ON SAINT EUTROPIUS MARTYR
BISHOP OF SAINTES IN GAUL.
PrefaceEutropius, Martyr, Bishop of Saintes, in Gaul (Saint)
BHL Number: 2784
G. H.
[1] The noble and ancient city of Aquitaine, Saintes, numbers Saint Eutropius as first among its Bishops. First Bishop of Saintes, The Acts agree with them, and the catalog of the Sainte-Marthes in volume 3 of Gallia Christiana: they hold however that he was sent into Gaul with Saint Dionysius of Paris, whom they also identify with the Areopagite, by Clement. it does not seem so But because of what very many most learned men now think concerning the coming of Saint Dionysius into Gaul, sent by Clement, but rather in the third century: with other Apostolic men otherwise than has commonly been hitherto thought, (so long as it be not false that Saint Eutropius came as a companion of Saint Dionysius) we anxiously hesitate whether we should judge him to be referred to the times of Clement, or rather defer his coming into Aquitaine to the third century. Gregory of Tours in book 1 of his History of the Franks relates that Saint Dionysius came into Gaul when Decius Augustus was ruling, that is, after the year of Christ 250, which is the middle of the third century; his words in chapter 30 are the following: from the sense of Gregory of Tours, "In his time seven Bishop-men were sent to preach in the Gauls, as the history of the passion of the holy Martyr Saturninus relates," and a few things being inserted: "These therefore were sent: to Tours Gatianus the Bishop, to the Arelatensians Trophimus the Bishop, to Narbonne Paulus the Bishop, to Toulouse Saturninus the Bishop, to the Parisians Dionysius the Bishop, to the Arvernians Austremonius the Bishop, to the Limovicensians Martialis was destined as Bishop." of Sulpicius Severus The same Dionysius of Paris to be later than Dionysius the Areopagite, Sirmond in his dissertation on Dionysius from Sulpicius Severus, who composed his history around the year 380 of the Lord, proves in this manner: "Those who do not distinguish Dionysius of Paris from the Areopagite have against them a serious and manifest witness, Sulpicius Severus, most experienced author of our matters: nor is it without cause that they strain every sinew, but in vain, to shake off this weapon. For Severus in book 2 of the Sacred History, recording that persecution which in the times of Antoninus Verus illuminated the Church of Lyons and of Vienne with the blood of forty-eight Martyrs, testified that there were no Martyrs in Gaul before that time; 'under Aurelius,' he says, 'son of Antoninus, the fifth persecution was carried on, and then first were martyrdoms seen within the Gauls, since the religion of God was more late received beyond the Alps.' The Areopagitists feel the throat of their cause sought in these words: for if Gaul had no Martyrs earlier than M. Aurelius, and no one is ignorant that Dionysius of Paris suffered in Gaul, it is certainly clear that he was different and later than the Areopagite, whose life, those who extend it longest, would have reached to the times of Hadrian; others place him under Trajan; those who best, relate him to have suffered martyrdom under Domitian." Can therefore one pronounce in almost the same manner about Saint Eutropius? Namely, if Gaul had no Martyrs earlier than M. Aurelius, and no one is ignorant that Eutropius suffered in Gaul, he too certainly seems to have been a Martyr not before Antoninus, but later than Clement and the Areopagite; and if he was a companion of Saint Dionysius of Paris, as some maintain, he came into Gaul, according to the narrative of Gregory of Tours, only in the third century.
[2] and of others: The passage from Sulpicius just mentioned always seemed so great to Bellarmine, that when any Martyr suffered in Gaul before Antoninus was offered to him, at once he either held it for a fable or referred it to later times; hence, in his book on Ecclesiastical Writers, he rejects the second letter of Martialis, because in it there is mention of the martyrdom of a certain virgin Valeria; but this, he says, "is repugnant to Sulpicius, book 2 of the Sacred History, and to Gregory of Tours, book 15, chapter 28, of the History of the Franks, who write that in the time of M. Antoninus martyrdoms were first seen within the Gauls": whence he himself also rejects Dionysius of Paris and Saturninus his companion, taken out of earlier times, to later ones. Nor did Nicolaus Faber make less of Gregory, who according to Launoy in his Animadversions on the Palladium of Johannes Samblancatius, an incomparable man, from Gregory assigns Dionysius of Paris to Decius in the brief treatise which he wrote on the distinction of each Dionysius. Dionysius Petavius, moved by the authority of the same Gregory, in part 1 of the Rationarium Temporum
book 5, chapter 13, likewise assigns Saint Dionysius of Paris with Saturninus and Gatianus his companions to the times of Decius Augustus. But all these things have been treated more fully and professedly, partly by Jacobus Sirmond in his dissertation on Dionysius of Paris, partly by Joannes Launoy, Theologian of Paris, in his works on the two Dionysii: in a commentary on the life of a single Saint we may not be so prolix, This is also more conformable to the catalogue of Bishops wherefore we refer the reader to them. Yet one other thing is not to be passed over, from which the reader may also conclude that Saint Eutropius was later than the age of Christ and Clement, and rather to be referred to the third century. For those listing the catalogue of Bishops of Saintes, until the year 509 offer only four Bishops, of whom the first is Saint Eutropius, the second Saint Bibianus, the third Saint Ambrose, the fourth Peter I, of whom the fourth, Peter, lived in the 6th century. who is read to have subscribed to the first Council of Orléans in the year 509. Who indeed would believe that in so many years, namely about four hundred, which by the common opinion flowed from the death of Clement to the year 509, only four Bishops had sat? But if we say that Saint Eutropius first came into Gaul in the third century or rather later, those things which the Annals and catalogues commonly establish about the number and Order of the Bishops of Saintes will somehow be able to be self-consistent. We have said, "rather later": because it is more probable that he did not come with Saint Dionysius of Paris, for where Saint Gregory enumerates the companions who came with Saint Dionysius, he makes no mention of Saint Eutropius.
[3] many things fabulous in his Acts, and whence? But how it is asserted that he was sent by Clement with Dionysius the Areopagite, the future Bishop of Paris, into Gaul, we add from François Bosquet, Bishop of Lodève, a most erudite investigator of Gallican antiquity: thus he in book 1 of the Histories of the Gallican Church no. 12: "Dionysius, Martialis, Paulus, Julianus, Gatianus, Sixtus, and others are said now by Peter, now by Clement, now by others, to have been sent within the first centuries from the passion of Christ. So many errors has obscure antiquity introduced into history, which first neglected either through the carelessness of writers, or untouched on account of the iniquity of the age, or, if committed to writings, destroyed by the injury of the times, and restored at the wish of posterity, not without blemish and stain, such as it remains, has come down to us. The former deeds of the Saints, condemned either by Roman cruelty or by the barbarism of the nations, have left to posterity only some memory of them: which could preserve neither the uncorrupted ancient purity, nor the pristine faith of the matters transacted untouched through so many elapsed centuries. Wherefore, while posterity, either zealous for ecclesiastical antiquity, or bound by the intercessions of the Saints, applied their mind affected by too great religion to restoring their Acts; for the most part, gathering rumors from the mouth of the common people, and indulging themselves more than was fitting, they wrote the Lives and Acts of the ancient Fathers. Moreover, because human nature has implanted a certain zeal for antiquity, by which almost all peoples have been impelled to consecrate their origins; endowed with this love, Christians have contended among themselves about the antiquity of their faith: especially because antiquity has always brought great prejudice in favor of religion, which has left the faith received from the very mouth of the lawgiver venerable to posterity; for religion is the more inviolate, the more it approaches to its author." And with some things intervening he says: "These I consider to be the first foundations of today's tradition."
[4] Elogium of Gregory of Tours concerning Saint Eutropius: But let us at last hear Gregory of Tours himself, what he thinks concerning the age and mission of Saint Eutropius. In book 1 De gloria Martyrum ac Confessorum, chapter 56, he narrates thus: "Eutropius also, Martyr of the city of Saintes, is SAID to have been directed into the Gauls by the Blessed Bishop Clement, consecrated by the same in the grace of the Pontifical Order, and having fulfilled the Order of this office, his preaching to the unbelievers having been performed, when the pagans rose up, whom the author of envy did not permit to believe, with his head dashed in he fell victor. But because at that time, with persecution pressing, he was neither buried in a worthy place, nor venerated by the Christians with due honor, it greatly fell into oblivion that he was a Martyr: which in this order is handed down as having been revealed. After many spans of years a basilica was built in his honor, and the work being completed, Palladius, who then ruled the chair of the sacerdotal Order, having called together the Abbots, took care to translate the sacred ashes to the place which he had prepared. When this had been done, two of the Abbots, having unsealed the lid, looked upon the holy body, and contemplate the scar on the head, where the edge of an axe had been driven in. But lest the present vision be held in vain, this spiritual doctrine also admonished them; namely, when on the following night the Priests had stretched their limbs to rest, he appeared through a vision to these two saying: 'The scar which you have contemplated on the head, know that through it I consummated my Martyrdom'; and from this, that he was a Martyr, became known to the peoples, because no history of the passion was at hand." You see how Saint Gregory asserts nothing of his own and certain? how he ascribes the mission by Clement only to a scattered rumor? Yet this gave Usuard, Ado, and others the occasion, putting aside the uncertainty concerning the mission of Saint Eutropius, and of Usuard to assert that he had indeed been sent into Gaul by Clement. Usuard on April 30 has this: "At Saintes of Blessed Eutropius the Martyr, whom Saint Clement, consecrated in the grace of the Pontifical Order, directed into Gaul, and after having preached long, for the testimony of Christ, with his head crushed he fell victor." More fully the following by Ado: "On the same day, at the city of Saintes, the birthday of Saint Eutropius the Martyr, and of Ado, who was directed into the Gauls by the Blessed Bishop Clement, consecrated also by the same in the grace of the Pontifical Order, having fulfilled the Order of this office, his preaching to the unbelievers having been performed, when the pagans rose up, whom the author of envy did not permit to believe, with his head dashed in he fell victor. Finally, after many spans of years, when Palladius, Bishop of the same city, and with him other men of God, were translating his body for the grace of due honor into a new basilica, the sarcophagus being unsealed, they contemplated the scar on the head, where the edge of an axe had been driven in; and when on the following night the Priests had stretched their limbs to rest, he appeared to them through a vision saying: 'The scar which you have contemplated on the head, know that through it I consummated my Martyrdom.'" Who comparing these things with those which we have reported from Saint Gregory, does not see that they are derived from that one source? yet with this difference, that what Gregory speaks from rumor, these hand down as certain.
[5] fabulous matters are summarily touched upon. These things therefore having been premised, we approach the Acts of Saint Eutropius: but because they are for the most part fabulous, we summarily touch upon them here, about to subjoin with equal brevity those things which will seem genuine. Among the fables we reckon the following: namely, that the Life of Saint Eutropius was composed by Saint Dionysius the Areopagite and at the same time Bishop of Paris, sent by the same to Clement, who further dispatched it to Athens; found at Constantinople in a Greek school, translated into Latin by Callixtus II in the twelfth century of Christ, and sent to Galicia to the church of Saint James. That Saint Eutropius in his youth, having been born at Babylon, where Xerxes was King of the Persians, had gone abroad to Jerusalem to the court of Herod; had been present at Christ's miracle, by which he fed five thousand men with five loaves; had strewn flowers with others and fronds before the Savior, when He solemnly entered the city; on the day of Pentecost joined with the Apostles, had been filled with the Holy Spirit; afterwards at Babylon baptized with his parent and his court by Simon and Thaddeus, who were announcing the Gospel there; appointed Archdeacon of that Church under Bishop Abdias; had written the Martyrdom of Saints Simon and Thaddeus; and the like, which more fully narrated almost make up the whole of his Acts.
[6] More probably it will be believed We have these Acts from manuscripts of Nicolas Belfort and of the Church of Saint Nicaise of Reims: from the Utrecht manuscripts of Saint Salvator and of Saint Martin, and they agree with those which Vincent has in his Speculum Historiale, book 10, chapter 18 and following. Petrus de Natalibus has them more briefly, but equally fabulously in book 4, chapter 105. In which those things which seem more probable are the following: "And when he entered the city which is called Xanctona, and saw it everywhere most excellently girt with ancient walls, adorned with lofty towers, situated in the best place, of fitting size, abounding in all prosperities, rich in meadows and vineyards, covered with salubrious air, pleasant in streets and alleys, and in many ways charming; the good zealot began to consider, he preached to the people of Saintes, if God would deign to convert it from the worship of idols: therefore going through its streets and alleys, he constantly preached the word of God. When the citizens recognized him to be a foreigner, and heard him preaching the words of the holy Trinity and of Baptism, hitherto unheard by them; at once indignant, but cast out by the Gentiles scorched with torches and most cruelly beaten with poles, they cast him out of the city. He however bearing this persecution patiently, made a wooden hut near the city on a certain mountain, he built for himself a hut near the city, in which he stayed long: for by day he preached in the city, but by night in vigils and prayers and tears he passed the night in that hut." Here the compiler of the Acts, with a few things inserted, after he had converted a few of the people of Saintes to the faith, says that Saint Eutropius returned to Rome; and thence sent back by Clement to Saintes, he burned to preach more confidently and to undergo martyrdom; and then continues: "Then constantly entering the city, returning to the city he preached more fervently urgent in season and out of season, without any fear he preached the Incarnation, Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension of Christ; and that no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he be born again of water and the Holy Spirit. Now he stayed by night in the aforesaid hut as before. Therefore, as he preached, at once divine grace coming down from above, he converted Eustella, daughter of the Regulus many of the Gentiles in that city were baptized; among whom the daughter of the same city's King, perhaps a local potentate, named Eustella. When her father recognized this, he abominated her and cast her out of the city. She, seeing herself cast out for the love of Christ, began to stay near the hut of the holy man, until her father, pricked by love of her, frequently sent messengers to her, that she should return. who therefore expelled her from himself, When she answered that she would rather stay outside the city for Christ's faith, than return to the city and be contaminated with idols; her father moved with anger, having summoned to himself the executioners of the whole city, distributed to them one hundred and fifty solidi, that they should slay Saint Eutropius, and bring back with them the virgin. They therefore on the day before the Kalends of May, having gathered together mobs of Gentiles, came to the aforesaid hut; and having first afflicted the most holy man of God with stones, and ordered Saint Eutropius to be killed, then beaten him naked with rods and leaded whips, at last with axes dashing in his head, slew him. Whom the virgin Eustella, together with certain Christians, buried by night in his own hut; and with vigils, lights, and holy observances, buried there by her as long as
she lived, she incessantly observed; and when with a holy end she passed from this life, she ordered herself to be buried beside the sarcophagus of her master on her own estate. But afterwards over the most holy body of Blessed Eutropius a huge basilica, where afterwards a basilica was built in his honor, in the name of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, was wondrously constructed; in which to the lame, the blind, the deaf, and all seeking with a sincere heart, salutary helps are afforded, many miracles have been wrought. and iron chains and manacles and other various iron instruments, from which Blessed Eutropius has freed the bound, are hung up. May he then by his worthy merits and prayers obtain for us pardon from God, direct our life, rescue us in the peril of death from the jaws of the abyss, and lead us to the supernal kingdoms of the heavens, our Lord Jesus Christ assisting, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns God for endless ages of ages. Amen."
[7] He is venerated especially in Aquitaine, These things, in as much as they are separated from the fables above, most of the Breviaries of the Gallican Church hand down (if you except Tours and Rouen); in this however agreeing, that Clement sent Saint Eutropius into Gaul. Not only in Aquitaine, though here especially, but also elsewhere does he obtain cult. Near Courtrai, in the Barony also in Flanders, which they commonly call Heule, with a frequent confluence of pilgrims a nine-day feast is held to him; and indeed throughout the year people flock for a remedy for every kind of disease, especially that from which infants and cattle are wont to suffer; among these also paralytics and lepers are seen: two masses are celebrated to his honor every week, with a stipended Chaplain appointed for this from seven acres of land; and the miracles testify how much and how easily the patronage of Saint Eutropius is there. But nothing is written of these. To those asking whether any of his Relics are there, and how brought, the answer was, that there are none. Perhaps by that fatal rage of the iconoclasts which in the past century raged through Flanders, all things perished, and at length even the memory, and only the cult of the name is left. But what of his relics was scattered through Gaul, Saussay in the supplement to the Gallican Martyrology on April 30, on which his feast is celebrated, relics at Vendôme narrates in these words: "On the same day at Vendôme, in the monastery of the most holy Trinity, the veneration of no small part of the relics of Saint Eutropius, Bishop and Martyr of Saintes, which by divine disposition taken out from his shrine, were long before brought there, before the impious fury of the heretical faction, the city of the Santones being devastated, and this most sacred basilica of its patron, that the funeral remains of the same which were there, were consumed with sacrilegious fires. the head carried from Bordeaux to Saintes The head of so great a heavenly one, also early carried to Bordeaux, by divine benefit was preserved unharmed from this plundering: from which city brought back to Saintes with the greatest pomp, in the year 1601 triumphs over prostrate perfidy, and perpetually incites the devoted citizens of the memory of their Apostle to true piety, and by his patronage protects the same from all adversities." Also at Bologna, altar of his at Bologna as Giovanni Paoli Masini testifies, in the temple of Saint John in Montesono, an altar has been dedicated to Saint Eutropius, where also his relics are preserved. and a destroyed temple An ancient temple, but profaned, is seen behind the monastery of Saint John in monte, whose title was transferred to the aforesaid altar. The Provost of this temple, in the year 1030, was Lord Pantaleon, a Lateran canon, and at those times the church was called of Saint Eutropius de Altetto. In the Liège manuscript on April 22 the memory of Saint Eutropius the Martyr is recalled: but whether it is about this Bishop and Martyr, or another Martyr Eutropius, is not clear from the bare name.
[8] Miracles after the year 1000 from a Ms. The miracles wrought among the people of Aquitaine were almost innumerable: of these some wrought in the 12th century and the following, after having been discussed with much inquiry, fully approved by the strengthening of an oath and the attestation of faith, as is said in the Prologue, but, as in the Epilogue, solemnly approved, but written down with a broader treatment, and handed down in various ways, in many volumes a certain author of the 14th century or later, probably a monk of the Cluniac Order in the Priorate of Saint Eutropius near Saintes, found, and briefly noted them in a certain summary. We found them thus abridged in a manuscript codex of the royal monastery of the Celestine Fathers at Paris, and thence faithfully transcribed and illustrated with Annotations we give, soothing with such a synopsis the desire for more authentic things: which if they have not yet perished, we trust will come to pass, that someone devoted to Saint Eutropius will take care that they be at some time transcribed, and directed here to Antwerp.
MIRACLES
From a Ms. of the Celestine Fathers at Paris.
Eutropius, Martyr, Bishop of Saintes, in Gaul (Saint)
BHL Number: 2787
FROM MS.
CHAPTER I.
Various persons freed from drowning and fire.
[1] To the magnificent honor of the supreme King, and to the glory of the most holy Martyr Eutropius, some miracles follow in brief. Although if anyone wished to set forth all in order, no volumes could contain those things which, in his life and after his glorification in the heavens, by his merits, the piety of the Creator deigned to work: of which the indiscreet humility of some has concealed very many, and more have been abolished by forgetfulness through negligence: few, however, have been written down, discussed with much inquiry beforehand, most fully approved by the strengthening of an oath and the attestation of faith.
[2] Saint Eutropius preserves a boy from drowning, Certain young Clerics of the city of Saintes had come with the Canons and Clerics of the Cathedral church, to the basilica a of Saint Eutropius, on the birthday of the same Saint, as was the custom, to perform the divine offices in honor of the holy Martyr. And while the other senior Clerics were intent on the divine Office, those young boys were playing a childish game through the church; in which an old well was hidden, at the head of a certain secret altar; which well contained about fourteen feet depth of water. While the boys were running about apart through the church, one of them, wishing to hide himself from them, slipped unexpectedly into the well. But the others, turning here and there, when he did not appear, sought him with a tearful cry. But his mother, filled with the most bitter sobs, beat her breast, tore her hair, rent her face, and watered the pavement with a great flood of tears; and stretching her hands to heaven, with sorrowful voices as she could, cried out: "Saint Eutropius, give me back my son; Saint Eutropius, give me back my only son": nor was there any of all her dear ones who could console her for the lost son. slipped into the well: When at last it was discovered that the little boy had fallen into the well, hastily with groans they return outside the church, pointing out the event, demanding help. To these a copious multitude of people follows, one of whom being let down by a rope looked into the well, and found the boy sitting on the surface of the water, suffering no injury at all. At last the boy drawn out of the well, forbidding lamentation, commanding silence, said to all who stood by: "When I suddenly fell, I invoked Blessed Eutropius, who was at once present to me as I fell, and stretching out his hand gently took hold of me, and embraced me in pious embraces, until together with you he brought me up from the well." The parents' sadness is turned into joy, the song which had been sung throughout the city for two days is changed into exultation.
[3] A man fallen into the river, While a certain man, Maynardus by name, surnamed Agino, of the city of Saintes, on the Thursday before the feast of Pentecost, about the ninth hour, was preparing to cross the river Charente, which flows past the city; navigating incautiously he was hurled into the water, with no hope of rising again; whom the river's rush swiftly swallowing, with the oar with which he was navigating firmly stuck in his hands, buried him up to the shoulders under the sand, like a stump. But those who had seen the wretched accident cried out, and at once a populous multitude of the city gathered there. And while the whole people suppliantly and devoutly invoked the illustrious merits of the Blessed Martyr, that he should recall to life the fallen man from the sepulchre of the pool; certain sailors standing at a distance, hearing the cries, approached in a boat. But when after long search they could not find him, they wearily withdrew, leaving him as lost. But many on the next day, seeking the already lifeless body to be buried, not in the gluttony of fish, but in the piety of assisting Brothers, approach by boats to the place where the wretched man lay, feeling nothing at all of what was happening above him. They see the oar which he had held in his hands when he fell; they recognize, take it, and on the next day sought for a long time under it, and bring it out as a proof of death; not finding him, however, though they were near, they believe him not only dead, but also devoured, or certainly about to be devoured shortly. But his parents, giving groans and sighs of sorrow, were inciting the whole neighborhood to lamentation; and together with them they humbly prayed God, that He would deign by the Saint's merits to restore the shipwrecked man to them: they redoubled prayers, vowed offices of piety, and demanded the holy man's patronage.
[4] And on the following night around cockcrow, namely the vigil of Pentecost, and at last found, behold suddenly a certain brightness coming there from on high, appeared to him, placed in the necessity of death beneath the waves through the bitterness of the cold, shining with wondrous splendor; and as the sun in summer time is wont to irradiate in its power, it illuminated all places round about with rays, and so divided the depth of the waters, that with them suspended on this side and that, like the walls of a tower in a circle over him, not only the sublimity of the heavens, but also the depth of the earth appeared. Wondrous indeed! At the presence of this wondrous splendor, all cold being put to flight, so great a heat came upon the man within and without, as if a certain fiery force had proceeded into him from the vent of a furnace. For at once both strengthened in mind and in body, he was more sweetly among the mid waves than he had ever rested in his own bed, as he himself afterwards asserted. So as he was amazed, and as it were lifted into ecstasy by the astonishment of the unusual brightness, there is present a man handsome in appearance, with a flaming and rose-colored face, clad in snowy garments, like an Angel of God descending from the midst of paradise: who, stretching out his hand to him in the midst of the waves suspended on this side and that, raising him from his sandy seat, addresses him with kindly words, saying: "I am Eutropius, do not fear: whom you had in your heart and were invoking with your mouth, when, having been cast headlong from the little ship, the voracious depth of the waters swallowed you, I have not deserted you in the lake of misery; because, not deserting my protection, with a strong embrace you clasped my name: he restores him to life, now, now, having been more wondrously freed, return to life, from the region of the shadow of death, by my intervention and the divine will, restored to your former health."
[5] But that man Maynardus, not forgetful of the benefit received, having somewhat recovered his strength, together with his parents, hastens to the Saint's church, about to give manifold praises to God and to Blessed Eutropius. The fame of so great a miracle being spread abroad, people flock from all sides, of both sexes and every age, young and gray-haired alike; they rise
those held by sickness, who before could not walk, taking strength for the moment from the novelty of joy. with many running to the spectacle. The Count also, who then was present, approached him with all his soldiery; the Clergy were there and the whole city, to see a new man. For all together they marvel at life reserved under the waters, and a lamp not extinguished by the waves. You would hear there the air resound with voices, everywhere proclaiming Eutropius, and unanimously praising together God who wondrously works so many miracles through His friends. O how wondrous is the disposition of the highest King! who arranged this so notable and illustrious miracle of new and unusual liberation to be wrought at that time, in which especially, by the concourse of Princes and the coming of peoples expecting with devoted heart the benefit of supernal grace, the fame of so great a work could be more widely spread abroad with swift alacrity, to the honor of God and the glory of the Martyr.
[6] A certain pilgrim woman from Preignac b was coming to Saint Eutropius, whom above others she had chosen as her advocate with God, a woman fallen into the river hoping to merit many benefits from God, with his merits interceding for her. When therefore one day she was making her way over the bridge of the castle of Taillebourg in the diocese of Saintes, under which a deep river flows with a copious flood, holding bread in her left hand, a little knife in her right, that she might offer it to one in need, carrying also a staff under her armpit; she incautiously bent sideways past the edge of that bridge, to make way for a laden horse coming; thrust back by it by a sudden accident she fell into the deep. But by divine mercy it came to pass, by whose command the rivers flow, and by remaining suspended in their own liquid, when He commands, are divided, and flow away according to His command; that at once that woman springing up from the depth, walking upon the waters was borne over the waves as if over dry land; and with Saint Eutropius affording her guidance, she came safely to the shore. Wonderful to tell! The bread which she was carrying, the knife and the staff, she did not lose from her hands; her garments were not wetted, but remained entirely dry, as they had been before; as was surely attested by many who personally were present and beheld with their own eyes. Nor is it wonderful if now command over the waters has been conferred on Eutropius reigning in heaven, he rescues from the peril of drowning: since through his merits, while he yet lived on earth, the piety of the Savior worked many more wondrous things. By what prodigies of miracles he shone and shines at sea, I think it by no means possible to recount each one.
[7] In the Castellany of Blanzac c in the diocese of Angoulême, a poor Cleric was borne with a wondrous affection of devotion to Saint Eutropius, and therefore every year most devoutly visited his church. But once when he had returned from his pilgrimage, a certain soldier, under whose house the said Cleric lived, demanded from him the rent and the tailage d. And when through poverty the means of payment did not suffice, seizing a poor man for debts the debtor suddenly seized by the soldier, seeking delay for love of Blessed Eutropius, was suppliantly begging him to have mercy. The proud soldier spurns the prayers offered; for answering with stiff neck and blasphemous voice, he said: "You spend well every year ten or twenty shillings in honor of Saint Eutropius, and what belongs to the rights of my lordship you do not pay; but I will thrust you into such a place, that neither Eutropius nor anyone will be able to help you." He tried, he said, shut in a cask, and found a huge cask, into which having been captured he was cast, ordering that bread be given him by weight and drink by measure: where, although a captive, the man earnestly invoked Blessed Eutropius with devout prayers; and faithfully commended himself to his patronage, saying: "Saint Eutropius, all my bones supplicate your piety, and I vow in mind what I cannot fulfill in word and deed; for I know you are a faithful friend and safe refuge of your devoted afflicted." As he late in the day with these and other prayers was demanding the Saint's aid, behold the servants of the house, hearing it grievously, ran hastily to the soldier, asking that he would command the captive man to keep silent that night. At this immediately the soldier commands a copious fire to be prepared in the middle of the house, asserting that he would cast the captive man, inflamed with love of Saint Eutropius, into the midst of the flames to be burned.
[8] Wishing therefore to accomplish what he had promised, he hastened to the place of derision, and preserves him from being cast into the fire: where the poor captive man was being held, not fearing the vengeance of God who avenges the innocent; and opening with his own hand the little door of the cask, and calling by his own name, he commanded him to rise quickly. He terrified with fear, asking who he was, confesses Blessed Eutropius to be present. But the soldier taking him upon his shoulders and going over to the fire, wished to cast him into the midst of the flames, but could not, nor remove him from his own shoulders: for with so great an adhesion had the grace of the Holy Spirit joined him to the soldier, that he stood firm like an immovable mountain. All the servants of the house approaching together on duty, not however without the greatest astonishment, began to pull violently. But the Saint's servant, while they utterly failed, he afflicts the author of the crime with disease, firmly stood fast: for him whom the Holy Spirit had established, could not be moved by the hands of sinners. Soon God striking the soldier from on high, wounded him internally with so grievous a wound, that it seemed to him that he must be split through the middle, or certainly finally expire. And when he had felt in his heart a blow, as if the suffering of a lance had been inflicted on him from heaven, from which proceeded so great a force of burnings, that he seemed altogether to fail; thence he cries as one in labor, and roars goaded by so grievous a pain, that there was nothing else for him [but] to think of a remedy.
[9] but when he came to his temple he heals him. But recognizing, taught by experience, that he could not receive health from that pain except through the merits of Saint Eutropius, nor lay down the man, as he anxiously hastened, unless with the little door of the cask, to the basilica built in his honor at Saintes, he had carried him on his own shoulders, about to restore to him his servant as free (now the soldier's house was distant from the church by sixteen leagues) he necessarily did what he said; he brought the man with the little door, prayed there suppliantly that the Saint of the Lord would mercifully help him, redoubled prayer of mouth and of heart, poured forth a copious river of tears. Wonderful indeed! prayer made, at once by the providing clemency of heaven, every pain ceases, the burning cools, he sets down the man before the altar, and unfolds to all the veil of his malignant heart. But the little door of the cask hangs in the church, for a perpetual memorial of so great a miracle, until this day, and as an example; that it may be made known with what praises this Saint, and with what proclamations, is to be extolled. The soldier thence becomes humble and devoted to God; and to Saint Eutropius perpetually subject in familiarity. Thus the strength of Saint Eutropius humbled the proud soldier; freed the captured subject, who had subjected himself to him, from evil; and changed the soldier's insolence by a wondrous miracle into meekness.
NOTES.
CHAPTER II.
Various captives freed from prisons.
[10] In the kingdom of France a certain soldier devoted to God yearly visited personally the church of Saint Eutropius, since he was borne toward him with a special affection of devotion; but when at the time of a certain crusade a devoutly he had taken up the Cross, and girded with the fervor of faith had passed over to parts beyond the sea with the other soldiers, to enlarge the worship of God and avenge the reproach of Christ: it happened, with Him permitting who disposes all things, that on a certain day when the Christians were vigorously striking with military arms against the pagans, this soldier was captured by them and weighed down with very heavy chains, and was shut up in a certain tower of the city of Babylon, with all mercy set aside. He however having confidence in the Lord, A soldier captive at Babylon, for his liberation committed himself to the patronage of Blessed Eutropius; and showing no sadness at all in prison, but night and day having much confidence, he was chanting abundant praises to God and to Blessed Eutropius in a spirit of joy. And when the pagans had understood through interpreters that he persisted unceasingly in divine praises; the malefactors tried to turn his mind from the firmness of faith, and to recall him by an excogitated new kind of malice from his good purpose: and at last having seized the soldier they shut him up in a certain very strong chest, and shut up in a bronze chest, whose cover was overlaid with the strongest bronze, and could not tear him founded upon the rock of the Lord away from the faith.
[11] But the soldier of Christ, understanding from the guards on being asked by him about this, that that acceptable time, namely the feast of Blessed Eutropius, was now at hand; he redoubled his sighs, his desires grew, and devout with tears he said: "At such a time I used to celebrate solemnly the feast of my advocate Blessed Eutropius, and to visit his threshold, but now I am compelled to hide in a chest and in darkness." Wondrous swiftness of piety! The end of speech is the end of liberation: for at once Saint Eutropius was present, who snatching him along with the chest from the hands of the infidels, on that very night, namely the vigil of the same solemnity, imperceptibly at Saintes, in the midst of his own church, the doors having been opened to him of themselves (which before had been secured), he sets him free at Saintes in his own temple: he deposited him. Where, hearing those keeping the sacred watch singing about midnight through the church, groaning and grieving within himself he said: "Alas now the pagans howl, like the strongest wolves, victory having been obtained over the Christians, the prey having been taken." But a little after, understanding French, astonished he raised himself somewhat; and lifting his eyes toward heaven, he saw the tablets of the cover of the chest broken, and found a free place to go out. Wherefore at once rising, yet not without fear, from the chest, he looked about him, recognized the church, not doubting that he had been freed by the Saint's merits. Finally, having called to him all who were watching in the church, he burst into a voice of praise and joy, and turned all to amazement and jubilation, narrating to them how great a clemency and virtue of the blessed Martyr he had experienced in himself. Hearing this, Lord b
the Prior, who was then there, came down with hastened step with his monks to the place, and all seeing so wondrous a miracle, astonished, fell prone upon the ground, extolling the glorious mighty works of the lofty and omnipotent God, and the virtuous merits of His Saint. With the fame of so great a miracle increasing, all the people hasten; and seeing in so open a prodigy the piety of God and the virtue of the Saint, they are stirred to devotion and reverence; and so to the confirmation of this matter, the chest still remains suspended in the same church, with a certain strong chain, for the pilgrims coming to look upon.
[12] c At another time also, when there was great war or capital enmity between the Lord of Pons and the Lord Gaufridus de Wanchonio, namely the Lord of Taillebourg in the territory of the Santones; the Lord of Pons coming stealthily with an armed army upon the land of the said Gaufridus de Wanchonio, led away with him many men taken captive, fifty in number. But fearing their escape, he sent some of his d Turidubi, and commanded that from the church of Saint Eutropius, by force or by love, they should bring the strongest iron fetters. And when many fetters had been brought, that Lord commanded all to be shut in a strait prison, and to be grievously chained in those fetters, lest they might escape. he frees the soldiers from prison But when they had no other counsel nor help, they began unanimously all to supplicate Blessed Eutropius to have pity on them with affectionate prayers and tearful groans: and since with the purity of faith and whole devotion of heart they had adhered to the most faithful servant of Christ, Eutropius, he himself at once was present as helper of the wretched, and mercifully visited the men placed in prison. For on that night, when the guard of the castle, where the captives were held, was carefully watching; and lest they should go away with great diligence was watching as much as he could; behold suddenly Blessed Eutropius appeared to them as they watched in a fiery globe, coming from Saintes toward Pons in a straight line: who descending to the place of sorrows and the place of darkness, illuminated the whole habitation of the prison with wondrous splendor. And since it is said, "Unless the Lord guard the city, in vain does he watch who guards it"; in vain was the guard of the prison watching over those whom the Lord by the Saint's merit was disposing to rescue. Ps. 126:1 For at his entrance into the prison, the chains were loosed from their feet, the chains fell from their fetters, the chains being loosed and the door opened: of their own accord the doors of the prison were opened, and a way for them to go out freely was opened. But when still terrified by the life-giving vision they knew not or dared not go out, the pious consoler Eutropius taking them by the hand gently led them out into the open, and in the same hour and the same night brought them freed to Saintes, carrying their fetters in their hands: where they together gave thanks to God and to Blessed Eutropius for so great a benefit, and humbly subjected themselves to him from then on. From this the fame, virtue, and glory of Eutropius grew, the faith of the peoples is stirred and devotion more greatly inflamed.
[13] The Count of Poitiers had once taken the Viscount of Aunay e, two hostages, to be deprived of their eyes whom afterwards, receiving in his place as hostage his son, yet a ward, flourishing in youth, he had released for a time. But the Viscount, being unable to free either himself or his son, had incurred the great indignation of the Count, to such a degree that he had decided the dear pledges of the father, not sparing the tender limbs, to be mutilated in the eyes and blinded. But the Viscount with his wife secretly went to Saintes in a common garment of cloth, disguised, his face disheveled so as to be by no means recognizable. There indeed his captured son was kept in the fortress of the city, bound with the same fetters with a certain boy his age, so that the boys chained to each other by their individual feet were held the more closely. Who could relate the vows and groans which both parents, spending the night before the sepulchre of Saint Eutropius, poured out lamentably for the son's liberation and their own absolution. The miserable danger which threatened, shook the paternal bowels even to the giving up of the spirit with bitter sobs and heavy anguish. But while they thus bent over prayer, he restores them to the parents. while they dashed themselves against each other lamenting, chastised their cheeks with nails, their hair with hands, their breast with fists, their face with tears, their knees with stones, their sides with elbows; the mercy of God was present, and the exorable power of Saint Eutropius: for suddenly the boys, as they were chained, fastened to the same fetters, stood before their parents' sight; whom they suddenly beholding, at first thought a phantom; then recognizing their son, satisfying Saint Eutropius, returned eagerly and with joy.
[14] It is not to be passed over in silence that once the Creator of all deigned through the merit of Saint Eutropius to work a miracle, in the city which is called f Sancia Dei; in which with their pack-animals five merchants were captured, who, each having received great iron fetters on their legs and hand, were thrust into a very strong g chest. Among their other discomforts, therefore, on one day, not for the cause of mercy, but rather of cruelty, inasmuch as all facility for drink was denied them, their bodies were fed with salted flesh. Five captives, vexed with thirst, And so, when they were vexed with the anxiety of thirst, they began with great voices to demand the proclamations of Saint Eutropius, that the divine and ineffable clemency of God should deign to aid them. But when, from sweat and long supplication greatly wearied, they had fallen silent, they perceived a most dear and most sweet wind to have penetrated the chest, and to have passed through the midst of them: refreshed and delighted by which, they were weighed down with sleep from weariness, and all together began to sleep. Then indeed they see a person, in the likeness of a Cleric clad in white garments, enter in to them, and as it were wake them from sleep, and command them to depart. To whom at once they responded and said: "How can we go out from here?" "Well," he said, "you will be able." At once they, awakened from sleep, began to have a conversation among themselves about the vision which they had seen. Meanwhile the cord, with which the chest was bound around, the chest in which they were enclosed being dissolved, is cut; whose cutting when the captives hear the sound, they suppose themselves to be visited by the guards. Then the timbers which had been placed on top of the chest for the sake of weighing it down begin to fall. Then they say among themselves: "These are not hurtful guards, but by the merits of Blessed Eutropius they are visitations of the King of heavenly glory."
[15] And so understanding at last that aid was at hand for them, "O Saint Eutropius," they said, "deign to come to your servants, and do not delay to break the snares from us." At once the place where the chest was set trembled, and the whole fabric of the chest is shaken with a great sound, and every joint of it is loosened: the pegs h of the chest already loosened the captives draw to themselves with their teeth, and the front part of it is cast to the earth. Then they applied their shoulders to the cover, and it being turned back, they all went out joyfully from the dwelling. And when they had gone out, they began to be astonished, and the fetters broken, not knowing what they should do, while each of them still thought he had chains around him. "O Saint Eutropius," they said, "if it please you, deign to free us from these chains." After this word, with lowered eyes to their feet, they saw themselves to have nothing of chains. At last they looked into the bottom of the chest, and lifted up all their chains from there. Wherefore holding them in their hands, they began to look about more attentively, if on any side an entrance could be found, by which they could go out unafraid. For the place where they were held captive was a certain appendage of the farthest part of the house of the i Provost; and therefore it had no exit or entrance except through the middle of the Provost's house, so they did not know where to seek aid of flight.
[16] Then one of those companions said: "I will go to the door of the house, and look in, if perhaps the inhabitants are absent." with the guards looking on he makes them go out, Who, putting his head below the door, looking around, saw all sitting at the table, and holding their backs toward that part where they were to go out through another door of the house. Who returning to his companions said: "I for my part, because all are eating, and I shall have passage behind their backs, will go out." And having said this, folding his chains under his armpit, he began to go out. Seeing which, his companions followed him. Those however who were sitting at the table, as they heard the sound of the feet going out, turned their faces toward them, and saw them, and yet said nothing to them. Thence they came to the gate of the city, which indeed they found closed, and the gatekeeper sitting beside it; and opening it they passed through, but heard nothing from the gatekeeper. And when they were passing through a certain bridge, seeing before them a multitude of men and women, they turned their steps by another way, on which they met a multitude of oxen, who fixing their steps, giving place to the fugitives, turned their heads in the other direction. They see before them the church of Blessed Germanus k, so that they address the monk whom they find before the door: "Open to us as quickly as possible, because although we have been freed by the merits of Blessed Eutropius, our enemies are following us." Who at once opened to them, and they with great swiftness entered.
[17] Afterwards when the Provost had arrived, who take their chains to Saintes, he spoke to them thus: "Since there is no doubt that divine help has been accompanying you; yet I will not grant you departure, unless you return to me the chains, with which your legs were bound." Then those captives said: "Even if it should happen to us to stay a whole week without food, we will not return to you the chains; but we will carry them to him who mercifully freed us from them"; and there is a proclamation of all the people against the Provost, that he should presume to inflict no force on men who had been freed by divine aids. At last overcome by open reason, he grants firm confidence to the captives, they are received by the citizens, and refreshed with generous feasts. But on the next day by hidden paths, though all were looking on, carrying their chains on their shoulders, they went out from their borders, intent under their and their Saints' patronage to restore themselves with food and clothes. Thence they came to the thresholds of Blessed Eutropius, on whose altar they offer their chains: then they return to their homeland, making known wondrous and illustrious miracles.
NOTES.
CHAPTER III.
Those profaning his feast are punished, demoniacs are freed.
[18] A certain man from the castellany of Blanzac, of the Diocese of Angoulême, ignorant of the virtue of Saint Eutropius, having gone out into the field with his oxen on the day of his feast, to till the earth, when he had prepared himself for the work, a certain Soldier making his way through that place, devoted to Saint Eutropius, Profaning his feast he is struck with blindness rebuking him said to him: "Leave off, man, leave off your begun work, since it is not lawful to work; today is the feast of Blessed Eutropius, which ought worthily to be committed to the memory of all, and solemnly celebrated with reverence." But when neither by fear of God, nor reverence of the Saint, nor the admonition of the devoted Soldier, the temerity of the perverse man was restrained, but he stubbornly persisted in the begun work; answering with a contumelious word, he said: "I will plow my own land; let Eutropius meddle with his monks." And without delay, the pernicious word scarcely having gone out of his mouth, God added to the glory of His Saint a miracle and a scourge. For as soon as he took hold of the plow with one hand, and with the other lifted to the work a rod, in the head of which was an iron instrument fixed; so by a wondrous power both hands clung to their instrument, that at the evacuation of the belly he could in no way slacken his fingers: it also struck him within and without with such blindness, that whatever the divine power was working against him, he was utterly ignorant. For the oxen at once turned their face to the road, and led him to the church of the Saint with many looking on and marveling at so great a prodigy, while he himself knew not what he was doing. When there, the light which he had lost having been received from heaven, pricked in heart, before the sepulchre of the holy Martyr he gave tears, and repented of his deed, and humbly vowed himself to God and to Blessed Eutropius; and he is healed: promising that as long as he should live he would observe his feast, and as a sign of servitude, would personally visit his tomb every year. Wondrous to tell! At once, the vow being given and the promise of devoted subjection made, so the unhappy man was restored to his former liberty, that by himself he put down the instruments: with all who were present praising God, and the Saint's virtue, who so wondrously strikes and heals, wounds and cures. The instruments hang even today in the church, in remembrance of so great a miracle, and that the devotion of the peoples to the remembrance of the feast may be more greatly increased.
[19] In the castle of Taillebourg near Saintes it happened, that a certain devout man, another devoted to him who devoutly and humbly served Blessed Eutropius, and every year more devoutly visited his tomb, one day, his pilgrimage having been completed, returning to his own house, invited the whole neighborhood, that he might cause Saint Eutropius to be more honored, and incite others to the like. But the ancient enemy, who always goes around seeking whom he may devour, wished to recall him wholly from the good already begun. For his own wife, full of deceit, fraud, and malice, who by no means preserved the faith of the marriage bed, and clung with illicit love to a certain panderer; wished to kill him with an axe. But God did not will to permit so great an evil; God renews signs, changes wonders, and honors His Saint. The woman could not lower her hands raised with the axe, with the faithless wife's hand stiffened the harlot cannot kill her husband, Delilah cannot cut off the hair of Samson, the serving maid cannot deceive Peter, the foreign woman cannot pervert Solomon. Saint Eutropius was present for protection, the pious father was present for protection, whom he loved with all the desire of his heart; his pilgrim placed in danger, he makes safe; nor is a murder followed upon the pandering. The woman stands with the instrument, hands raised, confesses what she had wished to do, with the crowds gathered for the spectacle. But such a crime does not at once merit pardon: for it was necessary that her husband lead her to the Saint's church, that by the faith and devotion which he had especially toward him, he might be able to obtain pardon for his wife, adverse to him. she is freed from death, It was done that the woman with her husband devoting themselves to prayers, kept vigil for three days: and afterwards, her crime having been confessed in the presence of all, by the merits of Blessed Eutropius and the devotion of his pilgrim, she relaxed her raised hands, and released her from the penalty. laid down the axe before the altar; and thus restored to her former state, she likewise returned safe home with her husband. The axe was placed in the same church, among many kinds of instruments, in the sight of the pilgrims coming; that all may know, how much Saint Eutropius can obtain from God by his prayers.
[20] At another time also, on the solemnity of Saint Eutropius, a certain carpenter, another disdaining the violated feast, while he was preparing himself to grease his shoes; a certain other, having greater devotion to the Saint, said to him: "Today is the feast of Blessed Eutropius, it is not lawful for you to do that." But he with an indignant spirit, not accepting the pious admonition, turning his eye back he looked at him, as if he had the power of the Saint in contempt; and he would not cease; but he finished the work he had begun. But when he wished to put on those shoes, it was done by divine judgment to the glory of the Saint, that at once the stubborn man began to swell; and after a little he so swelled, that unless with great difficulty he could not bend himself at all, nor touch his feet with his hand. Therefore, with the punishment teaching him, recognizing the Saint's virtue and merits, contrite in mind and grieving for his sin, he is healed at the sepulchre. he was tearfully borne to his sepulchre. But while the man so contemptible there persevered in affectionate and humble prayer, his limbs began to be reduced; and very quickly he obtained what he faithfully asked. For on the following day obtaining full health, he returned home on his own feet, who had been brought by others. Many others also, while they disdain to celebrate the feast of Blessed Eutropius, are wondrously punished: but afterwards, penance performed, are more wondrously freed by his merits.
[21] Another man from the Bishopric of Nantes a was so swollen with the disease of dropsy, that in no way could he see his legs. Placed therefore likewise a dropsical man, in severe distress and despairing of human aid (for he had spent much money on doctors for the love of health, but could be helped by no medicinal relief), at last he turned with devout affection and humble prayer to the patronage of Saint Eutropius. For one day about the feast of Pentecost, making a vow, he had himself carried to the sepulchre of the holy Martyr: where Saint Eutropius was besought by many prayers, and conferred on him perfectly long-desired health. Another woman of the village of Saint Jean d'Angély b in the diocese of Saintes was so inflated, and a woman that she could scarcely move: who had herself carried before Saint Eutropius by water in a little boat up to the port at Saintes: and from the port to the church, she was carried in the hands of her friends: who being brought into the same church before the sepulchre of the Martyr, for nine days in vigils and supplications through the intervention of Saint Eutropius merited to be freed in health.
[22] a demoniac woman is freed, Again let us commit to memory a miracle, which is more commended by the narration of those telling it. From the territory of Bordeaux, a certain mad woman, drawn by her parents to the Saint's sepulchre, not at once restored to health, was dismissed by her own, like a cheap, contemptible, and abject thing. Who for a long time importunate to all worshippers, passing the night under the open sky, was frequently pelted by boys with mud and stone; she had however some lucid interval, in which she begged a remedy from the Saint. It happened that Saint Hugh, Abbot of Cluny c, was visiting the monastery of Saint Eutropius, as a distinguished monastery of the Cluniac Order. The Apostolic man is received by the Brothers clad in ecclesiastical vestments in procession, as was fitting. There the raging woman, running with hastened step, exposed herself to the holy man's sight, troubled in eyes, turbulent in face, gnashing her teeth, her tongue protruding, her hair disheveled, agitated by a malignant spirit. But the holy man, when he saw that horrible woman, somewhat astonished within himself, first strengthening himself with the sign of the Cross, then around the mad woman, with prayer going before, signing with holy water, goes alone to the Martyr's sepulchre, to pray for the unhappy woman with tears. Wondrous indeed! while the man of God persisted in prayer, the unhappy woman prostrated to the earth, with much blood vomited up a certain reptile, like a horsefly, alive and creeping, and by the merits of Blessed Eutropius and the intercession of the holy Abbot felt herself restored to perfect health: and afterwards returned accompanied by her own to her home, making a wonder to all who had seen her before raving, now seeing her to be as it were called back from the dead. The holy Hugh afterwards ordered the horsefly to be brought to him on a certain tablet, showing that to be the form of the demon, which the cheap spectacle showed to all in memory of so great a deed.
[23] likewise another: A certain other woman, Vixendis by name, of the city of Agen d, by divine permitting justice, was sorely vexed by a demon: for now casting herself desperately into the fire, now dashing herself against the ground, now biting herself, she tore her head most wretchedly and bloodied it with blood: and every day the aforesaid vexations vexed her so, that scarcely could several resist her, from stripping off her own clothes. The unhappy woman is led therefore by her parents to the Saint's church, that through his worthy merits the Lord would deign to free her from the demon. Wondrous to hear! When they held her bound before the doors of the church, (for the Saint of God did not permit the devil, the enemy of peace, to be received within the church), behold the pious one, mercifully the pitier of the wretched, at once came to this wretched woman miserably laboring: at whose wondrous presence, that malignant spirit, obsessing the woman, indignant departed; leaving the woman, before obsessed, free in mind and body. Soon the woman, having entered the church, with much admiration of the laymen who were then present, hastily ran to the Martyr's sepulchre, to render thanks devoutly to him by whose wondrous virtue and lovable piety she knew herself to have been wondrously freed.
[24] a maniac is healed; A Roman of Saint Eutropius relates of himself, that he had been captured in mind, and destitute of rational understanding, had been rather dragged than led by his parents to seek the suffrage of the holy Martyr: who more gravely stung by the nettle of want than pricked by the misery of their sick one, their food failing, left in another land the madman whom they had brought, and returned to their home. But the sick one, not in control of his mind, succumbing to many injuries from boys, mocking and blows harder than the very madness,
was affected. But after a few days, by the compassion of the holy Martyr, that Roman, sense and understanding having been recovered, becoming forgetful of the benefit, attentively panted to return to his parents. Wherefore, satisfying his own will, having left the Martyr's temple, coming as far as the castle (which they call "ad Pontem"), he was intercepted by boys and recognized, because at Saintes they had been wont to mock him as a fool. Without delay, a cry being raised, with mud and muddy sweepings of the streets, pursuing the foolish man, with every filth cast upon him, they scarcely leave the disfigured man. At last the wretched man disfigured, made wholly beside himself, again incurs madness; yet, returning a little to his senses, he returned again to Saint Eutropius, to ask mercy anew, which proud and ungrateful he had lost. The Saint was present to the returning one, nor despised the foreigner, but made him his own native, restored to the most perfect health. The Roman indeed from that time, not abandoning the Saint's sepulchre, appointed as guardian of the altar, cleans with brooms, sweeps the pavement, and performs devoted service to his physician Saint Eutropius; fearing greatly, lest if by chance he should depart, worse should befall him; for on account of ingratitude worse things are inflicted.
[25] When in the Burg of Saint Eutropius of Saintes there dwelt a certain harpist, named Benedict, A harpist, profaning Saint Eutropius's temple, who by no work, sought his living from those passing by with his harp with modulated voices: but because the aforesaid harpist sang not to God but for a penny, the modulation of the harpist brought very much bitterness to the Martyr Eutropius, as at once was shown by certain indications. For the wretched man, while he ran through the church plucking his harp, was struck with a genital infirmity, and fell horribly in the sight of all, as though he were finally to expire. But a little delay having intervened, with disease that player returning to himself, compunct and repentant, with tearful voice recognized his fault, making a vow to God and to the Saint, that by that art he would henceforth never gain anything. At length the vow being made, by the Saint's merits and the devout prayers of those interceding, he was restored to his former health. But, forgetting the Saint's benefit, he returned to the like, as a dog to his vomit, following the vigils of the pilgrims, and stirred them more to vanities than to devotion, adapting his harp to melodies, as he was accustomed. But since God is not only Himself the bestower of mercy, but also the most powerful avenger of evils; it happened, that while the wretched man harping through the church leaped among those keeping vigil, he began in the sight of all, dashed to the earth, to roll himself over the pavement, gnashing with his mouth and with his teeth tearing the limbs of his body, as if he were vexed by a malignant spirit. What more? The strings of the harp are broken, and the harp itself flying with a more violent impetus up to the interior summit of the church is shattered into pieces; making all seeing the miracle astonished and stupefied. Why do I delay with many words? For by just judgment his last things were worse than the first, and thereafter punished with death. on account of the vice of ingratitude: for the unhappy man, who with rash applause had come to the church by himself, by others was carried back to his house in anxious pain; but on the next day the wicked man died, a bondslave of hell and son of darkness.
[26] Another woman also, from the village which is called Loserac e near Saintes, by a certain disturbance of fear, incurred so great a madness, they are healed, a maniac that she had utterly lost reason, intellect, and sense; and her whole body had been made so restless, that scarcely or by no means could she be held by many, but between the hands of those wishing to hold her she horribly broke herself. At last the two sons whom she had, not hoping to find a remedy of health among men, turn themselves with deepest feeling to the merits of Saint Eutropius. "O Saint Eutropius, most holy Martyr of God! O lamp of all the people, refuge and help! we offer our mother to you, we commit her dedicated to you, f and from you with all devotion we demand her health." Therefore hastily they bring their mother bound with ropes to his church, and set down their dismissed mother before the altar, where for nine days and as many nights they held her. But on another day, the gift of perfect liberation being received, with the industry of reason and the vivacity of the senses, she returned home, rejoicing and leaping and praising God, as if at no time she had perceived any evil.
[27] and another laboring with a like evil In summertime a certain sailor from Brittany, from the city which is called Quimper-Corentin g, came in a boat with many companions to Saint Severian h; and there lying for many days on a sickbed, at last afflicted with a very grievous disease and detained by the length of that illness, was turned into a frenzy. But his companions, for a comradely pity making a vow to God and to Saint Eutropius for him, brought him bound hand and foot to his tomb at Saintes with great sadness of heart: and so bound and detained there for nine days, with his companions for him earnestly crying out in groaning voice to the Saint, he passed the night: yet obtained at that time no remedy of health. The nine days being completed, those men, hoping nothing further good of their companion's health, returned with the sick man to Saint Severian, intending to bring him, still sick, back to their own parts. Yet when they had vowed him to the merits of Blessed Eutropius, they brought him again. But when they led him to the church of the blessed Martyr, they at once placed him in iron fetters and handcuffs; for there he so violently agitated his body, that he burst the chains entirely and tore his own clothes. But when he had been placed in iron chains for some space of time, he went out from them and broke them likewise, and took flight through the streets and fields, and stripped off his garment, and ran about here and there naked. But the sacristan of the church, seeing that he had taken flight, at once pursued him, and searched for him through the fields and villages. But having found him, he came back of his own will and spontaneously to the church of the most holy Blessed Eutropius; begging him and supplicating with groans and sighs, that he should be placed again more tightly in iron fetters and handcuffs. But when nine days and nights and more had been completed, the most holy Martyr of Christ by divine grace restored him to his former sense and natural understanding, and sound and safe with his friends, giving thanks to God and to the most blessed Eutropius, he returned home with joy.
NOTES.
CHAPTER IV.
Other benefits of Saint Eutropius.
[28] a contracted woman is healed: William Bernardi relates that a certain woman Stephana, contracted in her hands, weak in arms and legs, for seventeen years had lain languishing in the almshouse of that monastery; and that she, having covered the enormity of her limbs with a certain natural fairness, by her simple and pleasing aspect invited visitors to compassion for her, provoking any from the people to the service of her servitude. But when for so long a time, now without hope of restoring her health, she could not enter her bed except by the hands of others; one night, when the solemnities of Saint Eutropius were being celebrated, with a great confluence of pilgrims and a copious multitude of Clerics; before the very nocturnal hymns, Saint Eutropius, having taken with him two colleagues, namely Saint Martial and Saint Leonard a the Abbot, stood by the sick woman in the church, illuminating her with wondrous brightness and surrounding her with the sign of the Cross, he commanded her to rise. But she showing the weakness of her hands and feet with a plaintive voice in the feminine manner, was asserting the impossibility of the commanded obedience. Soon touching the contracted woman with the pastoral staff, which he was carrying in his hand, he rendered her sound, and disclosed the names of his companions. But the woman, the vigor of her nerves having been relaxed, extending her limbs step by step; rising unharmed, she stretched out her hands untrained to touch, fitted her feet, before useless for walking, to the step: but those standing by, hearing the sound of her limbs crackling, are not only filled with admiration but also with joy, seeing her standing erect, whom they had at first nourished with their alms for seventeen years, frequently brought in on a carrying-litter, and now saw restored to perfect health.
[29] A certain man from France, much b known, captured by a native blindness of the eyes, with the service of his servants, for the sake of prayer, had undertaken the journey to Saint James; who, passing through Saintes, turning aside from the path, offered many vows at the sepulchre of Saint Eutropius; and buying more gifts, a little afterwards, his journey having been performed, making his return through Gascony, he suffered the treachery of his servants, which I append. The blind man despoiled by his own and deserted For at the instigation of the devil, by the greed of the money which he was carrying for the expenses of the journey, those servants, full of every malice, deceitfully led out their blind Lord, turning aside for the secrets of nature, outside the paved way, and there the man, deprived of the light of his eyes, depriving him of pennies, horses, and all things, left him alone in the solitude. But he, lying like a useless trunk, feeling himself destitute; with his plaintive voice more loudly as he could demanded help. But pilgrims, hearing his cry, turned aside to him terrified. But when they had found him, understanding his wretched event, moved by pity, with tears and sorrow they bring him to the public way, where giving him some help for food, they left him in a certain hut. But he, as he was destitute of human aid, with sorrowful voices and tearful groans implored the Saint's patronage. At last, since he had no special guide, with the help of his hands he came groping to the Saint's church, narrating his misfortune to all with grief.
[30] But the Brothers recognizing the man, whom they had seen before, made from rich into poor, having pity, and as is proper to monks, offered him prompt benefit. But when for many days he had been among the monks, he asked permission to depart from them with many thanks; who liberally gave him a horse, a servant, and money abundantly for the journey. And when all things necessary had been prepared for him, and he was ready to depart, led by a divine breath, he approached the Saint's sepulchre: where prostrating himself to the ground, with hands extended in the manner of a cross, praying with tears, he proclaimed the Saint's merits. That unwearied helper of the wretched was not lacking to the prayers of the supplicant: for suddenly, falling supine before the steps of the altar, his sight is restored: from the little sacs where the eyes have their seat, he emitted blood; which bloodied his eyelids, face, and pavement, and restored the dry eyes by wondrous virtue to their place and former vigor. Thence a cry is raised to the heavens, the villages and crossroads resound, with the concourse of people, of youths
with applause, with the pulse of bells, city and church resound, and all alike are more fervently inflamed to the love of Christ and reverence of the Saint.
[31] Since it is said that the good shepherd lays down his soul for his sheep, John 11:11 a certain man from Copinacum commended himself and his animals, which he had, to Blessed Eutropius as to a good shepherd with confidence; believing that they could be preserved from the bites of wolves through his power. But it happened otherwise than he hoped: for one day, God permitting for the honor of the Saint and glory, when the boys of the house allowed a herd of pigs to wander through the field without a shepherd; behold the wolf's rapacity, urging his furtive steps to prey, suddenly lifting up with his toothed jaws one from the herd, which the man had vowed among the others to the Saint, not at all fearing the barking of the dogs and the cry of the shepherds, fled with him to the wood. The boys returned to their home, reported the loss, all who were there wondered how the wolf could have prevailed over the pig, vowed to the Martyr: about which matter they argue among themselves, and the servants intend to seek the wolf, wishing to offer doves to Saint Eutropius, they obtain them prodigiously, having more of boyish simplicity than discretion; seeing doves flying in a flock, one of them said: "Do you think those doves, the rowing of their wings let down, humbled, will expose themselves to the hands of the Martyr? Would that we could carry the beautiful and angelic birds to Blessed Eutropius, the lovable colleague of the Angels, and venerable protector of this land." At these words two of the doves, whiter than snow, more tame than domestic hens, settled more meekly upon the shoulders of the one who had spoken: astonished and gladdened by the miracle, the youths, having more eagerly completed the journey they had begun, follow more briskly the youth carrying the doves as far as the church of Saint Eutropius.
[32] For at that time the venerable body of the Saint was placed before the altar in a certain tomb, which afterwards, as today is evident, with a leaden box, as had been stored from antiquity, with due honor was placed in a mausoleum and more suitably located. When therefore the aforesaid youths, with that first one who was distinguished by the birds, drew near to the tomb: the doves of their own accord with gentle flight settled upon the case of the holy Martyr. Those standing around marvel not a little, and left the birds, as though sent from heaven, in the temple, fearing to touch them: the doves however keeping watch around the body with familiar diligence, which remain at his sepulchre: themselves with no little natural fear laid aside, received food next to the Saint's pledges, as was most sufficiently attested by many who saw: nor did they depart from the holy place, showing the spectacle of themselves for homage, until the venerable body was deposited lower down with canticles and praises and the brightness of miracles.
[33] A certain nobleman c aged, with his countrymen went to Saint James; but on returning, coming to the monastery of Saint Eutropius, whom he had chosen among the Saints of God and his friends as his Patron, with vows and prayers and many gifts he dedicated himself. But at another time, kindled with the ardor of charity, strengthening himself with the sign of the holy Cross, he sought Jerusalem, to fight there against the pagans, to enlarge the faith of the Trinity by the shedding of his blood. With iron incurably sticking in his bowels, And so when one day he was proceeding on a certain road near the city of Jerusalem, on which, to inflict death on the soldiers of the Crucified, wolfish ambushes lay hidden; a certain one rising from the ambush wounded him with his arrow so lethally, that no hope of recovering his health remained at all: for the arrow remained in his bowels, which inflicted upon him the most vehement pain. Therefore, in the judgment of all physicians, namely of those whom he had found there on earth, his cure, so grievously wounded, was impossible; because the arrow, enclosed in the interior, could by no means be found; returning home, scarcely bearing the iron which he carried, grievous beyond his strength, for four years now with putrefied bowels, having heard of the virtue of Saint Eutropius, and the truth of his miracles having been had with diligent inquiry, to his patronage with what affection and what desire he could, he most confidently turned; and salvation, which he could find nowhere, he suppliantly implored of him.
[34] he feels it drawn out at the sepulchre. At length coming to the Saint's sepulchre, while there in assiduous vigils and tearful prayers the man so miserably afflicted persisted; behold the physician of salvation, namely Eutropius, as it were at once cast out the arrow, obscured by the rust of so much time, with wondrous virtue from the wounded body, and by the sweet touch of his hands, all putrefaction of the bowels having been expelled, the flesh restored, the wound consolidated, contrary to the hope of human counsel, restored the sick man to full former health. But feeling himself so perfectly healed, breaking out into a voice of divine praise and of Blessed Eutropius, he unfolds the mercy of God and the Saint's virtue, and so notable a miracle, to the honor of the holy Martyr to all: who seeing in so open a prodigy the power of Blessed Eutropius, were filled with wonder and joy at once, and extolled him with proclamations of praises. Now this noble had a silver arrow made, which with the iron one, which he had long carried enclosed in his body, he hung before the altar of the holy Martyr, for the spectacle of the people, that so noble a miracle might incite all to the love and reverence of the Saint.
[35] a horse taken from a soldier is restored: Gregorius a man from Barbezieux, a newly made knight, yet not begotten of a military race, when he had been girded with military apparatus, obtained a good horse fit for performing the office of soldiery; for he had confidence that with it he would be more apt in an unusual office, and stronger against his adversaries. Wherefore coming to Saint Eutropius, the noble protector of nobles, he vowed his horse; offered a price for him, and most confidently commended it to his custody. But it happened not long after, that he fell into the hands of enemies, and lost his horse, most tenderly beloved. Returning home anxious on foot, for grief he spent the night sleepless, hope of fighting further laid aside; and he frequently lamented for the lost horse, because by reason of too great poverty, whence he might have another, he had not. But when certain of those known to him in mockery said to him, not perceiving the Saint's virtue: "Do you think Saint Eutropius, whom you do not cease to cry out to, since he is ten leagues distant from you, will restore the lost horse to you?" He, much more confident in the Saint's courtly virtue, cried within himself: "Saint Eutropius, restore to me my lost horse, which I have vowed to you with all devotion: restore to me my treasure, since you see me utterly put down from the rank of soldier." When he was setting forth these and like things to the Saint of God, behold the horse suddenly came to the house of the new knight as he had lost him, as if led by the hand of God. The poor little knight rejoices not a little seeing the horse, and renders to God and to Blessed Eutropius most abundant actions of thanks.
34 sic These miracles indeed, solemnly, as has been said, approved, which I found written down with a broader treatment d, and handed down in various ways, in many volumes; I have briefly annotated in a certain summary. Epilogue on the multitude of the other miracles. For, as I set forth at the beginning, if I wished to construct all the miracles singly, which that supreme Leader, for whose love the most glorious Martyr Eutropius feared not to undergo death, through him also in modern times deigned to work, and still does not cease to work, my strength would not suffice nor would time be enough to explain all in order. For as this illustrious Saint, while he lived, had stood out in miracles; so from the day of the migration of his soul from the body, until the present day, he shines with notable tokens of miracles, through various parts of the world, divine power being bestowed upon him. For captives are wondrously freed, their fetters being broken, the contracted are found erect, paralytics are consolidated, demons from the possessed, the holy command of obedience being received, are put to flight by the Martyr himself: the blind, deaf, mute, dropsical, shipwrecked, all receive remedies of salvation through his merits; and in all diseases and dangers placed in necessity, to those devoutly asking the Saint's patronage, aid is mercifully given. To you therefore, O good Jesus, the principle of all, the refuge of souls, we humbly turn our speech; that by the worthy merits of this Saint, we, about to enter with you to the heavenly nuptials with lamps kindled within by the fire of divine love, may run to meet you, spouse of the faithful souls; where we may sing heavenly hymns with Saint Eutropius, who remains immortal and impassible with you, and with the choirs of the Blessed Spirits, perennially in the presence of the supreme majesty: which may you deign to grant us from the bounty of your goodness, who with God the Father and the Holy Spirit live and reign, for endless ages of ages. Amen.