Marcellinus

ON SAINT MARCELLINUS, BISHOP OF EMBRUN IN GAUL.

4TH CENTURY.

Marcellinus, Bishop of Embrun, in Gaul (St.)

By G. H.

Embrun, a most ancient city of the Gauls, by the river Durance, set upon an inaccessible rock in today's Dauphiné, metropolis of the Maritime Alps, is believed to have received some light of the Christian faith from Blessed Nazarius, afterwards under Nero who suffered at Milan—which will be examined on July 28. But since in the following centuries the said light of faith had been extinguished amid very many persecutions, Divine mercy willed it to be revived, when in the fourth century of Christ peace was given to the Church, of Saint Marcellinus, 1st Bishop of Embrun and then from Africa into these Maritime Alps sent Saint Marcellinus with two companions, founder of the Church of Embrun and her first Bishop, consecrated by Saint Eusebius of Vercelli and Camelianus of Valence. Some Acts of this Marcellinus were published by Boninus Mombritius, Acts in Mombritius, given more complete from manuscripts in his collection on the Lives of the Saints printed about two hundred years ago; the same exist in manuscript at the imperial monastery of Saint Maximinus at Trier, and much more exactly, with an added second book (which for us will be Chapter 3) of miracles, in the manuscript codex of Nicolaus Faber, formerly sent to us from Paris, and in the old manuscript of the monastery of Saint Claude, which Peter Francis Chiffletius communicated; and the same Acts were also offered to us by John Mabillon, a man known for the published Acts of the Benedictine Order. The Author of this Life, having made diligent inquiry even from those who were in their ninetieth or nearly hundredth year of age, selected those things which he judged most agreeable to the truth, and handed them on to posterity, adding the miracles which God deigned to work in his own times through the intercession of Saint Marcellinus.

[2] In conformity with these are the things handed down in the ancient Martyrologies. A compendium in Usuard The words of Usuard are these: "In the Gauls, in the city of Embrun, of Saint Marcellus (rather Marcellinus), Bishop and Confessor of the same city, who by divine command, coming from Africa with his holy companions Vincentius and Domninus, converted the greatest part of the Maritime Alps to the faith of Christ by his word and admirable signs, by which he shines to this day." Thus Usuard. Ado moreover adds: "So that the baptistery which he himself founded at the aforesaid city, [Ado] on the sacred vigils of the Easter feast, is flooded every year by divine power with sudden waters, and through the seven days of the same solemnity, by abounding grace, remains so. His venerable companions, buried at the city of Digne, are nevertheless commended by glorious miracles." Thus Ado, who calls him Marcellinus. Him describe Notker, and others Peter de Natalibus book 4, chapter 69, Ghinius in Natales Sanctorum Canonicorum, and others. But Usuard is followed by Bellinus, Maurolycus, Galesinius, and others with today's Roman Martyrology. Saussay in his Gallican Martyrology adorns the Saint with a longer elogium, and adds that according to Ado is appended that "the bodies of the blessed fellow-workers of Saint Marcellinus, after their glorious passing, were taken to the town of Digne, there to rest with fitting cult and shine with glorious signs." So there. But Ado, as his words cited indicate, asserts that they were buried at the city of Digne, not carried there after their passing. Certainly the Acts below have them sent and led to Digne by Saint Marcellinus. Of these Saint Vincentius is said to be venerated on January 20, where, because nothing is said of him, consult what we said of Saint Domninus, first Bishop of Digne, on February 13, on which day he is venerated. They are also recalled together on this day and the following in the manuscript Martyrology of Centula or Saint Riquier, and in some others, as well as in this distich of Wandelbert:

Marcellinus, Domninus, and Vincentius alike Shine by name and feast and faith on the twelfth.

Gregory, Bishop of Tours, in his book On the Glory of the Confessors, chapter 69, wrote only these words of Saint Marcellinus the Bishop. elogium from Gregory of Tours "The city of Embrun has also its own Patron Marcellinus the Bishop; through whom, while he still abode in the body, Christ wrought many miracles. For he is said to have made a font for baptizing, in which on the day of the Lord's Nativity and of the Lord's Supper, water is said divinely to arise. From which also to another font, in which ancient custom established baptizing, water is brought. Yet it is not heaped up, as we have reported above of those springs of Spain. At this Saint's tomb a lamp continually affords light; but once kindled, it endures many nights without any addition; and most often it happens that, when extinguished by the wind, it is divinely kindled again. From which oil very often the sick receive remedies." Thus the said Gregory. Town and church of Saint Marcellinus There is a certain town of Saint Marcellinus in the same Dauphiné not far from the right bank of the Isère river. There was also at Embrun one of seven Churches dedicated to Saint Marcellinus, but it was destroyed by heretics. His head, translated to Digne along with the relics of his holy companions, is attested by the most learned Pierre Gassendi, Provost of Digne, to be venerated with great veneration to this day, in the Lessons which he composed on Saint Marcellinus. The head at Digne He is venerated under the rite of a double Office in the Church of Maurienne, according to the Breviary of the year 1513, and with an Office of 3 Lessons, of which the last was proper, was found in the Breviary of Tours of 1611; but in the later edition of 1635 the memory of this Saint Marcellinus is omitted.

LIFE

From various manuscript codices and Mombritius.

Marcellinus, Bishop of Embrun, in Gaul (St.)

BHL Number: 5227, 5228

FROM MANUSCRIPTS.

PROLOGUE.

[1] Among the glorious contests of the illustrious Martyrs, and the bright praises of the blessed Confessors, almost the whole world has been so filled, by Christ's bounty, that individual cities each rejoice to be defended by the patronage of their own Martyrs. And so it comes to pass that the inestimable reward of virtues inscribed to them, the grace of faithful peoples grows by so much the more. The author, having heard the miracles of Saint Marcellinus Whence I also, while I delight in searching out the individual palms of the witnesses, came even to the city of the Embrunenses; and there I find a man who many ages ago had fallen asleep in the Lord, now performing eminent miracles of virtues: so that they prosper in the work desired, to the extent that devout faith requests. But because these single things are to be assigned to their proper places, I will turn the speech to the solicitude of my ^a anguish. And when I more curiously inquired inquires about his life what manner of life this holy man had had in childhood, and what his country, and with how great signs and miracles of virtues he had come to that sublime office of the Pontificate, all with one voice declared to me those things which I afterwards left in writing. ^c Nay rather, those whom especially a decrepit age had drawn out, of whom some were ninety or nearly a hundred years old, with one and consonant voice gave this answer, that this man was and is such a one, whose life the present grace of virtues confirms; and that it is not difficult for those things to stand in truth which, clothed in body, he worked, since new deeds always seem always to renew the ancient triumph. But lest the reader sustain weariness of himself through the length of the unpolished speech, I shall now insert with the miracles of virtues the name of the blessed Priest. Yet first, and implores his help we beseech God to have mercy on us, that by the intercession of the pious Pastor He may be appeased and grant pardon to our trepidation; for as I draw near to the goodness of his name, more and more I tremble, and detained by terror of conscience I am unable to speak what I know to recall of him. Yet desiring to transmit his memory to ages to come, I profess that my weakness cannot bear so holy a weight. Let him, I pray, spare me, and as an excellent intercessor approach the Lord for us, that when his most celebrated name shall have resounded, he himself, pacified, may enter into our mouth.

NOTES.

CHAPTER I.

The see at Embrun established; his companions sent to Digne; faith promoted by the miracle of a restored cup.

[2] Marcellinus, therefore, a citizen of the African province, established as the first Bishop of the Holy Church of the Embrunenses, Born in Africa sprang, as it is reported, from parents of no mean standing. But how he ascended to the height of the Pontificate the following lesson will show. and instructed in sacred disciplines He, therefore, while in adolescence he applied himself to sacred and divine studies, was admonished by the divine Spirit that he should visit with holy solicitude the Gauls, which the worship of demons had then defiled; that this labor was enjoined on him by the Lord, so that whomever he should find defiled by the error of Gentile-worship, he might by the grace of preaching recall to the way ^a of virtue and light. And when he had conceived this precept by divine inspiration, by divine commands known to God alone, and not unknown to the ancient serpent as an opponent, without consulting his parents he chose for himself as sole companion of his fellowship the blessed Vincentius, taking as companion Saint Vincentius at whose now most sacred ashes the Lord deigns to work no small wonders. So from the port of Africa, when both had loosed in a ship, with happy and prosperous successes they arrived at ^b the fortress of the Nicaeans.

[3] Thence now, inspired by the word of salvation, cleaving the cultivation by the plough of the Lord's Cross, through diverse parts of the world the castings of the holy seed irrigated it; arrived at Nice and among the immense rocks of the Alps lofty humility running through, as if in the wheel of the world, the evangelical voice of their thunder reverberated from their mouth; and there were, as it is written, both among the Alpine peoples having sown the word of God the exultations of God in their throats, and two-edged swords in their hands Ps. 149:6, that they might cut off some by the grace of virtues, others by the admiration of patience, and many also by the sword of the holy Spirit, from the worship of idols, and ^d in a rough field might, as untiring workers, raise up Christ's new harvest. When they believed that Alpine region called the Maritime was to be sought, at length they came to this place they come to Embrun which is now frequented by prayers never in vain. Now here of what kind and how great they showed themselves, it is not in our power to unfold; but let it suffice to explain only those things which either the recent memory of the Fathers handed down, or the true works of virtues speak.

[4] they build an oratory First of all, therefore, they decide to establish a place of prayer near the walls of the city; where when day and night they persisted in psalms and prayers, and lived a blessed life not on bread alone, but in every word that proceeds

from the mouth of God, macerated by fasts, refreshed by faith, they flourished. they apply themselves to prayer and preaching Hence confusion daily arose among the Pagans, and no small envy: since they, fat with riches and delights, saw themselves by the very countenance of their bodies more disfigured, and marveled that the aspect of these men shone with divine grace. And so throughout the whole world the odor of this good sweetness increased, so that, as David sang of the Apostles: "Into all the earth their sound went forth, and their words to the ends of the round world." Ps. 18:4 (16:4) they convert many Therefore the whole cohort of idolatry, fleeing to divine help, many with devout mind ask to be made Christians by them.

[5] And since they by themselves scarcely dared to carry out the consecration of the place which they had founded (yet what would not be holy, which had been established by such Saints?), nevertheless the particular fame of Blessed Marcellinus, which could not lie hidden, was borne by running rumor to the venerable ^e Eusebius, the excellent Confessor of the Church of Vercelli, by Saint Eusebius, Bishop of Vercelli And since, with faith still sprouting, the churches of the Lord had few Priests throughout the individual cities, he by sending his letters from the aforesaid city of Liguria, called to his aid Blessed ^f Aemilianus, Bishop of the city of Valence, indicating those things about the man of God which the works of virtues continually proclaim, and Camelianus of Valence adding also that he was worthy to be heaped with the grace of the Pontificate. Then through these men he was advanced to the office of the Pontificate. When he declared himself by all means unworthy of that imposition, Saint Marcellinus is consecrated Bishop he was by all the more and more proclaimed worthy with consonant voices. And after this he so performed the office of the Pontificate undertaken, that he was daily partaker of divine converse.

[7] Saints Vincentius and Domninus For that Blessed Vincentius, of whom we made mention above, most worthy of so great a colleague, together with the venerable man his fellow disciple Domninus, whom above we had almost omitted through a certain forgetfulness of mind, ^h choosing the parts of the city of Digne, had saved many by their example. For Domninus too is not undeservedly remembered by the eloquence of scripture, whom blessed devotion made an equal. And indeed to this day at their venerable sepulchres both demons are cast out and many infirm are healed. For it was not fitting that in three persons the threefold power should not hold sway: that the inseparable Trinity, while joining three in one affection, might thence make a head of holiness. Leaving then the said Bishop at Embrun, they judged themselves of lesser merit; nor could one accompany another, save perhaps him in whom Christ's perfect fullness remained wholly. But this they strove to undertake rather with the blessed man's permission than by their own daring. Finally the most blessed man addresses them in these words, saying: "Go, my sons, instructs them with his last monitions keeping the precept of the Lord, since he himself sent his disciples two by two to preach repentance for the remission of sins. Do you employ one company: I, though absent in body, shall always be with you in spirit until the day of my dissolution. For the rest, as I trust, the Lord's dispensation will by no means separate us." And since they could by no means contradict this precept, kissing his steps, with farewell said, they set out. And when he had followed them not without a shower of tears, he returned to the city which he had chosen.

[7] Now dwelling there, he became as the most gentle lamb of Christ; becoming all things to all men and continually recalling within himself that evangelical precept of the Lord: "For behold, I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves." Mt. 10:16 But let it suffice that this similitude was said of the perfidy of the Pagans; for that whole city was reported to be filled with the ceremonies of idols. Yet he was endowed with so great a simplicity of the dove, that he in all things took precaution against the astuteness of the serpent. And when he became all things to all men, that he might gain all, the day came that among the guests who had been called to the holy Priest's banquet, one Pagan was present. he admits a pagan among others to the banquet When he provoked him with mild address, nor spurned that a worshipper of demons should share in the holy banquet, whom he desired to be gathered to the other faithful, first he warned, saying: "Although, son, we have received in our commandments not to have a common table with Gentiles, yet it is a wonder to me that when the whole city, by the Lord's inspiration, is saved, you alone with wolfish mind dare with stiff neck to remain in a great flock of sheep." At this voice he, as if wearied, nay, confused, is said to have given these responses: "Many are the things which I hear you perform; but if before me set here you shall do something such, yet you cannot be equaled to our greatest God Apollo."

[8] a shattered cup When he, urged by a diabolic spirit, had stammered this ⁱ forth, by chance a boy, to whom was the office of cup-bearer, while bringing a full cup to that Gentile about the middle of the banquet, falling from his hand, was wholly shattered. While the pale minister strove to gather its fragments, that Pagan said: "Here, Marcellinus, let your arts appear, if they can. If you can make the broken glass whole again, we shall believe that the tales told of you thus also mark your works." To this the most blessed Pastor said: "Though your perfidy, Pagan, does not merit this, yet I believe that Christ's power will not fail in this matter." And behold, straightway the minister offered the fragments to the holy Marcellinus. He with a clear voice, all hearing, his eyes raised to heaven, said: "Lord Jesus Christ, to whom all things are subject, by his prayers he restores it whom all things serve, whom things sensible obey and things insensible obey; make this vessel whole, as it was before." At once at his voice all those particles were re-solidified, so that through all that banquet and thereafter that cup served for daily use. And the Pagan, without delay, responded: "I confess to you, most blessed Father, that our Apollo would not do this if he returned from the dead. But behold, I recognize that there is no salvation in those gods, whom either the smith has cast in bronze or has carved in stone. Now also I pray you, and converts the pagan to the faith since vain are the things I have hitherto worshipped, do not suffer me any longer to be made a stranger from the flock of the Saints." And when the most blessed man had received this profession in his ears, "Tomorrow," he said, "if you shall adorn your faith with works, I will do what I see you desire." And behold, on the Lord's day, more early dawning, and baptizes he is consecrated with the grace of baptism; rejoicing to be numbered among the household of the apostolic man, afterwards he is said to have been a perfect disciple. In the blessed man, however, unfailing virtue remained; and so through him the immense virtues flourished, that matured they ran throughout the whole world. he attributes all to God For the Lord was giving the word to those evangelizing with much power. Yet that ancient serpent was able to sow in him no boasting, no sting of vanity; but judging all these things to be done by the Lord for the glory of God, he ascribed nothing to his own powers. In his mouth there was nothing but the modulation of psalms; in his heart nothing but Christ reposed through all.

NOTES.

CHAPTER II.

Other miracles and works of his life: his pious death.

[9] Meanwhile, while he was revolving somewhat of the Psalms within himself, and had advanced a little way from the city with a more extended step, suddenly along the public highway a swift embassy came up. And behold, because of excessive haste, while the muleteer strove to hurry the post-horse more than it could, the very conveyance failed. Nor was the blessed man far off. That one, therefore, whose beast ^b had failed, snatched up the burden which he was carrying before him, and placed it on the Blessed man's neck to be carried to the city. Which labor he, kindly accepting, bore without hesitation; [he permits a heavy burden to be placed on his shoulders and carries it to his side] and to him by whom the injury had been inflicted he began to make speech in this manner: "If our Lord and Savior, O son, in the humility of his flesh deigned to bind up our wounds, and applied the wine of compunction and the oil of mercy, and, as a pious and most skilled physician, instituted a cure, and as doctor of the Gentiles commanded solicitude to be exercised as by a stable-keeper; why should I not bear the burdens of your vehicle?" And among these and similar things he sang a responsory together to the Lord, saying: "I am made as a beast of burden before you, and I am always with you."

[10] and freeing from flames him who had done the injury But when now advanced to the city, they still compelled the servant of God to bear the imposed burden, and together beginning to rage, as they were passing beside the house of the holy man, where the occasion of the journey had led them, one of those insisting, girded with the cause of human fragility, dared through instigation of pride to pour water against the wall of the blessed man's house. Then from the walls of the said Saint a globe of flame flew out, which at once could have absorbed the man, had he not, as though fleeing to the Saint, cast himself before the feet of the Saint whom he had burdened. he grants pardon to the others praying Nor did the spiritual flame depart earlier, until the burden, which had been unworthily placed on so great a man, was removed by his fellows lying prostrate. Then all falling down before his footsteps, by all means prayed that, not recalling the causes of injuries, he might suffer them to depart unharmed. And he, prayer having been given, answered: "Depart, sons, secure; entreat the Lord for the ignorance of your error, and I exhort you not to repeat such things, lest you suffer such things again." Many offerings of money are said to have been offered by them to the blessed man, which he spurned as the poison of the devil, he spurns the money offered saying that there were many poor men along the public highway, to whom all their bounty ought to be paid out; that to himself the grace of the Savior conferred in himself was sufficient and abundant enough.

[11] But not long after another embassy, more haughty, came sent by the Emperor. When they had suddenly found the said blessed man in the street standing at leisure for the Lord; another afterwards similarly injurious to him soon one

ordered to guard the post-horses assigned to him; moreover he added that he should not hesitate in the least to strike the Blessed man with the whip which he was carrying in his hand. Hence it came about that the striker fell more swiftly than the soldier of the Lord received the blow of the one striking; for seized by the demon, by whose instinct he had presumed this, he began no little to tremble and gnash. and therefore possessed by the devil Then his companions, more curiously inquiring who this man was who had endured this injury, learned from all that this was the Bishop of the Christians. But they, striving to placate him by their humility, sent all those who presided over the city to the chief Bishop with great devotion. And he, since he could not resist their prayers, nor by holy will even willed it, asked by the citizens when he had already perchance gone home, returned to the almost lifeless body. And when in the very already quite sluggish limbs the threads of life ^c had slackened, the devil began to thunder in these voices: "Was it not enough, Marcellinus, that you excluded us from the borders of Africa, but that we should not even be allowed to dwell in quiet in the Gauls?" He, having laughed a little at the devil's madness, striking his breast and stirred with all his mind, said: delivers him "I say to you, unclean spirit, who, puffed up with pride, presume to sit upon the neck of this man, that in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ you depart from the servant of God, and become a stranger to him whom He deigned to form to His own image." And he had hardly yet uttered this speech from his mouth, when already the spirit, not bearing the fire of the holy eloquence, had departed with a huge stench. And thus that man, restored to health, at once demanded to be made a Christian.

[12] Then when all by the inspiration of God hastened to the fount of salvation, He permits a larger church to be built the Church of Christ began to bring forth with teeming waves, and many Catholic flocks to run together to the one fold. And so it came about that all, having cast money before the feet of Saint Marcellinus according to the Apostolic form, with ardent desire asked for a larger church to be made for themselves, which could receive the entire multitude of the faithful; to which was added a baptistery with a baptismal font, with but a small work, but shining with a divine miracle in every way. This fount, by the prayers of the Blessed, nay rather, to speak with truthful mouth, from the Lord's piety (confident that whatever faith requests, it rejoices to have obtained), flows irriguous and unfailing continually, continually flowing and by God's ordering will flow in perpetuity. For such grace does not shine in silver, as in flowing waters. When on the sacred night of the Lord's resurrection they must assemble, by the Lord's bounty, it too flows out to the measure of a most certain place; and remaining in its fullness for the seven most holy days of Easter, and overflowing on the Paschal feasts on the eighth day it is seen gradually to diminish; not that it itself ever fails, but that, as the year comes on, it may, growing again, show the newness of its miracle. And if anyone, detained by any infirmity, shall thirst to drink of its most sacred waters, and healing any diseases whatever he at once obtains the healing of all his diseases ^d; and of these things not only does the history of ancients relate, but the present gives testimony to the truth.

[13] He builds a church far from the city When the fruitful Church rejoiced among the flocks of the first-born, and already a multitude of the faithful gathered from neighboring places, at the sixteenth milestone from the city, on account of the great distance of the peoples, he believed that a church of the Lord was to be built by his own efforts. For the celebration of whose sacred solemnities he himself, hastening from the city with a multitude of the people, comes to a certain river which has the name Consanctio ^e; which, swelling with the enormity of rain and the melting of snows, approaching its solemnity would not permit the people devoted to God to approach the desired work. Then the most blessed Pastor and one to be venerated with all reverence, turning to the people, brought forth these words of consolation: "Be of even mind, little sons, through the swelling river because our Lord today will open the ways of your faith; and when he has led you to the desired places, he will bring no small confusion to the Pagans. Or how can that renowned right hand of Divinity stand without virtues and wonders, in which all virtues are known to abide? For if he opened the unchanging waves of the sea for the Leader Moses, so that the feet of the Saints might tread a dusty way, strange to the light, and enter the stones of the deep; and on the contrary drowned the hostile nation in the sea, so that the just people, the consort of equity, might set free acclamations worthy of his praises; why should he not be propitious to our merits, and forgive our sins, and open for us walking through the sea of this world the impediment of this river?" And when he had so spoken, with his right hand raised, extending the standard of the Cross, prayers poured out to Christ all hearing, he did not cease to strike the divine ears with these words in the security already known to him: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who walked upon the creature of water with feet not sinking, and sustained your Apostle, with right hand grasped, upon the ^f solid waters, that you might persuade what faith can sustain; at whose command waters, forgetting their own origin, were turned into the savor of wine; now open for us, we beseech you, Lord, by your unconquered right hand a way, and, recalling the course of this river behind us, grant us to go a dry journey, because yours is the honor and the glory, the power and the empire, forever and ever." He opens a way And when all had answered "Amen," behold, the waves of the swollen flood and the river, rolled back, began to flow down behind their back; for not before did the most blessed man depart from supplication, until all that multitude rejoiced to have passed over to the further parts of the bank as the water retreated.

[14] He baptizes the remaining converted pagans Hearing this, that very small stock of pagans which had remained, receiving him returning again with praises and fullest devotion, all in one moment, every age and sex, were consecrated with the grace of baptism. For also diverse infirmities are said to have been healed by him, so that the lame received their walking, the blind their sight, the deaf their hearing, and those who were vexed by unclean spirits were all delivered ^g. he works miracles

[15] When these things had been in order and in truth found out, I have known his feast enriched by a double remuneration of joys: his death falls on April 13 so that when his passing is truly observed on the day of the Ides of April ^h for his migration, after eight days, his deposition on April 20 that is, the 12th day before the Kalends of May, his deposition is more venerably completed. And if Easter ever happens to fall within those eight days, the paschal gladness will not be lacking. But no other thing caused this, except that the Bishops who would attend the obsequies of the holy Confessor seemed to be placed far off. We have meanwhile briefly and as we could touched upon these things in thin speech.

NOTES.

CHAPTER III.

Miracles after death.

[16] Although in the preceding little book we have as we could briefly touched upon the Life of Saint Marcellinus, it remains also to recall those things which divine mercy grants to be done as wonders at his sepulchre even to this day. Two are healed having their hands fixed to their chests At a certain time, then, to one of the poor, by the snares of the devil encountering him, his hand adhered to his chest, so that his nails even penetrated his inward parts. And when the growing nails continually reached the very seat of his soul, devout he came to the sepulchre of the Blessed man. Then with fullest faith he began to anoint with the oil which was before his lamps; and when his long-standing infirmity received the power of the holy liquor, soon his hand, loosened, is proved to have been restored to its former health and daily use. And I thought this also wonder worth adding, that a certain woman with her hand curled in upon herself was healed by a similar example.

[17] But what I am now about to relate spread far and wide, and the truth, made public, could not be silenced not only by the faithful but also by the very worshippers of the Arians. The city besieged by enemies When now a hostile band had come to the said city, it was necessary for the inhabitants of the place to shut themselves within the enclosures of the city itself; and before the gates were shut against the insistent enemies, as if about to say farewell, every condition of both sex and age whatsoever came to his sepulchre with great bitterness and anxiety; and with tears did not cease to implore the customary aids, saying: "What, I ask, most pious Pastor, what does it profit that in peace by your intercession your nurslings were protected, if now you shall permit them to lie under the perils of their enemies? Move now, by your embassy, the renowned ears of Him The inhabitants fleeing to Saint Marcellinus who is near to those who are of troubled heart. Through you let the tears of our confessions be borne to Him, through whom our offenses have never been recalled for us. Accept, if not ours whom sins impede, at least the groans of innocent little ones; and let not the just perish with the wicked; lest, so great an author remaining, the native begin to be a stranger." And when the mysteries of the Mass had been celebrated according to custom, and they had poured out the very fullness of the Lord's Blood with a shower of tears, they returned into the city, the commendation having been celebrated, awaiting what either their prayers had obtained, or what mercy the Most High Prelate would bestow. And behold, our Noah, truly renewed in our times, who while in the ark of the church he received the flood of tears, restored the benefits of merits once conferred. For there was such abundance of weeping as would blot out the abundance of sins; for the groaning of little ones fought for the salvation of their parents; and the pitiful tears of mothers, unknowing, which were first poured forth, were for this, that what God had bound might not be loosed, and that what God had commanded to be born might not perish. What among these things do you do, most ancient and most holy Father? Why are you pressed with sleep? Why are you not roused by such goads of lamentations? Rise now, and send to us that spiritual dove, which at the time of that floating ark showed to its builder the branch of the green olive. For in that hour with the Cross moved when they were coming out of the very basilica, they see the Cross, which had been set under a certain building, wholly moved in itself, and in a wheel-like whirl to turn round and round, as if without doubt warning of flight, they marveling what that sign might show to them. And behold, the army which had recently been expected arrives. But when in whatever matters you restrain your powers, O Christ, so that the Cross might now make safe those whom already it held redeemed? Then all receive strength, and a dove appearing and believing that divine aids are not wanting to them, whom already the sign of the Cross had made secure and wholly strong; for a dove also whiter than snow, gleaming with light, coming forth at that hour from the very basilica,

was coming out over the tower of the gate, about to furnish help. But what wonder if she expended all care for saving the people, who, when you were about to enter the bed of the Jordan to sanctify it, overshadowed you with the holy Spirit? And just as in these days its streams, sent forth to accustomed use, tremble and flee before your face, so also a similar condition of the heavenly element accompanies this one. At length, so long as the weapons of the enemies fitted with feathers flew, it by no means retreated. they are freed And when the attempts of the enemies were profiting in vain, and the darts hurled returned upon themselves, scarcely the space of an hour intervened, and behold a rain from the sky came, administered, and serene, wetting the bent bows, was extinguishing the fury of the contest; and so with quivers empty, they were carried back to their traveling houses, the enemies accomplishing nothing; and thus, by the intercession of the Blessed, the profane envy vanished, so that it rejoiced to have accomplished nothing there.

[18] One who stole a sword, bound by Saint Marcellinus, brings it back But what shall this be judged? When a certain man, by the zeal of religion and devotion, had come to the basilica itself for the sake of praying, the two-edged sword which he was carrying in his hand he set down before the posts of the temple out of reverence for the place. And behold, suddenly another traveler was at hand, who, snatching the sword, tried to take it away by theft. And when with swift pace he tried to flee, the other, his prayer completed, went out before the doors; and when he had not at all found the sword sought, with continued step fled to the help of Christ, and began to say with a clear voice: "O blessed Marcellinus, when will you loose for me the bound chains of sins, if you take away things entrusted? Or by what agreement can you bestow your things upon me, if you shall not first have restored my own?" And when he endured the event of the matter a little, waiting what the servant of God was about to do, behold, that one who had perpetrated this crime of theft arriving, began to confess his crimes in these words: that he had been beset by the solicitation of the devil; and where the one who had lost began to address the ears of the Blessed with his suggestion, at once he had been visibly bound by Saint Marcellinus with indissoluble chains. and is freed And thus the sword having been returned, he was cleansed not only of his crime but also of the demon.

[19] But lest perhaps, while we proclaim similar deeds of virtues, they should be falsely judged by unbelievers, A dying man is healed these are present to whom that miracle which follows befell to merit by their devotion. There is, then, among us a certain man whom the office of the Presbyterate now adorns; his son, afflicted with pain of the side, was drawing his last breath; and when now hope of desperate health was denied to father and mother, and it was irremediable for them to lament, a certain maternal hope possessed her bowels: anticipating that interior asylum which surrounds the holy body, by no reason could she be drawn away from the dust of the Saint, until the son was restored both in tongue to the mute, and in life to the one nearly deceased, as well as to the parents. These things are equal, O my Lord, to those of that Elijah of old, who by his intercession restored the only son of the widow of Zarephath; and he by his holy warmth heated the limbs of the innocent little body, and restored to the daylight the eyes once laid away. But Elisha, already dead, raising the dead in the tomb, showed that he redeemed by your death, O Christ, cannot die. So for us, we beseech you Lord, while the merits of so great a Prelate live, may his intercessions never be about to die.

[20] Another from a contagious disease What, I ask, shall I say, or what shall I keep silent? If I embrace all, I shall raise up an immense volume for the readers; but if I shall omit some things, perhaps it will seem miserable. But since many and immense are the things which the tongue of my poverty cannot utter concerning his virtues, I thought it sufficient to pass by those which shine with hidden powers, the world being witness. Some years ago a certain hard storm of infirmity had thundered through diverse parts of the world; and when it had depopulated part of the population, and seemed to be those Egyptian boils and the plague itself, it suddenly seized one of the household of the Church of Embrun. And at once the present Bishop (whose name, if you ask the time, will not be unknown) fled to his sepulchre as to divine help; and when the holy oil (which we have often named) had been taken and the whole body of the sick man anointed, all those pustules of fevers so wasted away that, with a skin more clean than before, he at once went out whole. And thus the venomous contagion ceased from that city; nor is this kind of disease known to have appeared any longer in those places, by the Blessed's intercession.

[21] a dying boy About the same time an only little child of his mother, detained by most grave infirmity, had almost within the years of nursing closed the end of his life. When his mother had cast him down in the sepulchre of the said Bishop with devout mind, where the nursing limbs received the force of the holy dust, they were loosed from every bond of infirmity; and so death vanquished retreating, the accustomed intercessor repaired the grace of life.

[22] A vessel bound to a hand is loosed This also is added. While a certain young maiden, having taken up a vessel, was going to draw water, with her hand clenched upon it, she had so tightened its handle that by no reason could it be loosed by the strongest men. But what can human frailty either loose or bind? except perhaps that immense majesty, whose power of loosing and binding remains unfailing for eternity? Especially this too, we are confident, was reserved for the blessed man, that there the devil should be conquered, where also we confidently presume that our sins are to be dismissed for us. So that when she entered the doors of his basilica, Satan, confused and conquered, who had brought this kind of torment, departing, with the hand itself extended, left the vessel which had adhered loosened. Another nearly dead is healed

[23] Another kind of miracle similar to this shone forth. When a certain young man had been brought to the place of his sepulchre, on every side almost half-dead, so that the use of tongue, ears, hands, and feet had been entirely taken from him, for seven days having been anointed by the guardian of the basilica with his holy oil, on the eighth day all the offices of the said members were restored to their former use. Another not able to eat or bring hand to mouth

[24] Just now, while I was re-reading this little work to be corrected, I judged a wonderful thing, which has been open both to our ears and eyes, by no means to be omitted. To a certain man bread had been taken away from daily use and food. From the month of August, therefore, until the month of March, which is called among us without doubt the first, the food mentioned above had been denied to him; to whom also the use of the hand had been withdrawn from the mouth. He, with perfect faith only, took care to hasten to the threshold of the Saint; and when he had entered the basilica itself, he began both to eat bread and to bring his hand to his mouth by former custom; and thus, rejoicing, he came upon us as we were re-reading, and began to ask us that the work which the Lord had worked in him by the Saint's intercession, we should insert into this little work. Epilogue.

[25] These things meanwhile, for the devotion of those asking, amid the loathing of readers, we have thought should briefly be inserted. For the rest, there are many things which he has worked, and is recognized to work. You, I pray, hearers, and you, most curious readers, whenever you shall begin to read this little work, do not attend to the poverty of speech which poor use has presumed, but rather let your devotion be kindled thereby; and at the same time let your loins be girded, and let the spiritual lamps in your hands shine; so that of you, if not better, at least similar things may be written.