(A.D. 1236.)
[Gallican Martyrology. Authority:--Thomas Cantipratensis.]
One of the most fervent and exemplary religious of the abbey of
Vaucelles in the early part of the 13th century was Hugo de Villa,
formerly dean of the church of Cambrai. He was as distinguished for the
nobility of his birth, and of his talents, as he was for his virtue.
The fear of being called to fill some episcopal throne prompted him to
take refuge in the monastery of Vaucelles, where the rule of the first
children of S. Bernard was rigorously observed. When the project of
the pious dean was known, many persons came to ask him to give them a
handsome tame falcon he possessed. Hugo refused, and dissembled his
intentions till the moment that he entered religion. He arrived at the
gates of the abbey with the bird, and then, cutting the string that
held the falcon captive, he gave it liberty, saying, "My dear bird! fly
away and enjoy thy liberty in peace, for I am leaving thee for ever."
Thomas de Cantinpré, his biographer, says, "I have often heard from
the mouths of eye-witnesses that during his noviciate, birds would
come and perch on his hands, and eat crumbs out of them. The master of
the novices, to prove his virtue by opposing this innocent pleasure,
reproached him. The good religious then drove away the birds that
fluttered around him, saying, with that simplicity which marked all his
conduct, 'Away, birds! I am not surprised that you are ordered off: my
age and condition requires that you should obey me, and not I you.'"
March 30.
S. SECUNDUS, _M. at Aste, in Italy_, A.D. 119.
S. QUIRINUS THE TRIBUNE, _M. at Rome_, A.D. 130.
S. REGULUS, _B. of Arles and Senlis, 4th cent._
SS. MARTYRS _at Constantinople, slain by Macedonius, the Heresiarch_,
A.D. 351.
S. JOHN IN THE WELL, _H. in Armenia_.
S. JOHN CLIMACUS, _Ab. of Mount Sinai, about_ A.D. 606.
S. ZOSIMUS, _B. of Syracuse, circ._ A.D. 660.
S. PATTO, _B. of Werden, 9th cent._
S. VERO, _C. at Limbecke, in Hainault, 9th cent._
B. DODO VAN HASCHA, _O.P., C. in Friesland_, A.D. 1231.
B. PETER REGULATUS, _O.M., C. at Aguilar, in Old Castille_, A.D. 1456.
B. AMADEUS, _Duke of Savoy_, A.D. 1472.