De sancto Kiliano
The Noble Vocation of Kilian
Born of noble lineage, Kilian embraces the monastic life and advances in virtue, eventually accepting the priesthood to serve his brothers.
Kilian was of Scottish descent, born to noble parents, yet he was most distinguished by the nobility of divine grace; Scotland, also known as Ireland, is an island in the sea, fertile in its soil but even more famous for its holy men. Italy rejoices in Columbanus, and Gaul in him. Germany is enriched by him, and Teutonic France is ennobled by Kilian. As we have said, he was born of noble lineage and, from childhood, was committed to the liberal arts; as his knowledge of letters grew, he diligently began to seek the way of truth. Finally, with the grace of God going before him, he spurned the study of human letters and all such enticements, sought out a monastery, denied himself, and took up his cross. He followed Christ. Therefore, the end of his life revealed how great his obedience was in the monastery, and how great his persistence in vigils and prayers. For although the palm of martyrdom consists more in grace than in merit, it is nonetheless fulfilled by good works; therefore, the brothers, seeing... ...the blessed man's perseverance in the virtues of the monastery, first advanced him through the ecclesiastical ranks to the priesthood. They began to urge him to ascend through prayers and then to take on the care of that same monastery. But he, knowing that the perfection of charity cannot perfectly consist without love of neighbor, allowed himself to be diminished a little in his own affairs so that he might be useful to the benefit of the brothers, imitating...
Missionary Zeal and Roman Approval
Seeking obscurity and divine service, Kilian travels to Germany and secures the blessing of the Roman Pontiff to preach the Gospel.
He was like the Apostle, desiring to be anathema from Christ for the sake of his brothers and kinsmen according to the flesh; yet as the reputation of this blessed man spread far and wide, he feared that popular favor might leave a wrinkle of stain upon him, and he began to consider how he might leave his acquaintances and relatives behind. He sought out lands far away where he could be held obscure in reputation and lowly in status, so that he might be freer to devote himself to divine worship; and so, having finished his deliberation about leaving, he gathered the brothers who burned with the same fervor and arrived in Britain, near Scotland, and then reached Gaul. Having passed through that, he arrived in the province of Germany—which the inhabitants of that land call Eastern Francia—and there in the city of Würzburg he decided to stay, not fearing to experience the ferocity of an unbelieving people, because he was fearless and longed for the crown of martyrdom. Martyrdom. Yet he refrained from preaching for a time until he could present himself to the Roman Pontiff, so that he might receive from the Roman See both the complete dogma of the Christian religion and the license to preach. At that time, Conon, a pontiff well-versed in both human and divine letters, suitable for the pontifical office and capable in ecclesiastical affairs, presided over the Roman Church. He, having heard of the faith of the blessed Kilian, was bound by the ties of charity and gave thanks to God, and he bestowed himself upon him with the love of charity, rejoicing that the seeds of divine eloquence were being increased by teachers from the islands and from far away; for he was with the distinguished... pontiff. not without great joy, because he perceived. Little by little, the ancient enemy's deception was emptied out. As his ministers grew, the enemy [sought to hinder] the blessed man in the divine work of his office. Then, by the consent of the whole city, he was promoted to an office that enabled him to perform the blessing of chrism, the dedication of churches, and the conferring of holy orders without reproach; having accomplished these things, he sent him away to persist in the work he had begun. [He acted] for the sake of the reward of eternal retribution from the Lord. The blessed Kilian, therefore, having left the city... ...having finished his preparations. On the journey, he arrived with the priest Columbanus and the deacon Totnan at the place destined for him, having left Columbanus behind, for he had sent him away because he was burdened by a persistent fever; he then proceeded to Rome, and from there to the aforementioned... ...city of Würzburg, not him.
Preaching the Gospel in Würzburg
Kilian arrives in Würzburg, where his eloquent preaching and divine grace lead Duke Gosbert and his people to renounce paganism for the faith.
whom he had left in that same province. He found the leader he had left, but it was another man named Gosbert; the venerable man then began his work. He began to provide the food of the divine word to the unbelieving people. The Lord had granted him such grace that in a short time he learned the language of the people and was able to sow the seeds of truth among them in their own tongue. Everyone marveled not only at the novelty of his teaching but also at its richness. And at his eloquence. The effectiveness of his virtue also accompanied the fluency of his speech, and it was fulfilled in him. It is what the Truth promises the apostles, saying: 'I will give you a mouth and wisdom,' and again: 'The works that I do, you also will do.' But as the seeds of the divine word began to grow and the people gradually turned away from the errors of paganism, the fame of the holy man reached even the leaders of the people, so that it did not escape the notice of the duke of the province, who ordered the same holy man to be brought to him, wishing to test what this doctrine was that had been unknown to him until now; the prince himself was naturally gifted, though stained by the error of paganism, and when the blessed Kilian arrived, he began to teach him the dogma of the true religion, instructing the father. He taught him that the Son and the Holy Spirit are one God, immutable, the creator of all things visible and invisible; the aforementioned prince, admiring the great constancy of the blessed man and the invincible truth of his words—for he was, as we have said, naturally gifted—admitted he was overcome by these true arguments and deferred his hearing, wishing to examine through frequent discussion with him whether the faith Kilian taught or the worship of Diana should be preferred. For Diana was held in the highest veneration among them. Nevertheless, the noble man labored with constant persistence to restore to God the souls the devil was trying to destroy. The duke, seeing the constancy of the blessed Kilian's preaching, came to him in secret, desiring to be instructed in his teachings so that, having entered the path of truth, he might be able to drive away the twists and turns of error. After being diligently instructed by the blessed man in the documents of the Catholic faith, he gave his name along with many others on the following day of the Lord's Resurrection. He was washed with water. He was cleansed. He earned the absolution of his former error through the baptismal washing, and it happened that almost the entire eastern province of Francia, having abandoned the worship of demons, devoted itself to the divine religion, and Duke Gosbert, through the constant admonition of the blessed Kilian, turned to God.
The Conflict of Truth and Passion
Kilian confronts the duke regarding his illicit marriage, inciting the wrath of Geilana, who plots to destroy the holy men.
He was improving for the better day by day. . However, he had a wife according to the custom of the pagans. She was the wife of his late brother. She was joined to him in marriage, and her name was Geilana. conjugio fuerat copulata, nomine Geilana,. . . However. The man of God did not want to forbid such a marriage at the beginning of the faith, lest the aforementioned prince be led into regret for his belief by the severity of the requirement in all things. And this is what the Apostle says to those not yet perfect in the faith: "I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, as to infants in Christ; for solid food is for the perfect." Because he knew it was a serious matter, he put it off until later, knowing at the same time through divine revelation that in this affair the cause of martyrdom was established for himself and his companions, so that he might be of service to many in the meantime; he therefore refrained from condemning such a marriage for the time being, even though he longed to be dissolved and to be with Christ, imitating the Apostle who was lowered in a basket by the brothers through the wall—not because he feared death, but so that he might be of service to many before his death. Nevertheless, one day the blessed man... while speaking informally with the duke, is said to have remarked among other things: "My son, whom..." I have begotten through the Gospel, I rejoice greatly in the progress of your faith, but it troubles me much that... you are held back by an illicit marriage, and I fear greatly that you are being delayed from the right path, for it is written... As Saint James teaches, if you keep the whole law but fail in one point, you are guilty of breaking it all. Furthermore, a person is made new in baptism—not just in part, but entirely. Yet, to be made completely new, they must hold onto nothing of their former error. Hearing this, the prince hesitated at first, then drew a deep sigh—for he loved her dearly, having taken her as his wife—and he is said to have replied: "I have heard you, Father, saying that..." "The Lord Jesus commanded that nothing be preferred to his love—not father, not mother, not children, not a wife—and for that reason, although I love the wife joined to me uniquely, I still prefer divine love. But right now, I do not have the leisure to look into how I might send her away, because I am rushing off against the enemies of our republic; when I have returned, however, once I have found the opportunity to send her away, I will separate from her." When this reached the ears of Geilana (for who could deceive a lover?), she flared up in a heavy rage, like a lioness whose cubs have been snatched away, and for a long time she raged to herself; from that moment, she began to seek how she might destroy the holy men. For no beast in this world is like a wicked woman; thus, this woman was both godless and cunning. She meditated on how... ...she might destroy the holy men without a public outcry and without the common people knowing. She was armed with the impatience of anger and the fury of lust. And because the devil provides fuel for the malice of the wicked...
The Crown of Martyrdom
Warned by a divine vision, Kilian and his companions accept their death at the hands of assassins, sealing their witness with their blood.
They provided the means, and two ministers of cruelty were found to make the promise. They pledged to satisfy Geilana’s desires—woe to the believer. Blessed Kilian was accustomed, after a brief, necessary sleep, to keep watch and spend time in prayer. One night, however, as he drifted into a light sleep—neither fully asleep nor fully awake—a man of most beautiful appearance and bearing appeared to him and said, 'Kilian, my friend, rise. I don't want you to labor any longer; you're being tested by only one struggle, and then you'll always be with me.' Having said this, he departed. The noble man woke up, and realizing that a divine visitation had come to him, he called the brothers together and said, 'Brothers, keep watch; the Lord will soon arrive and knock at the door. We must be careful that he doesn't find us sluggish with sleep. Let us add oil to our lamps while there is still time, so that if it happens to run out, we don't begin to search when we're no longer able to find it.' While they were occupied with prayer in the middle of the night, the executioners arrived at the place with drawn swords. When the priest of God saw them, he said, 'My friends, why have you come? You will fulfill the command and finish the course.' With these words, they were killed right there. They were buried in the earth so that no one would know what had become of them, and the sacred books they were using for the divine offices were buried along with them, so that no evidence of their murder could be discovered, and people would think they had secretly left on a customary pilgrimage. Yet it was so. Someone gathered them and carefully buried them in the earth; he knew the bodies were hidden there, and he honored the places with devotion.
Read the original Latin
Kilianus Scotorum genere, nobilibus parentibus, divinae tamen gratiae lactus est nobilitate clarissimus, Scotia, quae et Hybernia dicitar, insula est maris, foecnuda quidem glebis, sed sanctissimis clarior viris. Ex quibus Cohunbano gaudet Italia, Gallo. ditatur Alemannia, Kiliano Tentonica nobilitatur Francia. Qui, ut diximus, nobili prosapia editus a pueritia liberalibus studi traditus simul cum litterarum incrementis diligenter coepit indagare viam w falis, Tandem praeveniente se gratia Dei spretis humanarum litterarum stndiis omnibusque hujusmodi illecebris monasterium petiit, abnegavit semet ipsam inlitque crucem. snam et secutus est Christum, Jgitur in monasterio positas quantae obedientiae, quantae fuit vigiliarmn et orationum instantiae, vitae praesentis terminus declaravit. Quamvis etenim martirii palma per gratiam magis quam per meritum constet, bonis tamen adimpletar opibus, Videntes itaque fratres. monasterii in virtutum perfectionibus beati viri perseverantiam primo emm per ecclesiasticos gradus ad officimm presbiteratus. precibus ascendere, deinde ejusdem monasterii curan sumere coeperont, Ille autem sciens, perfectionem caritatis sine dilectione proximi perfecte constare non posse, passus est in propriis aliquantulum minorari , ut fratemim prodesse posset utilitati, imitatus.
apostohum cupientem anathema fieri a Christo pro fratribus et cognatis secundum carnem, Verumtamen cum fama beati viri longe lateque crebresceret, metuens ipse, ne favor popularis maculae sibi rugam infigeret, coepit meditari, qualiter notos et propinquos relinqueret. peteretque longe sepositas terras, ubi obscurus fama et vilis genere posset haberi, quo liberius divinis cultibus vacare valeret, Deliberatione itaque recedendi peracta collectis fratribus, in quibus idem fervor ardebat, ad vicinam Scotiae Britanniam devenit, deinde Gallimn attigit. Qua permeata in provinciam Germaniae devenit, quae ab incolis terrae ipsius orientalis Francia vocatur, ibique in urbe Herbipoli se morari disposuit, non veritus incredulae gentis feritatem experiri, eo quod intrepidus coronam optaret. martirii. Sed tamen a praedicationis verbo interim abstinuit, donec Romano pontifici se praesenlaret, quatenus apud sedem Romanam et integrum religionis christianae dogma et licentiam praedicandi acciperet, Turic autem praeerat Romanae ecclesiae Conon pontifex humanis divinisque litteris pollens, pontificali officio congruus et in rebus ecclesiasticis idoneus. Qui audita fide beati Kiliani caritatis nexibus illigatus Deo gratias retulit eique sese caritatis amore inpertivit, exsultans semina divini eloquii ab insulanis ac longe positis doctoribus augeri, Erat enim apud egregium. pontificem. non modica exsultatio, quia cernebat.
paulatim evacuari frandem antiqui. hostis crescentibus ministris beatum virum in praesulatus divinae operationis. Tnnc ex consensu totins ur officium promovit, quo et chrisma conficere et ecclesias dedicare et sacros ordines dare irreprehensibiliter valeret, His ita peractis dimisit ewm, nt coepto operi insisteret parato. sibi a domino praemio aeternae retributionis. Beatus itaqne Kilianus urbem egressus. peracto. itinere cum Columbano presbitero et "Totnanno levita ad locum sibi destinatum pervenit, Columbnno relicto, nam mannta febre gravatum dimisit, Pervenieus Romam pergens Gallum in A ad praedictam. urbem Herbipolin non eum.
quem in eadem provincia. ducem reliquerat, invenit, sed alium nomine Gosbertum, Porro venerabilis vir panlatun coepit. pabula divini verbi incredulis populis aninistrare. Tantam ei dominus gratiam contulerat, ut in brevi tempore gentis loqnelam perdisceret eisque proprio sermone semina veritatis erogaret. Mirabantur antem Omnes non solum novitatem doctrinae, sed etiam exuberantiam. eloquentiae. facundiam quoque sermonis comitabatur efficacia virtutis, Inpletuim est in. illo, quod veritas apostolis promittit dicens: ego dabo vobis os et sapientiam, et iterum: opera, quae ego facio, et vos facietis.
Sed cum jam semina divini eloquii suocrescerent et plebs gradatim minueretnr ab errore gentilitatis, usqne ad principes populi sancti viri fama pervenil, ut ducem quoque provinciae non lateret, Qui eundem sanctum virum sibi praesentari jussit, experiri cupiens, quae esset haec doctrina sibi hactenus incognita, Erat nutem ipse princeps natarali ingenio praeditus, licet gentilitatis errore foedatus, Ad quem beatus Kilanus perveniens constanter verae religionis dogma insinuare coepit, docens patrem. et filium et spiriliun sanctum unum esse Deum incommutabilem, visibilium et invisibilium omnium creatorem, Praefatus vero princeps admiratus tantam beati viri constantiun et serinonum insuperabilem veritatem, quia natnrali, nt diximus, pollebat ingenio, veris se sententiis superatum ad ejus distulit audilionem, volens frequenti apud se tractatu rimari, utrum, quem Kilianus docebat, an Dianae cultus praeponendus foret. Diana namque apud ilhun snmma veneratione habebatur. Verumtamen vir egregius jugi instantia laborabat, ut Deo redderet animas, quas dyabolus perdere conabatur, Porro praenominatus dux cernens constanliam praedicationis beati Kiliani secreto venit ad eum, cupiens doctrinis suis instrui, quatenus inito tramile veritalis abigere valeret anfractus erroris. Sed a beatissimo viro catholicae fidei documentis diligenter instructus proximo die dominicae resurrectionis cum multis aliis dato nomine. aqua. lotus. baplisinatis absolutionem pristini promeruit erroris, Sicque factum est, nt paene tola provincia orientalis Franciae relicto daemonum cultu divinae religioni operam daret, Praedictns dux Gosbertus monitu assiduo beati Kiliani ad.
meliora de die in diem proficiebat,. . Erat autem illi conjux secundum zentilitatis. ritum, quae. quondam fratris ipsins. conjugio fuerat copulata, nomine Geilana,. . .
Sed. vir-Dei idcirco in initio fidei tale nolnit conjugium prohibere, ne in poenitudinem credulitatis gravitate in omnibus praelibatus princeps duceretur. Et hoc est, quod apostolus nondum in fide perfectis dicit: tamquam parvulis in Christo lac vobis potum dedi, non escam, perfectonun enim solidus est cibus. Ideo qnod noverat gravius, distulit in futurum simulque divino revelante spiritu sciens, in hac re sibi et sociis causam constare martirii, ut mnltis interea prodesset, interim omisit tale damnare conjngiun, licet cnperet dissolvi et esse cum Christo, imitatus apostolum, qui in sporta a fratribus per murum dimissus esl, non ut morlem timeret, sed nt multis ante mortem prodesset. Vermntamen emn quadam die bealus. praesul ducem familiariter alloqueretur, dixisse inter caelera fertur: fili mi, quem. per evangelium genui, gaudeo valde in profectu fidei tuae, sed multum mè movet, quod. illicitis nuptiis detineris, et vereor nimis, quod a recto itinere tali conjugio relarderis, legitur enin.
beato Jacobo docente, quia, qui totam legem servaverit, offendit aulem in uno, factns est Omnium. reus, Praeterea in baptismate innovatur homo et non ex parte, sed totus; ut autem totus. innovari possit, nihil pristini retinere debet erroris, Audiens antem hoc princeps primo haesit s "pore, deinde alta suspiria trahens (valde enim diligebat eam; qumn habebat uxorem ) tale deinde fertur dedisse responsum: audivi, pater, te dicente, quia. dominns Jesns praecepit nihil suo amori praeferendum, non patrem, non matrem, non filios, non uxorem, et idcirco, quamvis unice diligam juncta mihi uxórem, praepono tamen divinun amorem sed nunc non adest mihi otium inquirendi, qualiter eam dimittam, quia conlra hostes nostrae reipublicae festino, cum anlem reversus fuero, inventa opportunitate dimittendi separabor ab illa. Hoc vero cum ad aures Geilanae pervenisset (quis eniin fallere posset amantem, gravi incandnit ira cen raptis catulis leaena diuque secum bacchata ex eo coepit quaerere, quomodo sanctos viros exstingueret, Nulla enim bestia in hoc mundo similis est mulieris malae, Sic haec mulier nefanda callida. meditatione perquirebat, qualiter. sine populari strepitu et vulgi cognitione sanctos viros perderet, Armabatur namque impatientia irae et libidinis furore. Et quia dyabolus iniqua enpientibus fomenta malitiae.
subministrat, inventi sunt duo ministri crudelitatis promitterent. se Satisfacturos Geilanae desideriis, vae creer. auia exsecutionis, Solebat itaque beatus Kilianus post parvam dormitionem necessitatis ad stadium vigilare provectaeque orationis, quadam vero nocte, cum leves somnos caperet, ita ut nec dommiret integre nec vigilaret aperte , -apparuit-ei vir habitu formaque pulcherrimus dicens: Kiliame amice surge, nolo te diutius laborare; uno dumtaxat certamine tangeris et sic semper mecum eris, His dictis abscessit. Evigilans antem egregius vir, intelligens, divinum sibi-adesse visitationem, convocatis fratribus ait: fratres vigilate; cito-aderit dominus et pulsabit januam, cavendum ergo est, ne nos somno torpentes- inveniat, addamus ergo oleum lampadibus, dum tempus est, ne, si forte defecerit, tuno-incipiamus quaerere, quando non poterimus invenire, 1llis itaque media-moete'orationi vacantibus carnifices strictis gladiis locum, in à cum sacerdos Dei intuitus esset, ait: mmnici, ad quid venistis: implebitis -praeceptum, consnmmabitis cursum. His dictis interfecti sunt ibique. terrae anandati, ne quis scire posset, quid de illis factum foret, quib divina officia peragebant, sacri quoque libri simul cum-iis- defossa sunt, ne quid indicium necis eorum deprehendi: posset, sed clam discessisse putaren fur causa solitae peregrinationis. Erat tamen. quaedam ) collegit ac terrae diligenter infodit, vigiliis et o corpora obruta noverat, excolebat loca veneratione, Lor e H oa pwe - m m ;O alc
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