The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity

The Lives of the Abbots of Habendum (Vitae abbatum Habendensium, BHL 73, 358, 7322, CPL 2111).

Summary

The Life of Amatus, the Holy Confessor (Vita sancti Amati confessoris)
(1) The author addresses Bishop Dido, who has commissioned the work. (2) On Amatus' noble parents of Roman stock, and his childhood at Grenoble. How his father Heliodorus handed him over to the monastery of *Maurice (commander of Theban Legion and martyr of Agaunum, S00339). (3) How after thirty years, he retreated from the monastery into the mountains, (4) where in time a cell (antrum) was built. How one of the craftsman's wooden planks miraculously grew to the correct size. (5) How Abbot Eustasius of Luxeuil found him, and brought him to his monastery. (6) On Amatus' conduct at Luxeuil, and his travels preaching through the cities of Austrasia. (7) On his meeting with Romaric, a nobleman at the palace, and the latter's conversion to the monastic life. How the two of them founded a monastery for women. (8) On the election of Mactefledis as the nuns' superior, (9) whose death was presaged when one of the sisters saw a huge star leaving the monastery (per uisum mirae magnitudinis stellam egredientem de monasterio uidit). (10) How Amatus discovered a fortress (castrum) in the Vosges, to which he relocated the monastery: there, he set up a hermitage on the cliff side (in obliqua montis parte... habitaculum), from which he emerged on Sundays to admonish and read the holy scriptures to both the brothers and sisters who lived there.

(11) On Amatus' death. How he prepared by undertaking penance in a hair shirt and ashes, (12) and on his deathbed ordered the letter of Pope Leo (I) to Flavianus (Bishop of Constantinople) to be read, whereupon he affirmed his faith in the Trinity, (13) and 'ordered a tomb to be prepared for him at the entrance to the basilica of Saint *Mary (mother of Christ, S00033), thinking himself unworthy to be buried within the doors of the basilica' (indignum se reputans infra ualuas basilicae sepeliendum, in introitu hostii basilicae sanctae Mariae suum iussit preparare sepulcrum). (14) How he died among the weeping brothers and sisters, and (15) was buried as arranged, but on the third day appeared in a vision (per uisum) to certain brother; foretold that the monastery would soon become rich; and ordered him to tell this to Romaric. (16) How, shortly after this, the king enriched the monastery: 'without doubt, this was obtained by the prayers of Saint Amatus' (haec procul dubio, optinuit sancti Amati oracio). (17) On the translation after one year of Amatus' body into (infra) the basilica of Mary: 'with the passing of each year, crowds of people rush to his feast, not doubting that they will be saved by his intercession' (annua reuolutione populorum cateruae ad ipsius sollempnia festinantes, per eius interuentum saluandos se fore non dubitant).


The Life of Romaric, Holy Confessor and Abbot (Vita sancti Romarici confessoris atque abbatis)
(1) The author addresses Cecilia, 'magnificent mother of the holy virgins' (magnifica mater sanctarum uirginum), who has commissioned the work. (2) On Romaric's background and religious life as a layman at the palace, and the attention he gave to the monasteries and basilicas of the saints. (3) How, after the death of King Theudebert, his father was murdered and his property confiscated; how Bishop Aridius, whom he petitioned to intercede with Queen Brunhild, kicked him in the face at Metz; and how Romaric then fled to the basilica of *Martin (bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050), commended (commendare) himself to the saint, and sought his protection (tuis patrociniis). How, the next day, King Theuderic was sentenced to death. (4) How Romaric later joined the palace of King Chlothar, before being converted to the monastic life by Amatus; thereafter he joined the monastery of Luxeuil. (5) On his co-founding of a monastery for women with Amatus, (6) over which he took control following the latter's death. (7) How a possessed nun at the monastery was exorcised through his prayers, and a leprous sister healed.

(8) On Romaric's death. How in the middle of the night he spoke by torchlight with Grimoald, the 'sub-ruler' (subregulus), urging him to keep to his teachings as they walked around the fields of the monastery, (9) after which he fell ill with a fever, and died after taking communion, 'with great joy and the exultation of angels' (cum gaudio magno et exultatione angelorum). (10) How he was buried beside his companion (socius) Amatus. (11) On the vision of a certain deacon the night Romaric died: he saw 'the souls of the just clad in the whitest stoles' (iustorum animas albissimis indutas stolis), among whom were *Arnulf (bishop of Metz, ob. c. 640, S02103) and *Abbo (bishop of Metz, ob. c. 647, S02971), waiting for Romaric to join them at a table.


The Life of Adelphius, the Holy Abbot (Vita sancti Adelphi abbatis)
(1) The author sets out to write the Life. (2) On Adelphius' qualities as abbot. How, when he became ill, he sought to purify his body of sin, and went to make confession at the monastery of Luxeuil, (3) where he was taken in by Abbot Ingofred, commended to the monk Emmo, (4) and died invoking the sign of the cross. (5) How a messenger took the news of his death to Habendum, whereupon Abbot Garichramn 'went out to Luxeuil with a great mixed crowd of people and monks, and having received the body of the holy man, carried him back wonderfully in great triumph to his tomb in the fortress of Habendum, with crosses and candles and relics of the saints' (cum non parua et promiscua turba populi atque monachorum turbis Luxouium usque perrexit, acceptoque corpus sancti uiri cum sanctorum reliquiis, cereis et crucibus ingentique triumpho in castello Habendenso ad urbam usque suam mirabiliter transuexit). (6) How, when they had crossed the river Moselle, the holy abbess Tetta/Cebedrudis came and joined them with choirs of virgins singing psalms; and how Adelphius was buried on the feast day of Amatus, in the same basilica.

(7) On the apparitions (uisiones) that took place after the burial. How, in the basilica of *Peter, on the feast day of Amatus and Adelphius, the latter was seen singing the 'hymn of blessed Amatus' (ymnum beati Amati cantare) with the monks, and making the sign of the cross: the witness 'told us this miracle, testifying by God and the Lord Peter' (testificans Deum et domnum Petrum, istud miraculum nobis narrauit). (8) How a deacon, the procurator of the monastery, alone heard singing in an oratory when he 'went to dispense goods in the courtyard of Saint Peter' (ob utilitates dispensendas in platea sancti Petri uenit). (9) On a similar miracle experienced by a nun in the basilica of Peter. (10) The author cites authorities for apparitions such as these in the works of Augustine and Pope Gregory. (11) On a sweet odour that came from the tomb of Adelphius when one of nuns sang psalms before it. (12) The author notes that these are just a few of the many miracles which Abbess Tetta ordered to be written down.


Text: Krusch 1902.
Summary: B. Savill.

Procession
Chant and religious singing
Service for the saint
Liturgical invocation

Saint’s feast
Dating by saint’s festival

Cult building - monastic
Burial site of a saint - tomb/grave
Cult building - independent (church)
Cult building - oratory

Monastery
Other

Visiting graves and shrines
Composing and translating saint-related texts
Seeking asylum at church/shrine
Prayer/supplication/invocation
Consecrating a child, or oneself, to a saint
Saint as patron - of an individual
Oral transmission of saint-related stories
Ceremonies at burial of a saint

Apparition, vision, dream, revelation
Revelation of hidden knowledge (past, present and future)
Miracle during lifetime
Miracle after death
Power over objects
Exorcism
Healing diseases and disabilities
Miraculous sound, smell, light
Assumption/otherworldly journey

Bodily relic - entire body
Transfer, translation and deposition of relics

Women
Ecclesiastics - bishops
Ecclesiastics - abbots
Ecclesiastics - monks/nuns/hermits
Monarchs and their family
Relatives of the saint
Aristocrats
Crowds
Angels

Source

Discussion

Bibliography