Maxima the Virgin
Acta Sanctorum, May 16
Source text: Public Domain. English translation/apparatus/encoding: CC BY-NC 4.0, Wroot Press.
https://actasanctorum.org/may/day-16/maxima-the-virgin.html
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ON S. MAXIMA THE VIRGIN

OF CALLIDIANUM IN THE DIOCESE OF FRÉJUS IN PROVENCE.

[Preface]

Maxima, Virgin, of Callidianum in the diocese of Fréjus in Provence (S.)

BY THE AUTHOR D. P.

Usuard in his Martyrology about this
holy Virgin thus speaks: In the country
of Fréjus of S. Maxima the Virgin, [Name in the sacred fasts,]
who illustrious for many virtues,
in peace rested. Ado the place thus expresses
& in the country of Fréjus,
in the village which is called Calidianus, of S. Maxima the Virgin,
who illustrious for many virtues, in peace rested. The same
has Notker, & with Ado cited Petrus de
Natalibus amplifies these things in book 5 chap. 7 with these words: Maxima Virgin in the country
of Forli (rather Fréjus), in the village Callidianus,
flowering in the lily of virginity, & with many & noteworthy
virtues illustrious, in peace rested on the seventeenth Kalends
of June. [Public veneration in the diocese of Fréjus,] The genuine Martyrology of Bede is empty,
but that which is supposed to him, with places omitted, brings forth the rest from Ado.
Finally Usuard & Ado are everywhere followed
by others in Martyrologies handwritten & printed with today's
Roman Martyrology. Furthermore moved by the faith of those ancient Martyrologies,
& the very celebrity of the Relics preserved at Callidianum,
the Church of Fréjus, from all retro memory
holds the feast of S. Maxima on this day through the entire diocese,
which the most ancient MS. Litanies prove, in the number of Virgins
invoking S. Maxima: & the old Breviary of Fréjus,
printed in the year 1529, where in the Calendar, is added
to the name a red Cross, in sign that the feast ought to be celebrated
in double rite with three Lessons, which in the greatest also
feasts to that Church is the highest number: but all things are done from
the Common. But what a few years from now were printed of the same
diocese's proper Offices, contain this Prayer about her:
The intercession we ask, Lord, of S. Maxima the Virgin
from all sins may cleanse us; & because her feasts
with worthy obeisances we celebrate, by her intercessions
may we be helped. Nicolaus Brautius Bishop of Sarsina & Count
of Bobbio, in the Poetic Martyrology adorns her with this distich:
With exceptional love of the Spouse, & of pure modesty,
      Above the rest, the Virgin Maxima pleases the Spouse.

[2] Ferrarius in the Catalogue of Saints of Italy adds that she
obtains great veneration with the Fréjusois & Aquileians and the whole
diocese, but
laments that he the proper Acts of this Virgin, if any exist,
through the negligence of those, from whom he had expected them, has not yet
seen. Nothing wonderful: for while to the Fréjusois he joins
the Aquileians, [not Italian,] to whom by mere & vain conjecture
the cult of S. Maxima he extends; he sufficiently shows that he labors in
equivocation, & for the Fréjus diocese in the Province
of Gaul, at the Grimaldic gulf under the Archbishopric
of Aix, understands the Friulian tract of Northern Italy,
between Istria & the Treviso territory, at
the Adriatic gulf, commonly Friuli; where, after diligent
inquiry through himself & through friends, neither Callidianum
village nor S. Maxima is asserted to be known, replying
to me a man most studious of paternal antiquities, of Lower Carniola
the Archdeacon, D. Ioannes Ludovicus Schonleben.
Gallic Forum-Julium, commonly Fréjus, gets its name
from its capital, of which thus speaks Tacitus book 3
History. Forum-Julium, between Olbia & Antipolis
founded, [but Gallic,] whose region is irrigated by the Argentius river,
in the most fecund plain of the Maritime Salii.
Hence going four or five leagues to the North,
across the Bencon stream, near Faventia, Callidianus
is a village, commonly Callian: from the other side however across
the Argentius river two villages are found, with title and patronage
of S. Maxima known; of which the one which is closer, toward
the South-West situated is at the Grimaldic gulf, on the promontory
of S. Vincentius, & opposite faces the village of S. Torpes
commonly called S. Tropez, where today still on the very shore
is a certain turreted bulwark, & beneath it traces
of cells drawn into squares, & caves & tombs
as of some monastery: but the one further toward the West,
inland is and has a church to the same Saint
dedicated for six hundred or seven hundred years, as much
as from the antiquity of the structure is gathered; about which church D. Henricus
de Suarez, from his MS. observations on universal ecclesiastical
history, suggests, that it is situated
near the castle of Cannet, & is a Priory, subject
to the Abbey of S. Andrew near Avignon; of which same
church Pope Gelasius II makes mention in a Bull
given to Petrus the Abbot of the said monastery, confirming
all its benefices & possessions, at Orange. Ides
of December in the first year of the Pontificate (this was
1099 begun from XXI January, as elsewhere we shall demonstrate)
but for about four hundred years was united
to the Prebend of the Archdeacon of Fréjus, with opulent
tithes in the Cassinensian district.

[3] [where the body is held] From those places therefore or from the very Village Callidianum
should one have sought the Life of S. Maxima, which I understand many have already done,
but in vain; so that, if any ever was, it
must be judged altogether to have perished. Meanwhile is established the most ancient cult
& possession of the sacred body, all whose bones
in the year 1643, on her very feast day, by command of Petrus Camelinus
the Diocesan, from the old into a new and most splendid
chest were translated, together with equally preserved
instruments of female work, needles, scissors, and others as
pure from rust & shining, as if first from the smith's hands
they had come. To these is added an old parchment, containing
to the church of S. Mary of Callian, with notable
memory of the Relics of S. Maxima. Of this bull
a transcript on paper, marked with the seal of the Aix Curia, signed
authentically by the hand of the public Notary Bellissen, in the year
1675 on day XXVII November to be made asked D. Franciscus
de Vitalis, Prior of Callian; perhaps at the persuasion
of D. Iosephus Antelmius, Canon & Official of Fréjus,
by whose benefit we received it together with the aforesaid old
breviary, through the hands of our P. Carolus Faber staying at Avignon
& busying himself for our cause with all whom he knew
to be able to confer something to illustrate the glory of the Saints in this work.
But the Bull is itself of this kind.

[4] Nicolaus of Albano & Franciscus of Praeneste,
Bishops; Antonius of the title of S. Praxedis, Petrus
of the title of S. Eusebius, Adrianus of the title of S. Sabina, [to the Callian church] Scaramutia
of the title of S. Cyriacus in the Baths, & Aloisius of the title
of S. Clement Presbyters; Ludovicus of S. Maria in
Cosmedin, Marcus of S. Maria in Vialata, & Amaneus
of S. Nicolas in Tullian Prison Deacons, by the divine
mercy of the most holy Roman Church Cardinals,
to all & each of Christ's faithful, who shall inspect
the present letters, eternal salvation in the Lord.
The more frequently we induce the minds of the faithful to
works of charity, the more salubriously do we consult
the salvation of their souls. Desiring therefore that
the parochial church, perhaps Priory, called
of B. Mary of Callian, of the diocese of Fréjus, to
which (as we received) our beloved in Christ Venerable
man Bartholomaeus Delphinus, Precentor of the church
of Aix, & of the said parochial church Prior
or Rector, or perpetual administrator of its fruits & revenues,
bears singular devotion,
be frequented with congruous honors, & by Christ's faithful
continually venerated, & in its structures & buildings
duly repaired, conserved & maintained,
also with books, chalices, lights, ornaments
ecclesiastical, & other things necessary there for divine cult,
decently fortified; & that Christ's faithful there
the more willingly for the cause of devotion may flow to the same,
& to the repair, conservation, maintenance,
& fortification of this kind their hands
more promptly extend as helpers, that thence there
with the gift of heavenly grace more abundantly they may feel themselves refreshed;
we Cardinals aforesaid, namely each of us
through himself, to the supplications of the said Bartholomew, to us
about this humbly extended, inclined, of almighty
God's mercy & of the blessed Peter & Paul
His Apostles' authority confiding, to all
& each of Christ's faithful of either sex, truly
penitent & confessed, [on the feast of S. Maxima and others,] who shall the said church on
each, namely of S. Maxima (with whose Relics this very
church, as is asserted, is decorated) of the Nativity
of S. John the Baptist, & of the Assumption of B. Mary the Virgin,
& of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, also
of S. Honoratus's festivities & days, from first
Vespers to second Vespers inclusive, devoutly
shall have visited yearly, & to the aforesaid their hands
shall have extended as helpers, for each festivity &
aforesaid days on which they shall have done it, a hundred days from
the penances enjoined on them now in the Lord we relax,
the present perpetual to last in future times:
in faith of which we have ordered our letters of this kind
to be made, [giving Indulgences in the year 1519.] & with the appending of our seals
to be fortified. Given at Rome in our houses,
in the year from the nativity of the Lord one thousand five hundred
nineteenth, on the seventh day indeed of the month of January,
of the Pontificate of the most holy in Christ Father & Lord
our, Lord Leo by Divine providence
Pope the tenth, in the sixth year.

Io. Balteri

[5] Who first here is named Nicolaus of Albano,
of the family of the Genoese Fieschi by Alexander VI first
created Cardinal Presbyter of the title of S. Prisca,
then made Archbishop of Ravenna in the year 1516; [Who are these?]
by the Sammartani in Christian Gaul among the Bishops of Fréjus
fifty-eighth is reckoned, & is called
perpetual Administrator of the Churches of Fréjus
& Toulon in the year 1510 named, & also of the Provostship
of Pinerolo. To him therefore, as to his Ordinary
he had recourse Bartholomaeus Prior of Callian, & by his favor
obtained, that the others in their own name should also augment the desired
Indulgences: therefore first here he signs before Franciscus
Soderinus, made Cardinal in the same creation with him,
from the Albano church the lowest among the Cardinalitial
churches in rank, to the more sublime Praeneste
elevated in the year 1516, afterwards also Bishop of Ostia.
Antonius de Monte S. Sabini, from the creation of Iulius II
Cardinal Presbyter of the title of S. Vitalis, to the title of S. Praxedis
by Leo X was translated, then Archbishop of Siponto,
afterwards by five titles of Cardinalitial Episcopates, that
is all except Ostia, was successively augmented. Petrus
de Accoltis, from the same creation of Iulius II, having obtained the title
of S. Eusebius, although shunning dignities the Bishopric
of Ancona he had resigned; nevertheless titles of many churches
in Spain, Gaul, Belgium, Italy, & finally the Archbishopric
of Ravenna he was forced to accept, thence
in the Order of Cardinal Bishops to the Albanan, Praenestine
& Sabine throne elevated. Hadrianus
Gouffier the Gaul, four years before by Leo X named

Cardinal of the title of SS. Peter & Marcellinus, recently to
the title of S. Sabina had transferred. Scaramuccia Trivultius
of Milan, gifted with Purple in the same creation, remained
always in that S. Cyriacus title which he first received. The same
did Aloysius de Rubeis the Florentine, from the same creation of Leo
X. Indeed also Ludovicus of Aragon, son of Ferdinand
I King of Aragon, although already from the year
1497 under Alexander VI having obtained the Diaconate of S. Maria in
Cosmedin, never took care to ascend higher:
but his colleague Marcus Cornelius the Venetian, since up to here
he had persisted in the Diaconal order, with the title of S. Mary in
Via-lata, to the Presbyteral afterwards transgressing, obtained
the title of S. Mark, & finally Bishop of Albano &
Praeneste was called. The aforesaid two's colleague also
was this last named Amaneus de Alebreto, of John
King of Navarre brother, & in the first title of S.
Nicolas in Carcere also persisted himself.

[6] Furthermore among the Days, on which the Indulgence is given, in the first
place is expressed S. Maxima's festivity, as of the place's Patron
primary, last of S. Honoratus, [Saint Maxima herself,] namely Bishop
of Arles who is venerated XVI January, as Patron
secondary, & before the patronage of S. Maxima was assumed
perhaps once primary, namely before
with miracles increasing at the body & cult of S. Maxima,
under the appellation of this name to be celebrated the church
had begun (as we note has more frequently happened) or even
larger had been built & consecrated anew. Uncertain furthermore
the conjecture remains, whether in the village Callidianum she lived &
died the Saint; or indeed in the coastal one, which we said above,
of her name in the place she conversed & deceased her body translated
there is; with the monastery, which there had existed, destroyed & desolated,
at the first perhaps incursions of the Saracens made on those shores
in the VII century of Christ. Ludovicus du Four of our Society
notable in this age in the College of Avignon Theologian (whom
you would marvel in the Bibliotheca of our writers, [commonly believed sister of S. Torpes;] even after
the most recent revision of Sotuel, omitted) in the Life
of S. Leontius Bishop of Fréjus and Martyr, treating of
his Episcopal See chap. 5 toward the end thus speaks: Almost
S. Maxima the Virgin had escaped me… unless to me
the title of the Supreme Pontiff had recalled her to memory.
That she was born and educated among the Fréjusois
to me would persuade to doubt the modesty of virgins,
who content with native soil seek the solitude of home or chamber,
& shun wandering peregrinations,
as full of dangers & insidious snarers of modesty;
unless of S. Torpes the sister tradition, fixed in the minds
of all, & from ancient age to us
transmitted, made her; which to reject does not please. There is venerated
S. Torpes, notable Martyr under Nero, on the following day;
& his body placed in a little ship is said by Angelic guidance
to have landed at the Port of the Gulf, & by Celerina the Senatress received
& buried, to have shone with notable miracles. Where
Sinus is taken antonomastically for the Sinus of Provence, just as
the very region by the name of Provence as if proper is called,
contend the Gauls, against the Spaniards, this praise to themselves from S. Torpes's
reception arrogating. In which contention truth
to stand with the Gauls although it is verisimilar; not for that reason
however verisimilar becomes such kindred, supported by no authority,
but deserves to be despised as a fiction of the light
crowd, always prone to combine the most disparate things,
on the occasion of nearby or joined cult.

[7] With similar levity certain Hermits Augustinian of the same
parts, having recently received power of venerating among
the Saints of their Order Maxima the Virgin, [by some wrongly confused with Maxima the African,] the maidservant of a certain
Vandal in Africa, illustrious for the glory of confession under King Geinseric,
about whom Victor in book 1 says, that by the tyrant
dismissed, mother of many Virgins of God, to him also
in no way unknown was: recently, I say, Augustinian
Hermits some have presumed on the sole similarity of name
to found a conjecture, that because Hunericus, Geiseric's
son, all monasteries of men & holy
maidens to the Gentiles, that is the Moors, with their inhabitants
ordered to be given (as in book 5 of the same Victor is said)
fled this Maxima into Gaul with the Virgins
subject to her, & there the day XVI May by her death consecrated.
But I know not whether it deserves to be numbered among conjectures somehow
tolerable. Not because another day is assigned to her, namely XVI
October, by Usuard & Ado & others following them
(for this was done by mere chance, on the occasion
of the Martyrs CCLXX in Africa long before having suffered on such a day, according to
the most ancient tables of all Martyrologies, which
are ascribed to S. Jerome) but because there is no appearance,
that Victor heard anything about Maxima's flight into Gaul,
than which by far it is more verisimilar that she never set foot
out of Africa; but with Hunneric dying at the end of the year 484
& the persecution ceasing, the dispersion of the holy Virgins
she gathered into one of the desolate monasteries of Africa itself,
& this was made known to Victor, in the third year after
Hunneric's death & peace given back to the Catholics,
writing his history at Constantinople, as his illustrator
Chiffletius wishes, & whatever in Africa was being done studiously
inquiring from those coming back and forth.

[8] [& worse it is said she was sister of S. Augustine.] Furthermore if by little tolerable conjecture is said, that in Gaul
this Maxima died & merited cult; much less
tolerable will be the more inept other one, by which some of the same
Hermits (as is written to me) assert, that she who at Callian
is venerated, was the sister of S. Augustine. Because this not even of
that one can be presumed, whom Victor so praises, that he seems
to say, that since with the Italian booty after Rome was captured in the year
455, she came into the hands of a certain Vandal,
& that at quite tender age inasmuch as she was still a maiden
& beautiful in body when with the youth Martinianus
betrothed to her & his two brothers she fled from him, of whose entire
house she ruled as if economist: for this
supposes a faithful servitude of many years, within
which she had entered such favor of her masters. So that
of her not yet thirty years' flight to a monastery & the illustrious
confession that followed this, does not seem to have happened before the year
470; when S. Augustine in the year 430, when he died,
had reached the 76th year of his age, with mother Monica, in the year 389
having died, surviving for full forty years. And
here I had set the end of doing, when behold from Fréjus is brought
the letter of the above-praised D. Iosephus Antelmius, there in the
Cathedral church Canon, explaining many things, which I had into fewer
contracted; adding many things also, on the family of S. Maxima
& the place of her dwelling making, which I had not yet
known, which the already refuted most empty conjectures
more overturn: wherefore the same word for word and almost integral
to be added here I judged: with the addition of the Act or verbal Process
of the most recent Translation of Relics, which the same from
the French to be made into Latin he ordered, & with his subscription & seal
as Official general fortified as authentic, III
Nones of January of this year 1680.

LETTER OF D. I. ANTELMIUS

On the cult & country of S. Maxima.

Maxima, Virgin, of Callidianum in the diocese of Fréjus in Provence (S.)

FROM MSS.

[9] As I was meditating to write to your Paternity,
most Reverend Father, [Equivocation from the name of Forum-Julii,] there came
to me a letter of R. P. Faber, by which to me the same
counsel had been given, on the occasion of those which from your part
I received recently, by which the deeds and acts
of S. Maxima the Virgin, all which in this province are found,
to be communicated was demanded; since
those at present you prepare for the press. Late indeed I received
the aforesaid R. Father's letter: for which about the middle
of April given at Avignon, on the Nones of June only
to me were rendered; whence also my delay to be excused
I trust, that perhaps not so hastily,
as the matter demanded, my answer to this
you have had. But lest greater procrastination be made,
I gather now, & here insert in cluster, those which in
my notes about holy Maxima as annotations I had set aside.
Meanwhile of your part shall it be these all
to weigh according to the balance of the exquisite judgment in which you abound;
to which truly both to subject what I think, & to hold what it shall define
I shall always glory. Therefore about S. Maxima
of Fréjus difficulty alone is moved from the similar patronymic
of the cities. For because there is among the Carni
a city decorated with this name, & the Martyrologies all
relate that S. Maxima at Forum-Julii is venerated without other
more express designation; rightly it seems to be doubted,
whether this city is Forum-Julii in our Phocensian
Province, or Forum-Julii in Italy. And given that
in both places S. Maxima obtains veneration;
considering only the present state of things, nothing certain in
one more, than the other part to gather perhaps
will be allowed: but if further inquiry of the part be made, & deeper investigation
of antiquity, for us all things to militate so far
will be seen.

[10] [it is removed by the addition of the Village Calidianus,] For, that I may first stand on the words of Ado,
which other Martyrologies use; when he besides
Forum-Julii, the nearest village, which is called Calidianus,
designates, where S. Maxima rests & is venerated; should be demonstrated,
in Italy & in the vicinity of the Fréjus
city a village of this name, called Calidianus;
for as long as among them it shall be desired, this
above her in moment shall prevail with us, that we point him
out in the Fréjus diocese, & not far from the city.
Indeed not yet in the Italian tract of Fréjus
have I observed Calidianus, & unless my eyes deceive me,
in the most exact geographical map of Antonio Magino
I did not see Calidianus in the diocese of Aquileia or Udine:
which however is principal in the matter about which is treated.
But even if there were a Village Calidianus there, its
antiquity and fame however will not show those,
such as we from nearly seven hundred years shall confirm.
Namely Calidianum, or Calidianus
village was at the beginning of the XI century, of great name,
decorated with the title of Principate: [for 700 years having its own Princes,] & the Princes of Calidianum among
the Nobles & Magnates of the Province eminent
were. For Guillelmus I Count of Provence sought their
affinity, & his daughter Emmagarda to Hugo
the Prince in matrimony joined, & lands
many in dowry assigned, of which the same spouses
by pious donation, some portion conceded
to the Lerins monastery about the thirtieth year of the running XI
century, of which donation a fragment
is had in the Lerins Chronology p. 2 page 152, more fully
expressed with the Historians of Provence. To him succeeded
Fulco Dodo, of whom frequent memory exists
under the name of supreme Lord & Prince of Callian, toward
the end of the same century. Of the same Principate the name
through subsequent centuries was most flourishing,
& today is: for that Calidianum tract is heard
with us & is called le Callianez, under which many
& notable towns are inscribed.

[11] Hence is given enough to gather, that, if the Calidianum
Principate was of such celebrity about the tenth century; [besides which, no other knew Ado,]
Ado, who flourished toward the end of the ninth & these times
touched, in which in the mouth of fame were the Princes of Calidianum,
no other place & village could understand, than that which was in Provence, when he wrote first that Maxima in
the Calidianus village had died. Which if
he had learned that the holy Virgin in Italy had completed mortality,
in a town of the same name (since
he could not have escaped that in the Phocensian Province,
nearest Vienne in which Ado lived, another
notable castle of this name to be reckoned), with another designation
he would have expressed the matter, nor would have arisen henceforth
the equivocation, & it would have been plainer to say: At Forum-Julii
in Italy of S. Maxima &c. Again Petrus de Natalibus,
country a Venetian, Bishop of Equilo, who
the matters of his country could not be ignorant, Ado to
the word followed: whence, if then, that is about the year
1470 in which he flourished, two towns of this name
he had known, doubtless he would have spoken otherwise. Which
indeed he must necessarily have known, if (which
to me from V. Cl. Henricus de Suares noble citizen of Avignon,
most knowledgeable of paternal antiquity, asserted
R. P. Faber) that Petrus the Venetian, his book
on the Lives of Saints at Avignon elaborated. For thus
neither those things which his country, in which the Episcopate of Esculo,
or Equilo, subject to the Venetian Metropolis,
[& Petrus de Natal.] he obtained; nor those which were singular of the Province in which
he was writing, could be unknown to him: that
therefore he indistinctly designated the Calidianum village, is argument,
that no other from that one which is in our Province
he understood.

[12] But on these things a little more I delay, Reverend Father,
because also among ours is the tradition, that S. Maxima died
in a Castle or village by the sea of the Sambracitan gulf,
from her name still called; [& which now possesses the family de Grasse,] thence however
on account of fear of pirate incursions, by the Princes
of Calidianum dominating that tract were extracted,
& to Calidianum castle translated. Hence Calidianum's
Toparchs the same S. Maxima from their lineage born
wish. For those who today from this stock origin
to lead glory, & those who in truth in the past century
this Dynasty obtained (these moreover whom from Grassa
we name, in French de la maison de Grasse, illustrious
indeed & of proven antiquity from the year 1100, as
is to be seen with the historians of Provence) as if
by continued tradition of elders to posterity, that S. Maxima
from a common stock origin led constantly
hold. And so high in the minds of his people that sat,
that, when on the occasion of incoming wars
the dead remains of the blessed Virgin had been translated to the city;
Ludovicus de Grassa, great Senechal of Provence
& Vice-governor, about the year 1517 to Fréjus
with military hand, with six thousand foot
or horse (which were the troops of Provence over which
he presided) entered, & by force extracted the holy
Body to the Village Calidianum carried back; from this single
cause so inflamed, that she from his own lineage sprung,
& of the same was Tutelary. In whose opinion's
support, [S. Maxima as his own Family member he venerates.] I saw in the chest of relics
of the holy Virgin, which by command of the Most Illustrious Antistes
Antonius Benedictus de Clermont was opened in the year
elapsed, a certain little chest, in which was placed a certain
part of her furniture: which chest is outwardly marked
with the shield of the family of Grassa, which consists of two
crimson chevrons in golden field, & with the insignia
of the city of Fréjus, which are a silver cross in red
field, with sewn the head of the shield decorated with three lilies of France.
I observed besides, recently turning aside
into the castle of Cabris of the Diocese of Grasse or Antibes,
whose dominion possesses Lord J. de
Grassa, a most ancient painted image of S. Maxima,
with one hand a palm, with the other a seal with the insignia
of the family of Grassa exhibiting. And this image
is preserved in the hall of the same Toparch's house. Which
even if the faith of this Family they do not everywhere
prove; that at least they evince, that S. Maxima,
not as foreign, but as a popular figure
& fellow-countryman from many centuries back was known
to have been; & that for certain ought to be held, that the Princes
of Calidianum or their posterity, or who from them right in
this village obtained, S. Maxima who there
was reported to have died, as Patroness & Tutelary
took up.

[13] But how in the city & diocese the cult of the holy
Virgin is most ancient, in few words now it pleases to weigh.
And first I note that her memory is had
in the chartularies of the Chapter, [her ancient memory in the chartularies,] in a certain instrument
of permutation between the Provost of Fréjus &
the Abbot of Lerins held, by which the aforesaid Abbot
in the year 1232, with the consent of the Monks, cedes
to the Chapter of Fréjus whatever has the Lerins
monastery in the holding of Fréjus, of Pojetum, of Roccabruna
& of S. Maxima, & of the castle of Miramarsi, which individual
territories around the gulf of Fréjus or Sambracitan
lie between; so that no suspicion can be, that the holding
of S. Maxima here expressed, is other than this
parish on the seashore, which from her is called commonly
S. Maxime. While Reverend Yours hears that territory
of S. Maxima then was occupied by the Lerinois,
perhaps by this thought it will be struck with me, that this
was from those lands, which Hugo Prince of Calidianum
to the Lerins monastery had given before nearly two hundred years.
Truly, as I said, constant is the tradition that tract
to the Princes of Calidianum once belonged, and thence
strongly would be confirmed, that the sacred body of S. Maxima
there resting was rightly by the same Lords to another
place, secure from maritime infestations, carried back.
But whatever about that conjecture be, that
is established, that the holy Virgin's name & memory
in the XIII century in our diocese flourished from
our & Lerins chartularies. [most ancient ruins,] And to these even
older monuments are at hand. For toward the West,
twenty miles from the city, exists a most ancient
Basilica, with great ruins of buildings,
where a monastery was constantly reported to have been, under S.
Maxima's invocation, with broad lands of greatest revenue
endowed around it; whence the appendage of the Priesthood or
Priory of the parochial Church of Cannet is formed,
from which, in any case very fat, a certain canon of grain
yearly to the Archdeacon of Fréjus is bound
to pay the Rector of the parish. Furthermore that little chapel,
nearly fallen by extreme antiquity, before seven hundred years
constructed easily will judge, whoever shall see:
which all things in these times also more ancient
cult of the holy Virgin in our region sufficiently betray.

[14] What remains, in the Church of Fréjus the same
veneration is not more recent. Reverend Y. has already seen
in our Breviary, of which an exemplar to R. P. Faber
the same to be sent I had handed over, that S. Maxima's festivity
is assigned on XVII Kalends of June under semi-double rite,
which day from the indicated in the Roman Martyrology
& others does not differ. He shall have observed also
her invocation in the Litanies inserted in the aforesaid Breviary;
[& Litanies.] but most ancient I have come upon recently in
the Archive of the Chapter, in MS. parchment codex of best
note, which is inscribed (but by a more recent hand) directorium
of the Church of Fréjus, that in it are arranged
the Offices of greater solemnity. Although however
that codex of hoary antiquity seems, & before
five hundred years written; the Litanies however to those in
another parchment sewn show greater antiquity:
for in majuscule character, & this in many
on account of antiquity obliterated, are written. In these
the venerable memory of S. Maxima in this order is read.
S. Maria Magdalene, S. Perpetua, S. Felicitas, S. Agatha,
S. Agnes, S. Lucia, S. Cecilia, S. Scholastica,
S. Maxima, S. Tecla, S. Christina, S. Margarita, S.
Catharina, S. Fides, all SS. Virgins, all SS. Widows
& Continent. Thus the aforesaid Litanies: which from another
chapter to me also seem most ancient, that
neither in the holy Martyrs or Confessors there
invoked are enunciated any, who after the X century have flourished,
as also of the holy Virgins can be observed.
For S. Francis's name was subjected,
& thus also to the margin by another hand written most recently.
S. Maxima's therefore memory flourishing voluntarily
is reported in the Church of Fréjus about the tenth
century: & even from this alone, unless it were established from Usuard
& Ado, sufficiently could it be gathered, that she died
long before the invasion of the Saracens into Provence,
that is before the year 890, in which at the gulf Sambracitan
that citadel, most notorious for robberies,
called Fraxinetum, they built: indeed even
before that time, if she died here, that elsewhere has been translated
her body.

[15] Furthermore since in those unfortunate times the Church
of Fréjus lost all its documents in
the conflagration of the city, which by the Saracens with iron &
fire was so devastated, [no Acts of the Life are now found:] that to nothing it is said to have been reduced, with only
the name of the Bishopric in it remaining (which are the words
of an authentic red [document] preserved in the Episcopal archive, &
with Antonius de Ruffy & Sammartani, if I am not mistaken,
inserted) it is no wonder if the Acts of the blessed Virgin
in its chartularies are desired. I have inquired diligently
at Calidianum in the course of the visitation of D. Bishop;
in whose retinue, as Official of Fréjus the parts
sustaining, I was present. But neither in the chest, in which are preserved
her Relics, which with greatest sedulity for
an entire hour I rolled; nor among the documents
of the prior parochial Church, which to me readily were communicated,
have I obtained anything about her deeds,
beyond the autograph of the Bull, of which to Reverend Yours already
copy I had made. I hear with you a transcript of that
diploma to be of great authority, & rightly indeed:
for (which also to observe is fitting)
who first among ten Cardinals, granting indulgence,
is named Nicolaus of Albano, that was
Nicolaus de Flisco Bishop of Fréjus,
who that Church, of which he had been Provost & Vicar
General under Urban brother or paternal uncle, ruled
from the year 1495, & the parts of most vigilant Pastor
executed; & who therefore matters of his diocese,
which he had often visited, thoroughly knew. Whence when
created Cardinal, with other Colleagues, Indulgences
he grants in the year 1519, for the parochial Church of Callian,
which is said to be decorated with the relics of S. Maxima, the matter
he expounds, which through himself he knew: & if then
about it had been doubted, in no wise that grace
would the most religious man have imparted, by doctrine, piety,
& expertise of things commended by all historians.

[16] [that she was Abbess is not established:] There are who assert that S. Maxima, in the Sambracitan gulf,
where exists the village & church under her invocation,
ruled for many years a society of Virgins,
shown for this reason the ruins of a larger monastery, in the villa
of a certain rustic, where have been observed recently of a certain
dormitory and cells the traces, which only of those leading
common life could be habitations:
in which opinion the parish-priest of the church,
quite a diligent investigator of these things so concedes,
that for it as for altar & hearths he militates, & me
to it confirming by some monuments of writing
often invites. But even if about a monastery, there once
founded, with him & with others I agree: not however to me
hitherto has it been proved, that there the blessed Virgin presided, & that this rather of Virgins than of Men's
Asceterium existed. [today's cult of her in the Cathedral of Fréjus,] Wherefore in the edition of the Codex
proper of the Saints of the Church of Fréjus,
to whose elaboration by Bishop & Clergy I had been Set Over,
I preferred to leave the Acts of S. Maxima's life intact,
& to the common of Virgins, her Office to assign,
than these and other entirely uncertain things to publish.
I obtained however, that under double rite she be celebrated,
when to the Antistes, opening the chest of her relics,
I was the author, that from it a certain notable part of them
in the Cathedral to be deposited he should pluck out; which
he also did. We have therefore now one of her ribs,
with other particles of her sacred bones. Beyond
the aforesaid parochial Church of Callidianum;
& another parochial of S. Maxima, in the village
from her name, on the seashore; & the basilica
& priesthood of S. Maxima of Cannet, commonly le Canet;
I do not find in the Province villages or churches from her
named. For the village which on the chorographical map
of Provence, near the town of Forcalquier,
is inscribed S. Maxime, ought of S. Maximus the Bishop
to be understood, & is so understood. In the diocesan
Churches' chartularies however, which in the course of the Visitation
sedulously I examined, S. Maxima's memory I noted in
a very ancient Calendar of the Collegiate Church of Barjols,
commonly Barjols (where the body of S. Marcellus Bishop of Die
rested) founded by Rayambaldus
Bishop of Arles in the year 1061, [& the Collegiate of Barjols,] where her festivity
is assigned also on XVII Kalends of June.

[17] These are altogether, the things which hitherto in reading
have come to mind, most learned Father: & by these whether
of letters, or of buildings monuments S. Maxima
ours we recognize; & as a kinswoman the noble
stock of Grassa, we as a popular figure invoke, from
most constant & above all memory tradition.
I do not know whether more proven things have the Italians, who her likewise
make their own. Truly into none have I fallen, [against these things nothing the Italians produce.] who with any
authority would prove the deed: & the same Ferdinandus
Ughellus, who in this century described sacred Italy,
& whose work as old monuments of Churches,
whatever exist, he should investigate, sufficiently demanded,
while about the Fréjus city & College of Canons
there constituted he speaks quite at length, says indeed,
that it was illustrated by the death of S. Maxima, but
only with the Roman Martyrology's words confirms his opinion:
which truly argues that that Church no better
title for this has. But it has perhaps happened, that
R. Y. who from all peoples old documents conducting
to her purpose inquires, of S. Maxima certain things
communicated by the Fréjus Italians (if
any however they have) shall have obtained, which truly I would much desire;
that with both parties heard, she might judge between us
& them, & by contradiction, as they say, define, lest
afterwards into this opinion which she shall give anyone dare
to rise up, & move the limits, which she shall have set:
which truly that I have in no way attempted to go,
on account of that science, perspicacity, & other notable
gifts of mind, treating sacred history becoming,
by which to her & the Venerable Master, of study,
of labor & of glory leader, eminent I know, & at the beginning attested
& making the end again attest. We do not wish,
as piously in his manner said Augustine in book on true
religion chap. 55, that there be religion to us in our phantasms:
for better is whatever true, than every
whatever can be feigned at will: better is true straw,
than light formed by empty thought, according to the will of one suspecting.
May God O. M. supply, that an immense work,
arduous & untried, to the greater glory of His name
with such your praise, with such utility of the Christian Republic
undertaken, & to the half-completed center,
absolve be able: may He renew like an eagle his youth,
& make him with those a part, whose
glory with such care & felicity he promotes. I in the meantime,
small imitator of huge examples,
the Sparta which I have obtained shall busy myself to adorn; this
is, the recension of the Saints of the Church & diocese
of Fréjus, for your sake begun, according to my measure
shall I hasten to perfect; whereby I might be known to you always more
to all obeisances toward your Paternity, whom
I deeply venerate, most prepared. Forum-Julii
V Id. June A. D. 1679.

TRANSLATION

Made in the year 1643, & signed by an authentic instrument.

Maxima, Virgin, of Callidianum in the diocese of Fréjus in Provence (S.)

FROM MSS.

[18] [Vicar of Fréjus] We Andreas Leget, Presbyter, in sacred Theology
Licentiate, perpetual Vicar of the Cathedral
Church of the city of Fréjus, Commissary
delegated by the Reverend in Christ Father
D. D. Petrus de Camellin, Bishop & Lord
of Fréjus, make known by the power to us
made through the decree given this present year 1643
& on XIX February, by this subscription confirmed
Petrus Bishop of Fréjus, & below Benoist
Graphiarius; at the instance & requisition of the Consuls
or Syndics of the town of Calidianum, from the city
of Fréjus to the aforesaid town to have proceeded,
on the day XV May of the same year; [16 May] & on the next day, that is XVI
of the same month, on which recurs the feast day of Holy
Maxima, with the same Syndics requiring, to the parochial
church we to have betaken; where after the most sacred
sacrifice of Mass, there celebrated by us,
in the presence of D. D. Antonius Tardieu Presbyter
Parish-priest or Prior, of Joannes Guerin, of Petrus Digne
of Barjamonensis Presbyters, serving the parochial
church, of Henricus Aubanellus Presbyter
of Calidianum, of Fredericus de Villanova Presbyter &
Prior of the town of Cipieres; with also there standing
were Alexander & Claudius de Villanova
brothers Knights of the Order of holy John of Jerusalem,
Demoiselle Francisca de Villanova, Lady
de Turretis near Vence of the Nerusii, & also
of the castle of Calidianum; Demoiselle Francisca de Villanova,
Lady of Broves & Calidianum. [before many witnesses,] Demoiselle Claudia
de Grassa, Lady of Clumans & Calidianum;
Petrus Castillon, I. V. D. Judge of the present town;
Joannes Bellissen, Royal Notary, son of the late Antonius,
Lieutenant or Pro-judge; Petrus
Bouge, Syndic; Paulus Castillon & Antonius
Issaurat, Assessors; Antonius Baudoüin, formerly receiver
Royal; Jacobus Leget, Petrus Felix, &
Andreas Senequier, Estimators of estates, & ordinary
Counsel Assessors; Joannes Canety, Royal
Notary; Joannes Bellissen, Surgeon; also
Joannes Bellissen, Royal Notary son of the aforesaid Joannes;
Henricus Bellissen, carder; Andreas
& Antonius Spitalier, Brothers; Antonius Merle,
Joannes Baudoüin, Joannes Bouge, locksmith;
Petrus & Henricus Bellissen brothers, & others from the chief
townsmen; we opened the cabinet, fortified with iron bars,
in the chapel of Holy Maxima.

[19] In which when we had found a sealed casket,
& had brought to the major altar, [the chest of S. Maxima opened] with the accustomed ceremonies
duly observed; the aforesaid casket we unsealed,
in which the bones & sacred relics of Holy Maxima
soon to be remembered we found. And first a little box
of round figure, in which we found a certain
white linen quite ample, on which little box's
border are painted as if insignia, an Eagle,
wooden box, in which was a white shroud,
with a little rib, or some bony particle: another
small linen with little ribbons, of red, green, saffron
colors: a certain small textile, of cotton-silk
neatly worked with needle: also a little chest, in
which was found a certain written paper, which to read
we could not, with a certain bone particle, [recognizes & enumerates each item placed within]
wrapped in many silk cloths: which little chest
is fortified with its lid, on whose middle is painted
a lily flower, & above the insignia of the city of Fréjus,
which exhibit two Chevrons, & the insignia
of the town of Calidianum. Which linens, shrouds, ribbons,
bones or relics in the said boxes
detected we enclosed in the same, as before to be preserved.
And continually in the same casket the rest
of Holy Maxima's bones, or sacred relics, conspicuous to us
were: namely bones of two tibias, as many
hips, also the spine of the back entire, two scapulas,
a single rib, the calvaria, & many particles of the head,
of which some in part bruised, others to certain
teeth adhering, of all of which the enumeration
made by us, proceeded to 250 bones, in no way
in that count are comprehended the bones above expressed.

[20] [& he transfers them into a new casket] And those sacred Relics, exposed to the sight of the standing
people, were soon enclosed
with the two designated boxes in a new casket,
elaborated at the expenses of the University; & this recent
casket, by us closed & with crystalline
glass on the front part adorned, in the same cabinet
of the chapel of the same holy Virgin reverently we deposited.
Furthermore the key by which the casket itself is closed
to the aforesaid Petrus Bouge Syndic we entrusted:
of the two however, attached to the cabinet covered with iron bars,
one to the aforesaid D. Tardieu Parish-priest,
the other to the same Petrus Bouge was committed,
that they should duly preserve them. And a little after in the general
procession, accustomed to be made on account of the festivity of Holy Maxima
celebrity, the same casket with solemn pomp
& due honor & reverence was carried, & after this
in the accustomed cabinet placed, & the keys by the Parish-priest
& Syndic afore-named were received. In whose
all things' fuller faith, [with an instrument made on the whole matter.] we Vicar & Commissary
with D. D. Parish-priest, Presbyters, Lords,
Ladies, Judge, Syndic, & others
above expressed of the chiefs of Calidianum, these acts
or verbal process subscribed, & with Balthazar
Baudoüin Royal Notary of Calidianum's
subscription we caused to be fortified. There follow then
the subscriptions of each, for which is the attestation of the interpreter
conceived in these words: I Josephus Vairas Presbyter,
in the Episcopal Seminary of Fréjus under
the title of S. Leontius Reader of sacred Theology, testify,
that I from the commission & mandate of R. D. Official General
of Fréjus the Acts of the Translation of S. Maxima
the Virgin, in the Archive of Ecclesiastical insinuations
preserved, from the French to the Latin word for word sincerely
have rendered: at Fréjus on the tenth day of December in the year 1679.
