Saint Donatus of Arezzo

Among the wonders that this holy prelate perform ed, Saint Gregory the G saint Grégoire le Grand Pope and author of the Dialogues, primary narrator of the life of Servulus. reat reports these: The pagans having shattered a glass chalice which was used, according to the custom of that time, for the celebration of the holy Mysteries, he restored it to its entirety through his prayer.

A treasurer of the emperor, named Eustace, Eustache Treasurer to the emperor and recipient of a miracle. having received a large sum of money for the savings coffers, left it in the care of his wife, named Euphrosyn e, while h Euphrosyne Wife of Eustace whose spirit revealed the location of a treasure. e went on a campaign for other business. This woman, in her husband's absence, had heard that soldiers were approaching Arezzo, and, fearing that the money would be stolen, she hid it in a hole she dug in the ground. A few days later she died, her husband not yet having returned. Eustace came back and was extremely surprised to find neither his wife nor his money. However, he was pressured to account for it; after having made useless searches, he finally had recourse to the holy bishop, who, without delay, went with him to his wife's tomb, where he offered his prayer, and then commanded, on behalf of God, the deceased to declare where the money was that her husband was so distressed about. A voice was immediately heard coming from the sepulcher, ordering that the earth be dug in such a place, where what was sought would be found. It was indeed found there.

Saint Antoninus reports another fact almost simil ar to this fi Saint Antonin Hagiographer who reported the miracle of the resurrected dead man. rst one. A man of good faith and fearing God, having borrowed two hundred crowns from one of his friends by promise, later returned this sum to him, without thinking of retrieving his obligation. The creditor, who was a wicked man, having learned of his death, went to oppose his burial until his alleged debt had been paid. The widow found no better way to get out of such a bad situation than to address herself to Saint Donatus, who came himself to her home, and, having caught sight of the deceased's body, he spoke to him as if he were full of life, and commanded him to say what he had to answer to this alleged creditor. The dead man rose, spoke, convinced his opponent, forced him to return his discharged note, and then begged the holy prelate to let him enjoy his rest: which he did.

After Saint Donatus had governed his Church with all the prudence, holiness, and zeal of a worthy and vigilant prelate for the space of about sixteen years, Quadratiunus, then prefect of the Emperor Julian, having heard the report of his wonders, and especially of the admirable progress he was causing the faith of Jesus Christ to make, to the great prejudice of paganism, had him arreste d with Hilarin Religious and companion in martyrdom of Saint Donatus. his dear Hilarinus, with the design of compelling them both to offer incense to his idols; but, seeing that he could neither corrupt them by promises nor break them by threats, he resolved to put them to death by the most extreme tortures. He therefore had Hilarinus beaten to death with clubs on July 16, as is marked in the martyrology; and as for Saint Donatus, after having had his face disfigured with stones and having had him kept in a dungeon, loaded with chains and irons, until the following month of August, he had him beheaded in the year of Jesus Christ 362.

Moreover, the people of Arezzo have always honored the memory of their most holy bishop Donatus; they recognized him as the principal titular of their cathedral, after the Blessed Virgin, in consideration of the fact that he entirely banished from the diocese the superstition and impiety of idolatry, to make the science and maxims of the cross triumph there; and also because, among the great number of illustrious people he converted, there was one, named Zenobius, of very illustrious and very wealthy birth, who gave great goods to the churches and the poor of the city: these people all consider themselves happy to possess the sacred remains of such a powerful and zealous protector, of whom all the martyrologies make honorable mention.

The reliquary that contains the relics of o ur Saint is kept in cathédrale d'Arezzo Diocese where the order was initially confirmed. the cathedral of Arezzo.

Cf. Godescard and Acta Sanctoru Acta Sanctorum Monumental hagiographic collection by the Bollandists. m.