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E06884: Three letters of Pope Vitalian I (657-72), of disputed authenticity, condemn the removal of relics of *Benedict (of Nursia, monk, ob. 547, S01727) from Montecassino, central Italy, and their translation to Fleury (central Gaul), in c. 660. Written in Latin in Rome.

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posted on 2018-10-15, 00:00 authored by frances

Vitalian I, Letter 6

Extract:

Audivimus, quod sine gravi dolore loqui non possumus, quemdam vestri coenobii gyrovagum, Augulfum nomine, suggestione diabolica Casinum venisse, et effracto beati Benedicti sepulcro, ejus reliquias diminuisse.

We have heard, and we cannot say this without grave sorrow, that a certain wandering monk of yours called Augulf, at the suggestion of the devil, came to Montecassino, smashed open the tomb of Benedict and took some of [lit: diminished] his relics.

Vitalian continues to condemn this violation and insists that the relics be returned to Montecassino.

Vitalian I, Letter 7

Addressed to Clovis, king of the Franks. This letter condemns the theft in the same terms as the previous letter and informs Clovis of the papal decision to excommunicate both Augulf and his ‘false’ abbot Mommulus.

Vitalian I, Letter 9

Addressed to the bishops of Spain and Gaul. This letter also condemns the theft and informs these bishops of the excommunication of Augulf and Mommulus.

Text: Patrologia Latina 87. Translation and Summary: Frances Trzeciak.

History

Evidence ID

E06884

Saint Name

Benedict (of Nursia, monk, ob. 547) : S01727

Saint Name in Source

Benedictus

Related Saint Records

https://oxford.figshare.com/articles/Benedict_of_Nursia_monk_ob_547_/13733797

Type of Evidence

Literary - Letters

Language

Latin

Evidence not before

657

Evidence not after

672

Activity not before

657

Activity not after

672

Place of Evidence - Region

Rome and region

Place of Evidence - City, village, etc

Rome

Place of evidence - City name in other Language(s)

Rome Rome Rome Roma Ῥώμη Rhōmē

Cult Activities - Protagonists in Cult and Narratives

Ecclesiastics - bishops Ecclesiastics - monks/nuns/hermits Monarchs and their family

Cult Activities - Relics

Bodily relic - entire body Theft/appropriation of relics

Source

Letter from the letter collection of Pope Vitalian I (657-672). The authenticity of these letters has been contested because they were transmitted as part of a fictitious account stating that the relics were returned to Montecassino in the eighth century. However Constant Mews has argued that they were in fact authentic and provide a valuable insight into both this theft and the development of monasticism in Gaul.

Bibliography

Edition: Patrologia Latina 87. Further Reading: Mews, Constant, 'Gregory the Great, the Rule of Benedict and Roman Liturgy: the Evolution of a Legend', Journal of Medieval History, 37 (2011) 125-144.