E02732: Dedicatory letter to the Life of *Aemilianus (ascetic and miracle-worker in Spain, ob. 570s, S00578) written in Latin between 631 and 645 by Braulio, bishop of Saragossa (north-east Spain) to his brother, the priest Fronimianus, in which he mentions the liturgical purpose of his hagiographical work.

Braulio of Saragossa, Life of St Aemilianus

DEI VIRO DOMINOQVE MEO ET GERMANO FRONIMIANO PRESBITERO BRAVLIO INMERITO EPISCOPVS SALVTEM

1. Tempore piae recordationis domini mei et germani maioris natu communis, ac sanctae uitae doctrinaeque institutoris, Iohannis episcopi, tam eius iussis quam tuis obediens praeceptis intenderam, iuxta fidem notitiae, quam sub testificatione Citonati abbatis uenerabilis, Sofronii et Gerontii presbiterorum atque sanctae memoriae Potamiae religiosae feminae collectam non ambigebam, uitam unici patris patronique et singulariter Christo nostris temporibus electi beati Emiliani presbiteri, ut inscientiae meae uires ualitudoque sinebat, stilo praestringere. Sed quia, pene inter ipsa initia, molienti mihi quid dicerem neclegentia administrantium intercepta fuerat ipsa subnotatio eius uirtutum, et uariis dein succedentibus casibus et rerum nutantium tempestatibus occupatus prope elapsum etiam a uoluntate fuerat, ut quamuis ipse cogeres non ibi animum darem.

Nunc autem, nutu ut reor diuino, cum quendam codicem pro hoc quod animo occurrerat uelem inspicere iussissemque perquirere, ac reuolueretur instrues librorum, notitia illa diu perdita subito inuenta est non quaesita, iam enim cessauerat intentio perquirentium cum esset uspiam inueniendi disperatio. Sed quia ut ait propheta: 'Inuentus sum a non quaerentibus me' [Rom 10:20], non quidem studio accensae lucernae, gaudio tamen inuentae dracmae [Luc 15:8], laetatum est cor meum et exultauerunt interiora mea; demumque, non sine superna dispensatione hoc ipsud credens, armaui animum ut, et obedientiae fructum caperem et tam crebrae petitioni uestrae parerem.

2. Quo circa dictaui ut potui et plano apertoque sermone, ut in talibus rebus decet haberi, libellum de eiusdem sancti uita; breuem conscripsi, ut possit in missae eius celebritate quantocius legi, et tibi, domino meo, destinatum missi et hanc ipsam epistolam meam capiti eius praeponere curaui iudicioque tuo probandum commitens, ut ad singula recognitum si in aliquo displicuerit aut emendes aut reprobes; si uero placuerit et ipse habeas et cui uoluntas permiserit dari concedas atque pro me creatori nostro, cuius sunt omnia bona, grates rependas. Meum fuit obedire; tuum erit si dignum probaueris publicare. Sed unum quaeso; ut si corrigenda in eo aliqua censes, prius emendetur quam proferatur nec ante reprehendetur quam quod decet inueniatur. Uolo autem ut, quia sanctissimus uir Citonatus presbiter atque Gerontius adhuc in corpore degent, omnia quae in eo conscripsi ante ipsi recognoscant, et eorum discussione uentilata, si nec nominum nec rerum me fefellit sententia, habeantur confirmata. Sane illa quae anno praeterito a uobis ibidem diuinitus operata didici, in finem libelli istius ut a uobis accepi adieci. Ymnum quoque de festiuitate ipsius sancti, ut iussisti iambico senario metro compositum, transmisi; sermonem autem de eodem die superfluum dictare putaui cum nulla maior esse mihi uideatur exhortatio quam uirtutum eius narratio, et tanam horam occupet ut, si hoc adiectum fuerit, audientium animos oneret.

3. Quapropter obsecro ut sint ista quae feci accepta, tam tibi cuius mandatis parui quam ipsi cuius uirtutum amore excitati, et antefati uiri sunt uisa testificati et non dissimilia quotidie uos experti, ut a me praestringi deberent estis imperati, atque ego ut facerem quae iusseratis sum accitatut mercedis percipiendae cupiditate. De eadem quoque sollemnitate, ut missa recitaretur communi, iniunxi filio meo Eugenio diacono, non putans a me diuersum si eius lingua, cuius in omnibus consiliis cogitationibusque meis teneo animum, ministret ob huius beatissimi uiri honorem, meum officium; simulque considerans ut quo in caeteris rebus utor participe in his etiam mercedis fruar consorte. Incolomem beatitudinem uestram et mei memorem Christi gratia custodire dignetur.


'Braulio, unworthy bishop of Caesaraugusta, to the man of God, my Lord and brother, the priest Fronimian, greetings

1. In the time of Bishop John, my lord of pious memory, an elder brother by birth, a man who shared our common holy calling and was a teacher of the faith, I had intended in obedience to his orders and your injunctions, along with my trust in the account which I had obtained from the testimony given by the venerable abbot Citonatus, the priests Sofronius and Gerontius, and Potamia, that devout lady of holy memory, to trace out with my pen, as far as my abilities and weakness of health permitted, a clear-cut life of our exceptional Father and patron, a man singled out by Christ in our times, the Blessed priest Aemilianus. But because a whole page containing the list of his powers was lost through the negligence of my administrators when I was beginning to work on what I should say, and I was then occupied by a succession of disasters of all kinds and because of the troubles of the times I lost the wish to write, so that, although you urged me on, I was unable to give my heart to the task. But now, by God’s will, as it seems to me, when I wanted to look at a certain book on something that had occurred to me, and ordered it found, and the pile of books was gone through, that long-lost account, all unsought for, since even the eagerness of those looking for it had come to an end through despair of ever finding it, was suddenly found. However, as the prophet says, 'I was found of those that sought me not' [Romans 10:20] my heart is glad and my glory rejoices, not through zeal to light a candle, but with the joy of coming across a silver piece. [Luke 15:8] And so at last, believing this task not to be without divine dispensation, I have steeled my soul that I might pluck the fruit of obedience and comply with your frequent petitions.

2. Therefore I have written to the best of my ability and in a plain and open style such as befits these matters, a short tract on the life of this holy man, in order that it can be rapidly read out at the Mass held in his honour (ut possit in missae eius celebritate quantocius legi). I have sent it to you, my Lord, and taken care to put this letter of mine at its head, committing it to your judgement for approval. I have one reservation. If anything in it displeases you, correct it or excise it. But if it pleases you as it is, and your good will allows it, let it be published and give thanks on my behalf to our Creator, to whom all good things belong. I wish, moreover, that as that most holy man, the priest Citonatus, and Gerontius are still alive, that they should review beforehand all that I have written and thoroughly discuss it. Let them confirm that I have made no errors either of names or events. I have also added at the end of this little book, just as you told me of them, those miracles worked in that same place which I learned about from you last year. In addition, I have sent a hymn written in Senaric iambics for the feast of the holy man as you asked. I thought it superfluous to compose a sermon for the same day, since I can think of no greater exhortation to the good life than an account of his virtues and it would take a whole hour if a sermon were added and so burden the spirits of those who are listening.

3. Therefore I beg that what I have composed be accepted both by yourself with whose instructions I have complied and by him the love of whose powers has roused the aforementioned men to testify to these noteworthy things and made all of you witnesses everyday to similar acts. You have succeeded in your request that these things ought to be recorded by me and I myself am seized with the desire of receiving my reward, as I have done as you have commanded. In order that public mass might be recited on the same solemn occasion, I have given this task to my beloved son, the deacon Eugenius, thinking it would not be out of character for me if, for the honour of this most blessed man, the tongue of a man whom I consult in all my plans and counsels should give life to my task, bearing in mind that as I have him as a confidant in all other matters I should enjoy his sharing the reward in this task. May the grace of Christ deem it worthy to keep your blessed self safe and mindful of me.'

Text: Vazquez de Parga 1943, 1-7. Translation: Fear 1997, 15-17, lightly adapted.