He also alludes to a pre- tended bishop in Bavaria, who falsely stated, he had been consecrated by the
Boniface refused to believe him, and he is commended for this dis- trust.
Boniface refused to believe him, and he is commended for this dis- trust.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
Meantime, the the Pope wrote to the three newly-appointed bishops, confirming their autho- rity.
That Epistle to St.
Burchard, Bishop of Wurtzburg, is yet extant, and it forbids any but the Sovereign Pontiff's vicar to consecrate bishops.
He wrote a letter, also, to Prince Carloman, but this has not been recovered.
By the authority of Pope Zachary, and with the assistance of the Princes Carloman and Pipin, St. Boniface held divers synods, to establish church discip- line. He reformed various abuses, as well in Germany, as in France. Over this latter kingdom, his influence likewise extended ; for, he was allowed to frame laws and institutes, which providedfor the establishment of morality among the clergy and laity. Prince Carloman issued an invitation, dated April 21st, a. d. 742, for the bishops of Germany to assemble in council. The place where it
8
was held is not known. s However, the following bishops of his kingdom
responded to that invitation, viz. : St. Boniface Archbishop, as also the
86 8? 88 8^ Dadan9° and J bishops Burchard, Reginfrid, Vitta, Willibald, Eddan,9
with their priests. They were asked for counsel, as to how God's holy laws could best be established, and ecclesiastical discipline be enforced ; while measures were to be taken, so that the people should not be led astray, as in times past, through the artifices of false priests. At this council, Canons were framed, to preserve morality among the clergy and laity, while various ques- tions of discipline were discussed and regulated. Boniface wrote an account of what took place at the council to the Pope, when Zachary in turn addressed all the Francs, in approval of what had been there decreed ; and, he promised, if they should observe all that their illustrious bishop urged on them, the pagan people must yield to them in this life, and that after victories here,
2
Much about the same time, a. d. 743, Cuthbert, Archbishop of Canterbury, sentlettersandpresentstoBoniface,throughadeacon,namedCunebert. Inre- turn,oursaintgaveanaccountofwhathadbeendecreedinthecouncil. 93 He
8? of Eichstadt. Bishop
5° of Utrecht. Bishop
they should have hereafter a happy and an endless reward. 9
tome
85 See "A
iv. , p. 94. Dictionary
of Christian
phy," by Dr. William Smith and Henry
Wace, vol. i. , p. 325.
9 See l'Abbe Fleury's "Histoire Eccle-
86
Bishop of Wurtzburg. Bishop of Cologne.
of
Bishop Buraburg.
siastique," tome ix. , liv. xlii. , sect, xxxiv. ,
8 88
?
pp. 281 to 284.
« This is marked
Biogra-
s1 He was Bishop of Strasburg. 2
105,
in the Serarius
1 6 8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[Junes.
adds, likewise, that resolving to guard the Catholic Faith to the end of their lives, as also union and submission to the Roman Church, the metropolitans had asked for the Pallium from the Holy See. This declaration forwarded to Rome was graciously received by the Pope and by the clergy. It had been decreed, that these Canons should be read each year in a council, and that the metropolitans should watch over the other bishops, so that they might care for the people's salvation. They were also to assemble the priests and abbots of their diocese, to recommend the observance of those decrees ; while they were to report each one to the council whatever abuse they found it difficult to correct, as Boniface himself was obliged to do, for the whole province, in virtueofhisoathtothePope. HeencouragesCuthbert,zealouslytoacquit himself of his religious obligations, as afflictions had come upon the Church, and to be ready if necessary to die in defence of its interests. He alludes to
sad abuses prevailing, in consequence of the great number of religious women, travelling as pilgrims from England to Rome, and he complains of the crimes or scandals which resulted in the cities of Lombardy and France, as a conse- quence. ^ Boniface also alludes to certain vanities of dress and luxurious ornaments, which began to appear in the monasteries ; while the violence of
kings and rulers had invaded the rights and possessions of religious, and required from all pastors vigilance and reclamation, in bringing them to a sense of their duty. 95
It is stated, that Pope Gregory III. had permitted Boniface to appoint a certain priest as his successor. Afterwards, the brother of this priest had killed an uncle of the Frankish Duke. According to the barbarous laws prevailing, all the relatives of the slain were permitted to take a like ven- geance on the murderer. Regarding this matter, our saint took care to consult Pope Zachary, who replied, that so long as Boniface lived, a bishop could not be chosen to fill his place, and that such a procedure should be contrary to all just rules. The Pope counsels him during his lifetime, to pray for a worthy successor, while at the hour of his approaching death, he might desig- nate in the presence of all the man chosen by him to succeed, so that he might visit Rome to be consecrated. However, the Pope remarks, that this favour, which should not be granted to any other bishop, was accorded to his extraordinary merits. A layman possessing great authority presented himself before Boniface, and he stated, that he had obtained from Pope Gregory permission to marry the widow of his uncle, who was besides related to him in the third degree of kindred, while even before her marriage, she had made a vow of chastity, and had taken the veil. Complaining to the
" In
of such excuse, to scandalize our ministry. " The Pope replies to this, in the following words : "God forbid we could believe our predecessor ever granted such a permission, since nothing comes from the Holy See, but what is con- formable to the sacred Canons. " With regard to certain superstitions, which were practised on the ist day of January, even near the Church of St. Peter, at Rome,theSovereignPontiffdeclares,thattheyshouldberegardedasdetestable, in the eyes of all Christians; that Pope Gregory his predecessor had condemned
such a mar- riage should be regarded as an abominable incest, but those ignorant and gross people, Germans, Bavarians and Franks, if they find any of these things we forbid practised at Rome, they state it is lawful, and they take advantage
Pope,
in reference to this
case,
Boniface
says,
my country,
collection Epistoloe Bonifacianx.
* St. Boniface had been consulted on the
menacing attitude of the Saracens against the Romans had been removed,
"
matter of undertaking a pilgrimage to Rorfie,
by the Abbess Bugga. However, he re- siastique," tome ix. , liv. xlii. , sect, xxxv. , commends her to wait, at least until the pp. 2S4 to 2S6.
9S See l'Abbe Fleury's
Histoire Eccle-
June 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 169
theminadecree,ofwhichacopyhadbeensenttohimj andthat,whenit was sought to renew them on the day of his inauguration, he had also vigorously suppressed them. Boniface complained of certain immoral bishops
and priests among the Franks, who had been in Rome, and who reported, that the Pope had permitted them to exercise ecclesiastical functions, a matter which he could not suppose possible, as the Canons of the Church con- demned them. In this opinion, he was strengthened by Zachary, who desires himtoapplythecanonicallawsfortheircorrection; ashehadlearned,that the Apostolic See always traditionally observed the Church laws, and the maxims of the Fathers. If any new difficulties should arise, St. Boniface was encouraged to report these, and the Pope promised, he should endeavour to resolve them. He is recommended, to be courageous and to labour for God's sake, as a great reward awaited him, that prayers should be offered by the Pope for his success, that St. Peter should co-operate with him, while Boniface himself was dear to the heart of Zachary, who each day desired to seehim. Thisletterwaswritten,onthe1stofApril,a. d. 743. 96
In conformity with the first Canon of that German council, Prince Carloman —ther to meet at his of or Liftina —now Lestines in
St. Boniface there presided, with a
called ano
Heinault in either the year 743 or 745.
Accordingly,
3rd day
on the
of
a. d. 100 it assembled at Soissons. 101 744,
palace Liptina
bishop namedGeorge, and John Sacellaire, both of these representing the Pope.
Fourcanonsonlywereenactedinthiscouncil. Thefirstoftheseconfirmsthe
former council, the decrees of which, the bishops, counts and governors pro-
mised to observe ; all the clergy receiving the ancient canons, the
abbots and monks preserving the rule of St. Benedict. The second
canon had reference to ecclesiastical goods, and it modified certain
directions given, regarding the restoration which laics were bound to
make. s8 The third canon prohibits adulterous, incestuous and illicit
marriages,andanysaleofChristianslavestothepagans. Thefourthcanonfor-
bids the practice of pagan superstitions, which then prevailed throughout Germany. As the end of those canons are certain formulas, in the old Tudes-
que language, regarding renunciations made in baptism, and a profession of the Faith. These specimens show the differences between the ancient and
themodernGermanlanguages. 99 ThepiousPrincePepinwasdesirousto have a council convened, for that part of France, which was subject to him.
March, Itissupposed,thatSt. Bonifacepresidedoverit. Twenty-threebishopswere
present, with many priests and clerics. Prince Pepin and his nobles also assisted. Ten canons were there enacted. The first of these enjoins the profession of the Nicene Creed, and upholds the decrees of various councils. The renovation of discipline, which had declined under previous rulers, was now restored. The other canons have rules similar to those enacted in the councils held under Carloman, such as the order to assemble in council each year, the prohibition of monks to engage in warfare, for the clergy not to wear secular habits, nor to practise hunting, nor to lodge with women. Unknown bishops or priests should not be entertained ; the laity were to
96 It was the twenty-fourth year after the " que l'eglise et la maison de Dieu soient r—e-
crowning of Constantine, the second of his nrses en pleine possession de leurs biens. " "
reign, after his father's death, and during Guizot's Essais sur l'Histoire de France,"
the Eleventh Indiction.
97 See Rev. John Alzog's "Manual of 99 See l'Abbe Fleury's "Histoire Eccle-
Universal Church History," vol. ii. , Period siastique," tome ix. , liv. xlii. , sect, xxxv. , 2, Epoch i. , Part i. , chap, i. , p. 86. pp. 286 to 288.
98 In reference to the levying and main- I0° The second year of King Childeric's tenance of war, certain exactions were reign.
allowed from ecclesiastical property, which l01 See "Histoire Literaire dela France,' were to be refunded in proper proportion, tome iv. , viii. Siecle, p. 94.
97
Quatiieme Essai, pp. 137, 138.
1 70 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 5.
abstain from unlawful marriages, from debauchery, and from perjury, while they should defend the Church possessions. The bishops were charged to root out all pagan superstitions.
Many serious abuses, which greatly deranged and damaged the purity of social relations, prevailed at this time. Dangers affecting Faith were also to be guarded against. We find one named Elbercht or Aldebert, an im-
102
charged with being addicted to abase love for money, and with seducing many of the people from the ways of truth. io3 The former of these pretended to have miraculous gifts for healing
the sick and infirm. He had certain abandoned persons hired, to pretend they were blind, lame, or feeble, and when these strangers were brought
before the public, he blasphemously pronounced the name of the Holy Trinity, and those reprobates affected to have been suddenly healed. To seduce the people, he had crosses erected in various places. At the council of Soissons, these were ordered to be burned, and Adalbert was condemned as a heretic. 10* Even the pious King Karoloman was almost persuaded, that theimpostorhadmiraculouspowers. Withsomedifficulty,heyieldedtothe adviceofSt. Boniface,whowishedhimtodistrustaltogetherandtoavoidthe man, who was so dangerously anxious to ingratiate himself at court. The king appointed a day for both to dispute together, in his presence, so that he mightjudgebetweentheiroppositearguments. Thenightbeforethismeet- ing took place, Boniface seemed, in a dream, to have wrestled with a bull, whose horns were broken off in the contest. This dream seemed to him an augury of victory. However, his disciples Lul, Sturm, and Megingaud thought it de- rogatory to the dignity of the holy bishop, to engage in dispute with such a
postor, and another called Clemens,
" Greater is he who rules over than he who us,
charlatan. Boniface
possessesthatman. " Inthemeetingwhichfollowed,Aldeber—twasconfused and confuted. los The fate of this man who —
replied
:
subsequent
to have caused great trouble and scandal to the Church in Germany does
not seem to be clearly ascertained. 100 The same council provided for the establishment of two great metropolitan centres, viz. , one at Rheims,107
,oS
over which Abel was placed as Archbishop, and another at Sens,
for which
Ardobert was appointed. It may be supposed, that several Sees had been
vacant, in these two provinces, or some may have been held by usurpers. The
last provision of this council decrees, that whoever disobeyed its canons should be judged and punished by the Prince and by his nobles, as well as by the
p.
102 He
belonged
to the Hibernian nation.
he met some swineherds, who murdered him. Some memorial of this event afterwards hung over the church door of St. Alban, which was situated on a mount, and sur- rounded by a valley, at the south side of the city. It was afterwards known as the New Tower, but, the church had disappeared. The Bollandist editor tells us, however, that a chapel dedicated to St. Boniface had been there erected by the Dean of Mayence, who owned a vineyard near it.
t0"
See Supplement to Willibald, cap. i. , sect. 3, p. 474, and nn. (m, n, o, p).
,07 For thirty-five this See had been years,
afflicted, owing to the expulsion of St. RigO' bert, and the intrusion of Milo, Archbishop of Treves. The latter was probably de- posed in this council.
,oS St. Ebbon ruled here as Archbishop, who probably resigned the See at this time, to lead a solitary life at Arce. He died A. D.
750.
See " Histoire Literaire de la France," tome
iv. , viii. Siecle, p. 105.
103 During the Pontificate of Zachary, they were condemned for adding the names of unknown spirits to the Ecclesiastical prayers, and those angels were called Uriel, Raguol, Tubuel, Inias, Tubuas, Sabaoth and Simiel. See Berti's " Ecclesiastics Historic Br£via- rium," Pars Prima, Octavum Ecclesiaa Secu- lum, cap. iii. , p. 193.
"
"*See l'Abbe Fleury's
siastique," tome ix. , liv. xlii. , sect, xxxvii. ,
288.
I05 It is stated, furthermore, that the king
delivered him to the judgment of Boniface, who had him degraded at Mayence ; he was afterwards taken to Fulda and cast into a dark prison of the monastery. At last, the wretched man escaped, and only brought with him a single covering, when wandering about the windings of the river near Fulda,
Histoire Eccle-
unhappy appears
June 5 . ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 1 7 1
about
in the interests of religion. He asks, that the pallium be sent to the Arch- bishops Abel and Ardobert, as also to Grimont, who was Archbishop of Rouen. HereferstothecondemnationofAdalbertandofClement,both of whom had been cast into prison. The Pope wrote in reply a letter, dated November 5th, 744, asking a reason, as to why Boniface only pressed for the pallium in the case of Grimont. He then takes occasion to refute a calumny, that had been circulated against himself.
He also alludes to a pre- tended bishop in Bavaria, who falsely stated, he had been consecrated by the
Boniface refused to believe him, and he is commended for this dis- trust. Asking for faculties to preach in Bavaria, as given by the former Pope ; Zachary not only confirms but augments such powers for that province, and moreover, for the whole of Gaul, with the further instruction, that Boniface should correct all persons perverting the Faith or the Church Canons.
CHAPTER IV.
FOUNDATION OF FULDA MONASTERY—THE HERETICS ADALBERT AND CLEMENT—POPE ZACHARY WRITES TO ST. BONIFACE RECOMMENDING COLOGNE AS SUITABLE FOR BECOMING A METROPOLITAN CITY—SUBSEQUENT SELECTION OF MAYENCE AND DEPOSITION OF GEWILEIB—ST. BONIFACE CREATED ARCHBISHOP OF MAYENCE AND PRIMATE OF GERMANY—HIS JURISDICTION AND EPISCOPAL APPOINTMENTS— HIS LETTER TO KING ETHELBALD—PEPIN CHOSEN KING OF FRANCE—LETTER OF BONIFACE TO POPE ZACHARY—ST. BONIFACE CROWNS KING PEPIN AT SOISSONS— PEPIN DELIVERS ROME FROM THE LOMBARDS.
It constituted the head of a bishopric, and
Pope.
10^
Boniface took care to inform
the proceedings of this council, while praising the zeal of Carloman and Pepin,
bishops.
Moreover,
Pope Zachary,
x or
St. Boniface commenced * the foundation of the famous Abbey of Fulda, 5 near a river so called, in the midst of a vast forest ; and, ably seconded by a young Bavarian disciple, named Sturm,6 he soon brought the work to a satisfactory state of completion. The monastery was situated, about sixty- three miles, east-north-east from Maintz or Mentz, in a wood or village, called Grapfeld,7 in Buchonia. Soon, this place was destined to become a centre
Inthe aboutthe meantime,
year 742,
744
of religious life for Germany.
8
109 As the assembly had been composed habitants. It was the capital of a Grand
of ecclesiastical and lay representatives, so were temporal added to the spiritual penal-
Duchy, now incorporated with the Empire ofGermany. It was in the circle of the
now to the North German Duchy belonging
Empire.
6 He had previously lived for nine years,
with a few companions, in a desert place, known as Hersfelden.
1 It lay between Hesse and Thuringia.
ties. See 1'Abbe
siastique," tome ix. , liv. xlii. , sect, xxxvii. ,
Upper
arrangement, until the secularization of the ecclesiastical principalities of the German Empire took place, when it was ceded to Orange Nassau, and afterwards to the Grand Duke of Frankfort. In 1814, the principality was divided ; a district, containing 27,000 inhabitants being annexed to Saxe Weimar, while the rest was transferred to the king- dom of Prussia. Afterwards, Prussia ceded her portion to Hesse-Cassel, this Grand
pp. 288, 289. — Chapter iv.
*
Fleury's
See Rev. John Alzog's "Manual of Universal Church History,"
vol. ii. , Period 2, Epoch i. , Part i. , chap, i. , sect. 159, p. 87.
2
were laid during this year. See " Annales
According to Mabillon, its foundations
Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , lib. xxii. , sect, i. , p. 125.
3 See Michaud's "
Ancienne et Moderne," tome v. , p. 5.
4 According to the " Chronicon " of Maria- nus Scottus, in 744.
5 The which has here city,
Biographie
Universelle
grown up around it, contains at present over 8,000 in-
" Histoire Eccle-
Rhine, and a in the old bishopric
2—someaccountshave 3— 746
172 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 5.
it grew to be the capital of a principality. The situation on the River of Fulda, which flows into the Weser, is a very delightful one ; woods, moun- tains, and rich arable lands, surrounding it, with some salt and medical
springs. Sturm was appointed Abbot, over the newly-established monastery of Fulda. There, Boniface placed a few monks,10 who followed the Rule of St. Benedict. " One of the most eloquent Prelates of the Church has set forth the career and the institute of this great Father of Western Monasticism, in
those glowing phrases, which distinguish the productions of that renowned orator. 12 The Patriarch of regular discipline, recognising how difficult it was to guide souls, and yet to accommodate rule according to the various disposi- tions of individuals, regards his Institute, as only a commencement towards perfecting the spiritual life ; while in reality, it is a learned and mysterious abridgment of the Gospel and of Christanity, as also of the maxims and counsels of the Holy Fathers, tending to perfection. ^ The history of St. Benedict and of his foundation on Monte Casino is most interesting. ^ The monks of St. Boniface laboured with their own hands, and did not avail them- selves of servants ; they lived in strict abstinence, using neither flesh, nor wine, nor beer. Owing to the generosity of Carloman/s King of the Franks, and other pious persons, the property at Fulda had been acquired. St. Boniface
dedicatedthatplacetoourLordandSaviourJesusChrist. AlargeCatholic population was settled near the house. It was the custom of Boniface to visit his monastery each year, and to spend there a few days of relaxation and of rest, from his great labours. 10
Presiding over the council of Soissons, St. Boniface re-established the 1
authority of metropolitans, ? weakened in many instances, owing to the con- duct of public disturbers. About this time, a Scot by nationality, named
Clemens, was charged by St. Boniface with delivering false doctrine, by rejecting
8 It has four Catholic churches and a Fran-
ciscan Convent, with three hospitals and a
in Libri Nove ed illustrata di Note e Docu-
menti. " This admirable work, illustrated
gymnasium. A Catholic University was
founded here in 1734. This has now been
converted into a lyceum, with six pro- 1842. The writer had an opportunity
fessors.
3 See the "Popular Encyclopedia; or Conversations Lexicon," vol. iii. , Art. Fulda,
p. 333.
10
Before the death of Abbot Sturm, it is stated by Mabillon, that his monks were four hundred in number.
" For an admirable explanation of the Regie de Saint Baioit, the reader has only to
afforded him, on the night of the 26th of
October, 1886, of reading a considerable portion of this work, during a visit to Monte Casino. Father Tosti, after writing many celebrated works there, has been called by Pope Leo XIII. to the Vatican, where he is entrusted with the charge of supervising the printing and publication of the Vatican Archives. At the date of our visit, he had been spending his vacation as a guest of the Abbot- Bishop of Monte Casino, in the Epis- copal Palace of San Germano, at the toot of the
property and place: "ad quatuor circum
"
liv. iv. , chap.
91210923.
13 Elsewhere, Bossuet declares, in the
"Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti. " he finds all
that is most beautiful in the History of the
Church. See, among his "Lettres Di verses,"
that addressed to Dom Mabillon. who had
presented the Bishop of Meaux, with a copy Universal Church History," vol. ii. , Period of his immortal work. Lettre cccxxv. , 2, Epoch i. , Part i. , chap, i. , sect. 159, writen from Versailles, August 22nd, 1703,
consult Le Comte de Montalembert's Moines d'Occident," tome ii. ,
Les
i. , pp. 42 to 67.
" See " CEuvres
" de Bossuet, tomevii. , Panegyrique de Saint Benoit, cols.
great Monastery,
,s Mabillon states, that he bestowed this
Completes
ibid. , tome xi. , col. 1221.
* 4 This is most admirably set forth, in the
Benedictine Father Dom. Luigi Tosti's
"
p. 87.
1? See
"
Les Petits Bollandistes, Vies des
Storia della Badia di MonteCassino divisa
Saints," tome vi. . ve Jour de Juin, p. 462.
,8 See Mabillon's " Annales Ordinis S.
Benedieti,"tomus ii. , lib. xxii. . sect. ii. , p. 127*
with fine copper-plates, was published at Naples, in Imperial Svo or small Folio, A. n.
millia passuum Bonifacio dedit, —et diplomati "
hac de re facto subscripsit. " Annales
S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , lib. xxii. , sect, i. ,
pp. 125, 126.
,6 "
See Rev. John Alzog's Manual of
June5•] LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. 173 the canons and councils, as aiso, impugning the teaching of St. Jerome, of St.
Augustine
andofSt.
Gregory.
18 He
maintained,
thatitwas fora permissible
Christian to espose the widow of his deceased brother, thus introducing Judaism
into the Church. He had declared, likewise, that when Jesus Christ descended
into hell, he delivered damned souls, even those of unbelievers and idolaters.
Manyothererrorsheheld,touchingthedoctrineofpredestination. Heopenly
declared, that he could continue as a bishop, having grievously sinned against
morality and public decency. At this Synod of Soissons were condemned
theerrorsofClement. Accordingly,inalettertoPopeZachary,containing
those several charges, Boniface requested him to entreat of King Carloman,
to have Adalbert and Clement apprehended and cast into prison, so that no
person should either speak to or communicate with them. Accompanied
by the proofs of his charge, a priest named Dencard was instructed to convey
that letter to Rome. He brought another, likewise, for Gemmulus, arch-
deacon of the Roman Church, and a friend of St. Boniface. The archdeacon
reported the contents of the letter and documents to the Pope, and urged
him to convoke a to the of Boniface. 1 ^ With council, contrary expectations
full approval of the Princes Karoloman and Pippin, Adalbert and Clement
were excommunicated St. by
the " to Apostolic precept,
Boniface, following
deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may
be saved in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. " 20
In the year 745, and on the 31st of October, Pope Zachary had written to our
saint, after the death of Ragenfred, Bishop of Cologne, and suggesting, that it might be converted into a Metropolitan Seat, to which he should be raised, as that city afforded ready access to those nations, where he had preached the Gospel. A commission was given him, at the same time, to seek restitution of ecclesias- tical property, now that the Saracens, Saxons, and Frisians, had been subdued by. the Franks. The Pope signifies, also, he had written to the Princes of that
people, to urge on them the necessity of curbing the extravagance, pecula- tion and other crimes of wicked men, who had presumed to encroach on church rights. It does not seem to be established, that Boniface became Archbishop of Cologne, even for a short time, as soon afterwards, circum- stances
transpired, to. 'change
named had been tion, Agilulf,
to the vacant See of —and he promoted Cologne,
whathadbeen 21 Amanofnobleextrac- proposed.
was
supposed to have been originally founded by Drusus and the Romans 22 constituted a Metropolitan See, for the first Roman province of Germany ;
afterwards, it had been subjected to Cologne, which became the Metropolitan
Seat for the two Germanies. In turn, Worms was created a Metropolitan
See,forthesetwoprovinces,andMayencewasmadeasuffraganSeetoit. In
the time of Karoloman and of his brother Pippin, a bishop, named Geroldus,
or 23 ruled over the See of When the Saxons had dis- Ghewileib, Mayence.
conspicuous
for his
piety
and merits. In
early times, Mayence
a —
city was
turbed the peace of Thuringia, and when its people were obliged to appeal
for ai—d against their foes, Geroldus was required—according
usage tofurnishacontingentformilitaryservice,andwiththis,heappeared in the field, about a. d. 743. 24 During the heat of conflict, the Saxons rushed
19 See 1'Abbe
" Histoire Ecclesi-
tome
Fleury's
France," 2*
ii. ,
xi. , pp. 224, 225.
astique,"tome ix. , liv. xlii. , sect. xlix. ,p. 309.
20 "
1 Corinthians, v. 5.
31 See Mabillon's " Annates Ordinis S.
Benedicti," tomus ii. , lib. xxii. , sect, vi. , p. 128.
"
See "Gazetteer of the World," vol. ix. ,
p. 171.
23
See Henri Martin's "Histoire de
liv.
Such is the date given for this war, in
Annalibus Francorum. "
2* S—erarius has this Distich, in reference to
him
"Ense Geroldus obit Prsesul, dum de-
micat ense :
Perplacet ergo chorum, non adiisse
forum. "
:
to established
i74 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [June5.
in great force upon him, and Geroldus was slain. 2^ After death, he left a son, called Gewelib, 26 or Gervilio, who undertook to rule in his place, over the Church of Mayence. He is said to have lived a moral life, yet was he obliged, also, to take military service, and march against the Saxons. 2?
By the authority of Pope Zachary, and with the assistance of the Princes Carloman and Pipin, St. Boniface held divers synods, to establish church discip- line. He reformed various abuses, as well in Germany, as in France. Over this latter kingdom, his influence likewise extended ; for, he was allowed to frame laws and institutes, which providedfor the establishment of morality among the clergy and laity. Prince Carloman issued an invitation, dated April 21st, a. d. 742, for the bishops of Germany to assemble in council. The place where it
8
was held is not known. s However, the following bishops of his kingdom
responded to that invitation, viz. : St. Boniface Archbishop, as also the
86 8? 88 8^ Dadan9° and J bishops Burchard, Reginfrid, Vitta, Willibald, Eddan,9
with their priests. They were asked for counsel, as to how God's holy laws could best be established, and ecclesiastical discipline be enforced ; while measures were to be taken, so that the people should not be led astray, as in times past, through the artifices of false priests. At this council, Canons were framed, to preserve morality among the clergy and laity, while various ques- tions of discipline were discussed and regulated. Boniface wrote an account of what took place at the council to the Pope, when Zachary in turn addressed all the Francs, in approval of what had been there decreed ; and, he promised, if they should observe all that their illustrious bishop urged on them, the pagan people must yield to them in this life, and that after victories here,
2
Much about the same time, a. d. 743, Cuthbert, Archbishop of Canterbury, sentlettersandpresentstoBoniface,throughadeacon,namedCunebert. Inre- turn,oursaintgaveanaccountofwhathadbeendecreedinthecouncil. 93 He
8? of Eichstadt. Bishop
5° of Utrecht. Bishop
they should have hereafter a happy and an endless reward. 9
tome
85 See "A
iv. , p. 94. Dictionary
of Christian
phy," by Dr. William Smith and Henry
Wace, vol. i. , p. 325.
9 See l'Abbe Fleury's "Histoire Eccle-
86
Bishop of Wurtzburg. Bishop of Cologne.
of
Bishop Buraburg.
siastique," tome ix. , liv. xlii. , sect, xxxiv. ,
8 88
?
pp. 281 to 284.
« This is marked
Biogra-
s1 He was Bishop of Strasburg. 2
105,
in the Serarius
1 6 8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[Junes.
adds, likewise, that resolving to guard the Catholic Faith to the end of their lives, as also union and submission to the Roman Church, the metropolitans had asked for the Pallium from the Holy See. This declaration forwarded to Rome was graciously received by the Pope and by the clergy. It had been decreed, that these Canons should be read each year in a council, and that the metropolitans should watch over the other bishops, so that they might care for the people's salvation. They were also to assemble the priests and abbots of their diocese, to recommend the observance of those decrees ; while they were to report each one to the council whatever abuse they found it difficult to correct, as Boniface himself was obliged to do, for the whole province, in virtueofhisoathtothePope. HeencouragesCuthbert,zealouslytoacquit himself of his religious obligations, as afflictions had come upon the Church, and to be ready if necessary to die in defence of its interests. He alludes to
sad abuses prevailing, in consequence of the great number of religious women, travelling as pilgrims from England to Rome, and he complains of the crimes or scandals which resulted in the cities of Lombardy and France, as a conse- quence. ^ Boniface also alludes to certain vanities of dress and luxurious ornaments, which began to appear in the monasteries ; while the violence of
kings and rulers had invaded the rights and possessions of religious, and required from all pastors vigilance and reclamation, in bringing them to a sense of their duty. 95
It is stated, that Pope Gregory III. had permitted Boniface to appoint a certain priest as his successor. Afterwards, the brother of this priest had killed an uncle of the Frankish Duke. According to the barbarous laws prevailing, all the relatives of the slain were permitted to take a like ven- geance on the murderer. Regarding this matter, our saint took care to consult Pope Zachary, who replied, that so long as Boniface lived, a bishop could not be chosen to fill his place, and that such a procedure should be contrary to all just rules. The Pope counsels him during his lifetime, to pray for a worthy successor, while at the hour of his approaching death, he might desig- nate in the presence of all the man chosen by him to succeed, so that he might visit Rome to be consecrated. However, the Pope remarks, that this favour, which should not be granted to any other bishop, was accorded to his extraordinary merits. A layman possessing great authority presented himself before Boniface, and he stated, that he had obtained from Pope Gregory permission to marry the widow of his uncle, who was besides related to him in the third degree of kindred, while even before her marriage, she had made a vow of chastity, and had taken the veil. Complaining to the
" In
of such excuse, to scandalize our ministry. " The Pope replies to this, in the following words : "God forbid we could believe our predecessor ever granted such a permission, since nothing comes from the Holy See, but what is con- formable to the sacred Canons. " With regard to certain superstitions, which were practised on the ist day of January, even near the Church of St. Peter, at Rome,theSovereignPontiffdeclares,thattheyshouldberegardedasdetestable, in the eyes of all Christians; that Pope Gregory his predecessor had condemned
such a mar- riage should be regarded as an abominable incest, but those ignorant and gross people, Germans, Bavarians and Franks, if they find any of these things we forbid practised at Rome, they state it is lawful, and they take advantage
Pope,
in reference to this
case,
Boniface
says,
my country,
collection Epistoloe Bonifacianx.
* St. Boniface had been consulted on the
menacing attitude of the Saracens against the Romans had been removed,
"
matter of undertaking a pilgrimage to Rorfie,
by the Abbess Bugga. However, he re- siastique," tome ix. , liv. xlii. , sect, xxxv. , commends her to wait, at least until the pp. 2S4 to 2S6.
9S See l'Abbe Fleury's
Histoire Eccle-
June 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 169
theminadecree,ofwhichacopyhadbeensenttohimj andthat,whenit was sought to renew them on the day of his inauguration, he had also vigorously suppressed them. Boniface complained of certain immoral bishops
and priests among the Franks, who had been in Rome, and who reported, that the Pope had permitted them to exercise ecclesiastical functions, a matter which he could not suppose possible, as the Canons of the Church con- demned them. In this opinion, he was strengthened by Zachary, who desires himtoapplythecanonicallawsfortheircorrection; ashehadlearned,that the Apostolic See always traditionally observed the Church laws, and the maxims of the Fathers. If any new difficulties should arise, St. Boniface was encouraged to report these, and the Pope promised, he should endeavour to resolve them. He is recommended, to be courageous and to labour for God's sake, as a great reward awaited him, that prayers should be offered by the Pope for his success, that St. Peter should co-operate with him, while Boniface himself was dear to the heart of Zachary, who each day desired to seehim. Thisletterwaswritten,onthe1stofApril,a. d. 743. 96
In conformity with the first Canon of that German council, Prince Carloman —ther to meet at his of or Liftina —now Lestines in
St. Boniface there presided, with a
called ano
Heinault in either the year 743 or 745.
Accordingly,
3rd day
on the
of
a. d. 100 it assembled at Soissons. 101 744,
palace Liptina
bishop namedGeorge, and John Sacellaire, both of these representing the Pope.
Fourcanonsonlywereenactedinthiscouncil. Thefirstoftheseconfirmsthe
former council, the decrees of which, the bishops, counts and governors pro-
mised to observe ; all the clergy receiving the ancient canons, the
abbots and monks preserving the rule of St. Benedict. The second
canon had reference to ecclesiastical goods, and it modified certain
directions given, regarding the restoration which laics were bound to
make. s8 The third canon prohibits adulterous, incestuous and illicit
marriages,andanysaleofChristianslavestothepagans. Thefourthcanonfor-
bids the practice of pagan superstitions, which then prevailed throughout Germany. As the end of those canons are certain formulas, in the old Tudes-
que language, regarding renunciations made in baptism, and a profession of the Faith. These specimens show the differences between the ancient and
themodernGermanlanguages. 99 ThepiousPrincePepinwasdesirousto have a council convened, for that part of France, which was subject to him.
March, Itissupposed,thatSt. Bonifacepresidedoverit. Twenty-threebishopswere
present, with many priests and clerics. Prince Pepin and his nobles also assisted. Ten canons were there enacted. The first of these enjoins the profession of the Nicene Creed, and upholds the decrees of various councils. The renovation of discipline, which had declined under previous rulers, was now restored. The other canons have rules similar to those enacted in the councils held under Carloman, such as the order to assemble in council each year, the prohibition of monks to engage in warfare, for the clergy not to wear secular habits, nor to practise hunting, nor to lodge with women. Unknown bishops or priests should not be entertained ; the laity were to
96 It was the twenty-fourth year after the " que l'eglise et la maison de Dieu soient r—e-
crowning of Constantine, the second of his nrses en pleine possession de leurs biens. " "
reign, after his father's death, and during Guizot's Essais sur l'Histoire de France,"
the Eleventh Indiction.
97 See Rev. John Alzog's "Manual of 99 See l'Abbe Fleury's "Histoire Eccle-
Universal Church History," vol. ii. , Period siastique," tome ix. , liv. xlii. , sect, xxxv. , 2, Epoch i. , Part i. , chap, i. , p. 86. pp. 286 to 288.
98 In reference to the levying and main- I0° The second year of King Childeric's tenance of war, certain exactions were reign.
allowed from ecclesiastical property, which l01 See "Histoire Literaire dela France,' were to be refunded in proper proportion, tome iv. , viii. Siecle, p. 94.
97
Quatiieme Essai, pp. 137, 138.
1 70 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 5.
abstain from unlawful marriages, from debauchery, and from perjury, while they should defend the Church possessions. The bishops were charged to root out all pagan superstitions.
Many serious abuses, which greatly deranged and damaged the purity of social relations, prevailed at this time. Dangers affecting Faith were also to be guarded against. We find one named Elbercht or Aldebert, an im-
102
charged with being addicted to abase love for money, and with seducing many of the people from the ways of truth. io3 The former of these pretended to have miraculous gifts for healing
the sick and infirm. He had certain abandoned persons hired, to pretend they were blind, lame, or feeble, and when these strangers were brought
before the public, he blasphemously pronounced the name of the Holy Trinity, and those reprobates affected to have been suddenly healed. To seduce the people, he had crosses erected in various places. At the council of Soissons, these were ordered to be burned, and Adalbert was condemned as a heretic. 10* Even the pious King Karoloman was almost persuaded, that theimpostorhadmiraculouspowers. Withsomedifficulty,heyieldedtothe adviceofSt. Boniface,whowishedhimtodistrustaltogetherandtoavoidthe man, who was so dangerously anxious to ingratiate himself at court. The king appointed a day for both to dispute together, in his presence, so that he mightjudgebetweentheiroppositearguments. Thenightbeforethismeet- ing took place, Boniface seemed, in a dream, to have wrestled with a bull, whose horns were broken off in the contest. This dream seemed to him an augury of victory. However, his disciples Lul, Sturm, and Megingaud thought it de- rogatory to the dignity of the holy bishop, to engage in dispute with such a
postor, and another called Clemens,
" Greater is he who rules over than he who us,
charlatan. Boniface
possessesthatman. " Inthemeetingwhichfollowed,Aldeber—twasconfused and confuted. los The fate of this man who —
replied
:
subsequent
to have caused great trouble and scandal to the Church in Germany does
not seem to be clearly ascertained. 100 The same council provided for the establishment of two great metropolitan centres, viz. , one at Rheims,107
,oS
over which Abel was placed as Archbishop, and another at Sens,
for which
Ardobert was appointed. It may be supposed, that several Sees had been
vacant, in these two provinces, or some may have been held by usurpers. The
last provision of this council decrees, that whoever disobeyed its canons should be judged and punished by the Prince and by his nobles, as well as by the
p.
102 He
belonged
to the Hibernian nation.
he met some swineherds, who murdered him. Some memorial of this event afterwards hung over the church door of St. Alban, which was situated on a mount, and sur- rounded by a valley, at the south side of the city. It was afterwards known as the New Tower, but, the church had disappeared. The Bollandist editor tells us, however, that a chapel dedicated to St. Boniface had been there erected by the Dean of Mayence, who owned a vineyard near it.
t0"
See Supplement to Willibald, cap. i. , sect. 3, p. 474, and nn. (m, n, o, p).
,07 For thirty-five this See had been years,
afflicted, owing to the expulsion of St. RigO' bert, and the intrusion of Milo, Archbishop of Treves. The latter was probably de- posed in this council.
,oS St. Ebbon ruled here as Archbishop, who probably resigned the See at this time, to lead a solitary life at Arce. He died A. D.
750.
See " Histoire Literaire de la France," tome
iv. , viii. Siecle, p. 105.
103 During the Pontificate of Zachary, they were condemned for adding the names of unknown spirits to the Ecclesiastical prayers, and those angels were called Uriel, Raguol, Tubuel, Inias, Tubuas, Sabaoth and Simiel. See Berti's " Ecclesiastics Historic Br£via- rium," Pars Prima, Octavum Ecclesiaa Secu- lum, cap. iii. , p. 193.
"
"*See l'Abbe Fleury's
siastique," tome ix. , liv. xlii. , sect, xxxvii. ,
288.
I05 It is stated, furthermore, that the king
delivered him to the judgment of Boniface, who had him degraded at Mayence ; he was afterwards taken to Fulda and cast into a dark prison of the monastery. At last, the wretched man escaped, and only brought with him a single covering, when wandering about the windings of the river near Fulda,
Histoire Eccle-
unhappy appears
June 5 . ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 1 7 1
about
in the interests of religion. He asks, that the pallium be sent to the Arch- bishops Abel and Ardobert, as also to Grimont, who was Archbishop of Rouen. HereferstothecondemnationofAdalbertandofClement,both of whom had been cast into prison. The Pope wrote in reply a letter, dated November 5th, 744, asking a reason, as to why Boniface only pressed for the pallium in the case of Grimont. He then takes occasion to refute a calumny, that had been circulated against himself.
He also alludes to a pre- tended bishop in Bavaria, who falsely stated, he had been consecrated by the
Boniface refused to believe him, and he is commended for this dis- trust. Asking for faculties to preach in Bavaria, as given by the former Pope ; Zachary not only confirms but augments such powers for that province, and moreover, for the whole of Gaul, with the further instruction, that Boniface should correct all persons perverting the Faith or the Church Canons.
CHAPTER IV.
FOUNDATION OF FULDA MONASTERY—THE HERETICS ADALBERT AND CLEMENT—POPE ZACHARY WRITES TO ST. BONIFACE RECOMMENDING COLOGNE AS SUITABLE FOR BECOMING A METROPOLITAN CITY—SUBSEQUENT SELECTION OF MAYENCE AND DEPOSITION OF GEWILEIB—ST. BONIFACE CREATED ARCHBISHOP OF MAYENCE AND PRIMATE OF GERMANY—HIS JURISDICTION AND EPISCOPAL APPOINTMENTS— HIS LETTER TO KING ETHELBALD—PEPIN CHOSEN KING OF FRANCE—LETTER OF BONIFACE TO POPE ZACHARY—ST. BONIFACE CROWNS KING PEPIN AT SOISSONS— PEPIN DELIVERS ROME FROM THE LOMBARDS.
It constituted the head of a bishopric, and
Pope.
10^
Boniface took care to inform
the proceedings of this council, while praising the zeal of Carloman and Pepin,
bishops.
Moreover,
Pope Zachary,
x or
St. Boniface commenced * the foundation of the famous Abbey of Fulda, 5 near a river so called, in the midst of a vast forest ; and, ably seconded by a young Bavarian disciple, named Sturm,6 he soon brought the work to a satisfactory state of completion. The monastery was situated, about sixty- three miles, east-north-east from Maintz or Mentz, in a wood or village, called Grapfeld,7 in Buchonia. Soon, this place was destined to become a centre
Inthe aboutthe meantime,
year 742,
744
of religious life for Germany.
8
109 As the assembly had been composed habitants. It was the capital of a Grand
of ecclesiastical and lay representatives, so were temporal added to the spiritual penal-
Duchy, now incorporated with the Empire ofGermany. It was in the circle of the
now to the North German Duchy belonging
Empire.
6 He had previously lived for nine years,
with a few companions, in a desert place, known as Hersfelden.
1 It lay between Hesse and Thuringia.
ties. See 1'Abbe
siastique," tome ix. , liv. xlii. , sect, xxxvii. ,
Upper
arrangement, until the secularization of the ecclesiastical principalities of the German Empire took place, when it was ceded to Orange Nassau, and afterwards to the Grand Duke of Frankfort. In 1814, the principality was divided ; a district, containing 27,000 inhabitants being annexed to Saxe Weimar, while the rest was transferred to the king- dom of Prussia. Afterwards, Prussia ceded her portion to Hesse-Cassel, this Grand
pp. 288, 289. — Chapter iv.
*
Fleury's
See Rev. John Alzog's "Manual of Universal Church History,"
vol. ii. , Period 2, Epoch i. , Part i. , chap, i. , sect. 159, p. 87.
2
were laid during this year. See " Annales
According to Mabillon, its foundations
Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , lib. xxii. , sect, i. , p. 125.
3 See Michaud's "
Ancienne et Moderne," tome v. , p. 5.
4 According to the " Chronicon " of Maria- nus Scottus, in 744.
5 The which has here city,
Biographie
Universelle
grown up around it, contains at present over 8,000 in-
" Histoire Eccle-
Rhine, and a in the old bishopric
2—someaccountshave 3— 746
172 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 5.
it grew to be the capital of a principality. The situation on the River of Fulda, which flows into the Weser, is a very delightful one ; woods, moun- tains, and rich arable lands, surrounding it, with some salt and medical
springs. Sturm was appointed Abbot, over the newly-established monastery of Fulda. There, Boniface placed a few monks,10 who followed the Rule of St. Benedict. " One of the most eloquent Prelates of the Church has set forth the career and the institute of this great Father of Western Monasticism, in
those glowing phrases, which distinguish the productions of that renowned orator. 12 The Patriarch of regular discipline, recognising how difficult it was to guide souls, and yet to accommodate rule according to the various disposi- tions of individuals, regards his Institute, as only a commencement towards perfecting the spiritual life ; while in reality, it is a learned and mysterious abridgment of the Gospel and of Christanity, as also of the maxims and counsels of the Holy Fathers, tending to perfection. ^ The history of St. Benedict and of his foundation on Monte Casino is most interesting. ^ The monks of St. Boniface laboured with their own hands, and did not avail them- selves of servants ; they lived in strict abstinence, using neither flesh, nor wine, nor beer. Owing to the generosity of Carloman/s King of the Franks, and other pious persons, the property at Fulda had been acquired. St. Boniface
dedicatedthatplacetoourLordandSaviourJesusChrist. AlargeCatholic population was settled near the house. It was the custom of Boniface to visit his monastery each year, and to spend there a few days of relaxation and of rest, from his great labours. 10
Presiding over the council of Soissons, St. Boniface re-established the 1
authority of metropolitans, ? weakened in many instances, owing to the con- duct of public disturbers. About this time, a Scot by nationality, named
Clemens, was charged by St. Boniface with delivering false doctrine, by rejecting
8 It has four Catholic churches and a Fran-
ciscan Convent, with three hospitals and a
in Libri Nove ed illustrata di Note e Docu-
menti. " This admirable work, illustrated
gymnasium. A Catholic University was
founded here in 1734. This has now been
converted into a lyceum, with six pro- 1842. The writer had an opportunity
fessors.
3 See the "Popular Encyclopedia; or Conversations Lexicon," vol. iii. , Art. Fulda,
p. 333.
10
Before the death of Abbot Sturm, it is stated by Mabillon, that his monks were four hundred in number.
" For an admirable explanation of the Regie de Saint Baioit, the reader has only to
afforded him, on the night of the 26th of
October, 1886, of reading a considerable portion of this work, during a visit to Monte Casino. Father Tosti, after writing many celebrated works there, has been called by Pope Leo XIII. to the Vatican, where he is entrusted with the charge of supervising the printing and publication of the Vatican Archives. At the date of our visit, he had been spending his vacation as a guest of the Abbot- Bishop of Monte Casino, in the Epis- copal Palace of San Germano, at the toot of the
property and place: "ad quatuor circum
"
liv. iv. , chap.
91210923.
13 Elsewhere, Bossuet declares, in the
"Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti. " he finds all
that is most beautiful in the History of the
Church. See, among his "Lettres Di verses,"
that addressed to Dom Mabillon. who had
presented the Bishop of Meaux, with a copy Universal Church History," vol. ii. , Period of his immortal work. Lettre cccxxv. , 2, Epoch i. , Part i. , chap, i. , sect. 159, writen from Versailles, August 22nd, 1703,
consult Le Comte de Montalembert's Moines d'Occident," tome ii. ,
Les
i. , pp. 42 to 67.
" See " CEuvres
" de Bossuet, tomevii. , Panegyrique de Saint Benoit, cols.
great Monastery,
,s Mabillon states, that he bestowed this
Completes
ibid. , tome xi. , col. 1221.
* 4 This is most admirably set forth, in the
Benedictine Father Dom. Luigi Tosti's
"
p. 87.
1? See
"
Les Petits Bollandistes, Vies des
Storia della Badia di MonteCassino divisa
Saints," tome vi. . ve Jour de Juin, p. 462.
,8 See Mabillon's " Annales Ordinis S.
Benedieti,"tomus ii. , lib. xxii. . sect. ii. , p. 127*
with fine copper-plates, was published at Naples, in Imperial Svo or small Folio, A. n.
millia passuum Bonifacio dedit, —et diplomati "
hac de re facto subscripsit. " Annales
S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , lib. xxii. , sect, i. ,
pp. 125, 126.
,6 "
See Rev. John Alzog's Manual of
June5•] LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. 173 the canons and councils, as aiso, impugning the teaching of St. Jerome, of St.
Augustine
andofSt.
Gregory.
18 He
maintained,
thatitwas fora permissible
Christian to espose the widow of his deceased brother, thus introducing Judaism
into the Church. He had declared, likewise, that when Jesus Christ descended
into hell, he delivered damned souls, even those of unbelievers and idolaters.
Manyothererrorsheheld,touchingthedoctrineofpredestination. Heopenly
declared, that he could continue as a bishop, having grievously sinned against
morality and public decency. At this Synod of Soissons were condemned
theerrorsofClement. Accordingly,inalettertoPopeZachary,containing
those several charges, Boniface requested him to entreat of King Carloman,
to have Adalbert and Clement apprehended and cast into prison, so that no
person should either speak to or communicate with them. Accompanied
by the proofs of his charge, a priest named Dencard was instructed to convey
that letter to Rome. He brought another, likewise, for Gemmulus, arch-
deacon of the Roman Church, and a friend of St. Boniface. The archdeacon
reported the contents of the letter and documents to the Pope, and urged
him to convoke a to the of Boniface. 1 ^ With council, contrary expectations
full approval of the Princes Karoloman and Pippin, Adalbert and Clement
were excommunicated St. by
the " to Apostolic precept,
Boniface, following
deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may
be saved in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. " 20
In the year 745, and on the 31st of October, Pope Zachary had written to our
saint, after the death of Ragenfred, Bishop of Cologne, and suggesting, that it might be converted into a Metropolitan Seat, to which he should be raised, as that city afforded ready access to those nations, where he had preached the Gospel. A commission was given him, at the same time, to seek restitution of ecclesias- tical property, now that the Saracens, Saxons, and Frisians, had been subdued by. the Franks. The Pope signifies, also, he had written to the Princes of that
people, to urge on them the necessity of curbing the extravagance, pecula- tion and other crimes of wicked men, who had presumed to encroach on church rights. It does not seem to be established, that Boniface became Archbishop of Cologne, even for a short time, as soon afterwards, circum- stances
transpired, to. 'change
named had been tion, Agilulf,
to the vacant See of —and he promoted Cologne,
whathadbeen 21 Amanofnobleextrac- proposed.
was
supposed to have been originally founded by Drusus and the Romans 22 constituted a Metropolitan See, for the first Roman province of Germany ;
afterwards, it had been subjected to Cologne, which became the Metropolitan
Seat for the two Germanies. In turn, Worms was created a Metropolitan
See,forthesetwoprovinces,andMayencewasmadeasuffraganSeetoit. In
the time of Karoloman and of his brother Pippin, a bishop, named Geroldus,
or 23 ruled over the See of When the Saxons had dis- Ghewileib, Mayence.
conspicuous
for his
piety
and merits. In
early times, Mayence
a —
city was
turbed the peace of Thuringia, and when its people were obliged to appeal
for ai—d against their foes, Geroldus was required—according
usage tofurnishacontingentformilitaryservice,andwiththis,heappeared in the field, about a. d. 743. 24 During the heat of conflict, the Saxons rushed
19 See 1'Abbe
" Histoire Ecclesi-
tome
Fleury's
France," 2*
ii. ,
xi. , pp. 224, 225.
astique,"tome ix. , liv. xlii. , sect. xlix. ,p. 309.
20 "
1 Corinthians, v. 5.
31 See Mabillon's " Annates Ordinis S.
Benedicti," tomus ii. , lib. xxii. , sect, vi. , p. 128.
"
See "Gazetteer of the World," vol. ix. ,
p. 171.
23
See Henri Martin's "Histoire de
liv.
Such is the date given for this war, in
Annalibus Francorum. "
2* S—erarius has this Distich, in reference to
him
"Ense Geroldus obit Prsesul, dum de-
micat ense :
Perplacet ergo chorum, non adiisse
forum. "
:
to established
i74 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [June5.
in great force upon him, and Geroldus was slain. 2^ After death, he left a son, called Gewelib, 26 or Gervilio, who undertook to rule in his place, over the Church of Mayence. He is said to have lived a moral life, yet was he obliged, also, to take military service, and march against the Saxons. 2?
