«VEXILLA REGIS PRODEUNT». – Hymn of the Vespers during Passiontide, composed at Poitiers around 569 by Venantius Fortunatus on the occasion of the arrival of a relic of the Holy Cross, donated to St Radegund by Justinian II, Emperor of the East.
It is the apotheosis of the Cross and of what was accomplished in it by Jesus for the redemption of the world.
Silverio Mattei
VÉZELAY, SANCTUARY OF – Interior of the abbatial church of V. built in the 11th century and restored by Viollet-le-Duc in 1840.
The monastery of V. was founded in the 9th century by the monks of St Martin of Tours. In 878 Charles the Bald granted it privileges and exemptions; but in 1103 Pope Paschal II lifted the interdict. Pilgrimages increased ever more and V. became the gathering centre, in north-eastern France, for pilgrimages to St James of Compostella.
Abbot Artaud began the construction of a new basilica on the site of the Carolingian one in 1096; in 1104 he celebrated the dedication of the new building, but in a riot against taxes he was killed in 1106. The new abbot was Renaud de Semur, nephew of St Hugh abbot of Cluny. On 21 July 1120 a violent fire destroyed the church and over a thousand people perished. The abbot immediately began reconstruction. In 1131 Innocent II appointed the new abbot Alberic and in 1132 attended the consecration of the new abbey, which flourished rapidly under Pontius of Montboissier (1138-61). At Easter 1146 St Bernard came to the illustrious monastery to preach the Second Crusade (PL 182, 306-307). Then the abbot had to struggle against William III count of Nevers, and his successor against William IV, so much so that in 1165 the monks took refuge for some time at St-Germain-des-Prés in Paris. Alexander III granted new privileges in 1162. In 1165 a fire damaged the Basilica and Abbot Gerard of Arcy (1171-98) began its reconstruction in Gothic style. His successor Hugh was deposed by Innocent III in 1207.
In the monastery Thomas Becket archbishop of Canterbury took refuge in 1166. It was visited several times by Louis VII, in 1190 by Philip Augustus, by King Richard the Lionheart and several times by King St Louis, who attended the translation in 1267 at which the cardinal legate Simon de Brion was present, later Martin IV.
Following disputes over relics with St Maximin of Provence, the abbey of V. declined and Paul III in 1537 replaced the monks with 15 canons. The Huguenots occupied V. in 1569. They stole the liturgical furnishings and installed stables in the church. Among the commendatory abbots are remembered O. de Châtillon cardinal of Lorraine and the cardinal of Tencin. The Revolution in 1790 suppressed the monks and the church became the parish church of V.
43. – ENCYCLOPEDIA CATHOLICA. – XII.
VÉZELAY, SANCTUARY OF – Interior of the abbatial church of V. built in the 11th century and restored by Viollet-le-Duc in 1840.