The Transitus Transferred

Yesterday was the Feast of the Transitus of Saint Benedict, the anniversary of his death, in the year of our Lord 547. Of course, yesterday was a Sunday (the fifth of Lent, or Passion Sunday), and so the saint’s feast isn’t celebrated this year. Unless, of course, you are a Benedictine, in which case the feast is bumped, or transferred, to today.

Of the transitus, Benedict’s biographer Pope Saint Gregory the Great writes:

The same year in which he departed this life, he told the day of his holy death to his monks, some of which did live daily with him, and some dwelt far off, willing those that were present to keep it secret, and telling them that were absent by what token they should know that he was dead.

Six days before he left this world, he gave order to have his sepulchre opened, and forthwith falling into an ague, he began with burning heat to wax faint, and when as the sickness daily increased, upon the sixth day he commanded his monks to carry him into the oratory, where he did arm himself with receiving the body and blood of our Saviour Christ; and having his weak body holden up betwixt the hands of his disciples, he stood with his own lifted up to heaven, and as he was in that manner praying, he gave up the ghost.

Upon which day two monks, one being in his cell, and the other far distant, had concerning him one and the self-same vision: for they saw all the way from the holy man’s cell, towards the east even up to heaven, hung and adorned with tapestry, and shining with an infinite number of lamps, at the top whereof a man, reverently attired, stood and demanded if they knew who passed that way, to whom they answered saying, that they knew not.

Then he spake thus unto them: “This is the way,” quoth he, “by which the beloved servant of God, Benedict, is ascended up to heaven.” And by this means, as his monks that were present knew of the death of the holy man, so likewise they which were absent, by the token which he foretold them, had intelligence of the same thing.

Buried he was in the oratory of St. John Baptist which himself built, when he overthrew the altar of Apollo; who also in that cave in which he first dwelled, even to this very time, worketh miracles, if the faith of them that pray requireth the same.

(The Dialogues, Book II, Pope Saint Gregory I, the Great)

Saint Benedict, pray for us!

O almighty and everlasting God,
who delivered the most holy Confessor Benedict
out of the prison of the flesh and bore him up to heaven,
grant us we beseech You, your servants,
who are celebrating this festival,
forgiveness for all our sins, so that,
united in rejoicing in his glory,
we may by his intercession before You
partake together also in his merits.

Through our Lord, Jesus Christ, your Son
who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever.

Amen.