. "
Ilanc urbem clades River Meurte, and near its junction with
Ccen—obium Sancti conservat ab igne 63 The chronicler remarks that, the place voraci. " See Dom Augustin Calmet's
was remarkable, also, for the many miracles
there wrought.
64 This had been founded by St. Gauzlin,
and it was tenanted originally by Benedictine
nuns. In the last century, an abbess and Benedicti," tomus iv. , lib. lib. , sect, xxv. , canonesses were the occupants, but bound pp. 209, 210.
Toul.
^ In certain Latin hexameter lines, written
in praise of St. Gerard, we read, that he s—aved
the Monastery of St. Mansuy from fire
"
:
" Histoire Ecclesiastique et Civile de Lor- raine," tome i. Preuves, &c. ; Ilistoiia Epis- coporum Tullensium, cap. xxxv. , col. 133.
67 See Mabillon's " Annates Ordinis S.
September 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 53 to her mother's death, in conjunction with her brother, a cleric, who had
68 For this crime, were both con- they
resolved on a avenging
family injury.
demned to a punishment common at the period, which was, to have iron
bands fastened about their arm and 6^ were also to body. They obliged
undertake a pilgrimage, so that while visiting Jerusalem, they might expiate in some measure, their matricide by prayer at the holy places. 7° On return- ing, the guilty brother died, but his sister Godelinde visited Toul, to obtain reliefthroughtheintercessionofSt. Maunsey. Thisinpartwasexperienced, as one of the bands loosened on her arm, the other remaining fast. She was accompanied through a motive of charity, by an innocent brother, named
1
Rodulf ; and they next resolved on a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Oldericus,?
of 2 when had come to the forest of patron Augsburg. ? However, they
the
the Vosges mountains, where the monastery known as Vallis-Gaiilese had been founded by St. Deodatus,73 Godelinde had a vision of St. Maunsey in her sleep, and she was recommended by him to return. This warning she would not take, but continued her journey towards the city of Strasburg. Again the vision was repeated during her sleep ; yet notwithstanding the dangers of the journey represented to her, she would persevere in her resolution. The sufferings and privations endured by the pilgrims were great beyond expression ; but, she at length returned to Toul, in the extremity of misery, and offered up her prayers with vigils at the tomb of St. Maunsey. Whenshedespairedofrelief,themomentofmercycame. Theironband burst asunder, and fell from her arm. Astonished at such a result, she fainted on the spot ; but soon her senses were restored, and she returned full of joy and gratitude to the country of her birth. 74
68 " These were of noble birth both on the
father's and mother's side. When about to
die, the father commended his children to
the care of his wife ; but, after his death,
unmindful of the trust committed to her, she
again married, and her second husband,
while retaining the daughter in her paternal
castle, most inhumanly cast out her brothers,
and deprived them of their natural inherit-
ance. Stung to frenzy by this conduct, the si aliquid inconsuetum et capitale crimen cleric, with an armed band, and in the dead
hour of the night, entered the castle, with the aid of his sister. Proceeding to the bed- chamber of his mother and step-father, he endeavoured to kill the latter, but the deadly weapon transfixed the body of the former.
69 It would seem the provocation had been
so great, and probably the parricide having
been unintentional, the culprits escaped
capital punishment ; but, they were obliged Vosges territory. His feast is held on the
to bear iron bands or chains, closely bound on the naked body or limbs. In this case, the brother had " toto trunco corporis artatur
19th of June.
74 The more circumstantial details of this
miracle, as given in the Bollandists' "Acta
strictis circulis," while the sister accepit duos in sinistro brachio. " During the ninth, tenth, and eleventh centuries, such a punish-
ment was frequently inflicted on parricides, or those who murdered relations in blood, sometimes for a term of years, and sometimes
Sanctorum," thus concludes :
Praedicti
for a life-time
;
while were as they enjoined
tamen circuli pendent ad pedes crucifixi
Domini, quorum prior Kalendis Januarii
proruit, necnon alter XIII. Kalendas Junii
cecidit anno ab Incarnatione Domini nono
et milessimo, pontificante Tullense ecclesi—am
domne Bertoldo Indictione vii. " episcopo,
Tomus i. , Septembris iii. De S. Mansueto
Epis. et Conf. Miraculum quod contigit
an expiatory penance to visit Jerusalem, Rome, or some other place, where saints were
Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus i. , lib. iv. , sect, vii. , pp. 87, 88.
70 Certain abuses seem to have arisen from this usage. Thus, in a Council, held at Aix- la-Chapelle, in the time of Charlemagne, it
"
rantes et servientes et pcenitentiam agentes, secu—ndum quod sibi canonice impositum
"
sit. " Sirmond, Conciliorum," tomus ii. ,
p. 154-
71 St. Oldericus or Uldaricus is venerated
on the 4th day of July.
72 Formerly called Augusta Vindelicorum. 73 Bishop of Nevers and Apostle of the
was decreed,
non sinantur vagari et decep- tiones hominibus agere . . . isti nudi cum ferro, qui dicunt se data sibi poenitentia ire vagantes. Melius videtur, ut,
commiserint, uno in loco permaneant labo-
""
held in particular veneration. Examples of anno Mix. , auctore anonymo, pp. 651 to
this kind are to be found, in Mabillon's
653.
54 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September3.
CHAPTER III.
STATE OF TOUL DURING THE MIDDLE AGES—REPUTED CANONIZATION OF ST. MAUNSEY BY POPE LEO IX. —VARIOUS TRANSLATIONS OF HIS RELICS—THE CATHEDRAL OF ST.
