(A.D. 552.)
[Roman and other Latin Martyrologies. Datius, Dacius, or Dasius, is
spoken of by Procopius Cassidorus, whose letter to S. Datius is
extant, and by S. Gregory the Great, who relates the incident of
his reduction of the evil spirits to silence, narrated in the text,
in his Dialogues, lib. iii., c. 4.]
S. Datius ruled the see of Milan in a stormy time, when Italy was
over-run with the Goths. When Milan was threatened, S. Datius implored
Belisarius to come to its protection, or send troops to defend the city.
Belisarius was then at Rome, and S. Datius made the journey to Rome, on
purpose to urge upon him, in person, the protection of the city.
Belisarius, though hard pressed through the deficiency of supplies
afforded him by the Emperor Justinian, detached a body of men to the
defence of the Milanese, and for a time Milan was thought to be safe.
Soon, however, a large army of Goths and Burgundians swooped down upon
it and besieged it. Belisarius, seeing the danger to which the city was
exposed, sent troops under his generals, Martin and Uliaris, to the
succour. But they, through timidity, did not venture to attack the
Goths. In the city famine prevailed to such an extent, that as S. Datius
relates in his Annals, an unfortunate mother roasted and ate her infant,
that being the first morsel she had eaten since her confinement. The
city was surrendered, but the terms of surrender were not kept. It was
given up to plunder, and the streets ran with the blood of the butchered
citizens. What became of the Archbishop is not known; some assert that
he was taken captive to Ravenna, but was liberated at the intercession
of his friend Cassiodorus.
The Arian King, Totila, drove S. Datius from his see, and he escaped to
Constantinople. On his way occurred that incident recorded by S. Gregory
the Great, by which he is chiefly known. Arriving at Corinth, and
looking about for a large house, which would lodge him and his
companions, he saw a mansion, which seemed exactly suited to his
purpose, and was apparently unoccupied. Having instituted inquiries, he
was told that the house was haunted, and that it was impossible for any
man to spend the night in it. "Ghost and devil will not scare a servant
of God!" said S. Datius, and he ordered beds to be made in the haunted
house. He said his prayers as usual, and then retired to rest. About
midnight he was aroused by a hideous rout, like the braying of asses,
the grunting of swine, the squeaking of rats, and the hissing of
serpents. Then Datius, raising himself in bed, shouted, "Oh, Satan! thou
who saidst in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my
throne above the stars of God: I will be like the most High! (Isa. xiv.
13, 14.) Well done, I say, Satan. Thou, who wouldst be like God, art
reduced to bray like a jackass, and grunt like a hog." Instantly there
was dead silence, and S. Datius was no more troubled with unearthly
noises.