The Lives of the Saints Volume 1 - St. Patrick's Basilica

gives a particular account of his great {222} virtues. The body of St.
Poppo was carried to Stavelo, and there interred: his remains were taken
up and enshrined in 1624, after Baronius had inserted his name in the
Roman Martyrology; for Molanus, in his Indiculus, and Miræus observe
that he was never canonized. Chatelain denies against Trithemius that
any commemoration was ever made of him in the public office in any of
the abbeys which he governed. But Martenne assures us that he was
honored among the saints at Stavelo, in the year 1624. See his life
written by the monk Onulf, and abridged by Everhelm, abbot of Hautmont,
in Bollandus, p. 673, and Martenne, Amplis. Collectio, t. 2, Præf. p.
17.
ST. APOLLO, ABBOT IN THEBAIS.
AFTER passing many years in a hermitage, he formed and governed a
community of five hundred monks, near Heliopolis. They all wore the same
coarse white habit, all received the holy communion every day, and the
holy abbot made them also a daily exhortation with admirable unction. He
entertained them often on the evils of melancholy and sadness, saying,
that spiritual joy and cheerfulness of heart are necessary amid our
tears of penance; as being the fruit of charity, and requisite to
support the fervor of the soul. He was known to strangers by the joy of
his countenance. By humility he ranked himself among the goats, unworthy
to be numbered among the sheep. He made it his constant and earnest
petition to God, that he might know himself, and be preserved from the
subtile snares and illusions of pride. It is said that the devil left a
possessed person at his command, crying out that he was not able to
withstand his humility. The saint received a visit from St. Petronius,
afterwards bishop of Bologna, in 393, being then near eighty years old,
which he did not long survive. See Sozom. l. 6, c. 29. Rufin. l. 2.
Tillem. t. 10, p. 35. The Greek menæa and Bollandus on this day.
ST. PUBLIUS, ABBOT
NEAR ZEUGMA, UPON THE EUPHRATES,
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IS honored by the Greeks. He was the son of a senator in that city, and
sold his estate, plate, and furniture, for the benefit of the poor; and
lived first a hermit, afterwards governed a numerous community in the
fourth age. He allowed his monks no other food than herbs and pulse, and
very coarse bread; no drink but water: he forbade milk, cheese, grapes,
and even vinegar, also oil, except from Easter to Whitsuntide. To put
himself always in mind of advancing continually in fervor and charity,
he added every day something to his exercises of penance and devotion:
he was remarkably solicitous to avoid sloth, being sensible of the
inestimable value of time. Alas! what would not a damned soul, what