(END OF 4TH CENT.)
[Authorities: Roman Martyrology and the Dialogues of S. Gregory the
Great, lib. III., c. 10.]
S. Sabine or Savine, was of Roman origin; he was made Bishop of Piacenza
in Italy, and was present at the great Council of Nicaea, and also at
that of Aquileija. S. Gregory relates of him, that on one occasion the
river Po had overflowed its banks, and was devastating the church lands.
Then Sabine said to his deacon, "Go and say to the river, 'The Bishop
commands thee to abate thy rage, and return into thy bed.'" But the
deacon refused to go, thinking he was sent on a fool's errand. Therefore
Sabine said to his notary, "Write on a strip of parchment these words,
Sabine, servant of the Lord Jesus Christ to the river Po, greeting:--I
command thee, O river, to return into thy bed, and do no more injury to
the lands of the church, in the name of Jesus Christ, our common Lord."
And when the notary had thus written, the Bishop said, "Go, cast this
into the river." And he did so; then the flood abated, and the Po
returned within its banks, as aforetime. After having governed his
diocese forty-five years, he died on December 11th, and was buried in
the church of the Twelve Apostles, but now known as the church of S.
Savine, on Jan. 17th.