The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity

Hilary of Arles, Sermon on the Life of Saint Honoratus (Sermo de vita sancti Honorati, BHL 3975, CPL 501).

Summary:

(1.) Hilary begins by stating that this is the day when Honoratus laid aside his body (corpore exutus est). (2-3.) He insists that no one can describe Honoratus’ virtues adequately, least of all somebody of his own limited ability.

(4.) How Honoratus was born into a family that enjoyed the highest secular honours, including the consulship. (5-6.) He is deeply pious from his childhood onwards, even though his family are worldly and uninterested in religion. His father resists his devotion to religion and tries to tempt him away from it. (7.) Hilary imagines a soliloquy by Honoratus, in which he determines to separate himself from the world. (8.) Honoratus commits himself fully to religion, adopting ascetic garb and fasting. His family persecute him. (9.) Honoratus’ older brother converts to asceticism under his influence. They compete in their renunciations and the extent of their devotion.

(10.) As their reputation for holiness spreads they wish to flee glory. (11.) They decide to leave their homeland, and do so against the resistance of their family, selling their property. (12.) They have as their mentor an old man (senex), Caprasius, who 'is still living an angelic life on the islands' (angelica adhuc in insulis conversatione degentem). (13.) [A passage rejected as an interpolation in the standard critical edition by Cavallin, but admitted in most other editions, claims that while they were passing through Marseille, the bishop tried to persuade Honoratus to join the clergy there.] (14.) They travel by sea to Achaea, where Honoratus’ brother Venantius [named for the first time] dies at the town of Mothone. The townspeople of all languages and religions, including the Jews, lament at his funeral.

(15.) Honoratus travels back to Gaul through Italy, seeking a wilderness (heremus) where he can settle. Near the Alps he discovers an island, uninhabited because it was thickly overgrown and full of poisonous animals. It is located in the see of the holy bishop Leontius [of Fréjus]. When Honoratus takes possession of the island, the poisonous serpents flee (see E06073). (16.) Honoratus establishes a fortress of God in a place that had previously repelled people. He accepts ordination as a presbyter, but maintains the humility of a monk. (17.) Through his industry a church and dwelling places are built. He miraculously brings forth a spring of fresh water (see E06073). (17-19.) Those who sought Christ flocked to Honoratus. Every land had citizens in his monastery. Honoratus transformed the character of those who joined the community, finding exactly the right way to approach each person, offering discipline or comfort as necessary, and constantly observing and thinking about every member of the community. They in turn came to feel as Honoratus did, suffering or rejoicing along with him.

(20-21.) He always showed the greatest hospitality to those who visited the island. Everything he received from others he gave away for purposes such as redeeming captives. On one occasion he gave the last coin in the treasury (arca) to a poor man, reassuring those with him that what he had given away would soon be replenished. Only a few hours later someone arrived with a new gift that proved this true. Whoever came to him in difficulties of any kind almost always went away with those difficulties solved. (22.) Honoratus corresponded with many people in letters of extraordinary eloquence. He exchanged letters written on wax tablets with Eucherius on the next island [the later bishop of Lyon (ob. c. 451), then head of a neighbouring ascetic community].

(23-4.) Honoratus travels back to his family home to persuade his young relative Hilary to adopt a religious life. He passionately exhorts Hilary, who is too attached to the world to respond. But when he prays for Hilary, God brings about Hilary's conversion. Honoratus takes Hilary back with him to the monastery and instructs him.

(25.) Hilary tells his audience that up till now he has spoken of things known to others rather than them. But they all saw Honoratus as bishop. Why did they choose as their bishop an unknown man from a distant monastery, orphaning his flock there? God, who dispenses all things, led Honoratus across land and sea to benefit them. (26-7.) During the brief time he was with them they themselves witnessed in Honoratus all the qualities that he has just described. He showed the same concern for his flock and the same discernment of individuals that he had in the monastery. (28.) When he became a bishop, his first concern was to establish harmony in a church that had been divided by disputes over the episcopal succession. As he had done in the monastery, he used the wealth of the church for charity.

(29.) Honoratus continues working and preaching even in his final illness. He preaches for the last time on the feast of epiphany. His death is not from disease, but from long infirmity caused by his renunciations and exacerbated by his refusal to accept any relief. He dies on the eighth or ninth day after epiphany [this seeming uncertainty probably indicates that he died around midnight], having continued his work as bishop until only four days earlier. (30.) On his deathbed, he consoles those around him, and carefully puts in order his own affairs and those of the church. (31.) Hilary recalls some of his own conversations with Honoratus at this time. (32.) Honoratus admonishes the powerful men who visit him, including the Praetorian Prefect, using his approaching death as an example of the transience of power and wealth. (33.) Hilary describes Honoratus' last words to his friends and to members of the community he had assembled around him. (34.) Honoratus dies. Many people are woken from their sleep by visions of him being received by the saints. Even though Honoratus died in the middle of the night, a crowd spontaneously gathers to meet his body when it is brought to the church (see E06097). Hilary tells his audience that they remember these things more vividly than he can describe them. (35.) Honoratus' funeral. The vestments on his body are torn to shreds by those seeking relics (see E00727). The presence of Honoratus' tomb gives confidence that he will be the city's patron in heaven.

(36.) God has granted to Hilary that he should live near Honoratus' tomb, and will grant to the congregation's prayers that he does not stray from Honoratus' path. Through Honoratus, God prepared Hilary to serve as their bishop. (37.) Honoratus' merits did not need to be proved by signs: his life was a perpetual sign. Hilary states that he believes it was granted to Honoratus' prayers that his spiritual power (virtutem) should not be displayed by signs (signa) (see E06098). Honoratus perpetually bore witness to Christ with his body, reducing his strength by fasting, while always fleeing excess and the desire for glory. (38.) His devotion to Christ extended even to his sleep, when he would still pour out words of exhortation and prayer. He often dreamed of being martyred (see E06099). (39.) Hilary concludes by asking Honoratus to remember his flock and to be their patron (patronus) and the interpreter and assertor of the prayers they pour out at his tomb.


Text: Cavallin 1952.
Summary: David Lambert.

Burial site of a saint - tomb/grave

Composing and translating saint-related texts

Miracle during lifetime
Power over elements (fire, earthquakes, floods, weather)
Miracle with animals and plants
Apparition, vision, dream, revelation
Observed scarcity/absence of miracles

Contact relic - saint’s possession and clothes

Ecclesiastics - abbots
Ecclesiastics - bishops

Considerations about the nature of miracles

Source

Discussion

Bibliography