Life of St. Radegund

By St. Venantius Fortunatus and D.P. Curtin

Radegund was a Thuringian princess and Frankish queen of the Merovingian dynasty. She is also remembered as an early Frankish saint of the Catholic Church. Among other accomplishments, she founded the major Abbey of the Holy Cross at Poitiers and Jesus College of Cambridge University. Her biography is told her by the Latin poet St. Venantius For

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dalcassian Publishing Company
• Release date: Jan 1, 2011
• ISBN: 9798868939327

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English Translation

FIRST BOOK. THE AUTHOR VENANTIUS FORTUNATUS BISHOP OF PICTAVIENS.

Prologue

The bounty of our Redeemer is so rich, that he celebrates the victories of the strong in the female sex, and renders women who are more fragile in body, glorious in their strength of mind. Those who have the resilience of being born, Christ makes strong by faith: so that those who seem weak, while they are crowned by merits, by whom they are made strong, heap up the praise of their Creator, having the treasures of heaven hidden in earthen vessels: in the bowels of which Christ himself, with his riches, dwells as King. Those who mortify themselves in the world, in contempt of the company of the earth, defecated by the infection of the world, not trusting in the slippery, not standing in the fall, seeking to live to God, are united to the glory of the Redeemer. In which there is an equal number, whose present course of life we have endeavored to bring into the public domain, though in private speech: so that whose life is in glory with Christ, the memory related may be celebrated in the world.

LIFE BEGINS

Blessed then is Radegund, from a barbarian nation from the region of Thuringia . Her grandfather was king Bassinus, her uncle was Hermenfrid, her father was king Beretharius. In so far as it touches the height of the age, the kingdom which arose from the germ, though lofty in origin, is much loftier in action. She had remained with her parents for a short time, when a barbaric storm, the victory of the French devastated the country, the Israelites turned left and migrated from the country. Then there was a dispute among the victors as to whose captive was the royal girl. And if it had not been surrendered after the battle was over, the kings would have moved their arms against themselves. When she came to the lot of the noble king Chlotarius, she was taken to Veromadense and assigned to keep Atteias in the royal villa for the purpose of nursing her. This girl, among other works which suited her sex, was educated in literature: frequently speaking with little children, if time allowed, desiring to become a martyr. The young man was already at that time indicating the merits of old age, obtaining for the part he asked for. Finally, while the Church was flourishing in peace, it itself suffered persecution from the householders. Already at that time the little child was doing this, whatever was left on the table, gathering the children together, washing the heads of each one, arranging the chairs, holding out the water with her hands, she herself brought the food, she herself mixed it with the children. He was also premeditating on this with Samuel the little clerk. Having made a wooden cross in advance, the following children hurried together to the oratory with mature gravity. And yet she, with her garment, shining the floor, and gathering up the dust lying about the altar with a tool, reverently stored it outside, rather than turning it over. As the aforementioned king had wished to receive the expenses of Victoria, having been prepared, she escaped by Beralcha from Alteias by night with a few. Then Suessionis, when he had directed her to make him a queen, avoiding the royal pomp lest it should grow in the age, but to whom it was due, and human glory does not change.

She therefore marries an earthly prince, and yet is not separated from a heavenly one. And while secular power had come to him, his will inclined itself more than his dignity would permit. Always subject to God, following the advice of the priests, participating in Christ more than being associated with marriage. But during that time we try to reveal a few of the many things that he did. Therefore, united with the prince, fearing lest he should degrade God, when he had advanced in the world, she devoted herself with her ability to alms. For when something happened to her in respect of taxes, of all that came to her, she gave tithes before she received them. Then he distributed what remained to the monasteries, and where he could not go on foot, he went round by hand. From whose munificence even the hermit could not hide himself; and as if not to be pressed by the burden, he gave out what he had received. At whom the voice of the needy did not ring in vain, nor did she herself pass by deaf: often donating clothing, believing that under the poor garment of Christ he would cover himself with members: this considering himself to lose whatever he had not given to the poor.

Still tending to the work of mercy, Alteaias set up the house, where the beds were arranged politely, and the needy women were gathered together, she herself washing them in the baths, and curing the rotten ones. Diluting the heads of the men, performing the service, whom he had previously washed, he mixed them with his own hand, in order to refresh them with a drink taken from the sweat. Thus she was born a devout woman and married a queen, a lady of the palace, a servant who served the poor. But secretly at the table, so that he might not be recognized by any one, with a dish of vegetables placed before him, among the feasts of the kings, after the manner of three children, he was relishing fava [beans] or lentils. And singing about the course, even if he sat at dinner, excusing himself to the king by some chance, that he might pay his debt to God, he indulged himself in the feast. When she went out, she sang to the Lord, and curiously inquired what kind of food the poor outside had refreshed themselves with.

Also at night time, when he was reclining with the prince, begging him to rise for human necessity, and having gone out of the room, he bowed before the secret prayer for so long with a thrown shirt, that he lay on the ground, warmed by the spirit, penetrated by frost, his whole flesh almost dead; esteeming what he bore as light, so much so as not to despise Christ. When she then returned to the room, she could hardly be warmed either by the stove or by the bed. Of whom the king was said to have rather a nun than a queen. Wherefore he himself was irritated [Al. But, on the one hand, she tolerated, on the other hand, modestly the quarrels brought on by her husband.

But in the days of Lent it is enough to know how he uncovered himself among the royal garments, repentant in a singular way. Therefore, when the season of fasting drew near, sending to a religious nun named Pia with a holy purpose, she directed a robe reverently sealed in a linen cloth: which, having been put on by the holy one, she carried in her baggage throughout the whole of Lent under a sweet royal robe. After the days had passed, he sent back the shirt, similarly sealed. But if the king were absent, who can believe how he would spread himself in prayer, how he would tie himself to the feet of Christ present; and, as if filled with delights, would she satiate herself with tears after a long fast? With the contempt