the latter in 371. An ancient author says it happened on the 1st of August. He is styled a martyr in two old panegyrics in his praise, printed in the appendix of the works of St Ambrose. There only remain of his works the three epistles above quoted. In the cathedral of Vercelli is shewn an old MS. copy of the gospels of St Matthew and St Mark, said to be written by St Eusebius it was almost worn out with age, near eight hundred years ago, when king Berengarius caused it to be covered with plates of silver. The body of St Eur 1 sebius is laid in a shrine raised above a side altar in the cathedral at Vercelli. The Roman missal and breviary give his office on the 15th of December, which is pro bably the day on which his relicks were removed: for his name occurs in ancient calendars on the 1st of August, The holy fathers, who by their zeal and learning maine tained the true faith, shunned the dangerous rocks of error, because in their studies they followed the rules laid down by divine revelation, and made sincere humi lity the foundation of all their literary pursuits. Cons scious that they were liable to mistakes, they entertained a modest diffidence in themselves and their own judgment, and said with St Austin: "I may err, but an heretic I will never be." This humility and caution is a sure guard against any fatal errors in religion, or dangerous miscaraiages in civil conduct, with regard to literary attempts, into which an overbearing pride chiefly betrays men. How many by it become pedants, falling into an ostentatious shew of trifling or pretended learning? How many are perpetually wrangling and disputing, eager not for the point in debate, but for the victory, and desirous to display their imaginary parts? How many tease all company by their impertinence, talking always of mythology, metaphysics, or the jargon of the schools (a), or stun others with the loudness of their voice, or an overbearing tone of authority? (a) Dieu ne garde d'etre sçavant Chev, de Cailly. Many, in studying, pursue their speculations so far, as to lose sight of common sense, and by too intense an application to things beyond their sphere, overset and unhinge their understanding. Many mistake the wildest fancies of their brain for reason Hence Cicero justly remarks, that nothing can be invented ever so absurd or monstrous, which has not been said by some of the philosophers How many heresies have been set up by scholars among Christians? The root of these abuses is, a secret vanity, self-sufficiency, or complacency, in an opinion of their own knowledge or penetration, which scholars easily entertain. So true it is, as the apostle tells us, that science puffs up; not of itself, but through the propensity of the human heart to pride. It is therefore necessary that every student learn, in the first place, never to trust in his own abilities, and make modesty and humility, by which men know themselves, the foundation of his learning. The most ignorant among scholars are usually the most apt to over-rate their knowledge and abilities. The Irish commemorate on this day St FLORENCE, or FLANN, abbot of Benchor. Colgan. MSS. DECEMBER XVI. ST ADO, ARCHBISHOP OF VIENNE, C. From his life collected by Mabillon, T. 6 Act. Ben. P. 281. See Ceillier. T. 19. p. 247. A. D. 875. ADO was born in the diocese of Sens towards Gatinois, about the year 800, and was of one of the richest and most noble families of that country. It was the principal care of his religious parents to seek tutors, masters, and companions, who should concur together by their maxims, example, interior spirit, and prudent and earnest instructions, to form the morals of their son, and inspire into his soul the most tender and perfect sen timents of christian piety. All this they happily found in the monastery of Ferrieres in Gatinois, at that time famous for learning and discipline. The pregnancy of his wit, the solidity of his judgment, his assiduity at his studies, and above all his humble obedience and docility, and his sincere piety, gained him the esteem and affections of the abbot Sigulph, and all his masters; and engaged them to redouble their care and attention in lending him every assistance to adorn his mind with all useful science, and to form the most perfect christian spirit in his heart. Their pains were abundantly recompensed by the great progress which he made. Many great and powerful friends sought, by soothing flatteries, and by setting before him the lure of worldly honours and pleasures, to engage him in the career which his birth and abilities opened to him. But the pious young nobleman was not to be imposed upon by specious words or glosses. He saw clearly the dangers which attended such a course, and the cheat of that false blaze of shadowy greatness which seemed to surround it; and dreading lest in such a state any thing could cause a division in his heart, or slacken his ardour in the entire consecration of himself to the divine service, he took the religious habit in that house, resolving never to serve any other master but God alone. The saint was yet young, when Marcvard, abbot of Prom, who had formerly been himself a monk of Ferrieres, begged of the abbot of Ferrieres, as the greatest of favours, that Ado might teach the sacred sciences in his monastery. The request could not be refused. Ado so taught, as to endeavour to make his hearers truly sensible that if studies even of morality and religion entirely terminate in a barren knowledge of those truths, without acquiring the interior habits, sentiments and dispositions, which they inculcate, though they may sometimes be serviceable to others, they are not only useless, but pernicious to those who are possessed of them. Science, without advancing at the same time in humility and virtue, serves only to heighten vanity, and to swell and puff up the mind. For men who study only to furnish themselves with materials to shine in conver sation, and to fill their heads with a set of notions, which never sink deep into, or influence the heart, fall into an overweening conceit of themselves, and are as much under the bias of pride as worldly libertines are enslaved to an inordinate love of riches, honour, or pleasures. Our saint therefore instructed his scholars how to form rules for the conduct of their lives, to examine into themselves, to subdue their passions, and, by conversing continually in heaven, to put on an heavenly spirit. Thus he laboured to make all that were under his care truly servants of God: and it pleased God to suffer him to fall under grievous trials, that by them he might complete the work of his own sanctification, and the entire sacrifice of his heart. After the death of Marcvard, he was, through envy and jealousy, expelled the house, treated with great contempt, and oppressed by outrageous slanders. Ado took this opportunity to visit the tombs of the apostles at Rome, and staid five years in that city. From thence he removed to Ravenna, where he found an old martyrology, of which he took a copy, which he improved by many additions and corrections, and published about the year 858 (a). He also compiled a chronicle, and wrote the lives of St Desiderius and St Chef. When he returned out of Italy, he made a halt at Lyons, and St Remigius, archbishop of that see, detained him there, and having obtained leave of the abbot of Ferrieres, gave him charge of the parishchurch of St Romanus, near Vienne. The celebrated Lupus, who had been chosen abbot of Ferrieres, and who is well known by his hundred and thirty letters, and several little treatises, became his zealous advocate; and the see of Vienne falling vacant, he was chosen archbishop, and consecrated in September 860. The year following he received the pall from pope Nicholas, with the decrees of a Roman council, the purport of which was, to check certain disorders which had crept into several churches in France. (a) The best edition of Ado's martyrology was that of Rosweidus, before Monsignor Georgi, secretary to Benedict XIV. favoured us with a new one far more correct, and enriched with notes and useful dissertations. t Ado's promotion made no change in his behaviour: he was still the same humble, modest, mortified mau as when in a cloister, and endeavoured to inspire his flock with the like sentiments and dispositions. He was indefatigable in pressing the great truths of salvation. He usually began his sermons and exhortations with these or the like words:" Hear the eternal truth which speaks to you in the gospel." Or," Hear Jesus Christ, who saith toyou," &c. It was a principal part of his care, that candidates for holy orders should be rigorously examined, and he would be present at these examinations. He regulated the public service of the church with much zeal and wisdom, and made strict enquiry into the conduct of all those who were called to serve in the ministry of the altar, not only with regard to their progress in sacred learning, and the regularity of their manners, but also with regard to their spirit of devotion, and assiduity in constant prayer. The saint laboured without intermission for the reformation of manners, and establishing good discipline among the people. He took great care that all that were ignorant of the principles of Christianity should be forbid to be sponsors at baptism, or to be joined in matrimony, or admitted to any of the sacraments, till they were better instructed. By his vigilance no quarter was given to all those who indulged themselves in any vicious practice, in pleasures that ener vate the soul, or in amusements and diversions which are dangerous to innocence. What enforced his instructions, and gave them weight and efficacy, was his example. His life was most austere; he was in every thing severe to himself, and all the clergymen that were about him were enjoined to apprise him of the least slip in his behaviour. Though he was inflexible towards obstinate sinners, and employed every means to bring them to repentance, when he found them sincerely desirous to return to God, he received them with the greatest tenderness and indulgence, imitating the good. shepherd, who came down from heaven to seek the lost sheep, and carried them back to the fold on his shoulders. By his care the poor were every where tenderly assisted with every corporal and spiritual comfort and |
