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ST. Athenogenes, a Martyr, under the Emperour Dioclesian, whose feast is kept on the 16th of July, returning to his Monastery, found none there save a Hind (the Monks being before laid in Prison) which he had a long time nourisht. She presenting her self before him and moving his Compassion, he blessed her, and prayed God, that she might
never be taken nor fall into the Hunters nets, neither she, nor her young ones: Charging her further, that she and others of them should yearly bring a Cheverel to the Monastery, to perpetuate the memory of this favour and priviledge. All came to pass as the Martyr had required: for every year, after the reading of the Gospel at the time of celebrating the Masse of the H. Martyr, they saw a Hind enter into the Church, and after she had offered a Cherevel to the Saint, went back into the For∣rests: It was ordained that this Cheverel should serve for the feasting the Priests that had celebrated the Office on the day of that Feast. Raderus Viridarii SS. p. 1.
CErtain Robbers broke into a Church of a Town called Homel, siez∣ing upon a Casket, in which they found nought besides some reli∣ques, and the Pix, in which they kept the H. Sacrament. But this booty not turning much to their profit, they left all in the Fields. In the morning before day, a Peasant went out with his Oxen to plow; the Oxen being yoked in the plough, began to draw; but when they were come to the place where the H. Pix lay, they stopt on a suddain; the Peasant, not knowing what was the matter, cryed to them aloud, and push'd them with his Staff to make them go forward, but all in vain. He increased his blows and his noyse to no purpose, onely that he receiv∣ed their kicks, they having more regard to the H. Sacrament, than to their Patron. The Peasant in great anger left his plow, to look whether any thing was there which might cause this stop. As he did this, he took notice of that Pix lying at the feet of his beasts, with the Relicks belonging to his Village. Being in a great astonishment, he left the field and his plough, to advertise the Parish-Priest of what he had found. Upon this report the Priest came out in procession with the people to the place where the Host and the H. Relicks lay, which they carried back to the Church with the same devotion; where they put them under a more safe Custody. Caesarius l. 9. 7.
IN Bavaria not far from Ingolstad, a Peasant who was a simple but devout man, not being able on all Festivals to be present at Masse; because he was obliged to look after his Cattel, put a part of the con∣secrated Host, which he had reserved, into a hole made in his Staff, which when he could not go to Church, he always fixed in the ground,
and addressed his prayers to it, adoring the H. Sacrament. Now one time, as he saw his beasts run about hither and thither, and would fain stop them, he heedlesly threw down his Staff, where the H. Sacrament was: But presently reflecting upon what he had done, ran in great haste to take it up: As he fell on his knees to do it, he saw that the ground, where his staff was, depressed it self, and so much the more, as he lift up his hand. This wonder troubled him, and still more, when rising up, he saw all the Oxen round about the hollow place, with bended knees adoring our Lord. Upon the sight of these wonders, he ran bitterly weeping to give an account thereof to his Parish-Priest: He addressed himself to the Bishop, who came thither in Procession, and with great reverence and humility took up the Staff, in which was the Holy Sacrament. In memory of this Miracle, he built a Chappel under the Title of Saviour. A world of people came thither and took of the Earth of this hollow place in testimony of their Devotion. R. P. Lucas Pinelli at the end of his Meditat. on the Mystery of the Sacra∣ment.
AT St. Mary de Portiuncula one gave S. Francis for an Almes a live Ewe, which he willingly received as a Symbol of innocence and simplicity. He admonished her to live in the Convent without dis∣quieting the Friers; when the Friers went to the Quire, this Ewe went into the Church, and kneeled before the Altar of our Lady bleating, as if she would salute her; and at the Elevation of the most H. Sacra∣ment at the Masse, she kneeled in token of adoration. S. Bonavent. in vit. S. Francisci.
Biche, A Hind.
Boeufs, Oxen.
Brebis, A Sheep.