The monks Valerius and Saturninus build a church in honour of the Holy Cross, St. Pantaleon and other holy martyrs near their hermitage in the region of Bierzo. Saturninus is ordained there a presbyter [783]. He is very pious and performs miracles (see [784], [785], [786], [789]).

 

13. Although he devoted himself with the greatest generosity to this holy altar, and reverently served me in my misery in this upper monastery cell, afterwards lifted up by a spirit of vainglory, hoping that separated from me, he would obtain praise of his name more honorable than mine by leaving me, and greater veneration from the people of the world, withdrawing from here to that holy altar of his own making, he shut himself in a narrow and restricted prison, from which he came out only for the celebration of the daily and nightly office, and for the frequent offering of the Sacrifice to the Lord.

14. But after he had been settled there for a short time, that rapacious wolf, hungry and insatiable, the persecutor of our soul, hastened to separate him from a single-minded companionship with me so that he could make him easily fit for prey, like a wandering sheep. And so raging he finally gained entrance into the depths of his heart, so that by his cruelty he made him waver in such great and annoying vexations that neither by day nor by night did he permit him, wandering hither and thither, to remain in tranquil quiet even for a single moment. By this sinfully conquered and easily overcome, going forth during the night he loaded an ass, which he had as a beast of burden to procure our livelihood in the wilderness, with volumes of books which I myself had copied for the holy altar, and others which I had brought there God granting it; and rashly persuaded, he was led captive by the enemy. [...]

 

(ed. C.M. Aherne 1949: 140, 142, 144)