April 12th - St. Zeno of Verona B (RM)
(Also known as Zenone)
Born in North Africa; died at Verona, Italy, April 12, 371 (or 380);
additional
feasts in Verona are celebrated on May 21 (translation) and December 6
(episcopal consecration). Because Saint Zeno's sermon on the martyrdom of
Saint
Arcadius appears to be an eyewitness description, Zeno was probably born
in
Mauretania near Algiers before 302. On December 8, 362, during the reign
of
Julian the Apostate, Saint Zeno was consecrated bishop of Verona, Italy,
possibly by Bishop Aussenzius of Milan. Soon after his arrival in Verona,
he
fought against the idolatry that had spread throughout the city; he even
managed
to reduce it in the surrounding country where paganism was more
entrenched. He
also strongly opposed the Arian heresy, and defended the eternal
generation of
the Word, the intimate union of the Holy Spirit and the Son with the
Father.
His success, in part, was due to his training as an orator. Zeno drew
large
crowds for his sermons, 93 of which still exist-the earliest collection of
Latin
homilies we possess. In fact, the crowds were so massive whenever Zeno
preached
that he was obliged to build a bigger cathedral. Each Easter many whose
hearts
were converted were baptized into the faith. He preached often to a group
of
nuns who lived in a convent he himself had founded. Long before Saint
Ambrose
did the same in Milan, Zeno encouraged virgins living at home to be
consecrated.
While Zeno had a reputation as a hard-working pastor, who was zealous in
building churches, in almsgiving, and in purging Arianism, he is
remembered
primarily as an ecclesiastical writer, especially on the topic of the
virgin
birth of our Lord. His sermons are of interest for the information they
provide
about Christian teaching, wor****p, organization, and life in the fourth
century.
He emphasizes the im****tance of the Sacraments for the Christian life. To
him,
Baptism is "the sacrament that truly calls men from death to life." Even
though
his sermons never mention the Eucharist, he indirectly stresses its
im****tance
by speaking of the "precious bread and wine that comes from our Father's
table"
and admoni****ng his flock that "none of you should ever take the Sacrifice
unworthily, because offering unworthily is sacrilege, and taking
unworthily is
deadly." Saint Zeno offers practical advice for the Christian life. He
notes
that faith in God's revealed truth is necessary, but more im****tant for
eternal
salvation is charity.
Most of the extant details about Saint Zeno's life derive from medieval
do***ents that mix facts and legend. According to these stories, Zeno
loved
fi****ng in the River Adige (the second longest in Italy) that flows
through
Verona and may have been a fisherman before his consecration. For this
reason,
his symbol today is a fish. He also chose to live in great poverty and
seclusion. By the precepts and example of this good pastor, the people
were so
liberal in their alms, that their houses were always open to poor
strangers, and
none of their own country had the need even to ask for relief. He
congratulates
them upon the interest they ac***ulate in heaven by money bestowed on the
poor,
by which they not only subdue avarice, but convert its treasures to the
highest
advantage, and without exciting envy. "For what can be richer than a man
to whom
God is to acknowledge himself debtor?" This inspiration to charity proved
vital
when the Goths overran the neighborhood and took many captives. The people
of
Verona were foremost in offering all they possessed to ransom these
prisoners.
Zeno is said to have saved the city of Pistoia, Italy, from flood by
creating an
exit for the waters of the Rivers Arno and Ombrone through what is now
known as
the Gonfolina Pass.
Saint Gregory the Great mistakenly calls Zeno a martyr, but the ancient
missals
of Verona and Saint Ambrose call him a confessor. This same Gregory
relates a
miracle that took place two centuries after Zeno's death based on an
eyewitness
account. In 589, when the River Adige threatened to drown most of Verona,
the
people flocked to the church of their holy patron Zeno. The waters seemed
to
respect its doors, they gradually swelled as high as the windows, yet the
flood
never broke into the church, but stood like a firm wall, as when the
Israelites
passed the Jordan; and the people remained there 24 hours in prayer until
the
waters subsided. The devotion of the people to Saint Zeno increased
because of
this and other miracles; and, in the reign of Pepin, son of Blessed
Charlemagne
and brother of Louis Debonnaire, Bishop Rotaldus of Verona, translated
Zeno's
relics into a spacious, new church.
The body of the saint lies today in one of the most beautiful Romanesque
churches of Italy, San Zeno Maggiore in Verona. In the tympanum over the
great
west doorway is sculpted the dark-skinned saint, who holds a fi****ng rod
as he
tramples down the devil. Zeno's tomb is in the huge, 12th-century crypt,
where
they were placed in 807 after having rested in various churches (Attwater,
Attwater2, Benedictines, Bentley, Encyclopedia, Farmer, Husenbeth).
In art, Saint Zeno is a bishop with a fish (a symbol for baptism or of an
angler?) tied to his crozier, or holding a fi****ng rod (Ferguson, Roeder).
He is
invoked for children learning to speak and walk (Roeder) and as the patron
of
Verona (Ferguson).
Particular thanks for supplementary information goes to the Veronese fan
of
Saint Zeno, Francesco Foti.
Saint Quote:
"It ought to be considered a great misfortune, not only for individuals,
but
also for Houses and Congregations, to have everything in conformity with
their
wishes; to go on quietly, and to suffer nothing for the love of God. Yes,
consider it certain that a person or a Congregation that does not suffer
and is
applauded by all the world is near a fall"
-St. Vincent de Paul
How fully St. Vincent was persuaded of this truth, he showed by the manner
in
which he informed his disciples of a considerable loss which had befallen
the
house. "As I had been considering" he said, "for a long time how happily
the
affairs of the Congregation were going on, and how well everything
succeeded, I
began to be much afraid of this calm, for I knew that God is accustomed to
try
His servants. But blessed be the Divine Goodness, which has designed to
visit us
with a very considerable loss."
(Taken from the book "A Year with the Saints". April - Patience)
Bible Quote:
8 For the poor you have always with you; but me you have not always.
(John
12:8)
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Three prayers for the faithful departed.
We commend to Thee, O Lord, the soul of Thy servant, N., and we beg Thee,
O
Lord Jesus Christ, Savior of the world, that Thou wouldst not refuse the
welcoming embrace of the patriarchs to this soul for whose sake Thou
didst,
in Thy mercy, come down upon earth.
Roman Ritual, Commendation of the Departing Soul. (Gelasian, 5th to 7th
cent.)
+++
O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant to the souls of
Thy servants departed the remission of all their sins, that, by our devout
prayers, they may obtain pardon for their sins which they have always
desired.
Roman Missal, All Souls (Nov. 2), Collect for First Mass. (Gelasian, 5th
to
7th cent.)
+++
Almighty and everlasting God, Who hast been pleased to breathe into man a
soul according to Thy likeness, do Thou, while at Thy bidding dust returns
to dust, command Thine image to be associated with Thy saints and elect in
an everlasting home.
Gelasian Sacramentary, Prayer for Dead. (5th to 7th cent.)
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