E03606: Augustine of Hippo delivers a Latin sermon at the deposition of relics of *Stephen (the First Martyr, S00030) in Hippo. He recalls the discovery and distribution of these relics and refers to the finding of the relics of *Gervasius and Protasius (martyrs of Milan, S00313) in Milan (North Italy), which took place when he was living there. Sermon 318, preached c. 425 in Hippo Regius (North Africa).

Augustine of Hippo, Sermon 318

1. Exspectat sanctitas uestra scire quid hodie in isto loco positum sit. Reliquiae sunt primi et beatissimi martyris Stephani. Audistis, cum passionis eius lectio legeretur de libro canonico Actuum Apostolorum, quemadmodum lapidatus sit a Iudaeis, quemadmodum domino commendauerit spiritum suum, quemadmodum etiam in extremo genibus fixis orauerit pro lapidatoribus suis. Huius corpus ex illo usque ad ista tempora latuit; nuper autem apparuit, sicut solent apparere sanctorum corpora martyrum, reuelatione dei, quando placuit creatori. Sic ante aliquot annos, nobis iuuenibus apud Mediolanum constitutis, apparuerunt corpora sanctorum martyrum Geruasii et Protasii. Scitis quod Geruasius et Protasius longe posterius passi sunt, quam beatissimus Stephanus. Quare ergo illorum prius, et huius postea? Nemo disputet: uoluntas dei fidem quaerit, non quaestionem.

Verum autem reuelatum fuit ei, qui res ipsas inuentas monstrauit. Praecedentibus enim signis locus demonstratus est; et quomodo fuerat reuelatum, sic et inuentum est. Multi inde reliquias acceperunt, quia deus uoluit, et huc uenerunt.commendatur ergo charitati uestrae et locus et dies: utrumque celebrandum in honorem dei, quem confessus est Stephanus. Nos enim in isto loco non aram fecimus Stephano, sed de reliquiis Stephani aram Deo.

 
'Your Holinesses are waiting to hear what has been enshrined in this place today. They are the relics of the first and most blessed martyr, Stephen. You heard, when the account of his passion was read from the canonical book, The Acts of the Apostles, how he was stoned by the Jews, how he commended his spirit to the Lord, how also at the end he knelt down and prayed for those who were stoning him. From that day to these times his body lay hidden. Recently, however, it came to light, as the bodies of the martyrs usually do come to light, by a revelation of God, when it so pleased the Creator. In this way, some years ago, when I was a young man living in Milan, the bodies of the martyrs Gervasius and Protasius came to light. You know that Gervasius and Protasius suffered a long time after the blessed Stephen. So why their bodies first, and his later? It's not something to be argued about; the will of God calls to faith, not questioning.

But the truth was revealed to the man who pointed out the things that were discovered. The place, you see, was indicated by preceding signs; and it was discovered to be just as it had been revealed in them. May people received relics from there, because that was God's will, and they came as far as here. So both this place and this day is being commended to your graces' devotion; each is to be celebrated to the honour of God, whom Stephen confessed. After all, we haven't built an altar in this place to Stephen, but an altar to God from Stephen's relics ...'


There follow general reflections about the martyrs.

3. ... Habetis ergo, charissimi, non paruum solatium, orationum locum. Martyr Stephanus hic honoretur: sed in eius honore coronator stephani adoretur.
 
'... So then, dearly beloved, you have no small consolation and comfort, a place to pray in. Let the martyr Stephen be honoured here; but in his honour let the one who crowned Stephen be worshipped.'


Text: Patrologia Latina 38, 1437-1438 and 1440. Translation: Hill 1994, 147 and 149.