These words consoled and encouraged Palladius; and the saint having asked him with a smile whether he wished to be a bishop, Palladius answered in the same bantering style, that he was one already, as his name implied. "And prithee what is thy diocese?" asked the hermit. "I rule the diocese of the kitchen, and my episcopal jurisdiction is exercised over pots and pans," answered Palladius. "Enough of this joking," said the hermit. "In truth I tell thee thou shalt be a bishop one of these days, and shalt suffer many contradictions. But, if thou wouldest escape them, leave not thy solitude, for so long as thou remainest there, none will ordain thee bishop."
Some years after, this prophecy was verified; for, being threatened with dropsy, Palladius left the desert for Alexandria, and thence afterwards for Bithynia, where he was ordained bishop of Helenopolis. He was speedily enveloped in the persecution against S. Chrysostom, and was obliged to remain concealed for eleven months in a dark chamber.
Palladius returned from his visit to the Nitrian desert, and related all he had seen and heard to Evagrius, who was stirred to undertake the journey himself, and his account of this visit is found in the pages of Ruffinus.
S. MATTHEW OF BEAUVAIS, M.
(END OF 11TH CENT.)
[Gallican Martyrology. Authority:—Guibert, Ab. of Nogent-sous-Coussi, l. 1053, d. 1124. Guibert knew S. Matthew personally; they were both natives of the same village, and grew up together from childhood as friends.]
Matthew was a knight of noble birth, of Agnetz, near Clermont, in Beauvais. He was a model of purity, sincerity, and piety, ever calm, and never giving way to petulance, or agitated by passion. He took the cross and went to the East to fight for the recovery of the Holy Sepulchre, with the bishop of Beauvais. At the court of Alexis, in Constantinople, he was greatly respected. Having been made prisoner by the Saracens, he was offered his life if he would renounce the cross of Christ. He asked to be allowed to delay his reply till the following Friday. On that day he was again urged to adopt their religion. He replied, "I asked you to grant me this delay, not because I had any doubt as to what my decision would be, but that I might have the honour and felicity of shedding my blood on the same day as my Saviour Jesus Christ bled for me. Come then, strike me! I give my life to Him who laid down His for mankind." So saying he knelt and stretched forth his neck for the blow, and with one stroke was decapitated.
[March 28.]
SS. Priscus, Malchus, and Alexander, MM. at Cæsarea, circ. A.D. 259.
S. Xystus or Sixtus III., Pope, A.D. 440.
S. Spes, Ab. at Nursia, in Italy, A.D. 513.
S. Guntram, K. of Burgundy, A.D. 593.
S. Conon, Monk at Nesi, in Sicily, A.D. 1236.
Ven. Mary de Mailliac, V.W. at Tours, A.D. 1414.