Vales or Valens Presbyter of Auxerre in Gaul
Acta Sanctorum, May 21
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https://actasanctorum.org/may/day-21/vales-or-valens-presbyter-of-auxerre-in-gaul.html
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ON ST. VALES OR VALENS PRESBYTER OF AUXERRE IN GAUL.

Historical sylloge on his cult.

Vales or Valens, Presbyter of Auxerre in Gaul (S.)

BY THE AUTHOR G. H.

[1] The Memory of S. Valis the Confessor is noted
in the ancient Breviaries of the Church of Auxerre,
given to us by Pierre le Venier
the Penitentiary of the same Church, and the
Office of the Common of one
Confessor is appointed. [a] [Memory in Breviaries and Martyrologies.] Likewise the memory of Valis the Presbyter and Confessor
is prescribed in the Senonensian Breviary. The same is preserved
in the ancient copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology,
the Blumian and Corbeian, with these words: In the city
of Auxerre the deposition of B. Valis, Presbyter and Confessor.
The same things are had in Rabanus, Notker,
Ado in the Appendix of Mosander and Rosweide, Greven
and Molanus in the Additions to Usuard: likewise in the ancient
Mss. Barberinian, Centulensian of S. Richarius, Liège
of S. Lambert and S. Lawrence, Lobiensian, and the threefold of the Queen
of Sweden, likewise in the Martyrology of Cologne and Lübeck of the year
1490 printed, and others; in some of which the name
of Confessor is omitted. Without the place added, the name of Valis
is in the Ms. Aix-la-Chapelle, and of Valis the Confessor in
the Mss. Augustan of S. Udalric and Paris of Labbé. In the Ms.
Roman of Duke Altempsius these things are read: At Auxerre
the deposition of S. Vitalis the Bishop the Confessor, where with
others must be read of Valis the Presbyter. In the most ancient copy of
the Hieronymian Martyrology Epternacensian is written:
In the city of Auxerre the deposition of Valens the Presbyter,
where either also Valis or everywhere Valens must be placed.
In the same way it is referred in the Lucensian copy, in the city
of the Auxerroises the deposition of B. Valerius the Presbyter and Confessor; where again B. Valis or Valens
must be written. For those who are wrongly inserted there,
Paul, Anteon and Quadratus, do not pertain here,
having suffered in Africa on May XXVI. Finally the name of Valerianus the Presbyter
is found in the Auctarium of Greven, in place of the other previously
related. It pleased to deduce these things more curiously; that the reader may judge,
whether this Presbyter can be distinguished from Valens the Martyr,
who is also referred on this day.

[2] We have read no Acts of S. Vales or Valens; some
elogium in general words was added to him by Saussay in
the Gallican Martyrology, in this manner: At Auxerre the deposition
of S. Valis, Presbyter and excellent Confessor, [b] [elogium of Saussay.]
who so lived in the flesh that he seemed to exceed
the human measure; and inflamed with the desire of the heavenly
life, having trampled all earthly things underfoot, falling asleep in the perfect
service of God, attained the everlasting
beatitude.

[3] [c] [mention May 22.] The author of the Martyrology, published under the name of Bede, on
April XXII reports these things: In the city of Auxerre
[the natal day of] B. Walis the Presbyter and Confessor. Followed by
Molanus in the first edition of Usuard with the addition,
Canisius and Ferrarius. But Saussay in the supplement of the Gallican
Martyrology, as another from S. Vales or Valens,
calls him Vitalis.
