Iacobus de Voragine: LEGENDA AUREA

Alexius fuit filius Euphemiani, viri nobilissimi Romanorum et in aula imperatoris primi. Cui tria milia puerorum assistebant, qui zonis aureis cingebantur et vestimentis sericis induebantur. Erat autem praefectus Euphemianus valde misericors et singulis diebus in domo sua tres mensae pauperibus, orphanis, viduis et peregrinis parabantur.

Alexius was the son of Euphemianus, a most noble man of the Romans and of the first rank in the emperor’s court. To him there attended three thousand boys, who were girded with golden belts and clothed in silken garments. Moreover, Prefect Euphemianus was very merciful, and each day in his house three tables were prepared for the poor, the orphans, the widows, and the pilgrims.

Quibus strenue serviebat et hora nona ipse cum viris religiosis cibum in timore Domini capiebat. Cui uxor nomine Aglaes eiusdem religionis ac propositi erat. Cum autem filium non haberent, ad preces tamen suas Dominus contulit iis filium, post quem ipsi deinceps in castitate vivere firmaverunt.

Whom he served strenuously, and at the ninth hour he himself, with religious men, took food in the fear of the Lord. His wife, by name Aglaes, was of the same religion and purpose. And since they did not have a son, yet at their prayers the Lord conferred upon them a son, after whom they themselves thereafter confirmed to live in chastity.

Traditus autem puer liberalibus disciplinis. Cum omnibus philosophiae artibus ipse floreret et iam ad puberem aetatem pervenisset, puella sibi de domo imperiali eligitur et sibi in coniugem copulatur. Venit nox, in qua cum sponsa sua suscepit secreta silentia.

The boy, moreover, was entrusted to the liberal disciplines. When he himself was flourishing in all the arts of philosophy and had already arrived at the age of puberty, a girl was chosen for him from the imperial house and was joined to him in matrimony. Night came, in which, with his bride, he undertook secret silences.

Tunc sanctus iuvenis coepit sponsam suam in Dei timore instruere et ipsam ad virginitatis provocare pudorem. Deinde anulum suum aureum et caput balthei, quo cingebatur, sibi servanda tradidit dicens: "Suscipe hoc et serva, donec Deo placuerit, et Dominus sit inter nos."

Then the holy youth began to instruct his bride in the fear of God and to provoke her to the modesty of virginity. Then he handed over his golden ring and the head (buckle) of the belt by which he was girded to her for safekeeping, saying: "Receive this and keep it, until it shall have pleased God, and may the Lord be between us."

Post hoc de substantia sua accipiens ad mare discessit adscendensque occulte navem Laodiceam usque devenit indeque pergens in Edessam civitatem Syriae profectus est, ubi imago Domini nostri Iesu Christi sine humano opere facta in sindone habebatur. Quo perveniens omnia, quae secum detulerat, pauperibus distribuit et vestimenta vilia induens cum ceteris pauperibus in atrio Dei genitricis Mariae sedere coepit. De eleemosynis vero, quantum sibi sufficere poterat, sibi retinebat.

After this, taking from his substance he departed to the sea, and secretly going aboard a ship he came as far as Laodicea, and thence proceeding he set out to Edessa, a city of Syria, where an image of our Lord Jesus Christ, made without human workmanship, was kept on a sindon (shroud). Arriving there, he distributed to the poor all that he had brought with him, and, putting on cheap garments, he began to sit with the other poor in the atrium of Mary, the Mother of God. From the alms, however, he retained for himself as much as could suffice him.

Cetera vero aliis pauperibus erogabat.

The rest, however, he disbursed to other poor people.

At vero pater de recessu filii plurimum ingemiscens per universas mundi partes pueros suos misit, qui eum inquirerent diligenter. Quorum cum aliqui ad civitatem Edessam venissent, ab eo cogniti, sed ipsi eum minime cognoscentes eidem cum ceteris pauperibus eleemosynas tribuerunt. Quas accipiens Deo gratias agens dixit: "Gratias tibi ago, Domine, quia a servis meis eleemosynam recipere me fecisti." Reversi autem pueri renuntiant patri, quod nusquam valeat reperiri.

But indeed the father, groaning very much over the withdrawal of his son, sent his boys through all the parts of the world to inquire for him diligently. When some of them had come to the city of Edessa, recognized by him but they themselves by no means recognizing him, they gave alms to him along with the other poor. Receiving these and giving thanks to God, he said: "I give thanks to you, Lord, because you have made me receive alms from my own servants." But the boys, having returned, report to the father that he cannot be found anywhere.

Mater autem sua a die sui recessus saccum in pavimento cubiculi sui stravit, ubi evigilans lamentabiles voces dabat dicens: "Hic semper in luctu manebo, donec filium meum recuperavero. Sponsa vero ad socrum dixit: "Donec audiam de sponso meo dulcissimo, instar turturis solitaria tecum manebo.

But his mother, from the day of his departure, spread a sack upon the floor of her bedchamber, where, on waking, she uttered lamentable cries, saying: "Here I will always remain in mourning, until I have recovered my son. But the bride said to her mother-in-law: "Until I hear of my sweetest bridegroom, after the manner of a turtledove, I will remain solitary with you.

Cum igitur in praedicto atrio XVII anno maneret in Dei servitio, imago tandem beatae virginis, quae ibidem erat, custodi ecclesiae dixit: "Fac introire hominem Dei, quia dignus est regno coelorum et spiritus Dei requiescit super eum. Nam oratio eius sicut incensum in conspectum Dei adscendit." Cum autem custos, de quonam diceret, ignoraret, iterum dixit: "Ille, qui foris sedet in atrio, ipse est." Tunc custos festinus exiit et ipsum in ecclesiam introduxit.

Accordingly, when in the aforesaid atrium he was remaining in the service of God for the 17th year, at last the image of the blessed Virgin, which was in the same place, said to the custodian of the church: "Cause the man of God to enter, because he is worthy of the kingdom of the heavens and the Spirit of God rests upon him. For his prayer ascends like incense into the sight of God." But when the custodian did not know of whom she was speaking, she said again: "He who sits outside in the atrium, he is the one." Then the custodian went out in haste and led him into the church.

Quod factum dum cunctis innotesceret et ab omnibus venerari coepisset, humanam gloriam fugiens inde recessit et Laodiceam venit. Ibique navem ascendens cum in Tharsum Ciliciae vellet pergere, dispensante Deo, navis a ventis pulsa in Romanum portum devenit. Quod cernens Alexius ait intra se: "In domo patris mei ignotus manebo nec alteri onerosus ero." Patrem igitur a palatio redeuntem multitudine obsequentium circumdatum obvium habuit ac post eum clamare coepit:

As this deed was becoming known to all and he had begun to be venerated by everyone, fleeing human glory he withdrew from there and came to Laodicea. And there, boarding a ship, when he wished to proceed to Tarsus of Cilicia, by God’s dispensation the ship, driven by the winds, came into a Roman port. Seeing this, Alexius said within himself: "In my father’s house I will remain unknown, nor will I be burdensome to another." Therefore he happened to meet his father returning from the palace, surrounded by a multitude of attendants, and he began to cry out after him:

"Serve Dei, me peregrinum in domo tua suscipi iubeas et de micis mensae tuae me nutriri facias, ut tui quoque peregrini dignetur Dominus misereri." Quod audiens pater ob amorem filii sui eum suscipi iussit et locum proprium in domo sua constituit et cibum de mensa sua tribuit et ministrum proprium delegavit. Ipse autem in orationibus perseverabat et corpus suum ieiuniis et vigiliis macerabat. Famuli autem domus ipsum multipliciter deridebant et aquam utensilium super caput eius frequenter fundebant et multas iniurias ei irrogabant, sed ipse ad omnia patiens valde erat.

"Servant of God, bid that I, a pilgrim, be received in your house, and make me be nourished from the crumbs of your table, that the Lord may deign to have mercy on your pilgrim as well." Hearing this, the father, on account of the love of his son, ordered him to be received and appointed a proper place in his house and gave food from his own table and assigned him his own attendant. He, however, persevered in prayers and macerated his body with fasts and vigils. But the servants of the house mocked him in many ways and often poured the water of the utensils over his head and inflicted many injuries on him, but he was very patient toward all these things.

XVII igitur annos in domo patris permansit sic ignotus.

Therefore for 17 years he remained in his father’s house thus unknown.

Videns igitur per spiritum, quod appropinquaret terminus vitae suae, chartam cum atramento petiit et totum ordinem vitae suae ibidem conscripsit. Dominica igitur die post missarum sollemnia in sanctuario vox de caelo insonuit dicens: "venite ad me omnes, qui laborati et onerati estis, et ego reficiam vos." Quod audientes omnes territi in facies suas deciderunt et ecce vox secundo dicens: "Quaerite hominem Dei, ut oret pro Roma." Quaerentibus illis et minime invenientibus iterum dictum est: "In domo Euphemiani quaerite." Requisitus ille se nihil scire de hoc dicebat. Tunc imperatores Arcadius et Honorius una cum pontifice Innocentio ed domum praedicti viri venerunt et ecce minister Alexii ad dominum suum venit dicens: "Vide domine, ne ille peregrinus noster sit, quia magnae patientiae homo est."

Therefore seeing through the spirit that the terminus of his life was approaching, he asked for a paper with ink and wrote out there the whole order of his life. On the Lord’s day, then, after the solemnities of the Masses, in the sanctuary a voice resounded from heaven, saying: "Come to me all you who are labored and burdened, and I will refresh you." Hearing this, all, terrified, fell upon their faces, and behold, a second time the voice said: "Seek the man of God, that he may pray for Rome." As they were seeking and by no means finding, it was said again: "Seek in the house of Euphemianus." When he was questioned, that man said that he knew nothing of this. Then the emperors Arcadius and Honorius, together with the pontiff Innocent, came to the house of the aforesaid man, and behold, the minister of Alexius came to his lord saying: "See, lord, whether that be our pilgrim, for he is a man of great patience."

Currens igitur Euphemianus eum defunctum reperit et vultum eius tamquam angeli rutilantem vidit voluitque chartam, quam in manu habebat, accipere, sed nequivit. Exeunte igitur eo cum hoc imperatoribus et pontifici retulisset et illi ad eum intrassent, dixerunt: "Quamvis peccatores sumus, regni tamen gubernacula gerimus et hic curam universalem regiminis pastoralis: Da igitur nobis chartam, ut sciamus, quae in ea scripta sunt." Et accedens pontifex chartam de manu sua accepit et ille eam statim sibi dimisit fecitque eam legi coram omni populo et multitudine et patre ipsius.

Therefore Euphemianus, running, found him deceased and saw his face glowing like that of an angel, and he wished to take the paper which he had in his hand, but he was not able. Therefore, going out, when he had reported this to the emperors and to the pontiff and they had entered to him, they said: "Although we are sinners, nevertheless we bear the helm of the kingdom, and here the universal care of pastoral governance: Therefore give us the paper, that we may know the things which are written in it." And the pontiff, approaching, took the paper from his hand, and he at once let it go to him, and he caused it to be read before all the people and the multitude and his father.

At Euphemianus hoc audiens nimio dolore conturbatus obstupuit et factus exanimis resolutusque viribus in terram decidit. Cum vero aliquantulum ad se rediisset, vestimenta sua scidit coepitque canos capitis sui evellere, barbam trahere atque semet ipsum discerpere ac super filii sui corpus exclamabat: "Heu me, fili mi, quare me sic contristasti et per tot annos mihi dolores et gemitus incussisti! Heu me miserum, quia te video baculum senectutis meae in grabato iacentem et non loquentem mihi, heu me, qualem consolationem de cetero habere potero!" Mater vero eius hoc audiens, quasi leaena rumpens rete, scissis vestimentis ruens coma dissoluta ad caelum oculos levabat, et cum prae nimia multitudine sanctum corpus adire non posset, clamavit dicens: "Date mihi, viri, aditum, ut videam filium meum, ut videam consolationem animae meae et qui suxit ubera mea." Et cum pervenisset ad corpus, incumbens super illud clamabat: "Heu me, fili mi, lumen oculorum meorum, quare sic fecisti et tam crudeliter nobiscum egisti!

But Euphemianus, hearing this, thrown into excessive grief, was astonished, and becoming lifeless and his strength dissolved, fell to the ground. When indeed he had come back to himself a little, he tore his garments and began to pluck out the white hairs of his head, to drag at his beard, and to tear himself apart, and over his son’s body he cried out: "Alas for me, my son, why have you saddened me thus and for so many years struck me with pains and groans! Alas for me, miserable that I am, that I see you, the staff of my old age, lying on a pallet and not speaking to me; alas for me, what consolation hereafter shall I be able to have!" But his mother, hearing this, like a lioness breaking a net, with garments torn, rushing, her hair loosened, lifted her eyes to heaven, and when, because of the excessive crowd, she could not approach the holy body, she cried out, saying: "Give me, men, an entry, that I may see my son, that I may see the consolation of my soul and the one who sucked at my breasts." And when she had come to the body, leaning over it she cried: "Alas for me, my son, light of my eyes, why have you done thus and dealt so cruelly with us!

Videbas patrem tuum et me miseram lacrimantes et non ostendebas te ipsum nobis. Servi tui iniuriabantur tibi et sustinebas." Et iterum atque iterum prosternebat se supra corpus et nunc bracchia super illud expandebat, nunc manibus angelicum vultum contrectabat osculansque clamabat: "Plorate mecum omnes, qui adestis, quia per XVII annos eum in domo mea habui et non cognovi, quia unicus filius meus esset. Servi etiam eum conviciabantur et alapis percutiebant.

"You were seeing your father and me, wretched, weeping, and you were not showing yourself to us. Your servants were doing you injury, and you were enduring it." And again and again she prostrated herself upon the body, and now she was spreading her arms over it, now with her hands she was handling the angelic countenance, and, kissing, she was crying out: "Weep with me, all you who are present, because for 17 years I had him in my house and I did not know that he was my only son. The servants also were reviling him and striking him with slaps.

Heu me, quis dabit oculis meis fontem lacrimarum, ut plangam die ac nocte dolorem animae meae!" Sponsa vero eius induta veste Adriatica cucurrit plorans et dicens: "Heu me, quia hodie desolata sum et apparui vidua. Iam non habeo, in quem conspiciam nec in quem oculos levem. Nunc ruptum est speculum meum et periit spes mea.

"Alas for me, who will give to my eyes a fountain of tears, that I may lament day and night the pain of my soul!" But his bride, clothed in an Adriatic garment, ran weeping and saying: "Alas for me, for today I am made desolate and have appeared as a widow. I no longer have one upon whom I may gaze nor to whom I may lift my eyes. Now my mirror is broken and my hope has perished."

Amodo coepit dolor qui finem non habet." Populus autem audiens hoc lacrimabiliter flebat.

"From now began the sorrow which has no end." But the people, hearing this, were weeping tearfully.

Tunc pontifex cum imperatoribus posuerunt corpus in honorato feretro et duxerunt in mediam civitatem. Et nuntiatum est populo inventum esse hominem Dei, quem civitas tota quaerebat, et omnes obviam currebant sancto. Si quis autem infirmus illud corpus sanctissimum tangebat, protinus curabatur.

Then the pontiff with the emperors placed the body on an honored bier and led it into the middle of the city. And it was announced to the people that the man of God had been found, whom the whole city was seeking, and all were running to meet the saint. But if anyone infirm touched that most holy body, straightway he was cured.

Caeci visum recipiebant, daemoniaci curabantur. Imperatores autem tanta mirabilia videntes coeperunt per se cum pontifice lectum portare, ut et ipsi sanctificarentur ab eodem corpore sancto. Tunc imperatores iusserunt copiam auri et argenti in plateis spargi, ut turbae occuparentur amore pecuniarum et sinerent corpus sancti perducere ad ecclesiam.

The blind were recovering sight, the demoniacs were being cured. But the emperors, seeing such great marvels, began to carry the bier themselves with the pontiff, so that they too might be sanctified by that same holy body. Then the emperors ordered a copious supply of gold and silver to be scattered in the streets, so that the crowds might be occupied with the love of money and allow the body of the saint to be conducted to the church.

Sed plebs amore pecuniarum seposito magis ac magis ad tactum sacratissimi corporis irruebat. Et sic cum magno labore ad templum sancti Bonifatii martyris illud tandem perduxerunt. Et illic per septem dies in Dei laudibus persistentes operati sunt monumentum ex auro et gemmis et lapidibus pretiosis, in quo sanctum corpus cum magna veneratione collocaverunt.

But the plebs, with love of monies set aside, were rushing in more and more to the touch of the most-sacrosanct body. And so, with great labor, they at last led it through to the temple of Saint Boniface the martyr. And there, persevering in the praises of God for seven days, they fashioned a monument out of gold and gems and precious stones, in which they placed the holy body with great veneration.

De ipso quoque monumento ita suavissimus odor fragravit, ut omnibus videretur aromatibus esse plenum. Obiit autem XVI. cal.

From the monument itself also a most sweet odor breathed forth, so that to everyone it seemed to be full of aromatics. Moreover, he died on the 16th calends.

Augusti circa annos Domini CCCXCVIII.

Of August, around the year of the Lord 398.