De sancto Arbogasto episcopo
The Hidden Life of a Holy Bishop
Though the early life of Bishop Arbogast remains obscure, his faithful service and the tragic death of the king's son set the stage for a divine intervention.
It's unclear whether the origins of Christ’s most holy priest Arbogast, or his way of life from boyhood until he reached the episcopacy, have been obscured by time or left unrecorded because of a lack of documents—since the written record doesn't tell us.1 Yet the signs of such a father, by which he shone in his own day through brilliant miracles, haven't been entirely silenced, but have reached the ears of the faithful. They tell us that in the time of King Dagobert, when the holy Church was spreading the sweet-smelling flowers of Catholic doctrine far and wide and the word of God was running prosperously everywhere, he came from Aquitaine. By divine will, he advanced to the bishop's chair of the Church of Strasbourg. He took up the burden of leadership and ruled it for a long time with happy governance. This blessed priest of Christ was so closely bound to the aforementioned king by friendly familiarity that the king invited him into the royal court, delighted in his conversation, and sought his counsel. While both were living prosperously—the king in his kingdom and the bishop in his bishopric—the enemy of the human race, out of envy, turned this happy state into its opposite. For one day, when the king's hunters were chasing a boar in the forest as usual, the king's son, his only child, rode along with them in the same pursuit. But while they were wandering through various paths and winding trails with their dogs, a wild boar suddenly appeared. When the horse he was riding saw it, the boy—who was, alas, too prone to ride alone and unable to hold the reins—was thrown, and the horse turned and fled. As he tried to pull the rein tighter to the other side, he slipped from the saddle. Still clinging to the rein he held in his hand, he was dragged along the ground and miserably crushed by the horse's hooves. His attendants, having searched for him for a long time and finding him thus battered, lifted him up with great sorrow, placed him on horses, and returned home in a funeral procession. When the news of what had happened reached the palace, the outcry of the men, the king's household, the streets, the squares, and the women was immense—such wailing, such lamentation. No one can explain how the news filled the royal court wherever it was heard. Meanwhile, the boy was laid in his bed and passed from this present life the next day.
The Miracle of Restoration
Through prayer and devotion to the Mother of God, Bishop Arbogast restores the king's son to life, refusing earthly rewards in favor of spiritual growth.
When they searched among themselves for what should be done about such a shock and how they might soothe the king's grief, they finally hit on the idea of inviting the bishop, and they suggested this to the king. The king embraced this suggestion most devoutly and, without delay, sent messengers to beg the bishop to take the trouble to come to him with all possible haste; and without delay, they did as they were told, went to the bishop, and explained the reason for the invitation, not without weeping. The bishop, having heard of his friend's misfortune, was deeply troubled in spirit; he wept and groaned much, and did not delay in setting out at once. Meanwhile, the king, impatient for the bishop's arrival, went out to meet the old man as he hurried toward him from a distance, surrounded by many who were weeping and mourning; he met him with tears flowing and his head veiled. When they prepared to greet each other as usual, their voices stuck in their throats from the sheer weight of their hearts' sorrow; no one could ever know how many tears were shed on both sides. Finally, when night had fallen and everyone had fallen into a deep sleep, the bishop went to pray. How or in what words he prayed is not known; but when his prayer was finished, he approached the bier, and what he obtained is not clear. He committed himself to the protection of Mary, kneeling down while everyone else kept watch over the funeral, so that she who gave Life to the world might obtain life for the boy from her Son. The king himself, having barely slept, was also terrified, as he lay awake all night in deep sorrow. He rushed out in haste from the room where such a great noise had arisen. The tears he shed for joy proved how great a gladness stirred his heart when he saw the one for whom he had been willing to die, if only he could have him back, now coming to life. The mother, once called, hurried to the feet of the holy man, for the sight of her living son was soothing her sorrowful heart. Everyone who had gathered to mourn the funeral was also filled with joy, and they all hurried to marvel at the boy who had risen, each trying to get there first. The king, therefore, so as not to delay the bishop's return home and to avoid being praised by the people, consulted with the queen on how to reward the holy man who had obtained such great blessings for them from God; he most graciously ordered that gold, silver, and whatever desirable things were more honorable than a royal gift that could be found in the treasuries be offered to him, humbly begging him to accept them. The holy man, refusing to accept these things, said: "If there is anything... ...that you wish to offer to God in thanksgiving, let it be to increase the service of God in the church of the blessed Mother of Christ."
A Legacy of Faith and Contemplation
Arbogast secures a lasting endowment for the Church and continues his life of miraculous contemplation and healing until his holy death.
Because you have received your son through his merits, you can expand his borders—which are too narrow for such great service—by some part of your kingdom, if it pleases the royal majesty, so that it may be in fruitful use for those serving God there; for this is firmer and more stable for winning the blessedness of yourself, your own, your ancestors who came before, and your descendants who will follow, than gold, which delights the eyes when it is seen and saddens the heart when it is lost. And as he turned this over in his mind and cast his thoughts across all of Alsace to see if such a place might be found that would be suitable for such a great domain, the town of Rubiach came to mind—most opulent in all its uses, that is, in fields, vineyards, plains, woods, waters, buildings, and people—to be given as a dowry to the supreme Queen. The king did not delay, and once his vow was finally found, he made a testament before his nobles, who gave their assent to such good counsel, that Rubiach, with all its appendages and borders, should from now on and forever be under the dominion of the holy Church of Strasbourg, which serves the Mother of God, Mary, bound by a stable and unbreakable agreement; enriched by this noble gift, the bishop said goodbye to the king and returned home, and having called together the clergy, the assembly of soldiers, and the gathering of the people, with everyone standing by and watching, he placed the accepted testament upon the altar consecrated in honor of Saint Marina. Afterward, he lived for many years, flourishing in holy virtues, from which I have deemed it worthy to insert into this work one miracle very profitable to the faithful: they say that he ordered a small wooden oratory to be built for himself near the river that flows from the Vosges mountains, named the Bruche, mixed with the Alsa river, which runs through Alsace in its channel as far as that point. He would cross the river in the silence of the night to pray there in secret and to expand his mind in divine contemplation. Whenever he couldn't find a boat, he crossed the river on dry feet, and after finishing his prayer, he walked back over the water again. Thus, leading a religious life, he healed those oppressed by various diseases, drove demons from possessed bodies, and made the discordant agree, acting as a helpful moderator for them according to the measure of their need. But when he felt his final day approaching, he ordered that his burial be prepared on a small hill near the city, outside the city walls, where the church of Saint Michael stands. He asked to be carried there and buried, imitating the Savior Christ, who chose a tomb for himself outside the gate.
Read the original Latin
Sanctissimi sacerdotis Christi Arbogasti exortum vel conversationem ejus a puero ad profectionem usque pontificatus sen anliqnitas obliteraverit vel Scriptorum raritas non declaraverit, quia scriptio non docet, incertum habetur,
At vero tanti patris insignia, quibus in diebus suis miraculis coruscantibus claruit, nom ex toto silentio sunt oppressa, quae per aures fidelium. transeundo posteris narrantibus auribus nostris sunt infusa, Tradunt namque eum in temporibus Dagoberti regis, cum sancta ecclesia longe lateque flores doctrinae catholicae suave redolentis diffunderet et verbum Dei usquequaque prospere curreret, de Aquitania. progressum divino nutu Argentinensis ecclesiae cathedriun. consedisse suscepiimque culmen regiminis felici gubernatione diu rexisse. Hic beatus Christi sacerdos praefato regi amica familiaritate adeo est innexus, ut eo intra regalem aulun ascito illius alloquio delectaretur, consilio uteretur, Qua jucanditate cum uterque, suo rex in regno, episcopus in episcopatu prospere se agerent, hostis hinani generis invidia res laeta vertitur in contraria, Nam cum quadam die venatores regis more solito aprum insequerentur in saltu, regis eliam filius, qui erat ei unicus, pariter cmm iis in eodem discursu festinavit. Dum autem illi per devia quaeque et diversos anfractus cum canibus oberrarent, ngulari occurrit incautus, Quo viso sonipes, in quo sedit, pavePuer vero, cuim euim freno retinere heu nimium pronus solus relictus si factus cursum retorquens in fugam vertitur. conaretur et in alteram partem habenam strictius traheret, a sella est elapsus, adhuc antem habenae, quam in manu tenebat, inhaerens per terram tractus calcibus equi miserabiliter est protritus, Quem sui pedissequi diu quaesitum et ita invenientes attritum non sine maximo moerore tollentes et in equis levantes funere Jugubri domum sunt reversi, Cum autem in palatio quod factun fuit, personaret, quantus undique concursus virormn c regis, aedes, vicos, œunpos, mulierum, quantus planctus, quantus ejulatus. regales ubicamque auditum est, impleverit, nemo valet explicare, Interea puer in lecto 'collocatus altera die vita praesenti est exutus.
Quid igitur hujusmodi concussiomis facto opus sit et quomodo regis dolorem mitigarent, cuin secum quaererent, tandem consilio invenio, ut episcopus invitelur, regi suggerunt, Quod ille devolissime amplectens mox sine dilatione legatis directis, ut ad se episoopus omni festinantia se fatigare dignetur, exposcit, Neo mora: jussa faciunt, episcopum adeunt, causmn invitationis non sine luctu exponunt. Ille vero audito casu amici totus spiritu conturbatus , flens multumque gemens statim properare mon distulit, Nec minus interea rex ad adventum pontificis inpatiens egressus, senem eminus festinantem conspicatns fusis lacrymis, velato capite, multis coamnitantibus atque lacrymantibus stipatus occurrit, Qui cmn se invicem solito salutare pararent, prae nimio cordis dolore vox haesit in guttare, Quantum lacrymarum ex utraque parte fluxerit, nulli cognitum esse poterit. Tandem ducta sauciati, cum nox advenisset et omnes sopor gravissimus oppressisset ad orationem processit episcopus, Quomodo aut quibus verbis oraverit, mon Finita anlem oratione accessil ad patet; quid autein impetraverit, non Jatet. feretrum ejectisque Omnibus ad exsequias vigilantibus flexis genibus se conimittit Mariae patrociniis, ut illa, quae vitam mundo genuit, vitan puero impetraret a filio. Inter orandum puer surrexit exutumque funebribus indumentis, quibus ante usus est, episcopus jussit indui regalibus. Jgitur, qui huic officio aderant, clamorem gaudii cohibere non poterant, qnin libere ereptum atrium omnemque aulam regis. vOciferato maximo unplebaát, Quo omnes a somno excussi huc illucque discürrebant, oausam anti. sOmitus ignorantes.
Necnon rex ipse, qui tunc prinum parum somni carpebal, exterritus est, nam nimiwn tristis tóta nocte jacebat insomnis. Cubicnlum, ubi tantus fragor exortus est, festinus erupit. Quanta laetitia cor ejus pulsaverit, fusae prae gaudio lacrymae testantur, cum reviviscere vidit, pro quo, si eum reciperet, ipse mori concupivit. Vocata iater ad sancli viri pedes festinat, quiá cor ejus triste filius vivus mulcebat. Necnon omnes, qui ad funus deflendum cóniluxerant, gaudio repleti ad admirationem resurgentis pueri quique prae aliis ire festinabant. Bex ergo, ne morai faceret episcopo domum, ne laudaretur a populo, festinanti consilium cum regina duxit, quomodo sanctum remuneraret, qui iis tanta beneficia a Deo praestisset, Aurum, argentum, quaecunque concupiscibilia et regio dono honorabiliora in thesauris invenire poterant, gralissime praecepit offerri lanniliter deprecans, ut accipere dignaretur. Quae sanctus vir accipere devitans ait: si aliquid. pro gratiarum actione Deo offerre te delectat, ad augendum Dei servitium in ecclesia beatae matris Christi.
cujus meritis filium recepisti, terminos ejus, quia angusti sunt ad tantum servitium, dilatare aliqua parte regni tmi, ut sit in usu fructuario ibi servienlibus Deo, si ita regiae majestati placet, poteris, quia hoc firmius ac stabilius est ad beatitudinem tuam tuorumque et praecedentium patrum et sequentium posterorum promerendam, quain aurum, quod oculos, cum videlur, delectat et cor, cum perditum faerit, contristat, Quam propositionem pontificis rex gratulanter amplectens: ubi, inquit, invenire poterimus locum talem, qui congrnat ad serviendum inatri coelestis regis, cujus sunt universa in coelis et in terris. Cumque haec secum volveret mentemque per omnem Alsatiam spargeret, sicubi forte talis locus inveniretur, qui tantae dominationi aptus haberetur, occurrit animo, Rubiacham oppidum cunctis usibus, id est agris, vineis, campis ac silvis, aquis, aedificiis, populo opulentissiimum siumnae reginae in dotem convenire, Non distulit rex voto tandem invento, coram optimatibus suis assensum tam bono consilio praebentibus testamentum facit, ut Rubiacha cum omnibus appenditiis confinibusque ad. se pertinentibus, etiam et cum villis totum et integrum amodo et deinceps sit sub dominio sanctae Argentinensis ecclesiae servientis genitrici Dei Mariae stabili et inextricabili stipulatione ubnixum, Hoc nobili donativo ditatus valedicens regi ad propria remeavit episcopus convocatoque clero militumque coetu populi qmoque conventu cunctis adstantibus et adspicientibus testamentum acceptum posuit super altare consecratum in honore sanctae Marine, Postea vero multis annis vixit pollens virtutibus sanctis, e quibus unum miraculum fidelibus valde proficuum hnic operi dignum duxerimn inserendum, Ferunt namque eum circa flumen, quod de saltu Vosagi, nomine Briuscha, mixtum cum Alsa fluvio, qui alveo per Alsatiam eo usque decurrit, oratorium ligneum parvum sibi fieri jussisse,. qao nocturno silentio fluvium transiens veniret, nt ibi secretius in oratione moctaret, mentem- quoque in divina contemplatione latins extenderet, Subinde vero, cum navigium non invenit, siccis pedibus fluvium transivit, completaque oratione rursus super undam ambulans repedavit. Ita ergo religiosam vitam ducens diversis morbis oppressos curavit, daemones ab obsessis corporibus fugavit, discordantes concordare fecit, quibus secundum modum necessitatis commodus exstitit moderator. Cum autem sentiret. imminere sibi diem extremwn, in monticulo urbi vicino extra civitatein, ubi sancti Michaelis est ecclesia constituta, sepulturam sibi fieri praecepit et eo se ferri ao sepeliri, imitans salvalorem Christum, qui extra portam elegit sibi sepulchrum.
Notes
- 1 ↩The Latin 'sen' is treated as a typo for 'seu' (or), and 'anliqnitas' as 'antiquitas' (antiquity/age).
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