ON ST. JOHN THE ABBOT,
AT PARMA IN ITALY.
YEAR DCCCCLXXXII.
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.
On the Life by a contemporary monk written, the time of his rule and death, and the cult.
John the Abbot, of the Order of S. Benedict at Parma in Italy (S.)
G. H.
[1] The Church of Parma celebrates this XXII of May the natal day of S. John, its own citizen and the first Abbot of the monastery of S. John the Evangelist there founded. His Life and miracles described of the said monastery a Monk, who those seen by him testifies already old, whom S. John into his monastery had admitted: the Life written by a contemporary monk. from whom he asserts num. 3 to have heard, what of the holy man he collected. This moreover to have done he says num. 15, when in the times of Hugo the Bishop the holy man's bones into a new church were translated. Presided moreover the said Hugo from the year MXXVII, even to the year MXLVI. Among the more illustrious monks, by whose testimony the author relies, is Rastaldus, whom he says, of the holy Church of Pistoia afterward as Prelate we saw. Further Ughelli tome 3 of Italy sacred this man says in the year MXVIII to the solemn of SS. Barontius, Desiderius and the Companion monks translation to have been present, and a little after from this mortal life to have departed. The Acts of the said Saints we gave XXV March. Hence we gather the Life of S. John to have been written about the year
MXXX.
[2] But of the time, in which S. John the Abbot flourished, various are the characters. He was Abbot in the time of the Emperor Otto. Of these the chief is the time of the most pious Otto the second the most clement Emperor, who of the Romans governed the Empire, as at the beginning of the Life is said, and accurately toward the end is described. Succeeded he Otto the first his father, on VII May, in the year DCCCCLXXIII having died. But he himself at Rome from life departed in the year DCCCCLXXXIII. At which time, that we may give another character, lived the founder of the mentioned monastery of S. John the Evangelist Sigefridus, the second of that name Bishop of Parma, subrogated in the place of Humbert the Bishop, and of Sigefridus Bishop of Parma, who still lived in the year DCCCCLXXIII, when at the assembly of Mazalia in the territory of Modena by Honestus Archbishop of Ravenna celebrated he was present, where Albert Bishop of Bologna Humbert of Parma his rights invading accused. Which controversy at length is deduced by Hieronymus Rubeus, book 5 of the history of the Ravennates page 264 and following. Seems to this mentioned Sigefredus in the very year DCCCCLXXIII or the following to have succeeded, who S. John of his monastery consecrated Abbot in the year DCCCCLXXV. consecrated in the year 975 He indeed after seven years, in which the flock
to him committed he ruled, his holy life finished in the year DCCCCLXXXII, which the third character is, died in the year 982. but by an error of the copyists omitted one X, which easily could happen, is read corruptly the year DCCCCLXXII, and several into error led judged this character to prevail. Hence in place of Sigefredus the Bishop in Ughelli was substituted the before-indicated Humbert, of whom no at all in the said Life is made mention: and Ferrarius in the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy alleges Otto the first and the second Emperors, namely when together they reigned; but this a more accurate author would have said, and then there was not Sigefredus the Bishop, who him to have consecrated Abbot is said in the Acts; from whom the third before mentioned Hugo in the aforesaid Church the Episcopate to have held, also is indicated num. 15. The Acts are given from the Mss. Let therefore the Acts remain unshaken, restored only the year DCCCCLXXXII, in place of the year DCCCCLXXII. Them we at Rome received from Ferdinand Ughelli, and collated with another Ms. kept in the library of Novacella of the Fathers of the Congregation of the Oratory marked with the letter O and the number 34.
[3] There are extant Compendia various of this Life: and the first is in the monastic History of Peter Recordati de Bugiana in the year MDLXXV printed, where folio 549, is said his Sacred sepulcher on the day XXII of May by the whole city of Parma with a public and solemn procession to be honored. The other is in the Sanctuary of the Church of Parma about the year MDXCV published, from which his compendium took Ferrarius, and in this these things toward the end are had: Whom Gregory VII the Pontiff Maximus into the number of the Saints, on account of the miracles by which after his death he shone, to have ascribed is reported. The Life of S. John in Italian published Ranuccio Pico, The Life in Italian written. Secretary of the Most Serene Duke of Parma, in the Theater of the Saints and Blessed of the City of Parma about the year MDCXLII printed, and he alleges another Life under the Abbot Maurus before about twenty years printed. Memory in the Fasti, A celebrated also memory is found of S. John the Abbot in the monastic Martyrologies of Wion, Dorganius, Menardus and Bucelinus. The same also Ghinius referred in the Natalia of the Holy Canons, for that he had been of the Church of Parma a Canon. The same finally commemorate Ferrarius in the general Catalogue, and Brautius in the Martyrology Poetic. also 8 May. And again on the day VIII May of the same John the translation is referred in the said monastic Martyrologies, and the general Catalogue of Ferrarius.
THE LIFE
By the Author a monk of his monastery Contemporary.
From the Ms. Codices.
John the Abbot, of the Order of S. Benedict at Parma in Italy (S.)
BHL Number: 4419
BY A CONTEMPORARY AUTHOR.
CHAPTER I.
His birth, education, monastic life. His election as Abbot. Some miracles.
[1] In the time, in which the most pious Otto the second most clemently the Roman governed Empire, there was a man certain venerable in the city, which is called Parma, John by name, who from a best a lineage drew his origin: yet that nobility of mind, which more than all is to be loved, he cultivated more than of flesh. And deservedly this man John was called: Noble by stock, for is interpreted the grace of God, or, in whom is grace. Truly indeed the grace of God in this man to be we have known: for from infancy God to fear he began, and his virginity in mind and body, the grace of God cooperating, equally he kept. His mother when, the conceived offspring in her womb pregnant being held, and the time now of bringing forth drew near, on account of the difficulty of the birth, from the womb of his dead mother cut out, before the son she had brought forth, from this mortal life was taken. Whose when after, performed for her the funeral rite, as is the custom of the dead, before in the sepulcher she was placed, her womb being cut, thence alive and elegant a little boy was drawn out. Who when he was weaned, by his parents decently, as it had behoved, was nourished: and, when now seven years old he was, with sacred letters to be imbued he was delivered, and also after these in the holy Church of Parma by that See's Prelate a Canon was ordained. But when now there to God to serve while still a boy he began; a Canon of Parma, and, otherwise than that age permitted, to divine things gave labor; made a young man he began in mind to ponder how or in what manner the world with its delights he should relinquish; and Christ the Lord, to whose service he had subjected himself, to please he might be able.
[2] And when this long silently he pondered, he gave labor, that his fatherland and parents, as Abraham, he should relinquish, and for the cause of prayer the Saints' places he should seek out, and to the sepulcher of the Lord even to be visited to Jerusalem he should travel. He goes to Jerusalem six times, Which when the man of the Lord diligently had performed, of our it is not the faculty to unfold, how great there labors for Christ he sustained; or how great of tears rivers in the holy places abundantly he poured. And when now the sixth performed time the same venerable man his desired had made journey, and in a monastic holy men he had received, into his city had returned; the man reverend of the aforesaid holy Church of Parma Prelate, Sigifredus by name, (when a monastery in of S. John the Apostle and Evangelist the church, which is near and outside of the aforesaid city the walls, now to constitute had resolved) began hither and thither to run, and where a man worthy of God he might find solicitously to seek, whom of his Abbey, which now to Christ he had founded, to constitute Abbot he could. But when through many, as we said, he ran, and according to of his mind the implanted quality a man for this work strenuous he found not; is constituted Abbot of S. John, at Parma: he chooses this most holy man, to himself and his all well known, chaste, sober, kind, merciful, who also from his, so to say, cradle of Christ the footsteps had followed: and with the counsel of the Clerics and people, consenting also some already there gathered Brothers, worthy of his monastery, as we experienced, he consecrated Abbot.
[3] The Prelate therefore aforesaid so much into of his monastery love burned, that not only there gathered he venerated and loved the Brothers, but even wherever in his diocese religious he found Clerics, many he gathers Clerics: solicitously and most diligently he invited, that the sacred in his monastery they should receive of religion the habit. But when in this much and long he labored, some there best he gathered Clerics: whom not after much time with too great old age worn out, in the aforesaid monastery religious we saw monks, and from them we heard, what of the holy man to write we endeavor. Besides also to Ravenna he proceeded, and there in a c holy Synod, subscribing-below confirming the Archbishop with the other Coepiscopi, he takes care that the statutes be confirmed in the Synod of Ravenna. a decree for the aforenamed monastery in such order he wrote, that if anyone ever of his successors in the already said monastery through money or otherwise an Abbot should constitute, with the dart of anathema he should be struck, and with Simon the magician and Judas the betrayer he should be condemned. Which Decree also to the most holy man mellifluous admonitions in the aforesaid monastery many things for monastic use apt he established. These indeed omitted, to those things which of the holy man we began, briefly let us proceed.
[4] Ordained moreover this man Most Blessed, of the rule the care by office he held, by his manners he fulfilled, and into so great love of his founder to burn he began, that him beyond the human measure to transcend thou wouldst believe. He was indeed in speech truthful, excellent in every virtue in judgment just, in work chaste, in faith Catholic, in aspect Angelic, in hope most patient, of mercy full, in humility chief, and so in almsgivings liberal, that in the whole city scarcely was found a widow, poor, needy, orphan, whom the holy man, with mercy (as we said) full, of the to himself conferred goods did not succor. And when now with great conversation he abounded, himself and himself from evil works utterly abstained, and his flesh from vices by abstaining tamed, for miracles he is illustrious. and the little sheep to him committed by word together and example to the path of the right way led, he began also with miracles to shine; that as a lamp upon a candelabrum placed to all, who in the house are, might shine.
[5] Therefore while at a certain time one of his disciples, Christopher by name, in the scribal art skilled, by his command a certain codex was writing, and the parchment for this kind of grace to cut wished; so his finger he wounded, that the bone immediately of it was bared. Who when by him, why he wrote not, asked was; said, that he could not, a wounded finger with saliva he heals: on account of the wounded finger's pain. And when to the holy man the wound he had shown, soon the man of God with saliva anointed it, and so healed rendered, that in a wondrous manner scarcely a sign there appeared. Who immediately sat down again; and with great of heart exultation to write began. Which finger long after time the same Brother, of the aforesaid monastery now Prior, to us showed; and those things, which we have related, narrated.
[6] At another also time while by a certain venerable man, by name John, of the holy aforesaid church the Archdeacon, who afterward in the holy e of Modena church the Pontifical chair ruled, wine he multiplies, a vessel one quite small, of drink full, which we monks justitia call, to this holy man had been transmitted, and at the refreshment hour himself blessing all the Brothers from it sufficiently drank; so an incredible deed work followed, that fifteen and more from it drank Brothers, and so the vessel full always filling. These indeed, which we have related, from those Brothers, Gandulfus by name, relating we heard, who at the table with the other Brothers sat, and of the drink the benediction with the others received. In which deed Elisha like we have judged to be esteemed, who from a few herbs very many for a long time fed the workmen.
[7] But neither to be kept silent this I pass over, that by the aforesaid Christopher the Prior narrating I learned. While on a certain day to a certain monastery g at Brescello situated, for certain causes the same man blessed had come; a tempest he drives away. so great of lightning and flash and thunder power, and so great of hail an inundation burst forth, that almost all the crops or vineyards and trees fruitful seemed to be consumed. Then the man holy under the axis of heaven bare, as he was most pious, went forth, his palms to heaven stretched, tears poured, and that whole to-be-feared of lightning and hail inundation soon by praying into a tranquil serenity led. By which deed of our Lord the virtue he followed, who in the ship to the winds commanded and to the sea, and was made a tranquillity great. Matt. 8, 26. Nor wonderful, if of his master the virtue this man blessed imitated: because the Lord himself our in the Gospel to his disciples promised, saying: Amen, amen I say to you, who believes in me, the works which I do also himself shall do, and greater than these shall do. John 14, 12. Truly indeed this man holy, of truth a disciple made, so the true of his master followed the way, that what to those to him committed he taught with words, by work he himself first fulfilled.
[8] Nor that let me be silent of, which his aforesaid disciple, by name Gandulfus, to narrate was wont. To this holy man a custom there was, that through single years to Rome he should go, and to the thresholds of the Apostles his of prayers vows to the Lord render, and there many of tears rivers with contrite heart abundantly from divine inspiration pour. from a woman reproaches having suffered, And when according to custom at a certain time this on a journey he walked about, into the house of a certain matron with the aforesaid John the Archdeacon himself in hospitality he received. But when the aforesaid matron by the holy man for a certain dishonest deed humbly was rebuked, and lest any more that disgrace she should commit was admonished; so against the same venerable man into grave wrath she burned, that with many also reproaches and revilings the holy man to gainsay she feared not. The man of the Lord moreover, with wondrous humility and patience's gift filled, when this exceedingly raging he beheld, not only her reproaches patiently sustained, but even his own against her for his vengeance raging, lest any to her they should bring molestation, with great gravity restrained. And when the aforesaid woman against the holy man many, he restrains the others from vengeance, as we said, wicked words cast, and as if now from the labor wearied to rest she wished; soon with great clamor she began from the holy man pardon to ask, and from of her throat the pain now herself to death near to be anxiously to pronounce. And when long herself guilty to be, and on account of the merit of the holy man this to her to have happened with tears she cried out; immediately to the holy man's feet she is led, and at the feet of him weeping prostrates herself. And when most long, his companion the said Archdeacon and the holy man's brothers, him, that to her he would have pity, with tears she besought, and the holy man himself unworthy and of so great a deed not to be fit pronounced; and her from the throat's pain he heals, yet for their petition immediately with mercy he was moved, and for her prayers to pour he did not disdain. For when the sign of the holy Cross on her throat he imprinted, and the Lord's piety for her more earnestly prayed; at his command, immediately as he touched her, a certain bloody and fetid in the manner of a nut from her mouth she cast; and soon from the ground sound she rose, God also with great of heart exultation to praise she began.
[9] Fixed now a little let us hold our entry, and the things made in so great a man's praise a little with mind let us consider. Let us stand meanwhile, and see, if this man blessed in this his deed the Lord's precepts followed. For he says himself in the Gospel: Pray for those persecuting, and calumniating you. giving us an example of patience. Truly the holy this man for this woman prayed, when himself cursing he cursed not, but on the contrary blessed, and her reproaches patiently sustained; and not only patiently sustained, but even for her the Lord's mercy implored, and to her former even health by praying led. In which deed, we slothful and ill living are confounded, who not even one word for Christ to sustain wish; but when by any Brother we are reviled, for a single only word a thousand we render reproaches. And if for a time after fury or wrath to a brother sometimes we spare, as if great something to us we to have done seem: when this man blessed a thousand sustained reproaches, and not only, as we said, even a little was not saddened; but even for of his reviler the health prayers to pour he did not disdain. We indeed wish the rewards of life to have with the Saints; but with them to sustain and to suffer for Christ we will not. Now therefore, Brothers, of patience the virtue to acquire let us hasten, that from Christ the Lord of it the rewards we may merit to receive, he saying; Blessed are the Peacemakers, for sons of God they shall be called. Now these said let them suffice: but indeed now to those things, which of the holy man we began, let us return.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER II.
Other miracles in his life and at death wrought. His happy death.
[10] At another also time, just as the same Brother aforesaid related, when this man blessed that same journey to perform wished, to a certain river, by name made of its course's channel had gone out, the overflowing Arnus, fortified with the Cross, he crosses and to all by fording the way denied, and a great of peoples throng on account of the fording's difficulty there disturbed remained; the man of the Lord aforesaid, in Christ confiding, with the sign of the holy Cross armed himself; and with all his, as an athlete, through the middle of the raging river's channel, to cross merited. But when the same river so much had grown, that scarcely there a ship's course could hold; the man holy so with his by a straight path, aided by Christ's grace, secure by riding crossed, that not even the wave raging their feet wetted. Which when the people on horseback, who at this spectacle with many other of different kind men were present, had seen, and rashly similarly by riding to ford wished, and the man holy with great clamor to them, lest this they should do, prohibited; and they on the contrary the holy man resisting, into the river rashly entered; the others rashly following he frees. so its force the water against them put forth, that immediately in the very river slain they would have been, had not the man holy by his prayers protecting, and through himself them aiding, quickly succored. By which stupefied miracle all who were present, magnificent praises to Christ rendered; and with hands to heaven raised most long God glorified, who so daily his ceased not the Saints to magnify. O how sweet is the Lord to those hoping in him, to the soul seeking him! O how are wonderful, God, thy portents! This man holy the flood-wandering ornaments of the world, by bravely resisting and contending, unharmed trampled; and against him the swollen and raging river with all confidence to cross merited.
[11] But neither that to be silent I judge, which from many relating I heard. While on a certain day the already * said Lord Christopher, who of the country the care that in time had, his wished at daybreak to visit servants; him, whither he tended, asked the man of the Lord. And when whither to go he ought to him he had indicated, he foretells to another a peril from a serpent. the man holy immediately added, saying: Beware, Brother, that the place that near the thorns' thicket cautiously thou walk, lest perhaps by a serpent which there thou shalt find, any molestation thou suffer. Which when that Brother from the holy man had heard, and with himself this silently on the way pondered; soon, as into the aforeshown to him place he came, there of wondrous length a serpent he found: which soon as he saw, exceedingly he shuddered; but with the holy Cross's sign fortified, and by the holy man's prayers aided, unharmed into the cloister of the monastery to his Brothers returned. Who, when to them the aforesaid Brother this which to him had happened indicated, of Prophecy this man to have the spirit they believed.
[12] Besides when the same man blessed in nocturnal silence in the oratory b of S. Columbanus, which to the greater church contiguous was, his of prayers vows to Christ Jesus assiduously rendered; he passes the night in prayer, and sometimes fifty, often even a hundred psalms, sometimes indeed in order the whole psalter before the nocturnal he consummated synaxis; excepted only the hours' spaces, in which of prayers, and tears, and most frequent sobs prayers he poured; the devil, who is of our salvation envious, beholding this blessed man in divine praises, as we said, daily passing the night, to inquire began, by what art him to disquiet he could. For when the man blessed prayed, the very contiguous enemy, who a thousand assumes arts that God's servants he disturb, in ways all by which he could him to provoke ceased not. But when at the dead of night's hour in the church of B. Columbanus, the demons assaulting with the Cross he overcomes. just as we aforesaid, to the Lord prayers he poured; the devil in a most beautiful woman's appearance before him by dancing often played, sometimes also to him the lamp extinguished; and after these, just as he himself to the Brothers related, there of lions roarings he heard, of bears murmur, and of horses neighings, of wild asses brayings, of pigs gruntings, of dogs barkings, of cats mewlings, of serpents hissings, that even thus the man of God's mind from the prayer's zeal he might remove. And when the man of God these of demons assaults felt, not only immovable remained, and from God's praises his mind recalled not; but even with the holy Cross's sign fortified, the enemy, like smoke, to vanish made. There are also other many of praise worthy, which of the holy man to write we can, but now these now said let them suffice: how to the Lord from this life he migrated to know wishing, God helping, to write let us study.
[13] Therefore while the time drew near, in which the Lord and our Savior of this holy man the labors to reward wished, sick and the flock to him committed for seven he had ruled irreprehensibly years; with infirmity he was touched, and to the extreme even led. And when the day of his departure now to draw near he felt, and two of the monastery's Brothers, * Gandulphus, whom lately we aforesaid, and c Restaldus, whom of the holy Church of Pistoia afterward as Prelate we saw, his stood by little bed, thus to them spoke, saying: Now therefore Brothers
go, two monks looking on and with the others, who now are about to dine the food take. But when others there to be present they discerned not the Brothers, whom there they should leave, and this, which he had ordered to fulfill they doubted; again to them he said: Be not about me, little sons, now solicitous, but as now I have ordered hence hastily depart, and the little cell's door after you to close take care. And when suddenly, just as he had said, the cell they had gone out, and after them the cell's door they closed; not, just as he had ordered, to the supper they proceeded, but before the cell's door silently they remained. And behold suddenly a light, with of odor a great fragrance sent forth, all that cell's space filled; and of so great brightness a splendor about them shone, that their hearts with inestimable dread it struck. Then the man holy with strength recovered, he is visited by the God-bearer, with the highest of heart exultation suddenly to cry began: Thanks not small to you I give, for that your servant to visit ye have deigned: yourselves indeed know, how always much I have loved, and as I could with diligent mind to you fidelity I have kept. Now moreover by your worthy prayers me aid; and, that secure before the dreadful of examination tribunal to stand I may be able, of the universe the Judge himself more earnestly for me pray. And when this more frequently he said, and after these as if under silence his voice he restrained; gradually the light, which had been sent forth, was withdrawn; but that, which we said, odor remained. For when those Brothers, who before the cell's doors had remained, now with themselves associated some Brothers, to him boldly entered; without delay they inquired, with whom, no one there remaining, he had spoken. To whom he says: My Lady Mary, whom always I have loved, associated with herself other Virgins, me to visit has deigned, and suddenly me from this life about to migrate has manifested. But now her all the Brothers call together, and in the hour of my departure, which near is, for me a sinner the Lord's mercy more earnestly implore. And when all the Brothers, together with the aforesaid all and weeping, the viaticum received; when through seven, and the viaticum openly received he dies, just as we said, years, months three, and days eight the monastery most honorably he had ruled, on the eleventh Kalends of June his consummated contest, and of the flesh's prison stripped his soul to heaven rendered.
[14] He being dead the whole city so with mourning was filled, that scarcely in the whole city a house was found, in which a lament was not heard and wailing. For also the venerable of this holy monastery Prior, with great of all mourning: Rimprandus by name, often to us to narrate was wont, saying: In those days when still in my paternal house I remained, when a certain to us neighboring Presbyter on that same day from the city aforesaid had gone out, and by our neighbors what of good in the city he had seen or heard, was asked, such to us he gave a response saying; At many certainly funerals of dead men, of Pontiffs, of Kings, of Dukes, and of Marquesses, and of Abbots I have been present, and never so great a mourning, and so grave a lament I have heard, just as today at the passing of Lord John the Abbot in our city I beheld. Everywhere mourning was heard, and wailing: and scarcely in the whole city a house, in which a lament was not heard, was found. Everywhere through the streets rich and poor, widows together and orphans ran together, that to the funeral of the holy Father to be able to come they might. They wept therefore exceedingly the monks, for that so great and such they had lost for that of such they were deprived a Patron: besides also the poor wept in the destitution of so great a Father, by whom daily with alms they were refreshed. He was buried moreover the same venerable Father by the said Pontiff and the Brothers within the monastery's cloister, near the greater church, he is illustrious for miracles. in a little place marble: in which place, for showing the holy man's virtue, many the Lord benefits there to those asking to bestow deigned.
[15] Therefore when now the aforenamed Prelate of such a man's passing, at the same time and of the monastery's destitution, sad and mourning remained; with divine breathed spirit with great solicitude to seek began, where a monk, whom worthy in his monastery he might constitute Abbot, to find he could. there is substituted [e John another,] And when this devoutly he performed, intervening B. John the Apostle and Evangelist, and bestowing the holy man's merits, he found a certain venerable monk in the monastery of S. Peter, which the Golden-Heaven is surnamed, John by name, formerly of the aforesaid mother his church a most strenuous Canon; whom the Lord's piety from this of the age abyss to the monastic made habit to pass, chaste, sober, humble, and with a long fast's maceration chastened, with alms liberal, and by the aforesaid Monastery's Abbot, Lord Azzo, regularly received, with the consent and permission of the said Abbot; and by the monks the election made, and subscribed-below confirmed, and by the Bishop himself corroborated, with all honor the Lord aforesaid John as Abbot he consecrated.
[16] the body is translated to the new church, But neither this to be passed over worthy to be I reckon, which the Lord on account of this holy man's merits in our times to show deigned. In the times namely of Hugo the Pontiff, who f the third after Sigifredus the Prelate in the aforesaid Church the Episcopate held, when of this holy man the bones into a new church, where now his sepulcher is discerned, the Brothers were transferring; and with kindled lights with crosses made ready all on high psalmed; suddenly a very great bell one, which with the other bells sounded, with the very beam, on which above the tower it hung, from on high fell; and a brick one, upon which it fell, into fragments it crushed; itself moreover unharmed from all fracture remained.
[17] Likewise on that very day, when a certain townsman over the river g, which near the wall of the city flows, to cross had wished, while over that river's bridge he walked, suddenly a little knife, a knife into the river fallen is recovered, which with himself he carried, into the middle of the river's channel fell. And when hope of finding the iron none there was, now such to God a prayer he poured; Almighty God, through this holy man's, whose today the bones are entombed, merits and intercession, my to me restore little knife. When indeed this prayer he had completed, soon from the bridge he descended, and near the margin of the channel the little knife in the water lying he found.
[18] Likewise those in days another certain townsman, of the very holy man a kinsman, when his horse by a thief a certain taken from him had been, to the sepulcher of him even came. And when the holy man's aid there for a long time he implored, night supervening appeared to him the same man of the Lord in a vision nocturnal; and the horse by a thief carried off: and to him the place, in which his horse by the thief was guarded, showed; and with great security, that the horse thence he should lead away, ordered. And when at daybreak he had risen, quickly according to the man of God's admonition for the cause of prayer to the church he proceeded; and soon as to the aforeshown place he came, the horse with the thief, just as to him aforesaid had been, he found. Whom when boldly he had apprehended according to the holy man's admonition, without human work from the fetter of iron he was loosed. And so intrepid and secure, the robber himself looking on, glad with his horse home he returned.
[19] My begetress besides when on a certain day for visiting's sake into the monastery to me had come, a particle of the tomb taken in drink the sick are healed: she asked and to receive merited of this holy man's tomb a particle, and so with joy to her own returned: who when to the sick of that very tomb's particle to drink she gave, so, cooperating Christ's grace, in her fatherland it was done, that all from it drinking sound and unharmed, from whatever they were held infirmity, were rendered.
[20] In our also times what to our gaze we beheld, by sloth though pressed, to conceal we ought not. For of sloth it is decreed to be, that our Lord Jesus Christ through his servants ceases not daily to work, if we be silent. But to the heap of praise, daily by the faithful's vows, of the almighty of gifts the bestower by the grace, of healings the efficacy increases: because whence God in his Saints wonderful we preach, of his virtues the continuation exactly we exaggerate. For a monk in our monastery being, Isimprandus was named and of the Levite the ministry performed, in whose right hand of the canker the disease grew fierce: likewise the canker disease so that to none doubt was, but more hastily, unless of God almighty the aid quickly had been present, to his setting he would be snatched. Of Archigenes h the cataplasm also had failed, had yielded also all of medicine in vain the industry. When suddenly the aforenamed Brother with quickened step, from the monks' company in the refectory, just as is the custom of those with food customary feeding, rising, the mausoleum approached, in which of the most holy John the Abbot were hidden the bones. With tears suffused of the Most Blessed John the Abbot the aid in his help invoking, thus devoutly he said: O holy John, who to all others of soundness the tokens clemently impartest, I beseech with the most abundant tears to me most wretched the salutary of soundness antidote most swiftly to confer deign. imploring S. John At this voice suddenly he grew silent, and his sleep to his limbs most desired swiftly him occupied. Who immediately falling asleep, and afterward hastily awaked, his hand right so from the canker cleared he found, that in no way of the incommodity former almost a trace he found. By which deed rejoicing together to the almighty God praises he repaid innumerable; and of S. John the benefit recognizing, to the most pious and most kind of all the Savior magnificent with exultation praises and thanks the diligent minister most devoutly weeping assiduously rendered. Coming also to the Brothers' college all unanimously into one he gathered, beseeching at last of all the Rewarder of good things, for so salutary of aid's help, of praise the proclamation they should render. We therefore, who these things offered and beheld, of so great a man's miracle to the memory of posterity, that God's servants more cautious may exist, to intimate worthy we have judged: that may know all, who invoke the name of the Lord, their prayers least of all to be spurned.
[21] There are also other many of commemoration worthy, which through him by Christ are known wrought, so that if in letters they were written, perhaps before us time, the feverish and other sick are cured. than discourse would fail. Most of all when at his sepulcher daily the feverish, or with some infirmities laboring, we beholding, come; and having drunk the dust from the little place marble smeared, of all infirmity sound to their own with joy they return. We therefore Brothers Most Dear, of the Lord almighty the great things to praise together let us study, who such to us deigned to grant a Pastor, by whose examples we are informed, with miracles we shine, by whose prayers with the Lord our Jesus Christ we are aided: who, as above we said, the Most Blessed John of Parma, of S. John the Evangelist of Parma the most worthy Abbot was, in the time of the Most Pious Otto the second the most clement Emperor, who of the Romans governed the Empire, in the year of the Lord i * DCCCLXXII; the Lord our Jesus Christ bestowing, whose empire without end remains in the ages of ages. Amen. k
ANNOTATIONS.
* num. 5
* num. 8