Nobility and Analogous Traditional Elites — In the Allocutions of Pius XII

March 31 – Saint Eulogius of Alexandria

March 30, 2020

Saint Eulogius of Alexandria

St. Eulogius of Alexandria

Patriarch of that See from 580 to 607. He was a successful combatant of the heretical errors then current in Egypt, notably the various phases of Monophysitism. He was a warm friend of St. Gregory the Great, corresponded with him, and received from that pope many flattering expressions of esteem and admiration. Among other merits the pope makes special mention of his defense of the primacy of the Roman See (Baronius, Ann. Eccl., ad an. 597, no. 9) Eulogius refuted the Novatians, some communities of which ancient sect still existed in his diocese, and vindicated the hypostatic union of the two natures in Christ, against both Nestorius and Eutyches. Baronius (ad ann. 600, no. 5) says that Gregory wished Eulogius to survive him, recognizing in him the voice of truth. It has been rightly said that he restored for a brief period to the church of Alexandria that life and youthful vigor characteristic of those churches only which remain closely united to Rome. Besides the above works and a commentary against the various sects of the Monophysites (Severians, Theodosians, Cainites, Acephali) he left eleven discourses in defense of Leo I and the council of Chalcedon, also a work against the Agnoeti, submitted by him before publication to Gregory I, who after some observations authorized it unchanged. With exception of one sermon and a few fragments all the writings of Eulogius have perished.

M. J. MCNEAL (Catholic Encyclopedia)

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March 31 – St. Balbina

March 30, 2020

St. Balbina

Santa Balbina Basilica in Rome

Memorials of a St. Balbina are to be found at Rome in three different spots which are connected with the early Christian antiquities of that city. In the purely legendary account of the martyrdom of St. Alexander (acta SS., Maii, I, 367 sqq.) mention is made of a tribune Quirinus who died a martyr and was buried in the catacomb of Praetextatus on the Via Appia. His grace was regarded with great veneration and is referred to in the old itineraries (guides for pilgrims) of the Roman catacombs. Tradition said that his daughter Balbina, who had been baptized by St. Alexander who had passed her life unmarried, was buried after death near her father in the same catacomb. The feast of St. Balbina is celebrated 31 March. Usuardus speaks of her in his martyrology; his account of St. Balbina rests on the record of the martyrdom of St. Alexander. There is another Balbina whose name was given to a catacomb (coem. Balbinae) which lay between the Via Appia and the Via Ardeatina not far from the little church called Domine quo vadis. Over this cemetery a basilica was erected in the fourth century by Pope Mark. There still exists on the little Aventine in the city itself the old title of St. Balbina, first mentioned in an epitaph of the sixth century and in the signatures to a Roman council (595) of the time of Pope Gregory I. This church was erected in a large ancient hall. Its titular saint is supposed to be identical with the St. Balbina who was buried in the catacomb of Praetextatus and whose bones together with those of her father were brought here at a later date. It is not certain, however, that the two names refer to the same person.

J.P. KIRSCH (Catholic Encyclopedia)

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April 1 – Precursor of Our Lady of Fatima

March 30, 2020

St. Nuno De Santa Maria Álvares Pereira

(1360-1431)

NUNO ÁLVARES PEREIRA was born in Portugal on 24^th June 1360, most probably at Cernache do Bomjardin, illegitimate son of Brother Álvaro Gonçalves Pereira, Hospitalier Knight of St. John of Jerusalem and prior of Crato and Donna Iria Gonçalves do Carvalhal. About a year after his birth, the child was legitimized by royal decree and so was able to receive a knightly education typical of the offspring of the noble families of the time. At thirteen years of age he became page to Queen Leonor, was received at court and was created a knight. At sixteen years of age, at the wish of his father, he married a rich young widow Donna Leonor de Alvim. Three children were born to the union, two boys who died early in life, and a girl, Beatrice, who would eventually marry Afonso, first Duke of Bragança, son of King João I…

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April 1 – St. Hugh of Grenoble

March 30, 2020

Bishop and Confessor

The first tincture of the mind is of the utmost importance to virtue; and it was the happiness of this saint to receive from his cradle the strongest impressions of piety by the example and care of his illustrious and holy parents. He was born at Chateau-neuf, in the territory of Valence in Dauphiné, in 1053. His father, Odilo, served his country in an honourable post in the army, in which he acquitted himself of his duty to his prince with so much the greater fidelity and valour, as he most ardently endeavoured to sanctify his profession and all his actions by a motive of religion…

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April 1 – Blessed Karl, Emperor of Austria

March 30, 2020

(Also known as Carlo d’Austria, Charles of Austria)

Born August 17, 1887, in the Castle of Persenbeug in the region of Lower Austria, his parents were the Archduke Otto and Princess Maria Josephine of Saxony, daughter of the last King of Saxony. Emperor Francis Joseph I was Charles’ Great Uncle…

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April 2 – St. Francis of Paola and the Bartlett Pear

March 30, 2020

The Bartlett pear is called “The Good Christian” in France, after St. Francis of Paola introduced it

“Said to have originated in Calabria in southern Italy, Bartletts probably were introduced to France by St. Francis of Paola. St. Francis brought a young tree as a gift for King Louis XI of France, who had summoned him in the hope that the saint would miraculously cure the king’s many illnesses. When the king died in 1483, St. Francis returned to Italy, but he left behind the legacy of his pear tree, called by the French the ‘poire bon chretien’ (good Christian pear).”

Nick Malgieri is the author of “Perfect Cakes” and “A Baker’s Tour” (HarperCollins) and “Perfect Light Desserts” (Morrow)…

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More Than Ever, Today We Need to Observe Chivalry’s Commandment: “Never Lie!”

March 26, 2020

The last commandment of the ancient Code appears to us to be more needed in the observance now. It is: “Do not lie!” Be truthful! I understand by that the feeling of horror of all the finesse, white lies, and petty insincerities, which in so many shades darken the vistas of our lives! Of all things here below Chivalry is most opposed to the “insinuation,” to the shade of untruth! Chivalry would have us meet the daily danger with the most luminous frankness. We should never conceal our badge or banner. If we believe in Christ, let us, like those early martyrs, cry out: “I am a Christian!” Let us, with open brow, and transparent soul, learn, not only how to die for the truth, but learn also, what is much more difficult, how to live in it!

León Gautier, Chivalry, trans. Henry Frith (London: George Routledge and Sons, Ltd., 1891), 499.

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“Thus Died Bayard”

March 26, 2020

The Basque marksmen were excellent. Two simultaneous shots: one mortally wounded Jean de Chabannes, Lord of Valdenesse; the other hit Bayard and broke his spinal cord. “Lord Jesus!” he cried, clutching the horn of his saddle to keep falling. Those nearby heard his cry out again, “Lord God, I am going to die!”

They hastened to his side, but by now all human aid was futile. Feeling his strength abandoning him, Bayard drew his sword, which had for so long served him and fought so well for France, beheld it, and kissed the Cross on the pommel, as if with this gesture he wanted to join devotion to the Saviour with love for the arms of a knight.

“Mierere mei, Deus, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam,” escaped from his contrite lips. Then he was silent. He was now deathly pale, and wavered in the saddle. Jean Joffrey, the squire who had served him faithfully for so many years and escorted the knight in all his deeds, helped his lord to dismount.

On the Shade of the Oak

Opening his eyes, Bayard gestured toward a nearby oak, indicating that he wanted to rest in the shade of the venerable tree. “I want to await death facing my enemies,” he murmured, “I never have turned my back on them and by the honor of a Catholic knight I will not do so now.”

The Death of Pierre Terrail, Seigneur de Bayard (1473 – 1524).

A fellow knight drew near and besought Bayard to lay down on the litter they had made with their lances, but he refused. His last feat was drawing night, when he would behold God face to face. As he made his last exertions, he was heard to groan, “I feel the pains of death coming to fetch me in every movement.”

His squire wept, kneeling at the side of his lord. Bayard, in spite of his state, showed him special affection by caressing his head and saying, “Jacques, my friend, dry your tears. It is the will of God that I leave this world. By His grace have I been in it long and received undeserved goods and honors. The only thing that I lament is not having done my duty as well as I should. If I had more time, I would correct my past faults; but if He wants to call me now, I beseech His great mercy to have pity on me. I trust that by the intercession of His Most Blessed Mother He will be mindful of Her mercy and not of my sins, which would call down His chastising justice.”

Bayard’s enemies gathered together at a distance to prepare a cavalry charge. Wishing to spare his peers and vassals further sacrifice, the warrior instantly besought them to leave him and flee. But out of chivalry they refused.

Statue of Bayard kissing his sword. Statue is at Saint-André, Grenoble, France. Photo by Christophe.Finot.

Confession

The noble knight then asked his squire to hear his confession, as there was no priest to hear his sins and give him absolution. It was to the Provost of Paris, d’Alègre, that he confided his last wishes.

Farewell

Bayard then calmly sent away those who accompanied him, saying, “My lords, I beseech you to go; if not you will fall into the hands of the enemy, and I will profit nothing thereby for I will hold myself at fault. Farewell, my good lords and friends; I commend my poor soul to your prayers. Lord d’Alègre, I beseech you to greet for me our lord, the King. Tell him how much I lament not being able to serve him further, as so much I desire. Greet also, when you see them, all the gentlemen of sweet France.”

Yet, they would not leave, and held fast to his garments; but he bade them go with affectionate insistence. As they still resisted, he motioned to them, saying, “I command you!” Thus they were constrained to take their leave. With tears they kissed his hands, and all the while the enemy’s ranks were swelling, with their helmets and banners glistening in the sun.

Joffrey was the only one who remained. Bayard, exhausted, closed his eyes, the branches of the oak gently swaying in the breeze.

To Be Continued…

Short Stories on Honor, Chivalry, and the World of Nobility—no. 719

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March 27 – Royal Simplicity

March 26, 2020

St. Rupert

(Alternative forms, RUPRECHT, Hrodperht, Hrodpreht, Roudbertus, Rudbertus, Robert, Ruprecht).

First Bishop of Salzburg, contemporary of Childebert III, king of the Franks (695-711), date of birth unknown; died at Salzburg, Easter Sunday, 27 March, 718.

According to an old tradition, he was a scion of the Frankish Merovingian family. The assumption of 660 as the year of his…

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March 27 – Pope Clement III

March 26, 2020

Pope Clement III

(Paolo Scolari).

Date of birth unknown; elected 19 December, 1187; d. 27 March, 1191. During the short space (1181-1198) which separated the glorious pontificates of Alexander III and Innocent III, no less than five pontiffs occupied in rapid succession the papal chair. They were all veterans trained in the school of Alexander, and needed only their earlier youthful vigour and length of reign to gain lasting renown in an age of great events. Gregory VIII, after a pontificate of two months, died on 17 December, 1187, at Pisa, whither he had gone to expedite the preparations for the recovery of Jerusalem; he was succeeded two days later by the Cardinal-Bishop of Palestrina, Paolo Scolari, a Roman by birth. The choice was particularly acceptable to the Romans; for he was the first native of their city who was elevated to the papacy since their rebellion in the days of Arnold of Brescia, and his well-known mildness and love of peace turned their thoughts towards a reconciliation, more necessary to them than to the pope. Overtures led to the conclusion of a formal treaty, by which the papal sovereignty and the municipal liberties were equally secured; and in the following February Clement made his entry into the city amid the boundless enthusiasm of a population which never seemed to have learned the art of living either with or without the pope…

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March 27 – The Last French Pope

March 26, 2020

Pope Gregory XI

(PIERRE ROGER DE BEAUFORT).

Born in 1331, at the castle of Maumont in the Dioceses of Limoges; died 27 March, 1378, at Rome. He was a nephew of Pope Clement VI, who heaped numerous benefices upon him and finally created him cardinal deacon in 1348, when he was only eighteen years of age. As cardinal he attended the University of Perugia, became a skilled canonist and theologian, and gained the esteem of all by his humility and purity of heart. After the death of Urban V, the cardinals unanimously elected him pope at Avignon, on December, 1370. He chose the name of Gregory XI, had himself ordained priest on 4 January, 1371, and was crowned pope on the following day. Immediately on his accession he attempted to reconcile the Kings of France and England, but failed. He succeeded, however, in pacifying Castile, Aragon, Navarre, Sicily, and Naples…

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March 27 – French Missionary in the Chinese Court

March 26, 2020

Jean-François Gerbillon

French missionary; born at Verdun, 4 June, 1654; died at Peking, China, 27 March, 1707. He entered the Society of Jesus, 5 Oct, 1670, and after completing the usual course of study taught grammar and humanities for seven years. His long-cherished desire to labour in the missions of the East was gratified in 1685, when he joined the band of Jesuits who had been chosen to found the French mission in China. Upon their arrival in Peking they were received by the emperor Kang-Hi who was favourable impressed by them and retained Gerbillion and Bouvet at the court. This famous monarch realized the value of the services which the fathers could render to him owing to their scientific attainments, and they on their part were glad in this way to win his favour and gain prestige in order to further the interests of the infant mission…

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March 28 – Pope Martin IV

March 26, 2020

Pope Martin IV

(Simon de Brie).

Born at the castle of Montpensier in the old French province of Touraine at an unknown date; d. at Perugia 28 March, 1285. As priest he held a benefice at Rouen for a short time, whereupon he became canon and treasurer at the church of St. Martin in Tours. King Louis IX made him Chancellor of France in 1260 and Urban VI created him cardinal-priest with the titular church of St. Cecilia in December, 1262. Under Urban VI (1261-4) and his successor, Clement IV (1265-8), he was legate in France with powers to offer the Kingdom of Sicily to Charles of Anjou on certain conditions…

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March 28 – Noble deeds make noble men

March 26, 2020

Josef Speckbacher

A Tyrolean patriot of 1809, born at Gnadenwald, near Hall, in the Tyrol, 13 July, 1767; died at Hall, 28 March, 1820. Speckbacher was the son of a peasant and spent his youth in roaming, and he did not learn to read and write until later in life. At the age of twelve he was a poacher and was often involved in fights with the customs officers. When a little older, he worked in the imperial salt-mines at Hall. On 10 Feb., 1794, he married Maria Schmiederer of Judenstein, and in this way came into possession of her farm and house. At the beginning of the war with France he became one of the volunteers who sought to defend the fatherland; his first encounter with the enemy took place at the bloody skirmish near Spinges on 2 April, 1797. He was a fine sharp-shooter and one of the most zealous of the Tyrolean patriots. In 1805 he fought under…

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March 28 – He refused life and liberty at the price of conformity

March 26, 2020

Ven. Christopher Wharton

A panoramic view of York in the 15th century. Watercolour by E. Ridsdale Tate

Born at Middleton, Yorkshire, before 1546; martyred at York, 28 March, 1600. He was the second son of Henry Wharton of Wharton and Agnes Warcop, and younger brother of Thomas, first Lord Wharton. He was educated at Trinity College, Oxford, where he graduated M.A., 3 February, 1564, and afterwards became a fellow. In 1583 he entered the English College at Reims to study for the priesthood (28 July). He was ordained priest in the following year 31 March, but continued his studies after ordination till 1586, when on 21 May he left Reims in company with Ven. Edward Burden. No details of his missionary labours have been preserved; but at his trail Baron Savile, the judge, incidentally remarked that he had known him at Oxford some years after 1596. He was finally arrested in 1599 at the house of Eleanor Hunt, a widow, who was arrested with him and confined in York castle. There, with other Catholic prisoners, he was forcibly taken to hear Protestant sermons. He was brought to trial together with Mrs. Hunt at the Lent Assizes 1600, and both were condemned, the former for high treason, the latter for felony. Both refused life and liberty at the price of conformity, and the martyr suffered with great constancy, while Eleanor Hunt was allowed to linger in prison till she died. Dr. Worthington, writing of Ven. Christopher Wharton, specially commends his “humility, fervent charity, and other great virtues”.

WORTHINGTON, A Relation of Sixteen Martyrs (Douai, 1601); Douay Diaries (London, 1878); CHALLONER, Memoirs of Missionary Priests (London,1741-42); MORRIS, Troubles of our Catholic Forefathers, III (London), 462.

Edwin Burton (Catholic Encyclopedia)

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March 28 – Preacher of Crusades

March 26, 2020

Venturino of Bergamo

Photo of a painting of Bl. Venturino of Bergamo by Giorces.

Preacher, b. at Bergamo, 9 April, 1304; d. at Smyrna, 28 March, 1346. He received the habit of the Order of Friars Preachers at the convent of St. Stephen, Bergamo, 22 January, 1319. From 1328 to 1335 he won fame preaching in all the cities of upper Italy. In February, 1335, he planned to make a penitential pilgrimage to Rome with about thirty thousand of his converts. His purpose was misunderstood, and Benedict XII, then residing at Avignon, thought that Venturino wished to make himself pope. He wrote letters to Giovanni Pagnotti, Bishop of Anagni, his spiritual vicar, to the Canons of St. Peter’s and St. John Lateran’s, and to the Roman senators empowering them to stop the pilgrimage. This complaint to the Dominican Master General resulted in an ordinance of the Chapter of London (1335) condemning such pilgrimages. The pope’s letters and commands, however, did not reach Venturino, and he arrived in Rome, 21 March, 1335. He was well received, and preached in various churches. Twelve days later he left Rome, without explanation, and the pilgrimage ended in disorder. In June, he requested an audience with Benedict XII at Avignon; he was seized and cast into prison (1335-43). He was restored to favour by Clement VI, who appointed him to preach a crusade against the Turks, 4 January, 1344; his success was remarkable. He urged the pope to appoint Humbert II of Dauphiné, whose friend and spiritual adviser he had been, leader of the crusade, but Humbert proved incapable and the crusade came to naught. Venturino’s writings consist of sermons (now lost) and letters.

QUETIF-ECHARD, Scriptores Ordinis Praedicatorum, I (Paris, 1719), 620; LEANDER, De viris illustribus Ord. Praed., V; MORTIER, Histoire des Maitres Generaux de l’Ordre des Freres Pr., III (Paris, 1907), passim; CLEMENTI, Il beato Venturino da Bergamo (Rome, 1904).

A. C. O’NEIL (Catholic Encyclopedia)

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March 28 – Grandson of King Clovis

March 26, 2020

St. Gontran, King and Confessor

He was son of King Clotaire, and grandson of Clovis I and St. Clotilda. Being the second son, whilst his brothers Charibert reigned at Paris, and Sigebert in Austrasia, residing at Metz, he was crowned King of Orleans and Burgundy in 661, making Challons on the Saone his capital. When compelled to take up arms against his ambitious brothers and the Lombards, he made no other use of his victories, under the conduct of a brave general called Mommol, than to give peace to his dominions. He protected his nephews against the practices of the wicked dowager queen, Brunehault of Sigebert, and Fredegonde of Chilperic, the firebrands of France. The putting to death of the physicians of the queen at her request, on her death-bed, and the divorcing of his wife Mercatrude, are crimes laid to his charge, in which the barbarous manners of his nation involved him : but these he effaced by tears of repentance. He governed his kingdom, studying rather to promote the temporal happiness of others than his own, a stranger to the passions of pride, jealousy, and ambition, and making piety the only rule of his policy…

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March 29 – One of many Irish missionaries who labored to convert Central Europe

March 26, 2020

St. Eustace

Date of birth unknown, died March 29, 625.

He was second abbot of the Irish monastery of Luxeuil in France, and his feast is commemorated in the Celtic martyrologies on the 29th of March.

He was one of the first companions of St. Columbanus, a monk of Bangor (Ireland), who with his disciples did much to spread the Gospel over Central and Southern Europe. When Columbanus, the founder of Luxeuil, was banished from the Kingdom of Burgundy, on account of his reproving the morals of King Thierry, the exiled abbot recommended his community to choose Eustace as his successor. Subsequently Columbanus settled at Bobbio in Italy. Three years after his appointment (613), when Clothaire II became ruler of the triple Kingdom of France, the abbot of Luxeuil was commissioned, by royal authority, to proceed to Bobbio for the purpose of recalling Columbanus. The latter, however, setting forth his reasons in a letter to the king, declined to return, but asked that Clothaire would take under his protection the monastery and brethren of Luxeuil…

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March 29 – Peter de Honestis

March 26, 2020

Peter de Honestis

Born at Ravenna about 1049; died, 29 March, 1119. Among his ancestors was the great St. Romuald, founder of the Camaldolese monks. All his life Peter fasted every Saturday in honour of Our Lady, and strongly recommended this practice to his religious. He styled himself Petrus peccator. He lived for some years in the Holy Land. When returning a great storm arose in the Adriatic and the ship was in imminent danger. Peter made a vow to build a church in honour of Our Lady should he safely reach the harbour. In fulfilment of his promise he built a church and monastery on the family property. Near by there was a small community of clerics, and Peter having joined them, was soon after made their superior, and with them removed to the church and monastery he had built, in 1099…

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March 29 – Profoundly impressed by a painful execution

March 26, 2020

Nicolas Talon

French Jesuit, historian, and ascetical writer, b. at Moulins, 31 August, 1605; d. at Paris, 29 March, 1691. Entering the Society in 1621, he taught literature for several years, with remarkable success. After his ordination he gained some reputation as a preacher, was a devoted worker in the prisons and hospitals of Paris, and served as army-chaplain with the French troops in Flanders, winning the admiration and love of the men and the life-long friendship of the Prince de Conde. He assisted the notorious Aime du Poncet during his painfully protracted execution. Thanks to Talon’s gentleness, the terrible outlaw died penitent and resigned. This striking conversion made a profound impression. As a writer, Talon had original, if not always correct, views, a lively imagination, a quaint and comparatively pure and elegant style. Besides his “Oraison funebre de Louis XIII” (Paris, 1644), a “Description de la pompe funebre du Prince de Conde” (Paris, 1646), and some books of minor importance, Talon wrote “La vie de St. Francois de Sales” (Paris, 1640), “La vie de St. Francois Borgia” (Paris, 1671), “Les peintures chretiennes” (Paris, 1667 according to Weiss, 1647 according to Sommervogel), and a Bible history, the first part of which, “Histoire sainte”, was published at Paris in 1640…

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March 29 – Chaplain to the Duke

March 26, 2020

Joseph Le Caron One of the four pioneer missionaries of Canada and first missionary to the Hurons (q.v.), born near Paris in 1586; died in France, 29 March, 1632 He embraced the ecclesiastical state and was chaplain to the Duke of Orléans. When that prince died, Le Caron joined the Recollects and made his profession […]

Saint Eulogius of Alexandria

St. Balbina

St. Nuno De Santa Maria Álvares Pereira

The Bartlett pear is called “The Good Christian” in France, after St. Francis of Paola introduced it

St. Rupert

Pope Clement III

Pope Gregory XI

Jean-François Gerbillon

Pope Martin IV

Josef Speckbacher

Ven. Christopher Wharton

Venturino of Bergamo

St. Gontran, King and Confessor

St. Eustace

Peter de Honestis

Nicolas Talon

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