De sancto Ruperto
The Holy Life of Rupert
The chapter introduces Saint Rupert, a noble and virtuous bishop whose holy life and teaching drew many to the faith.
Today’s festival of the most holy and blessed father Rupert, which makes his passage into paradise a source of joy for us, offers mystical delights to devout minds. As the years go by, this joy is renewed in our hearts and kept fresh. As Scripture says, 'The just shall be in everlasting remembrance,' and he is rightly remembered by those who pass on to the joy of the angels. And as it says, 'A wise son is the glory of his father,' how great is the glory of this man, who regenerated so many barbarian nations to the knowledge of God in Christ Jesus through the Gospel! During the second year of the reign of King Hylopert of the Franks, this holy confessor of Christ was serving as bishop in Worms. Born of the noble royal lineage of the Franks, he was even nobler in his faith and power. He was gentle and chaste, simple and prudent, devout in the praise of God, filled with the Holy Spirit, wise in counsel, just in judgment, armed on the right and the left with the weapons of virtue, and a model of good living for his flock; for he confirmed with the authority of his deeds what he taught with his words. He practiced frequent vigils and wore himself out with constant fasting, adorning his work with mercy, scattering his treasures so that he might often enrich the needy, believing that the only thing he truly possessed was what he had received while poor or destitute. When the fame of this man spread to the ends of the earth, many illustrious people from neighboring and distant lands flocked to his holy teaching, either to find consolation in their sorrows through his sacred conversation or to hear the pure truth of the Church’s religion from him.
Signs and Foundations
Rupert establishes a basilica and monastery after receiving miraculous signs of heavenly light in the wilderness.
He renovated the remote site with the greatest care, using the property the duke had handed over to him, and built a basilica there. He dedicated it to the blessed Peter, prince of the apostles, and thanks to Duke Theodo’s generosity, he magnificently endowed it with the necessary offices and goods for the clergy. Later, after assigning the priestly duties, he ensured the entire daily cycle was celebrated there in proper order. The holy man of God, wishing to secure the surrounding area, purchased a certain estate of the duke’s called Pidigen for a thousand gold pieces, and thus, with God’s help, it continued through the grants of kings, dukes, and the faithful. As the resources of the place began to grow, some credible men told the blessed bishop with great wonder that in the wilderness, which at that time had no name, they had now... It is called Wongobi, where they saw heavenly wonders burning. They had seen the lamps three or four times, and they were miraculous. They were of great sweetness. While all who were present marveled at such wonders, the holy bishop sent his priest Domningus to that same place, instructing him to diligently verify the truth of this sign by placing a wooden cross in that spot, which he himself blessed with his own holy hand and directed him to set up there; when Domningus arrived, at the very beginning of the night, he and the religious men who were with him saw clear lamps descend from heaven and illuminate that whole region of the site like a ray of sunlight, and he saw this vision shine there for three nights with the sweetness of a miraculous fragrance; then he erected the blessed cross in that same place, and after building a small hut, he returned to Saint Rupert, confirming the earlier claim with a certain report. Saint Rupert also consulted with Theodo and went to that same wilderness himself. Seeing that the place could be made suitable for human habitation, he began to clear away the old oaks and dense thickets to turn them into a level field, and to build a church with dwellings for the servants of God. In those same times, Theodo fell into a serious illness, and feeling that the end of his life was approaching, he called his son Theobert to him and appointed him duke of the Noricans, instructing him to obey Saint Rupert for the sake of the Christian faith.
Mission and Final Rest
Rupert expands his mission, organizes the church, and eventually departs this life for eternal glory after a final Easter celebration.
He instructed his son to help him diligently with the divine work and to constantly exalt the holy place of the Salzburg church with love, honors, and dignities; and when he had instructed his son in these commands and in everything else he had wished, he finished his life and migrated to the Lord. After this, Theodo went to visit him and, arriving at that hermitage, he venerated the place with devout affection, giving to the church that Saint Rupert had built there—and which he dedicated in the presence of the duke himself in honor of Saint Maximian—three miles of the surrounding forest and the village of Albina, along with other gifts, for the sustenance of the monks whom the holy bishop had placed there to serve God. With these things done, the man of God, seeing the dignity of Bavaria... He saw that they had submitted themselves to the yoke of Christ, but that many were still caught in the errors of paganism; so he returned to his own country and from there, with twelve chosen companions to preach with him—among whom were the excellent Chrysanthus and Cisilarinus, both priests and both holy men—and bringing with him the holy virgin of Christ, Erudrudis, his niece, he returned to the city of Salzburg as if with so many lights. Then, in the upper castle of that same city, he built a monastery in honor of our Lord Jesus Christ and His holy mother, the perpetual virgin Mary, and he placed there a congregation of nuns, setting the holy Erudrudis to the service of the heavenly King, and with the agreement of Duke Theodo, who handed over infinite possessions to that monastery, he reasonably arranged their way of life in every respect. When these things were finished, this blessed man, striving to bring the work of preaching he had begun to perfection with the help of the supreme Creator, decided to travel around the Noric kingdoms with a company of his disciples. Leaving the city of Salzburg, he visited the nations upon whom the light of faith had not yet shone, and he sowed the wheat of belief among them as the weeds perished. He drove out the demonic deceptions from their barbarian hearts and introduced faith, chastity, mercy, and humility, through which Christ, the giver of all good things and the source of the human mind, is accustomed to enter the heart as a dwelling place. When he had traveled around the borders of Bavaria and converted everyone to the faith, he admonished them to remain steadfast in that faith. Having left behind priests to accustom the people to the divine mysteries, he himself sought to return to the city of Salzburg, because, filled with a prophetic spirit, he foresaw that the day of his calling was at hand, which he announced to his disciples. They were devastated by such a sad sign and wept, asking why he would abandon them and the newly converted people of Christianity. He, with his hope fixed on Christ, commended the city of Salzburg and the people of Noricum to Almighty God and chose Vitalis, a holy man, to be his successor for all the people. When the days of Lenten observance were being kept, the man of God began to be worn down by the heat of a fever. When the most holy day of Christ's resurrection had dawned, he celebrated the solemnity of the Mass and, fortified by the viaticum of the holy Body of Christ, after sweet admonitions of fatherly piety and after his final words of charity, he confirmed the brothers. Between his holy hands, amid the voices of those weeping and the pious sobs of those mourning, the angelic choirs were heard by certain religious men in heaven, who with a melodic voice were carrying his holy soul to eternal happiness.
Read the original Latin
Hodierna festivitas sanctissimi ac beatissimi patris nosiri Ruperti, quae ejus nobis in paradisum transihun exsultabilem reddit, piis mentibus mystica gaudia exhibet, Quae, dum annorum cursus inde volvilur, in nostris cordibus semper retenta jucunditate innovatur, Cum enim dicat scriptura: in memoria aeterna erit justus, digne in memorian vertitur homiumm, qui ad gaudium transit angelorum , dumque dicat: gloria patris est filius sapiens, quantae hujus sunt gloriae, qui tot barbaricas nationes ad agnitionem Dei in Christo Jesn per evangelium regeneravit! Tempore namque Hyloperti regis Francorum, anno scilicet ejus regni secundo, sanctus confessor Christi in Wormatia habebatur episcopus, qui ex regali prosapia Francorum nobiliter ortus nobilior fide et potestate fuit, Erat enim mansuetus et castus, simplex et prudens, in laude Dei devotus, plenus spiritn sancto, providus im consilio, justus in judicio, a dextris et a sinistris virtutum armis munilus, gregi suo forna bene agendi factus, quia, quod verbis moneret, hoc operum praerogativa confirmavit. Hine enim se frequentibus exercebat vigiliis, inde continuatis macerabat inediis, opns suum misericordia ornabat, qua thesauros dispersit, ut saepe egente pauperes ditesceret , qui suum solum hoc esse credidit, quod nudus aut inops accepisset, Cum igitur praecellentissima fuma hujus viri in fines terrarum exiisset, quamplurimi illustres viri non solum a vicinis, sed etiam ab exleris nationibus ad ejus sanctissimam confluxerant doctrinam, ut vel illius sacratissimo alloquio in tristitia cujuslibet anxietatis consolationem susciperent, vel ecclesiasticae religionis ab eo puram veritatem audirent, Unde et multi illius benigna deyotione a laqueis hostis antiqui liberati sunt et vias perpetuae vitae ingrediebantur, sed infideles, qui plurimi erant in regione Wormacensi, illius sanctitatem nou ferentes multis eum suppliciis affectuin et virgis caesum a civitate cuim magna ejecerunt injuria, Igitur eodem tempore Theodon dux Bavarorun audiens beati viri sanctitatem et miracula, quae faciebat, desideravit illum videre et nüssis optimatibus suis obnixe eum postulabat, quatenus regiones Bavarorum visitare dignaretur et ejus salutiferae credulitatis viam insinmaret, Sanclas vero episcopus, ubi tantae legationis postulationes percepit, sciens hujusinodi causam ex divina dispensatione procedere, gratias coelesti clementiae agebat, quod sedentes in tenebris et umbra mortis autorem vitae lumen verum Christum Jesum agnoscere optarent, Itaque cum iisdem legatis sacerdotes suos quasi radios fidei ad eundem ducem praemisit et ipse non longo temporis spatio interposito post eos iu Bavarorum terram iter aggreditur, Quod cum praefatus dux audiisset, magno perfusus gandio cum procincin procenun suorum obviam properavit et in urbe Ratisbona cmn summa alacritate. illum. excepit, Tunc ibidem sanctus Rupertns indicto jejunio coelestibus ministeriis ducem informavit et in fide vera roboravit et ydolorum cultibus abrenuntiare fecit et in nomine sanctae et individuae trinitatis baptizavit, Daptizati sunt cum co oplinates sui et populus nom modicus nobilium ac igmobilium redemtorem mundi laudantium, qui eos de tenebris in admirabile lumen suwmn vocare dignatus est, beatum confessorem Christi, per cujus verba irradiata sunt corda tenebrosa et infidelium arentia pectora fontem vitae sitiebant, Baptizato itaque duce et populo, qui divina illustrante gratia sacramentum salutaris lavacri susceperat, Obsecratus a Theodone sanctus Rupertus navi ascensa per alveun Danubii descendendo vicis et castellis libera voce evangelium Christi praedicavit et per terminos Noricorum usque ad inferiorem Pannoniam ipse clara lucerna super candelabrum posita lumen fidei ministrando pervenit indeque per terram reversus Lauriacensium urbem intravit, in qua multos aqua baptismatis regenerando ab ydolornm cultura convertit et plures variis languoribus oppressos in nomine domini sanavit, Lauriaco namque degressus, in quocunque loco amplins fervere gentilitatis errorem cognovit, illio intrepidus accessit, destruens. ydol , deminuens sünulacra, commendans ubique domini nostri Jesu Christi divinitatem pariter et sacram ejus incarnationem, ut unus idemque Deus esse crederetar et homo ante Luciferuin à patre Deo verus Deus genitus, in fine temporum pro humana salute. ex virgine malre verbum Dei verus homo natus, qui illuminat omnem hominem venientem in hunc mundum, Sed cum jam vir domini secundum postulationem ducis et populi sibi locum ad episcopalem sedem eligere aptum ineditarelur, secus stagnum Walarii laci venit, ubi ecclesiam in honore principis apostolorum Petri construxit et dedicavit. Exiit inde ad Junaruim fluvium, ubi olim Juvano civitas fuit, quae antiquis mirabiliter exstructa temporibus inter Bavaricas urbes eminebat nobilissima, sed tunc raro incola inhabitanle paene dilapsa et virgultis erat cooperta, Quem locun servus Dei ad cathedram episcopalem considerans esse idoneum, quippe inter inontana n populari tuinu tu.
semotum, proprietate hujus a duce sibi tradita cum summo studio renovavit, construens ibi basilicam, quin. in honore beati Petri apostolorum principis dedicavit et clericorum officiis rebusque necessariis munificentia CTTheodonis inagnifice dotavit, postea vero delegato sacerdotum officio omnem ibidem quotidie cursum congruo ordine fecit celebrari, Sanctus vir domini cupiens argumentare loca a praefato duce aliquem fiscum suum, vocabulo dictum Pidigen, inter aurum et argentuin n millenis comparavit solidis et sic deinceps Deo auxiliante ex traditione regum sive ducum sive fidelium. viroruin loci res accrescere coeperunt, Forro diebus quidam probabiles viri beato pontifici cum magna adiniralione narraverunt, quod ipsi in eremo, quae tunc temporis verbo appellationis caruit, nunc. Wongobi dicitur, coelestia prodigia ardentiuin. lucernarum ter quaterque vidissent et inirificae. suavitatis. odorem ibi redolere sensissent, Mirantibus autem cunctis, qui aderant, super talibus prodigiis sanctus episcopus Domningum presbiterum suum ad eundem locum misit, praecipiens, ut veritatem hujus signi diligenter approbaret, ponendo in eodem loco crucem ligneam, quam ipse sanctas sua manu benedixit et illic direxit, Domningus vero cum illuc pervenisset, statim primo noctis exordio cmm religiosis, qui secum aderant, coelitus einissas adspiciebat claras lucernas descendere et tokun illam regionem loci instar solaris radii irradiare, et hana visionem per tres noctes cum suavitate mirifici odoris ibi viderat irradiare, Tunc ipse in eodem loco benedictam crucem erexit et superfabricato tugurio ad sanctum Bupertlumn regressus est, priorem assertionem certa relatione confirmans. Sanctus Rupertus quoque communicans consilio cum Theodone per semetipsum eandem eremum adiit et videns locum humanis habitationibus posse fieri aptum annosa robora exstirpare silvarunque condensa in planitiem campi redigere ac ecclesiam cum habitaculis servorum Dei aedificare coe lisdem vero temporibus Theodo adversam incidit in valetudinem, cumque sibi vitae terminum appropinquare sentiret, vocavit ad se Theobertum filium suum et ducem Noricorum illun constituit, praecipiens ei obedire sancto Ruperto, ad christianitatem.
suam et ad opns divinum illum diligenter adjuvare sanctumque locum Juvaviensis ecclesiae amore et honoribus et dignitatibus jugiter sublimare, Cumque hujuscemodi mandatis et omnibus, quibus- voluerat, filium instruxisset, ultütum diem clausit migrans ad dominum, Post hoo vero Theobertus cum optimatibus suis ad sanctum Ruperlum. visendi gratia ire perrexit et veniens ad illum in supradicta eremo locum pio venerabatur affectu, dans ad ecclesiam, quam sanctus Rupertus ibi construxit ac ipso duce praesente in honore sancti Maximiani dedicavit, tria milliaria undique de eadem silva et villam Albinam cum caeteris donariis in alimoniam monachorum , quos sanctus pontifex ibi Deo serviendum posuerat. His ita gestis videns vir Dei Bavariae dignitatis. culmen jugo Christi sese subdidisse, sed gentilitatis errore plures involutos superesse, ad patriam suam repedavit et inde cum duodecim ad praedicaadum sibi sociis electis, inler quos erant eximii UCrisantus, Cisilarins, ambo presbiteri, ambo viri sancti, et secum virginem Christi sanctam Erudrudem neptem suam adducens quasi cum tot luminaribus ad urbem Juvaviensem regreditur. Tunc in superiori castro ejusdem civitatis construxit in honore domini nostri Jesu Christi et suae sanctae genitricis perpetuae virginis Mariae monasterimm et ibidem congregationem sanctimonialium , posuit sanctain Erudrudem ad servitium coelestis régis atque cum T heoberti ducis adstipulatione, qui possessiones ad illud coenobium tradidit infinitas, earum conversationem per omn rationabiliter disposuit. His ita expletis iste vir beatus inceptum praedicationis opus cum summi opificis adjutorio studens ad perfectionem perducere, Norioa regna discipulorum suorum comitante caterva circnire destinavit et ab urbe egrediens Juvaviensi gentes, quibus nondum fidei lumen resplenduerat, visitavit et iis triticum credulitatis lolio pereunte seminavit, Nam a cordibus eorum barbaricis hospitibus dyabolicae deceptionis perfugatis illuc intromisit fidem, castitatein , misericordiam, humilitatem, per quos pacificos habitatores Christus omnium bonorum largitor et origo humanae mentis domicilium intrare solet, Cumque sic Bavarorumn terminos circuire ac omnes ad fidem convertisset, eos, ut in fide stabiles permanerent, admonuit et dimissis presbiteris, qui populum ad divina mysteria consuescerent, ipse ad urbem Juvaviensem remeare studuit, quia spiritu prophetico repletus diem vocationis suae instare praescivit, quem discipulis snis praenuntiavit, Alli tali et tam tristi indicio consternati, cur eos et tain novella christianitatis plebem desereret, lacrymati sunt, Ile spe erecta ad Christum urbem Juvaviensem et populum Noricorum omnipotenti Deo commendavit et Vitalem virun sanctum et omni populo accephum sibi fieri successorem elegit, Cum vero dies quadragesimalis observantiae agerentur, febrium ardore vir Dei fatigari coepit, cumque sanctissima dies resurrectionis Christi illuxisset, sollemnia missarum celebravit et munitus sacro sancti corporis Christi viatico post dulces paternae pietatis adinonitiones et post extrema caritatis verba fratres confirinantia inter sanctas manus, lacrymantium voces, inler pios plangentium singultus coetus angelici a quibusdam religiosis viris in coelo audiebantur, qui voce canora animai sanctam ferebant ad aeternam felicitatem,
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