Boniface IV
Acta Sanctorum, May 25
Source text: Public Domain. English translation/apparatus/encoding: CC BY-NC 4.0, Wroot Press.
https://actasanctorum.org/may/day-25/boniface-iv.html
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ON SAINT BONIFACE IV
ROMAN PONTIFF.
IN THE YEAR DCXV.
HISTORICAL COMMENTARY.
On the Pantheon by him dedicated, the cult, the epitaph, the year and day of death, and the double Translation of the body.

Boniface the Fourth, Roman Pontiff (S.)

BY THE AUTHOR D. P.

Boniface, by nation of the Marsi, of the city
Valeria, of the father John a Physician,
sat years six, [The eulogy from Anastasius the Librarian.] months eight, days thirteen.
In his times famines, pestilences,
and inundations of waters most grave
were. At the same time he asked from Phocas
the Prince the temple, which is called Pantheon: in
which he made a church of the blessed and most glorious God's Mother
Mary ever Virgin and of all the Martyrs
of Christ, and Relics in it placed: in which
church the Prince many gifts offered. He his house
a monastery made, which also he dedicated. Who deceased,
was buried at S. Peter the Apostle on the day
twenty-fifth of the month of May. He made ordinations
two through the month of December, Deacons * eight, Bishops
through diverse places thirty-five. These Anastasius
the Librarian in the Lives of the Roman Pontiffs:
and commonly from him later authors.

[2] [The Pantheon built by Agrippa,] But as regards the temple Pantheon, that, Pliny being witness book 36 chapter 15, to Jove the Avenger by Agrippa made
was, the son-in-law of Augustus, and Pantheon called, as asserts Dio
book 53, [restored by various ones,] because in the images of Mars and Venus many
of the Gods images it received. Often it restored
was; first by Hadrian, who Pantheon called it, as says
Spartianus; then by Antoninus Pius, who the temple of Agrippa,
as Capitolinus; at length also by Severus, as is known
from an ancient inscription. But because the temple's vault and the roof
of the portico with tiles and tablets of bronze was covered, that them Constantius
the Greeks' Emperor to Constantinople with other
of the City ornaments translated, writes Anastasius the Librarian
in the Life of S. Vitalianus the Pope, by us published at the day
XXVII of January. Urban VIII with a double the gate adorned title,
and what by him were done set forth in these words: Urban
VIII Supreme Pontiff the old of the bronze ceiling remains, [adorned with a double title by Urban VIII.]
into Vatican columns and warlike engines melted,
that ornaments useless and to fame itself almost unknown,
might become in the Vatican temple, of the Apostolic sepulchre ornaments;
in the Hadrian citadel, instruments of public security;
in the year of the Lord MDCXXXII, of the Pontificate the IX.
The other title, to our direction more subserves, and is of this kind.
The Pantheon, an edifice in the whole world most famous,
by Agrippa son-in-law of Augustus, to impious Jove
and the rest of the lying gods, by Boniface IV the Pontiff
to the Mother of God and the triumphant Saints piously dedicated,
Urban VIII Supreme Pontiff with two for the bell bronze's
use towers adorned, and with a new flooring fortified,
in the year of the Lord MDCXXXII, of the Pontificate the IX.
Thus there.

[3] The Dedication of this Church is inscribed in the ancient calendars
sacred at the day XIII of May, [it is dedicated by S. Boniface the 13th of May,] and by Bede in his genuine Martyrology
in these words on the III, Ides of May, the Dedication of S. Mary at
the Martyrs. But more at length it is explained in Usuard, Ado,
Notker, and later authors with the present Martyrology
Roman, in which in the first place these things are read: On the third Ides
of May, at Rome the dedication of the Church of S. Mary at the Martyrs,
which B. Boniface Pope the fourth, the of all the
gods old shrine being purged, which Pantheon was called,
in honor of the Blessed ever Virgin Mary
and of all the Martyrs dedicated, in the time of Phocas
the Emperor. Baronius in the Notes, more at length sets forth the destruction
of the temples, by the Heathen for the false of their gods
worship erected, and then these things subjoins: But why the Pantheon
temple intact remained, this was the cause,
that Honorius the Emperor, by a sanctioned law, this kind of
onset of the Christians restrained, this writing back:
Just as sacrifices we prohibit, so we wish of the public
works the monuments to be preserved etc. Read the XV
on the Pagans in the Theodosian Code. Inscribed was the law
to Macrobius Prefect of the Praetorium of the Spains, and Proclianus Vicar
of the five Provinces, Theodorus being Consul in the year CCCXCIX.
But continues Baronius: I think by divine dispensation
done, that among so many shrines of idols overthrown, and
into the anathema of oblivion overturned, the Pantheon, as a notable
some and perennial trophy of the conquered
enemies might remain; and yield to the triumph of all
the Martyrs, who all the Gentiles' gods
by Christ's cross had subdued. Of its dedication through
Boniface made writes Bede, on the deeds of the Angles,
book 2 chapter 4, and on the six ages in Phocas the Emperor;
Ado of Vienne, in the Chronicle at the year 604; Paul
the Deacon, on the Deeds of the Lombards book 4 chapter 11;
Marianus Scotus, in the Chronicle at the year 610; Sigebert
at the year 609, and others. I read in that Church's codex
manuscript, [the bodies of the Holy Martyrs being brought there:] that temple dedicated in the first place in
honor of the God's Mother Mary, and of all the Holy
Martyrs and Confessors: and brought there to have been
I found in twenty-eight carts the bones of the Holy
Martyrs, from diverse of the City cemeteries dug up,
and solemnly carried together and most decently placed.
These Baronius: to which added I would wish, that if that Dedication
was made on a Sunday, just as bears the ordinary use of the Church
Roman; it was made in the year DCXIII, in which was the letter
Dominical G, because that otherwise never under that Pontificate
happened: it was moreover the Sunday IV after Easter, that year
celebrated the XV of April. On the same also day, the said Saints'
bodies to have been translated, asserted Ciaconius in the Life of S.
Boniface and Pompeius Ugonius in the History of the Stations of Rome,
at the LII Station on the day Friday in the Paschal week, which then
is had in the said Church, commonly now S. Maria Rotunda
called, on account of the building's form which Bartholomaeus Marlianus exhibits in his topography of the City of Rome book 5, chapter 11,
and several others. Octavius Panciroli, in the hidden treasure
of the City of Rome region 4 church 18, describes the same Church,
and mentions the Bodies of the Holy Martyrs by S. Boniface
brought in, as also the author of the new relation of the found
venerable bodies of SS. Rasius and Anastasius Presbyters
and Martyrs, [of whom were found in the year 1674 SS. Rasius and Anastasius.] on the last day of December of the year MDCLXXIV,
in which on the Nativity of Christ the Jubilee of the sacred year
had been begun. For when some then repair was being made,
about the major altar of the said Church Rotunda; was found
a chest leaden with this inscription: The bodies of the Saints
Rasius and Anastasius, with other Relics, here laid up
by Boniface IV. Of a certain S. Rasus a Bishop,
at Rome deposited, we treated at the day XII of March page 106: but
since the lately found one, is not said a Bishop, whether one
and the same to be held, us escapes.

[4] In the Vatican Church, where he is buried, is celebrated S. Boniface
this one's feast under a double rite on this day XXV of May,
because there his body still is kept; [He is venerated in the Vatican Church,] and are recited all things
from the Common of a Confessor Pontiff. In the Mass is read also
the Creed. The sacred of the same memory is inscribed at the same
XXV of May in the Martyrology of Bellinus, according to the manner of the Church
Roman in the year MCCCCXCVIII printed: and this followed
Maurolyco, Felicius, [and it is related in the Martyrologies,] Galesinio, Molanus, Canisius, with
the present Martyrology Roman, in which these things are read: At Rome
of S. Boniface Pope the fourth, who the Pantheon in honor
of S. Mary at the Martyrs dedicated. Ferrari in the Catalogue
of the Saints of Italy for a eulogy to him sets, that under that Pontiff
the Luxeuil monastery in Burgundy, and the Bobbio
in Italy is built. He indeed Boniface to the divine
worship devoted, his own house into a monastery converted,
and estates for the monks' use many attributed.
But of what Order were these monks, is not indicated.
Trithemius book 4 on the Illustrious Men of the Order of S. Benedict
chapter 3 asserts, [whether rightly also to the Benedictines?] the house into a monastery of his Order reduced:
and both there, and in book 3, chapter 148 adds, to have been
a monk of S. Sebastian in the City: by the same perhaps certitude,
by which there he says, the Pantheon by Domitian the Emperor
constructed to have been, and his feast to be kept on the VIII
Kalends of April. Corrected him in the last point
Wion, Dorganius, Menardus, Bucelinus: who the same with
Trithemius a Benedictine make, but refer his feast
to the VIII Kalends of June. John Mabillon, in the second Century
Benedictine, rejects him to the Passed-over, adding: But whether
a monk himself he was, not sufficiently clear: as neither clear
are the rest, which are added by Trithemius and others.

[5] A Roman council by him celebrated in the year DCX
writes Bede, book 2 of the Ecclesiastical History of the nation of the Angles
chapter 4, in these words: In these times came Mellitus
Bishop of London to Rome, of the necessary of the Church
of the Angles causes with the Apostolic Pope Boniface
to treat. [The Council celebrated in the year 610.] And when the same Pope most reverend
gathered a Synod of the Bishops of Italy, on the life of the monks
and quiet about to ordain; and he himself Mellitus
among them sat, in the eighth year of the Empire of Phocas
the Prince, in the Indiction thirteenth, on the third day of the Kalends
of March; that whatsoever were regularly decreed,
with his own also authority subscribing, he might confirm;
and to Britain returning, the mandates and to be observed
might bring, together with the epistles, which the same Pontiff to God
beloved the Archbishop Laurentius and the Clergy whole,
likewise also to Ethelbert the King and the nation of the Angles,
directed. Thus there. We gave on the second of February, the Acts of S. Laurentius;
on the XXIV of the same, the Acts of S. Ethelbert; and on the XXIV of April
of S. Mellitus: but these S. Boniface's epistles we could not
obtain.

[6] [In the epitaph the Saint is praised,] A Roman of the Basilica Vatican Canon, in the time of Eugenius
Pope III, the XII century to its midst brought, of the same
Basilica the monuments describing to Boniface II an Epitaph
attributes, which in the age of Sergius Pope III the XI century I believe
to have been composed, when of various Pontiffs the sepulchres in
the Vatican with titles and marbles were adorned. To be moreover of Boniface
this IV rightly noted Manlius: who the same
monuments later collected, and is alleged by Baronius
in the addenda to the first eight tomes of the Annals tome 9, for
the year 614. It is that of this kind in Romanus, the corrected
faults few, which to the margin I noted, and which probable
it is to have crept in to the transcriber, on account of the letters somewhere
worn away obscurity.

The life of men brief is, a certain this determines hour:
      But of eternal life * then is prepared the journey;
Where not unbecoming or again to perish * things seem:
      But beautiful and decent, and without end remaining.
Say therefore, why, Death, with goads are you driven iniquitous?
      Why do you rage in vain? why furious do you bear yourself?
Advantages none to you will be able your deeds to bring back,
      Nor profit can that onset of yours to you.
Of Gregory always the admonitions and examples the master, [as a disciple of S. Gregory,]
      In life, work, and worthy morals this one following:
By what * to terrify you think, are of this one the greatest vows,
      To send to the stars the soul, to render the body to the ground.
Wounded with manifold since * now the members by pain,
      Again in the ancient dust turned remain:
Which joined to the soul in a stabilized body * shall rise
      To eternal life, you perishing the more.
Holy faith, * the merit of life, the clemency of the Father,
      A hope certain this caused His servants to have own.
Here rests Boniface Pope the younger, who sat years
six, months eight, days twelve. He was deposited on the VIII
Ides of May, the Lord Heraclius reigning, in his year …

[7] When you read praised Boniface, because of Gregory
the master the admonitions and examples he followed; you are convinced, [buried near the gate of the Ravennates,]
that not can by the name of the Younger be understood the second, by years
sixty almost than Gregory dead before; but the Younger to be called,
with respect to his immediate predecessor Boniface III. Of
the Fourth moreover writes the aforepraised Romanus, his burial
to have been within the church of B. Peter, near the gate of the Ravennates,
so called, because through it was entered from the city
(as they called it) of the Ravennates, that is, from the Region of the City
Transtiberine, just as is noted at the Old of the Roman Pontiffs
Catalogues, before tome 1 of April under the eulogy of S. Callistus
the Pope, who is said a Roman of the Region of the City of the Ravennates.
This therefore, as from the ancient of speaking use, so from
some ancient writing on the Pontiffs' burials must have had
Romanus: whom who published, and with Annotations augmented
Paolo de Angelis, to him prefixed the Vestige of the old
of D. Peter in the Vatican Basilica, and also of the chapels
and oratories and sacred little buildings to it adjoined,
where the vestibule being passed there occur three gates, into the middle
of the basilica's nave leading: of which the right or southern
is marked number 133, and in the little Index is called the Gate
Ravenniana, above which are hung the insignia and
chain of the port of Smyrna of Sixtus IV, now in the sacristy
likewise hanging.

[8] And these about the burial. As regards the time of death,
Romanus the year of the Emperor obscurely on a stone half-worn
appearing, [he died in the year 615,] and probably by numeral letters
sculpted, wishing entirely to express, wrote second:
Manlius, because he saw this not to subsist, wrote,
fifth: each, as it appears, by conjecture; since between
the words second and fifth no is affinity of letters.
On the contrary the numeral letters II and U (for so they expressed
in numbering in that age many, rather than V) most easily
among themselves are altered, and altered deceive. Let us hold therefore
the year fifth of Heraclius, from the day V of October of the year DCXIIII
begun; and we shall have the year DCXV, in which died
Boniface on the day UIII of May: whence retrograding through years
UI, [8 May.] months UIII, days XU (for so altogether to be read I think
not XII) it will be come to the XXU of August of the year DCUIII, in which was
ordained Boniface. I say moreover days XU not XII,
because in a Treatise on this matter special I teach, the perpetual
and almost inviolable custom of the Roman Church to have been,
from Apostolic probably tradition, that Ordinations Pontifical
on a Sunday be celebrated: this moreover is had through
days XU, which lead to the XXU of August day in the year DCUIII
Anastasian copies have. For the same cause,
and likewise for others elsewhere better shining, we prefer, with the Canon
Romanus so much older, to read in the Epitaph the name
of May, than with Manlius the name of the month of March: because from the day
UIII of March, neither through XII, nor through XIII, nor through
XU days, to come to a Sunday retrograding we can.
That also the word Deposited, in this of which we treat century,
signified the same as Dead; [The obsequies celebrated 25 May.] appears from the similar S. Gregory's
Epitaph, in which is said also he deposited on the fourth
Ides of March. But dead to have been Gregory the XII
of March, beyond controversy is. But, you will say, that if so it
is, how is said by Anastasius Boniface buried
the XXV of May, and on such also day he is venerated? I answer, because on such
a day celebrated his obsequies were by the Successor Deusdedit,
a few days before first Elected, and under this title the Church
administering; although for the unhappiness of that century, not
except after several months, in which the Emperor's rescript to be awaited
was, namely under the beginning of the following year DCXVI,
ordained. This reasoning of distinguishing the days of Death and of Burial,
and from the day of Death through the assigned to each Pontificate
limits retrograding to the day of Ordination, that I will prove
I hope, and by it will verify most of the numbers
of years, months and days, described in Anastasius:
which otherwise impossible it would be among themselves to reconcile.

[10] Further in that which above we described burial, after
seven almost centuries the found body in the time of Boniface VIII,
placed under an altar proper was, [The body by Boniface 8 translated,] with this, which the same Romanus
suggests, Title rhythmically written:

To Gregory the fourth lies here Boniface the kindly,
This one who of the See was the just Rector and of the Church:
In the time of Phocas who seeing the temple to be at Rome,
The shrines of all which had been of demons,
This one purged it, to the Saints and all dedicated.
The eighth by this title Boniface, the bones found
Here places, erected of the Bonifacian name, an altar.
Whose birthday solemn who you celebrate,
On the first of September brings this light the fourth Kalends.

Where the disturbed by the transcribers of the verses four last
order, and by it rendered into unintelligible, [to the proper altar therefore erected,] I converted into
that which the sense seemed to require; and what penultimate
was distich, I placed last: that it may be understood on the fourth
Kalends of September is cherished the Birthday, that is the Dedication,
not of the church of S. Mary at the Martyrs (for this it is established was made
the XIII of May) but of the altar, under the name of S. Boniface
erected.

[11] This moreover altar I would divine to have been consecrated in the year
MCCXCIX, because in such a year, [and consecrated 29 Aug. 1294.] the same Boniface VIII
the Vatican Basilica with Canons, Clerics of the Choir, Beneficiaries,
estates, and other things augmented, just as from the schedules of Baronius
noted his continuator Raynaldus number 32. Such
however a feast beyond the Vatican Basilica itself not extended,
and that altar destroyed (destroyed moreover long ago to have been
it is established, since it is not found in the aforesaid of the old Basilica
ichnography) ceased its dedicated Anniversary: perhaps
moreover much even before, on account of the concourse of the more solemn
feast of S. John the Baptist, which the XXIX of August anciently
affixed, to the whole City began more venerable to be, from when in the jubilee
year MCCC the same Pope Boniface VIII the Head of the Precursor,
from Constantinople to Rome brought (as is believed) and in
a most ornate vase then made placed, in the church of S. Sylvester
in the Campus Martius as he could most solemnly had exposed.

[12] Paolo Aringhi, of Subterranean Rome book 2 chapter 8,
treating of the Pontiffs in the Vatican Basilica laid up after
of the aforesaid as Titles or Epitaphs he had treated, Unsealed, [The most recent finding of the bones in the year 1603.]
he says, was the most holy Pontiff Boniface's sepulchre
in the year MDCIII on the day XXI of October: where were found
his bones in two earthen pots, and in a glassy
some round vase laid up. Which indeed
all into the new were translated temple, and there
placed in a chest of cypress and a sarcophagus of marble
under an altar, which is in the apse toward the south, his
memory on a leaden plate thus inscribed; The body
of S. Boniface Pope the fourth, from an altar situated in the Vatican
Basilica, between the gates of Judgment and the Ravenniana, by Boniface
the eighth to his name dedicated, adorned and endowed,
into the new temple, of Paul V Supreme Pontiff by command honorifically
translated, [and the translation in the year 1606.] under this altar with a solemn rite placed
Evangelista Pallotta, by the title of S. Lawrence in Lucina
Cardinal of Cosenza, of this Basilica the Archpresbyter,
in the year MDCVI on the day XUII of January, at the first
Vespers of the Chair of S. Peter, sitting Paul Pope V
in the year first.

[Annotations]

* nine

* the same

* it seems

* of the earth you reckon.

* for

* they rise

* deservedly
