E01698: The short Life of *Benedict II (bishop of Rome, ob. 685, S00887) in the Liber Pontificalis, written in Latin in Rome soon after his death, names his refurbishments at, and offerings to, churches of *Peter (the Apostle, S00036), *Laurence (deacon and martyr of Rome, S00037), *Valentinus (priest and martyr of Rome, S00443), and *Mary (Mother of Christ, S00033), in and around Rome; names the feast of Valentinus; and mentions Benedict's burial at the church of *Peter (the Apostle, S00036) on 8 May.

Liber Pontificalis 83

Benedictus iunior, natione Romanus, de patre Iohanne, sedit mens. X dies XII. Hic ab ineunte aetate sua ecclesiae militavit atque sic se in divinis scripturis et cantilena a puerili etate et in presbiterii dignitate exibuit, ut decet virum suo nomine dignum, in quo vere supernae benedictionis gratia redundavit, et nomine pariter et operibus ut dignus ad pontificii regimine perveniret; paupertatis amator, humilis, mansuetus et omnibus conpatientiam habens adque manu largissima.
Hic ecclesiam beati Petri apostoli sed et beati Laurenti martyris, qui appellatur Lucinae, restauravit itemque in ecclesia beati Valentini via Flamminea fecit coopertorium super altare cum clavos in fistellis et in circuitu palergium chrisoclavum pretiosissimum. Similiter in ecclesia beate Mariae ad martyres alium coopertorium porphyrum cum cruce et gammulas et clavos IIII auroclavos et in circuitu palergium de olosiricum pulcherrimum; nec non et in titulo suprascripto Lucine alium coopertorium ornatum de olosiricum. Fecit autem et calices aureos ministeriales II, pensantes singuli libras singulas.

'Benedict the younger, born in Rome, son of Iohannes, held the see 10 months 12 days. From his early youth he had served in the church. In divine scripture and in chant while he was still a boy, and then in the office of the priesthood, he showed himself as befitted a man worthy of his name: in him grace and benediction from above truly overflowed. In both name and actions he was a worthy man to reach the dignity of the pontificate—a lover of the poor, humble, mild, with compassion for all and a most bountiful hand.
He restored the church of the blessed Peter the apostle, and of the blessed Laurence the martyr called that of Lucina. Also in the church of the blessed Valentinus on the via Flaminia he provided over the altar an altarcloth with studs and thin bands, with a very precious border around it, adorned with gold buttons; similarly in the church of the blessed Mary ad Martyres another altarcloth of purple with a cross and chevrons and four goldbuttoned studs, with a very beautiful border all of silk; also at the above titulus of Lucina, another decorated altarcloth all of silk. He also provided 2 gold service chalices each weighing 1 lb.'

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Huius temporibus apparuit stella noctu, iuxta vigilias, per dies, caelum serenum inter Domini et Theophania omnimodo obumbrata veluti luna sub nube. Itemque mense Februario, post natale sancti Valentini, in die, ab occasu exiit stella meridie et in partes Orientis declinavit.

'In his time there appeared a star in the clear night sky, at about vigils, for some days between Christmas and Epiphany; it was totally overshadowed, like the moon beneath a cloud. Again in February after the feast of saint Valentinus, the star rose in daytime at midday in the west and sank in the eastern parts.'

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Qui etiam sepultus est ad beatum Petrum apostolum sub die VIII idus Maias.

'He was buried at the blessed Peter the apostle on 8 May.'

Text: Duchesne 1886, 363-364. Translation: Davis 2010, 77-78, lightly modified.