John the Abbot
Acta Sanctorum, May 22
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https://actasanctorum.org/may/day-22/john-the-abbot.html
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ON ST. JOHN THE ABBOT,

AT PARMA IN ITALY.

YEAR DCCCCLXXXII.

PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.

On the Life by a contemporary monk written, the time of his rule and death, and the cult.

John the Abbot, of the Order of S. Benedict at Parma in Italy (S.)

G. H.

[1] The Church of Parma celebrates this XXII of May
the natal day of S. John, its own citizen and the first Abbot
of the monastery of S. John the Evangelist there
founded. His Life and miracles described
of the said monastery a Monk, who those
seen by him testifies already old, whom S. John into his monastery
had admitted: [the Life written by a contemporary monk.] from whom he asserts num. 3 to have heard, what
of the holy man he collected. This moreover to have done he says num.
15, when in the times of Hugo the Bishop the holy man's bones into
a new church were translated. Presided moreover the said
Hugo from the year MXXVII, even to the year MXLVI. Among
the more illustrious monks, by whose testimony the author relies, is
Rastaldus, whom he says, of the holy Church of Pistoia
afterward as Prelate we saw. Further Ughelli tome 3 of Italy
sacred this man says in the year MXVIII to the solemn of SS. Barontius,
Desiderius and the Companion monks translation to have been present,
and a little after from this mortal life to have departed.
The Acts of the said Saints we gave XXV March. Hence we gather
the Life of S. John to have been written about the year
MXXX.

[2] But of the time, in which S. John the Abbot flourished, various
are the characters. [He was Abbot in the time of the Emperor Otto.] Of these the chief is the time of the most pious
Otto the second the most clement Emperor, who of the Romans
governed the Empire, as at the beginning of the Life
is said, and accurately toward the end is described. Succeeded he Otto
the first his father, on VII May, in the year DCCCCLXXIII having died.
But he himself at Rome from life departed in the year DCCCCLXXXIII.
At which time, that we may give another character, lived the founder
of the mentioned monastery of S. John the Evangelist Sigefridus, the second
of that name Bishop of Parma, subrogated in
the place of Humbert the Bishop, [and of Sigefridus Bishop of Parma,] who still lived in the year DCCCCLXXIII,
when at the assembly of Mazalia in the territory of Modena by Honestus Archbishop of Ravenna celebrated he was present,
where Albert Bishop of Bologna Humbert of Parma
his rights invading accused. Which controversy
at length is deduced by Hieronymus Rubeus, book 5 of the history of the Ravennates
page 264 and following. Seems to this mentioned Sigefredus
in the very year DCCCCLXXIII or the following to have succeeded, who
S. John of his monastery consecrated Abbot in the year
DCCCCLXXV. [consecrated in the year 975] He indeed after seven years, in which the flock to him committed he ruled, his holy life finished in the year DCCCCLXXXII,
which the third character is, [died in the year 982.] but by an error of the copyists
omitted one X, which easily could happen, is read corruptly the year
DCCCCLXXII, and several into error led judged
this character to prevail. Hence in place of Sigefredus the Bishop
in Ughelli was substituted the before-indicated Humbert,
of whom no at all in the said Life is made mention: and Ferrarius in
the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy alleges Otto the first and
the second Emperors, namely when together they reigned;
but this a more accurate author would have said, and then there was not
Sigefredus the Bishop, who him to have consecrated Abbot is said
in the Acts; from whom the third before mentioned Hugo in
the aforesaid Church the Episcopate to have held, also is indicated
num. 15. [The Acts are given from the Mss.] Let therefore the Acts remain unshaken, restored only
the year DCCCCLXXXII, in place of the year DCCCCLXXII. Them we at Rome
received from Ferdinand Ughelli, and collated with
another Ms. kept in the library of Novacella of the Fathers of the Congregation
of the Oratory marked with the letter O and the number 34.

[3] There are extant Compendia various of this Life: and the first is
in the monastic History of Peter Recordati de Bugiana in the year
MDLXXV printed, where folio 549, is said his Sacred sepulcher
on the day XXII of May by the whole city of Parma with a public
and solemn procession to be honored. The other is in the Sanctuary
of the Church of Parma about the year MDXCV published, from which
his compendium took Ferrarius, and in this these things toward
the end are had: Whom Gregory VII the Pontiff Maximus
into the number of the Saints, on account of the miracles by which
after his death he shone, to have ascribed is reported. The Life of S. John
in Italian published Ranuccio Pico, [The Life in Italian written.] Secretary of the Most Serene
Duke of Parma, in the Theater of the Saints and Blessed
of the City of Parma about the year MDCXLII printed, and he alleges
another Life under the Abbot Maurus before about twenty
years printed. [Memory in the Fasti,] A celebrated also memory is found of S. John
the Abbot in the monastic Martyrologies of Wion, Dorganius,
Menardus and Bucelinus. The same also Ghinius referred
in the Natalia of the Holy Canons, for that he had been
of the Church of Parma a Canon. The same finally commemorate
Ferrarius in the general Catalogue, and Brautius in the Martyrology
Poetic. [also 8 May.] And again on the day VIII May of the same John
the translation is referred in the said monastic Martyrologies,
and the general Catalogue of Ferrarius.

THE LIFE

By the Author a monk of his monastery
Contemporary.

From the Ms. Codices.

John the Abbot, of the Order of S. Benedict at Parma in Italy (S.)

BHL Number: 4419

BY A CONTEMPORARY AUTHOR.

CHAPTER I.

His birth, education, monastic life. His election as Abbot. Some miracles.

[1] In the time, in which the most pious Otto the second most clemently
the Roman governed Empire,
there was a man certain venerable in the city, which is called
Parma, John by name, who from a best [a] lineage
drew his origin: yet that nobility of mind,
which more than all is to be loved, he cultivated more than
of flesh. And deservedly this man John was called: [Noble by stock,] for is interpreted
the grace of God, or, in whom is grace. Truly
indeed the grace of God in this man to be we have known:
for from infancy God to fear he began, and his virginity
in mind and body, the grace of God cooperating,
equally he kept. His mother when, the conceived offspring
in her womb pregnant being held, and the time now of bringing forth
drew near, on account of the difficulty of the birth, [from the womb of his dead mother cut out,] before
the son she had brought forth, from this mortal life was taken.
Whose when after, performed for her the funeral rite, as is the custom
of the dead, before in the sepulcher she was placed, her womb
being cut, thence alive and elegant a little boy was drawn
out. Who when he was weaned, by his parents
decently, as it had behoved, was nourished: and, when
now seven years old he was, with sacred letters to be imbued he was delivered,
and also after these in the holy Church of Parma
by that See's Prelate a Canon was ordained. But
when now there to God to serve while still a boy he began; [a Canon of Parma,]
and, otherwise than that age permitted, to divine things
gave labor; made a young man he began in mind to ponder
how or in what manner the world with its delights
he should relinquish; and Christ the Lord, to whose
service he had subjected himself, to please he might be able.

[2] And when this long silently he pondered, he gave
labor, that his fatherland and parents, as Abraham, he should relinquish,
and for the cause of prayer the Saints' places he should seek out,
and to the sepulcher of the Lord even to be visited
to Jerusalem he should travel. [He goes to Jerusalem six times,] Which when the man of the Lord
diligently had performed, of our it is not the faculty to unfold,
how great there labors for Christ he sustained; or how great
of tears rivers in the holy places abundantly he poured.
And when now the sixth performed time the same venerable
man his desired had made journey, and in a monastic
holy men he had received, into his city had returned;
the man reverend of the aforesaid holy Church of Parma
Prelate, Sigifredus by name, (when a monastery in
of S. John the Apostle and Evangelist the church, which
is near and outside of the aforesaid city the walls, now to constitute
had resolved) began hither and thither to run, and
where a man worthy of God he might find solicitously to seek,
whom of his Abbey, which now to Christ he had founded,
to constitute Abbot he could. But when through many,
as we said, he ran, and according to of his mind the implanted
quality a man for this work strenuous he found not; [is constituted Abbot of S. John, at Parma:]
he chooses this most holy man, to himself and his
all well known, chaste, sober, kind,
merciful, who also from his, so to say, cradle
of Christ the footsteps had followed: and with the counsel
of the Clerics and people, consenting also some
already there gathered Brothers, worthy of his
monastery, as we experienced, he consecrated Abbot.

[3] The Prelate therefore aforesaid so much into of his monastery
love burned, that not only there gathered
he venerated and loved the Brothers, but even wherever
in his diocese religious he found Clerics, [many he gathers Clerics:]
solicitously and most diligently he invited, that the sacred in his
monastery they should receive of religion the habit. But when
in this much and long he labored, some there best
he gathered Clerics: whom not after much
time with too great old age worn out, in the aforesaid monastery
religious we saw monks, and from them we heard,
what of the holy man to write we endeavor. Besides
also to Ravenna he proceeded, and there in a [c] holy Synod,
subscribing-below confirming the Archbishop with the other
Coepiscopi, [he takes care that the statutes be confirmed in the Synod of Ravenna.] a decree for the aforenamed monastery
in such order he wrote, that if anyone ever of his successors
in the already said monastery through money or
otherwise an Abbot should constitute, with the dart of anathema he should be struck, and with Simon the magician and Judas the betrayer
he should be condemned. Which Decree also to the most holy man
mellifluous admonitions in the aforesaid monastery
many things for monastic use apt he established. These indeed
omitted, to those things which of the holy man we began, briefly
let us proceed.

[4] Ordained moreover this man Most Blessed, of the rule
the care by office he held, by his manners he fulfilled, and into so great
love of his founder to burn he began, that him beyond
the human measure to transcend thou wouldst believe. He was
indeed in speech truthful, [excellent in every virtue] in judgment just, in work
chaste, in faith Catholic, in aspect Angelic, in hope most patient,
of mercy full, in humility chief,
and so in almsgivings liberal, that in the whole city
scarcely was found a widow, poor, needy, orphan,
whom the holy man, with mercy (as we said) full, of
the to himself conferred goods did not succor. And when now with great
conversation he abounded, himself and himself from evil works
utterly abstained, and his flesh from vices by abstaining
tamed, [for miracles he is illustrious.] and the little sheep to him committed by word
together and example to the path of the right way led,
he began also with miracles to shine; that as a lamp upon
a candelabrum placed to all, who in the house are,
might shine.

[5] Therefore while at a certain time one of his disciples,
Christopher by name, in the scribal art
skilled, by his command a certain codex was writing,
and the parchment for this kind of grace to cut
wished; so his finger he wounded, that the bone immediately
of it was bared. Who when by him, why he wrote not,
asked was; said, that he could not, [a wounded finger with saliva he heals:] on account of the wounded
finger's pain. And when to the holy man the wound
he had shown, soon the man of God with saliva anointed it, and so healed
rendered, that in a wondrous manner scarcely a sign
there appeared. Who immediately sat down again; and with great of heart
exultation to write began. Which finger long
after time the same Brother, of the aforesaid monastery now
Prior, to us showed; and those things, which we have related,
narrated.

[6] At another also time while by a certain venerable
man, by name John, of the holy aforesaid church the Archdeacon,
who afterward in the holy [e] of Modena church
the Pontifical chair ruled, [wine he multiplies,] a vessel one quite small,
of drink full, which we monks justitia
call, to this holy man had been transmitted,
and at the refreshment hour himself blessing all the Brothers
from it sufficiently drank; so an incredible deed
work followed, that fifteen and more from
it drank Brothers, and so the vessel full always
filling. These indeed, which we have related,
from those Brothers, Gandulfus by name, relating
we heard, who at the table with the other Brothers
sat, and of the drink the benediction with the others
received. In which deed Elisha like we have judged
to be esteemed, who from a few herbs very many for a long time
fed the workmen.

[7] But neither to be kept silent this I pass over, that by the aforesaid
Christopher the Prior narrating I learned.
While on a certain day to a certain monastery [g] at Brescello
situated, for certain causes the same man blessed had come; [a tempest he drives away.]
so great of lightning and flash and thunder
power, and so great of hail an inundation burst forth, that almost
all the crops or vineyards and trees fruitful
seemed to be consumed. Then the man holy under the axis of heaven
bare, as he was most pious, went forth, his palms to heaven
stretched, tears poured, and that whole to-be-feared
of lightning and hail inundation soon by praying
into a tranquil serenity led. By which deed
of our Lord the virtue he followed, who in the ship to the winds
commanded and to the sea, and was made a tranquillity great. [Matt. 8, 26.]
Nor wonderful, if of his master the virtue this man blessed
imitated: because the Lord himself our in the Gospel
to his disciples promised, saying: Amen, amen I say
to you, who believes in me, the works which I do also himself
shall do, and greater than these shall do. [John 14, 12.] Truly indeed this man
holy, of truth a disciple made, so the true of his master
followed the way, that what to those to him committed he taught with words,
by work he himself first fulfilled.

[8] Nor that let me be silent of, which his aforesaid disciple,
by name Gandulfus, to narrate was wont. To this
holy man a custom there was, that through single years
to Rome he should go, and to the thresholds of the Apostles his
of prayers vows to the Lord render, and there many of tears
rivers with contrite heart abundantly from divine
inspiration pour. [from a woman reproaches having suffered,] And when according to custom at a certain
time this on a journey he walked about, into the house
of a certain matron with the aforesaid John the Archdeacon
himself in hospitality he received. But when the aforesaid matron
by the holy man for a certain dishonest deed humbly
was rebuked, and lest any more that disgrace
she should commit was admonished; so against the same venerable
man into grave wrath she burned, that with many
also reproaches and revilings the holy man to gainsay
she feared not. The man of the Lord moreover, with wondrous humility
and patience's gift filled, when this exceedingly
raging he beheld, not only her reproaches
patiently sustained, but even his own against her for
his vengeance raging, lest any to her they should bring molestation,
with great gravity restrained. And when
the aforesaid woman against the holy man many, [he restrains the others from vengeance,] as we said,
wicked words cast, and as if now from the labor
wearied to rest she wished; soon with great clamor she began
from the holy man pardon to ask, and from of her throat
the pain now herself to death near to be anxiously to pronounce.
And when long herself guilty to be, and on account of the merit of the holy
man this to her to have happened with tears she cried out;
immediately to the holy man's feet she is led, and at the feet
of him weeping prostrates herself. And when most long,
his companion the said Archdeacon and the holy man's
brothers, him, that to her he would have pity, with tears
she besought, and the holy man himself unworthy and of so great a deed
not to be fit pronounced; [and her from the throat's pain he heals,] yet for their
petition immediately with mercy he was moved, and for
her prayers to pour he did not disdain. For when
the sign of the holy Cross on her throat he imprinted,
and the Lord's piety for her more earnestly prayed; at
his command, immediately as he touched her, a certain bloody
and fetid in the manner of a nut from her mouth she cast;
and soon from the ground sound she rose, God also with
great of heart exultation to praise she began.

[9] Fixed now a little let us hold our entry, and the things made
in so great a man's praise a little with mind let us consider.
Let us stand meanwhile, and see, if this man blessed
in this his deed the Lord's precepts followed.
For he says himself in the Gospel: Pray for those persecuting,
and calumniating you. [giving us an example of patience.] Truly the holy this man for
this woman prayed, when himself cursing he cursed not,
but on the contrary blessed, and her reproaches
patiently sustained; and not only patiently sustained,
but even for her the Lord's mercy
implored, and to her former even health
by praying led. In which deed, we slothful and ill
living are confounded, who not even one
word for Christ to sustain wish; but when
by any Brother we are reviled, for a single only
word a thousand we render reproaches. And if for a time after
fury or wrath to a brother sometimes we spare,
as if great something to us we to have done seem: when
this man blessed a thousand sustained reproaches, and not only,
as we said, even a little was not saddened;
but even for of his reviler the health prayers
to pour he did not disdain. We indeed wish
the rewards of life to have with the Saints; but with them to sustain
and to suffer for Christ we will not. Now therefore, Brothers,
of patience the virtue to acquire let us hasten, that from
Christ the Lord of it the rewards we may merit to receive,
he saying; Blessed are the Peacemakers, for sons of God they shall be called.
Now these said let them suffice: but indeed now to those things,
which of the holy man we began, let us return.

ANNOTATIONS.








CHAPTER II.

Other miracles in his life and at death wrought. His happy death.

[10] At another also time, just as the same Brother
aforesaid related, when this man blessed that same
journey to perform wished, to a certain river, by name
made of its course's channel had gone out, [the overflowing Arnus, fortified with the Cross, he crosses] and to all
by fording the way denied, and a great of peoples
throng on account of the fording's difficulty there
disturbed remained; the man of the Lord aforesaid, in Christ
confiding, with the sign of the holy Cross armed himself; and with
all his, as an athlete, through the middle of the raging river's
channel, to cross merited. But when the same river so
much had grown, that scarcely there a ship's course could hold;
the man holy so with his by a straight path, aided
by Christ's grace, secure by riding crossed, that not
even the wave raging their feet wetted. Which
when the people on horseback, who at this spectacle with
many other of different kind men were present, had seen,
and rashly similarly by riding to ford wished, and
the man holy with great clamor to them, lest this they should do,
prohibited; and they on the contrary the holy man resisting,
into the river rashly entered; [the others rashly following he frees.] so its force
the water against them put forth, that immediately in the very river slain
they would have been, had not the man holy by his prayers protecting,
and through himself them aiding, quickly succored.
By which stupefied miracle all who were present,
magnificent praises to Christ rendered; and
with hands to heaven raised most long God glorified,
who so daily his ceased not the Saints
to magnify. O how sweet is the Lord to those hoping
in him, to the soul seeking him! O how are
wonderful, God, thy portents! This man holy the flood-wandering
ornaments of the world, by bravely resisting and contending,
unharmed trampled; and against him the swollen and raging
river with all confidence to cross merited.

[11] But neither that to be silent I judge, which from
many relating I heard. While on a certain day the already *
said Lord Christopher, who of the country the care that
in time had, his wished at daybreak to visit servants;
him, whither he tended, asked the man of the Lord.
And when whither to go he ought to him he had indicated, [he foretells to another a peril from a serpent.] the man holy
immediately added, saying: Beware, Brother, that the place
that near the thorns' thicket cautiously thou walk, lest
perhaps by a serpent which there thou shalt find, any molestation
thou suffer. Which when that Brother from the holy man
had heard, and with himself this silently on the way pondered; soon,
as into the aforeshown to him place he came, there of wondrous
length a serpent he found: which soon as he saw,
exceedingly he shuddered; but with the holy Cross's sign fortified,
and by the holy man's prayers aided, unharmed into
the cloister of the monastery to his Brothers returned.
Who, when to them the aforesaid Brother this which to him had happened
indicated, of Prophecy this man to have the spirit they believed.

[12] Besides when the same man blessed in nocturnal
silence in the oratory [b] of S. Columbanus, which to the greater church
contiguous was, his of prayers vows to Christ
Jesus assiduously rendered; [he passes the night in prayer,] and sometimes fifty,
often even a hundred psalms, sometimes indeed in
order the whole psalter before the nocturnal he consummated
synaxis; excepted only the hours' spaces,
in which of prayers, and tears, and most frequent
sobs prayers he poured; the devil, who is
of our salvation envious, beholding this blessed man
in divine praises, as we said, daily passing the night,
to inquire began, by what art him to disquiet he could.
For when the man blessed prayed, the very contiguous enemy,
who a thousand assumes arts that God's servants he disturb, in ways
all by which he could him to provoke ceased not.
But when at the dead of night's hour in the church
of B. Columbanus, [the demons assaulting with the Cross he overcomes.] just as we aforesaid, to the Lord
prayers he poured; the devil in a most beautiful woman's
appearance before him by dancing often played, sometimes
also to him the lamp extinguished; and after these,
just as he himself to the Brothers related, there of lions roarings
he heard, of bears murmur, and of horses neighings,
of wild asses brayings, of pigs gruntings, of dogs barkings,
of cats mewlings, of serpents hissings, that even thus
the man of God's mind from the prayer's zeal he might remove.
And when the man of God these of demons assaults
felt, not only immovable remained, and from
God's praises his mind recalled not; but even
with the holy Cross's sign fortified, the enemy, like smoke,
to vanish made. There are also other many of praise
worthy, which of the holy man to write we can, but now
these now said let them suffice: how to the Lord
from this life he migrated to know wishing, God helping,
to write let us study.

[13] Therefore while the time drew near, in which the Lord
and our Savior of this holy man the labors to reward
wished, [sick] and the flock to him committed for seven
he had ruled irreprehensibly years; with infirmity he was touched,
and to the extreme even led. And when the day
of his departure now to draw near he felt, and two of the monastery's
Brothers, * Gandulphus, whom lately we aforesaid,
and [c] Restaldus, whom of the holy Church of Pistoia
afterward as Prelate we saw, his stood by little bed,
thus to them spoke, saying: Now therefore Brothers go, [two monks looking on] and with the others, who now are about to dine the food
take. But when others there to be present they discerned not the Brothers,
whom there they should leave, and this, which he had ordered to fulfill
they doubted; again to them he said: Be not about me,
little sons, now solicitous, but as now I have ordered hence hastily
depart, and the little cell's door after you to close
take care. And when suddenly, just as he had said, the cell they had gone out,
and after them the cell's door they closed; not, just as he had ordered,
to the supper they proceeded, but before the cell's door silently
they remained. And behold suddenly a light, with of odor
a great fragrance sent forth, all that cell's space
filled; and of so great brightness a splendor about them shone,
that their hearts with inestimable dread it struck.
Then the man holy with strength recovered, [he is visited by the God-bearer,] with the highest of
heart exultation suddenly to cry began: Thanks
not small to you I give, for that your servant
to visit ye have deigned: yourselves indeed know, how always
much I have loved, and as I could with diligent mind to you
fidelity I have kept. Now moreover by your worthy
prayers me aid; and, that secure before the dreadful
of examination tribunal to stand I may be able, of the universe
the Judge himself more earnestly for me pray. And when
this more frequently he said, and after these as if under silence
his voice he restrained; gradually the light, which had been
sent forth, was withdrawn; but that, which we said, odor remained.
For when those Brothers, who before the cell's doors
had remained, now with themselves associated some Brothers,
to him boldly entered; without delay they inquired, with whom,
no one there remaining, he had spoken.
To whom he says: My Lady Mary,
whom always I have loved, associated with herself other Virgins,
me to visit has deigned, and suddenly me from this life
about to migrate has manifested. But now her all the Brothers
call together, and in the hour of my departure, which near
is, for me a sinner the Lord's mercy more earnestly
implore. And when all the Brothers, together with the aforesaid
all and weeping, the viaticum received; when through seven, [and the viaticum openly received he dies,]
just as we said, years, months three, and days eight the monastery
most honorably he had ruled, on the eleventh Kalends of June
his consummated contest, and of the flesh's prison
stripped his soul to heaven rendered.

[14] He being dead the whole city so with mourning was filled,
that scarcely in the whole city a house was found, in which a lament
was not heard and wailing. For also the venerable
of this holy monastery Prior, [with great of all mourning:] Rimprandus
by name, often to us to narrate was wont, saying: In
those days when still in my paternal house I remained,
when a certain to us neighboring Presbyter on that same day from the city
aforesaid had gone out, and by our neighbors what
of good in the city he had seen or heard, was asked,
such to us he gave a response saying; At many
certainly funerals of dead men, of Pontiffs, of Kings,
of Dukes, and of Marquesses, and of Abbots I have been present, and
never so great a mourning, and so grave a lament
I have heard, just as today at the passing of Lord John
the Abbot in our city I beheld. Everywhere
mourning was heard, and wailing: and scarcely in the whole city
a house, in which a lament was not heard, was found.
Everywhere through the streets rich and poor, widows
together and orphans ran together, that to the funeral of the holy
Father to be able to come they might. They wept therefore exceedingly
the monks, for that so great and such they had lost
for that of such they were deprived a Patron: besides also the poor
wept in the destitution of so great a Father, by whom daily
with alms they were refreshed. He was buried moreover
the same venerable Father by the said Pontiff and the Brothers
within the monastery's cloister, near the greater church, [he is illustrious for miracles.]
in a little place marble: in which place, for showing
the holy man's virtue, many the Lord benefits
there to those asking to bestow deigned.

[15] Therefore when now the aforenamed Prelate of such
a man's passing, at the same time and of the monastery's destitution, sad
and mourning remained; with divine breathed spirit with
great solicitude to seek began, where a monk,
whom worthy in his monastery he might constitute
Abbot, to find he could. [there is substituted [e] John another,] And when this devoutly
he performed, intervening B. John the Apostle and
Evangelist, and bestowing the holy man's merits,
he found a certain venerable monk in the monastery
of S. Peter, which the Golden-Heaven is surnamed,
John by name, formerly of the aforesaid mother his church
a most strenuous Canon; whom the Lord's piety
from this of the age abyss to the monastic made habit
to pass, chaste, sober, humble, and with a long fast's
maceration chastened, with alms liberal, and by
the aforesaid Monastery's Abbot, Lord Azzo, regularly
received, with the consent and permission of the said
Abbot; and by the monks the election made, and subscribed-below confirmed,
and by the Bishop himself corroborated, with all
honor the Lord aforesaid John as Abbot
he consecrated.

[16] [the body is translated to the new church,] But neither this to be passed over worthy to be
I reckon, which the Lord on account of this holy man's merits in our
times to show deigned. In the times
namely of Hugo the Pontiff, who [f] the third after Sigifredus
the Prelate in the aforesaid Church the Episcopate
held, when of this holy man the bones into a new church, where
now his sepulcher is discerned, the Brothers were transferring;
and with kindled lights with crosses made ready
all on high psalmed; suddenly a very great bell
one, which with the other bells
sounded, with the very beam, on which above the tower it hung,
from on high fell; and a brick one, upon which
it fell, into fragments it crushed; itself moreover unharmed
from all fracture remained.

[17] Likewise on that very day, when a certain townsman over the river
[g], which near the wall of the city flows, to cross had wished,
while over that river's bridge he walked,
suddenly a little knife, [a knife into the river fallen is recovered,] which with himself he carried, into the middle
of the river's channel fell. And when hope of finding
the iron none there was, now such to God a prayer
he poured; Almighty God, through this holy
man's, whose today the bones are entombed, merits and intercession,
my to me restore little knife. When indeed this
prayer he had completed, soon from the bridge he descended, and
near the margin of the channel the little knife in the water lying
he found.

[18] Likewise those in days another certain townsman, of the very
holy man a kinsman, when his horse by a thief a certain
taken from him had been, to the sepulcher of him even
came. And when the holy man's aid there for a long time
he implored, night supervening appeared to him the same
man of the Lord in a vision nocturnal; [and the horse by a thief carried off:] and to him the place, in which
his horse by the thief was guarded, showed; and with
great security, that the horse thence he should lead away, ordered.
And when at daybreak he had risen, quickly according to
the man of God's admonition for the cause of prayer to the church
he proceeded; and soon as to the aforeshown
place he came, the horse with the thief, just as to him aforesaid
had been, he found. Whom when boldly he had apprehended
according to the holy man's admonition, without
human work from the fetter of iron he was loosed. And
so intrepid and secure, the robber himself looking on,
glad with his horse home he returned.

[19] My begetress besides when on a certain day for visiting's
sake into the monastery to me had come, [a particle of the tomb taken in drink the sick are healed:] she asked
and to receive merited of this holy man's tomb a particle,
and so with joy to her own returned:
who when to the sick of that very tomb's particle to
drink she gave, so, cooperating Christ's grace, in
her fatherland it was done, that all from it drinking sound and
unharmed, from whatever they were held infirmity,
were rendered.

[20] In our also times what to our gaze
we beheld, by sloth though pressed, to conceal
we ought not. For of sloth it is decreed to be, that
our Lord Jesus Christ through his servants
ceases not daily to work, if we be silent. But
to the heap of praise, daily by the faithful's vows, of the almighty
of gifts the bestower by the grace, of healings the efficacy
increases: because whence God in his Saints wonderful
we preach, of his virtues the continuation exactly
we exaggerate. For a monk in our
monastery being, Isimprandus was named and of the Levite
the ministry performed, in whose right hand of the canker
the disease grew fierce: [likewise the canker disease] so that to none doubt was, but
more hastily, unless of God almighty the aid quickly
had been present, to his setting he would be snatched. Of Archigenes [h] the cataplasm
also had failed, had yielded also all of medicine
in vain the industry. When suddenly the aforenamed
Brother with quickened step, from the monks' company
in the refectory, just as is the custom of those with food customary
feeding, rising, the mausoleum approached,
in which of the most holy John the Abbot were hidden
the bones.
With tears suffused of the Most Blessed John the Abbot
the aid in his help invoking, thus devoutly he said:
O holy John, who to all others of soundness
the tokens clemently impartest, I beseech with the most abundant
tears to me most wretched the salutary of soundness
antidote most swiftly to confer deign. [imploring S. John] At this
voice suddenly he grew silent, and his sleep to his limbs most desired
swiftly him occupied. Who immediately
falling asleep, and afterward hastily awaked,
his hand right so from the canker cleared he found,
that in no way of the incommodity former almost
a trace he found. By which deed rejoicing together to the almighty
God praises he repaid innumerable; and of S. John
the benefit recognizing, to the most pious and most kind
of all the Savior magnificent with exultation
praises and thanks the diligent minister most devoutly weeping
assiduously rendered. Coming also to the Brothers'
college all unanimously into one he gathered,
beseeching at last of all the Rewarder
of good things, for so salutary of aid's help,
of praise the proclamation they should render. We therefore, who
these things offered and beheld, of so great a man's miracle
to the memory of posterity, that God's servants more cautious
may exist, to intimate worthy we have judged: that may know
all, who invoke the name of the Lord, their prayers
least of all to be spurned.

[21] There are also other many of commemoration worthy,
which through him by Christ are known wrought, so that if
in letters they were written, perhaps before us time, [the feverish and other sick are cured.]
than discourse would fail. Most of all when at his sepulcher
daily the feverish, or with some infirmities
laboring, we beholding, come; and having drunk
[the dust] from the little place marble smeared, of all infirmity
sound to their own with joy they return. We therefore
Brothers Most Dear, of the Lord almighty the great things
to praise together let us study, who such to us deigned
to grant a Pastor, by whose examples we are informed,
with miracles we shine, by whose prayers with the Lord
our Jesus Christ we are aided: who, as above
we said, the Most Blessed John of Parma, of S. John
the Evangelist of Parma the most worthy Abbot was, in the time
of the Most Pious Otto the second the most clement Emperor,
who of the Romans governed the Empire, in the year
of the Lord [i] * DCCCLXXII; the Lord our
Jesus Christ bestowing, whose empire without end remains in
the ages of ages. Amen. [k]

ANNOTATIONS.

* num. 5

* num. 8

* nay DCCCCLXXXII.
