The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity

Life of Segolena, Abbess of Troclar (Vita sanctae Segolenae abbatissae Troclarensis) (BHL 7570, CPL 2141)

Summary

(Prologue) The author states that she/he is writing about Segolena from their own experience, and what they have learnt from 'the venerable sisters her disciples, who served her from adolescence' (uenerabilium sororum discipularum suarum, quae ei ab adolescentiae seruierunt, relatione).

(1) On Segolena's background at Albi, and her marriage aged twelve to Gislulf, who in time yielded to her desire for a life of continence. (2) On her works of charity, (3-4) and her donations to monasteries and other 'temples of the saints' (sanctorum templa). (5-6) On the spiritual guidance she received from a 'certain brother visiting the city' (quodam fratre in urbe).

(7) On the death of Segolena's husband after ten years of marriage, and her decision 'to lead a monastic life, rather than live in her own home with her chastity at risk' (potius monasticam ducere uitam, quam in propria domo uiuere cum periculo castitatis). How her parents eventually gave their consent. (8) How the bishop of the city consecrated her as a deaconness (diacona). (9-10) How she initially stayed at home but, desiring to take up a life of 'pilgrimage' (peregrinatio), persuaded her father Chramsicus to found a monastery for her on his estate at Troclar, (11) where she took up residence with many nuns, and instituted the rules of the ancient fathers. (12-14) On her austerities, acts of charity and monastic discipline.

(15) On the miracles that took place during Segolena's abbacy. How she cleansed two lepers in a bath secretly prepared inside the monastery. (16) How she exorcised the young man Dalfinus, and (17) a certain girl. (18) How with the help of her prayers Canciola, a nun (ancilla) at her monastery, was exorcised when taken into the oratory dedicated to *Martin (bishop of Tours, S00050) on the orders of Chramiscus. (19) How two further nuns, Pallidea and Palladia, were also exorcised, (20) as was the nun (sanctimonialis) Baudelona, who came from the territory of Rodez, (21) and a certain woman called Regnoalda. (22) How she compelled Sigibald, her brother (germanus) and a 'man of God' (uir Dei), to stay the night at the monastery when she prayed in the church dedicated to *Mary (mother of Christ, S00033) and caused a great rainfall just as he set out to leave.

(23) How Segolena told a 'certain brother' her sins, so that he might make a record of them, which could then be placed over an altar and sealed with a ring (notitia ex ipsis fieret, et sub annuli signaculo diuino super altario poneretur). How this was done 'in the presence of many, whose religiosity was not in doubt' (pluribus praesentibus, de quorum religione nihil dubitabatur), after which Segolena took up tearful fasts and vigils for a year. How at Christmas, in the presence of her brother the bishop (praesule germano eius) and Abbot Gisloald, the seal was broken, and the page of the document was found to have returned to its pristine whiteness (solutum est signaculum... paginolam candori redderet pristino).

(24) Further exorcisms: of a poor girl (puella paupercula) who had been taken in by Segolena, but had wanted to leave the monastery, (25) and of 'one of the people, whose face I know, but not name,' on the 'day of litanies' (dies Litianiarum... unus ex populo, cuius faciem scio, nomen nescio). (26) How she healed the blind: the priest Transimund, (27) the boy Vassus, (28) and the nun Sigetrude. (29) How she healed a 'sick and unhappy girl... who crawled along the ground, with contracted hands and feet' (infelix et infirma puella... manibus pedibusque contractis per terram reptebat). (30) On her personal merits. (31) On her final illness, and farewell speech to her congregation.

(32) On her death and burial. How Bishop Sigibald, her brother, came to visit her on her deathbed; 'and how, at her hour of leaving this life, the nuns gathered together around her bed, desiring to witness her blessed passing, and they saw her face was like that of an angel' (eadem hora exitus ipsius, multae sanctimoniales eius lectulo circumsteterunt, cupientes eius beatum exitum uidere; et uiderunt faciem eius quasi faciem angeli). How she raised her hands and saw heaven before her soul left her body to join the angels. How, 'when her clothes were stripped from her body, as is customary, so that it could be washed, a wonderful odour suddenly became sprinkled around that same place' (cumque corpus eius ex more ad lauandum fuisset nudatum, tanta subito fragrantia in eodem loco mirifici odoris adspersa est). How her body was taken to be buried by the nuns at a 'very safe location' (loco tutissimo) called Insula, where her father had built a church, before the 'horn' of its altar (ante cornu altaris). How miracles take place there ceaselessly (sine intermissione) to this day: (34) a vase of oil at the tomb continually overflows (iugiter exuberat), while the sick are healed, demoniacs exorcised, lepers cleansed, and the mute speak.


Text: AASS, Iul. V, 628-37.
Summary: B. Savill.

Cult building - unspecified
Cult building - monastic
Cult building - oratory
Altar
Burial site of a saint - tomb/grave

Prayer/supplication/invocation
Bequests, donations, gifts and offerings
Visiting/veneration of living saint
Ceremonies at burial of a saint
Composing and translating saint-related texts

Miracle during lifetime
Miracle after death
Power over elements (fire, earthquakes, floods, weather)
Healing diseases and disabilities
Exorcism
Miraculous sound, smell, light
Power over objects

Bodily relic - entire body

Women
Family
Ecclesiastics - bishops
Ecclesiastics - monks/nuns/hermits
Ecclesiastics - abbots
Ecclesiastics - lesser clergy
Relatives of the saint
The socially marginal (beggars, prostitutes, thieves)
Angels

Source

Discussion

Bibliography