The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity

Aetherius of Lyon, Life of Nicetius

(1). Quotiens sanctorum gesta virorum lectionis relatio manifesta commemorat, et illis quorum sollempnitatem conventus expetierit populorum debitus honor persolvitur, et audientium devotio ad benefaciendi studium provocatur.

(2). Sanctus itaque Nicecius Lucdunensis urbis episcopus, cuius depositionis festivitatem annis singulis amor populi fideli devotione concelebrat, ab infantia relegionis cultum non minus servavit in sensu, quam suscepit in habitu; in quo iuxta quod amore virtutis aucmentum aetas temporibus ampliata praestitit, ita magis sanctitatis praemium Deus auctor infudit.

(3). Quem vir beatissimus Agricola Cavilonensis urbis episcopus ad presbiterii provexit offitium. Cuius fama dum certatim bonis operibus exornata cresceret, et sacerdotalis in illo dignitas meritorum splendore floreret, a sancto ac venerabili Lucdunensi pontifice, nomine vel opere Sacerdote, ad pastoralem gradum dinoscitur fuisse praelectus, ut cum ille, impleto vite termino, transitum acciperet, successor eius esse deberet. Quod dispositione divina succedente tempore universe plebis consensus libenter expetiit, et benivolentia principis nutu divino cum gratulatione concessit. Qui dum in omnibus se imperio regis divini committeret, dignitatem ipsam nec ausus est latebris effugere nec praemiis voluit comparare. In quo culmine constitutus, et serpentis astutiam tenuit et columbae simplicitate implevit.

(4). Quotienscumque vero honeste conversationis homines ad civitatem eius venerunt, mansiones illis in vicinitate cubiculi sui studiosa sollicitudine praeparare praecepit, ad quos, omnibus offitiis recedentibus, secretius nocturnis horis accedens, pedes eorum fideli famulatu diligenter lavare studuit, ut apostolica praecepta compleret nec de minoribus rebus neglegens existeret, cui maiora posse complere gratia divina prestiterat, que suis operibus iugiter ostendebat.

(5). Nocturni vel diurni temporis cursus, quos in divinis offitiis institutio vetusta sacre relegionis, fixis terminis, certa lege constituit, ita iugi semper psallendi studio geminavit, ut numquam de ore vel de corde suo meditatio divine legis abesset. Et si forsitan, dum munia ipsa persolveret, pro occurrentium assiduitate vel occupatio oborta provenit, sic velut a superfluo responsum unde appellatus est reddidit, ut intrinsecus quod agebat offitium perageret. Unde interdum a quibuscumque ignorantibus putabatur esse sensu tepidus, qui spiritali manebat fervore succensus. Sic etiam indubitanter atque ambienter consurgere iugiter ad matutinos studuit, ut exordia ipsius offitii semper ipse cepisset. Ita elemosinam prumtissima voluntate ditissimus hilari est conlatione largitus, ut quicquid pauperibus contulit, hoc se adquirere iudicasset.

(6). Quotiens aestatis tempore contigit desperatio fructuum per siccitatis adventum, cum tanta conpunctione, unanimiter favente populo, celebrare letanias studuit, ut ilico ubertas pluviae succurrisset.

(7). Cumque vero hyemis tempore memoratus sanctus antistes commendata sibi, item sanctae ecclesiae praedia in partibus Provintiae visitaturus accederet, eum in villa cuiusdam inlustris viri Flavii nomine tunc temporis ad mansionem Alacarnum, sole iam in vesperam declinante, ut oportunitas contulerat, advenire, ibique nocte silenti quiescendo resumere contigit. Qui cum post divine orationis refectionem vespertinum sacrifitium peregisset, allatus est ante pedes ipsius quidam a parentibus ligatus prae nimio furore in cathedra puer daemonium habens. Cuius famam per sanctissimos viros Catafronium et Eustasium presbiteros conperimus, ut dicerent, se vidisse tanto inibi memoratum puerum freno demonum coartatum, ita actum fuisse, ut cervice poenitus cum collo retorta, dorsique spine miseranda facies simul tristis adclinis hereret.

(8). Quem sanctus vir ut ante suis genibus cum nimio lamento parentum proiectum cerneret, et oratione solita intra sacra oratorii septa peracta benedictoque olei sancto licore, signo crucis cum invocato Christi nomine peruncxisset, ilico demonem ab obsesso corpore effugavit, membrisque debilibus in sua conpage reformatis, ad remeandum domum parentibus reddidit sanum. Qui etiam post temporum intervalla de salute sibimet conlata cum suis congratulans, Musturnaco in agro sanctae ecclesiae Lugdunensis ad beatum Nicetium devotus cum propinquis revertens ad medicum iam curatus, Christo grates sanctoque simul pontifici retulerunt.

(9). Postquam vero transitum vir meritis dignum accepit, insidiante adversario humani generis, contigit, ut maximam partem Lugduni civitatis, consurgentibus flammis, gravissimus incendii ignis exureret. Ubi dum undique praecipitantes populorum cunei instanter confluerent, vox subito praeclara personans concurrentis vulgi aures implevit, dicens, sanctum Nicetium in ecclesiae domum corporaliter advenisse vel duabus caecis feminis, restaurato lumine, salutem pristinam contulisse. Tunc ilico vires populi sonus ille restituit, qui adventum sepulti antestitis nuntiavit. Nec mirum est, quod beatus athleta spiritali studuit virtute defendere, ubi corporaliter visus fuerat habitasse, nec sanctificatio exinde ab eodem indulta discesserat, ubi etiam post exitum habitabat.

(10). Quidam igitur fidei ardore succensus pulverem ab eius tumulo pro quibuscumque remediis ad praesidium suum reverenter collectum portavit, quem quotiens obiectione fideli, adveniente impetu tempestatis, ostendit, grandinis rigor in aquam resolvitur, et duritia lapidum in liquorem laticis commutatur.

(11). Aliquis itaque decem solidos ad quodam creditore absque cunctatione, fidutia karitatis interveniente, susceperat, quos cum perfidie vellet causa negare, ad sepulcrum beatissimi antestitis, quod eos non suscepisset, perierare disposuit. Ubi statim omnium membrorum vigore deceptus, sicut corde cecus venerat, ita oculis cecatus stabat. Tunc infelix poenitentia sera confusus quae mutuaverat coepit offerre, orationem cum lacrimis fundens, ut visum reciperet. Ille vero sacratissimus pastor, qui meritis et pietate vivebat, cum reliquo robore corporis visum reddidit deprecanti, et sicut pro iustitia terruit perfidum, ita pro misericordia exaudivit afflictum.

(12). Quidam similiter vesani spiritus infestatione repletus ad sepulchrum eius vix tandem sub custodia grandi pervenit; ubi dum tanti furoris fuisset vexatione baccatus, spiritum visus est amisisse. Cui cum sepulture locus pararetur, eo quod nocte vel die universo calore vite deceptus iacebat, loetifero sopore conpressus exanimis, nutu divino cuidam de observantibus ad memoriam rediit, ut per frontem eius, os vel aures de oleo cecindelis, qui ad sepulturam erat beati pontificis, fideliter crucis signacula faceret, censens, quod qui virtutes reliquas operari consueverat, forsitan et mortuum suscitaret. Qui dum paulatim animatus occulto misterio revivisceret, confestim, Christo propitiante, surrexit.

(13). Quodam namque tempore septem rei ceco carcere constituti, non minus constricti vinculis ferreis, quam afflicti, apud Viennam urbem per diuturnam custodiam tenebantur. Ex quibus unus in visione sanctum Nicecium videre promeruit, quasi quod argumenta, quibus constringebantur adstricti, cum suo baculo tetigisset: statim vigor est ferri confractus, et obserata ostia patuerunt. Qui ad ecclesiam ilico petierunt refugium libere, sanctis intercessionibus liberati.

(14). Set et in basilica, quo eius corpus sacratissimum fidelium devotione veneratur, quidam culpa noxius publice praeceptionis imperio cum alio ferreis est nexibus obligatus. Sed cum ad sepulchrum eius inpeditis gressibus advenissent, ligaminum fracta conpago crepuit, et reos publicos occulta virtus absolvit, quod reliquis vicibus simili est misterio operatus.

(15). Qui licet, antequam de hoc mundo ad celestia regna migraret, unde iam aliquas nos constitit praedixisse, plurimas virtutes exercuit, etiam latenter demonia ab obsessis corporibus effugavit; sed postquam vir sanctus ab huius saeculi luce migravit, tunc se potius virtute addita esse viventem ostendit, dum iugiter atque indesinenter populo teste clodis gressum, cecis visum, demoniacis remedium, adtractis vigorem integrum omnibusque egrotantibus sanitatis remedium confert, quos ad sepulcrum eius integritas fidei certa perducit.

(16). Unde diversa in eius praeconio multiplici poterant relatione narrari, nisi quod minime necesse est, ut multifaria sermonum dictio per singula disserat, quod eius semper operatio spiritalibus mysteriis manifestat. Et quantum deinceps cursus temporum solvitur, tanto amplius multiplicatis operibus eius virtus augetur.

(17). Cuius sanctissima obtinere possit oratio, ut sicut hanc urbem munivit praesidio sui corporis, ita salutem animarum et corporum conferat universis. Et pro beatissimo antestite Etherio suis precibus intercedat, qui sancto laboravit studio, qualiter vita eius, que etiam post obitum florebat assiduitate operis, panderetur offitio lectionis. Sed non inmerito eius memoriam dilectionis studio sollempniter excolit, qui illum sibi successorem esse secundo loco praedixit, dum de eius conversatione gauderet. Quem licet ilico post eius transitum devotio populi Lugdunensis ad ipsius pontificii gradum ambienter expetiit; sed quod tunc prescia dispositio principis denegavit, eius successore defuncto, indulgere non distulit: hac sic quod sacri antistitis sermo, dum maneret in corpore, prodidit, hoc clementissimi regis cordi Deus auctor infudit; quo etiam obtinente, factum est, ut qui fuit actenus pater patriae, nunc esset ecclesie. Pro qua re orandus Deus est, ut cuius venerantes patrocinium unanimi devotione et sollempnitatem ambientes excolimus, eius semper intercessionibus adiuvemur vel congruis muniamur auxiliis, etsi doceri non meremur exemplis, regnante domino nostro Iesu Christo cum Patre et Spiritu sancto in secula seculorum. Amen.


'(1). Whenever a public reading calls to mind the deeds of holy men, both due honour is paid to those whose celebration the assembled people desired, and the piety of the listeners is stimulated to the cause of doing good.

(2). Saint Nicetius, bishop of the city of Lyons, the anniversary of whose burial the people celebrate each year, lovingly and with faithful devotion, from childhood preserved the cult of religion no less in his disposition than in his practice of it. In him increasing age granted increase of virtue; in such a way does God the creator pour forth the more the reward of holiness.

(3). The most blessed Agricola, bishop of Chalons, advanced him to the office of the priesthood. His fame grew, adorned by good works, zealously, and priestly dignity flourished in him with the splendour of his merits. The holy and blessed bishop of Lyon, Sacerdos (priest in both name and occupation [sacerdos is Latin for priest]), marked him out as destined for pastoral rank, so that when he [Sacerdos] came to the end of his life and left this world, Nicetius should be his successor. When the time came, by divine authority, the general agreement of the people eagerly desired this, and the benevolence of the ruler, by divine nod, granted it with joy. Nicetius, as he committed himself in everything to the command of the divine king, neither dared to escape this dignity by hiding away, nor wished to obtain it with rewards. Confirmed in this high office, he combined the wisdom of the serpent with the innocence of the dove [Matthew 10:16].

(4). Whenever men of honourable disposition came to his city, he gave orders, with studious concern, that lodgings be prepared for them close to his bedroom. When all his duties were done, he would come to them secretly at night, eager to wash their feet carefully, in faithful service, in order to fulfil the apostolic commands, that he might not be found careless in small things, he to whom divine grace had granted power to achieve greater things, which he showed constantly by his works.

(5). He doubled the times of the divine offices, day and night – which sacred ancient religious practice had established with clearly fixed boundaries – with constant psalm-singing so that meditation of the divine law was never absent from his mouth or heart. If some distraction arose among those who constantly followed him around while he was performing his religious obligations, he could give a terse response when summoned. He did this so that he could inwardly complete the office he was engaged in, but as a result he was occasionally thought rather cold by those who did not know him; he who blazed with spiritual fervour. Eagerly and without hesitation he took care, unfailingly to rise each morning for prayer, so that he himself might always begin the office. He was extremely quick to dispense charity most generously; whatever he gave to the poor, he believed was a gain for himself.

(6). Whenever failure of the harvest occurred due to drought in summer, he strove to celebrate supplicatory prayers (letaniae) with such devotion, with the unanimous support of the people, so that straightaway an abundance of rain would come to their aid.

(7). In winter, the same sainted bishop would visit estates commended to him and to the holy church, in the various parts of Provence. On one occasion chance brought him to the villa of a nobleman called Flavius, at the staging-post (mansio) of Alacarnum. As the sun was setting when he arrived, he decided to spend the night there, quietly resting. When he had performed the spiritual refreshment of evening prayer a child was brought to his feet, possessed by a demon. His parents had bound him to a chair to restrain his raving. We learned this story from those most holy presbyters, Catafronius and Eustasius. They said that they saw the boy in question there, in thrall to the choking grasp of demons, neck twisted, his spine also contorted, clinging at an angle, pitiable.

(8). When the holy man saw him laid before his knees and also perceived the great grief of the parents, he withdrew within the holy precinct of the oratory to pray and then anointed the child with blessed holy oil, invoking the name of Christ with the sign of the cross. At once he routed the devil out of the possessed body and the boy’s twisted limbs reformed themselves to their proper shape. Cured, he went home with his parents. After some time, rejoicing with his family over his restored health, the boy returned obediently to the blessed Nicetius, along with his relations, as a cured patient returns to his doctor; this happened at Musturnacum, on the estate of the holy church of Lyon. They gave thanks to both Christ and the saintly priest alike.

(9). After Nicetius had met a death worthy of his merits, a huge fire broke out, stirred up by the enemy of the human race [the Devil], engulfing nearly the whole city of Lyon in leaping flames. As crowds of people hurriedly converged from all directions, suddenly a clear voice rang out filling the ears of the thronging mob. The voice said that the holy Nicetius had come in body (corporaliter) to the bishop’s residence (domus ecclesiae) and had, by curing the sight of two blind women, restored them to complete health. This voice, announcing the return of the buried bishop, immediately restored the strength of the people. It is not surprising that the blessed athlete strove to protect with spiritual virtue the place where he had been seen to dwell in body. And it is not surprising that holiness granted by the same person had gone forth from there, where he was living even after death.

(10). One individual, in an ardour of zealous faith, carried with him dust reverently collected from Nicetius’ tomb, as a protection for all kinds of cures. He would faithfully brandish this whenever a storm threatened, and the rigidity of hail was melted into water and the hardness of the hail-stones was changed into liquid softness.

(11). Another man received ten solidi from a creditor, without delay, in good faith. When the creditor treacherously wished to deny the case, he arranged to swear at the bishop’s tomb that he had not received the money. He immediately lost all power in his limbs and, just as he had come there blind in heart, so he stood, blind in his eyes. Then the wretch, overcome by belated penitence, began to offer what he had been lent, pouring forth tearful prayer that his sight might be restored. Then the most holy shepherd, who lived on in his pious miracles, restored sight and bodily strength to the pleading man. Just as he frightened the liar for the sake of justice, so, for the sake of mercy, he heeded him when afflicted.

(12). Likewise, a man so possessed of evil spirits that he needed many people to mind him, came with difficulty to the bishop’s tomb. While there he suffered such a frenzied fit that he appeared to have died. While his burial place was being prepared, he lay cold and lifeless, in a fatal coma, for a whole day and night. Then, by divine inspiration, it occurred to one of the observers, using oil from the lamps, which were around the tomb of the blessed bishop, to make in faith the sign of the cross on his forehead, mouth and ears, thinking that perhaps the bishop, who had been accustomed to perform other miracles, could bring the dead man back to life. At first, he gradually regained consciousness and by some hidden mystery came back to life. With the help of Christ, he forthwith got up.

(13). At this time seven accused men, placed in a dark prison, both constrained with iron shackles and afflicted, were being held for a long time in custody in the city of Vienne. One of them was fortunate enough to see the holy Nicetius in a vision. When he seemed to touch with his staff the fetters by which they were bound, immediately the strength of the iron was shattered and the closed doors lay open. The men, freed by holy intercession, sought refuge at once at a church.

(14). But also, in the basilica in which his most sacred body is venerated by the devotion of the faithful, [came] a guilty man, bound to another by iron fetters by the order of a public injunction. But when they approached his tomb, limping, their bonds shattered with a crack and a hidden miracle absolved the publicly condemned men. Similar mysterious happenings took place on other occasions.

(15). While it is true that before he departed this world for the kingdom of heaven he performed very many miracles, which we have spoken about previously, and even secretly exorcised demons from possessed bodies, yet after the saint left the light of this world then he showed that he was alive with even greater miraculous power. Those whom a complete and secure faith brought to his tomb, as the people bear witness, he constantly and unfailingly helped, making the lame walk, giving the blind sight, curing the possessed, restoring strength to the paralysed and granting health to all the sick.

(16). And so, different things could be related in his praise, in numerous accounts. But it is quite unnecessary that a multifarious outpouring of words be delivered on his individual deeds, because his work always exhibited itself through spiritual mysteries. The more time passes, so much the more is his virtue increased by his multiple works.

(17). Just as he fortified this city by the protection of his body, so may his most holy prayer obtain in similar fashion the safety of every living body and every soul. And may he intercede with his prayers on behalf of the most blessed bishop Aetherius, who has laboured with holy effort, that the nature of his life, which continued to flourish after his death by the continuation of his deeds, might be revealed by the office of reading. But with good reason did he [Aetherius] solemnly cultivate his memory with loving enthusiasm, since Nicetius, rejoicing in his way of life, predicted that Aetherius would be his second successor. Immediately after the death of Nicetius, the devotion of the people of Lyon sought the elevation of Aetherius to the rank of bishop. At that time the prescient disposition of the king denied the request, but when Nicetius’ successor died, he no longer delayed granting the wish of the people. And so, in this way, God the Creator poured into the heart of the most merciful king the outcome which the holy bishop had predicted while still alive. And so it came about that he who was already father of his homeland was now also father of its church. For this reason, we should pray to God, as we honour his [Nicetius’] protection (patrocinium) with unanimous devotion and solicitously celebrate his feast-day, that we may always be helped by his intercession and be protected by suitable help, although we do not deserve to be taught by his example – through our Lord Jesus Christ who reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.'


Text: Krusch 1896, 521-524.
Translation: Philip Beagon.

Service for the saint
Liturgical invocation

Saint’s feast

Burial site of a saint - tomb/grave

Composing and translating saint-related texts
Prayer/supplication/invocation
Saint as patron - of a community
Oath

Miracle during lifetime
Exorcism
Power over elements (fire, earthquakes, floods, weather)
Revelation of hidden knowledge (past, present and future)
Miracle after death
Healing diseases and disabilities
Apparition, vision, dream, revelation
Miraculous protection - of communities, towns, armies
Freeing prisoners, exiles, captives, slaves

Oath made on a relic
Contact relic - oil

Children
Aristocrats
Monarchs and their family
Prisoners

Source

Discussion

Bibliography