Such a practical exhibition of Christian love could not fail to exercise a gradual influence even over the rough pirates of the North, which was increased by the many miracles he wrought. But he was not one to seek distinction of this kind. "One miracle," he once said to a friend, "I would if worthy, ask the Lord to grant me; and that is, that by His grace, He would make me a good man."
He employed his last days in arranging the affairs of his diocese, and calmly expired on the 3rd of February, A.D. 865.
Relics. At Corbie is preserved an arm of the Saint.
[10] Palgrave's "Normandy and England," vol. i. p. 419.
[11] Palgrave's "Normandy and England," vol. i. p. 158.
S. VERONICA, _Matr. at Rome, 1st cent._ S. PHILEAS, _B. of Thmuis_, S. PHILOROMUS AND OTHERS, _MM. at Alexandria_, A.D. 304. S. ABRAHAM, _M. B. of Arbela, in Persia_, A.D. 348. S. GELASIUS, _C. at Piacenza, beginning of 5th cent._ S. ISIDORE _of Pelusium, P. Monk in Egypt, 5th cent._ S. AVENTINE, _H. of Troyes_, A.D. 538. S. AVENTINE, _B. of Chateaudun_, 6th cent. S. THEOPHILUS THE PENITENT, _C. at Adana in Cilicia_, _circ._ A.D. 538. S. LIEPHARD, _B. M. at Honcourt_, _circ._ A.D. 640. S. MODAN, _Ab. in Scotland, 7th cent._ S. ULGIS, _Ab. B. at Lobies, 8th cent._ B. HRABANUS MAURUS, _Abp. of Mainz_, A.D. 856. S. NICHOLAS OF THE STUDIUM, _Ab. C. at Constantinople_, A.D. 868. S. PROBATIUS, _P. at Nogent_. S. REMBERT, _B. of Hamburg and Bremen_, A.D. 888. S. GILBERT OF SEMPRINGHAM, _Ab. in England_, A.D. 1189. S. ANDREW CORSINI, _B. C. of Fiesoli_, A.D. 1373. S. JEANNE DE VALOIS, _Q. of France_, A.D. 1505. S. JOSEPH OF LEONISSA, _C. in Italy_, A.D. 1612. S. JOHN DE BRITTO, _S.J., M. at Madura_, A.D. 1693.
[Ferrarius in his Catalogue of the Saints. Some give March 25th as the anniversary of the Crucifixion, and as therefore the most appropriate day for the commemoration of the act, which has made Veronica famous. The festival of S. Veronica with special office, found its way into the Ambrosian Missal printed in 1555 and 1560, but it was expunged by the judicious S. Charles Borromeo.]
On the 8th December, 1854, when the Eternal City was crowded with bishops, assembled to promulgate the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, Pius IX., at the expressed and urgent desire of the prelates, allowed the sacred relics of the passion of Christ to be exhibited in the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament at S. Peter's. In the midst, over the altar, between burning tapers, loomed the veil of S. Veronica, impressed with the sacred lineaments of the Saviour. None but bishops were permitted to enter the chapel, all others looked through a grating, and to them, from the depth of the chapel, the portrait was wholly undistinguishable. One inferior ecclesiastic alone, by especial favour, was suffered to enter, accompanying a prelate. This was M. Barbier de Montault, canon of the basilica of Anagni; and he took advantage of the opportunity to scrutinize closely the miraculous portrait. He has fortunately communicated to the world the result of his examination. His words are full of interest:--"The Holy Face is enclosed in a frame of silver, partially gilt, and square, of a severe character and little adorned. The simplicity of the bordering gives prominence to the interior of the picture, which is protected by a thin plate of crystal. Unfortunately, a sheet of metal covers the field, and only leaves apparent the figure by indicating its outline. By this outline one is led to conjecture flowing hair reaching to the shoulders, and a short beard, bifurcated, and small. The other features are so vaguely indicated, or so completely effaced, that it requires the liveliest imagination in the world to perceive traces of eyes or nose. In short, one does not see the material of the substance, because of the useless intervention of a metal plate, and the place of the impression exhibits only a blackish surface, not giving any evidence of human features."[12]