We know nothing of this saint’s country, only that he quitted it and
the house and inheritance of his ancestors, like Abraham, the more
perfectly to disengage himself from the ties of the world. He lived
in perfect continency, and often passed whole nights in meditating on
the holy scriptures. Being ordained priest he travelled through many
provinces to oppose the infidels and heretics, especially the Arians,
whose fury was at that time formidable over the whole Church. His
zeal and lively faith gave him courage to rejoice with the apostles
in suffering for the truth, and to bear in his body the marks of the
stripes which he received by a severe scourging which he underwent
for Jesus Christ. At Milan he vigorously opposed the endeavors of
Auxentius, the impious Arian wolf, who labored to destroy the flock
of Christ there; and our saint was its strenuous guardian before St.
Ambrose was made bishop of that city. He afterward went to Brescia,
and finding the inhabitants of that place savage and barbarous,
almost entirely ignorant in spiritual things, yet desirous to learn,
he took much pains to instruct them, and had the comfort to see his
labors crowned with incredible success. He rooted out the tares of
many errors, and cultivated this wild soil with such assiduity that
it became fruitful in good works. Being chosen the seventh bishop of
this see, he exerted himself in the discharge of all his pastoral
functions with such vigor as even to outdo himself; and the authority
of his high dignity added the greater weight to his endeavors. He
was not equal in learning to the Ambroses and Austins of that age;
but what was wanting in that respect was abundantly made up by the
example of his life, his spirit of perfect humility and piety, and
his unwearied application to every pastoral duty; and he is an
instance of what eminent service moderate abilities may be capable of
in the Church, when they are joined with an heroic degree of virtue.
To caution his flock against the danger of errors in faith, he wrote
his Catalogue of Heresies, in which he does not take that word in
its strict sense and according to the theological definition; but
sometimes puts in the number of heresies certain opinions which
he rejects only as less probable, and which are problematically
disputed; as that the witch of Endor evoked the very soul of
Samuel.[204] He everywhere breathes an ardent zeal for the Catholic
faith. St. Gaudentius extols his profound humility, his meekness,
and sweetness towards all men, which was such that it seemed natural
to him to repay injuries only with kindness and favors, and he never
discovered the least emotions of anger. By his charity and patience
he gained the hearts of all men. In all he did he sought no interest
but that of Jesus Christ; and sovereignly contemning all earthly
things he pursued and valued only those that are eternal. Being
most mortified and sparing in his diet and apparel, he seemed to
know no other use of money than to employ it in relieving the poor;
and he extended his liberality, not only to all that were reduced
to beggary, but also to tradesmen and all others, whom he often
generously enabled to carry on, or when expedient to enlarge their
business. Though he communicated himself with surprising charity and
goodness to all sorts of persons of every age, sex, and condition,
he seemed always to receive the poor with particular affection. He
trained up many pious and eminent disciples, among whom are named St.
Gaudentius, and one Benevolus, who in his life was a true imitator
of the apostles; and being afterward preferred to an honorable post
in the emperor Valentinian’s court, chose rather to lay it down than
to promulgate a rescript of the empress Justina in favor of the
Arians. St. Austin saw St. Philastrius at Milan with St. Ambrose,
in the year 384.[205] He died soon after, and before St. Ambrose,
his metropolitan, who after his death placed St. Gaudentius in the
see of Brescia. This saint solemnized every year with his people
the day on which his master St. Philastrius passed to glory, and
always honored it with a panegyric; but of these discourses only the
fourteenth is extant. See the life or encomium of St. Philastrius by
St. Gaudentius, published by Surius. Also the accurate history of the
church of Brescia, entitled Pontificum Brixianorum series commentario
historico illustrata, opera J. H. Gradonici. C. R. Brixie, 1755, t. 1.