Saint Maximus

A very distinguished man, by the na me of Bé Béraldus Father of Hébrilde, wishing to marry his daughter to Maxime. raldus, went to find Maxime's father and said to him: "I have learned that you have a son who is very handsome; I would very much like to see him." This was 1200 years ago: in those times, as long before and after Saint Maxime, when a young man or a young woman was to be married, the choice was made by the parents. This custom has a good side, in that generally the choice of the parents is much calmer and more impartial than that of young lovers; whereas the latter, forgetting that it is a matter of uniting for life, sometimes for a very long life, are too often moved in such an important choice only by an ephemeral passion, whose flame and impulse usually last only a few days. Béraldus, after having seen Maxime, said to his father: Your son is truly a very handsome and very amiable young man. If you wish, I will give him my daughter Hébrilde in marriage, with a rich dowry. Hébrilde Fiancée imposed upon Maximus. Thereupon, Maxime's mother replied: I hope our son will not marry. Then Maxime's father gave his wife a slap, exclaiming: That is not true! Maxime, seeing that his father wanted to force him to marry, was very afraid, and during the night he took refuge with the bishop who had raised him. The latter welcomed him with kindness and promised him help and protection.

But Maxime did not believe himself to be safe enough. Early in the morning, he went to find a Christian friend and asked him for advice, declaring to him that he would prefer solitude and the company of wild animals to the yoke of marriage and the servitudes of the world. His friend immediately decided to share this way of life with him, and they fled without delay into a desert where other solitaries were already to be found. Maxime built himself a cell to dedicate his life to God there; the other returned home. Maxime spent his life in fasts, prayers, and vigils; he frequently sang psalms and canticles. Then the demon, seeing that he could not overcome Maxime, turned toward his father, and this is how he went about it. One night he appeared to him in the form of an angel and said to him: Listen without fear to what I am going to tell you: Your son Maxime is near the river Olt, in a place called Roches-Creuses, in the desert. Rise at the break of day and go look for him.

The father therefore mounted his horse early in the morning and set out with his hunters, as if it were a matter of going to hunt bear. They indeed found Maxime at the indicated place; they bound his feet and hands and took him away as a prisoner like a criminal. Arrived at the paternal home, they threw him into an improvised dungeon and kept him locked up there, "to teach him," the father said, "to tame himself."

However, Béraldus, who had not yet renounced the hope of becoming Maxime's father-in-law, and who cared for it greatly, rejoiced much, and to express his joy, he gave a great feast. Maxime was taken from his prison, dressed magnificently, and brought into the banquet hall. There his father said to him: Take the engagement ring from the hands of Béraldus, and place it on the hand of his daughter, as a pledge of your future union. Maxime refused. Then his father cried out in anger: Quickly, hurry! — Maxime was unshakeable. His father struck him with a stick. Maxime finally took the ring and placed it on Hébrilde's finger, saying: I give myself to you, and I accept you as my fiancée in Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Eight days later, Béraldus summoned his relatives and friends to the wedding. Maxime was plunged into sadness; he met a pious pilgrim, from whom he sought counsel, telling him that they wanted to force him into marriage, while he would have preferred to consecrate his life to the Lord, in solitude. The pilgrim urged him to come with him: immediately Maxime left his father, his mother, his possessions, and his fiancée, and departed to consecrate his entire existence to God, the sole object of his love.

The two travelers headed toward Limoges to implore the protection of Saint Martial. That very night, Maximus had a vision in his sleep. An angel appeared to him and told him to go to Vienne, where he would learn what he had to do. The two pilgrims set off again. Along the way, they met a religious under the jurisdiction of Bishop Paschase; this monk, seeing their modest and pious appearance, questioned them kindly and promised that he would inform the prelate of their intentions. The next day, Paschase summoned them: "Where are you from, my brothers," he asked them, "where do you wish to go, what are you seeking?" Maximus told him that he was born in the vicinity of Caturcum (Cahors), and told him for what cause he had abandoned his homeland and his family, in the hope of finding a retreat where he could serve God in peace. The bishop then told him to go to the monastery with his religious; but immediately Maximus, out of affection for his traveling companion, replied to him: "What shall I do with my brother Magnence?"—"Since it is so," the bishop replied, "go in peace, I do not know you."

After this refusal, they left the city and Maximus had a second vision; the angel said to him: "Maximus, arise and go to the monastery of Saint-Jean de Limours, where A bbot Sabas commands, under the jur monastère de Saint-Jean de Limours Location of the monastery where Maximus was abbot. isdiction of King Clotaire, and there, accomplish w hat the Lord roi Clotaire King of the Franks during whose reign Maximus lived. commands you." He therefore went to find the abbot and gave him the details about his life that we know. Sabas then sent him to work with his religious, as well as Magnence, and the next day gave them the monastic tonsure in the presence of the community. The following day, while Maximus was at work with the other religious, a sow, ready to give birth, came out of a thicket and, coming to the feet of the Saint, licked them with respect. He gave her a portion of the bread he had near him, and said to this beast: "Since you eat our food, go bring your fruit to the monastery," and the following day the sow came to find the servant of God accompanied by seven piglets; the abbot entrusted their care to a brother.

Bishop Paschasius, having heard this prodigious fact recounted, came to the monastery and asked for the religious who had performed this miracle; they presented Maximus to him, whom he ordained priest shortly thereafter; the religious conceived a great joy from this and immediately entrusted him with a part in the administration of the monastery. Soon, the abbot having died, Maximus was elected in his place.

Clotaire's steward, Eldeb ode, hav Eldebode Steward of King Chlothar II, persecutor of Maximus. ing learned of this, summoned him to his presence to interrogate him. "My brother," the Saint said to the messenger, "go tell your master to come here, to receive our blessing, and we shall answer his requests; for it is not fitting for us to leave our monastery." The irritated steward sent a second messenger, but in vain. Finally, he arrived himself and overwhelmed the abbot with violent and unjust reproaches; he threatened him with death, and was already preparing to strike him with a staff, when his hand was immediately paralyzed and his eyes struck with blindness. Ashamed and not daring to ask Maximus himself to heal him, he went, with his advisor Elduin, to beg Magnence to intercede for him. The servant of God would not hear him.

Eldebode returned home full of fury against Maximus and Magnence; but he could not so soon carry out his threats, nor hide his confusion, the result of his

punishment. The people of his household came to insult the monks and reproach them for their master's misfortune, assuring them that they would exact a striking vengeance. Maximus was then urged to seek safety; but he replied that he would go to the public square to make known to these furious men the orders of God. When he appeared, everyone asked him why he had treated their master in such a way; Maximus replied that he had been struck with blindness because he persecuted the servants of God. Immediately, one of the closest ones stepped forward to seize him, saying: "Seek now where is the one who will take you from my hands." "He is present here," said Maximus, "who can snatch me from your hands." And as the villain drew his sword to strike the holy abbot, the sword escaped from his hands and an invincible force knocked him down; a luminous cloud descended from the heavens upon Maximus, and all those who threatened him with death became blind. The Saint then preached penance to them and gave them salutary advice, and praying for them, he obtained their healing; all recovered their sight, except for the one who had wanted to attempt his life. But the demon, jealous of this victory, inspired one of them to strike him with a spear, and Maximus, struck in the side, collapsed upon himse lf sayi Gontran King of Burgundy who welcomed Columbanus upon his arrival in Gaul. ng: "Gontran, you have done evil, why pierce me with your spear?" The body of Gontran was at that very instant covered with wounds, and he died three days later, eaten by worms.

The religious, after raising Saint Maximus, carried him weeping to the monastery. The angel of the Lord appeared to him and told him that the next day, Saint Michael, accompanied by a multitude of blessed spirits, would come to fetch him to lead him to heaven and give him the reward due for his good works and his martyrdom. Those who were attending the sick man heard the words of the archangel, who also predicted that Magnentius would be abbot after the dying saint. The following day, Maximus called his religious and had wine put into a cup, then he blessed it and, giving thanks to God, he drank from it and gave it to all his religious to drink as a sign of charity; he humbly asked for forgiveness from those he had offended, and bade them farewell by embracing them. The bishop of the province of Auver gne, Augustine, and the archbish l'archevêque de Vienne, Paschase Archbishop of Vienne who ordained Maximus as a priest. op of Vienne, Paschasius, were present at the passing of the blessed one. Among those who surrounded the deathbed, five sick people were miraculously healed. The holy abbot, having heard the songs of the angels who were coming to introduce him to heaven, said to those present: "I pray you, my fathers and my brothers, to receive me in your charity and to accompany me with the help of your prayers." Then, having made the sign of the cross, he fell asleep in the Lord, on January 27 of the year 625. C1. Acta Sanctorum, January 2.