Raynerius the Solitary

ON ST. RAYNERIUS THE SOLITARY

AT PISA IN ETRURIA

>A.D. 1160.

PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY

On his cult, Life, and Miracles written by a familiar; an epitome of it; and whether another at Messina is distinct from him.

Raynerius, Confessor at Pisa in Etruria (S.)

BHL Number: 7085

AUTH. D. P.

The tables of the Roman Martyrology, revised and augmented by the command and authority of Gregory XIII, with Molanus going before in the second edition of his additions to Usuard, conclude this 17th day of June with these words: At Pisa in Tuscany, St. Raynerius Confessor. For there indeed, renowned for very many miracles, in the seventh year from his return from the Holy Land, he closed his last day; in the year indeed (as Molanus notes, and from him Baronius) 1161, but by the reckoning of the Pisans, who anticipate the common years by nine months, and thus for us 1160; which is also proved by the 17th day of the month, concurring with the sixth Feria (Friday), as happened when he was dying, since in such a month and bissextile (leap) year the Dominical letter was B. This Saint was, he is venerated as a saint, in the Cathedral church, immediately after death, laid in a marble coffer, offered by the Consuls of the city: into which water having been poured, and blessed by a certain rite, it soon worked no smaller a multitude of miraculous graces than were before received through it, which he living was wont to bless; whence also he obtained the cognomen, that living and dead he was called St. Raynerius "of" or "from the Water." In the same first year from his death it was instituted at Pisa that the feast should be celebrated as the highest, with a Vigil to be performed by the fasting people on the preceding day.

[2] So testifies he who then wrote the Life, and a little after the miracles of him living and dead, Friar Benincasa, Canon (as it appears) of the Metropolitan church of Pisa. And the life indeed, such as he himself saw with his own eyes, or heard from his own mouth, inasmuch as he was the Disciple whom above the rest B. Raynerius more closely loved, the miracles multiplying at once proving this, (for by this title he himself designates himself, num. 158)—but the Miracles, as the many brought them to the tomb of the Saint, and therefore without order of time, he professed at the end to have collected only those which were done by the Lord in the first year of his migration to God: but the rest, he says, because they were innumerable, reported to us from all the globe of the lands, on account of the intolerable and unfulfillable work we forbore to write. This notable monument of the 12th century has hitherto lain hidden in very ancient parchments, which are given with the Life from the Manuscript, preserved among the Nuns of St. Silvester: from which Parchments we also gave, at the 29th of May, the Life of B. Gerardesca of Pisa; both Lives being transcribed under the care of the Most Illustrious Knight Francis Maria Ceffinius, Jurisconsult, and Professor of the first chair in the Pisan Lyceum, stirred to lend us this service around the year 1662, through his colleague in the same Lyceum, Valerius Chimentellus, equally Professor of Law.

[3] Two years before, however, Henschenius had transcribed with his own hand a notable epitome of his Life, from Codex 773 of the Monastery of Holy Cross at Florence: which, to give a foretaste of a summary knowledge of so great a Saint, it is helpful here to insert, just as we have it under this title, "Concerning the venerable man Raynerius of Pisa." the Epitome of it being premised, I think that epitome to be the work of the same Benincasa, published among the common folk impatient of delays, while the more prolix narrative was being composed; and that in the first weeks after his death: and therefore only "venerable man" is named: who afterwards, with the Archbishop Villanus, where he is only called Venerable: or even the Roman Pontiff Alexander III, canonizing him, began to be called "Saint" and "most holy" without scruple, as he is named everywhere in the more prolix Life and the Miracles. No other monument indeed of such a Canonization exists, but neither the express testimony of the writer Benincasa; Shortly after he seems to have been canonized. to me, however, that canonization seems the more probable, because the aforesaid Alexander III, then Pontiff, from the bosom of the Pisan church (of which he was Cleric and Canon) was taken up in the year 1145, at the first creation of Cardinals, by Eugenius III, and was himself before Vice-lord of the Church of Pisa.

[4] The aforesaid Epitome proceeds thus: Raynerius was sprung from the city of Pisa. [In this Epitome he is said to have been held as a fool for Christ by his own people,] While he was a cithara-player, and sang with lyre and voice, and even passed the night in these things; at the exhortation of one servant of God, by name Albertus, dismissing all fleeting things, he clung to Christ. And while he first spoke with him, a light appeared over him with a sweet odor; then Albertus said: "Go, for the Holy Spirit has rested in you, and will teach you from now on." Who at once, confessing all his sins with tears, received so great a change, that by his father and mother he was thought a fool, and was mocked by the rest. And his mother said to him: "Did I not tell you well, not to pass the night abroad, because you would be estranged beyond measure, and become a fool?" He replied: "My mother, you are senseless, because up to now I have lived a fool, now I begin to be wise: I am estranged beyond measure, but from imprudence to prudence." And when he would not take food; he is bound and shut in and for three days is satisfied only with tears and weeping, tasting nothing at all; and on the third day, with the tears failing, the light of his eyes also failed. Which when his mother saw, she tore herself all over, saying: "Alas for me, my son!" But he, taking pity on his mother, praying, with Christ appearing to him, received the light of mind and body.

[5] Having set out for Jerusalem, Then, his homeland left behind, he went across the sea, and there for a long time was in harsh penance, and there before the altar he placed himself entirely naked, putting a pilgrim's cloak and a psalter upon the altar, asking these in exchange from the Priest; and those alone he had in life, and often took food only twice a week, namely on the Lord's Day and Thursday. At one time he was assailed by thoughts; and he saw a most beautiful vessel, adorned with Pearls and gems, and being filled with pitch and sulphur, and set on fire. And when he saw the vessel being destroyed, and many compassionate ones strove to extinguish it and could not; there was given to him a flask full of water, with a few drops of which he extinguished the whole fire: and praying that it might be shown to him there divinely visited, what this was; he heard: "The vessel is your body; the fire, pitch, and sulphur, the concupiscence which can be extinguished by water": who from then never drank wine. An eagle flying with a light, appearing to him in a vision, said: "Receive, for I have given you for a light to men." A dove, from which there went forth smoke and the odor of incense, entering into him, made him, filled through her with the Holy Spirit, smell sweet as incense. When he went up Mount Tabor, two leopards following him, and other wild beasts grow tame: and praying on the same mountain, his face shone like the sun: and forewarned that his burial was to be received at Pisa. and for three days, when he read, he sent forth rays from his eyes, so that all the letters seemed as it were golden. Praying often, he was assailed by the devil, appearing to him visibly, nor yet did he cease from prayer. At another time, praying, he was led by two Angels before the sight of our Lady, and she said to him: "In my bosom you shall rest, Raynerius." Who replied: "Since I am a worm, it does not befit me to be allotted such a place." She replied: "I understand that your body shall rest in my church, which is at Pisa."

[6] When he returned to Italy, from the port of Acre to Naples in one night, where he works many miracles, living with all the sailors astonished, he arrived, which journey is wont to be made scarcely in two months. A certain boy, set in the extremity, said to his father: "Carry me to St. Raynerius, for he will heal me": and while he was being carried, he died on the way. The father nonetheless trusting, carried the corpse to the Saint, relating what the boy had said, and what had happened. Hearing these things, the Saint, and seeing the father's faith and tears, immediately gave himself to prayer, and to the father lamenting restored his son healthy and unharmed. At another time, having only one loaf, when many poor came up, he divided it, and always found the same quantity of bread whole.

[7] At last, led to the term of his life, while the Archbishop sang the Mass of the dead at his body with the Clerics, by many were heard Angelic voices, and dead. singing, "Glory to God in the highest." There also the blind, the sick, the paralytics, and the lame were healed, and the dead raised. To those set in the sea in a very great tempest, after the invocation of many Saints, to those invoking this St. Raynerius he appeared clothed in a pilgrim's cloak, saying: "This glory God has reserved for me," and at once a calm followed. Another had drunk a leech, which had clung to his throat: which being inflamed, threatened danger; and he vomited blood, and was advised by the physicians

that his throat should be cut. But he, set in so great a danger, invoked St. Raynerius: and soon freed, he expelled the leech itself. Another woman, blind, came to his sepulcher, and received the desired light. These and other innumerable miracles God has worked and works, through His servant Raynerius. Wherefore may God be blessed forever. Amen.

[8] The miracles related here, the Reader will find: the first two indeed, of him living, in num. 89 and 50; but the rest, of him dead, he will find under the numbers 186, 137, or others (for several blind women cured are narrated) and 149. One also related in num. 123, as if done during his life, Silvanus Razzius rendered in Italian; omitting the other miracles, exhibiting in Italian nearly the rest of the life, in tome 1 of the Lives of the Saints and Blessed of Etruria, and concluded it thus: the Life in Italian in Silv. Razzi; The body was placed in a marble coffer, sculpted with carved figures elegant enough for that age; and placed above the altar, which was at the side of the chapel bearing the title of the Annunciation, and so it rested for some ages; until in the year 1591, according to the use and rite of the Church, it was translated into a new, more opulent and more beautiful coffer, like that in which other Saints rest opposite, dedicated in the year 1591. under this Inscription: Altar of Saint Ranierus, A NOBLE MAN, WHOSE BONES ARE LAID IN THIS COFFER. And rightly are "Bones" said, not "Body": because, besides other parts which perhaps are lacking, Queen Joanna of Aragon, moved by the many prodigies of his which she had heard, and her devotion toward him, in the year 1372 asked the Pisans to do her the favor of some Relic taken from there. Which the Rectors of the Republic, judging it should be granted, Relics given in the year 1372 to Queen Joanna named Legates by public consent—the very Reverend Lord John della Barba, a Noble and Canon of Pisa, and certain others of distinguished nobility—who, in two triremes prepared for this, should offer the Queen one rib.

[9] Ten years before Joannes Molanus published, a second time at Louvain in the year 1573, his aforementioned Additions to Usuard; More ancient memory in Maurolycus: Francis Maurolycus, Abbot of Messina, had also given to be printed his own Martyrology, augmented in a similar way, where it is read thus: Likewise at Pisa, St. Raynerius, a noble man and afterwards a pilgrim: who, having visited Jerusalem, renowned for abstinence and piety, died in the year 1161. These things seem clear enough, that they be understood of no one other than our Pisan, who died at Pisa; and one altogether different must be reckoned, if anyone of that name lived in Sicily. But how did such a one remain unknown not only to Octavius Cajetanus, and his editor Peter Salernus; but also to Francis Carrara, likewise our own, who published the Pantheon of Sicily, or the Eulogies of all the Saints of Sicily, as many as he could find, in the year 1679?

[10] And yet there are those who would have it that another of the same name lived at Messina: whom the Most Illustrious Antoninus Languidares, Jurisconsult of Messina, writes to us, whether another distinct from him is venerated at Messina? has his veneration among the Fathers of St. Theresa, and that from him the middle of the Mamertine port took its name, so that it is commonly called the arm of St. Raynerius; of whom they relate that in the 12th century, inhabiting that part of the port, and rising at night with a lantern, he brought help to those sailing and being in peril near the restless whirlpools of Charybdis; and at last, renowned for austerity of life and miracles, he rested on this 17th day of June. So he. But again I ask, how could Cajetanus and the others named above either not have known such a Raynerius, or, knowing him, have passed him by? unless they judged as fabulous the things which were spread about him by the mouths of the common folk, perhaps according to the pictures of St. Christopher, to whom some such Hermit is painted as fording a river. The same is suggested by the century and the day, as it were borrowed from St. Raynerius of Pisa; perhaps on the occasion of the Relics placed by Queen Joanna at the Mamertine port, which, as they grew famous with miracles no less than at Pisa, that part of the port began to be called St. Raynerius's: and, it being doubted by those not knowing who he was, whether that Rainerus was not a native or inhabitant of the place, and finally (as it happens) absolutely asserted, out of an indiscreet zeal for things of the fatherland, and believed among the common folk, easily led to embrace eagerly glory offered from anywhere: especially if the Saint himself, thereafter invoked by those in peril there, was sometimes seen to shine before them for the entering of the port, under the appearance of a hermit, usual to him while living.

LIFE

By the Author Friar Benincasa, contemporary and familiar, Canon of the Church of St. Mary of Pisa. Drawn from an ancient codex of the Nuns of St. Silvester by the Knight Francis Maria Ceffinius.

Raynerius, Confessor at Pisa in Etruria (S.)

BHL Number: 7084

A. BENIN. CASA FROM THE MS.

OLD TITLES IN THE MS.

Hereafter in the Manuscript there follow, mixed together, the miracles both of the living and of the dead: which, because we have separated them from one another, it has happened that the order of the numbers is greatly changed: and that this may be more easily grasped, those things which he did while living we shall here note with an appended mark. *

PROLOGUE

With the beginning of the preaching instituted by the Saint to the citizens of Pisa.

[1] To the most beloved in God and our Savior Jesus Christ, to all in the East and West, In the time of Frederick I the Emperor. North and South, of whatever age, fearing and loving God, Brothers and Sisters, Benincasa, servant of our God Jesus Christ, minister and bearer of the most healthful doctrine to be poured out for you. May grace, mercy, peace, and truth be with you, from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ His son, in the Holy Spirit. We make known to you the discipline of God and our Lord Jesus Christ, lately in the times of the most pious Emperor of Christians Frederick a and the most invincible, directed to us at Pisa through the most blessed Raynerius "of the Water" b, by the word of Jesus Christ made to him; Raynerius divinely directed to Pisa where our Savior Jesus Christ likewise fasted forty days, and in the most glorious place of His sepulcher, and through Him, and in that very fountain and fullness of light, and the Confessor of truth, announced and ministered to us.

[2] There was therefore a venerable man, B. Raynerius of the city of Pisa, a Pisan himself, sprung from most illustrious parents, the father Glandulfus c, the mother d Mingarda e; who, all things of this world being scorned, as the following Sermon will declare, seeking Jerusalem, in the place of Calvary, naked followed there the naked Jesus in every way. Thence, as has already been said, returning to us in the word of the Lord, at St. Andrew "in Kinseca," after almost a year had been spent, in the days of Pentecost, an innumerable multitude began to flow together to him, first he becomes renowned by miracles at St. Andrew's, so that the church could not contain them all at once: where many demons were put to flight by him, in the sight of many, in the name of the Father and of Christ; and the sick of whatever condition, many, were there cured, health being restored. And when by many, loaves, and glass vessels, and other things of whatever material, full of water, had been brought that he might bless them, for curing the various ailments of diseases; wondrous to say! it often happened, the blessing being performed, that the element of water was changed into wine. then at St. Vitus's: But as afterwards there flowed together to him from all Tuscany, Lombardy, and various lands' parts, infinite throngs of peoples, many more marvels happened also at St. Vitus's, astounding and to be wondered at: For the crowds could not be satisfied in the sight of him. In the most fervent heat of the day, an immense gathering to him, and in the darkness of the night, remaining with him, so that he did not have even time for the bodily necessity of eating, desiring and awaiting his divine address, conferred and enjoined upon him by God our merciful one. The miracles which the Lord wrought through him, and certain prodigies, we shall insert at the end of this work, that the hearers, of Him who made the memory of His marvels and more terrible deeds, may glorify God with every effort. For all the things could not be written, which are and were so infinite that, if each were written, we judge that neither could the world contain the books nor the ear suffice to hear. This most blessed Raynerius therefore, full of the Spirit of God, began Evangelizing to the people, speaking and exhorting many things.

[3] preaching repentance "God, my brethren, has sent me to you for your salvation. I announce in His name, by His command, peace, joy, and gladness, and the future exaltation of your city for you. For you have hitherto grievously suffered various infirmities and mortalities, hunger of bread and of wine: and henceforth God who sent me will have mercy on you in all these things." And as in the word of the Lord, which was made in him, it is truly evident; after a little time had passed, just as he announced, so in all things it was done. Then was fulfilled what was said by the Lord through Jeremiah the Prophet, saying: "The Prophet who prophesied peace, when his word shall have come, the Prophet shall be known whom the Lord sent in truth." Jer. 28, 9 Hereafter proceeding in the address of the Lord, to be done in good time he said: "Nevertheless know, my brethren, that for this reason my Father, the Creator of all, has corrected and scourged you; that you may receive the inheritance which He has preserved for good sons from the origin of the world. Of receiving which by no means despair; proposing myself as an example, just as my Father gave me commandment; and I know that His commandment confers eternal life on you.

[4] You know that I was entangled in various blandishments and businesses of the age, oppressed by the mass of many sins and great crimes, and as it were encircled by ropes. Then was fulfilled in me what Isaiah said in the Spirit: 'Woe to those who draw out a long rope, by his own example, and sin as the cord of a cart.' Is. 5, 18 But in the zeal of His indignation and fury, the merciful one, in His immense piety, took pity on me, the Lord, in my so great confusion; and receiving penance for all my sins, from the Prior of St. James of Orticaria, a very religious man, who then was, I obtained mercy. Among which deeds, when there was one which I would not confess, being ashamed; the word of the Lord, now abiding in me, said thus to the aforesaid Prior: 'Behold, this man committed this sin, which he will not confess to you,' naming it. And when I demanded of him that he should enjoin a fitting satisfaction for my sins, because he had heard the sin disclosed to him by the word of the Lord, he replied: 'God in you cleanses His own dwelling by Himself, I enjoin nothing on you: whatever good you do, will be to you for satisfaction and for the merit of eternal life.'

[5] Therefore, Brethren, let each one do penance for his offenses, with confidence of obtaining remission: and confess them to the Priests of God, and be certain that, though they be innumerable as the sand of the sea, all will be remitted to you, and there will truly be Life in you; the Redeemer Himself through the Prophet Ezekiel

saying: if the wicked man be converted from his wickedness, I will not remember all his sins: and in whatever hour the sinner shall be converted and shall groan, he shall live by life, and shall not die: and in His Wisdom: He who hides his crimes shall not be directed; but he who shall have confessed and forsaken them, shall obtain mercy. Ez. 18, 22 Nevertheless, Brethren, do not delay to repent, because you know not what may be on the morrow. Ecclus. 17, 26 For what is our life? It is a vapor appearing for a little while. Whence let no one be secure about himself: but let him confess while living and healthy. For this reason God says in His Wisdom: Confess before death: from the dead, as if he were not, Confession perishes. Ecclus. 17, 26 You shall confess while living, healthy and living you shall confess. And so, my brethren, watch, because you know neither the day nor the hour.

[6] whose affairs the Author writes, just as he heard from him himself. But on what occasion he scorned all temporal things together with the world, and loved eternal things; and what marvelous and greatest things the Almighty showed and conferred on this most holy Raynerius—we, who heard from his mouth, will report; that all together we may have full joy, and so in no way hesitate about eternal life, by imitating him, by using these temporal and transitory things, by not setting our heart on them, by leaving sins, by having compassion on others and doing good, may most certainly, from the ineffable mercy of God, await everlasting life.

NOTES. D. P.

CHAPTER I.

The Life of B. Albert of Corsica, and the conversion of S. Raynerius through him.

[7] Saint Raynerius "of the Water" therefore, while he was still of the world, and entangled in all the vanities of the world, holding in his hands a musical instrument, which is commonly called a lyre or a "wheel," in the house of a certain noble matron, his kinswoman, in a place which is called Arficium b, was singing in a high-sounding voice, modulating it pleasantly on this musical instrument. Raynerius playing the lyre, this being dismissed, follows B. Albert, Then it happened that a certain holy man, by name Albert c "Lick-cattle" (Lingens-pecus), once an energetic soldier, was passing by there. But the aforesaid matron, looking at him, said thus to B. Raynerius: "Do you not see an Angel of God passing this way?" B. Raynerius, hearing this, said: "And where is that Angel of God?" And she: "Behold," she said, "near is the man of God, who is called Albert Lick-cattle: Run, and follow him." Who immediately, the "wheel" being dismissed, as he himself related to us, touched inwardly by a trembling of heart, followed him. But because B. Albert was swift of foot, he could not join himself to him, until he came to St. Vitus d, where then he had his dwelling among the Monks of that church.

[8] Now since we have begun to speak of this holy man, that we may know for certain that the ears of God were present in his prayers, let us now take a foretaste of a few things about his life. He was indeed in the Island of Corsica e, begotten of not the lowest parents; very rich in possessions, he abounded in male and female servants; He, seeing his brother slain in a duel, he had a brother endowed with knighthood, who, when he had entered into single combat with another knight, a wound being given by each to the other in turn, ended his life in that very single encounter. The blessed Albert therefore, beholding his brother to have died thus suddenly with another Knight, in the flower of youth; considering and pondering in his heart that every man is as grass, and his glory falls and perishes as the flower of grass; began to scorn himself together with all things that are of the world; to reckon himself dust, mud, ashes: and therefore, his male and female servants having been given liberty, conferring and scattering his possessions, furniture, and all trifling things to God and the poor, he had dismissed all things to follow Christ naked: with the greatest part of his things, he betook himself to the great city of Pisa, to St. Vitus, receiving food and clothing through the Abbot of that church.

[9] But also of his own food, dwelling in the hospital of the same convent, and leading a strict life, he distributed to the poor; receiving also clothing and shoes from the Abbot, he gave them out to the needy, and remained naked: content with the garment alone, which is commonly called Pilurica f, he was clothed. But since, frequently clothed with new ones, he always gave to the needy, he was called by his Abbot, also distributing to the poor the things given him for food and clothing; who addressed him thus with the Brethren of the same monastery: "Brother Albert, you know this house does not abound; we cannot so often, beyond use, provide you clothing and shoes." To whom, replying in a humble voice, "Do not," he said, "holy Father, bestow on me: the Lord will provide me with help, my helper, by your prayers, and to me your servant nothing will be lacking: because I cannot see the poor suffer need, and by not bestowing the things which are with me, not have mercy." From that day he received no more clothing or shoes from them, going about naked, content with the garment alone, of which it was spoken above.

[10] After these things he chose to set out abroad, seeking the Western parts, naked: then having made a pilgrimage to the holy places, as has been said, and with bare feet macerating his Body, and bringing it into servitude, he sought the hall of Blessed James (Compostela). Thus also he visited all the holy and celebrated places of the West. But when he entered some village, he asked neither lodging nor food. If God had touched anyone's heart, that out of charity he should call him, he was lodged with him; otherwise, however far it was distant, he passed on to another village. Whence it happened for three days, that as he made his journey, he was called by no one either to give alms or to lodging. And when now he failed in the strength of body, being far distant from all habitation, lying down upon the earth, he prayed to God thus, saying: "Lord God Almighty, I have followed and chosen You naked: Now, as it pleases You, provide for me, because the Body which You formed in me, and asking nothing from anyone, he had been divinely sustained; now fails without bodily food." But immediately, because the eyes of the Lord are upon the just, and His ears unto their prayers; there appeared to him a certain poor man, coming with a little sack full of pieces of bread, such as are received in alms, saying to him: "Rise, pilgrim Brother, let us take food together." Who, giving thanks to God, his Body refreshed, traversed the way which he had begun.

[11] But the aforesaid Albert, a Man of wondrous sanctity, had poured forth a prayer to the Lord, that he would never have any other garment than that with which he was covered, a Pilurica made like a shaggy She-goat g, unless a white garment—he not seeking it, and clothed with a fitting garment yet provided by others. Certified indeed in spirit, he awaited the Lord's benefit. When therefore he had come into a place which is called St. Mary h "at the ends of the earth," at the very entrance of the land, a certain man, an inhabitant of the place, bearing a white cape, said to him: "Hey you, pilgrim brother, put on this garment for the love of charity, and as long as you shall be in this place, take food together with me." Wonderful is God, who made all things in weight, number, and measure. The garment put on was found neither greater nor smaller than the stature of B. Albert required. Thence, by way of Blessed Martin, who is at Tours; visiting other venerable places, returning, he came to Paris, where is the constant Seat of the Kings.

[12] then renowned in France for the prophetic spirit And because a lamp cannot be hidden, lit upon a Candlestick to give light to those who are in the house; his sanctity straightway became known to the King, and his fame filled all those parts; so that he was no longer called Lord Albert, but, as it were by a general proper name, was called "Holy Man." Very often, moreover, the King i, laying aside Royal pomp, most humbly, like some private person, came to him, and according to the counsel given him by him conducted the great affairs of the Kingdom, and the Lord was prosperously with him in all things. Likewise also to the Princes and all others coming to him he gave salutary Counsels, and ceased not to admonish them to depart from evils and do good. And to the King of the Franks himself he foretold many future things through the spirit, which afterwards the event of things itself proved. Likewise he told him that he should not go to Jerusalem with an army, because it would by no means succeed k prosperously for him. Wherefore also, as he had foretold, the contrary event to the King was made known to the whole world. For all these things, that credit may be given, either we heard from him, or we ourselves saw: many heavenly secrets also he showed to me, as to his beloved disciple, dwelling with him at Paris for three years more or less, by hearing not by sight, or even by revelation revealed from God: which, because the time is short, I have judged it worth more to be silent about than to tell.

[13] But in the second l year of the arrival of the most holy Raynerius to us, there at last he most holily died: that B. Albert might visit also his disciples, for whom he had poured forth prayer to God, he wished to undertake a journey, as he himself in his own letters wrote back to B. Raynerius and to me most unworthy. Why God did not permit this to him willing it, is still hidden in the treasures of the same eternal King. But happily in that very year, at a certain church, which is near Paris m, and is called Clairvaux, he migrated to the Lord: where very many benefits are bestowed through him, as has been related to us by certain persons who dwell at Paris and come from there, on the sick, he doing it, who followed Christ, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, God, through immortal ages. Amen.

[14] But hence let us turn the discourse of our pen to those things which we began to say about the Conversion of S. Raynerius "of the Water" to God. The blessed Albert therefore, Raynerius having besought him to pray for him, turning to the gracious Raynerius: "Are you that one, who just now here

were singing in Arsicium?" And he replied, "Yes, Father." And B. Albert added: "If you served God as you serve the world, it would be better for you." But S. Raynerius, replying, said: "For this I came, that you may pray for me to the Lord, that I may be able to flee this fugitive and hidden world." To whom B. Albert: "Do you believe," he said, "if I pour forth prayers for you, that I shall be heard by Almighty God?" B. Raynerius replied to him: "I believe, Father, that if I were already in hell, by his intercession I should be wholly freed from there." B. Albert said: "Go now, he returns, as he had been ordered, on the third day; and return to me on the day of Sabbath": but it was then the fifth Feria (Thursday). But on the day of Sabbath after None, in the very Lenten season, when now F. Raynerius had almost dined, trembling he said within himself: "O wretched me! I have not returned as I had agreed to the Holy man"; and leaving father and mother at dinner, he hastily rose; and finding a certain companion of his, together they came as quickly as possible to the holy Man. But leaving his companion with the boys, who were there being taught the Psalter, he proceeded into the Cloister to seek the Blessed Albert: whom he immediately had meeting him. [and at the same time he is illuminated with a wondrous light, and bathed with an odor,]

[15] And B. Albert said to him: "Son, I have been heard; let us go, and let us see what the Lord shall will to do about this." He led him therefore to a certain table, where the household of the Monks had come to recline; sitting there alone on opposite sides, B. Albert toward the West, S. Raynerius toward the East, looking at one another. And behold, suddenly the brightness of God shone round about them, sprinkled with the ineffable odor of sweetness: and, as S. Raynerius often related to us, that on account of the sweetness of the odor the soul desired to be separated from the body: for the immensity of the splendor did not allow them to look upon each other's face. After some space of an hour had passed, that light departed; the fragrance of the odor, and the oil of dew remained in their hair. Concerning this oil the prophet writes; "I have found," he says, "David my servant, with my holy oil I anointed him." Then bursting forth into voice B. Raynerius said: "What, holy Father, do you wish me to do?" But he replied to him and said: "See that the Spirit of God has rested in you. Ps. 88, 21 He henceforth will purify His dwelling in you and will show what you ought to do. and he is sent to the Confessor: Nevertheless, because the Lord's day is dawning, on the second Feria (Monday) morning you shall go to the Prior of St. James of Orticaria, imploring pardon of all the sins of which you can be mindful, you shall confess them one by one." Which was so done, just as you have heard above in the reading of his sermon.

[16] But when he had then returned to his paternal house, from the strong contrition of his heart God opened to him the fountain of his tears, then wholly poured out in lamentation and tears, for the enormity of his various crimes; so that then there was fulfilled in him that of the Psalm: "Mine eyes have sent forth streams of waters, because they have not kept thy law: because thou art just, O Lord, and thy judgment is right." Ps. 118, 36 But his father and mother, when they saw him weeping thus profusely, grieving exceedingly and weeping as for an only son, said: "Alas! my son, the light of our eyes, what has taken away your sense? what madness has so suddenly seized you? Did we not tell you, in the streets, not to pass the night abroad; he is believed to be mad; and earnestly admonish you to rest at night within your house, and not to wander outside the house, because this would befall you?" Then B. Raynerius said in a suppliant voice: "Do not, most kind father and mother, be sad nor weep over me; because I have not turned to madness, but I have done penance for my sins; and therefore I pour forth these tears which you see." But they, hearing these things, gave greater groans, and not believing his flourishing age and high spirits, repeated much greater howls and wailings, both they and their kinsmen and blood-relations, and Neighbors, asserting for certain that he had turned to madness and fury: and thus they wished to bind him with chains, and ran, as if to see a madman, neighbors and others.

[17] God opened the eyes of one alone, his childhood Master, by name Henry, a Priest of St. Martin; and he began to say to all standing around: "In truth know, that these tears are not of a man insane, and thus dismissed by his parents, but of one weeping for his deeds. Let each one now withdraw; and permit him to bewail the sins which he has committed." Then they left him shut up, for very great grief, locking the chamber. Ps. 26, 10 & 30, 12 His father too and mother could not bear his presence, for grief as for a most beloved only-begotten. Then was fulfilled what is written in the Psalm: "For my father and my mother have left me, but the Lord has taken me up": and in another place: "I am become a reproach exceedingly to my neighbors, and a fear to my acquaintance; they that saw me fled forth from me, and I am become as a vessel that is destroyed, for I have heard the blame of many that dwell round about, while they assembled together to take away my soul." These things not they nor we, but the Lord Jesus Himself confirmed as said of him; when the psalter, in a place which is called Quadragena n, through his mouth He opened to him and brought forth entire.

[18] But on the third day of his tears, he is even made blind. in which he had taken no food, the tears together with the light of his eyes had utterly failed. And because a mother cannot easily forget her son, she came to him, to know what he was doing, inquiring how it was with him. But he, perceiving it was his mother, replied: "Be not sad, most kind mother; for, groaning, I recall the offenses of my youth, and for weeping I now pour forth not even the failing tears, and with the light of my eyes lost I cannot see you my lady." His mother, hearing this, and experiencing it in truth, with her hair torn and her face lacerated, immensely wailing cried out. But his father Glandulphus, coming up, with his garments torn for the anguish of grief, Knowing them dismayed by this misfortune, hearing his son was made blind, could give neither words nor cries. But going out from the Chamber for sadness, they fastened the door of the chamber behind them, so that then there should be fulfilled in him what the prophet foretold in spirit: "My heart is troubled, my strength has forsaken me, and the light of my eyes is not with me: Ps. 37, 11 My friends and my neighbors have drawn near against me, and stood; and they that were near me stood afar off."

[19] The blessed Raynerius therefore, knowing the grief of his father and mother, knowing himself also deprived of bodily light, poured forth such a prayer to our Lord Jesus Christ: "Lord God Almighty, to whom nothing is impossible, for the power is subject to You when You will; You know all things, since from eternity all things are present to You. Open now, to the contrition of my heart, the eyes of Your clemency, and of me Your unworthy servant, he seeks light again from God and obtains it: who owe ten thousand talents, set in very great straits, according to the multitude of Your mercies, now, now, my Creator, have mercy." But immediately the word of the Lord in him was made to him, saying thus: "And I now remit to you all your sins, and restore the light of your eyes: and be glad, because I will always be with you. Rise now, and do henceforth as I shall show you."

[20] and he feels himself bathed with a heavenly odor, But immediately he began to be assiduous in the churches, always intent on serving God with prayers and fasts; wholly sprinkled with odors various and unspeakable, exhaling through his nostrils from Him who had made His dwelling in him, God. Is. 2, 22 These ineffable odors the word of God conferred on the man united to Himself in one person: whence also Isaiah says of him: "Beware of the man whose breath is in his nostrils"; and in the psalm, "God your God has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows; Myrrh and aloes and cassia from your garments": and in the blessing of Isaac, Jacob the father said: "Behold the smell of my son, as the smell of a full field, which the Lord has blessed." Ps. 44, 8, Gen. 27, 27 For unless he had felt this fragrance of odors in his son Isaac (Jacob), such as is that of a field filled with the odors of various flowers, surely he would have confirmed not a blessing, but a curse, since he had received the blessing fraudulently, having lied himself to be the brother. For by this fragrance, in the blessing he felt the presence of the Holy Spirit to be present; And therefore he afterwards replied to Esau himself: "And I have blessed him, and he shall be blessed, not by my utterance alone, but in the powerful Confirmation of the divine spirit forever."

[21] But it came to pass, and thereafter while he lived in the house, with a certain kinsman of his, and by it he discerns the visions divinely offered from the false. who had then newly taken a wife, by name Monachus, at St. Peter "in chains," he saw a certain eagle through a revelation, bearing in its beak a kindled light, saying thus to him: "I return from Jerusalem; receive this light for illuminating many nations and peoples." Who, awaking, was wholly filled with the Lord's odor: whence he straightway knew that this vision was from the Lord: for he held it for a most certain sign, that, when the vision was from God, he was wholly sprinkled with a wondrous odor. But what this vision signified he afterwards understood, that God would through him, returning, illuminate many nations and peoples, as today the judgment of us all proves this signification.

NOTES D. P.

CHAPTER II.

His landing in the Holy Land, he strips himself of all things, and lives on alms voluntarily offered, abstaining from wine.

[22] But it came to pass after these things: his own and his companions' merchandise being gathered together, Sailing into the east for the sake of trade, S. Raynerius "of the water" proceeded by ship to the lands across the sea, for the sake of trading and making gain. Who, although he was laden with the things of the world, yet his mind was always intent on God: always day and night beseeching and entreating the Almighty, that, all things being left and stripped away by him, he might merit to be clothed with the pilgrim garment, which is commonly called Pilurica or Sclavina. He fasted indeed sometimes in lay garments, from the Lord's Day to the fifth Feria (Thursday). But more often, and this for four years, from Sunday to Sunday. Nor for this did he intermit either to row more strongly in the b boat, he fasts much: or to do assiduously the things which were necessary for the ship. The expense, for making the common contribution with his companions, in common and equally, he made most devoutly and cheerfully, and provided a poor man in his stead, while he did not take food, also at the request of his companions, that he might in no way be troublesome to them.

[23] opening the money-coffer, But it happened on a certain day, that, in order to take coins, he opened his coffer, and it being opened, an intolerable stench as of a dead man exhaled from it. Searching the whole of it, and wondering whence it exhaled, he by no means found it. It happened also a second time, for counting his pittances c, that he came to the same coffer, and without delay the aforesaid horrible stench again vaporized, and after an interval of space vanished; most cautiously smelling all the things which were in the coffer, terrified, a grave stench from it, and wondering whence it arose, not to have found. But when now the days of Lent were approaching, and he had cheeses for sale; he searched with his attendant where they were, that they might come to the market: and likewise feeling it come forth from the cheeses; and behold, the same stench filled their nostrils. Thinking therefore, lest some dead animal lay hidden among the cheeses, he had them all moved, sweeping out also the coffer, at the bottom he felt the smell of cheese. Since therefore he had felt this grave stench twice in the coffer, once in the cheese, nor had he been able to find whence it had exhaled; astonished, and resorting to the customary refuges of prayer, he suppliantly besought God the father, that He would deign to make clear what this might be. For where the bounty of one who gives unasked, and the consideration of one who invites, is regarded, the mind of the one asking is not long retarded for obtaining this, since it can be.

[24] In the following night through a vision the Lord appeared, saying to him: "O foolish one, behold three times I have unlocked for you the clemency of my presence, and you have not in any wise recognized me: he asks to be taught what this means for him go to the church, and there speaking with you I will show what you ought to do." Blessed Raynerius, like a most energetic athlete, rising tirelessly, went to the church; thinking and turning over with himself as he went, where the Lord could appear to him, he not knowing him; saying further within himself: "Perhaps then He appeared to me, and I did not recognize Him, when I found a poor man, and did not give him something." Having entered the church, on bended knees, as if put into an agony, he prayed more at length: "O key of David, Jesus Christ, son of the most high God, who shut and no one opens, who open and no one shuts; the vision, by which you signified to me to come hither without delay, deign not to disdain to unlock to me your servant, the seal being removed."

[25] Immediately seized by sleep, he saw the Lord saying to him: "When I infused into you, handling worldly and fleeting things, the stench three times; and he understands that all earthly things are to be renounced; I myself was He who made them stink to you: now therefore unburden yourself of them, that you may be able confidently to submit your neck to my yoke: and on the day on which I was stripped on Calvary, strip yourself; with the garment which you asked applied to you." Awaking, and greatly unburdened, he began to give out all his things to the poor: the goods of the partnerships which he had, he sent back to each of his companions through faithful messengers; writing to his sister, that, taking a husband, she should do with his patrimony what she wished. Thenceforth wholly, and undivided, for following the commandments of God, which also he does. giving himself to fasts and supplications, always asking God's mercy, that he might be able to be content with little food, he had a kindled and intent mind.

[26] But it came to pass on one of the days, when he was at Tyre, That for the salvation of Christians He is present, on the day of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the mother church of the same, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with the Bishop of Sidon, in place of the Archbishop d of that place, who had then gone to Rome, singing the Mass, and the Gospel being read, the aforesaid Bishop ascending the pulpit or ambo, thus began to speak to the people, with many other Pisans existing there: "Hear, most kind brethren, know in truth, that among us now is God, who has put on the flesh of one of you, in the assembly the Bishop says: for saving all Christians"; and repeating the word several times he said it. All our people, who were present there, began strenuously to wonder at so very high a word, looking at one another, yet turned their eyes more inclinedly toward B. Raynerius. But B. Raynerius himself, what future thing this portended, conferring in his heart, kept.

[27] offered in a vision to the Mother of God, In the same church too of the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, on a certain night, whether in the body or out of the body B. Raynerius not knowing, he was carried by two old men clothed in white, before the most blessed Virgin Mother of God Mary, a choir of many virgins assisting her. To whom the most blessed virgin said: "You shall rest in my bosom." To this B. Raynerius said: "How, Lady? since you are the Queen of heaven and earth, shall I, who am so little, repose in your bosom?" But the old men, who had carried him before the mother of God, held him before her with all Reverence, between their hands, by his arms, distant a cubit from the earth. Again the Lady of Virgins, replying, said: "Your body shall rest in my church, which is at Pisa, forever." he understands that he is to be buried in her church. And that his Body should be placed in her church with great honor, today we see fulfilled; and his glorious sepulcher is honorably placed in the bosom of the Corporeal image representing the Mother of God, where it had first been: there it shines with innumerable miracles and prodigies, just as in the present you have seen.

[28] As the day therefore drew near, on which Jesus Christ, On Good Friday he ascends Calvary; the consubstantial son of God, suffered the cross on Calvary; B. Raynerius ascended Jerusalem. On that very day, onto Calvary, carrying with him the garment which is called Pilurica, with fear, and trembling at the work undertaken, he came; bestowing on the poor certain of the garments with which he was clothed, he remained naked and without breeches f, the Pilurica and the psalter, in which he was about to read, having been offered upon the altar, which was on Golgotha, that is, Calvary. The Priest, observing what S. Raynerius was doing, [and there wholly stripped, he receives the pilgrim's cloak and psalter from the Priest:] restored to him the pilurica to be put on, for alms; the psalter, which he had offered, asking it from the Priest himself, he received on loan. Immediately, that he might not be recognized by the Pisans and his companions, hastening to the Lord's temple, he there, remaining in Prayer, lay hidden. O how grievously the stones with the little stones struck his feet! who had always been accustomed to go shod and delicately. O how harsh to his flesh was the pilurica, who had been wont to be clothed in garments soft to the flesh, in fine linen and g baldinella.

[29] But on the night of the following day, on which he had been thus content with the garment alone which has been mentioned, it was said to the Priest of the Temple through a vision: "Go, and tell the people, and so passing the night in the Temple, it is revealed to the Parson, that today God on Calvary was stripped, and is now stripped in this Temple, for saving the Christian people." The Priest, awakened, would not rise from the bed, but settling back fell asleep again. And immediately the same vision, terrifying him, awoke him; and, as before, he gave his limbs to slumber. A third time, terrified by grave threats, rising, he came to the people watching there, with which the temple was full; and from the ambo, commanding silence, thus, crying out in a loud voice, he addressed the people: "Hear, hear I beseech you, my brethren: a great and unheard-of thing in this time, as if Christ Himself were present, stripped for the salvation of men. I report to you who have assembled here: which, because I did not wish to report it to you, again a voice calling me by name terrified me; and when I still resisted, threatening the menaces of death, a third time it compelled me to rise, 'Go, and tell the people, that God on Calvary was stripped, and is now stripped in the temple for saving the Christian people.' Seek therefore, Brethren, among yourselves, because without doubt there is in this temple the Blessed one." When Raynerius, passing the night in the temple, heard this, that what he had done might not be known, he went out of the temple. But those who were in the temple, searching one another, found no one stripped, since he, fleeing, had already departed from the temple.

[30] [In the church of the sepulcher he understands the Office of the Armenians, as the Latin one;] But Raynerius upon the Walls of Jerusalem, with those who there live as solitaries, for eight days

lay hidden; until his companions, and others who with him had ascended for the sake of prayer, had wholly departed. Seeking him strenuously, when they could not find him, not wishing to disturb God's counsel, they returned to their own merchandise. Thenceforth in the Church of the holy sepulcher S. Raynerius, beside the sepulcher, was always assiduous in vigils and prayers night and day; yet he scorned, because he did not understand it, the Office of the Armenians, which was there celebrated. And when he had done this for a long time, God opened his ear for hearing, and he understood their office more clearly than he ever had that of the Latins. Thenceforth with all vigilance, and without interval he listened to their offices. Yet wine in his food, invited to alms, While he still drank wine, incurably stung he still took. He was frequently invited to dine on food by one who was a solitary on the walls of Jerusalem, and with him he drank wine. On a certain day when he was on those very walls of Jerusalem, a certain wicked animal, flying near him, stung him in the mouth and arm, and left the sting fixed in his mouth: which being extracted, when no wound appeared in the mouth and arm, there remained in him a sharp pain and excessive burning. If any medicine was there, applied for mitigating the burning and pain, immediately the whole was found scorched.

[31] At last he disposed this with himself, that he should go to St. Abraham (Hebron) for the sake of supplicating, willing and being eager to be there for some days, he resolves to go for the sake of remedy to St. Abraham, perhaps there God might show him whence he could be healed. And immediately the Lord said to him: "Go," he said, "secure, because I will go before your face." For the way is full of jutting crags and most harsh k, so that no one is bold to go, as that man was, unshod: for the iron-shod horses which rode there returned without any iron on their feet; and those who kept their iron l shoes were said to have the best feet. But shod men or women, who went on foot, often returned afterwards without soles on their slippers m: whence with great fear, even of the Ascalonites n, they hastened to that place. With other pilgrims therefore, unshod as he was B. Raynerius, though the way was most harsh, barefoot: having confidence in the word of the Lord, he sets out.

[32] Walking with him a certain religious man, who, all things of the world being scorned, had been sprung from our parts, with a certain companion called Homodeus and carried B. Raynerius's purse, where he put the silver which was given to him for alms, named Homo-Dei. But the blessed Raynerius had as it were the light of a candle in the night before his feet, while they went: and so by day or night in no wise did he strike his foot against a stone. Ps. 36, 5 & 90, 11 Then was fulfilled in him what is written: "Reveal your way to the Lord, and hope in him, and he will do it"; and, "He has given his Angels charge over you, and in their hands they shall bear you up, lest perhaps you strike your foot against a stone." and he indeed remains unharmed For carried by the protection of God and the Angels, he felt no injury in his feet. When he had come to St. Abraham, he began to implore the Lord with continual prayer, that, a response received from Him, he might rejoice in the immensity of His piety. Soon, illumined by the Lord's oracle, he heard a voice saying: "Return with quick step to my sepulcher, and there you shall obtain the health which you long for." Rejoicing therefore, returning, he came, giving thanks to God, to the desired glorious sepulcher. but he loses his gravely injured companion But Homo Dei, the religious man of whom we spoke above, gravely injured in his feet, returned sick to Jerusalem: whose feet, legs, and thighs, immensely swollen, broke forth into corruption, and an intolerable stench, so that S. Raynerius with his own hands drew off the skin from the thigh down to the feet, continuous in the manner of a boot: and thus in the service of God he lost his temporal life, and found the eternal one before God, persevering unto the end; just as the Lord himself says: "He who shall have lost his soul for my sake, has made it safe." Matth. 10, 39

[33] Saint Raynerius therefore, when, having returned, he had given his limbs to slumber, a certain silver cauldron, then he learns through a vision. adorned with inestimable gems, was carried before him through a vision, full of oil, pitch, and naphtha, which were burning in the Cauldron, over a very great kindled flame. S. Raynerius, admiring the beauty of the cauldron, grieving greatly that so great a work should thus be scorched, began to say, crying out in that vision: "O ineffable loss! who will be able to apply a remedy to this so comely thing?" and many, to extinguish the fire of the cauldron, threw very many things into it, which did not soften the fire, but kindled it more and more. Immediately a flask of water was held out to B. Raynerius, that he might throw it into the Cauldron: of which, when he had thrown three or four drops into it, suddenly it was extinguished, so that no heat could be felt in it. The gracious Raynerius, observing this, his body to be cured even from the incentive of lust, cried out in a loud voice, saying: "Lord God, what is this! many applied many and various things, to take away the fire, and could not; and behold, four drops of water calmed all its force." To this a voice was made to him: "The cauldron is your Body; the various medicaments which many applied, are applied to you, which did not profit you, but rather harmed. Drink water henceforth, and your whole body will be purged of filth, and of the fire of lust (for his Body was still agitated by the incentive of lust, although he tamed his body by abstinences and excessive vigils). Behold now I have given him the grace which David the Psalmist humbly besought of me, saying: 'Set, O Lord, a watch before my mouth, and a door round about my lips.' For in the stinging of your lips I will keep your lips forever, so that no mortal or criminal word shall any more proceed from your mouth."

[34] if henceforth he should drink water: Thus returned to himself, the vision departed from him. Thenceforth the most holy Raynerius never took anything but water in his drink, and immediately recovered: and in this he persisted unto the end of his Bodily life, more or less twenty years. And so was fulfilled what the Lord says through Moses: "The Nazarite shall not drink wine, nor anything that can intoxicate." Now, my brethren, diligently attend: if ever some scourge threatens us, let us not murmur a little; but let us give thanks to God, which he observes through 20 years, that thus, for sin, through the scourge we may obtain mercy; thus, for the gift to be increased, as you have now heard done to B. Raynerius, let us by no means be ungrateful. But when B. Raynerius went, for the sake of taking food, to that one who was a solitary on the walls of Jerusalem, just as also many other solitaries, of whom we spoke above, he offered him wine in his drink: which, asking what it was, utterly refusing, he by no means drank. Then that man said to him: "Since you do not drink wine, I do not wish you to dine with me any more." But as he was descending thence, the word of the Lord was made upon him: "I do not wish you henceforth to run about to take food with another; but dwell in your own dwelling, where I will give you my meal."

[35] Then the most blessed Raynerius chose his lodging with a certain Religious Matron; Using the hospitality of a pious matron, and from there he did not go out, until he came to us sent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ delivered to the disciples in his doctrine, saying: "Into whatever house you enter, remain there, and go not out from there, and pass not from house to house." Luke 15, 5 But this woman, very honest, ministered to him by preparing food, whom for his sanctity she loved as an only son. Matth. 15, 40 Thus also to our Lord Jesus Christ women ministered, as it is written: "And there was Mary Magdalene, and Mary of James the less, and Salome, and the Mother of Joseph, who, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered to him." But he received alms from whoever gave to him at the Lord's sepulcher. he lives on alms given unasked, Whence the word of the father was made to him saying: "Take care that you receive alms no more, except from me: But whoever shall give you anything, you not asking, nor looking to him that he might give; know you that this you receive through me." For he did not permit him to accumulate, nor did he have given to him beyond twenty-nine coins given to him one by one: and this he did so long, until for an orphan, as the Lord commanded him, he collected money, concerning which in its place you shall hear more fully.

[36] then from one alone provided: But penance being completed, He bestowed on him so much, that when he came to us in the City of Pisa, it sufficed him for a year; After which God prepared for him an honored man, whom He held beloved above the rest, who ministered to him and his boy the necessities of livelihood; breathing a heavenly odor, he goes around the Holy Sepulcher. nor from another, the Lord forbidding, did he dare to receive, who said to him: "Unburden yourself, that you take nothing from any other for food." When on a certain day he was in the church of the Sepulcher, and prayed beside the Lord's sepulcher, for reverence's sake being eager to go around it, something marvelous happened to him, which a mere man, nor an Angel coming from heaven, could clearly explain. Gen. 27, 27 There began to exhale from him so great an abundance of odor, that the whole surrounding crowd, as if turned into stupor, was filled; and of so ineffable an odor, whence it proceeded, was utterly unknown by them, except from him, since indeed with this unutterable grace, the Lord's Mausoleum was gone around three times. Then was fulfilled that: "Behold the odor of my son as of a full field, which the Lord has blessed." o

NOTES D. P.

taking on, for applying to men the price of redemption acquired by Christ in the flesh: which understand again below: and so he is below called son of God not natural, but adoptive.

CHAPTER III.

On certain divine favors conferred on Raynerius, both while praying at Jerusalem, and on Mount Quarantana keeping a forty-day fast.

[37] In the Temple he perceives the fragrance of incense, It happened at a certain time that B. Raynerius, for the sake of prayer, lingered in the Lord's Temple, and behold, the odor of incense, which was wont to occur from within, he began to feel copiously from without: whence what this might be, he began to entreat God, his knees set on the pavement, looking to the left side, and seeing nothing: at last he turned his eyes to the right: and behold, he had before his eyes a most white dove; which, when it opened its wings before his face, sent forth the smoke of incense as it were a globe from under its wings. Soon the servant of God, falling on his face, gave great thanks to God Himself for so sublime a vision; and beholding the little dove fly to his right ear; he felt the Holy Spirit Himself enter into him in the likeness of a dove. and the Holy Spirit coming into him in the likeness of a dove. Immediately the odor of incense, which he had felt in the exterior things, flowed copiously from the interior through his nostrils. Then was fulfilled in him what the Lord Jesus Christ says of Himself in the Gospel: "If you love me, keep my commandments, and I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Paraclete, that may abide with you forever, the spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not; but you shall know him, because he shall abide with you, and shall be in you." John 14, 16 Which was evidently shown to S. Raynerius, as you have just now heard.

[38] At another time too, when he was at the Lord's Sepulcher, a brightness proceeding from his eyes, he sees all the letters golden. from his eyes there went forth an excessive brightness, so that for three days whatever letters he looked at did not seem written with ink, but all stamped with gold. And so was fulfilled: "If your body be lightsome, having no part of darkness, the whole shall be lightsome, and as a bright lamp shall enlighten you": as he himself related to us. Luke 11, 36 Then the true light, Christ, illuminated him concerning the infinite things which were to come up to the end of the world. Of which some now clearly appear. At a certain time Raynerius went to Galilee, that at Nazareth, the place where the Lord, Creator of Heaven, Jesus Christ, had been nourished, he might pour forth prayers for forty days and nights. His sanctity and life being known to the priests, who celebrated the offices in the church of the aforesaid place, they gave him permission, at whatever hour of the day or night he wished, to linger in that church. Those Clerics from across the sea indeed perform the nocturnal offices at the first cockcrow, which being completed, they return to their former dwellings to sleep: but Saint Raynerius, that he might complete his prayer through the night, remained within, the doors of the church however being well fastened from outside.

[39] When on a certain night there he poured forth prayer before the altar, for the Priests and that church, the Demon trying to hinder his prayers, that they might walk God's way, and do His commandments, which he had never before done; immediately Satan appeared to him, with burning and terrible eyes, in a foul and horrible form; "Hey you," saying; "Pray your father whatever pleases you. But for this do not pray: for this field I sowed, this harvest is mine: do not put your sickle into it, because you will feel me warring against you at close quarters." To this Raynerius, dear to God, "I will not by reason of you cease to pour forth this prayer. You trust in your pride and loftiness, and I will conquer you in the Lord's meekness and His humility": and so he began again to ask. Immediately that Behemoth, in a moment, extinguished all the lights of the church; and tearing him from the altar, carried him within, against opposition, up to the atrium of the church, and set him upon certain seats, and did him no harm. Then Raynerius began to think within himself: "Now I am on this high crag: if perhaps I pray any more about this, persevering in them he conquers: he will throw me down through this great precipice." He struck therefore his hands upon his knees; "What shall I do?" saying; "alas! alas!" frequently repeating. He spent therefore that night sleepless, praying nothing. On the following night therefore, as though nothing had befallen him, stronger before the Lord, he rose to offer the aforesaid prayer to Him: nor did the devil and Satan dare to bring upon him any sign of Combat. If ever, my Brothers and Sisters in the Lord, the devil shall wish to hinder us in God's service, let us not give place to him; but let us rise stronger to do the same. Whence also God says in His Wisdom: "If the spirit of one having power ascend upon you, do not give your place to him." And B. James the Apostle says: "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you; draw near to God, and he will draw near to you." Eccl. 10, 4

[40] He willed and, desiring, longed to make a "forty days," where our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ fasted forty continuous days and nights, and afterwards hungered. Jas. 4, 8 Wherefore, going to the Canons of the Sepulcher, to whose jurisdiction that place pertains, saying himself to be an adulterer, a homicide, b a perjurer, entangled in various crimes, The forty-day fast, in the same place where Christ, and there longing to weep for his sins through forty days; he obtained from them, that when he labored with his hands together with those who dwell in the Quadragena, he might dine on their refection; but when he did not labor, he should be content with payment, and not with their food. The Canons therefore commended him to one of the Quadragena, and by the agreement already mentioned he led him there. Then B. Raynerius said to them: "As long as I have food of my own, I do not wish to labor with you." He fasted therefore there first from the Lord's Day up to the fifth Feria (Thursday). On this day he did the manual work with them as gladly as if every day he had been filled with various banquets; and thence abstained until the Lord's Day. eating twice a week, he completes it. Thus in the whole of Lent in each week he took dinner only twice. Moreover the aforesaid men, considering the persistence of his fasting and prayer and vigils, besought him that he should do no work with them with his hands; but should persistently complete the work begun and pleasing to God, and take refection together with them. But God, who from on high is everywhere present, who observes each one's desire and vow, kept his fat flesh by invisible food, and fed his body and mind with an excessive diversity of odors. But Belial, who is the cunning rival of the human race, threw very great stones upon that very Quadragena, and at the impact of the stones the whole place trembled, as if it would fall to the depths; wishing, if he could, to kill that man, who was ever-watchful in God's service, or to deter him from his continual work. Leviathan, however, can tempt only as much as the Almighty permits.

[41] which doing again in another year, In this manner too he completed there two other Lents in the years that turned: in one of which Almighty God, who had made His dwelling in him, showed to B. Raynerius, among all the things by which He gladdened him, this highest and chief thing. For when he read the Psalter for the dead in general, yet specially for his father Glandulf, his mother Mingarda, and his sister Bella, and also for his Master the Priest Henry, and John of Corsica, and Bernard the cobbler; when it had come to the place where it is said, chanting psalms for the dead, "You have made him a little less than the Angels," his voice was cut off from him, so that he could say nothing. And when he strove to send forth his accustomed voice, and by no means was able; behold, the odor of incense began to come forth from him through mouth and nostrils, and with it a clearer voice, and greater than and differing from his own, declaring thus: "And I made me less than the Angels; with glory and honor have I crowned you, and have set you over the works of my hands"; which things were of God, speaking in the first person, those things which seemed to be said of David, He brought forth of this man in the second person: and when this man at the end of the Psalm said, "Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord"; he hears the Psalmist's words divinely applied to himself, this voice chanted the glory thus: "Glory to the Father in you, Glory to the Holy Spirit in you"; and when the page was finished in the reading, B. Raynerius turned to another, as His Minister and hearer; coming in order to the place where it is written, "You have cut my sackcloth, and have compassed me with gladness"; which He read to him thus: "I have cut your brain to send forth tears, and afterwards have filled you with gladness by taking away the blindness, and restoring the light." These things, just as we heard them from the same B. Raynerius expounded in parts,

so we set them forth to you: for we did not by any means inquire each thing from him.

[42] But as the order of reading proceeded, he came to the Epithalamium, The same happens to him in the Psalm "My heart hath uttered"; "My heart has uttered a good word": where that voice manifestly opened to him what it was in this verse. "Hear, O daughter, and see," saying thus in the second person to him, "Hear me, son, and know me, because I am God your Creator, who created you from your mother's womb." At this voice the most holy Raynerius, to whom such great and marvelous things had been shown, closed the Psalter, and laid it down: yet at the beck and will of Him who was in him, speaking through the mouth of him reading: and his knees being set on the ground, he said, "O my God, creator of heaven and earth, I am not worthy that You should speak through my mouth, of an adulterer, perjurer, homicide, encircled with the knot of all crimes." And rising from the ground, and taking the Psalter, God said to him thus: "Hear me, son: I am God, your creator: I created you from your mother's womb. I am the resurrection of the dead: for which reason I have chosen you, that I might show my power in you, among the generation and the nations, my city and yours, and my Christian people. And thus in Zion I have established you, that you might be leader and Prince over my Christian people." This promise his creator made to him, which we now see partly fulfilled; but when it shall have been fulfilled, we shall understand it more evidently.

[43] And so, reading to the eighty-seventh Psalm, but not so to the penitential Psalm 87; "Lord God of my salvation, in the day I have cried and in the night before you, let my prayer come in before you, incline your ear to my petition"; he happily read through only these two verses of this Psalm, the rest he did not read; and saying to him, "Today I show you my glory, therefore I will not expound these verses of sadness upon you": and thus in order he came, saying, "The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent, you are a Priest forever according to the order of Melchisedech." But since this verse is read of the Lord Jesus Christ, how God Himself read it of this man, we resolve thus first: "He who can take it, let him take it: not all take this word": but to Psalm 109, in which "You are a Priest forever." but secondly we shall say to them thus, "He is a Priest by office, to whom an invisible unction is applied"; in this manner He did not read it of B. Raynerius: "And he is a Priest by the mortification of the flesh." Whence the Blessed Apostle says: "I beseech you by the mercy of God, that you present your bodies a living host, holy, pleasing to God." Whoever offers a host to God is a Priest according to this manner, and good women Crucifying their bodies are reckoned by the name of Priest: Whence also Peter says, "You therefore are a chosen race, a royal Priesthood." Therefore women and men are anointed with Chrism on the forehead and crown, that against the devil we may be Kings and Priests, ever fighting and praying. And John in his Apocalypse, "And he has made us a kingdom to our God, and Priests."

[44] And thus proceeding he read through the whole Psalter, and all the canticles, and the litanies: in which litanies God said thus: and likewise in reciting the Litanies, "Let my mother come, and adore me in you; let my Michael come, Gabriel and Raphael, and all my Angels, and adore me in you; let my Patriarchs and Prophets come, and adore me in you; let my Peter come, and adore me in you; let my Paul come, and adore me in you": and so He proceeded through the rest, the Martyrs, Confessors, Virgins, Widows, and Married persons, and by name thus and in general completed all. under which Christ ordered Himself to be adored in him by the Saints: At last He made an end in these words, "And for this Psalter, which I have read over you today, I will make to be today before the sight of my glory your father, and your mother, and your sister, your master the Priest Henry, John of Corsica c, and Bernard the cobbler." This speaking of God with S. Raynerius was protracted from Morning until midnight, in the place where God Himself fasted forty days. Then God commanded him to seal his mouth, until the time when he should disclose these things to the people. O if we had the Psalter so read, as he himself related to us, all divine scripture would be written for us.

[45] Moreover B. Raynerius said that "God conferred such a thing on me, which things when Raynerius said of himself as He never granted to His Mother nor to any of the Angels or Saints, that through their mouth He Himself, with no one mediating, showed the whole Psalter so evidently, And that calling His Mother, the Angels, the other Saints, male and female, they adored God Himself in him." In which no small reverence was shown to S. Raynerius, since all, for God's sake in him, bent their knees to him. But understanding his sayings perversely, to their own confusion, they said: "He glorifies himself: for he sets himself before the Mother of the Lord, the Angels, and all the saints." But now, Dearest ones, he glorified not himself, but God: you have understood what was said and done to him by the Lord, and as He commanded him, he in his time announced to us. For if he had not told us these things, who, dreaming, in example of the large mercy of God in us, would ever have written it? This was not to praise himself, but to glorify God the Father, who deigns to do and show such things in His faithful. But concerning those things which God did to him, announced to you His people, He said afterwards to him: "I made you speak my words to the people before daylight."

[46] meanwhile he endures a Priest detracting from him: Yet lest, for these things done to him by the Lord in the Quadragena, any pomp of boasting should arise in him; without delay He raised up against him a Priest, celebrating in it the office of Priests, as his adversary. Who reproached his deeds, saying: "The devil never eats: he is always in the church, not that he may profit himself, but that he may harm others: he always fasts, as you, Raynerius, do." But Raynerius, the athlete of God, on account of the Priest's exceeding blindness grieved vehemently, and as though forgetful of all things said or done by the Lord, on account of the reproaches of the reproacher repeated and frequent, remained too mournful. But on the following night he saw in a vision a certain aged Man, whom soon divinely punished, striking and killing a certain dog on the loins with a staff; with Raynerius the Hermit strongly crying out, "Do not kill him, Lord." But because he was always intent on excessive vigils and Prayers, he anticipated the rest in the Morning in suppliantly asking God. Having completed what he had proposed to do in the night, he wondered why the Priest delayed to rise to sing Matins; and having him called, he replied that he would not rise from the bed any more, because he was suffering in the loins beyond measure. The Hermit Raynerius, in vain he warns him to do penance. mindful of his vision, said to the one who had called him: "Go, and warn him, that he take penance for his sins, because the end of his life has drawn near." The Priest, reckoning the whole as nothing, as if he were speaking to the wind, mocked. Morning come, the Priest, rising, descended from the Quadragena as best he could: And it was never found afterwards where he went, or what was done with him. Whence, dearest ones, cease to reproach good men, because He whose temple they are knows how to avenge the injuries of His temple, when He wills, and how He wills.

NOTES D. P.

CHAPTER IV.

The remaining acts of the saint in the Holy Land.

[47] But it came to pass as time proceeded, that the servant of God Raynerius desired to visit the place in which the Lord was transfigured, before Peter, James, About to keep Lent on Mount Tabor, and John, the high mountain apart, which is Mount Tabor, and to be there for the space of forty days. As therefore he went by the way of that desert, in that very desert he found two hyenas, which the common folk call a "lonzas" (panthers), swifter and bolder than a lion (which indeed, as they say, are generated from a leopard b and a lioness, or from a lion and a leopardess; these animals, when they see however many men, are in no wise afraid, but immediately make an attack upon them, and whomever they seize they tear into parts) lingering off the way on either side. S. Raynerius saw and recognized them from afar: he passes by two panthers without harm: but because the just man is confident as a lion, nor could he turn aside from the way, he began, intrepid, to approach them by a straight course, saying: "If you receive power over me, do what you can." But they, as if awaiting a friend, with head lowered fawned on him with their tails. The holy Hermit of God, the way which he had begun being completed, came unharmed to the mountain of God, Tabor. Then was fulfilled what the wisdom of God itself says: "The creature serving you the creator grows hot for torment against the unjust: but is mild to do good to those who trust in you." Wisd. 16, 24

[48] God therefore gave him grace with the Abbot of that place, as the Monks dined, that he should be in the cloister with them, or with the others who served them at table. But because he did not wish to take food before midday, he chose the last table of those reclining. But it happened on a certain day, when the Abbot reclined with the Monks, that this solitary was in that place of the mountain, where the Lord Jesus was transfigured before the three said disciples, willing to show them for a little the eternal splendor and the glory of the resurrection, he himself there sees the mystery of the transfiguration, which they were to have perpetually. As therefore our Hermit was thinking about this marvelous transfiguration, unexpectedly an excessive splendor proceeded from his eyes: and he saw in that very splendor, with Moses and Elijah, our Jesus more splendid (so that it might in some way be made clear to us) sevenfold than the sun itself. Stupefied indeed by the exceeding brightness, he fell to the earth, falling upon his face. That transfiguration with its brightness departing, returned to himself, he rises from the earth: and because the hour of dining was at hand, he returns glad into the cloister. Whom when the Abbot beheld, he said to him: "Tell us; what did you see? for your face shines exceedingly." and he returns with a shining face. But he, as God willed, that secret, as though jesting with them, utterly veiled. But they asked

him, that the forty days being completed he should always remain there: but his heart was always in the Lord's Sepulcher, where in a similar way he wished himself to be stripped.

[49] Returned to the church of the Lord's Sepulcher, when, no small interval of time having elapsed, he is taught to prefer the Lord's Sepulcher to two other places: he wished again to return to the Quadragena, or to Mount Tabor; behold the Lord through a vision appeared to him, showing him three Candles, long to the measure of a military lance: but the middle one of the two stretched up much higher than the rest. But when Raynerius inquired of the Lord, "What are these candles, my Lord?" and He, "Three," He said, "candles are my three sacred places: the middle one, which is preeminent over the two, is my Sepulcher; where henceforth I wish you to be assiduous, nor to stretch anywhere far while I tell you. Those other two are the Quadragena and Mount Tabor, where you have already been." From that hour so great an ardor was in him to abide in the Sepulcher, that he could scarcely dine, or lie down, and not be there.

[50] he feeds ten poor men successively with the same loaf. On a certain day, when B. Raynerius had invited a certain poor man to dinner, the poor man was made full of bread, and giving thanks to God departed: yet the loaf remained there nearly whole. He brought in another poor man, and again he was satisfied, and departed; and the same loaf was of nearly whole quantity, as before. Likewise separately he brought in a third and a fourth up to a tenth; and all being satisfied, yet the same whole loaf nearly remained. Raynerius himself, seeing this, rendered the highest thanks to God: and immediately the word of the Lord abiding in him, made upon him, said to him: "I have today made you like myself: for as from five loaves I satisfied five thousand men, and there was a surplus; so you today have satisfied ten men from me with one loaf, and afterwards took up the whole loaf nearly entire."

[51] He learns the incorrigible depravity of the Clergy, While in the Lord's Sepulcher, for the Church and the Priests at a certain time he was strenuously praying to God, that they might be the light of the people; immediately the word of the Lord through his mouth answered him: "I have delivered the Priests into the hand of Satan." But meanwhile our Raynerius, tearing his hair with his hands, fell to the earth, saying: "Alas! Lord, is then the people too delivered, because we follow their way? What then will be of the Monks and c Canons?" He replied: "The Canons and Monks, if they do the things which they promise, will come to me; but if not, they will be of the mass of the rest." but for the people he is ordered to feed on bran bread and water alone: Then he himself, hearing this, stood for eight days as one dead, neither praying, nor doing what he was accustomed. But the eighth day coming, the word of the Lord was made to him saying: "Rise, and do not be as one dead; for I did not make you for this, and chose you before others. Begin now from this moment to do penance for the people. Have in your food only bran d bread and water: pray me without intercession for the people itself, until I come there with you, where I will free my Christian people for your sake." Thenceforth Raynerius the pilgrim, for the people without ceasing besought God; he afflicted his body more than usual with vigils, prayers, and fasts; he ate bran bread with water alone on the appointed days.

[52] But it chanced that on a certain day, on which he was to grant food to his body, he went in good time to the market to buy bran bread; and when at one time he had bought a slightly better one, no worse being found; and found there only one man, having bread for sale, somewhat better than that which he was wont to eat. He bought this bread in haste, saying within himself: "Thanks be to God, since today I have better bread: for I could not find worse: nor will God Himself be able to speak ill to me about it." And so he was returning to the lodging of his Matron e, the Roman woman, to put away this bread gladly. But on the very journey immediately the word of the Lord was made upon him, saying to him: "By no means shall any of this bread enter into your mouth: return with me, and I will show you what kind you ought to take." Our pilgrim, resisting, said to Him: "Shall I thus always be a servant, that I may not dare even once to eat less bad bread? It would be better for me to be dead, than to be set unceasingly under such a yoke." And the word said to him: he is ordered to buy one even worse than the former, "Do not speak much: return, as I said: because of that you shall not eat." He led him therefore to a certain man, whose bread was as much worse, as that which he had bought was better than usual; and said to him: "Buy this bread." B. Raynerius, considering the bran f bread, grieving bought it, saying within himself: "It would have been better for me if I had waited, until I had taken the usual bread": but the other bread, which by chance he had bought, he bestowed on the poor. At the hour of dinner he blessed the bread, and broke the bran one. Which when he ate, every kind of seasoning seemed to him to be in it. He rendered thanks therefore, knowing His power to be in every thing: and let no one murmur against God, saying that, whence one thinks himself to be troubled, if he obeys God, he will be present gladdened. This penance for the people, so harsh, he protracted up to seven years: and finds it most savory. but seven years being completed, the Lord said to him thus about this penance: "Behold, for my Christian people you have satisfied me; now henceforth receive license from me, that you may eat all foods, except flesh, wine, and lard, and except those things from which the Nazarites abstain. Yet you persistently pour forth prayer for my people to me, until I lead you across the sea, and there I will free it for your sake."

[53] It came to pass that the day of the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ drew near. From Jerusalem he is transported in a moment to Bethlehem, Then through the greatest feast, where God was born, it was celebrated by all the people of that kingdom in Bethlehem. To this feast, on the vigil of His nativity, B. Raynerius was hastening to go; but, as God willed, he set out on the journey only when None was already said at Jerusalem: whence anxious he began to go swiftly, although he feared to lose the Vespers of so great a day. But the Lord, who carried the Prophet Habakkuk from Judea into Babylon in a moment, led this man, so that it always seemed to him to go by a straight way, in the same ninth hour, the bell ringing, to Bethlehem. Then Raynerius, still ignorant of this deed, hearing the little bell, inquired whether Vespers had been sung or were being sung. To him asking such a question, wondering, they replied: "It is not Vespers, but the offices of None are now being sung." Returned to himself therefore, B. Raynerius understood that, not by his own feet, but by God's power, in the same hour in which he had set out on the journey from Jerusalem, in the beginning of the same Hour he had arrived there, rendering thanks to the highest Magnificence of God and to His glorious Nativity.

[54] We observe that there is no friend, who would wish to do so much for his own friend, and he suffers things like Christ's in his flesh. as Almighty God did for this faithful one of His. Let us therefore imitate this man, that we may be partakers of his sanctity, and that he may be for us an intercessor to the Lord God, for whose saving He had put on flesh. For God had said to him: "I made you like myself: for as I made myself son of my Jewish people, for saving the human race, taking Flesh from my Handmaid, and I carried that flesh into Heaven, and it is there with me; so now I am made son of my Christian people, for saving it, putting on g your flesh; and I will make it remain on earth, and be adored by all the nations which are in it." This man therefore had to suffer the same injuries from like persons, which the God-man Himself endured, conversing with us on earth. They crucified the creator with the tongue only; these injured their follower and like, with words, and blasphemies, beyond measure: but it remains, that God has already given sentence about both.

[55] S. Raynerius wished at Jerusalem to lay hands on certain sick persons, that they might be cured; He is forbidden to cure the sick at Jerusalem. but God forbade him, saying to him: "See that you do it not, because this honor in these lands I have kept and given only to my h Mother. I will lead you there, where by your ministry I am about to cure many who are ill." Which we have known, without any ambiguity, to be fulfilled today in infinite cases.

[56] In those days, when some of our countrymen had entered the church of the holy Sepulcher of the Lord, the friend of God Raynerius diligently inquired of them about the news of our land. But among other news they reported to him also this, that he who had once been Vice-Lord of the Archbishopric of Pisa, He understands, on account of contempt of the Pope held the honor of the general Chair of the Papacy, i about which he was sufficiently cheered on account of his fatherland. But they added; "and the Romans call him 'debraccatus' (breechless), among other base things which they bring forth against him": and at this B. Raynerius was not a little troubled. And as they departed, he began straightway to think within himself about the Roman city, and silently to speak in his heart. "God has honored that Roman nation above all nations: there He established the Papacy over all other Churches: gold, silver, gems, and precious garments from every part of the lands are brought there; the business of various causes from all parts of the world is there discussed, and decided, that the See is to be taken away from the City of Rome. or laid to rest by friendly concord: yet that nation, so honored by God, takes no thought of these things; nay, what is worse, it dishonors the very supreme Priests of God and often drives them from their See. In truth they are worthy to lose that dignity, and by no means to have it." As he thought such things, the word of the Lord was made upon him, saying: "My thoughts are made your thoughts, my ways your ways; I, the Lord, say it. And because the thoughts of God's heart from generation to generation are not changed, in the future k without doubt, what God has said, is awaited."

[57] Our blessed Raynerius, when in a most harsh winter it had snowed much in Jerusalem, and the quality of the air was intensified into cold, holding his feet on the marbles in the Lord's Sepulcher, began to be cold. Then it came up into his heart, to visit a certain church in the same city, praying on the marble pavement, that he might pray there; whose pavement was paved with marble; his flesh suggested to him not to go there, because the snow was deep, and the cold

would be very great, and the church to which he wished to go was paved with marble. The Spirit, which ought to preside, persuaded him: "Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been proved, he shall receive the crown of life": and, "It behooves us through many tribulations to enter the kingdom of heaven": and, "He who has sought to make his soul safe, shall lose it; and he who shall have lost his soul, shall give it life." In this struggle of spirit and flesh, the Lord obtained the victory: for with bare feet, as he always was, through the deep midst of the snow he proceeded, strengthened, to that church, which was somewhat far distant. As he touched the marbles of the pavement with his feet, wonderful to say or to hear! on account of the hesitation which he had previously had, to restrain it, God did this for him. For the marbles grew hot under his feet, like the furnace of burning fire.

[58] he feels it grow hot under his feet, But because he was swift of foot, he gave a leap outside, as if his whole feet were scorched. When he went out, he found the said intemperate cold; greatly wondering how the men, who were in the church, could be there: yet he cunningly inquired of them, whether they felt the marbles cold. Answering they said, "Yes, on account of the intemperateness of the air, they have great and intense coldness." Then again B. Raynerius entered the church; and, as it was to the rest, he felt it cold, rendering immense thanks to God, who had thus by the contrary corrected his sloth and diffidence. For in God's service we ought not to fear hard things; but, like a lion, who is afraid at no one's approach, to be confident. For as God Himself says: "If you pass through the fire I will be with you, for the instruction of others. and the flame shall not hurt you; if through water, the rivers shall not cover you": and, "Reveal your way to the Lord, and hope in him, and he himself will do it." We have now given you a foretaste of certain things of his life, both deeds and sayings, and things shown to him by God his father, which we have touched as it were with the tip of the finger. For who could ever worthily write all the things of his most holy life? And could recite his sayings and deeds, and the things disclosed to him by God, which are present innumerable, as he himself related to us? since indeed the tongue would fail before. Nor from him have we heard all things, but those which we write to you, from his mouth, which your Charity may know, we have often heard. Now let us turn our treatise to his departure from Jerusalem at the Lord's command.

NOTES D. P.

CHAPTER V.

The departure of S. Raynerius from Jerusalem and his arrival in the City of Pisa.

[59] Knowing that he was to sail away with Raynerius Bottacius Our Apostle Raynerius "of the Water" therefore frequently asked our countrymen, coming to Jerusalem, about Raynerius Bottacius, an energetic man, when he would come to those parts: for he affirmed that he would return in one galley with him: but they, wondering how he knew, asked of him. For he asserted that he knew well, and that the Lord God had told him, and that his body would rest gloriously in the church of S. Mary at Pisa. It happened that Raynerius Bottacius, a noble and prudent man of our city of Pisa, received a legation to Memphis a or Babylon; and, as is the custom of so great a city, in a trireme with noble and brave men, honorably to land at Alexandria, which was formerly called No. he eagerly receives him conveyed from Egypt: But the legation in Babylon being marvelously accomplished, as he had a vow, to go to Jerusalem from Alexandria to Joppa, which is now commonly called Jaffa, to turn aside in a galley, with his rowers and noble men: and the trireme being left there, with some who had a vow of visiting the Lord's places, he ascended to the Lord's Sepulcher at Jerusalem. And when the aforesaid Raynerius found S. Raynerius in the church of the Sepulcher, he was greatly cheered; and besought him strenuously, with all who were present with him, that he would return together with him to our fatherland, Pisa.

[60] Raynerius beloved of God, although it had already been told him by God Himself about Bottacius, that he ought to return with him in the galley; wished first to have a response from Him, yet by divine command he sends him off, that he might do all things with His license and will: for it is written: "Seek the Lord, and be strengthened, seek His face always"; and as the same Lord Himself said to His disciples at the end of His supper; "Because without me you can do nothing." Ps. 104, 14. He said therefore to Bottacius: "Go as you have arranged to the river Jordan, and meanwhile I will ask my Father, and if I receive a response, I will gladly come with you afterwards; otherwise I cannot move my foot from this place." To Bottacius, a prudent man, his saying also pleased. But Bottacius returning with his men from the river, approached the holy Raynerius with all vigilance, having promised a happy journey; that he might know whether he had received a response of walking from the Almighty. "Return," says Raynerius ever-watchful in God, "now in peace: what I and you desire I could by no means obtain." Then Raynerius Bottacius, humble for God's sake, falling before him, asked that he would intercede to the Lord for them, that they might return safe: for he had heard that there was a pirate at sea, and chiefly to attack them. Our intercessor to the Lord, Raynerius, with a kiss of peace dismissing him and his men from himself, said, saying: "In the power of our Lord Jesus Christ I pledge to you, that you will find none on the way to attack you. Hasten secure, and return to our fatherland with exultation." And so with

tears they were parted from one another.

[61] Raynerius the assiduous intercessor, afterwards he receives a command to depart from Jerusalem, unceasingly offered his customary prayers to the Father, that, as He had promised, He would now have mercy on his Clergy and his Christian people. But on the third day after the departure of Raynerius Bottacius, that which he had long asked, he received this divine pronouncement: "Today," He said, "is that day on which you shall go out from Jerusalem, and I will lead you there where I promised you. Go quickly, and in going out from Jerusalem speak with few." Returned to his dwelling, the Roman woman, the religious woman of whom we spoke above, his hostess, said to him, she herself being utterly ignorant of his departure: "All the vessels in which I tried to prepare food for you are broken: and the food is spilled: and I," she said, which had also been indicated to his hostess through a vision, "myself in this night saw the more precious garment which I had flowing away through water, and that I had it no more. I seem to be certain, that you will soon be separated from this my station, and I shall no more see you." S. Raynerius, knowing what was said by her, said: "I do not wish, I pray, that you take ill what I say. I have heard a hearing from the Lord, that I go out of this city today, and go where He is about to lead me; but I am somewhat troubled, because He did not tell me this, when I could conveniently have gone with Raynerius Bottacius, just as He had also told me long before that I would go with him. Yet I must do what is commanded me by Him." He found therefore for himself a little ass, on which he sat; but his departure was not concealed. Nearly the whole city, and he finds Bottacius at Acre with his trireme awaiting him at the exit of the city, came forth before him: grieving for so great a chief treasure which it was losing; but not wishing to resist God's will, that they might detain him, they receive a blessing from him; asking him, imprecating all good things on the city itself, where he had been so long, serving God hours and days, months and years, which he had been with them, to bless it. And completing the journey begun on the little ass c, he came prosperously and swiftly to Acre. There too he found the galley, and Bottacius with his rowers, ready to cross over, whom he had supposed already to have crossed over from Joppa.

[62] which being boarded there, he meets his kinsman; Lord Bottacius, and his men, beholding him, glad and applauding, asked the cause of his journey. But he, "I have had," he said, "a Word from the Lord, that He is about to lead me to walk." Straightway rejoicing they took him into the galley, and all were gladdened with him. Then it happened that a certain kinsman of S. Raynerius approached the galley in a certain little boat, to whom he had foretold, long before, that he would return with Raynerius Bottacius in the galley. When the gracious Raynerius had recognized his voice, he immediately rose, calling him by name, and saying to him: "Does it now seem true to you, what I told you about returning with Bottacius?" But he asserted that the word was most true. But who is able to investigate God's Counsel? When he wished to go out from Jerusalem with Raynerius Bottacius, he did not merit to receive a command; after he had now departed far, he was able to obtain it. Why this? who shall be able to enter into the Secret-chamber of Almighty God to investigate this? But lest in the journey of Raynerius beloved of God any human aid should seem to support, He permitted every help to be set apart, and the journey of His beloved to be reserved for Himself alone.

[63] Furrowing therefore the deep seas, they saw two galleys from afar, thinking they were of pirates, whereas they were of Pisans, serving the Emperor d of Constantinople in his army. [likewise of ships of Pisans, who wished to present Bottacius to the Greek Emperor,] But they set a signal in the middle of the galley. Approaching and recognizing one another, they saluted each other again, inviting them (because the Emperor was near there) to come to the Emperor. But it was by no means the counsel of the prudent Raynerius Bottacius, that he should see the Emperor himself in person, to whom he had no legation from his city. And when somehow from their words it was perceived that, against their will, they wished to lead them to the aforesaid Emperor; Then the legate of God Raynerius said to Raynerius Bottacius: "Is it of your will to hasten to the Emperor?" Raynerius said, "By no means." But he: "Command," he said, "that they row." And immediately, a blessing being given by B. Raynerius to those who were with Bottacius, who at Raynerius's prayers are fixed immovable. those galleys, rowing after our trireme, began to remain as it were immovable in the sea, and after a small space of time had passed, not to see each other: and thus they always had all that stormy sea pacified and quiet, as though sailing on a river, by which they reached prosperously to the mouths of our Arno e.

[64] Then the legate of God Raynerius was first lodged with the Canons of S. Mary of our city of Pisa, Here landed at Pisa he turns aside to the Canons of the Blessed Mary. and using with them at the same table his own food and drink, given him by them, was refreshed. Afterwards entering into the chapter with them, to render thanks to God, he addressed them thus, saying: "I thought that you gave food to the body sumptuously and abundantly; but, as I see, there is not abundance for you, as is supposed to the contrary by many; for those who are thought religious are wont to despise others, if they see them eating flesh. And however little of flesh they shall have eaten, and he praises their frugality. because they do not eat, they reckon it much." But he, who was always bowed toward God, knowing that all things are lawful to receive in food, except by a vow of distinction of the lips; rather grieved over the poverty of our f food, than in any way blamed its quality: for it is not meat that commends us to God, but the heart: because it is not what enters into the mouth that defiles a man, this faithful observer of the Gospel said; but the things which come out of the Heart, evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, thefts, murders, avarice, the Author joins himself to him. wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, and the rest of this kind. For these things render us contaminated and sordid to God: but of foods, what is dreggy is sent out through the contiguous descending passages of the belly; what is the remainder of the juice, through hidden ways and pores, nourishes the limbs of the whole body. But God straightway touched the heart of him who writes these things (and the things which he says of the true friend of God are true), that whether he spoke with men or with women, asking the cause of his journey, in the venerable church of the Archbishopric of the Mother of God herself, he should always be with him.

[65] But on the following day dawning, to S. Andrew g "in Kinsica," on the occasion of his honorable mother, because there her body rested, by Matthew a venerable Monk, He is led to the Abbey of S. Andrew, by the Abbot's command, and at the same time by the Prior of that church, and the noble men of the same Parish, he was led: and there (as we related in the beginning) he remained for some time. But many miracles and prodigies God did through him there too, which therefore we do not insert by name in this work, because we were not present, nor heard expressly from him. Thence, just as Blessed Albert had admonished him—by whose prayers, as we said above more fully, his interior eye was illuminated at St. Vitus—it pleased him to dwell in the place of S. Vitus of the same city for the sake of prayer for forty days. Which if the Almighty should show His grace to him in that very place, he wished to be there henceforth continually. thence he passes to S. Vitus. Wherefore also the Monks, and the Patrons of Saint Andrew, and the neighbors of the same Parish, began to be exceedingly anxious about his departure; and in all the ways they could, and by their prayers and those of others, they strove suggesting to detain him: but (as he himself then related to us) it was not of the Lord's will for him to remain there longer.

NOTES D. P.

CHAPTER VI.

Several persons possessed cured by S. Raynerius, dwelling at S. Justus.

[66] But it came to pass on that very night, on which he first gave his limbs to slumber in the cloister of S. Vitus; Surrounded by divine light the whole house, in which he lay, shone with excessive splendor; which he saw with the two who lay there with him. And immediately he understood that God, who is the true light, made the light of His grace appear in that venerable place. For there were brought to him many sick persons, lunatics and paralytics; he begins to be renowned for miracles: and Christ's name being invoked, the sign of the Cross also being made over them and impressed, he both put demons to flight, and bestowed on the rest healings and remedies.

[67] At that time there was led there a certain demoniac woman, A many-knowing demon in a possessed person, Gualdrada by name, sprung from the good men of our city: whose demon, among the other demons who were there in possessed bodies, prevailed in knowledge; and loftily boasted to have many attendants under himself. Those coming of whatever profession, whether Jews, or Saracens (whom all, without any distinction, he asserted to be his and to do his works) or even certain Christians, boasting he disclosed; that with these, that is, the Christians, he and all the demons had assiduous conflict; because the glory and kingdom which these had lost, they (the Christians) were obtaining. Being asked about the most holy Raynerius, what seemed to him; about him he replied, that that man had been born at the point (in puncto) of Jesus. Reproved by us because he had said "point," he was wont to reveal the state and sins of those who came, he added: "I speak your common tongue; but know this, that his father conferred on him the grace which He gave to Jesus, and he was born in it: he has here a disciple, who will do all things: which he himself does": and immediately he pointed him out to S. Raynerius. For this demon did not dare to look into his face, on account of the presence of his Father, showing

himself to him on his forehead. He likewise straightway betrayed the Crimes of those coming: wherefore Raynerius, dear to God, wishing all men to be saved and no one to perish, separately and secretly, if these things were so, investigated their misdeeds: and the vices being discovered, through a Priest he cured their souls, penance being received.

[68] It happened that one man of certain ones came again before that demoniac woman; he declares how he remembered the things he knew before, even after penance. immediately the Demon himself reproached him with the sin, for which he had received penance. Then holy Raynerius said: "What is this that you speak, demon? Already through penance he himself has blotted out his crime." To this the devil replied: "If anyone comes before me with his sin, after which he has received penance; if however he appears before me, if I will, I always reproach him with his sin: because I do not lose the memory. But if he has confessed his sins to a Priest, and afterwards then first comes to me; I now recognize utterly no sin in him." And because those who had never seen a demoniac any more asserted it to be not a demon, but some infirmity; to prove the venom of his wickedness, from twenty or more at one time, the "burdas," that is, the coverings of the heads, he proves himself a demon: he took away, and gathered all into one; and afterwards restored to each his own; But when to one he had restored not her own, but another's, he said to her: "Restore this to that woman, whose it is; you, behold, keep your own": which even she whose it was, so mixed with the others, could by no means without difficulty discern. This demon besought S. Raynerius, that he should not by his sentence command him to go into the abyss of hell. "Why," saying, "will you hand me over to the eternal flames, before the future judgment of all? For whatever sentence you give upon me, your father, the creator of all, whom you bear in your face, will without doubt hold ratified." Yet he took counsel with us apart, that he should relegate him to hell.

[69] When we had come to him our counsel was not hidden from him: he prays that he be not sent into hell: And without delay he besought it of us, disclosing it, that he would have mercy on him, lest before the time of judgment he be tormented in the abyss. The counsel therefore being changed, he did not shut him up in hell. For Raynerius the son of God had received power, from God the Father in the Quadragena, over all demons, of binding all together with their very prince Satan. This demon said that he with many demons had thrown stones upon the Quadragena, to scrape Raynerius the pilgrim from the earth: since up to the times of Antichrist, bound over themselves, they had to bear his chains and dire bonds: therefore they strove with every effort, if they could, he wishes to be clothed with flesh that he might be able to repent: to deprive him of his own life. Now it is very much to be attended to by us, that even though Demons are greater in virtue and strength, they so fear those eternal torments; why do we, who are wretched and frail, not study to bring forth worthy fruits of penance? namely, weeping for our evils through penance, but doing the good given by God and asked for; yet, prone to do evils, the penalties which the evil angels now endure, we run to them by sinning, to be endured forever.

[79] This Demon too, and many other demons asserted, which is otherwise impossible for him as a pure spirit, that if they had a little flesh, they would suffer in it; that they might recover the glorious dignity which they had lost, and their seat. For they said, that without the aid of flesh they could not do penance. For whoever repents of a sin which he committed, must ascend, and rise as much as he fell: but the devil, after he has sinned, will not repent, because he has not in himself another nature, to which he could ascend, since indeed he is of one nature only. A man indeed, if he sins, will be able to amend, since he committed this through the flesh, he rises indeed in the flesh, in which he lay; and hastens to return to the spirit, which is higher in him; just as also for him who sins against the Holy Spirit. but the man who shall have sinned against the Holy Spirit, will not have remission forever; because this one does not offend through the flesh; but, although he knows the works of God truly, out of envy alone or pride says they are the works of the devil: and sinning through the spirit alone, such a one cannot repent, because he by no means has whither he could ascend.

[71] Then the most holy Raynerius, before an innumerable crowd weeping for this, in the church of S. Vitus, Raynerius casts him out, put him to flight from the possessed woman; who for an hour (as all so said) stood as if dead, but Raynerius beloved of God, water being thrown into her mouth, raised her up, holding her hand. All these things being present we both saw and heard. likewise two, from two young girls, After this he cast out two demons, from the neighborhood of the aforesaid S. Vitus, from two young women; one by name Galiana, before a great throng; and the other by name Vetula. This latter, on the occasion of the falling b drop (epilepsy), two years before the coming of the gracious Raynerius to us, had been vexed by a Demon. And while she washed cloths at the edge of our Arno, unexpectedly it made her fall into the water, and at home frequently into the kindled flame of the fire.

[72] Another Woman, from a place which is called Gangalandi, having three unclean spirits, he cured. One of them was mute, and suddenly while she spoke, and three from one woman, it rendered her so mute that she could not even move her lip. Hence indeed the one who is called Cinellus, learned in the vice of Necromancy, showed her characters, which have the form of no letters, to read: which she read before us so swiftly, that in no way did she hesitate in saying them, holding them in her hand, though she was a common and rustic woman. The Relics, which were placed upon her head, she said their names written on the parchments, before they were taken from her head.

[73] In the body of a certain man of Milan three demons dwelt: of which one was not ignorant of letters, and we who were present compelled him to disclose. And he said: "God stood in the synagogue of the gods, and God, the God of gods, the Lord, has spoken": but he said that he could say no further, on account of the excessive c heat (caumate) which he suffered. And when the aforesaid Raynerius beloved of God cast them out, one going forth, the two which had remained within cried out: "Wait for us, O companion: for we will go out at once after you." The second going forth, the third, who had not yet gone out, cried aloud: "Await me, by the fellowship which we have with one another." Ps. 81, 1. And so that Man was cured.

[74] He likewise cured a certain one of the Brethren: But his Lord said, he heals another at least insane, the Priest Raynerius of St. Sebastian, that he did not have a demon, but was insane. Whatever, however, he had, he without doubt cured him. When he was standing with us and many others, S. Raynerius was called by certain men from outside. He, as if performing the office of bishop, attending studiously to all, and frees a possessed woman: showed himself to them at a window above the street; who reported to him that they were leading him a demoniac woman. Immediately the demon, replying, said: "You will never bring me before him: I go out from here, before he has laid his hand upon me": and she was cleansed that very hour.

[75] We, who write these things, of Twenty bodies, before our eyes, saw demons put to flight and more besides, likewise ten others: all crying out to him, "Because you are the son of the living God"; supply, "adoptive." They besought him exceedingly, that he would not send them down to Hell. For they said to him: "since you thrust such and such, naming them, into Tartarus, giving sentence upon them; which the Almighty held ratified, because they would not obey you." But many beholding at that time demons appear in possessed bodies, saying, wondered: "whence have these things manifested themselves in our times, since we have never any more seen the like? Truly this man brought them with him from the parts across the sea, because now one demon will expel another demon." But because he had come to bind Satan, whom he bound in many before he went from this world to his Father, he cast him out of possessed vessels, that he might prove to himself that this power had been given by God the Father. with great fruit of the many treading down the Demon in themselves. For when anyone does and desires the works of God, in this Satan is utterly bound, and relegated far from him. A very great number of men and women, imitating the life of Raynerius most dear to God, the world, and so now Satan, through the Lord's grace tread down; contemplating in him as in a mirror Jesus the Lord and Savior, and conforming themselves to him. For when he himself, in the Name of the Lord Jesus and Savior Christ, and of His Father, and of the holy Spirit proceeding from both, put demons to flight; surely not himself, but the Holy Spirit, he praised whence neither will such a blasphemer have remission forever. For no one is able by imitating to say the Lord Jesus Christ, except in the Holy Spirit: But what agreement of Christ with Belial?

[76] Since the gracious Raynerius denied himself by going after Christ, some blaspheming that he cast out demons in Beelzebub, conforming the Gospel in himself, and bearing it upon himself; I assert in truth, that those who, seeing marvels done through him, said they were the works of the devil, are of the kingdom of Satan, and will go with him into the eternal fire. Such men are the brood of vipers, namely of the wicked Jews, who asserted the same of God and our Savior Jesus Christ, saying, that he has Beelzebub, and casts out demons in Beelzebub the prince of demons. But we ought carefully to observe, that when the Almighty and merciful is about to do great and incredible things in this world (as He did when His Word was made flesh, and is now about to do in our time), that it may be believed for certain what is judged incredible, as the Jews did to Christ. He approves this through the expulsion of demons, and the healing of the sick: that by an invisible and incorporeal creature most true testimony may be given to His future, and now announced, deed; one eminent of the Prophets affirming about this: "Your testimonies, O Lord, are made exceedingly credible; holiness becomes your house, O Lord." For nowhere is it read that before the coming of Christ any were vexed by a Demon, except of Saul alone, ruling the kingdom of the Jews. For Christ Himself says of Himself: "if they have called the Father of the family Beelzebub? how much more those of his household."

NOTES D. P.

on which we have no leisure to dwell, but leave them to be sought out by the reader himself.

"Cauma," that is, heat. But the whole Psalm 81, of which this is the beginning, proceeds about the supreme authority of God the judge, who, as He condemned the demons, so He will also punish the unjust judges.

CHAPTER VII.

The last acts and miracles of the living Raynerius. The blessing of bread and water instituted by his example and under his name.

[77] This man most beloved of God had disciples, who, after a long time, the words of him being heard, went back; that in this might be fulfilled that: "No one can come to me, by persevering (because he who shall have persevered unto the end shall be saved) unless my Father shall have drawn him." John 6, 44 One Priest, of the saint's disciples, Yet one of them held the place of the traitor Judas, Guido by name, and a Priest too. For Judas was a Priest, who from the Lord with his other disciples received the power of binding and loosing: who, although evil, could yet bind and loose. An example of those who were to be Priests: these, although evil, have yet by office the power of binding and loosing. For this aforesaid Priest, both at S. Andrew and S. Vitus, was his leader to the more eminent place, that from there he might speak to the people. But often he performed his office in speaking, because God had come to them, saying to the crowds, that what the holy one of God preached, they should carry out in deed by exhorting. Raynerius the sower of God's word, ceased not to admonish the crowds about God's way and to walk by it: his admonitions, as God's, they desired to hear the whole day in summer time, and at earliest dawn they came early to him; and with the highest dancing for joy, when they saw him coming to them, they exulted.

[78] to be likened to Judas the traitor, But the aforesaid disciple, called by the surname Cipunella, through the space of forty days at S. Vitus, poured out the venom which he had already before conceived at S. Andrew, to poison the hearts of the faithful. They reproached him well, why he spoke ill of him, since he had been his disciple and herald; he replied: "I had a certain Byzantine (coin), I kept it long, and did not examine or turn it over: I said to many that I had an excellent Byzantine, but turning it over diligently and testing it I found it to be of bronze. Greatly saddened, I threw it away truly as false." Thus also Judas believed Jesus to be not the consubstantial son of God; and that the miracles were done not through divinity, but through magic art; as Judas himself, saying to the Jews, hinted: "Whomever I shall kiss, that is he, hold him, and lead him away with care": as if he should say, lest he transfigure himself before you, and so snatch himself out of your hands. Ps. 54, 15 Of this disciple of Raynerius beloved of God was fulfilled what is said in the Psalm: "You a man of one mind, my leader and my acquaintance, who together with me took sweet food, he attempts to supplant him: in the house of God we walked with consent." For for a time this disciple gladly heard him, and the things which he heard pleased him; and leading his master into the pulpit, as his leader, he ate the bread of God's word with him, and even preached. Ps. 40, 20 But tempted by Satan, he studied to supplant his master, while daily he was received by him in the kiss of peace. Hence also in another Psalm it is said: "For even the man of my peace, in whom I hoped, who ate my bread, has greatly supplanted me."

[79] [The Saint seeing through his heart, and prophesying about his own and his burial.] But because all these things were not hidden from Raynerius full of the spirit of God, whose disciple that one was, the leader of his word, he foretold everything about him; and to a certain Matron, by name Berta, once the daughter-in-law of Ildebrand, thus, when he was at S. Andrew, he disclosed it. When she asked B. Raynerius, foreknowing the future, where his sacred Body would be worthily handed over to burial; he replied that it was to be wonderful in the church of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Then it happened that the aforesaid disciple passed through the cloister of S. Andrew, and Berta added: "But what of this one, who follows and imitates you?" Raynerius, full of God, said to her: "It seems to you that he eagerly embraces my words, and imitates them as he can: but his mind will soon go backward, and he will be made a blasphemer against me; and therefore know this will be his lot: my body will be, as I told you: but the place of this badly-dead one will be forever the place whence I shall be translated, to S. Vitus."

[80] This aforesaid woman, rich according to the world, since she had an only son, He consoles the mother of a dying boy by name Suavithus; and all the physicians foretold that he would die of the fever by which he was held, for he was beginning to die; came in haste to S. Andrew, where S. Raynerius still remained; and rolled at his knees, fell on her face wailing, and weeping much for her only son. B. Raynerius, foreseeing in spirit the future health, consoled her, saying to her: "Go quickly, because your son lives, and will be healthy, and the fever has already left him." But she: "I will not go, to see my dying son," she said: "I will not depart, but here I shall die." Again he said to her: "Go secure, because you will find those who will tell you on the way, that the fever has already left your son." She believed therefore his word which he spoke, and departed. and absent he knew him freed from the fever. And behold, near the bridge of the Arno she found a certain physician, judging a certain urine. And she said: "Whose is this Urine, my Lord?" The physician replied: "Of a certain one, who had a fever, and has escaped." But the boys, who had brought the urine, said to her: "It is our Suavithus's, and the fever has left him, and he is much improved." Returned home, she found her son to be well, just as the one foreknowing the future by God's spirit firmly foretold. Thenceforth the marvels which God did in His Saint, and that he was His messenger, she and all her house most certainly believed.

[81] Because for performing miracles and driving out demons, Since we have disclosed to you many sayings and deeds about this Man, in whom God was, and brought them back to memory; which if we shall have imitated, without doubt we shall be translated to the eternal fatherland prepared for us by God; the time is at hand, to make clear to you certain of his miracles which we promised, at the end of this sacred work. But because by water and blessed bread he tested bodies, if they were possessed by demons, by these two things, because they would not receive them, and cured all sicknesses by them; for the keeping of his memory to posterity forever, the blessings, by which bread and water are sanctified, and by them demons are explored, and all ailments cured, he used water and Bread, so that whoever shall not have wished to have of the most glorious sepulcher, may have of the sanctification of these words, we will now take care to append. And first we will note the blessing of the water itself, which naturally precedes: then that of the bread, just as Raynerius dear to God himself did it, we will afterwards subjoin.

[82] "God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, who in the beginning made heaven and earth, the formula for blessing water is instituted, and distinguished the waters from the other elements; separated the waters from the waters by your firmament, and willed your holy spirit to be borne over them: and you, Lord God, through your son, in your Holy Spirit, your blessing being poured over this water, separate it from the other waters; that whoever shall have been washed with it, whether in whole or in part; male or female, by your grace and mercy, may it be to him for the salvation of soul and body. You, Lord God Almighty, who promised to your servant Abraham a son, in whom blessing all nations; and made the same promise to Isaac and Jacob likewise; and extended it up to David, a man according to your heart; and in the most blessed Mary the Virgin fulfilled it, through your son; who sanctifying the Waters of Jordan, with His body washed in them by John; and through the baptism of water took away the sins of the world, the minds of men being purified and healed in it. You, I say, under the commemoration of the miracles performed in the waters, Lord God in your son, through the Spirit of both of you, bless this Water; that to all receiving of it, may there be health of mind and Body and blessing and protection. You, Lord God, who with dry feet walked upon the Waters of the sea of Tiberias; gladdened your troubled disciples, thinking you to be a phantom, and out of the very tempest of the sea, afterwards descending to them into the sea; at last confirmed the same, and gave tranquility in the turbid sea, and rebuked the wind, and it ceased: You, Lord, take away from the sick, through this water blessed by you, every tempest of their bodies, and give them tranquility; and let every infirmity cease from them, and, comforted, whoever shall have taken of it, men and women of every age, may have gladness of mind and body.

[83] You, Lord, King of kings, who in the same sea permitted the demons entering into the swine by your command to be cast headlong there, and by the invocation of S. Raynerius: and thus freed two men from a legion of demons; you, Lord Almighty, command those demons, that, this water being drunk or touched by the vexed, the demons may be put to flight from them, and they themselves be made safe, and all be cured. O Adonai, Lord God, great and strong, who healed the sterile waters of Jericho through your Elisha, salt being put in; and you, most high King, through your beloved Raynerius, give and preserve health in this water, that whoever, man or woman, shall receive it upon himself, may obtain perfect health. You holy God most high, who through the same Elisha cleansed from his leprosy Naaman the Syrian, washed seven times in the Jordan; that those who shall be sprinkled with it or shall drink it, you by your sevenfold spirit, cleanse and heal from leprosy and scabies, and every infirmity, those, man or woman, who shall have touched this your blessed water, may they receive perfect health of their infirmities. You who inspired Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and Daniel, to take pulse and water, and their faces were more pleasing and more beautiful, and you enriched them with chastity, better and stronger and wiser than those who fed on the King's delicacies; may they be healed from whatever infirmity; grant, Lord God, that those who shall drink this water, may be among others healthier, and more chaste according to their profession. King of kings, Lord, who purged the Emperor Constantine from leprosy of mind and body; grant, most omnipotent God, that whoever, man or woman, shall be sprinkled, or shall drink of this water, may receive whole health of mind and Body."

[84] "All holy Angels, be present here, and give your blessing upon this water. Most blessed Virgin of Virgins, to which all the saints are also called in order, Mary Mother of God, fill this clear water with your blessing. All holy Apostles of the Lord and Evangelists; pour your blessing upon this water. All holy Martyrs and Confessors, be present, and by your blessing sanctify this element of water. All holy Virgins and Widows, and all the Lord's Continent ones, increase your blessing here. All Powers of the Heavens, and all holy men and women of God, here amplify the gift of your blessing; and entering into the sight of the Most High, before Him bend your knees, asking and obtaining, that He may fill and make fruitful this His creature of water with heavenly blessing: that through it every infirmity may be taken away, and every phantasm, whether diabolical presence or even illusion, be driven far away; and the bodies of the sick be freed from whatever fever or trouble, and remain in health, and be strengthened in it. Amen, amen, amen. So be it, so be it, so be it"; always signing that water with the sign of the Cross, and often making the Cross impressed with the fingers in that Water; unless this were done among the people, having many vessels, then let him always generally make the signs of the Cross over all, since he could not put his hand in every vessel, and impress in it the sign of the Cross.

[85] But now let us set down the blessing of bread. "God of Abraham, and God of Isaac, God of Jacob, who sent to us your son, the living bread descending from Heaven, that He might give life to the world, a formula likewise instituted for blessing bread, our Lord and Savior, and conferred life and health on the dead and the sick; you, through the same your son, now in your Holy Spirit, bless and sanctify this bread, that those eating of it may receive soundness of soul and body. You Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, who in the desert, which is of Bethsaida, through your son from five loaves satisfied five thousand men, besides women and children; and them being filled and increased by your blessing, twelve baskets full remained over, and on the way those did not fail who ate of those barley loaves: you Father and Creator of all, bless this bread, that whoever, male or female, of whatever age, shall taste of it, may have in body, commemorating the loaves multiplied by Christ, and soul, gladness and strength, and full health. You Lord God Jesus Christ, who passing among the midst of the borders of Decapolis, ascended the mountain; and sitting there called your disciples, asked them how many loaves they had, and they answering seven, you commanded the crowd of four thousand men to sit upon the ground, besides women and children; and giving thanks to the father, you blessed those loaves, that they might give to the people, you gave them to your disciples; they ate, and all were satisfied, and seven baskets full remained over, and they were gladdened; and you, Savior of all, Lord God, pour grace and blessing upon this bread, and those, man or woman, who shall eat of it, may have gladness and health. and other miracles in other places, You Christ Savior, who reclining at table with the twelve disciples, blessed the bread in it and changed it into your body, and gave it to them by handing it; whence you conferred life on them receiving it into themselves, you also commanded them, that they should do it in commemoration of you. Almighty God, by the same blessing change into another nature, in remembrance of your beloved Raynerius, that to all receiving, temporal life may be increased, every bodily trouble being expelled, and spiritual life also be conferred. You Lord God fed Elijah beside the torrent Cherith, with bread by the Ravens, sent; and gave him water to drink, and his body remained in health; and by invoking S. Raynerius, bless also now, you who are the same one, this bread and water, that all receiving may remain in health, every sickness being removed. You Lord God granted to Elisha, that of twenty loaves he should satisfy a hundred men, and there was a surplus: give now your blessing from the heavens upon this bread, that the whole body of the sick may be healthy. Let all your Angels come, and your Archangels, Thrones, Dominations, Principalities and Powers, Virtues, Cherubim and Seraphim; and raising their hands to you, the living God their creator, let them pour into this bread the blessing of health. Let the Virgin Mother of God come, and here let her grace sprout health. Let the Patriarchs and Prophets be present, all the Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, and all the Saints, Hermits, and all the holy men and women of God; and in this bread let them grant their blessing, for the receiving of full health. Amen, amen, amen; So be it, so be it, so be it"; always making over that bread the Cross of the Lord. If the blessing of the bread is in a crowd, you shall sign from afar; and the people shall answer "Amen" to each blessing of bread and Water.

[86] After this grace of the bread, if you wish it to be given specially to some sick person; you shall take from that bread three little pieces of bread, and you shall hold them in your left palm, signing them with your right, saying thus: "Lord God, the use and fruit of both thus blessed is explained who are one, nor divided in three persons; bless this bread, Father, with the Son, and your Holy Spirit. Let the sick man, who shall taste of it, henceforth suffer no trouble in his flesh, nor any vexation, or even fever; but let him receive, Lord God, perfect health in all his members. You Lord of lords, who showed to your very faithful Abraham your trinity and unity in your Angels; the use and fruit. who saw three and adored one, saw and rejoiced; through your ineffable Trinity, in this your sanctified bread, divided into three little pieces, increase and consummate your blessing, that all receiving, through you the one and triune God, may obtain the cure and health of all their members. Amen, amen, amen. So be it, so be it, so be it." He who shall have brought forth these blessings with a pure heart and intently (wonderful to say, but more wonderful to do) both will the water often be turned into wine, and he will receive efficacy from the Most High, that through bread and Water, which will pass into another nature, the sick without number may be healed, and the bread and water in themselves will not be corrupted.

[87] It is time therefore, that we now come at last to certain miracles, which he did with us on earth, and afterwards, after the migration of his Body, performed from the heavens. Which indeed we have written not as they were done in order, but as we saw them done by him; either those who were cured by him, or their fathers or mothers, who saw this, recited to us, for receiving an example of Virtue, we will disclose to you in truth. After such a proposition, which the miracles ought to follow, these being omitted, the Author passes to the death and burial of the saint; and then subjoins the miracles, and indeed in no order, mixing those which were done before, with those which were done after death. Since this seems very incongruous, I excerpt and in the three following chapters report the miracles done before death. Whoever wishes to see the order in which each was written, let him consult the List of titles after the Prologue.

CHAPTER VIII.

Certain miracles, performed by the saint while he lived, at Pisa.

[88] Benincasa a, Canon and Deacon, when he was at S. Vitus before B. Raynerius, there was a Youth there, A tempest is calmed by water blessed by him: who reported to him this great miracle. There were two ships in the parts of Romania b in a very great tempest: One of which with all the men disappeared, but those who were in the other ship were in the same peril, and this one was of them. One of them said to his companions that he had some of B. Raynerius's blessed Water. His companions said to him, that he should throw it into the sea, if perhaps God would remit that tempest: which being thrown, there was made a very great tranquility, as if the sea had never been moved, and they were saved.

[89] Lambertus c the butcher of St. George, of Porta-Maris, had an only son, a dead boy is raised, who, on account of a flux of dysentery, labored in the extremity. At last the boy said to his aforesaid Father: "Father, lead me to S. Raynerius, and I will be safe." The father, with a certain brother of his, while they carried the boy, he died, when they had come near the house of Richucchus. Then the father said to his brother: "The boy is dead, let us return." His brother replied to him: "Since the boy said, 'I will be healthy,' let us carry him to the man of God, and let us see what it may be." And so they carried him to S. Vitus. Then B. Raynerius said to them: "This boy is dead." They replied to him: "For this we brought him to you, because the boy said, that if we carried him to you, he would be healthy." Then B. Raynerius with a little knife opened his teeth, who had asked to be carried to the saint. and put of his spittle into the boy's mouth, and breathed into the boy's mouth three times; and immediately the boy called his father. Then B. Raynerius commanded his father, to no one d to tell this, because on the morrow this boy would be healthy as ever he was: which was so done. The next day the boy went before to the tavern, before his father rose from the bed: yet a rumor went out through the city, that B. Raynerius had raised the dead boy. Then the father said within himself: "Unless I make this known, after the people say this, perhaps God will take him from me": and then he led the boy to be seen through the City beside the Arno, saying that he wished to swear, that he had carried him dead to B. Raynerius.

[90] demons hostile to two boys cutting grass, Two men dwelt in the Burg of S. Vitus, each having his son, whom they sent together to make grass for the fodder of the horses. These boys, wherever they wished to cut grass, immediately stones and clods were thrown upon them, so that the boys fled, and returned without grass. Then their fathers beat them, because they said they were playing together. At last their fathers, believing them, took their arms, and went with the boys for grass; that they might know who they were, who threw stones and clods upon the boys. When the boys had begun to cut, are restrained by the saint's command: immediately stones and clods were thrown against the fathers and boys, and so they fled, not seeing who threw against them; and so they came to B. Raynerius, and told the whole event of the matter. Then B. Raynerius blessed the boys, and gave them blessed water to drink, and blessed bread to eat: and gave such a sentence against the demons, that if they threw stones or clods or anything

else against the boys, henceforth they should descend into hell, and not go out from there until the day of judgment. The boys made grass, and it never happened to them any more.

[91] The Priest Rolandus of Cafaggio-regio was grievously troubled by the falling drop (epilepsy), and often in the night, an Epileptic is healed, so that no one could lie in the chamber where he lay, with him. He came therefore to S. Raynerius at S. Vitus. Then Blessed Raynerius said to him: "If you believe that the Lord sent me for your salvation, you will be healthy." He replied, "I firmly believe." Then he signed him with the sign of the Holy Cross, and gave him blessed water to drink, and blessed bread to take. A wondrous thing! B. Raynerius certified him, that he would no more have that infirmity, and he never had it any more; and commanded him not to tell it publicly; lest those who were unbelieving, a lame man, should be afflicted with greater spite and guilt. Many seeking how he had been made healthy, having the same infirmity, he secretly sent them to B. Raynerius, and they were cured likewise.

[92] The son of Benenatus, formerly of Ternicius, had his whole neck full of fistulous scrofula. The Saint cures scrofula of the neck, He was led therefore to S. Raynerius; who signed and blessed the scrofula, and spat upon them. And within eight days they were so wiped away from the whole neck, as if they had never been there. A certain man, formerly of Bellandus, had a little son, who had a fistula in his middle finger, so that he could not be cured by the physicians. So a certain Raynerius, formerly of Buccia-dura, said to the aforesaid Repertus: "Go to B. Raynerius at S. Vitus, and have the finger blessed, and a fistula of the hand and immediately he will be cured. For on another day he blessed a certain boy, who had the same infirmity, and immediately he was cured." Whence the aforesaid Repertus led his son to S. Raynerius, who blessed the boy's finger, and spat upon that finger, and bandaged it; and commanded the boy's father not to unbandage the boy's finger, until on another day in the evening he should bring the boy back to him: which was done. On another day, while he unbandaged the boy's finger before B. Raynerius, the finger was found perfectly healthy. Buccius, and of the foot; of the church of St. Peter at Yschia, had a son having a fistula in his foot, whence he could not be cured. He led therefore his son to S. Raynerius, who spat upon the sick foot, and bandaged it. But on another day the foot was found perfectly healed.

[93] a hemorrhage, The daughter of Travallius, by name Ioliccina, suffered a flux of blood for three months, and the blood did not remain in her. She sent therefore to S. Vitus to Blessed Raynerius for his blessed Water: she drank of it, and immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up. A certain man, by name Calabrica, suffered fistulous scrofula in his neck, breast, and arms. He went therefore to B. Raynerius at S. Vitus, and B. Raynerius impressed on him the sign of the life-giving Cross over them, and put spittle upon them, and said to him: "Go, because you will be Healed, and if not now." After some time he was made wholly healthy: whence afterwards for a long time he remained in the service of his tomb most devoutly. scrofula, A certain bedridden woman of Planusia, with her whole body slackened by paralysis, was carried by men before B. Raynerius at S. Vitus, the Abbot of Monte Cristo being present with two of his Monks: B. Raynerius blessed her with the banner of the saving Cross, and gave her water blessed by himself, and blessed bread, which being received, he ordered her to rise. As she hesitated, he commanded her, paralysis, to rise, and to go, and to render thanks to God and B. Vitus before his altar. Without delay, before the Abbot of Monte Cristo and his Monks, she followed the command with obedience: her whole body and her soles being made firm, she rose, going to the altar, and rendering thanks to God and B. Raynerius and B. Vitus.

[94] Henricus of Romella suffered pleurisy, and the breath failed in him, on account of the stitch and pain of the pleurisy. likewise the incurable pleurisy of a certain man, He always invoked the name of Raynerius. Bernardus, formerly Maragonus, was present there, and said to him: "You have great faith in this man." The aforesaid Henricus wished to send for his blessed water to S. Vitus: the aforesaid Bernardus said to him: "Send, since you have so great faith in him; but let him not spit there." He replied: "I have faith in him, because the things which are his will free me." He sent Portatella, with his servant named Flumine, to Blessed Raynerius for blessed Water. He, blessing the Water, said: "It has been told me in the ear whatever sins were of the said Henricus." And B. Raynerius said to Portatella: "Go, and tell him, warned about confessing a hidden sin. that tomorrow the Archpriest will come to him, and that sin, which he will not confess, he will confess to him first." And so it was done on another day: and Raynerius gave him of his belt to gird himself with: and there was of his Hair there, and his pilgrim's cloak; and he said that they should place them upon the abscess of the pleurisy, and never doubt, because he would be healthy. And likewise he sent him blessed Water and bread; and these being taken, and the belt, he placed it upon the pleurisy. Very wonderful! All the medicines being removed, immediately the abscess broke, and copiously he began to expectorate corruption, and the pain fled to the hips e; and immediately he applied the belt there, and the pain wholly ceased, and immediately afterwards he was made healthy.

NOTES D. P.

CHAPTER IX.

Liberty given to the bound and captive, health restored to various sick persons, other miracles.

[95] Bentivegna, son of Ildebrandus Geugus, when he wished to go to trade, furrowing the sea, went to S. Vitus to B. Raynerius, that fortified first by his blessing he might proceed. Which being received, Fortified by the Blessing and pronouncements of the saint, giving him to carry blessed Water and bread, S. Raynerius said to him: "Behold, go secure, because none will be able to detain you against your will." The aforesaid youth, made secure, cheerful began his journey, going through many lands for a long time. He came at last to Tunis a with his twenty-five companions, where they were besieged by the Mathemuti b with the Saracens. Yet the aforesaid Bentivegna with one Genoese was led by them into Africa, the remaining companions remaining at Tunis. But the Mathemuti began to besiege c Africa. And these two aforesaid were put in iron chains. They had now been in chains twenty-five days. Then the aforesaid Bentivegna said to the Genoese: "Let us vow ourselves to S. Raynerius, and captured in Africa, he being invoked, that he may snatch us from these chains": which they did: God doing this from heaven. Immediately an arrow was shot from the city of Africa to the Mathemuti, with a short writing in Latin letters. Then the Amir Mumminus d ordered this Bentivegna to be called, that he might read them that short writing, since there were many in his army Apostates e, who knew well how to read and expound. Bentivegna replied: "I will not come, unless the chains be taken off me and my companion: for no captive goes before him, he is freed from the chains; but that either he becomes a Saracen, or is killed if he does not." They were led therefore without chains, to read the writing. And he read the writing before the Prior of that Amir: he stood without chains in the army, but could not return.

[96] Of the course of the matter we omit much, because we come to that which B. Raynerius foretold him. They vowed themselves therefore to B. Raynerius, that they might be able to return to their land. and dismissed in friendly fashion On the following night B. Raynerius appeared to this Bentivegna through a vision, saying to him: "Be of cheerful spirit, and go today before the Amir, and you will hear something whence you will be gladdened; and he will do for you what he has not yet done for another." He said also that he saw him then with bodily eyes. He went therefore to the Amir Mumminus that day intrepid, and spoke to him about his liberation. The aforesaid Amir called together seven old men, and said to them, that they should give sentence whether this man, who had gone before him, ought to die. They replied: "He ought not to die, because he is of those having peace with us, and all his things ought to be restored to him." he heals many Saracens. Then the Lord (Amir) gave him a thousand Byzantines, and gave letters that all his things should be restored to him: and so it was done. Let us give thanks to God, and B. Raynerius, for the so prosperous liberty of this man. With the bread and blessed water, which he carried with him, he cured many Saracens of fevers and other infirmities: whence very praiseworthy is God, who glorifies B. Raynerius even among the Saracens. f This so great miracle was manifest to infinite numbers.

[97] Iolitta, sister of Episcopellus of the church of S. Ambrose, A woman wishing to enter to the Saint into the closed church, went to B. Raynerius at S. Andrew, with her husband and another woman, and her mother, it being now evening. But when she had come to the church, they found the doors of that church locked. Knocking strongly and pushing against the doors, they could not enter. The aforesaid Iolitta said to her mother: "Since we cannot enter, go you also, and stand with the converted women g attendants, who are here: because I will never depart from here, unless I see B. Raynerius." Then as they went she leaned herself against the doors, and said: she obtains that it be opened of itself for her: "B. Raynerius, help me, and be with me." Then the doors, which is very wonderful, began to yield under her shoulder-blades, and were wholly opened. Then very glad about the miracle, with a loud voice she called her husband and the rest. Who seeing so stupendous a miracle, glad

entered the church. The blessed Raynerius therefore, when he lay in the church, heard them walking through the church; and came to them, asking of them how they had entered the church. yet he understands that her husband is not to be healed. Iolitta narrated the matter done, and he rendered thanks to God. He blessed them, and they were filled with a wondrous odor. She narrated that her husband then felt the wondrous odor, who was much sick in his body, thinking that on account of this odor he ought to be freed. To whom B. Raynerius replied: "Do not think that he is healed: his soul indeed will be of good odor to God, but he himself will by no means be healed." Who was never healed, but on the same day of the turning year, just as B. Raynerius had said, migrated to the Lord. These things Iolitta related to us, in the presence of the woman who was with her there.

[98] There was a certain maidservant, by name Mastajola, of Albertinus Tentus, of the church of S. Simon of Porta Maris: to her her Lord had put an iron Chain on each Leg, and had fixed that Chain with sharp pins h in wood, A maidservant, cruelly chained by her masters, so that she could in no way move herself from there. She, while she was thus confined, began to say: "God of holy Lord Raynerius, loose me from this chain, through whom, and on account of whom, you assiduously do many wonders." But B. Raynerius was then dwelling at S. Vitus, and a wondrous thing happened. i She took little chips of wood (Sticcatelli) from the ground, and began to put them under the heads k of the pins, and immediately they leaped out. She, astonished at the miracle, put the pins back in the same holes, until in the night she should flee to S. Raynerius, to render thanks to God: and night come, ever invoking B. Raynerius, she went out of the house with the chain, and no one perceived her: and the Chain so lost its sound, as if it were not of any metal. She came therefore to S. Vitus, and touched the doors of the atrium. The doorkeeper, as if he stood ready to receive her, immediately opened to her; and the cause being heard, sent her to stand with the wife of Caciopolus, who was then sick there, invoking the Saint she is loosed until the day should dawn, and then she should tell B. Raynerius. The office of the night being completed, B. Raynerius came to her with the Monks, and seeing her placed in the most secure chain, the cause of her journey there being heard, Raynerius began to be the first to touch the lock l of the chain with his hand, saying before the Monks: "Let us see if God will loose her from these bonds. O immense God, whose all things obey His will!" Soon the hook m came forth from the lock, and the woman drew off the chains, [all] giving thanks to God for so great a miracle.

[99] Afterwards S. Raynerius sent of the Water for her Mistress, who refused to come to him, saying, and she is restored to her Masters under a pledge, "she will now command me to make her free." At last, persuaded by the messenger, she came: the gracious Raynerius therefore restored the maidservant to her, a pledge of Christianity being given by her, and a holy kiss being given in Christ's stead, that she would no more put her in fetters in all her life. And the gracious Raynerius said to that Mistress, adding: "Because you have not recognized your maidservant to be in Christ your sister, but have acted harshly against her, behold for this you will be scourged by God harshly." Within those three days the Husband wrecked his ship at sea, and lost all the things which he had with him, and her daughter died in that month, with the prediction of an imminent penalty. and she lost thirty-nine pounds of the dowry of the same daughter, and her husband died that year. These things the maidservant herself, now made free, related to us, weeping at the Tomb of B. Raynerius. Let us render immense thanks to God, who both worked such great things through His servant, and speaks true and ineffable things through his mouth, and let us show reverence to that servant of His, because God and the Lord loves [him] so much.

[100] Adaleta, wife of Urseolus, went to B. Raynerius at S. Vitus, carrying with her a certain little pitcher, made of Saracen work, full of water to be blessed by him. She, when she saw that he put of his spittle into the water to be blessed in the vessels of others (for he was asked by many to do this; The vessel of a woman not wishing the water to be blessed for her with spittle, and because charity hopes all things, believes all things, he supposed that all so wished; and therefore in all the little vessels he so put it), seeing these aforesaid things, said within herself: "He will never bless my water for me." She put therefore this water in her vessel upon a certain coffer, which B. Raynerius could see. Hear a wonderful thing. Immediately all that water went out of that lead-glazed vessel below. Which beholding, B. Raynerius smiled: for he knew this from the holy spirit: and said to the woman: "Gisla, Go, take your vessel": and likewise the women said to her, that it was empty. She, greatly wondering at this, was astonished, since the vessel was very firm, and as it were of stone. B. Raynerius therefore said: "Go, fill it again, because your little faith did this." She, excusing herself, said: "On account of the spittle, it is miraculously emptied, which was put there, I did not carry it before you to be blessed." The aforesaid Gisla carried the same vessel, full of water, to be blessed. Which being blessed, nay the water itself being blessed, the vessel held the water in itself, just as it did before, so that not even a drop of water from any part broke out of that vessel. Let us therefore praise our Lord Jesus Christ, in whose name the most blessed Raynerius "of the Water" did all things; who opens even things not having open pores, on account of His servant, as if they were broken. Let us therefore beware of unbelief, the mother of taking away all good, and of departing from God.

[101] water thus blessed is turned into wine. Buoso Tupparius carried into his vessel Water to be blessed. The water he himself drew with his own hands; this being blessed he carried back home, and put in his coffer. On another day he said to one of his boys: "Go, bring me of the Water of the man of God, that we may drink of it, for the health of body and soul." Which being brought in a glass vessel, the water was made wine of wondrous odor and golden and lively color, and the best taste. Then Buoso said to the boy: "This is not that water which I put in the coffer: go quickly, and bring the vessel itself to me with the water which is there." Which was done. But he found wine of the aforesaid identity: for which he gave glory to God, who works such things to the honor of His servant, and renews the miracle which He deigned to work by Himself at the Wedding. And this Buoso Tupparius himself narrated and preached to very many.

NOTES D. P.

CHAPTER X.

Captives, the shipwrecked, the sick aided.

[102] At the invocation of S. Raynerius a tempest is calmed. Ugutio, nephew of Gulielmettus formerly of Raynaldus, when he was returning from Sicily with his companions in a ship, a very strong tempest of the sea arose; they vowed themselves to many saints, and God did not hear them. This Ugutio alone said: "My Lords and companions, I vow myself to B. Raynerius, that God on account of him may give us a quiet sea: and I, in woolen clothing, will go to him at S. Vitus barefoot, to render thanks." What a great thing, Brethren, did God then do to the ship, and the men in it, on account of His servant, and the most holy Raynerius? suddenly so great a tranquility was made in the sea, as if the sea had been made a fishpond. This Ugutio therefore fulfilled his vow, for he was clothed in wool, and came barefoot to B. Raynerius and said to him: "Because God has given you faith concerning me, it is just that you should have of our things for your protection"; and he gave him of his hair, and of his pilgrim's cloak, to carry with him on his journeys.

[103] At another time too, while the aforesaid Ugutio traveled through Tunis, he was captured in the parts of Sardinia with his companions and ship, A captive among the Saracens, on the second Feria (Monday) of the week, by the galleys of Denia of the Saracens: and they were in fear of losing their heads. Then this Ugutio, trusting in the things of S. Raynerius, which he had with him, often invoked him, that he might be a help to him and his companions. God therefore gave him grace in the sight of a certain Saracen, who suffered a burn, on account of His servant Raynerius: who always led him out with him to heal that burn. This Ugutio always had in his mouth S. Raynerius, that he might draw him out of that captivity. The eighth day coming, that is the second Feria (Monday), as he had foretold, in that night he always invoked S. Raynerius, that he might be able to flee intrepid. The eighth day come he began to say to his companions: "I today depart from you, because I have of the things which B. Raynerius gave me; and in truth today he will be a help to me, and I will depart from you. If you wish to come with me, come." But they began to rebuke him, that this word should come no more out of his mouth: because he and they could on this account lose their heads. He said to them: "Know in truth; that so it will be today, as I have already told you."

[104] A small space of time being applied, behold the Saracen called him for his burn, that he should go out with him. Which was done. The Saracen therefore said to him, that Ugutio himself should wash his head, who refused. But the Saracen began to wash himself. This man, always having B. Raynerius in mind, ascended a certain rock, removed from the Saracen more than a stone's throw, saying: he escapes free to the Pisan ships, "S. Raynerius

now help me." The Saracen, seeing him upon the rock, called him to return. He replied: "I return no more." Then the Saracen ran after him, but his running availed nothing. Ugutio could have killed him, but he spared him, both on account of his companions, and because he had shown grace to him. As all looked on, he departed from them, always invoking B. Raynerius; and no one could follow him: and so he came to a place which is called Portus-turrium, and announced this to our men who were in the port, and to two galleys which were in the port. Then our men, when they had strenuously prepared themselves, with the flat-boats a of the galleys and our two galleys, came after them, and put them to flight. They captured, however, many Saracens, which return with spoils. and a ship laden with merchandise: all of which they carried to our city of Pisa. Let us all together praise God, who thus snatched His captive, crying upon his servant and holy one Raynerius, from so dire a captivity, and who gave a trophy to our men over those Saracens.

[105] scrofula is cured. Paganus, a noble citizen, of the church of S. Sebastian in Kinsica, had a son having three scrofula, two scrofula on each side of the throat, and the third on the neck. He led him therefore to S. Andrew, and gave him to B. Raynerius to be signed over the scrofula. After a very little time in one of the scrofula was born a very little growth under the throat; and thence flowing down the humor healed all the others, distant from one another. These being destroyed, the growth disappeared: and so through the Blessing of B. Raynerius in a little time the boy recovered. This was of the first of his miracles, and all these things Lord Paganus, the boy's father, narrated to us.

[106] a blind woman is illuminated: A certain woman, by name Manna, niece of Gerard the maker of staves, and one serving with us at the tomb, nay the most Blessed Raynerius himself, went, led by her father, to S. Raynerius, to the cell of S. Vitus, he drawing her by the hands, since indeed she had lost the light of her eyes. For she suffered a drop in the eyes, which is commonly called b "fanalia," whence even with her eyes open and shining she saw nothing. The gracious Raynerius signed her, and her eyes, spitting in the eyes of the same (wonderful Creator of all, Christ Jesus, who through this your servant, sent here to us for our salvation, make the memory of your marvels); who, drawn by her father by the hand to B. Raynerius, the light of her eyes being fully received, without a leader returned to her home.

[107] Ermellina Ricia, wife of Paul, formerly of Ugo Ebriacus, a stomach pain is cured, was assiduously vexed by a grave trouble of stomach pain. It happened that she went with other women to S. Vitus, where she was seized by a most grave stomach pain: and it was told to S. Raynerius: who, giving her water blessed by himself with bread, after the receiving of them she immediately recovered, nor ever any more felt the stomach pain. This aforesaid Ermellina, indeed a noble woman, related to us before the tomb of B. Raynerius, with many hearing.

[108] Albertus, formerly of Ubaldinus, formerly of Adaldus, a noble citizen above the gate Bosi, had a little son, whom he tenderly loved; who was held by a grave infirmity, namely a fever, and a very great fever. so that he took neither milk nor food. With bare feet therefore he himself and his wife, the mother of that boy, carried him one evening to B. Raynerius at S. Vitus. Then at the same time a certain neighbor of theirs, the wife of Mincellus, barefoot carried with them a certain son of hers to the same S. Raynerius; who from infancy was so vexed by stomach pain, that he took it almost every hour, throwing himself from the neck of whoever's it was; and therefore he could not be given to any nurse to be nourished. When therefore B. Raynerius blessed the son of the aforesaid noble Albertus, for taking away the fever; the son of the aforesaid Mincellus threw himself from the neck of his mother upon B. Raynerius, suddenly touched by stomach pain. Which B. Raynerius wondering at, asked the boy's mother why this had happened to the boy. She, as was said above, narrated the boy's infirmity, and added that he had been held by it from infancy. Then B. Raynerius, looking up with eyes raised, prayed God the Father, that He would deign to free the boy from this infirmity, which I have mentioned. And because it is said by the prophet saying: "The eyes of the Lord are upon the just, and his ears unto their prayers"; the divine compassion being favorable, the sign of the Cross being made over both boys, through the most holy Raynerius, neither was the boy of Albertus touched by the fever any more, so that on another day he played with other boys; nor was the son of Mincellus thenceforth in any way troubled by stomach pain. Ps. 33, 16.

[109] and a headache This same Albertus, a knight, after the death of B. Raynerius was disquieted by a grave pain of the head, nor could he obtain the effect of the physicians. At last fleeing to the merits of B. Raynerius, he had a waxen cap made to the glory of the gracious Raynerius: which cap being placed on the head of the aforenamed Albertus, immediately in the very placing of the cap all the vehement pain of the head so departed, as if he had never suffered there. All these things, before other good men, he narrating to us, we learned.

[110] Of the church of S. Clement there was a certain woman of advanced age, The Saint heals a swelling of the hand and arm by name Bona. She, when she was returning from the feast of S. Stephen Protomartyr in the nativity of the Lord, put her hand upon a certain wood; and before she had come home, her hand and arm, with which she had touched the wood, swelled wonderfully, so that she could do nothing. But that swelling remained until after the Pasch of the Lord's resurrection; and it could be cured by no poultice, even a little. She went at last to B. Raynerius at S. Andrew, and the blessing of the Cross being made over the arm and hand, the swelling, which neither the physicians, nor any poultice had been able to take away, immediately in the presence of the most blessed Raynerius the blessing of the Cross, and the merits of the same most holy one, put to flight. These things, before many, before his tomb, she herself related to us.

[111] The son of Lambertus the butcher, whom B. Raynerius had brought back from the dead, to the boy healed by him he restores the desired little sparrow tame, of whom we spoke above, on the eighth day after came perfectly healthy to B. Raynerius, on his own feet to saint Vitus with the wife of his paternal uncle, and with others, for joy, because he had revived. And when B. Raynerius held him between his knees, the little boy saw a sparrow flying, and settling itself on the roof. Then the little boy said: "Would that I had that bird." And B. Raynerius, glad about the boy, said to him: "Do you wish, son, to have that bird?" The boy replied: "Yes." Then B. Raynerius signed that bird with the sign of the holy Cross, and immediately that bird descended to the boy's feet, made so tame, as if it had always been tame. The boy therefore took it and carried it in his hand as a domestic one. Wonderful is God who works such things through His servants. c d

NOTES D. P.

CHAPTER XI.

The remaining miracles of the living Raynerius.

[112] A certain woman of S. Lucia, near the house of Ricucchus, by name Sophia, To a woman whose mantle had been changed during the saint's preaching, wife of Rodulphus, came to S. Vitus to hear the preaching of S. Raynerius, an innumerable multitude existing there. But when she was intent on hearing him, she approached nearer, the mantle of a certain other woman, a baser one, being taken—a woman who was of Villa-longa—her own being left off, which was new and good; and that woman of Silva-longa took the mantle of that woman who was of the place of S. Lucia, not perceiving that it was the baser mantle of another woman. Then the husband Rodulphus, looking, said to her: "This is not your mantle." She, as she saw it was not hers, returned to saint Vitus, saying on the way: "Saint Raynerius, I came to your preaching: restore to me my mantle": for now all the people had departed. Wonderful is what I narrate. it is restored before him, She found there the woman of Villa-longa with her own husband, and saluted them: and asked them what they awaited there. They replied, B. Raynerius. Then she, looking at the fringe (frizium), which was in the a panels (taxellis) of her mantle, recognized it to be her mantle, and said to that other woman: "Lady, do not take it ill that I say it: this is my mantle." That woman blushed, because she thought she had her own mantle, and not another's; and so they restored the mantles to one another. Then that woman of Villa-longa, the one who had it not being otherwise able to depart. and her husband said: "Now let us try if we can depart home." They had gone ten times up to the oven of S. Vitus, and could go no further, and returned back, as they themselves related, where they had stood from the third until the ninth hour. The mantle being restored they tried to go, and returned home. This woman went to S. Raynerius, and rendered him thanks for her mantle found; and that the one who had it could not exceed the limits of the house of S. Raynerius, until she restored it.

[113] Angelus, an Upright man, of the court of Hermann formerly of Paganellus, had the palms of his hands so tender, the weakness of the hands is healed. that he could not break anything, but that the skin was broken, thinking he had leprous hands. He went therefore to B. Raynerius, while he was in the body. And B. Raynerius blessed his hands, and said to him: "Do not fear, because you are healthy." A wondrous thing! immediately the skin of the hands was hardened, and made thick in the palms, and callous as other men have; and without hindrance he began to labor with them.

[114] A woman with the throat inflamed, for 20 years. The wife of Ratho, when she was a girl, felt enter into her mouth as it were a little gnat, and did not know what it was. Thenceforth every year she was troubled by a pain of the jaw with swelling, sometimes for a month: and thus she suffered for twenty years, sometimes grievously, sometimes more grievously. But in that twentieth year she suffered so grievously, that both the jaw and the throat were made most swollen. And often with a little knife her teeth were opened for her, that she might take food or drink: and they said she suffered the infirmity which is called "bonan-num" (good year) by contraries, that is "mal," "Malan-nus" (bad year). Then when her husband had long despaired of her life, and all

who saw her, for the swelling which she had; the aforesaid wife said to her husband Ratho, She is cured by drinking the Saint's water, as best she could: "If you would send to B. Raynerius at S. Vitus, I would drink of his water, and would be healed." He went therefore himself, her husband, and brought her of the aforesaid water: which when she had drunk, as best she could, immediately she felt something move in her jaw, and ascend from the jaw, which she could not take; for it fled from her hand. She called her husband, and looking, saw a stone ascend from the jaw in the manner of an Asian b bean, that is, a Campanian one: which taking with her fingers she drew out. Very stupendous to the ears! In that very hour the swelling departed, and she was made healthy, rendering innumerable thanks to God, and the most Blessed Raynerius. This she herself related to us with her husband, at S. Nicholas of Palatino, before the Prior of the same place, Gregory, who then dwelt there.

[115] Athopardus, nephew of Botius, labored in the extremity from the very strong Heat (Cauma) of a fever, A certain man is freed from a deadly fever, and had already lost his speech. Then Botius with others came to S. Raynerius at the Church of S. Vitus. And they asked him to pray to God for the aforesaid youth. The blessed Raynerius therefore, they awaiting, entered the church of B. Vitus, and prayed God his father for the youth; and the prayer being completed he returned to them, and said: "Return now home, and you will find the youth speaking and improved, and he will be healed." Returning they found the aforesaid Athopardus both speaking well, and that the fever had left him, and he recovered from the infirmity. At another time too, after the death of S. Raynerius, and afterwards from prison. the same Athopardus, a youth of elegant form, was captured by the Prefect of the City of Rome, and put in captivity in a town which is called Vetralla c. And when he had now stood long in captivity, he vowed himself to B. Raynerius, that if within fifteen days he were drawn out of captivity, he would show reverence with his gifts to the tomb of B. Raynerius. Which was done. In fifteen days he was freed from the aforesaid captivity, and returned home.

[116] Agnes, a certain woman, of the church of S. Matthew, went with her son to S. Vitus to B. Raynerius. The unbelief of the mother is punished in the son, Then B. Raynerius gave of the water blessed by himself to a certain feverish woman to drink: and that water which had remained in the Cup he gave in drink to the son of this Agnes. Then this Agnes, the boy's mother, began to say within herself: "Alas, why did my son drink that water, which was taken from the mouth of a feverish person; now he will have fevers." She returned home, and as she had thought, so it happened to the son, since for three months he suffered fevers, and moreover there was made for him a very great and hard abscess in the hip: of which the mother and son greatly feared. The mother therefore said within herself: "Too foolish I am up to now, that I have not returned with my son to B. Raynerius, leading the boy with me." She came therefore to him, relating to him all the things which had happened to her. B. Raynerius replied: who, the Saint acting, is healed. "Your doubting brought you to this, and your little faith plunged itself in." Then the Blessed Man gave of the water blessed by himself to her son, and with his teeth touched the abscess which was in the hip three times. Let us all rejoice, because whence the mother and son had despaired, the son obtained health, so that the fevers left the son; and the strong and hard abscess, after very few days, disappeared utterly.

[117] A certain woman, by name Mingarda, wife of Hugo Curtus, of the church of S. Christopher in the Auser Gate, was most devoted to B. Raynerius, who ate neither flesh nor lard. She often came to him, and carried away from him blessed water, Water blessed by the Saint turned into wine six times, which she herself drank. It happened on a certain day, namely the fifth Feria (Thursday) before the sixth Feria before the raising of Lazarus, that she went to S. Raynerius at S. Vitus. She carried of the water blessed by him, that she might drink of it; of which when she had now drunk for two days, and had put it in the coffer of which she herself had the key; the third time when she wished to drink, she found it made wine, and greatly was astonished. She called a certain co-mother of hers, and certain of her neighbors, and gave them to drink: since she herself did not drink wine. And they, astonished, praised God. But it happened that another time she went with the same co-mother of hers and another Neighbor of hers, to the gracious Raynerius, each having a vessel full of water. Which being blessed, returning home, they were asked by certain women whence they came: who answering said: "From B. Raynerius." They asked them, if they had of the blessed water: and asserting that they had, Mingarda gave them first to drink, and it was wine. They tried of two other vessels, and likewise it was wine: and astonishment seized them, and they magnified God: and so they returned home. Afterwards a third time she returned again with her co-mother to S. Raynerius, and reported to him what had happened. And he with them gave thanks to his Father God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who now works the same things which He worked at the wedding in Cana of Galilee. And thus six times the water blessed by B. Raynerius for this woman had been turned into Wine.

[118] Then B. Raynerius, greatly wondering, that it had been done so many times (since indeed the women had also carried him wine made from water that he might taste, he himself proves the truth of the matter a seventh time. and he did not take it), gave the aforesaid woman Mingarda a new little vessel, and commanded her, that she should also bring him her flask, when she again returned to him, empty: which was done. He had it filled with water; and before he had completed the blessing, he felt it was made wine, and said to the women: "Take it, because my Father has changed the element of water into the nature of wine." And he gave thanks to God, tasting of each pitcher, and blaming himself that he had tempted God: he reserved of these two cups for Benincasa [me] his servant: and thence I drank. One was white and thin, not very strong; the other was reddish, and very strong, and of the best taste. Let us therefore praise God, who then made and daily makes the memory of His marvels, through His servant the holy Raynerius.

[119] A certain master Hugo, a Latin, taught in Greek letters, hearing at Constantinople from our men and others the sayings and deeds of S. Raynerius, Incredulous of his sanctity he falls sick, said it was nothing, that he praised and glorified himself. It happened that at that time he was grievously sick; and it was said to him through a vision: "Send for water to S. Vitus, and drink it, and you will be freed." In the morning, when our Pisans visited him, he began to tell them the vision, and added: "I do not know where that S. Vitus is." Then one of our men said to him: "I know where it is, and I will bring you of that water, if you wish." and he is healed by such water: He brought it, and Hugo himself drank, and immediately recovered. Then that Pisan of ours began to warn him, that he should say nothing dishonorable any more about S. Raynerius, because this is the water which was blessed at S. Vitus by him, of which now you have been made healthy. They praised therefore God and B. Raynerius. These things the priest Peter related to us, who now dwells as a hermit near Leghorn, then Provost of our church, and deacon of S. Nicholas of Constantinople d, by which also two blind men are illuminated. with whom this master Hugo was. In the same city of Pisa there were two Pisan men, who, the light of their eyes lost, could not see the light of heaven. There was given to them of the water blessed by S. Raynerius, and they washed their eyes with it, and soon received light. And these things were narrated to us by the aforesaid venerable priest, who saw all these things, and was present at them.

[120] There was a certain noble citizen in the same city of Pisa, by name Villanus, son of the late Ubertus, late of Antonius, having a son by name Hugolinus; Likewise a youth laboring with an incurable consumption, and this one suffered a Hectic fever, which he now had in the marrow of his bones. His father, wishing to give the physicians copious money, the physicians despairing, no one wished to take in hand his son. But the father, having taken counsel, went to B. Raynerius, and on bended knees greatly besought him, that he would intercede to the Lord for his son, that he might be restored to health; setting forth to him all the infirmity of his son. But the most blessed Raynerius "of the Water," condoling with the father's grief, entered the temple of B. Andrew, where he then dwelt; and pouring forth prayers for him to God his father, he knew that he was to be healed. Returning therefore to the Father he spoke such things: "Do not fear, be certain, because your son Hugolinus will not die of this infirmity, but will soon be healed." And the father carried him of the water blessed by him: and the Youth drank of it, and immediately there was restored to him the appetite for food and drink, which he had wholly lost; and his flesh, which had been wholly consumed by that mortal hectic fever, was restored to him; and he was made most healthy and fat, so that afterwards too, as is the custom of those citizens, for the sake of gain he furrowed many seas.

[121] Tedalgarus, of the Parish of S. Vitus, had had a fever long, and had recovered from it: but his neck remained twisted, so that he could not turn his face to the front part. and another with the neck twisted, He went therefore to S. Raynerius who then dwelt at S. Vitus; and being inquired of by him, he indicated his fever, which he had had. Then B. Raynerius said to him: "It happened to you for your fault": and the sign of the most blessed Cross being given him, impressed over his neck by him, immediately his neck was straightened, so that he moved it naturally, as he did in his health. Which he himself related to us, before his tomb in the presence of many: and he commanded him, that he should never any more wash his head with rain-water e.

[122] Guido brother of Cairus had a wife by name Adalatia, who suffered a flux of blood, and a woman flowing with blood. so that thirty times a day it flowed copiously: in addition also her whole belly had swelled not a little. Her husband therefore went to the most holy Raynerius, who then was at S. Vitus, asking him for his wife. He

gave blessed water, and three little pieces of blessed bread, saying to him: "Do not fear; because your wife will be healthy: up to the third day let her drink the water, and [eat] one little morsel a day." Who, when she had taken a piece of bread, the first day the blood was wholly dried up, and in the night the whole belly subsided. On the second day she was made wholly healthy, and rose from the bed, praising and glorifying God and the most Blessed Raynerius.

[123] Soffredus, a Physician skilled in the art of medicine, had a little daughter, whom he tenderly loved, having a "fantilian" drop (gout) f. He, when he was at S. Vitus with B. Raynerius, A dead girl carried to the Saint comes to life again. a messenger came saying to him: "Because your daughter is dying: come, that you may see her." The aforesaid Soffredus the physician with tears said to him: "Go quickly, and bring her to me." Who, when they had brought her there; her father, seeing her, who was an excellent physician, said to them: "You have done badly, that you brought her, because she is already dead." The most holy Raynerius, seeing him weeping, said to him: "Do not fear, because of this infirmity she will not die": And he wept with him. But Soffredus the physician began to say within himself: "Truly she will not die any more of this infirmity, because she is already dead." The most Blessed Raynerius began to sign her much with the sign of the Cross, and there fell on the little girl's face of his tears. And he said to the little girl's father: "Carry her with you, because she will never die of this infirmity." But the father, weeping, said within himself: "Truly of this infirmity she will not die, because she is already dead." When they had carried her home, immediately the little girl opened her eyes, and spoke, and as if dead revived, and never any more had that infirmity. This he related to us before many, saying that, "in truth he raised up for me my dead daughter."

NOTES D. P.

* otherwise "Sylva-longa"

CHAPTER XII.

On the burial of S. Raynerius, and certain miracles which followed it.

[124] But of his death a, solemn among others, let us see a few things, Brethren: to this death therefore of the most Holy one, all the Clergy, Priests, Abbots, He is buried, a gathering being made of all orders, sexes, ages, and also Priors, Monks, and Nuns, and the rest of the Venerable Orders, uninvited, God acting in them this, hastened all to come b to S. Vitus. And so in the honorable and lofty Hall of the Blessed Mother of God, they unanimously assembled. And the Priests, carrying c his most sacred body in a bier, from the place of S. Vitus up to the aforesaid church of the Mother of God Mary, offered worthy and God-dear Service. Each of the Clerics, and also the laity, as in the solemn festivity of the Hypapante (Presentation) of the Lord, carried lit candles in their hands. And those who in this bodily life had been his blasphemers, related the things which the Almighty had conferred on him, as the Lord had commanded him, and showed him most devout services. For those blaspheming about him said: even of his detractors, "this man is not from God, who so praises himself": but, as we related above, "It is good to hide the Secret of the King, to reveal the works of God is honorable, for confessing to His most holy name," the Angel Raphael commending this sentence to Tobias. Tob. 12, 7 These, I say, such men, and vomiting out such things about him, were above the rest assisting at his obsequies. All the people of our City of Pisa, and those of other nations who were in it, went with quick step, to kiss his hands and feet.

[125] His limbs had nothing of rigidity in them, the relics are eagerly sought after in rivalry; but rather were always moist and sweating and flexible as of some living person. On account of the innumerable throng of men and women, old and young, boys and girls, he was raised from the Choir, and carried to the pulpit. Nor for this did they less ascend, to touch and see him. The garment with which he was covered, namely the Pilurica and his Belt girt at the loins, was divided into infinite parts, that they might have them for Relics. Many loaves were placed in his hands, that they might receive the supernal blessing at his touch; of which many feverish, and other sick persons, were afterwards cured; so that it clearly appeared that heavenly grace had been poured out upon those loaves. Nor was there a man living upon the earth, who could remember that ever so many had assembled at anyone's obsequies. From morning until evening Infinite numbers coming and returning preached this, and that on account of the heat of the beginning summer nothing of evil odor exhaled from his flesh, nay rather at some intervals of hours it filled the place where he was with excessive and most sweet odors.

[126] Then at last his most sacred body was most devoutly handed over to burial by the Priests, his ministers. Yet the venerable Archbishop of the same city of Pisa, by name d Villanus, who up to death had at that time been sick, then recovering from his sickness, very weak, the Archbishop, then sick unto death, comes to sing the funeral Mass. God inspiring this into his heart, uninvited came to celebrate Mass, which he had neither before sung for a long time, nor afterwards sang for a long time on account of his infirmity. But many standing by heard not a Mass for the dead, but of a certain very great solemnity, strenuously wondering that "Glory to God in the highest" resounded in their ears. But the aforesaid venerable Archbishop, being asked, affirmed that he had performed the Mass of the dead. Whence it is clear that the ministry of Angels, with "Glory to God in the highest," brought forth high-sounding voices, that what they showed on earth to the Lord born, they might chant to this follower of his being born in heaven. But he migrated on the day on which God did, namely the sixth Feria (Friday) in the evening, namely on the day than which there is none greater in the whole Week, in the year one thousand one hundred sixty-first, the 15th [The Saint died in the year 1160, June 17, as is gathered from the day concurring with the 6th Feria] of the Kalends of July, on the seventeenth day of the month. Then is celebrated the nativity in heaven and the highest festivity on earth of this most holy and God-beloved Raynerius, for two days. But his Vigil ought, with all devotion, to be fasted by all who are able, made partakers of the same abstinence, for us, that he may be an intercessor and advocate with the Father in heaven, that we may merit to reign with him in the supernal regions, with the holy Angels and all the saints.

[127] But the tomb, in which his most holy body rests, the Consuls of the aforenamed city gave; the body is placed in a tomb by the Consuls that in it might be fulfilled his prophecy, which he related to us and to Master Hugo, crowned with the laurel of Physical doctrine. The Infirmity which the Physicians call pleurisy, he had in that year in which he came to us from the parts across the sea. Then B. Raynerius said to us: "Place my Body in a Tomb, because God has promised me that many sick persons would recover health at my sepulcher." But the aforesaid Master Hugo subjoined: "And who will give it to us?" "The Consuls will give it, in which my body will be placed," he immediately replied. Five consulships f had now passed, and the prophecy was fulfilled. For when we had prepared a tomb not equally good, the Consuls unanimously said: "He shall not rest in this tomb, but we will give it." And so this one, where he now lies, they prepared with their hands in the corner of the church: according to the prophecy of the living one. where many demoniacs are cured, the blind are illuminated, the crushed are raised, and innumerable benefits through him are daily bestowed on those seeking by land and sea. But the most Blessed Raynerius "of the Water," coming to us from across the sea, dwelling with us in bodily presence for seven years g, ever illuminating us with the light of his doctrine, by the favor of Jesus Christ, our Savior, who with God the Father and the holy spirit lives and reigns, God, and remains glorious, and equally everlasting and immortal, hearing our prayers, the beginning of every creature, forever and ever, Amen. h

[128] In the name of the Lord, Amen. A certain woman of the parish of Aquae, Gerra by name, had her hand contracted for eight years, contracted hands are healed at the tomb and had the knuckles cut with a billhook on account of the war which her husband had, and she was cured at his tomb. The boy Attolinus had both hands contracted, so that he could not take food with his fingers, but with the outer knuckles of each hand he put bread to his mouth: and he was cured on the anniversary at his Tomb.

[129] other diseases likewise, * Aldigarda, of the Bishopric of Luni, greatly suffering in the eyes, in his lifetime, washed her eyes with his blessed water, and in a moment recovered. A certain Arditio of the city of Pisa was blind and contracted in his whole body, and vowed himself to B. Raynerius, and recovered. Gerardus son of Cigus of Pirus, when he was in the extremity, his wife vowed him to Blessed Raynerius, and immediately he recovered. Enricus, late of Romella, having a semi-tertian fever i, put the belt of B. Raynerius under his head, and immediately the fever left him.

[130] The wife of Botellus of the river Auser had her hands contracted, again contracted hands. and through a vision B. Raynerius said to her: "Take this staff, because you are healthy." Then returning to herself (for she did not know if she slept) she found her hands healthy. In the morning she came to his tomb, carrying with her a waxen hand; and stood there nearly the whole day, that she might be seen by all; and likewise afterwards she girt the tomb of B. Raynerius with a candle, rendering thanks for this to God and B. Raynerius. Hugo the physician had a son, who had a k "ractata" (cataract or scale) in the eye, whence he greatly feared: he vowed him to B. Raynerius in the evening, and in the morning found it wholly blotted out.

[131] Fishing is prospered; A certain man, by name Clavellus, a fisherman, with his companions let down their nets into the sea in the name of S. Raynerius: and so they enclosed a copious multitude of fish, forty shillings being thence received. The wife of the same Clavellus had a growth l in her hand, which gnawed

her hand, and had contracted it, and she could not be cured of it by physicians; she vowed herself to B. Raynerius, and was made healthy. A certain noble woman was at the parish of Calci, again others die, are cured who with many others had been expelled from a certain town of Pistoia: she had a cancer in her thigh, which gnawed her. She vowed herself therefore to B. Raynerius, and was cured. Botius *, a noble Pisan citizen, had a migraine (hemicrania), and every month was grievously troubled, so that he could not endure the hearing or sound of anything: he came therefore to B. Raynerius and impressed on himself the sign of the Cross, and never any more suffered the aforesaid infirmity.

NOTES D. P.

* Refer this to chapter 8

* Refer to chapter 8

CHAPTER XIII.

Sailors aided by invoking S. Raynerius: various diseases cured.

[132] A certain Sandone, with his son and three others, went by sea to a Macra, into a place which is called Macina, with a certain b "ganzirra" (small boat). Then they cast the anchor into the sea to hold the ganzirra: An anchor, which many had been unable to draw back, but when afterwards they wished to keep it, they could not, because it had come among the stones. But it happened that another ganzirra of the Genoese, manned with twenty-two men, was passing by there. Sandone asked the Genoese, the Saint being invoked it is drawn up by a few. that they should help them draw the anchor from the sea: all tried, and by no means could. Then Sandone with the companions of the trireme was anxious about the anchor, because they did not know how they would go without it. Then the son of the aforesaid Sandone said to his Father: "I am a faithful one of S. Raynerius; let us seek his help, and he himself will help us." Then those five only, when before there had been twenty-seven with the Genoese, and they had not been able to draw it out; with the aid of B. Raynerius began to draw, and immediately they had the anchor, whose shank, on account of the violence which they made in drawing it, was bent. They rendered therefore thence immense thanks to God and B. Raynerius.

[133] Aldigarda of Podio c of Provence; her husband having died at the Pisan village, A bedridden and a blind woman are healed, was affected with so great mourning, that she could not rise from the bed, and her eyes were blinded for tears. At last she vowed herself to B. Raynerius, and rose from the bed, and began to see: therefore she came to the tomb of B. Raynerius rendering thanks with an offering. A certain youth of Arena was Lame in both feet. He came to the Tomb of B. Raynerius with crutches d at his death, and standing there in the evening was raised up, and ran himself to ring the little bell to praise the Lord: afterwards for a month he served the tomb of the most holy Raynerius by carrying water. a lame man, A certain Man of S. Paul of the bank of the Arno was grievously sick, and had his feet much swollen, so that the Physicians despaired of his life. He called therefore a certain brother whom he had, and gave him a little cord, with which he bound his feet, and offered to Blessed Raynerius waxen feet like his own. A wondrous thing! in the evening he vowed this: in the morning there was nothing of swelling in the feet, and he immediately recovered from the infirmity.

[134] A certain woman came to the Tomb of B. Raynerius, By the saint's water are cured, a grave hiccup, with her daughter, who suffered a very grievous hiccup, so that she could not eat, having suffered the hiccup for fifteen days. Which hiccup she had had on this occasion. She had sent her out of the house; who, when she was returning, was struck on the shoulder-blade, but she did not know by whom: and so she began to have the aforesaid hiccup. We gave her therefore of the water from the tomb of S. Raynerius, and she never any more had it. Nicholas, son of Maranata, grievously had the hiccup, and if he drank he suffered more. We gave him therefore to drink of the water of the tomb of B. Raynerius, and immediately it ceased, and he had it no more. Likewise a certain woman came to the aforesaid tomb, who had her index finger so stiff that she could in no way bend it: we washed the finger with the blessed water of the tomb, and the finger returned to its use. A certain man with dropsy of Lombardy came to the tomb of B. Raynerius, and drank of the water which was over the tomb, three times: and when his belly was excessively swollen, dropsy, he returned to his former health: for through all the baths which he had heard to avail for this infirmity, he had gone, and had profited nothing. He, health being received, served the tomb of B. Raynerius for a month, by carrying water over it; and afterwards returned to his home healthy.

[135] A certain woman of the same city, by name Mingarda, had a little daughter by name Margaret, who suffered very grievous fevers; she vowed therefore that she would give a waxen image for her daughter to B. Raynerius, and immediately her daughter recovered from the fevers. an incurable fever The mother changed her mind, namely, that she would not give the waxen image. A wondrous thing! immediately her daughter relapsed into the same sickness, and was made mute for three days. Then her mother, recognizing her fault, again with all purity of mind re-promised and a relapse. what she had first vowed. A very stupendous thing! At the same moment the little girl spoke, and rose from the bed, and walked healthy. This her mother narrated to us before many before the tomb of B. Raynerius, the daughter being present, and she offered the image which she had vowed.

[136] A certain woman by name Viviana had a son by name Angelellus: a fall from a height, who, when he was in the tower of Bottacius, situated beside the Arno, fell from two stories of that tower, and stood as if lifeless: The mother, weeping and wailing, vowed him to B. Raynerius, crying out and invoking him with great devotion. Wonderful is God! the boy rose without any injury as if he had not fallen. The boy's mother related these things to us before many hearing. A certain woman by name Iolitta, wife of Gualandus, fell from two stories; a defect of the eyes, and while she fell she invoked the name of S. Raynerius, and suffered nothing of injury. This she related to us before many. There was a certain English woman, blind. She came to the tomb of B. Raynerius, and washed her eyes with the water of his tomb, and immediately saw clearly. But many tested her whether she saw well, and to all it was made manifest that she saw. But this was done in the same hour in which Galganus, late son of Cajetanus, was made a Canon. Francaldellus, a noble citizen, paralysis, lay in bed a paralytic; therefore his parents vowed that they would send to B. Raynerius a candle of five pounds. The candle being made they brought it before the aforesaid Francaldellus; very wonderful! immediately he rose from the bed sitting toward the candle: and after a few days was made healthy, the candle being sent first.

[137] A certain poor little woman was coming from S. Angelo, burdened with the disease of Dropsy, dropsy, with a most swollen belly. But on a certain night she was lodged with a certain man. That night B. Raynerius appeared to that poor woman through a vision, saying to her: "Come to my tomb at Pisa, where my body rests; and you are made healthy." In the morning she found her belly had subsided, and for joy showed it to her host, and asked of him who was S. Raynerius, who was at Pisa, because she had never heard anything of him. She came afterwards to his tomb healthy, and offered there a ring of candle of wondrous size, as great as her belly had been. A certain woman of Sala, blindness, of the Bishopric of Lucca, who was blind, by name Cigula, with dry eyes in her head. She, near his death, on the Octave of S. Peter, came to the tomb of B. Raynerius: many throngs existing there, there was made and heard in her forehead a sound as of a cracked nut, and her eyes were opened, and she received light clearly, all who assisted there praising God.

[138] Grassus of Casale suffered pain in the belly and in the sides, and could not make urine nor rest for three days. In the night when he could not rest, he invoked the Saints, men and women, by name, and seemed to have nothing of relief. At last B. Raynerius came into his memory, and he began to entreat him, and to say; that if he should free him from the pain, a stone with suppression of urine, in the morning he would immediately come to his tomb, and gird it with a candle: suddenly sleep seized him, and a certain man appeared to him through a vision saying to him: "Take a urinal, and make urine"; and awaking, taking the urinal, without any pain he made urine, with which he sent forth a stone in the manner of a date-stone, and was made healthy of the pain and heaviness. At the same moment he rose early in the morning, and

as he had promised, he encircled the tomb of Blessed Raynerius with a candle,

healthy and cheerful. A certain woman, named

Agnes of Apulia, a gland. had a most hard

and very large gland in her throat. She came

to his tomb, and washed that very gland

with the Water that was over the tomb, and

it was destroyed.

[139] Albertus Strambo, son of the late

Benedictus de Mari, was in the regions of Sardinia

in a certain skiff with six companions, The anchor, stuck in the rocks, is lifted. and they cast

an anchor into the sea to hold the ship,

and it had stuck fast in the rocks, so that they could not

lift it from the sea. They had five others

as helpers, yet they were unable to draw it out;

indeed, in pulling the rope, with which

it was tied, they broke it. They were greatly anxious

over it, because they had only one other

anchor. Then the aforesaid Albertus Strambo

with the ship's hand, having summoned one of the companions,

went to the grappling-hook of the anchor; and calling upon

Blessed Raynerius for his help, with strong

intention of mind and voice, those two alone began

to pull the anchor by the grappling-hook.

What I relate is exceedingly astonishing. So lightly did they lift

that Anchor from among the stones in which

it had stuck, as if nothing were tied to

the grappling-hook. And being astonished, because before with twelve

men they had not been able, indeed they had broken the rope;

and now two alone, as if there were no anchor there,

had lifted it lightly; they gave immense thanks

to God, and to Blessed Raynerius for so great a Miracle.

[140] Villana, a noble woman, wife of Lanfranchus

de Vada, had a son Paulus gravely

ill, Children at the point of death are healed, one, so that he took no food;

and his neck fell as if he were lifeless,

and likewise his other limbs did the same.

His Mother vowed him to St. Raynerius, that if

God should restore the little child to her healthy through his merits,

she would encircle his tomb with a candle, and

would carry the boy to his tomb. Upon the devotion

of the mother, a granting followed at once: for immediately

the boy took food, and after a few

days he fully recovered, whence in the Octave

of the Apostles Peter and Paul she came with the boy

to the tomb of St. Raynerius, and her vow,

as she had promised, she fulfilled. This his Mother

related to us with many hearing. There was a certain

little boy of two or three years, and another, named

Faber, at Kesa, who for one day

and a night, having lost speech, as if dead, and

having taken no food or drink, had remained. His

Father and Mother had vowed him to Blessed Raynerius, that if

He should restore health, an offering to him & reverence

from their own they would render to Blessed Raynerius. With the vow performed

aloud, the boy at once spoke;

and asked for food and drink. Afterward his parents

carried him to the tomb of Blessed Raynerius with

the reverence promised to that same Raynerius, and offered the gracious

Water, relating all the things which have been written by us.

NOTES OF D. P.

CHAPTER XIV.

Various benefits obtained through the water poured upon the Saint's tomb, or through his invocation.

[141] Gualandus the Tanner, of the region of St.

Matthew, was suffering from a fever, Laboring under a dangerous fever gravely

troubling him; and when its

paroxysm intensified, the aforesaid Gualandus was as if beside himself.

And since he was much weakened by

My lord, take now something: for if

the onset of fever should come upon you, it will be much to be feared,

since you are too weak. He, persuaded by the words of his

wife, took three twice-baked biscuits of bread

in water; and said to his wife: See that all

leave the Chamber, and you yourself. When this was done,

he turned himself to the wall, to see if he could sleep. And

behold, there appeared to him the Archangel Michael, and

St. Raynerius. He does not well know whether he was sleeping,

or awake. The Archangel Michael thus

began to speak to him: with SS. Michael & Raynerius appearing Now we come to your help,

because you visited my house; for

he had gone to St. Angelo. Then there appeared

to him at his feet seven most hideous spirits,

saying to Michael the Archangel and to Blessed

Raynerius: why have you come to free this man? We

have a claim upon him. Without delay the Archangel

Michael and St. Raynerius drove them out.

The aforesaid Gualandus began to ask St. Michael

the Archangel to say who that one was

who had come with him to his help. To this

the Archangel: this is St. Raynerius. They charged

him therefore, saying: Behold, you are made well.

Go, send your mother, wife, son, he is instructed concerning offerings,

and two daughters to the tomb of Blessed Raynerius, and let each offer

there his gift, and an arm's-length

of candle, and a small flask [or] vial

of oil, and you will be well. And so they disappeared.

He, at once calling his wife, related

to her all the things that had happened, and that had been commanded.

Without delay, they came to the tomb of Blessed

Raynerius, the things required for obtaining health. and offered coins and five arm's-lengths

of candles of each kind. The next

morning, because they had forgotten, they offered five

small flasks of oil: and the aforesaid Gualandus, now

healed, rose from his bed, and went on that very day

wherever it pleased him. Let us all render thanks

to God, and to our Lord Jesus Christ, who thus

wills his servant to be honored with two offerings

for the lights, a third for the pavement of the church,

and for the food of the poor.

[142] A woman blind ten years is given sight through the water of the tomb, A certain woman named Bonitala,

had been blind for ten years, as her neighbors

attested, of the Church of St. Peter at Ifelna, and was led

by the hand, and saw nothing at all:

for she had little white films over her eyes. She came

therefore to the tomb of St. Raynerius, and took some of the

water of the tomb, and washed her eyes with it

each day, and then the little white films were destroyed

almost entirely from her eyes, and she saw everything well,

and went where she wished, and was led by no one.

It happened that she came again for the water of the tomb,

and she was asked by her neighbors how

she had come there: she said to them, by the grace of God

and of Blessed Raynerius, I need no guide, and by

myself I go where I wish, after I washed with the

water of this tomb.

[143] Bertraimus of the Borough of St. Michael had a wife very

ill, to whom he himself,

when he was young, who marvels that another sick woman's water was made into wine, carried some of the water of the tomb of St. Raynerius: and his wife drank

of that water. The next morning he took again

of that same water, and it had become the finest wine.

When her husband Bertraimus returned home,

she told him about the water made into wine.

He, testing it and rejoicing, brought back wine of wondrous odor

and color in the same vessel, and gave to all

before the tomb, who were there, to drink, telling

them the glory of God. But there was there a certain man unbelieving

of these things, who began to say to him: You brought

this wine from your own cask. Bertraimus,

angered, said to him: May you never die,

without repenting of this, and seeing whence you may

be able to believe this. But on another day it happened that both

were there before the tomb of St. Raynerius; and

behold, and the same all experience the next day in the washing of the tomb while a ladle full of water was being poured

over the tomb, a fragrance of wine from this

ladle full of water breathed forth to all who stood by

and perceived it. He who was pouring,

held his hand from the pouring. Then that

unbeliever, beating his breast, asked

his fault to be forgiven him by Blessed Raynerius.

Of this wine made from water, we too drank:

for it was of a golden color, and gentle in taste,

but good. Give now thanks to God, who renews

his wonders now through his holy servant

Raynerius.

[144] Her foot gravely injured A certain woman named Mingarda, of the church

of St. Blaise on the Bridge of the river Auxeris, was returning

from Blessed James of Galicia with many other

women. While she made her way, she struck her foot

gravely against a certain stone, and was afflicted

with such great pain, that she could not even set

it on the ground, mixed with a painful gout. She

was much and greatly distressed also for her companions,

who were about to abandon her. And when she was distressed by these aforesaid things, remembering Blessed

Raynerius, drawing sighs from her inmost being, she vowed

herself to Blessed Raynerius, entreating him with tears.

But since the Lord promised his own, after the vow she is healed. that he would

exceedingly honor his own; this woman vowed herself

in the evening to Blessed Raynerius, and in the morning she felt there

no injury; and she was sounder in the injured foot,

than in the other; and she returned with the other women.

[145] Gisla, wife of Frannardinus the butcher, having

know as a boy, was gravely afflicted on his account, The flow of blood through the nose is stopped.

his nose disturbed by a flow of blood. For at night

he would fill the pillow, and

all the linen cloths with the blood of the nose, and by day

likewise he did not cease to pour it out: which he had now

suffered for three months, as his mother

told us before the Tomb of St. Raynerius. A basin

full of blood, as it seemed to her,

had now flowed from the boy. It happened that the boy asked

for some of the water of the tomb of the gracious Raynerius. He drank

of it. What shall I say? At once that flow of blood

so dried up, as if it had never

flowed from him.

[146] There were eighteen Germans,

returning from Sardinia, in a certain Ganzirra, 18 Germans are saved from imminent shipwreck,

with other Ganzirras, while a great wind was blowing,

were separated from one another, so that

those Germans alone remained, and it carried

them to Buccinaria. But since the

wind was contrary, and they could not row,

they had now come near the rocks, so that there their

little ship would be wrecked. Then with great cries

they vowed themselves to the most Blessed Raynerius of the Water,

hanging both coins and solid silver

with a purse on the mast of the little ship for his

offering. A thing very wondrous and unheard of!

Against the blowing wind the little ship was carried

into the open sea, and they were freed; and what they had vowed

they offered to Blessed Raynerius at his tomb:

and they too related to us that they had been freed through Blessed Raynerius.

[147] Ubertus, a physician of St. Christina, had

an infant daughter sick unto

death: a dead girl is raised. whom he then vowed to the most Blessed Raynerius,

and promised that he would place a wax taper before his

tomb. It happened that, with her spirit failing,

he wrapped her in a cloth for the sake of the funeral,

to carry her to that same church. While this

Ubertus was wrapping her, touching the breast of the infant,

he found it warm; and he said to his wife:

I believe there is still a vital spirit in her.

Bring this taper, that we may send it to

Blessed Raynerius; perhaps he will raise her for us.

While she was bringing the taper before the infant,

when she was believed dead, (astonishing to hear!)

opening her eyes, she called her father. The father, made joyful,

sent her with the taper to the tomb

of St. Raynerius. At once, with the infant's mouth placed

against the tomb, as is the manner of infancy, with broken

and half-formed words she said: well, papa:

and thus, perfectly well, she was brought back home.

This the infant's father told us, before men and

women, before the Tomb of holy Raynerius.

NOTES OF D. P.

the Sardinian sea between the islands of Aethusa and Osteodes. So Baudrandus, in

his Geography, yet no maps display it under this name: Bertius

in

his maps to Ptolemy, at the western horn of Sicily, between Drepanum and Lilybaeum, places the island Phorbatitia, and smaller than it Paconia, nearest to Osteodes.

CHAPTER XV.

Grave perils of life by land and sea, and diverse diseases driven away.

[148] Likewise Familiatus came to the tomb

of St. Raynerius, having his hands and fingers

so swollen that he could not bend them, Swollen fingers and hands subside: nor

perform their natural uses: saying to us, that he wished to make

cauterizations because of this, on his four fingers above

the joints of the hand, on the arms; and showing

us this. We, knowing by experience that he was

faithful to Blessed Raynerius, because also, while

he lived, he used to make tapers for him, which Blessed Raynerius

lighted before the altar of Blessed Vitus; and which for us,

burning, we devoutly placed before his

tomb. Thus knowing him to be faithful,

we signed his hands with the sign of the cross, in the name

of the Father, and of His Son our Lord Jesus

Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, and in the merits

of Blessed Raynerius. And when both hands were washed with

the water of the tomb of the same Saint; in the presence

and sight of us, and of those men and women who

were there, the hands and fingers subsided,

and were perfectly restored

to their former natural use. Giving

thanks to God, who so swiftly, before our seeing

eyes, restored health to the powerless limbs; and to Blessed Raynerius,

by whose intercession He does this.

[149] A certain man named Ulicenus, of the Church

of St. Matthew, when he was on the island of Ilba and very

thirsty, drank an unseen leech

with the water, which stuck to his throat;

and so he did not cease to emit blood through his mouth. a leech is expelled, drunk down with a drink:

Anxious and fearing for his life, he had

taken the counsel of opening his throat from below the gullet:

but because this was dangerous and deadly,

he fled to a singular remedy. He vowed

therefore to Blessed Raynerius that he would encircle his tomb with a candle,

if he should free him from this peril of

death. Without delay, he bent down, and vomited up

that biting leech itself. He,

snatched from so great a peril, giving immense thanks

to God and to the most Blessed Raynerius in a most intense

manner, rejoicing, fulfilled his vow;

and this he himself related before the tomb of St. Raynerius.

[150] Buttatus with his mother vowed himself

to Blessed Raynerius, that his mother by herself

would give, headache and deafness are cured, for the affliction namely which she was suffering

in her head, a wax cap: he himself moreover,

who was deaf, because seawater

had entered into his ears, and he heard from neither;

would give a whole wax head, if by his

merits they were cured. With the vow made, the son

from deafness, the mother from the headache of the head, were freed.

They were moreover of the Church of St. Matthew;

and each, carrying his vow before the tomb

of Blessed Raynerius, offered to him their afflictions,

now taken away, as they reported to us. That he

was deaf, we had as witnesses certain of his sailors,

since indeed he himself was master

of a certain ship.

[151] Grillus, an attendant of the Pisan consuls,

when he had gone in the service of Ildebrandus Melus, a Pisan

consul, and of other worthy men,

who were with the same consul; while one

evening he was preparing candles for the lights of the consul's curia,

he suddenly fell to the ground, likewise a sudden failure of tongue and eyes, and,

his speech lost, fell silent. At once the Physician

of the consul, whom he had with him, running, touched

his pulse, and returned to the consul;

and reported that he would surely die,

so that he should have him receive penance.

But how could he who had thus fallen silent?

Yet this Grillus began to have Blessed

Raynerius in his heart, and although he did not soundly believe in him,

at once his speech was restored to him; and thereupon

he had that night a loosening of the bowels, and

for a little while he seemed to be relieved; yet nevertheless he despaired

of his life. When morning came they led

him to the city of Lodi, however

they could, where the Emperor also was. There

too he was so gravely weakened, that he said,

that he would never again go by land.

A vomiting came upon him, and he vomited much, and

from this he seemed to himself relieved; yet nevertheless

he could neither ride, nor walk for weakness. The next

morning they were about to set out on the journey of returning to Pisa:

the aforesaid consul Ildebrandus asked him: joined with grave peril of life,

whether he could return with them. He replied:

I will never again go by land. Then

the consul, condoling with him, and weeping, said: Vow

yourself to the holy body of Blessed Raynerius. That man

replied, and said: Up to now I have not believed

in his sanctity; and if now through his merits

I shall be well; I will believe, and will always

henceforth be faithful to him, and will bind his tomb with a candle.

With the vow performed he became so well, and

strong, that the next day, well and cheerful

and playful, he rode, and unharmed returned with the others. All these things in order he himself

related to us at the tomb of the most holy body of Raynerius,

and fulfilled his vow.

[152] Sophia, wife of Rodulphus, of the Parish

of St. Lucy, after the death of Blessed Raynerius had

her head swollen, and great pain in her head, and a manifold sickness:

and on top of these a fever. Her husband led her

to the tomb of Blessed Raynerius; and when the Tomb was kissed

by her, and she praying, her head subsided,

and the pain withdrew, and she no longer

had fever: and then for her head she vowed herself

to give a wax cap, and afterward she gave it.

[153] Gratianus, of the church of St. Thomas, had gone

to make wood at Motrone.

There came archers, who were from those places, One man is saved among many enemies,

wishing to plunder him. He had

no other arms with him except his iron tools, and

one bow, and a small bag with bread. With

this bag he protected himself from their arrows,

always imploring the protection of Blessed Raynerius. What

shall we say? They sent many arrows at him,

and as many as twenty were fixed in the bag of bread,

and none touched him. He resisted indeed

them with his bow, shooting arrows at them,

not wishing to strike. And they, though they were many,

could not harm him, since he always had

in his mouth and in his heart Blessed Raynerius. wounded with a light wound, because he too had wounded one of them.

But when he aimed an arrow at them, wishing to strike,

he severely wounded one of them. But

because this man did what he ought not, he received

what he did not wish: for they struck

him in the hand. And yet by the help of Blessed Raynerius he got himself

free from them: and for his hand he promised a wax one:

and how quickly he recovered from his wound,

and fulfilled the vow. For St. Raynerius granted him,

that he should not be wounded by so many arrows,

and from the hand which had struck the other,

he was very swiftly healed.

[154] Those imperiled by a grave storm are saved A certain Ubertus related to us, of

the Church of St. Felix placed near the Borough,

with a certain companion of his before the tomb of Blessed Raynerius;

that when he was going to Messina in a ship, there arose suddenly

very billowing storms of the sea, and the sea was moved

from the depths: the clouds were very dense, and rain,

flashes of lightning, and immense thunderbolts, and

horrible thunders. And because they had no confidence in the ship and in their

life, with very loud voices they were imploring

the aid of many Saints, and especially

of the Mother of the Lord, promising to her and

to other Saints their vows: and yet not even these things, which

have been mentioned, ceased: not because the glorious Virgin

could not obtain this from her Son Jesus Christ, the God of all,

and other Saints likewise could not;

but, because the Creator of all wills, that his saints

who are not yet fully known, should become known to all,

he was waiting to hear in their cries

And so, making a vow to Blessed Raynerius, at once

the roar of the sea ceased, and tranquillity

was made. The bellowing thunders, and the terrifying lightning,

and the clouds and rain disappeared, and

calm was made. When day came and proceeded,

they began to have a favorable wind, which carried

them to Messina with full sails; and there they landed,

rendering immense thanks and praises

to God, and to his most holy servant Raynerius

of the Water.

[155] Likewise others in the port of Genoa. Gratianus of the church of St. Ambrose of the Pisan

city, when he was at Genoa in the port in a

ship with his companions; suddenly from the sea there emerged

All seeing in daytime so hideous

for it cast many to land.

When the wind and cloud drew near, and

came through the midst of them, they feared greatly, lest

they be sunk. Without delay; seeking the aid of the most holy Raynerius

of the Water, the cloud so completely

turned away from them, that the wind, as a dog struck by a staff,

fled: and rushing with force into

the city of Genoa, it cast down many houses.

Let us therefore praise the Lord, who through his Saint

gives aid to those imploring him.

[156] The Saint appearing heals a sick man, Roediger, German by nation, long

the help of Blessed Raynerius. One day

at midday St. Raynerius appeared to him in bodily form;

and was seen by that sick man with bodily

eyes. Then St. Raynerius said to him: Behold, I am present,

because you implored my help, and

But go to the guardians of my body, telling them,

that they make an enclosure for my tomb,

from the corner of the wall by two columns up to the wall,

so that perjurers and adulterers cannot freely

approach me; but if not, I will withdraw thence: and

stretch out your hand to me, and he commands his tomb to be fenced. and rise up well.

At once he rose unharmed. Carry, said St.

Raynerius, a candle, and approach, and place it

upon such a candlestick of mine, teaching him

the sign of the candlestick. As he commanded him, so he did,

and he said that these things had been spoken to him by Blessed Raynerius,

which he related to us before many before his tomb.

[157] Ubertus, of the Parish of St. Fridianus, had gone

armed to a certain battle, which was

near the Arno. He was therefore struck gravely

in the little finger of his hand, namely the smallest. His

hand swelled up. The pain was unbearable:

it was lessened by no poultice: The grave wound of a finger is cured he implored the aid of Blessed

Raynerius, vowing that he would give him

could he sleep, or rest.

And at once the pain entirely ceased, and the limbs

long wearied by pain were refreshed by sleep,

and in a very short time the finger was healed. Thus

therefore fulfilling his vow before the tomb of Blessed Raynerius

he related it to us.

[158] and the inflexibility of the neck and arms. Mesia, wife of Landelandus, had the sinews

of her neck so hard and inflexible for eight

days, that she could neither turn her neck, nor

bend it, nor lift her arms: and she always grew

worse, so that she could neither dress herself,

nor even swallow food or water. Compelled

therefore she came to the tomb of Blessed Raynerius, where

we with others were. And so, with the little sign

of the life-giving Cross made over her neck, in the name

of the Father, and of the Holy Spirit, and in the merits of Blessed

Raynerius, we saw over her neck the shadow

of the Lord's cross, where the disciple whom above

the others Blessed Raynerius loved more closely, had impressed

the sign of the cross. At once we perceived that she was

healed, and with her neck washed with the water of the tomb,

we said to her: Rise, for you are made well. That

woman began to move her neck and arms according to their natural

use; and we gave her some of the water

of the tomb to lick, and without obstacle she drank. And so,

healed in our presence, she departed.

NOTES OF D. P.

CHAPTER XVI.

Other benefits and miracles similar to the former.

[159] A long-standing arthritis is healed, Ermellina of the church of St. Clement,

was suffering a grave gout, from the shoulder

up to the hand, and it troubled

her through every week, so that she could do no work.

She vowed a wax arm with hand to Blessed

Raynerius, if God should cure her by his merits.

With the vow performed, she never afterward had it in any week:

and that she might be certain of her

deliverance, she waited two months, before she should offer

her vow, before the tomb of St. Raynerius,

admirable by right of life and miracles. A certain

woman named Bona, wife of Julianus, of

the church of St. Blaise near the river Auxeris, was suffering a most grave

gout with excessive pain

in her teeth and jaws, and the pain of the jaws so that she could not chew,

and she had long suffered. She vowed wax jaws

to Blessed Raynerius, and to bind his tomb if

the gout should cease, and the pain. In that very moment both

the pain and the gout together departed; and she was made

well, and she fulfilled her vow, and all these things

she herself related to us before the tomb of Blessed Raynerius.

[160] Gratianus of the Parish of St. Sixtus was returning

with his companions in a ship, named Sagettia,

laden with salt from the Cagliari salt-pans,

and was sailing with a favorable wind up to the island

of Celsaria. When it was evening there, and the wind

had quieted in its course, those imperiled in a sudden storm are freed. they spoke to

one another, that the next day they would have similar weather.

And behold suddenly with great force a west wind began

to blow. These men had not yet landed at

any station or port. Then troubled

by the contrary wind they spread the great sail,

and began to say: We will not land

now at any place until Sicily.

And so, when they were thus troubled, one

of them said: Let us vow ourselves to Blessed Raynerius,

and let us offer at his Body a wax taper of five

pounds. With the vow made (terrible the God who

for his Saint works such things) after a little while

they landed, going against

the wind; and from so great a tumult thus wondrously,

by the merits of the most Blessed Raynerius of the Water, they were freed.

[161] Camandina of the Parish of Saint …

could neither rest, A grave sickness is cured. nor sleep, wearied for a long time:

whence she had become as if rabid.

She sent to the tomb of Blessed Raynerius, for the water

which was over his tomb; and when this was drunk by her,

the restlessness and rabidness and all the weariness

ceased; and with sleep coming on, she was soon freed.

This she herself with great affection of soul related to us

before the aforesaid tomb, giving

thanks to the most Blessed Raynerius her helper.

[162] One named Angelus-bonus came to Blessed

Raynerius at St. Vitus, and he blessed

him, A shipwrecked man is saved who was a Cleric of St. Peter-the-Lesser of

the city of Lucca: and so he went to Jerusalem

to visit the sepulcher of the Lord: but while he was returning

in a ship, which was called Arundella

of Durandus of Brindisi, and had come near

Methrone, a strong storm arose, and

the ship was wrecked. Then it happened that this Angelus-bonus,

so called, seized a certain plank

in the sea, which he held between his thighs;

and so by the waves of the sea he was lifted up

immensely, and descended as into the deep

with the plank. At this he saw behind him Blessed

Raynerius, in the form and dress in which he had seen him

at St. Vitus, upon the plank, when he blessed him, holding

the shoulders of the aforesaid Angelus-Bonus, and saying

to him: Do not fear, because I am with you for your help:

For I am he who blessed you

and signed you at St. Vitus. For this

Angelus-Bonus had been to St. Vitus,

and had received a blessing from St. Raynerius.

And St. Raynerius said to him, while he

went among the waves upon the plank: You will have

great fear among these waves, but I

will be your helper: yet sleep, and at once

he fell asleep upon the plank. This was during

the night: in the morning when the dawn had come very

near a mountain, he was awakened:

and then a wave of the sea struck the plank on which

he was against the mountain; with the Saint appearing and encouraging him. and he fell from the plank,

and lost it; and so the receding sea drew

him back excessively beneath the sea;

and thinking he would surely die among the waves, however

he could, he called upon God and Blessed Raynerius;

and at once a certain man in white garments,

took him by the hair, and placed him

upon a rock, and so he escaped, by the help

of God and Blessed Raynerius, from the depth of the sea,

rendering the highest thanks to God and to St.

Raynerius. This he himself related to us before many

before his tomb, saying that he wished to swear this

before his tomb, if there were need.

[163] A certain woman named Jolittina, wife

of Gerardus de Vico, A sick knee is cured. very greatly … was suffering in her knee

gravely, so that she could not walk, nor rise from

the bed. She vowed therefore herself to St. Mamilianus,

and to many other Saints, and nothing availed her.

At last, because she was being more and more

burdened with the sickness, she vowed herself to Blessed Raynerius;

and from his pilgrim's cloak, which she had, she placed it

upon her knee. A wondrous thing! likewise deaf ears, at once the pain ceased

and the sickness, and well she rose from the bed.

And afterward she came to his tomb, carrying her vow,

namely the whole leg with the knee

and foot of wax, offering it at the tomb of Blessed Raynerius.

*

[164] and useless hands. Theodora, wife of Simignatus, had

hands, as is commonly said, asleep, so that she could not

spin. She vowed therefore herself to Blessed Raynerius,

and washed her hands with the water of the tomb,

and at once she recovered, and spun well, and afterward

she placed there a wax hand for a sign. Dodo,

son of Gregorius, fell from a certain upper room, A man fallen from a height is saved,

and from the fall he was beside himself. They vowed

him therefore to Blessed Raynerius, and at once he returned to

his senses. A noble woman named Maximilla,

wife of Bernardus the late son of Hugo Balduchus,

had a certain boy of her maidservant,

having his neck and throat and chest swollen, and a boy about to be suffocated by the swelling of the throat.

so that he was as if strangled, and about to die.

Then the aforesaid Maximilla came to

the tomb of Blessed Raynerius; and took some of that which

dripped from the tomb onto cotton, which was like

balsam coagulated: and carrying it home

she anointed the neck, throat, and chest of the boy. A thing

to be marveled at! In the evening she anointed, and in the morning no

swelling remained to the boy, healed from that so

grave sickness.

[165] A certain woman labored in childbirth,

and could in no way give birth. likewise a woman laboring in childbirth, Placed in the pains

of death, she vowed a wax image to Blessed

Raynerius, if she should be delivered from the imminent pains

and childbirth. She was heard at once,

and immediately gave birth, and was freed from the pains.

And so fulfilling her vow, she offered the image

at the tomb of Blessed Raynerius, with us seeing. There were

two Pisan citizens in the regions of the Principate,

caught by grave paroxysms with a huge fever:

one named Albertus Pilosus, and the other

Villanus the son, of the late Ubertus, of the late Antonius. and two citizens from an acute fever,

While they devoutly spoke to one another,

about their life, on account of the too acute fever,

greatly fearing; Villanus vowed himself to stand

before the tomb of St. Raynerius the whole night, with

Pilosus, because he could not keep watch, vowed himself

to place two tapers before the tomb of St. Raynerius

lighted, if God should free him through him from the fever.

Let us therefore render thanks to God and to

Blessed Raynerius; because in that same hour, in which they made

the vow, they were freed from the most acute fever,

and thereupon had it no more: and unharmed and

glad they returned home to Pisa, giving thanks

to God and to the most holy Raynerius, and their vow,

as they had made it, at his tomb they performed.

[166] Gisla, of the Church of St. Ambrose, had

For this Theodora there came a very great hardness

on the other side of her throat, which she thought was

she was thereupon greatly distressed. The mother, vowing

her daughter, and the daughter herself, to Blessed Raynerius, brought

some of the water of his tomb: in the evening the daughter washed

her throat with the water of the tomb; and in

the morning the whole tumor had disappeared. And so to her former

health she was restored. She therefore related this

miracle often before the tomb of the most eminent

Raynerius of the Water. There was a certain man of Lucca,

named Rolandinus, of the church of St. Angelo

in the market, who was held by most acute fevers.

He sent therefore from the city of Lucca to

Pisa for the water of the tomb of Blessed Raynerius; another from a fever. which when it was brought

to him and drunk, immediately the fever left him,

and he recovered. After these things the aforesaid

man came to Pisa to render thanks to God and to Blessed Raynerius,

carrying with him a very large band of candle;

with which his tomb, glad and well, magnifying

God in his holy Raynerius, he encircled.

[167] An arrow is drawn out of a wound miraculously. Grottus, a Pisan citizen, son of the late Ugo, son of the late

Bonus Bonicius, with three others of the same surgical

art, had a certain man gravely wounded,

and there was an arrow in his body so

deeply fixed, that by no skill of their art

could they find it. Then Grottus with

his companions, very anxious, drawing sighs from the bottom

of his breast, thus said to God: Lord

God, who are the knower of hidden things, if those things

are true which are said by many about St. Raynerius,

as that he is a saint of exceeding merit before your

sight: now show your power

in this arrow, which we are in no way able

to find; that, it being found, we may know the power,

which is in him by your grace; that we may

without hesitation venerate him, and praise you, God

wonderful in your Saints. With the prayer

finished, at once the head of the wood of the arrow appeared,

excessively long, on the surface of the wound: which with

joy beholding and being astonished, without any toil

taking it, they drew it out from the mouth of the wound.

And so Grottus came to the tomb of St.

Raynerius, carrying with him the arrow, and hung

it up; before many relating all that

had happened before his tomb, giving thanks

to God and to Blessed Raynerius.

[168] Benefacta, wife of Bellomerus Grimaldus,

had fissures in the palms of her hands, and between

all the fingers of the same, which commonly are called setulae:

and in no way could she be cured

by medicine, and rather she grew worse.

This aforesaid woman came to the tomb of Blessed

Raynerius, and washed her hands with the water, and

at once after a few days the openings of the hands

were so consolidated, as if she had never

suffered in them. This miracle, with many

hearing, the woman herself related to us before

his tomb.

NOTES OF D. P.

war happily recovered by the Venetians.

In Num. 163 at this sign * the careless typesetters had skipped over the following miracle, which I here insert.

A certain woman named Berta, mother of Ubertus of St. Sebastian, was deaf,

and came to the tomb of St. Raynerius at the time of his death, and

took some of the water of his tomb, and put it into both ears. She returned

moreover to St. Sebastian at the time of the Office, and perfectly heard

the Office with both ears. When this was done she said

to her Priest: I render thanks to God, and to Blessed Raynerius, because I heard today

your Office. For much time has now passed, since I have not heard:

and she related to the Priest the whole sequence.

CHAPTER XVI.

A continuation of similar miracles.

[169] Riccadonna, of the church of St. Fridianus, having

a son with an abscess

under the armpit, where also a multitude of arteries is inserted,

feared that very hard abscess to be cut. A dangerous abscess is cured without iron.

Many physicians, men and women, seeing

the abscess, did not dare to put iron there, saying,

that death would immediately follow: for

the abscess was too deep. The mother

therefore of the youth vowed him to St. Raynerius,

that if he should be cured without iron, for him she would offer to Blessed

Raynerius a wax image. The mother moreover applied

upon the abscess the root of marsh-mallow ground,

which is commonly called bauculus. This

root draws the humor to the surface of the skin,

and brings it to maturity. Which then by the

contrary God, for his servant and

beloved Raynerius, wondrously worked. For when

the ground root of bauculus had been laid on three times,

the abscess was neither softened, nor

drew the humor to the surface of the skin, but entirely

disappeared, as if it had never been there.

The mother's vow therefore was fulfilled, the fever is taken away. that without iron

he was healed. And so she offered the wax image

before the tomb of the gracious Raynerius, and all

these things were related before many. A certain young man,

lettered, when he related these things, came carrying

another wax image, offering it at the tomb

of Raynerius, the beloved of God, asserting, that he had had

[170] There was a certain man, named Dominicus

of Veclano, beyond the river Serchi, having

of the aforesaid Mingarda. a dead man is raised, This Dominicus vowed

to Blessed Raynerius, now stripped of the body, his own son:

and so the son himself breathed out his spirit.

Then the father weeping and wailing, said: O

blessed Raynerius, I vowed to you my son,

that his life might be preserved, and now he has expired: what

then shall I do? Often repeating these things (let us attentively hear

the very astonishing thing) his spirit returned

into his body, and he called his father.

All who were there, seeing this miracle,

praised God and Blessed Raynerius.

The next day it was said to the aforesaid Mingarda:

Do you not go to your nephew whom Blessed Raynerius

raised? She went on to him:

and so related to us the sequence of the matter.

[171] Sophia, wife of Lotharius de Latallo, had

so that if she spoke five or six words,

her breath failed her so, that she became half-dead.

Therefore her husband also despised her,

because from the failure of breath she could not even work

with her hands. Whence at last she came to the tomb

of St. Raynerius, the failure of breath is repaired, standing, weeping, and vowing,

that if God by his merits should free her from the failure of her breath,

she would offer a wax image at his tomb.

She returned home, and as she was returning,

she found a most fierce bull, casting down

men and women whomever it met.

She threatened it with her hand, and as if seeing

of her breath she was perfectly freed: and changing

oil for the image, she offered it at the tomb of Blessed

Raynerius. All these things she herself related to us

before his tomb, without any failure of her breath.

One man of the church of St. Peter in the old court,

was suffering a most grave pain of the head,

so that his eyes by the force of pain protruded from his head. the pain of the head is healed,

He invoked therefore the most holy Raynerius

of the Water, and in the very moment of invocation

all pain ceased, and fled to

his hands and feet, thereupon so rigidly fixed,

that in no way could he move himself. Again invoking

the same, perfectly at once he was healed.

In this same hour, in which the aforesaid woman related it

to us before his tomb.

[172] Albertinus of the city of Modena had gone

into Ilba, a violent gout. to dig out a vein of iron. He fell

therefore gravely ill there, and the gout contracted

the toes of his feet toward the ground. He went

therefore with a staff. While he walked, with both hands,

he stretched one to the middle of the staff,

the other he held at its top: and so

with great effort he walked. He went therefore

to the Baths of the Pisan mountain, and returned

nothing improved. After some days however

he came to the tomb of Blessed Raynerius, and fell asleep

at the head of the same tomb. When he was roused

he found his feet healed, and began as if

stupefied to stand before the tomb, with hands

raised and palms joined. But those who had seen

him come crippled, began to ask,

why he stood thus. He answered, that Blessed Raynerius

had healed him of his feet. Seeing

moreover him walk without a staff, and freely,

and have the toes on his feet naturally straight;

they praised God, giving thanks,

and Blessed Raynerius. He remained moreover there

for three days, glad of his health.

[173] Not approving the silver cross offered at his tomb, On the same day, Henricus, priest of the church

of St. Blaise of the Sea-Gate, came thither, and

sat opposite the tomb of Blessed Raynerius himself, and

the Innkeeper of the Pisan mountain, and Cinellus, with

three others of Cisanello. The aforesaid Priest therefore,

when he saw upon the tomb a silver

gilded Cross, which the aforesaid Cinellus had given to Blessed Raynerius,

because he had been sick

unto death, and had been cured

by the merits of Blessed Raynerius of the Water; said that Priest

to the aforesaid Cinellus: Why have you given this Cross

to a dead man? why did you not give

it to the altar of Blessed Mary? or why did you not sell

the silver for your own use? and the wood

of the Lord's Cross, which is there inside, as you

say, why did you not give it to the altar of the most holy Virgin

Mother of the Lord? Cinellus answered:

It is fitting, that over so great a body so

most holy a most holy Cross should stand; and I did well,

because I gave it, for by his merits I am cured.

And when in this manner they contradicted each other,

and disputed; the ineffable wisdom

of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ,

wishing to show that it was pleasing to Him, that

the wood of his life-giving Cross should stand over so

most holy a body, did not will that to be hidden

which was there. And so suddenly the aforesaid

Priest began to see the wood of the Lord's Cross

as if no silver were there. Astonished

therefore at this miracle, he rose, and went toward

the Cross to see the wood, himself bowing

his head to the Cross, and Cinellus. he beholds the wood of the true Cross enclosed in it, bare. But when they had come

opposite the Cross, the wood was shut up in

the silver, and they returned to their seat: and

again they began to see the wood, they and all

the others whom we placed above: and for a certain

while they saw it, and so the wood was shut up.

Therefore let us all praise the Lord,

who thus honors St. Raynerius called

of the Water, because with water he did all wonders,

and so that at his tomb he may heal the sick,

the blind, the lame, the weak, the deaf, the crippled,

and the paralytic, and may cure of all infirmities

innumerable diverse kinds:

and may reveal the sign of his life-giving Cross

hidden in the silver, in honoring his tomb,

openly. So be it, so be it.

[174] Headache is cured, There was a certain poor man, who came to Blessed

Raynerius carrying with him a large image of candle,

and his head bound with

to Blessed Raynerius before his tomb, for

he was suffering a most vehement pain in

his head, and from the pain tears were flowing

from his eyes. We gave him to drink of the

water, which was over the tomb: and at once,

in our presence, with him attesting, well

he returned home. Lotteringa, wife of Benectus

from outside the gate, had a daughter having

She vowed therefore a wax image to Blessed Raynerius if

her daughter should be made well from the swelling. a tumor of the body, The mother

therefore was heard for her daughter, and after a little space

unharmed as if from death, as the mother

herself asserted to us, she was perfectly restored to her.

[175] Berta a pilgrim of the Territory of St. Matthew,

when she washed her hands with cold

water, a wondrous affliction of the hands, her hands became black as

of Blessed Raynerius; and with the sign of the Cross made over

her hands, with the name and aid of the most holy

Raynerius invoked, we had her washed with the water

of the tomb before many; and her hands

returned to their natural color, and remained

in the same, all marveling, because they were

black before, and were made white. Aymelina,

wife of the late Gellus, sister of Ildebrandus,

Priest and Canon and Chamberlain, had had

but there had remained the little finger, that is the smallest,

with pain; and the rigidity of the little finger, which she could not bend

to the palm of the hand in any way, and so she had had it

for six months. She came therefore to pray at

the tomb of St. Raynerius, and after the prayer she showed

us the finger, which she could not bend,

before many. With the Cross made over the finger,

in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,

and in the merits of Blessed Raynerius, and the finger washed

with the water of the tomb, at once the pain in our presence

ceased, and the finger returned to that

use which is according to nature, in

the sight of all who were there.

[176] Berta, a certain woman, very faithful

to Blessed Raynerius, and of the arm, in the bodily life of that same St.

Raynerius; came to the tomb of that Saint,

praying by his merits; and seeing us,

rejoiced. She began moreover to complain before many

with us standing there, that in the knot

of the joint at the arm, up to a palm's-width

above the arm, she was gravely vexed

by gout and pain, so that she could turn the arm to no

part. With the little sign of the life-giving and saving

Cross over the painful places often

made, beseeching God and our Lord Jesus

Christ, that through the merits of the most Blessed

Raynerius she might be restored to her former health. With the painful

places washed with the water of the tomb of Blessed Raynerius;

before those standing by she began to turn the arm and

the hand, as it pleased her, and the pain

at once ceased. A little of the pain however remained

to her in a very tiny part of the knot, and she showed

it to us. then the headache. And again, with the sign of the holy

Cross made, in the merits of Blessed Raynerius, the pain entirely

ceased. Agonia, wife of Rogerius the Notary,

who dwelt toward the house of Bottacius, was

troubled by a most grave affliction of the head. On account of this

she was brought to the point of death. She vowed therefore a vow

to Blessed Raynerius, that she would set a cap of wax

before his tomb to his praise.

At once she was freed when the vow was performed, God doing it

for the glory of his servant Raynerius: and

we saw the cap at the tomb, and so it was reported

to us before many.

[177] Also a sick ox is cured Ildebrandus of the Parish of St. Cassianus had

an ox not feeding, nor rising

from the place where it lay; and therefore he had sent

for butchers to sell the Ox: meanwhile,

remembering Blessed Raynerius, he besought

his merits, that his ox might be well: at once

the ox rose from the place in which it lay, and began

to feed, made well, the aforesaid Ildebrandus

giving thanks to God, and to St. Raynerius for the ox

made well. The aforesaid Ildebrandus had

seeing the ox made well he said within

himself, I will lead her to the tomb of Blessed Raynerius.

He came therefore to the tomb of Blessed Raynerius with

his aforesaid wife, and with prayers offered by

both, and a woman crippled in the arm that she might be made well, before they returned home,

his wife was made well both in the arm,

and in the hand, restored to entire health.

This the aforesaid Ildebrandus himself related to us

at his tomb, the saying of the Prophet being fulfilled,

Men and beasts you will save, Lord,

as you have multiplied your mercy,

O God. Ps. 35, 7.

NOTES OF D. P.

* num. 117

CHAPTER XVIII.

The end of the miracles of St. Raynerius, taken in the first year from his death.

[178] Gerardinus, son of the late Paniculus

the smith, Long-standing fistulas are healed, was suffering a fistula in his foot

for three years, and could be cured by no one, he vowed

therefore himself to Blessed Raynerius, and was most perfectly

healed: wherefore, he offered a wax foot

before the relics of Blessed Raynerius. This was moreover

among the first signs of the most Blessed Raynerius done after his

death. Conthilda, a noble woman

of Cinnamus, wife of Hugo the late son of Sicherius the late

son of Gualandus, was faithful to Blessed Raynerius: who

when she was gravely troubled by gout of the shoulder up

to the hand and incessantly, arthritis likewise also by pain

of the rib of the side; vowed herself to the most Blessed Raynerius,

and at once she was made well from both

sicknesses, and a wax sign for this she placed

before Blessed Raynerius.

[179] blindness, Eroardus, of the Parish of St. Sepulcher

in Kinsica, saw nothing with one eye, having,

as it seemed, it beautiful

and good. He came to the tomb of Blessed Raynerius, and

washed the eye, with which he saw nothing, with the water which

was over the tomb: and at once there he saw

as clearly with that eye as with the other with which he did not

suffer. These things the same man related to us before many.

Guilielmus, an Englishman by nation, for

fifteen days was led by the hand, because

he saw nothing. He vowed therefore himself to Blessed Raynerius in the evening,

he relating thus to us before many

before his tomb. On another day moreover when he rose,

he saw as clearly as before, when he did not

suffer in his eyes. Benedicta, of the church

of St. Matthew, a tumor (struma), went to Blessed Raynerius while he still

lived among us, having a tumor, that is a goiter,

in her throat, and an ailment in her foot,

so that she was also slow-walking. With a blessing therefore

over both places made by Blessed Raynerius, he said

to her: You will not indeed be made well now, and difficult walking. but for

certain you will be cured of both ailments. And so it was

done: for this woman came after the death

of St. Raynerius to his tomb, carrying with her

the signs of her cure, one head with

neck of wax, and a wax foot; and offered

there, giving thanks to God and to Blessed Raynerius for

the cure of the throat and of the foot.

[180] There were seven men placed in the prison

of the city of Pisa near St. Vitus (Some

of them on account of crimes, Seven captives shut in a most fortified prison some on account of

other causes) in which they had nothing of iron, or of wood,

or of rope; and on most scanty food and drink

they sustained their life: of which prison the wall was

composed of large stones and choice

cement, so that it was a most firm structure. The

thickness moreover of it, or its width, was nine great

palms; and there were in that prison

two windows very high, each having

with lead: into which after

one was put he was able by no device to flee

thence. And so when they were placed in so dire a prison,

so that both from hunger and cold and

nakedness they thought they would soon die, speaking to

one another to flee to this refuge,

that they should devote themselves to Blessed Raynerius, that he might give them

counsel and a means, how

they might escape thence; Rogerius one of

them vowed himself to give a thread of silver to the tomb

of the most Blessed Raynerius; invoking the saint, and another named Spahardus

likewise. The rest, who were all poor,

sang the Lord's Prayer

Our Father each one three times: and so they began

to await the mercy of God and of Blessed Raynerius.

[181] In that very night there appeared to the most wretched of them

Why have you not already taken those iron bars from

those windows, with the same one appearing they are commanded, and destroyed the wall with them,

and not already gone out thence? He had never seen

Blessed Raynerius, therefore he did not recognize him:

and so he was awakened. When morning came he reported this

to the rest. Rogerius, who was among

them the greater, said to him: See, Brother, lest you say

this: for of dreams I am quite full. There answered

one hand cut off) and said to him:

We will try and see what God and Blessed

Raynerius will: for God wills, that we

help ourselves. Then Rogerius and Spoliardus

said: with the iron bars of the windows drawn out By no means do anything,

because we do not wish to suffer more on account of you, because

we are not at fault. There went therefore

the maimed man, and another quite weak and wretched to whom

this had been shown, not on their account leaving off,

and they took one of the iron bars

of the windows, and at their touch it so bent,

as if it were a little rod of green wood;

and pulling further it was broken below, and there remained

in the window a leaded socket.

This a hundred men could by no chance have done,

together pulling that very iron bar.

Going to the other window they had done likewise,

and the leaded socket, to pierce the wall: God and the merits of Blessed Raynerius

doing this, with the iron bar

likewise broken they wrenched it out thence. And in the day

they put those irons in the windows, so that it could not

be found what had been done: but at night

that maimed man, and that other weak one, taking

those iron bars, began to try if they could

with them destroy the wall. And at once

there sprang forth one stone of two loads.

[182] On account of this therefore, encouraged, they began

to destroy it so lightly, as if they were pumice-stones

joined without cement. And so they pierced through that so strong wall

with a great hole; and by the guards,

who day and night were powerful over

them, which two most feeble men do, they were not heard, nor did they perceive any movement

of the tower's striking. And so

on the night of Blessed Cerbonius they went forth outside, God,

by the merits of the most Blessed Raynerius, making rains and immense

thunders, those seven praying

together that they might in no way be perceived, and carrying

with them two iron bars with one leaded

socket, that they might offer them to the most holy

Raynerius, their patron in this cause.

And so coming to his tomb, to their deliverer

St. Raynerius they gave thanks: and

remaining there one day, to the praise

of the most holy Raynerius, and all escape unobserved. leaving the bars there,

they returned to their own places eagerly. Let us therefore

all praise God and the most holy Raynerius

our intercessor and helper before

God, who thus comes to the aid of those placed in necessity

and rescues them; so that in the second place of him it may rightly

be said, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, to preach the gospel

to the poor he has sent me, to heal the contrite

of heart, to preach to the captives release, and

to the imprisoned opening, and the acceptable day of the Lord;

who lives and reigns God forever and ever. Luke 14, 18 Amen.

[183] There was a certain girl, named Berta,

daughter of a woman named Scotta, of the Parish of St.

Euphraxia of the Bozi gate, who had an exostosis

very hard like a stone, a deforming exostosis is removed by the hand, near the joint

of the right hand and arm, of the size

almost of a hen's egg: who, since she did not wish the unsightliness

to be cut, came to the tomb of St. Raynerius, and

showed us. And so with the sign of the cross often made over the exostosis,

and with the most holy water from above his tomb washed upon it,

that exostosis was greatly diminished.

And doing the same up

to the sixth day, all was destroyed that

had grown there above for six months already before,

and could be removed by no poultice. Then on

Sunday a certain Young man came to the tomb

of the most Blessed Raynerius from the place of White-Thorn,

who, bled from the vein of the arm, was struck

in the nerve: therefore his arm had become both contracted

and very hardened, in which it often pained.

By placing the sign of the cross there, and

washing with the water of the tomb, the contraction of the arm is healed, he saw and felt

himself the nerves being extended for him, and the pain

of the arm ceasing, on account of the merits of the most holy Raynerius:

and well thereupon, before us and many, he departed.

Cilia of the Parish of St. Paul at the Garden,

was suffering most gravely in the jaw, and

could be cured by no medicine. She vowed therefore

to the most Blessed Raynerius a wax breast before

his tomb, if by his merits she should be relieved. pain of the breast,

In a very short space afterward she was cured, and offered

named Capradosso, had had a daily fever

for forty days. In the very onset of the fever,

which he now felt, he vowed to St. Raynerius

free him from the fever. Neither then did it come on any more, nor

afterward did he have it: and being made well, a taper, of however great

stature he himself was, he offered to the most Blessed Raynerius

at his tomb. He was moreover of the

church of St. Salvator of the river Auxeris.

[184] Guido Lagio, of the Parish of St. Andrew

in Finseka, with his companions was going to Tunis

with a certain skiff; as they went out

from the mouths of the Arno they ascended into the high sea

straight on. Then the open-sea wind, which

is thus called by us, began to blow strongly, The Saint, invoked, comes to the aid of those imperiled in the sea, and

so carried them with the ship between the mouths of the Serchi

and the Arno: and so they came to the shore without

any remedy, and the wreck of the ship was imminent for them.

Then thus hard-pressed, having no

remedy by which they could protect themselves, they vowed

to Blessed Raynerius of the Water four Byzantines

for his service, if the ship in that beach should not

be wrecked. They threw therefore one anchor

in the name of the most blessed Raynerius of

the Water: and the whole day and night they stood with

that alone so firmly, as if they were as it were in a most peaceful

sea. With that wind ceasing, and a favorable one

blowing, they traveled up to Galata,

and then they could not draw back the anchor

except with a verrocchio, when the storm there ceased.

And those places having a most grave and stormy

sea, seeking his aid,

they were made safe. And so let us praise

God, who grants his most holy Raynerius to be a Patron

and deliverer by land and sea.

[185] Botrigus, and Bernardus de Malaventria,

were Masters of a certain skiff, traveling

toward Salerno with their sailors. When

moreover they had come above the island of Ponza, unexpectedly

suddenly a strong storm of the sea arose.

For the sea was casting waves into the skiff: and to others at the island of Ponza

for they had closed in the upper deck above the skiff

all the openings with their doors, and so the waves cast

over from above into the skiff, so that up to the knees

the sea's wave was on the deck which is called batalia

(the fighting-deck). And so despairing of their life

and ship, each of the sailors of the ship vowed

to Blessed Raynerius that they would offer a taper of one pound

before the tomb of his body, if he should free them from

so imminent and most grave a peril of the sea.

Without delay, tranquillity was made, and the appointed journey

they prosperously accomplished. And returning

to Pisa with all gladness they fulfilled their vow.

[186] Besides this there were Petrus the late son of Sibertus, and

Bernotinus the late son of Bernotus, of a certain

sagetia the Masters, with whom was also Bellus

de Malaventria, and to a third group around Naples. with other sailors and clerics

departing from Salerno, imbued with the art

of medicine, setting out from the port of Miseno. Then

with many other ships, with the South wind blowing favorably,

they came near the mountains, which are above Gaeta.

Then with the most turbulent South wind imminent,

the wrath of the sea was most savage, the sagetia raised

its prow as if to the sky. Some held

themselves to the stern-ornaments, some to other things, so that the horrid wave

of the sea might not throw them out of the ship.

Besides these so grave things it came about, that

the prow of the sagetia inevitably ran down toward the mountain,

where neither of life nor of ship was there any

hope, as it would soon be wrecked. Then one of

the Clerics, named Malaventria, said to Bellus,

who was of the village of Malaventria, steering the rudder:

Why do we not vow ourselves to Blessed Raynerius?

and we will be freed. That Bellus, encouraged by

the word, calling the masters and the rest who were with

them, related the word to them. Rejoicing at

the word, they vowed themselves to give Blessed Raynerius one

taper. At once the prow, which was turned toward

the mountain, was turned around toward the open sea: and Blessed

Raynerius appeared at once to that Bellus steering the rudder

beside him, with his pilgrim's cloak, just as he had seen him

at St. Vitus: who being made certain by

this of the deliverance, began to say to his companions: Be quite

certain, that you are freed. And they began

to ask of him: why do you say this? what

did you see? He answered: I do not tell you now.

Then the Northwest wind blowing, in a little while

carried them back to the port of Miseno, whence they had departed,

and they were made safe. Again asking

of him what he had seen, he answered, that with the vow made

he had seen Blessed Raynerius standing by him. Of the ships preceding

and following them,

on account of that monstrous storm, they related that fifteen

were wrecked. And so returning home

together with the ship and goods, their vow

they fulfilled.

[187] There was a certain man of the Parish of St.

Laurence of Vacculae, named Joannes, of the age

of more than a hundred years. This man had a very great

abscess in his chest, A dangerous abscess is healed, which

none of the physicians had dared to open, despairing

of his life. He vowed therefore a wax image

to the most Blessed Raynerius, and sent for the water of his tomb. When this was had, he washed that

abscess: and the following night sleeping, that

abscess broke, and being awakened he found all

the pus to have gone out. Giving thanks therefore to God,

he himself paid his vow. Henricus the Smith

of St. Cecilia, was tormented by a most grave pain of the head for the space of three

weeks, and could in no place

rest for the pain. headache, He vowed

therefore a wax cap to Blessed Raynerius and at once

he recovered.

[188] Bonacius, of the church of St. Donatus near

the Arno, was in Sicily with his companions,

he was seized by a flow of blood for nine days, likewise a flow of blood.

through the upper mouth, and the rectum below: three

or four cyminalia * there were in a day. Food

he took not. Failing, as if lifeless he lay.

There said moreover one of his companions to the others:

I have some of the pilgrim's cloak of Blessed Raynerius, let us wash

it with water, and put the water into

his mouth, that he may swallow; and let us vow for him,

that he will place a wax image before the tomb of St.

Raynerius. With the water therefore placed in his mouth, and

swallowed, soon his spirit lived, and the flow

of blood stopped, and he began to take food,

and after a few days he escaped: afterward giving devout

thanks, having returned to Pisa, he fulfilled his vow.

[189] Vivianus the Dyer, of the church of St. Nicholas,

had a gout in the groin, and it descended

into the genitals; and they were so swollen, a troublesome swelling of the groin,

that, very anxious, he thought himself to be ruptured;

nor was an interval given him beyond two days,

without his being tormented by grave pain of the gout, so that even his face

turned to an ashen color. Wearied

by this languor a long time, he came to

the tomb of St. Raynerius; and the groin and genitals

with the water, which was over the tomb, he washed.

Wondrous to tell! Neither pain, nor gout

did he feel any more in those places. These things he himself before

the tomb of the gracious Raynerius related to us, bearing witness

to us concerning Bonacius, of whom

we now spoke, that he had thus suffered a flow

of blood.

EPILOGUE

[190] These things, which you have heard, the signs and prodigies

done through him by the Lord, All these were collected in the first year from his death. in the first

year of his migration to the Lord we collected.

But the rest, which in the following times

were done, because they were innumerable, reported to us from all

the world of lands, on account of the intolerable

burden and in the completing of the work we forbore

to write. And so in this book they have been recorded for

the strengthening of our faith, that you may believe by Jesus

Christ the Savior of all that for our salvation,

imitating his life (as far as the Lord deigns),

he was sent; and that believing

we may obtain everlasting life: which may Jesus

Christ the Son of God deign to grant us,

who with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, ineffably

remaining one and the same, lives and

reigns forever and ever, God. Amen.

NOTES OF D. P.

p Batalia, otherwise Campania of the ship, the topmost deck of the ship, from which as from a field they fight.

q Sagetia and Saëtia seems to be called Celox from the swiftness of sailing.

r To the Latins Misenum, a promontory ennobled by the Virgilian fiction concerning Aeneas's trumpeter, running out between Naples and the island Procida.

s By Longao I understand the straight intestine, up to the anus.

* or basins

THE TRANSLATION OF THE BODY

Into a new ark in the year 1688,

From the Italian instrument of the City of Pisa.

Raynerius, Confessor at Pisa in Etruria (St.)

FROM A MS. INSTRUMENT.

[1] [With a view to the graces wont to be obtained again and again through St. Raynerius,] In the year of our Lord Jesus Christ, from

his saving Incarnation, the one thousand

six hundred and eighty-eighth, by the Florentine

Style, and 1689 by the Pisan custom,

in the 11th Indiction, on the twenty-seventh day

of the month of March, Innocent XI being Supreme Pontiff,

and the Most Serene Cosimo III, of Etruria

Grand Duke, Ruling, let it be manifest how

through the intercession of the glorious St. Raynerius, Pisan

Confessor and renowned Protector of the city

of Pisa, there have always been by all faithful

Christians, from the providence of God, reported graces

most exceptionally singular; for benefits, in their

own and their neighbors' favor often granted; when

they sought, in default of rains, abundance; the Most Serene Cosimo III, Grand Duke of Etruria, commands

or above flooding, the desired calm; and also

deliverance from inundation, with which the rivers, swollen

by excessive rains or melted snows and about to overflow their banks,

threatened the fields. To

these moreover so great prodigies and evident

miracles turning his mind, the highest piety

and the devotion joined with most ardent zeal of the most serene

Cosimo III, of Etruria the Grand Duke

and our Lord; and wishing to increase the affection toward

so beneficent a Protector in his citizens, a new ark to be made

and to excite among foreigners also the veneration

of him; ordered, at the expense of his own

treasury, the construction to be commissioned of a new and costly

ark or repository, over the altar of the Virgin

Crowned in the Primatial church of that same city

of Pisa; within which there should be transferred

and there placed the sacred bones and relics

of that glorious Saint; which hitherto had been

guarded and venerated in the same church, over

an altar, bearing the title of St. Raynerius himself.

[2] and the bones of the body to be united into one frame; But that in so holy a work religion might the more

triumph; and the eyes of the devout peoples might be drawn no less

to admiration, than the minds

to veneration; and that

to devotion, decorum upon decorum, magnificence

upon magnificence might be added; the infallible providence

of his Most Serene Highness decreed and determined,

that the bones to be placed within such an ark

should be restored to their natural frame,

and joined among themselves, which before were

separately preserved and held, in two

silver cases, with one breast-statue

likewise of silver and a pair of arms of the same metal,

placed in an urn above his aforesaid altar. Concurring therefore, wherefore by Archiepiscopal authority, with the pious and holy

mind of His Highness, the fervent and pastoral

zeal around divine worship of the Most Illustrious

and Most Reverend Lord Franciscus of the Counts

of Elci, most worthy Archbishop of the aforenamed

city of Pisa, and Primate of the Islands of Corsica and

Sardinia, and Legate born for the same;

already from the year 1677 according

to the style of the Pisans, in the past month of February;

with the intervention and presence of the

Most Reverend Lords Canons, Sebastiano

Zucchetti and Antonio Pachetti, Vicars of the choir,

as deputies from the Most Reverend Chapter,

there were for this purpose visited

the aforesaid holy Relics by his Most Illustrious and

Most Reverend Lordship.

[3] The Vicar General of Pisa, on the 15th of March Desiring moreover the very Illustrious and Most Reverend

Lord Canon Augustinus del Forto,

Vicar general of His Most Illustrious and Most Reverend

Lordship, to obey the nods to be honored by

him of the aforesaid Most Serene Highness,

the aforesaid Most Illustrious and Most Reverend

Lord Archbishop being absent, on the 15th day of the current

March, with the assistance and assent to him

of the Most Reverend Lords Canons, Philippo

Pini and Felice Lorenzani, Vicars of the Choir in

the said Primatial church, deputed for this by his Most Reverend

Chapter; with likewise present

the Most Illustrious Lord Giulio Cajetani, Patrician

of Pisa and Workman of the fabric of the said church; personally

transferred himself to the altar of that glorious

Saint, those Most Reverend Lords clothed in rochet

and mozzetta. Where, in the light

of many torches, the marble ark was opened by them, thence were extracted the two silver cases,

and the head and arms, all of silver,

which presently being recognized and adored as

the true bones of the aforesaid St. Raynerius, by the undoubted

belief of all, were devoutly translated

into the sacristy of the said church; and there they remained

open before me the Archiepiscopal Chancellor

and the witnesses written below, with the intervention

of Lord Joanne Caldesi of Arezzo, anatomical

Surgeon of the Most Serene Prince Joannes Gaston:

and the following were found.

[4] In the silver head and bust, the cranium

with the jaws. the bones found there and numbered, In the first little case, Vertebrae

and Knots of the dorsal spine to the number of 21,

the Sacrum, 19 Ribs, the Sternum, 2 shoulder-blades,

the left humerus, and the left ulna.

In the second little case, 2 Hip-bones, 2 Feet,

with 25 little bones for each; one

Thigh-bone, one Tibia; 2 Fragments, of which

one is part of a hip-bone, the other of a vertebra.

Tiny Fragments in a leaf of paper,

and ashes of the aforesaid body in a smaller leaf.

In the first arm, the Radius of the left arm,

in the other arm 15 little bones of the hands, with

respective silver cases and vessels, were

again placed back in their accustomed place and altar.

[5] After this finding and recognition,

expressed in such manner and form, on the 16th he transfers them to the Palace, since

it was time to come to the framing of the said

holy bones, according to the most august

mind of his Most Serene Highness;

considering the Most Reverend Lord Vicar General,

that for such an operation no more fit

or more becoming place could be chosen, than the very

Palace of his Most Serene Highness; not only

because it seemed to be owed on earth to him,

who in the heavens beside the supreme Monarch

was already placed; but also so that always and

at whatever time, it might unalterably be established

concerning the identity of those very holy Relics;

his Most Reverend Lordship transferred himself,

on the 16th day of the current month, with the aforesaid

Lords Vicars of the choir, and the Most Illustrious

Lord Workman Giulio Cajetani, with me the Archiepiscopal

Chancellor and the Witnesses written below present,

to the altar of St. Raynerius in the said Primatial:

where the Relics taken up privately, as they were stored in five silver vessels,

as they were placed within the two silver cases,

and the head and arms, were placed in two

carriages, sent for that purpose by his Most Serene

Highness; one of which his Most Reverend

Lordship ascended, with

the Lords Vicars of the Choir and the Workman; the other,

the two Masters of Ceremonies and the Reverend Lord Thomas Gorini,

Chaplain of the aforesaid Primatial, and I

the Archiepiscopal Chancellor written below. To us

moreover there had joined themselves, in two other carriages,

the Most Illustrious Magistrates the Lords Priors of the city

of Pisa.

[6] Thus the journey toward the Palace was set:

to which when we had arrived, the carriages dismissed, we ascended

the stairs; and arriving at the greater

chapel of the Palace, and hands them over to the Most Serene Duchess mother, the aforesaid cases, and the head

and arms, with great reverence

we saw placed upon the altar, magnificently adorned with many

shining tapers. Here when

they had been adored by the Most Serene Grand Duchess

mother, and the Most Serene Princess, and the whole

Court; before me the Chancellor and the Witnesses written below,

and the Most Illustrious Lord Knight Petro San-Cassiani,

Provost of the Magistracy of the Most Illustrious Lords

Priors, and the Most Excellent Lord Doctor Antonio

Morandini then Chancellor; again

were opened the two cases, in which

by ocular faith it was recognized that the aforesaid Relics

of St. Raynerius were present, to be framed by her herself. as to all and singular

the parts above expressed and named; and

as such they were adored, seen, and received

by the Most Serene Grand Duchess mother, always with bent

knee; and to her for the aforesaid purpose

were handed over all the little keys of those caskets,

by the hands of the Most Reverend Lord Canon

Lorenzani Vicar of the Choir, as has been said

above.

[7] After this handing over and consignment

of those cases and keys, then returned on the 23rd day, into

the royal hands of his Most Serene Highness, on the

23rd day of the current month, again the Most Reverend Lord Vicar

General, with the presence and assistance

of the aforenamed Most Reverend Lords Canons

Philippi Pini and Joannis-Felicis

Lorenzani, the Most Illustrious Lord Workman Julii Cajetani,

and of me the Chancellor and the Witnesses written below,

with the intervention also of the Most Illustrious Lord Knight

Petro San-Cassiani, Provost of the Magistracy of the Most Illustrious

Lords Priors, and the Lord Doctor Antonio

Marandini their Chancellor; having returned to

the aforesaid chapel, there they found the Relics

aforesaid placed and re-framed upon

the altar, with many tapers shining around: and the

due adorations made, fixing their eyes

upon those sacred bones thus framed, they recognized

their infinite obligations toward the Most Serene

and Most August family; now framed, not only because they

had so aptly framed those very bones, but also because

they had adorned them with most precious gifts. Therefore

continually venerating the body of their glorious

Protector, they found and will always find,

in it and in its sacred ark, in living

and true characters engraved the testimony

of the immense piety of the Most Serene Highnesses

now reigning, toward that very

city, and its holy Protector,

adorned in this following manner.

[8] Namely the bones were framed upon

certain silver splints, to which they are bound

with golden thread, and elegantly ornamented and clothed, enclosed in a silver net and clothed

in a silken cloth of sky-blue color, woven through with gold and silver

threads, and ornamented with gold-silver

fringes, with an upper garment having the form

of a hair-shirt, of golden and silver thread

of a lion-colored hue, which a precious

sapphire fastens, enclosed in gold, with eight large

diamonds and sixteen smaller ones. On

the head is placed a crown, of gems and jacinths,

composing fifteen distinct

little flowers; above which rise six jacinths,

framed in the manner of an olive, with several

diamonds eminent upward: there adheres

to the crown a little cap of white Armozine, girt with four lines

drawn in gold and silver. And in this

manner the holy body, thus arrayed, is laid out

upon a tapestry embroidered with the needle, with a silver ground sprinkled with golden

flowers, with studs of gold at the corners;

and a cushion of similar form placed beneath

the head. This tapestry moreover is spread upon

eighths broad; which, clothed with white linen,

and ornamented with golden lines, for this end had previously

been blessed by his Most Reverend Lordship,

according to the form of the Council of Trent.

[9] The sacred bones moreover, composing the aforesaid

body, having been recognized, were numbered; the cranium

with two jaws, the spine consisting of 21 vertebrae,

and 21 ribs, being counted among

these several which are made up of many particles; again he numbers them

two hip-bones, one thigh of the left

hip, one tibia of the left leg; all the bones

constituting the left foot, and two shoulder-blades;

likewise two radii of the left arm, and all

the bones of the left hand; but to the right hand

are lacking six little bones, and likewise five to the right

foot. Besides this, to the same frame belong

all the bones of the chest, except one alone

which is kept outside, for blessing the water of St.

Raynerius for the use of the sick. All which,

thus framed, clothed, and ornamented, and

placed in the aforesaid little tray, were first

diligently examined by his Most Reverend Lordship; and recognizes them as the same:

in the presence of the aforesaid Lords;

and recognized and honored, as

holy bones and true Relics of that same St. Raynerius;

such as in the manner and form aforesaid, within

the silver cases, the head and arms, previously

placed, had been consigned to the Most Serene

Grand Duchess; before me the Chancellor and

the Witnesses written below, prepared to interpose thereupon

whatever necessary and opportune

decree in form, etc.

[10] And since to the integrity of the body, as

has been said, composed, there are found many

other bones besides those above named to be lacking, lest

from this any doubt could in times to come

arise, his aforesaid Most Reverend Lordship judged it would be opportune,

in this public Instrument

accurately to inscribe such defect,

proceeding from great veneration toward the saint.

For indeed already from the year 1370

the Queen of Aragon by letters petitioned from the Elders of this

city and obtained one bone

of the hip, as in the Historical

Memoirs of Pisa, edited by Joannes

Paulo Tronicia, Noble Canon of Pisa, and

by the Most Illustrious and Most Reverend Lord Medici,

Vicar General of the Archbishop of Pisa. Let it not

therefore be a matter of wonder that up to the

present there are found certain bones lacking

to that sacred body; to those knowing that also in the year

1684, the Most Eminent Lord Cardinal

de Angelis, Patrician of Pisa, obtained one vertebra,

for his devotion, to be exposed

at Rome to the public veneration of the faithful.

As is clear by the instrument of contract,

drawn up by me the aforesaid Chancellor

on the 31st day of May of the aforesaid year: as

also previously there are found various particles

of the same Relics granted to diverse

Princes and Prelates, petitioning for them;

out of pure devotion toward the Saint.

[11] on the 24th day he brings them back into the sacristy of the Cathedral; In this manner therefore, those sacred and

holy Relics having been recognized and

approved, as those which truly and really belong to the Glorious St. Raynerius,

Confessor of Pisa, of the noble family

of the Scacciari; on the 24th day of the current month,

the Most Reverend Lord Vicar General, with

the Most Reverend Lords Archpriest Petro-Mattheo

Cusasserii, Archdeacon Philippo

Cajetani, Canon Joanne Augustini, and

Canon Bartholomaeo Landfranchi, Nobles

of Pisa, as for this act expressly deputed by

the Most Reverend Chapter; with the assistance

also of the Most Reverend Lords Vicars

of the Choir aforenamed, and me the Chancellor and

the Witnesses written below; likewise the Most Illustrious Lords,

Provost and Chancellor of the Lords Priors

aforesaid, transferred himself to the Palace. And when all

had entered the chapel, where the holy

body stood, among many lights, it was

according to the will of His Most Serene Highness

taken up, the aforesaid body, around the second

hour of the night; and on the 25th day he exposes them publicly, and privately carried into

the sacristy of the Primatial church. On the following

25th, the feast of the most holy Annunciation, in the morning

it was solemnly placed upon the greater altar,

and exposed to public veneration; after the midday meal

it was carried around in procession through the city,

with great solemnity and a concourse of the

people; and about the middle of the entering hour

of the night it was brought back to the church, and translated

to the altar of the Crowned (Virgin), so that there it might be placed

within the ark, wholly composed of green

marble, mixed with white; for which as a ground

there is spread red silk-velvet and four

little cushions in the manner of a pillow, which golden borders

and corner-studs in the Roman manner enrich,

that upon those the aforesaid sacred body might be placed.

[12] The ark moreover is long about five

cubits; high one and a third; and within the new marble ark, broad

one and a quarter, with its cornices below and beneath;

above which run

tendrils of gilded bronze along the four sides;

and in these are little marble doors, clothed inside

with red silk-velvet with their borders and studs

in the Roman manner. These little doors moreover are raised,

drawn, and closed in this manner.

At the front it is closed with two gilded keys,

inserted into locks, covered with gilded bronze work in the form

of a vine. Each lock moreover

has two pins, to receive the two keys: furnished with locks

and in this manner is also closed the little door

of the rear face: but the side little doors

are closed with a single lock, to which the same

two keys serve: and these before me,

the Chancellor and the Witnesses written below, were

consigned by the Most Illustrious Apollonio Bassetti Secretary of His Most Serene

Highness, the one indeed

to the above-named Most Reverend Lords Vicars

of the Choir, the other to the Most Illustrious Lord Workman Julio

Cajetani. The aforesaid little doors are ornamented with filigree

of gilded bronze, and made transparent by crystals, and with borders of the same metal

they are surrounded: but when these are removed, the

ark remains transparent through four crystals:

of which crystals indeed the rear one is opened

with two screw-keys, inserted through

little pulleys proportioned to them of gilded bronze likewise:

which little keys also, as above, were consigned.

[13] and he places it resting on a marble base; The ark rests on two feet of yellow

Oriental marble, beneath which is extended a base of mixed

marble, high about three cubits, with its

ornaments proportioned to the ark: into which ark

was, around the third hour of the night, translated

and placed the sacred body, in the presence

of his Most Reverend Lordship and the Most Reverend

Lords Vicars of the Choir, and adored

by the people and his Most Serene Highnesses up

to the present day, the 27th of March. Consequently

moreover to this act, the very Illustrious

and Most Reverend Lord Augustinus del Tosto, who

above, as Vicar General of the Most Illustrious and

Most Reverend Lord Archbishop above, with the intervention

of the Most Illustrious Lord Abbot Apollonio Bassetti

and the others aforenamed, and the Most Illustrious Lord Knight

Balduino Balduini, the present Provost of the Most Illustrious

Magistracy of the Lords Priors, and the Chancellor of the same,

and me the Archiepiscopal Chancellor

and the Witnesses; [and on the 27th day again inspects and approves them as true Relics of St. Raynerius,] having again inspected and considered

the aforesaid holy Body existing in the said ark; his Most Reverend

Lordship declared and declares

them to be the very bones of the glorious St. Raynerius, which

were venerated and preserved within the urn

of his altar, in this manner recognized and framed:

and as such he made the recognition in

form, granting the faculty that the said body

thus framed might be exposed to the public veneration of the faithful: and concerning the identity aforesaid

and the approval of the same interposing every

and whatever his decree, the more necessary

and opportune, in form ordering all and singular things

to be supplied, to the glory of God almighty,

and of the Holy and ever Virgin

Mary and of the glorious St. Raynerius.

[14] Done at Pisa in the Primatial church of Pisa,

before and present there the Reverend

Lords Iosepho the late son of Andreas de Quojanis, a public Instrument having been drawn up thereupon, Master

of Ceremonies; Francisco Maria Doctor of Both Laws

Ursino de Ursinis, Thoma de Godinis,

and Iosepho de Sebertinis, witnesses, who were present at

the aforesaid respective acts: and also

before and present there the Most Illustrious Lords,

Bailiff Hieronymi, late son of the Lord Caesar

de Roncionibus; Knight Carolo, late son of Ubaldi-Lanfranchi

Ciccholi; Captain Josepho

Rogerio, late son of the Lord Hieronymi-Lanfranchi Ciccholi;

Joanne Francisco son of the Lord Knight de Upezzinghis,

all Notaries of Pisa, who at

so great an act were present. Thus far that Instrument;

an authentic copy of which was presently sent to us. of which the transcript to be sent to Antwerp

with the original was made, and being collated

it was signed by Petrus a Podio, son of the late Podius,

and to him as such the Priors of the People and Commune of Pisa solemnly gave faith …

on the 20th of May 1689 by the Pisan style; and by

the mandate of the same Antonius Morundinus subscribed,

Doctor of Both Laws, Chancellor attending the Commune

of the City of Pisa. Just as that very

Italian transcript was sent to us by the Most Illustrious

Lord Alexander Marchetti, in the Academy of Pisa

public Professor of Mathematics, through

the tireless helper of our work the Most Illustrious Lord

Antonius Magliabechi; who by his letters dated

the 18th of May of the same year, to us 1688,

praises that same Lord Alexander, as a man

famous also in Philosophical and Poetic matters, and known by various

books already published. He sent also of the very

Chapel and the new tomb a drawing here appended,

such as was most accurately drawn for us by the most illustrious

Lord Abbot Pandolphinus, a Noble of Pisa,

at the instance of the likewise most illustrious Lord Angelo

Poggesi, in the same Academy of Pisa famous for elegant

poems published; who both attest that the work

is most beautiful and wrought wholly from most precious

marbles.