The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity

Venantius Fortunatus, Poems 8.3 (In nomine domini nostri Iesu Christi et domnae Mariae matris eius de virginitate, 'In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and the lady Mary his mother, on virginity'), 129-172

This is an extract from a long poem describing the marriage in heaven of Christ with an idealised female virgin (for an earlier extract from the same poem, see E06237).

Sideri proceres, ad regia vota frequentes,
   certatim veniunt adglomerando chorum.                    130
Quo praeter Cherubin, Seraphin reliquosque beatos
   aligeros comites, quos tegit umbra dei,
bis duodena senum concursat gloria vatum,
   attonito sensu plaudere voce, manu.
His venit Helias, illis in curribus Enoch,                             135
   et nati dono virgo Maria prior,
Iurisconsulti Pauli comitante volatu
   princeps Romana currit ab arce Petrus:
conveniunt ad festa simul sua dona ferentes
   hi quorum cineres urbs caput orbis habet.                  140
Culmen apostolicum radianti luce coruscum
   nobilis Andream mittit Achaia suum.
Praecipuum meritis Ephesus veneranda Iohannem
   dirigit et Iacobos terra beata sacros,
laeta suis votis Hierapolis alma Philippum,                       145
   producens Thomam munus Edessa pium.
Inde triumphantem fert India Bartholomaeum,
   Matthaeum eximium Naddaver alta virum.
Hinc Simonem ac Iudam lumen Persida gemellum
   laeta relaxato mittit ad astra sinu,                               150
et sine rore ferax Aegyptus torrida Marcum,
   Lucae euangelica participante tuba.
Africa Cyprianum, dat Siscia clara Quirinum:
   Vincenti Hispana surgit ab arce decus.
Egregium Albanum fecunda Britannia profert,                155
   Massilia Victor martyr ab urbe venit.
Porrigit ipsa decens Arelas pia dona Genesi
   astris, Caesario concomitante suo.
Ipse Parisiaca properat Dionysius urbe,
   Augustiduno Symphoriane venis.                               160
Privatum Gabalus, Iulianum Arvernus abundans,
   Ferreolum pariter pulchra Vienna gerit.
hinc simul Hilarium, Martinum Gallia mittit,
   te quoque, Laurenti, Roma, beate mihi.
Felicem meritis Vicetia laeta refundit                               165
   et Fortunatum fert Aquileia suum;
Vitalem ac reliquos quos cara Ravenna sepultat,
   Gervasium, Ambrosium, Mediolane, meum:
Iustinam Patavi, Eufemiam huc Calchedon offert,
   Eulalia Emerita tollit ab urbe caput.                             170
Caeciliam Sicula profert, Seleucia Theclam;
   et legio felix Agaunensis adest.

'The aristocracy of heaven, thronging to the royal marriage, eagerly assemble to join their numbers to the choir. There in addition to the Cherubim, the Seraphim, and the other blessed winged attendants, whom the shade of God protects, the twice-twelve ancient prophets in their glory hasten together, their spirits roused, to rejoice with voice and hand. Elijah comes on one chariot, Enoch on another, and by the gift of her son the virgin Mary takes precedence. With Paul, the expert in the law, accompanying him on his journey, the princely Peter hurries from the citadel of Rome. Those whose ashes the city that heads the world possesses assemble for the festivities, bearing their gifts. Noble Achaea dispatches its own Andrew, an eminent apostle, glittering with brilliant light. Venerable Ephesus sends John distinguished by his merits, and the holy land two saintly men named James, generous Hierapolis with joyful wishes deputes Philip, and Edessa Thomas as its devoted gift. Next India contributes triumphant Bartholomew, and lofty Nadaber that great man Matthew, while Persia sends Simon and Jude, its twin lights, to the stars, happily unclasping its embrace, and scorching Egypt, fertile without raindrops, sends Mark, in company with Luke, whose trumpet is the gospel. Africa offers Cyprian, famed Siscia Quirinus, the glory of Vincent ascends from the fastnesses of Spain. Fertile Britain advances noble Alban, the martyr Victor comes from the city of Marseille. Fair Arles provides as its holy offering Genesius, whom its Caesarius accompanies to the stars. Dionysius hastens from the city of Paris; from Autun you, Symphorian, come. Javols contributes Privatus, the rich Auvergne Julian, and beautiful Vienne Ferreolus to their company. At the same time from here Gaul sends Hilary and Martin, and Rome, blessed in my eyes, dispatches you too, Laurence. Joyful Vicenza submits Felix, fortunate in his merits, and Aquileia brings forth its own Fortunatus, Ravenna, dear to me, Vitalis and all the others there buried, and you, Milan, my Gervasius and my Ambrose. Padua’s offering is Justina and Chalcedon’s Euphemia; Eulalia raises her head from the city of Mérida. Sicily presents Cecilia, Seleucia Thecla, and the happy legion of Agaune joins up too.'


Text: Leo 1881, 184-185.
Translation: Roberts 2017, 507 and 509.

Prayer/supplication/invocation
Saint as patron - of a community

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