the literary sanctification of Germanus of Auxerre in the "Vita Germa

259 Pages·2017·2.36 MB·English

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Deconstructing the man, constructing the saint: the literary
Title sanctification of Germanus of Auxerre in the "Vita Germani
Auctore Constantio" by Constantius of Lyon
Author(s) Bezzone, Francesca Irene Chiara
Publication
2013-09-27
Date
Item record http://hdl.handle.net/10379/4449
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DECONSTRUCTING THE MAN
CONSTRUCTING THE SAINT
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The Literary Sanctification of Germanus of Auxerre in the
Vita Germani Auctore Constantio.
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Francesca Irene Chiara Bezzone
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Supervisor of Research: Dr Mark Stansbury
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A thesis submitted in fulfillment of
the requirements for the degree of
Philosophiae Doctor
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Classics
School of Languages Literatures and Cultures
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National University of Ireland
Galway
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September 2013
ABSTRACT
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The narrative structure of the Vita Germani Auctore Constantio is based on its
protagonist’s spiritual development from man to saint. In the early chapters, Germanus’
character is defined by human actions and attitudes, as shown in the moments preceding
his epiphany when he fights against election to the see of Auxerre. Germanus’ increasing
sanctity is marked by the presence of miracles whose rituality is grounded in pragmatic
actions related to the world of medicine and liturgy. These miracles are performed
through human practices and represent a time in which the human and holy are mixed.
The moment of transition to sanctity is described in two pivotal episodes in the vita. In
these episodes Constantius uses the symbolism of water and of preternatural recognition
to show Germanus’ passage to holiness, which is confirmed when he performs a
resurrection miracle. Finally, his post mortem sanctification is shown by a miracle
performed by his relics. This thesis explores the origins and implications of this
structure through semantic analysis of the text and linguistic, historical, and literary
comparisons with works from its time and genre. Each chapter of the thesis explores a
particular phase in the life of saint, identified by the presence and role of the themes of
war, food, and medicine in the narrative development of the text.
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A!CKNOWLEDGMENTS
This thesis is the result of five years of research during which I had the blessing of never being
alone. First of all, my deepest thanks to my supervisor, Dr Mark Stansbury, for his invaluable help and
constant support. Without his encouragement and fatherly presence, this amazing journey would not have
been the same. Grazie Mark. Thanks to the whole department of Classics at NUI, Galway, especially to
the members of my Graduate Research Committee, Prof. Michael Clarke and Dr Jacopo Bisagni, for
having inspired and supported me continuously with comments, ideas and feedback.
A very special thank you to Dr Pádraic Moran, for his help and support after my VIVA, while preparing
the final edits of this work. I would also like to thank the external member of my VIVA committee, Prof.
Ian Wood, for his invaluable advice and feedback.
An immense thank you to my friends Sarah, Jena, and Kristin, who have shared with me the
experience of working on a Ph.D, and with whom I had endless conversations over coffee (and on Skype)
about the hardships of being a graduate student. Thanks to Rachel, for the theological discussions and the
chats about the Second World War. To my childhood friend Michela and her husband, Federico, for the
beautiful Italian-Monegasque nights spent together every time I visited home in the past five years. A
huge thank you to Mauricio, who is not only a friend, but a brother to me, and always will be.
The most heartfelt thanks goes to my family: my father Silvio, who gave me the freedom to
pursue my dreams, never ceasing to support me. My brother Ennio, who instilled in me the love for
history and theology.
This thesis is dedicated to my mother, Silvana and my grandparents, Giovanna and Piero, Milly
a!nd Ennio, who taught me what tenderness, love and courage really are: I miss you all very much.
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Questo lavoro è il risultato di 5 anni di ricerca, durante i quali ho avuto la fortuna e benedizione
di non essere mai sola. Il primo dei miei grazie, quello più sentito, va al mio supervisore, il Dottor Mark
Stansbury, per il suo supporto, continuo e senza prezzo: senza il suo incoraggiamento costante e la sua
paterna presenza, questo meraviglioso viaggio non sarebbe stato lo stesso. Grazie Mark.
Grazie all’intero dipartimento di Classici alla NUI, Galway, in modo particolare ai membri del
mio GRC, il Professor Michael Clarke e il Dottor Jacopo Bisagni, per avermi ispirato e sostenuto con i
loro commenti e le loro idee. Un grazie speciale al Dottor Pádraic Moran, per il preziosissimo aiuto
datomi durante le settimane dedicate alle correzioni finali di questo lavoro. Non posso certamente
dimenticare il membro esterno della mia commissione, il Professor Ian Wood, che ringrazio
particolarmente per gli inestimabili consigli e l’utilissimo feedback.
Un grazie immenso alle care Sarah, Jena e Kristin, che hanno condiviso con me l’esperienza, a
tratti scoraggiante, della preparazione della tesi di dottorato di ricerca, e con le quali ho condiviso
innumerevoli caffè (e chiamate Skype) per discutere le tante difficoltà dell’essere ricercatrice. Grazie a
Rachel, per le chiacchierate di teologia e di storia della Seconda Guerra Mondiale. Grazie alla mia più
cara amica d’infanzia, Michela, e a suo marito, Federico, per le belle serate italo-monegasche trascorse
insieme ad ogni mio rientro a casa durante questi ultimi 5 anni.
Grazie a Mauricio, che non è per me solo un amico, ma un caro fratello e sempre lo sarà.
Il grazie più profondo va alla mia famiglia: a mio padre Silvio, che mi donato la libertà di
seguire i miei sogni, senza mai smettere di starmi vicino. A mio fratello Ennio, che ha fatto nascere in me
l’amore immenso per la teologia e la storia.
Questo lavoro è dedicato a mia madre, Silvana, e ai miei nonni, Giovanna e Piero, Milly ed Ennio, che mi
hanno insegnato ciò che tenerezza, amore e coraggio veramente sono:
mi mancate moltissimo.
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ABBREVIATIONS!
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CCSL Corpus Christianorum, Series Latina
CML Corpus Medico rum
Latinorum CSEL Corpus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum
Latinorum MGH Monumenta
Germaniae Historica
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Auct. Ant. Auctores Antiquissimi
SS.rer. merov. Scriptores Rerum Merovingicarum
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PL Patrologia Latina
PSA Passio Sancti Albani
RC Revelatio Corcodemi
VA Vita Sancti Amatoris
VG Vita Germani Episcopi Autissiodorensis
VM Vita Beati Martini
VH Vita Hilarionis

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Abstract i
Acknowledgements ii
Abbreviations iii
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Chapter One
Introduction: The Sanctification of Germanus of Auxerre

1.1 The Sanctification of Germanus of Auxerre 2
1.2 The Structure of the Work 7
1.3 Methodology 10
1.4 The Corpus 14
1.4.1 The Vita Sancti Amatoris Episcopi 17
1.4.2 The Revelatio Corcodemi 18
1.4.3 The Vita Beati Martini 20
1.4.4 The Vita Eutropii 22
1.4.5 The Vita Hilarionis 22
1.4.6 De Medicina 23
1.4.7 De Medicamentis Liber 24
1.4.8 Medicina Plinii 24
1.5 The Theoretical Framework 25
1.6 Germanus of Auxerre 33
1.7 Constantius of Lyon and the Vita Germani 39
1.8 The Vita Germani and its audience 41
1.9 The Date of the Vita Germani 43
1.10 The text: its diffusion 44
1.11 The Manuscript Tradition 50
1.11.1 The A MSS 52
1.11.2 The B MSS 55
Chapter Two
The Structure of the Vita Germani
2.1 Introduction 57
2.2 The Vita Germani and its Structure 58
2.2.1 Levison’s Division 60
2.2.2 Borius’ Division and Miele’s Narrating Voice 64
2.3 Hagiography and its Structure 67
2.3.1 Hagiography and Classical Biography 69
2.3.2 History and Miracles 74
2.4 A New Approach 78
2.4.1 An Eidological Structure for the Vita Germani 79
2.5 The First Section: Germanus, Asceticism and the Beginning of 83
His Path to Holiness
2.6 The Second Section: Holy Acts and Human Character 87
2.7 The Holy Man 93
2.8 Conclusion 95
Chapter Three
Germanus, Asceticism and the Beginning of the Path to Holiness:
Deconstructing the Man
3.1 Introduction 98
3.2 First Encounter with Faith 99
3.2.1 Germanus’ Episcopal Election 101
3.2.2 Episcopal elections in the Corpus and Coeval Hagiography: A 108
Comparison with the Vita Germani
3.3 Germanus' Epiphany 113
3.3.1 Embracing of Spirituality in the Corpus and Coeval 118
Hagiography
3.4 The Diet of a Real Hermit 122
3.5 Conclusion 131
Chapter Four
Holy Acts and Human Character:
Constructing the Saint
4.1 Introduction 134
4.2 The Instruments of Holiness 136
4.2.1 Oil and the Healing of the Tumefacta Infirmitas 139
4.2.2 The Triticum and the Singing Cockerels 143
4.2.3 The Doctor, the Priest and Holy Oil 145
4.2.4 Miraculous Eucharist 148
4.2.5 The Capsula 151
4.3 War and its Leaders 156
4.3.1 Soldiers of Christ: Amator, Martin, Hilarion, Germanus 156
4.3.2 Germanus the Warrior 160
4.4 Conclusion 163
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Chapter Five
The Holy Man:
Germanus’ Holiness Revealed
5.1 Introduction 165
5.2 The Saint is Revealed 168
5.2.1 The Crossing 168
5.2.2 Recognition 171
5.2.3 Tears of God: The Bible, Early Patristic and Hagiography 172
5.2.4 Tears in the Vita Germani 176
5.2.5 Germanus and Placidia 180
5.2.6 The Feretrum 182
5.3 Conclusion 189
Chapter Six
Conclusion:
The Afterlives of the Saint
6.1 Afterlives of the Saint 192
6.3 Conclusion 195
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Appendix
The Life of Germanus Bishop of Auxerre
- Letter to Patient 198
- Letter to Censurius 198
- Preface 199
- Germanus, Asceticism, and the Beginning of the Path to Holiness 200
- Holy Acts and Human Character 203
- The Holy Man 218

Bibliography 226