(A.D. 682.)
[Roman Martyrology, and some others. Authorities:--Two lives, one of
which, very ancient, is found in MS., in Lombardic characters. Both
lives seem to be genuine, and may be trusted.]
Of the early life of S. Barbatus nothing authentic is known.[57] He
first comes before us as a priest, zealously combating the
superstition of the people of Benevento, who, though nominal
Christians, retained much of their ancient heathen belief. The great
objects of their veneration in the city were a golden image of a
viper, and a sacred tree; and Romuald, the Lombard Duke, son of the
famous Grimoald, was not more enlightened than his subjects. It is
said of the tree to which they offered religious honours that they
were wont to hang on it the skin of a wild beast, and shoot over their
shoulders at it. S. Barbatus preached for long zealously against these
abuses, but with no result; however he did not desist, but joined to
his exhortations fervent prayer and rigorous fasting, for the
conversion of the unhappy people. At length he roused their attention
by foretelling the distress of their city, and the calamities which it
was to suffer from the army of the emperor Constans, who landing soon
after in Italy, laid siege to Benevento. In their extreme distress,
and still more grievous alarm, they listened to the holy preacher, and
renounced their idolatrous practices. Thereupon S. Barbatus gave them
the comfortable assurance that the siege should be raised, and the
emperor worsted: which happened as he had foretold. Upon their
repentance, the saint with his own hand cut down the tree, which was
the object of their superstition, and afterwards melted down the
golden viper which they adored, of which he made a chalice and paten
for the use of the altar. Hildebrand, bishop of Benevento, dying
during the siege, S. Barbatus was consecrated bishop on the 10th of
March, 663. Barbatus, having been invested with the episcopal
character, pursued and completed the good work he had so happily
begun, and destroyed every trace of superstition in the diocese over
which he presided. In the year 680, he assisted in a council held by
pope Agatho at Rome, and the year following, in the sixth general
council, held at Constantinople against the Monothelites. He did not
long survive this great assembly, for he died on the 29th of February,
682, being about seventy years old, nineteen of which he had spent in
the episcopal chair. He is honoured at Benevento among the chief
patrons of the town; in Art he appears with the golden viper under his
foot, and an axe in his hand.
His relics are said to be preserved in the monastery of Monte Vergine.