Volume 2

The dancing mania / From the German of J.F.C. Hecker ; translated by B.G. Babington.

  • Justus Friedrich Carl Hecker
Date:
1833-1835
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The dancing mania / From the German of J.F.C. Hecker ; translated by B.G. Babington. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    legends respecting him are obscure, and he would certainly have been passed over of this kind was afterwards disputed by the followers of St. Hubertus, the Saint of the Chase. In 672, his body was with much pomp moved to Apulia, but soon after the priests of many churches and chapels in Italy, gave out that they were in possession of portions of the saint’s body which worked miracles. In the eighth century the veneration of this youthful martyr extended itself to France, and the honour of possessing his body was con- ferred on the church of St. Denys. By command of the Pope it was solemnly delivered on the 19th of March, 836, by the Abbot Hilduwinus, of St. Denys, to the Abbot Warinus, of Corvey, (founded in 822). On its way thither, which occupied three months (to the 13th of June), many miracles were performed, and the sub- sequent Abbots of Corvey were able for centuries to maintain the popular belief in the miraculous healing power of their relics, which had indiscriminate influence on all diseases, more especially on those of a demoniacal kind. See Monachi anonymi Historia translationis S. _ Viti. In G. H. Pertz, Monumenta Germanie Historica. Tom. II]. Hannov. 1828. fol. p.576. As a proof of the great veneration for St. Vitus in the fourteenth century, we may further mention that Charles IV. dedicated to him the Cathedral of Prague, of which he had laid the foun- dation, and caused him to be proclaimed Patron Saint of ~ Bohemia, and a nominal body of the holy martyr was for this purpose brought from Parma. Act. Sanctor. loc, cit.