The treatise De Natura et Origine Animae was written towards the end of the year 419. ↩
S. Paul, 2 Thessalonians 2:8, 9. ↩
Pseudo-Clementines. ↩
2 Thessalonians 2:8–9: “That wicked one … whose coming is according to the working of Satan, in all power, and signs, and lying wonders.” ↩
Sulpicius Severus, who has been styled the Christian Sallust, was born in Aquitaine about 360; and died circa 420–25. He became a personal friend and enthusiastic disciple of S. Martin, and lived near Eauze, at Toulouse and Luz in Southern France. His Life of S. Martin was very popular during the Middle Ages, as also were his Two Dialogues, formerly divided into three. His works are to be found in Migne, Patres Latini, XX, 95–248. ↩
In 487 Equitius was Bishop of Matelica, a diocese now joined to Fabriano. Only one other Bishop (Florentius) of the ancient see is known. ↩
Enea Silvio de’ Piccolomini was born at Corsignano, near Siena, 18 October, 1405; and elected to the Chair of S. Peter, 19 August, 1459. He died at Ancona, 14 August, 1464. ↩
Praxedes and Pudentiana were the daughters of the Senator Pudens, a pupil of S. Peter. There was an old title-church of Rome, “titulus Pudentis,” called also the “ecclesia Pudentiana.” The two female figures in the mosaic of the apse of S. Pudenziana, via Urbana, are Pudentiana and Praxedes. In the fourth century a new church, “titulus Praxedis,” was built near Santa Maria Maggiore, and when Paschal I in 822 rebuilt the church in its present form (the basilica and title-church S. Prassede all’ Esquilino) he translated to it the bodies of S. Praxedes, S. Prudentiana, and of many other martyrs. Under the High Altar are the chief Relics of the Saints. In the Chapel of S. Zeno, which dates from the ninth century, is the Holy Pillar of the Scourging brought in 1223 from Jerusalem by Cardinal Giovanni Colonna. Another portion of the Holy Pillar is preserved in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at Jerusalem, where it is publically venerated each year on Easter Eve. S. Prassede is one of the richest churches in Rome in Relics. It contains the Bodies of S. Zoe, S. Feldian, S. Candid, S. Basil, S. Celestine I, S. Nicomedius; important Relics of S. Matthew, S. Luke, S. Bartholomew, S. Philip, S. Andrew, S. Peter, S. Paul, and S. John Baptist; some of the garments of Our Lady; a piece of the seamless robe of Our Lord; three Thorns from the Crown of Thorns; and four fragments of wood from the True Cross. ↩
“Doctor planus et utilis,” the famous exegete, was born at Lyra in Normandy, 1270; and died at Paris, 1340. He is the author of numerous theological works, by far the most famous of which is his monumental Postillae perpetuae in uniuersam S. Scripturam, which was so popular that it gained the distinction of being the first biblical commentary to be printed. ↩
Praeceptorum diuinae legis Liber, of which there were seventeen editions before 1500. I have used that of Douai, 1612. ↩
Sigebert of Gembloux, the celebrated Benedictine historian, was born at Gembloux (pr. Namur) about 1035, and died at the same place, 5 November, 1112. He was a prolific author, and his most famous work, Chronicon siue Chronographia, is the basis of many other histories. It has frequently been reprinted. The works of Sigebert may be conveniently found in Migne, Patres Latini, CLX. There is a study by Hirsh, De uita et scriptis Sigeberti Monachi Gemblacensis, Berlin, 1841. ↩
Son of Lothaire I, was born about 822. He became associated with his father in the Empire in 849, and succeeded to the Imperial Crown in 855. He died in 875. ↩
S. Luke 11:21. ↩
Poena damni. ↩
Psalm 82:2. ↩
Inimicitias ponam inter te et mulierem, et semen tuum et semen illius: ipsa conteret caput tuum, et tu insidiaberis calcaneo eius. ↩
The little that is known concerning the author of the Concordantia discordantium canonum, more generally called the Decretum Gratiani, must be gathered from the work itself. Gratian was born in Italy, perhaps at Chiusi. He became a Camaldolese monk and taught at Bologna. It is uncertain at what time he compiled the Decretum, but it was commonly held to have been completed in 1151. More recent authorities, however, are inclined to suggest 1140. Gratian died before 1179, some think as early as 1160. He is regarded as the true founder of the science of canon law. ↩
Psalm 50:19. ↩
S. Alexis, Confessor. Feast, 17 July. The Basilica and title-church of SS. Bonifacio ed Alessio all’ Aventino, Rome, contains the bodies of S. Boniface and S. Alexis under the High Altar. S. Aglae is buried in the confessional.
S. Nicolas of Tolentino, O.S.A., circa 1246–1306. was born of gentlefolk, Compagnonus de Guarutti and Amata de Guidiani, pious and devout, living in great seclusion on very moderate means. He was the child of prayer, his mother being advanced in years and vowing her son, should she bear one,
