ON SAINT GERMANUS
BISHOP OF PARIS IN GAUL.
IN THE YEAR DLXXVI.
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.
St. Germanus, Bishop of Paris.
BY THE AUTHOR G. H.
§. I On his age; the Life written by a contemporary; his Profession, whether Benedictine?
Lutetia of the Parisians, which is also indeclinably called Parisius, a most ample and most wealthy city, the head of the kingdom of France and the Royal See, among its chief tutelary Saints reveres Dionysius the Martyr its Apostle, and Germanus the Bishop. For which cause the Author of the Life of St. Droctoveus the Abbot, published on March X, uses this Epiphonema at number 6: Happy applaud, Lutetia, who while thou shinest with the glory of Dionysius and Macarius, art also enriched with this most precious gem of the most Blessed Germanus. St. Dionysius is venerated on October IX, but St. Germanus on this XXVIII of May. The time of his Life and death: This man was born in the territory of Autun, about the year CCCCXCVI; consecrated Priest, about the year DXXX, and constituted Abbot at St. Symphorian's, about the year DXL. Who then famous for the fame of virtues and miracles, under Childebert King of the Parisians was assumed to the Episcopate of Paris about the year DLV; and in that dignity full of days and merits, famous also for the virtue of miracles, nearly an octogenarian he died, on the fifth Kalends of June, in the first year of Childebert the younger, and the fifteenth of Chilperic Kings of the Franks, of Christ DLXXVI: buried in the church of St. Vincent in the suburb of Paris, now from him called St. Germain's: and indeed in the Chapel of St. Symphorian Martyr of Autun, his burial, which he himself had built in honor of him near the portico of the said Church. That Chapel even now stands, called the Chapel of the Apparitors of justice, where at the right side of the altar even now hangs this inscription: Here was first entombed St. Germanus.
[2] That his Life was composed by Fortunatus the Presbyter, St. Gregory Bishop of Tours testifies, book 5 of the History of the Franks chapter 8. This is that Venantius Fortunatus, by his written poems most celebrated in his age, carried from Italy into Germany and thence into Gaul about the year DLXV, as in his Life our Browerus demonstrates, where after friendship contracted with Gregory, adhering to Bl. Radegund, he fixed his domicile at Poitiers, made Presbyter of the same church; and in that grade he seems to have persevered, as long as St. Radegund lived, who died about the year DXC; perhaps not made Bishop of Poitiers before the death of Gregory, and so after Plato praised by Gregory book 4 chapter 32 of the miracles of St. Martin, although the Sammarthani inverted the order; nor before the year DXCIV; to which however he did not survive many years, at the end of the VI century himself also dead. He had, on account of the affairs of the holy Queen, frequent peregrinations through Gaul and Germany; on occasion of which coming into the notice of St. Germanus of Paris, he began to be most dear to him, loving him in turn as a Father. He shows this in the poem about his journey, when he had to set out to Germany for him, and was retained by Radegund, when he says, On this side the Mother retains me, on that the Father calls me. Such being Fortunatus, he wrote in epic Verse the Life of St. Martin of Tours, perhaps before he became Presbyter; then in prose the Lives of the holy Bishops Hilary of Poitiers, Albinus and Maurilius of Angers, Medardus of Noyon, Remigius of Rheims, Marcellus and Germanus of Paris, and finally of St. Radegund herself; all which Lives Vossius ascribes to him in the work on the Latin Historians, and we in their time either have given or shall give. Of the same Lives generally Paul the Deacon makes mention in the Epitaph; where praising and invoking Fortunatus as a Saint, among other things he signally appends, that
From his sacred mouth the deeds of the former Saints We learn, these show to take the way of light.
[3] We give therefore the Life of St. Germanus written by an Author so praised from the very ancient Manuscript codices of Trier of the monastery of St. Maximin, their compendia, of Tarascon of the monastery of Bonfont, and another illustrious Legendary of ours, just as we have now collated with the editions of Laurentius Surius, and Luc d'Achery in the 1st Benedictine century. There are extant very many compendia of the same Life, of which we have one from the most ancient Manuscript of Saint-Bertin, collated with another Manuscript of the church of Saint-Omer. Others are published in Peter de Natalibus book 5 of the Catalogue chapter 59, and in the history of the Saints of Cologne printed in the year MCCCCLXXXIII and then after two years reprinted at Louvain: likewise in the ancient Breviaries of the churches of Paris, Autun, and others, also of Antwerp: all which we omit, content with the relation of the said Fortunatus, asserting below at number 25, that he himself being present in the chamber, sight was restored to a blind woman of eighty years of age; likewise at number 37 that he himself being present, the bolt of the basilica of SS. Gervasius and Protasius, the sign of the Cross being made, was unfastened. But for an Appendix, we adjoin from Gregory of Tours and Aimoinus some miracles, wrought at the sepulchre of St. Germanus, with the Epitaph appended by King Chilperic; then from Fortunatus certain things excerpted from the X poem of the second book.
[4] That a sacred cult was paid to him not long after his death the words of Fortunatus hint, The ancient cult, when he calls him Saint and Most Holy; as also Saint and Blessed Fortunatus;
the hands of the Saint, the footsteps of the Saint, the fringe of the Saint: nay at number 34 he asserts Vigils were celebrated in honor of the Saint: which Gregory of Tours confirms, when he hands down that Bl. Germanus rests in body; and that by the virtue of the Saint the steps of paralytics, and the sight of the blind are restored. His sacred memory also is adjoined to four copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology, even the most ancient Echternach one, with these words everywhere on this XXVIII of May: In the city of Paris the deposition of St. Germanus the Bishop. on the birthday 28 May, Which same things are read in the genuine Martyrology of Bede, to which Florus adds: Who was of so great virtue, that (as is read in his deeds) it was the same for this holy man to cure the causes of infirmities, as to touch them. The said words are read at number 45. Usuard hands down these things: In the city of Paris, the passing of St. Germanus the Bishop and Confessor: who the blessed Bishop of the same city, of how great sanctity and how great merit he was, with what miracles also he was famous, Fortunatus the Bishop with truthful style digested. Things similar to these are commonly had by Ado, Notker, Bellinus, Churches dedicated to him, and others more recent with the present Roman Martyrology, and most of the Manuscript fasti. In Rabanus he is mentioned the day before, or May XXVII. The ancient veneration of the same Saint is corroborated by very many churches dedicated to him, of which in Belgium are the parochial Church at Mons in Hainaut, and a collegiate one in the Brabant town of Tienen. But before the rest is the Church of St. Vincent Martyr, now the Royal Church called St. Germain des Prés, with the most ancient and most splendid Abbey adjoined to it, in the Suburb called of St. Germain, which by its magnitude surpasses very many cities, and now is reckoned an illustrious portion of the city of Paris. We do not wish to enumerate the anniversary cult of various Churches, since it is most widely dispersed: yet it ought not to be passed in silence, that hitherto in the city and diocese of Antwerp the feast is celebrated with an Ecclesiastical office of nine Lections, and so in several Churches of Belgium. Concerning the monastery built in honor of St. Germanus near the Suburb of Le Mans by St. Berthramnus Bishop of that city, where today is a Parochial Church, it will be treated on June VI the feast day of divine Berthramnus.
[5] The feast of the Translation on 25 July and its History. Another feast is celebrated on the VIII Kalends of August, or the XXV of the month of July, with this brief encomium in Usuard: In the city of Paris, the Translation of St. Germanus, Bishop and Confessor. Which same things are read in the old Manuscript of Rome of Cardinal Barberini and very many others; likewise in Ado, Maurolycus, Galesinius, and others. The History of this Translation a certain Monk of the monastery of St. Germanus wrote, asserting that he wrote it from the mouth of the Emperor Charlemagne, who as a boy of seven had been present. To this we subjoin the History of the miracles and the double removal and bringing back, described by Aimoinus the Monk, in very many things an eye-witness, in two books. Both feasts, both on May XXVIII and on July XXV, inscribed in the monastic Martyrologies Wion, Dorganius, Menardus, Bucelinus, as if St. Germanus had lived among the Benedictines: whom Fortunatus writes at number 3, by St. Nectarius, Bishop of Autun, deservedly worthy of an Abbot was taken to St. Symphorian's, The cult among the Benedictines. which was done about the year DXL, namely in place of the preceding Abbots, who there flourished, perhaps before St. Benedict was born. But of Germanus there as Abbot the disciple was St. Droctoveus, afterward at Paris Abbot of the monastery, by St. Germanus himself afterward so named, whose Life we gave on March X from the Manuscript of Paris of the said monastery; whence it pleases to repeat some things, regarding Germanus as Abbot.
[6] At that time the city of Aedua, that is Autun, shone with a special adornment, crowned with a man of especial sanctity, He had been ordained Abbot by St. Nectarius, namely Germanus, of powerful nobility of stock, who, like a cedar in Lebanon and as a cypress on Mount Sion, by spurning the lowest, by embracing the heavenly, tended to the high augmentations of virtues. And when his leaves, his words always green with truth, bore to all a remedy; and his fruit, namely his works, were for the satiety of those imperilled by hunger; not a little resounded in the ears of Nectarius, the Prelate of the aforesaid city, the excellence of so great a man. There is in the same city the notable monastery of Christ's witness Symphorianus … Of these Brethren therefore by the Pontiff already mentioned Germanus is set as Pastor, and consecrated Abbot worthy by name and by merit. Therefore the Father venerable by the proclamation of his sanctity admonished sagaciously the sheep committed to him, corrected prudently, tolerated patiently, and invited briskly to the pastures of eternal life. Who among the rest, whom by exhortation and at once by example he made over to the warfare of Christ, strove to mark the most blessed Droctoveus with the monastic habit, and admitted him to his discipleship. Whom piously, as a truly most pious one, he nourished, and according to the norm of the holy Fathers, namely Antony and Basil, (for the Sceptre-bearer of this Order, namely Blessed Benedict, was not yet known in these parts) living instituted, and delivering to him the rights of obedience, inculcating the gentleness of patience, repeating the cleanness of continence, exhorting to follow the way of justice, before St. Benedict was known in France. teaching to embrace the virtue of prudence, bidding him be marked with the stability of constancy, persuading to moderate with the placidity of temperance, among all things also he admonished to hold the way of humility: all which things with diligent ear the most holy man Droctoveus perceived… being the diligent imitator of his Preceptor. These things there at number 4 and 5.
[7] Then indeed, after the occasion was described of the temple and monastery of St. Vincent built by King Childebert, The same Bishop, Monks being instituted at Paris now St. Germanus's, these things at number 10 are added: This place therefore the Most Serene Prince Childebert delegated to the most blessed Germanus, Prelate of the city of Paris; earnestly supplicating the most holy Prelate, that a flock of the monastic order be instituted there. The death of King Childebert being then narrated, and the running together to his obsequies, these things at number 11 and following are subjoined: Bl. Germanus therefore seeing so great a multitude of people, thought it better on the same day to dedicate the church committed to him. he dedicates the church And when he had first laid open to all the cause of this business, and while he beheld with exulting minds all assent to his most benign will, the holy Prelates aiding him, namely Nicetius Archbishop of Lyons, and Praetextatus Prelate of Chalon, Eufronius Bishop of Nevers; Felix of Orleans, Domitianus of Chartres, Victorius of Le Mans, in the year of the Incarnation of the Word DLIX, in honor of the life-giving Cross and the kindly Vincent the Levite and Martyr he consecrated the aforesaid church with the principal altar, where he laid up the Stole of Vincent himself. But the altar to the North, in veneration of SS. Ferreolus and Ferrutio; moreover that to the South; under the Title of St. Julian of Brioude, and also that to the West, in honor of SS. Gervasius and Protasius and Celsus the boy and Saint George the Martyr he consecrated. To the Southern region also had been built a certain oratory, in honor of St. Symphorianus the Martyr, where the same sacred one of God Germanus afterward commanded himself to be buried… Blessed Germanus therefore strove to order the place delegated to him by the aforesaid King with notable disposition. For instituting there a flock of Monks, continually serving God, he instituted for them a Father from his disciples, one, namely Blessed Droctoveus. and ordains St. Droctoveus Abbot. All these things are excerpted from the Acts of St. Droctoveus, published on March X, with several Annotata which the Reader will find there. But from what has been said it is plain that the Benedictines indeed are to be praised, that they assumed among their Patrons St. Germanus, because they now possess the monastery called by his name, although he himself when he was Abbot instituted his Monks according to the rule of SS. Antony and Basil; but that by the same right can be received among the Patrons of the Order St. Dionysius the Bishop and Martyr, of whom likewise near Paris is a monastery most known to the world, although there under Louis the Pious the Emperor, after a long tergiversation, scarcely at last was introduced the Rule of St. Benedict. Four estates, donated by St. Germanus to the said monastery, are referred by Mabillon to the History of the Translation.
[8] St. Eligius adorns the burial of Germanus. With what honor St. Eligius affected the body of the same St. Germanus, St. Audoenus narrates in the Life of this man, book 1 chapter 32, in these words: This same blessed man, among the other notable marks of good works, fabricated many sepulchres of the Saints with gold and silver and gems, that is, of Germanus Bishop of Paris, of Severinus Abbot of Agaune, &c. Of this Abbot we treated on February XI. But the Church of St. Germain des Prés was restored and as it were renewed by Hugo III the Abbot, Pope Alexander III consecrates the Church: and consecrated by Pope Alexander III. Which done, Dominus Hubaudus Bishop of Ostia, and three Bishops, likewise consecrated the matutinal altar, in honor of the most holy Confessor Germanus; as is at length explained in the charter of Hugo the Abbot in Jacobus Breulius page 340: who at page 305 proves, that the burial of the parents of St. Germanus was in the same church, these verses of Abbo the Monk, disciple of Aimoinus, being adduced: his parents buried there.
The illustrious begetter of holy offspring keeps The right hand, the left holds the sacred mother of the child, Eleutherius is the father, Eusebia is the mother.
But the day of the deposition of Eleutherius falls on the Kalends of November, of Eusebia on the V Kalends of January.
§ II On the disciples of St. Germanus, and various deeds passed over in the Life.
[9] That of the disciples of St. Germanus one was St. Droctoveus, we said above. To him another, St. Briocus, St. Germanus had as Disciple St. Briocus Bishop in Armorican Britain, the Acts of this man adjoin, from the proper Office of the Church of St. Brioc on the Kalends of May published by us: in which he is said to have been offered by his parents to St. Germanus, not yet having attained the tenth year of his age, and by him in the studies of letters and virtues educated, and afterward, when he was of years mature for undertaking the Priesthood, by the same consecrated Priest. The third disciple of St. Germanus is held St. Iltutus, in some Acts of St. Sampson the Bishop to be given on July XXVIII, not St. Iltutus and in Saussay in the encomium of St. Gildas the Wise, published on January XXIX and rejected § III. There were disciples of Iltutus, SS. Sampson, Gildas, and Paulus of Léon in Armorican Britain Bishop, whose Acts we illustrated on March XI: but all either were older than St. Germanus, or at least of the same age, and much older than they St. Iltutus, nor was St. Paulus Bishop of Verdun his brother. whose Acts will be produced on November VI. With even less foundation St. Paulus, Bishop of Verdun, is said to have been the brother of St. Germanus, although that in some Acts and the Breviary of Verdun in a Responsory is read, as on February VIII, at his Life it has been deduced; where he rather is established to have originated from Belgic Gaul, and to have lived only to the year DCXLIX. We gave on May XVI the Acts of St. Domnolus Bishop of Le Mans, who, as at number 3 is read, was joined by associate charity and mutual benevolence to Germanus, the most holy Prelate of the Parisians: Germanus familiar with St. Domnolus, whom both he was wont most frequently to visit, and by him likewise not rarely was visited. And when they mutually with divine
exhortations inflamed each other, to the subject peoples both by words and by examples they not commonly profited… But Domnolus built a monastery in honor of SS. Vincent and Laurence: but at its consecration he wished the said Germanus the Bishop to be present, he subscribes his Testament: that by the solemn dedication of both the people might be incited to greater devotion. Besides, to his testament, after Domnolus first, subscribed Germanus the Bishop, the Clergy asking. But St. Domnolus sat, according to our opinion, from the year DLIX to DLXXXI.
[10] he is present at the Translation of the body of St. Albinus, In the same sixth century flourished St. Albinus, Bishop of Angers, dead about the year DXLIX, whose Acts also written by Fortunatus we illustrated on the Kalends of March. In them concerning the translation of his body these things are written: Therefore when St. Germanus, Bishop of the Parisians, or the provincials, and the Pontiff his successor, and the people, wished devoutly to transpose the members of St. Albinus into the new basilica; and on account of the narrowness of the little cell, in which he had been buried, license was not given of extracting the sacred body; all hesitating and uncertain what they should do, to the popular cares the virtue of the most blessed man interposed itself as mediatrix. For all expecting and deliberating nothing, suddenly by the divine nod, the wall of the cell being split which was at the feet, on the eastern side three stones fell down; namely a sign being given, through what sort of place he bade himself be able to be led out. Meanwhile an entrance being made, while with the concert of those singing psalms the holy sepulchre advances, openly three paralytics were restored to health, and two blind men equally illuminated. To St. Albinus is commonly believed to have succeeded Eutropius, but to Eutropius Domitianus, who together with St. Germanus subscribed the Council of Paris III, celebrated for the various utilities of divers Churches about the year DLVI or the following, whence we gather that he some time before with Eutropius had elevated and translated the body of St. Albinus. he subscribes the Councils of Paris 3 There were also present at the Council of Tours II, in the VI year of King Charibert, therefore in the year of Christ DLXVI, Tours 2 on the day XV of the Kalends of December, the aforesaid Bishops, St. Germanus of Paris, Domitianus of Angers, and St. Domnolus of Le Mans. There was afterward held in the year DLXXIII the Council of Paris IV, in which the cause of Pappolus Bishop of Chartres was undertaken against Promotus, Paris 4 who in the fortress of Châteaudun had been constituted Bishop. There moreover to the Constitution of the Synod to Aegidius Bishop of Rheims, who had consecrated Promotus, subscribe thirty-three Bishops, and among them after six Metropolitans first subscribes Germanus a sinner, although unworthy, in the name of Christ Bishop of the Church of Paris. From all which is confirmed the Chronotaxis proposed at the beginning, since within the year DLV and DLXXVI all things are enclosed.
[11] In what precise year St. Germanus was made Bishop, is not clear. Charles le Cointe, Tome 1 of the Annals, judges that it could not have been done before the year DLV, Made Bishop before the year 555, nor either much later. In this I gladly assent to him, on account of the Council of Paris III; to which, as we said, he subscribed in the following or the second year after it. That it was before does not seem efficaciously proved from this, that the Council of Paris II, by which Saffaracus the Bishop was judged and deposed, he himself thinks ought to be referred to the year DLI; for by what witness is it affirmed that Eusebius substituted for him held the See of Paris four years before Germanus? But Childebert, in the Tetrarchy of the sons of Clovis the Great called King of the Parisians, who is said to have elected Germanus, according to all died in the year DLVIII; with him however the Saint did many things, which do not all seem conveniently able to be enclosed in a triennium. Wherefore let the reader see whether he would not prefer to anticipate the Ordination of Germanus by one or two years. But the first thing which I find done, but such that it seems to presuppose a familiar use of several years, is a notable miracle, pertaining to the year (unless I err) DLVI, and in January of the following year remunerated with a noble donation, which in the person of King Childebert himself Germanus the Bishop perpetrated, of which the King is witness in the diploma, which Brolius book 1 of the Antiquities of Paris page 44 recites, to this tenor.
[12] We trust that we beget for ourselves a very great reward to the beatitude of eternal retribution, He heals King Childebert from an incurable disease at Celles, if to the places of the Saints we grant opportune benefits. Therefore the Apostolic man Father and our Lord Germanus, Bishop of the city of Paris, made known to us by his preaching, that while we dwell in this world, we ought always to think of the future: and admonished us, that we should have memory of the holy Churches, and always add greater things to their goods, that it might profit us for augmentation, admonishing also not to omit the largess of alms, as was his custom. But it happened that at a certain time the Lord Pontiff found us in the district of Melun, in the village called Celles, seized with a grave sickness: whence the care of many physicians was applied to my body; but they could by no means introduce any vestige of health. At last the Lord Priest himself, and that very village is donated, watching the whole night stood in prayer; and the next morning, by the imposition of his holy hands, touched my gravely infirm body: and forthwith I received the gift of health, which I could receive from no physician. Therefore we, for so great a justice, which the Lord through the hands of the Priest, for the stability of our kingdom and eternal retribution ministered; donate to our holy Mother the Church of Paris, where the Lord Germanus himself is seen to preside, that is, that village called Celles, where we recovered health, situated in the district of Melun, upon the channel of the Seine where the Yonne enters it, with the Basilica, appendages, territories, bondmen, vineyards, woods, meadows, cultivated and uncultivated, all and from all, the whole and entire, whatsoever looks to that village and our fisc contains, with all integrity, from the present day, to the said house of God, or to the Lord Priest, we donate and confirm.
[13] The King then proceeds, on account of the olive-bearing trees for making lights, and with other goods. to contribute certain other estates and rights in Provence, to the same; and with his own hand he confirms and corroborates the authority itself, that is, the diploma or authentic charter, as it can be read entire in Brolius; who caused the copy of it to be printed, just as he found it described in the small Pastoral of that Church, written about four hundred years ago, as Done in the XVII year of the reign, in the month of January. This would be, according to Henschenius, the year DXXVI of Christ; not in the 17th year of that King, according to le Cointe, DXXVIII; and so distant by an enormous interval from the true beginning of the Pontificate of St. Germanus. Wherefore, since it was deservedly doubted, whether from an original unknown to all, the number was rightly transcribed in that Pastoral, such as it was found, or gratuitously feigned there; it followed that the whole matter was rendered to learned men suspect of falsity; although the possession of the goods, expressed in the prior part of the donation, from immemorial time is held beyond controversy even now. Hence it came, that the Most Illustrious and Most Reverend D. Franciscus de Harlay, Archbishop of Paris, Duke and Peer of France, dared not rely on it, to assert the aforenarrated miracle in the lections of the new Breviary, which in the year MDCLXXIX he was causing to be printed, by his own zeal and that of several learned men chosen for it so happily reformed, both in the Lections and in the other parts, [on account of which defect observed in the copy the matter was omitted in the Breviary,] that it can be for an example to whatsoever Churches, hitherto retaining their old Breviaries, and being busy to reform them with the ancient rite always preserved, by choosing the most apt flowers of Scriptures and Homilies for each feast, and cutting away from the Histories not only whatever is now commonly held false, but also doubtful in any way; as are in Dionysius the Apostle of the Parisians the Title of Areopagite, the mission into the Gauls in the first century, and the carrying of the cut-off head between the hands, and other like things of other Saints, hitherto tolerated even in the Roman Breviaries. But that by the reformation of such things the sacred Congregation of Rites was so far not offended I know from the letters of Castellanus, having a good part in that work, that a copy of that new Breviary, exhibited by the Most Eminent Cardinal Cybo to His Holiness, and diligently examined at Rome also by the most erudite, was written back to have pleased vehemently, save that it seemed wonderful to someone, that the Title of Saint was somewhere added to Clement of Alexandria. But to this objection too it was soon satisfied, by the authority of Usuard on December IV, so naming him: which seen no reply followed, but admiration of Baronius, that he had caused a notable ecclesiastical writer, for so many centuries held in the Martyrology, to be expunged.
[14] For the rest whenever the aforesaid Breviary shall again be reprinted, but in the 47th year of the same in the few defects afterward recognized supplied or corrected; that so notable a miracle attested by such authority will not thus be passed in silence in the Lections concerning St. Germanus, although passed over by Fortunatus the writer of the Life. For scarcely, as the same Canon taught me, was the impression finished and the copies distributed through the hands of almost all the Parisian Clerics, when the old charters of the Church of Paris, which by constant but false tradition were believed to have been carried away by the English and deported to London, were found in a chest, hitherto reputed empty; and among them that diploma; in the judgment of Fr. Mabillon, not indeed the first, but yet authentic, how it is demonstrated to have been originally written, and written in the time of Childebert himself, as was the custom to double the copies of instruments of this kind, whence also they were called Duplicates. It is described on a membrane soon folded, and in the fold itself is found an ancient fissure between the numeral letters X and VII, so placed, that there appears to have intervened the just space of one letter. That letter could not have been X or C: because of these letters cut through the middle the extremities ought to appear on both lips of the fissure, but it necessarily must have been the letter l (for so then was written, not L) but this restored it becomes the year XlVII of Childebert and the same DLVI of the Christian era, in the opinion of Henschenius, taking hence no small strength against the Chronology of Cointius, ascribing to the year of Christ DXI the death of Clovis and the successions of his sons; and yet establishing Childebert to have died in the year DLVIII on the day XXIII of December, that is, XI months in his opinion after the donation made.
[15] he excommunicates King Charibert, and his concubine, Childebert being dead there were to Germanus with various Kings, and namely with Charibert, the nephew of Childebert by his brother and successor Clothaire, several difficulties. For when he, his wife Ingoberga being left, had taken Merofled, and after these had coupled in marriage Marcovefa the sister of Merofled, both were excommunicated by St. Germanus the Bishop. But when the King would not leave her, struck by the judgment of God she died: nor much after did the King Charibert himself decease after her. Which things are described by Gregory of Tours book 4 of the History of the Franks chapter 26. After his death very many
civil wars were stirred up between his three brother Kings, in which also shone forth the virtue of St. Germanus, that he might conciliate peace among them: of which matter testimony is furnished by his epistle to Queen Brunichild, that she should turn away her husband Sigebert King of the Austrasians from the counsel of war, which he was bringing against his brother King Chilperic. The exordium of this Epistle is of this kind: Because charity rejoices with the truth, and bears all things, he attempts to conciliate peace among the Kings, and never falls away; therefore from a troubled heart, and from the inmost love of soul, we dare to suggest to you. Because at that time, when the number of the Christian people was smaller, and with the aid of God it was permitted to sit quiet, with the Apostles they said; Behold now the acceptable time, behold now the day of salvation. 2 Cor. 6, 2 Now on the contrary, having so funereal and mournful days before our eyes, weeping we say; Behold the days of our tribulation and perdition come. And so consequently, the things which pertain to peace and mutual charity she inculcates at length, writing to Brunichild. and toward the end thus perorates: We read that through Queen Esther salvation was granted to the people: in this part show also your prudence, and the salubrity and perfection of your faith, that both you may recall the Lord King from the offense of God, and the people from his side may be permitted to live quiet, until the eternal Judge discerns the accustomed justice. Esth. 8 Because most evidently it is plain to all, that he who postpones fraternal charity, despises fellowship, does not acquiesce to the truth, all the Prophets speak against him, all the Apostles detest him, and God omnipotent Himself will judge what He has constituted. These things St. Germanus. Meanwhile King Sigebert, those cities being obtained which are situated around Paris, sent those who should besiege his brother, himself desiring to hasten thither. To whom St. Germanus the Bishop said: If thou shalt go, and shalt not wish to kill thy brother, alive and victor thou shalt return. But if thou shalt think otherwise, thou shalt die. For so the Lord said through Solomon: he predicts death to King Sigebert, The pit which thou shalt prepare for thy brother, into it thou shalt fall. Which he, his sins causing it, neglected to hear. But that one coming to the village, whose name is Vitry, the whole army gathered to him, and placed upon a shield, they set him up for themselves King. Then two boys, with strong knives infected with poison, bewitched by Queen Fredegund, while they pretended to suggest another cause, strike him on both sides. But he crying out and falling down, not after much space sent forth his spirit. Thus in the words already said the matter is described by Gregory of Tours book 4 chapter 46. Baldericus the Bishop in the Chronicle of Cambrai, narrating the same things in other words, adds, that Childeric at that time was dwelling at Tournai, and that Sigebert was buried at Lambres, a village of the holy Mother of God.
[16] Whether he received the arm of St. Gregory from the Emperor Justinian. Among the sacred Relics of the Church of St. Germain des Prés are kept the arm of St. Gregory the Martyr, and the foot of an Innocent. Which pledges, says Aimoinus book 3 chapter 9, St. Germanus received from the Emperor Justinian, when going to the holy places at Jerusalem, and thence returning, he had approached the aforesaid Prince. But because in the ancient monuments there is no vestige of a peregrination undertaken into the East, to this relation firm faith cannot be given. But whether those were transmitted by Justinian to this Bishop, in the silence of the ancients we know not to pronounce.
LIFE
By the author Venantius Fortunatus, a contemporary Presbyter, afterward Bishop of Poitiers.
From various Manuscripts and the editions of Surius and Achery.
St. Germanus, Bishop of Paris.
BHL Number: 3468
BY FORTUNATUS THE PRESBYTER, FROM MANUSCRIPTS.
CHAPTER I.
Birth, studies, Priesthood, the office of Abbot, miracles.
Blessed a Germanus b Pontiff of the Parisians, a native of the territory of Autun, Germanus is divinely preserved in his mother's womb: of his father Eleutherius, and his mother also Eusebia, honest and honored parents, was procreated. Whose mother, because she had conceived this one in the womb after another within a short space, moved by womanly shame, desired before the birth to extinguish the infant: and a potion being received that she might cast it forth as an abortion, when it could not harm, she lay upon her belly, that by weight she might suffocate him, whom the poisons could not injure. The mother strove with the little one, the infant resisted from the womb: there was therefore a fight between the woman and her bowels. The matron was injured, nor was the infant harmed: the burden struggled, lest the begetter become a parricide. This was done, that being preserved unharmed, he himself unhurt came forth, and rendered his mother innocent. There was hence to foreknow the future, that he had wrought a virtue before it happened to him to be born. c Through increments of virtues finally daily advanced to better things, he was delivered to the studies of letters by his most sweet parents, that thenceforth in the praises of God he might be held worthy. Then when at d the fortress of Avallon, with Stratidius his kinsman, as a boy he was running through the schools; likewise from poison prepared for him: the mother e of his kinsman, that she might acquire his inheritance, wickedly contrived concerning the death of the youth, about to deceive. Who put a tempered potion in a little flask, wine also in another, charging the maid, that when both should come, she should offer to one of the wine, and to the other of the maleficence. But the maidservant, not knowing, changes the flask and the cups alike: wine to St. Germanus, poison she gives to Stratidius: and while destruction is prepared for the innocent, the author falls into the snare. Which his mother knowing rebukes the maid with weeping, that she had killed her son. To which Stratidius, solicitous zeal being expended, f various being made of the maleficences themselves, although death did not take away life, yet it fixed a mark of death.
[2] Hence betaking himself to his kinsman holy Scopilio at Lauze g, by honest morals he was nourished and instituted. Who when they stood almost a thousand paces far from the village, continually they ran to Matins, led by the heat of faith, through tempest, through winter. Who within the space of three lustra was instituted Deacon by Bl. Agrippinus h, and in the following triennium ordained Presbyter: thereupon by the Pontiff Nectarius deservedly worthy was taken as Abbot to i St. Symphorian's. But how great abstinence he lived there, with how great vigils also by continuing he endured, with what alms he was profuse, that one matter is witness. When now the rest of the goods being bestowed on the poor not even bread itself remained, by which the Brethren might be refreshed: benevolent toward the poor he is enriched by a miracle, on which matter the Monks rising against him, thrusting himself into the cell, he bitterly wept and grieved. Among these things, while he was praying, a certain matron Anna, directs the loads of two pack-horses k with bread: on the following day also with corn she destined wagons full to the cart, so that thenceforth the Monks when they were satisfied with food, were terrified by the miracle. l [Whom the Bishop, inflamed by his good works, the holy Man, not yet refusing these things, whom also the demons proclaimed, thrust into custody. To whom, I confess, by the Divine nod the prison was opened, but he did not go out hence, unless a suppliant and Episcopal precept were given.] Intent therefore on these celebrated offices, he did not cease to be made manifest by miracles to be proclaimed. Therefore on a certain occasion while wearied he took food, Amandus a Monk entering the hayloft with a light, he extinguishes a fire. a coal falling the flame seized the hay, and the voracious fire licked the dry nourishments. The rest running together, nor yet succoring, more slowly he himself leaping forth, a pot being snatched from the hearth, ascending above the building, singing Alleluia, pouring a little water in the image of a Cross, extinguished the fires: and from the hand of the Saint the wave of fire was settled by a shower, which the rivers could scarcely extinguish. Which however on the next day, by whose snares it was done, the enemy himself confessed.
[3] A certain Frank Chariulfus n, of the same village, had obstinately invaded the goods of the Basilica. Whom when the man of God somewhat admonished to render them, the things taken away being restored, the robber being chastised, he recovers, nor yet profited, he turned himself to prayer, nor did faith defer vengeance. Forthwith from near a fierce bear leaping out killed three of his horses; nor thus does he recover from his hardness. But the following night the avenger doubled the destruction: for he slew six of his beasts of burden, nor thus did the penalty suffice. The third night the same prostrates nine vehicles, the corpse being tripled thus the loss grew into disaster. Thereupon to the blessed man more slowly he directs a boy, he reforms the invaded field, the calamity is restrained from his house. This was done, that the beast chastising the man might receive sense, and the beast give reason to one not understanding. Thereupon Bl. Agricola o Bishop of Chalon, having a chamberlain, gravely wearied by the force of fevers, who with fixed mind hung wholly in passing; He heals one feverish. directs to the holy man the suffrage of interceding. Then the writing being received, he advances to the sepulchre of St. Symphorian under the portico of the Basilica. Meanwhile the just man lay on prayer, pressing the earth with his body and transcending the stars with his mind; and as if having before him the presence of the Lord, as an intercessor he approaches for the vow of the suppliant. [p] For soon being near he is heard by the ears of the Redeemer, and while he is still reclining in that dust, medicine flooded the sick man: and the Just one lying on the pavement, the languid one rises from his little bed, the remedy running before he who supplicates perorates: so that to the bearer returning a boy met on the way, for whom the obsequies were being prepared: so that it was not ambiguous that at the same hour the languid one was restored to health, at which the most blessed man is found to have prayed prostrate.
[4] Nor is it fitting that that be omitted, which was conferred for the faith of the Just one at the house of Ebro. He appears with a horned face. At whose entering the house the matron Anna proclaims, that she sees a wonderful thing. Inquired of by her husband, what it was that she beheld, she says: Behold Bl. Germanus seems to me to walk with a horned face: which I can scarcely either behold with my eye, or confer with speech the holy man, in a new manner radiant with horns. And the woman dismayed wondered, that a man in our time could be beheld in the figure of Moses. It is to be believed however, that this one too after the colloquy of the Lord could be recognized by the woman exalted with a horn; for fear of which cause Ebro on the same day by no means presumed to sit beside the Saint, for a double merit, by sorrow equally and terror. It happened that for the villages of the Church of Autun [q] he met King Theudebert at Chalon. Mindful of St. Symphorian at the entrance of the Palace, he so spoke, the Spirit of God redounding, that the King assented before he predicts death to Theudebert. the petitioner explained his words. To whom also with prophetic mouth he told the end concerning his passing. [r] Which meanwhile in a few days while he returned to Rheims, on the very journey the King failed by the last lot, as if the word of the holy man had been said by an Angel.
[5] And since it was familiar to the Most Blessed one, to lead vigils alone in the Basilica of St. Symphorian, the Monk Silvester follows him going. In the church he leads vigils alone: And both having entered to the tomb of the holy Martyr, about the middle of the night from the altar they receive rumors of a frequented tumult, as if a multitude gathered for plunder were running. For the man of God believing a robbers' incursion to be afoot, commands the Monk to sing psalms before the sepulchre: but he himself approaches the altar. Thereupon that crowd to
the Monk who was singing psalms briskly hastens: whom having grievously slain, and cast on the ground and left half-alive, swift they flee away. Who scarcely with tearful voice relating his disaster, confessed himself struck by demons in a grievous encounter.
[6] It happened that a servant of Sabaricus, Aesarius by name, suffering injury fled to the man of whom we speak, supplicating that at whatever price, a slave from molestation, he would free him from the service of his insolent master. Which Sabaricus, indignant, for Aesarius and his wife or his only son, demanded the sum of eighty solidi as price, before he would loose the servants from servile dominion. Yet the mercy of the Just one did not doubt either to seek out or to give this. Which price being paid, it happened that before the Basilica the often-mentioned Sabaricus passed by, nor yet met prayer either. Who entering his house, he frees the master from vexation: is forthwith vexed and afflicted, is bound, and bound with chains is led to the Saint. Nor thus is mercy taken away from the pious man, but forthwith a prayer being said, by his obtaining faith, he is purged. Then Sabaricus added moreover twenty gold pieces to the price which he had received, and from the hundred solidi a Cross was hung by him at the sepulchre of Bl. Symphorian: which even today is a matter in testimony. On which occasion his sons or daughters so holily conversed, that through monasteries they now govern bands of Monks. Which cause in a wonderful manner profited the father or the offspring, that the small crime of the begetter, passed to posterity into gain.
[7] In the district [s] of Alise the matter was done. The wife of an illustrious man Vulfarius, Destasia by name, he heals a dying woman. destitute of the solaces of vital hope, lacking the offices of speech, now for two days mute, the spirit failing, lying down, the obsequies being prepared now palpitated lifeless. To whom, blessings being directed through her Presbyter, and the teeth of the half-dead being violently opened and passed into the mouth; soon as the liquor of the blessing entered the jaws of the half-living, forthwith the half-dead begins to breathe with the blowings of life, the eyes closed by death to seek the light of day so in every way, that after the funereal pallor the face passed into redness, until all being astonished she rose vivified, and the bystanders proclaimed the grace of the author of the gift. Who every year pays a tribute of life for the price.
ANNOTATA.
p The Manuscript of Bonfont: "Nor delay: by the ears of the most high God he is heard."
q Theudebert of the Austrasians reigned from the year 533 to the year 548.
r He seems then to have been still held by a languor from a long disease, which Gregory of Tours book 3 of the History of the Franks chapter 36 writes him to have been very long sick.
s Alise, to the ancients Alexia, known also to Julius Caesar, now a village, whence the Alise jurisdiction, commonly the Bailliage de l'Auxois; whose chief city Semur on the river Armançon, near which is Alise.
CHAPTER II.
The Episcopate of Paris. Various miracles.
[8] But who may enter as a searcher of his revelations, He foresees that he will be Bishop: from whom, four years before, the very cause of his Episcopate was not hidden? Therefore placed in sleep, he beholds the keys of the Parisian gate offered to him by a certain old man. Asking what this might be, he received the answer, that he should make them safe. Which afterward, the Bishop of that city deceasing, while he met the most excellent King b Childebert, that voice obtained its effect in his election. And ordained c Pontiff what and how great he conducted himself, this a mortal tongue does not suffice to explain: since above man was all that he produced. Finally having attained the grade of Pastoral care, for the rest he persisted a Monk. Hence he exercised himself with frequent vigils, hence he macerated himself with continued fastings: the cold old age passed nights through the winter, sustaining doubly the cold of age and of season, which not even potent young men could tolerate; almost forgetting himself for the victory of the body, as if dignity and necessity had come together at once. But what alms, both from the goods of the church, and from the offering of the people, or the royal gift, were made through the hands of the Saint, He alone who knows all things, knows and numbers.
[9] Finally on a certain occasion, the most excellent King Childebert, he receives copious money to be distributed among the poor, when he had directed to him six thousand solidi to be bestowed on the poor, expending three thousand returns to the Palace: asked by the King, if there still remained what he might give to the needy, he answered that the half remained, and that he had not found the destitute, on whom to expend the whole. To whom the King says: Lord, give what remained: for Christ bestowing it what is given will not fail. Cutting up the gilded dishes, breaking small the silver vessels, giving whatever he first had to the Priest, lest he lose it. There was therefore a contention to be beheld between the Priest and the Prince: they made among themselves a fight about mercy, and a combat about piety, that they might scatter treasures, and from their talents the needy grow rich; hasty to future gains, that they might sow a gilded seed, and after come reapers through the golden cornfield; that the Priest might be enriched with Royal treasures, and toward the King flourish the grace of the Priest, who believed that alone his own, which the naked or needy received.
[10] But let us return to the order. A certain man in d the village of Exona of the fiscal servants, Gildomeris by name, he heals nails fixed into the palm, when on the Lord's day he had worked something, is so contracted in the fingers, that the points of the nails passed from one part into the other. Who at Paris met the holy Man in the oratory: and a prayer being given, and the hand anointed with oil, the nails were drawn back from the palm: to the fingers is restored their instrument, and in the ancient office of the sinews the web is rewoven: whom afterward a Cleric, that he might make him whole, he freed from plague and from crime. the teeth and lips distended, Again a certain woman, by name Favonia, in the city of Paris, for nine days receiving nothing but a little gruel, with mouth open gaping, was offered to the holy Man: who as if iron being opposed could by no law join her teeth or lips. Whom in the sacred Oratory anointing with oil, the head being everywhere palpated, and a contracted hand. without delay he restored to health. It happened that a certain girl, of Maison-Médard e, of the Melun family, spinning on the Lord's day, with a contracted hand was condemned to punishment: which touched with oil, virtue infused a remedy. Hence the astonished fingers recover their pristine vigor, the joints restored meditate the forgotten office of the art, the branching hand is distended, and the right hand purged of vice is reduced to health.
[11] Rightly is it believed that this miracle also is to be inserted. A certain Bobolinus of the village of Noyon, he frees one possessed: vehemently overrun by the snares of the enemy, is led bound with chains to the man of God, whirled by the rebel spirit is shaken, nor is wearied. Who, the holy Man praying, as if from a long journey to himself and his mind on the seventh day returns: thus doubly freed, while the shadow flees from his senses, the chain falls from his hands, and he is rendered sound and loosed. But this is to be handed down by perpetual right of memory. A certain one of the family of Nantharicus, the junctures of the jaws separated from each other, with mouth open is led to the holy Man: whom the sign of the Cross being impressed, restored to health, he reduces distorted jaws, he forbade lest he take a draught of wine or a food of flesh. Who the precept being postponed was forthwith reduced to the norm of his languor: but lest the negligence of the transgressor should subtract glory from the Just one, in the village of Spedotenum f again he was offered to him. Whose places of the jaws the holy man anointing with oil, and with blessed hands binding the chin and lips, the name of Christ being invoked, the joint shaken returns to itself by the holy fingers, and by the merit of his faith whole he is led back home.
[12] Likewise a smith, Ligerius by name, seized by the madness of a turbulent demon, he frees a demoniac, had so burst out with bestial ferocity, that bound with chains at the neck and hands, scarcely could he be dragged to the presence of the blessed man: thence more miserable, that he who sustained violence from the enemy, to himself was added another penalty through chains. Whom however the Priest commands to be detained with him: and just as on the seventh day God rested from work, so also the work of God, a week being passed, he is snatched from the demon: and so to his own to return secure he merited, freed from the enemy. Waddo an illustrious man, partaker of the King's counsels, he cures fevers, doubly incurring the type of fever and of cold, to be purged is presented to the gaze of the holy Man. Meanwhile at the accustomed hour shaken by a most grievous fever, that he might be cooled he instantly demands even water: which being denied him he grows insolent to the injury of the holy Pontiff. The man of God however, content that he might obtain the victory, the prayer being explained, giving him a draught in hot water, recalled the man to his pristine health, and the imminent peril he cured by such an antidote, curing the fever by hot water.
[13] Nor is that miracle of a similar cause to be passed over. A minister of Queen g Chrodosinta, Ulfus by name, water being denied, was most grievously vexed by the type. Asking the suffrages of remedy he proceeded to the Pontiff: whom the man of God constantly leads to the baptistery: but the Saint praying he began to be afflicted more grievously, soon to be freed. He demands burning and seething a little water, but it is denied: who roused by the bitterness of gall most sharply, cast his belt at the footsteps of the Saint crying: Thou, Lord, killest me, when thou shouldest have healed; but be this known to thee, that through thee I die: my life from thee
will be required from the King or from his kinsmen. Meanwhile while through heat he rolls along the pavement of the Baptistery, the blessed man praying he is turned into sleep; and a little after roused from sleep, by him the languid one is reformed to all soundness. Asked by the Pontiff why he had spoken so much to the injury of the Priest, he answered, returning thanks to him only, and confessed that he remembered nothing of his words.
[14] The most excellent King Childebert when he had donated a horse, the horse given by the King he bestows on a poor man. necessary for the saddle, for the conveyance of the blessed man; he himself who had given it asks, that he should retain it for himself, nor give it to anyone. Meanwhile the blessed man, a captive asking, gives the horse for a price, because with the Pontiff more weighed the voice of the poor man, than that of the King. He bids therefore that he sell it for fifteen solidi: which the poor man himself when he led, a trader met, and bought the aforesaid horse for twelve gold pieces. Which bought the trader leads to the stable: but because he had given less than the man of God had ordered, the horse under night dies, lest the word of the Saint go in vain. Whence on the following day the buyer with yoked oxen drew the dead saddle-horse from the stable: which by a reversed turn by a halter, not by the head, but by the feet bound, is led out.
[15] It is worthwhile to hand down to memory, how the Priest of Christ was wont to triumph even over the Kings themselves. He heals King Chlothaire sick, having despised him, Therefore when he had met the glorious King Chlothaire as was usual, nor yet it was announced to him of the holy man standing before the Palace, a delay being made before the vestibule, not presented thence he returns home. The following night is led in vigils in the oratory, the King is tortured by pain and the importunity of fever. Scarcely at first dawn there is a running together to the house of the church by the Nobles: the penalty of the King is set forth, that by his visitation he might mitigate the force of the Royal pain the Optimates beseech. Soon before piety the cause of injury is postponed: who before was not even announced, enters honored and entreated the Palace. The King scarcely rises from his little bed, complains himself struck by the divine scourge: he licks the little cloak of the Saint, draws the garment of the Priest through the places of pain: the fault of the crime being confessed, soon all pain is put to flight: and this was done, that he, whose peril he had incurred from contempt, should feel the remedy by touch.
[16] In the district of Paris at Vico-Novo the matter was done. A certain one in the same place lacerated by the assault of a rabid wolf, and made out of his senses, was pitiably offered to the blessed Priest. He recurring to those suffrages of his art, and one wounded by a rabid wolf, soon the arm being smeared round with the liquor of blessed oil, and with sacred fingers medicinally handled; that plague, which had overrun the bowels with prowling pain, fled the besieged places; and now resolved by putrefaction, the pristine vigor being restored, without delay as if to one roused from sleep the pain receded, the mind returned. Likewise of the village h of Montola the maidservant of a certain Waldulfus, he illuminates a blind woman, for a year and nine months struck with grave blindness, admonished through sleep that if she touched the fringe of the Saint, she would soon recover sight; on a certain day met the Priest; but surrounded with much night, so with the lights constrained, that whence he might inject blessed oil, it offered no entrance of light. Yet the eyelids being anointed above and the rest of the places of the head, a prayer being given, bread and salt being signed, he commanded the woman to betake herself to her dwelling. He himself from first sleep watchful in the oratory, about the middle of the night the woman calls her host, that she weeps profusely. Then a light being kindled, from the joint of the eyes he sees blood flow. Who with the same gore returned to the Saint, but he with water fomenting and washing the eyelids, prayers being added, one eye was opened: then the other being anointed, the woman returns home. Thereupon the same under night with too much blood shed, the day approaching, offered herself to the Priest: who when from the King's meeting he returned home, entering the oratory forthwith to the woman the other eye is opened, and the Lord granting it she rejoices to see with twin light.
[17] he frees one possessed The girl Magnofledis, when she was mocked, deceived by such snares, that as often as she wished to approach the church, she could not make a step; was presented to the Servant of God in the village of Savara i. Forthwith as the hand of the Saint is imposed upon the head of the tottering girl, by such investigation the hidden guest is detected, and confesses with much groaning that he had long lain hid, nor in the presence of the Blessed one cries that he can conceal himself by his own trick: therefore so betrayed and about to go out he complains with grievous burning. Meanwhile the Priest not ceasing to paint the sign of the Cross with his hand, all beholding bursting out in the likeness of a fly, with blood from the nostrils of the woman the enemy went out. Whom restored to health, changed into the Monastic garb, delivered to the service of God, he made to triumph twice, the enemy being conquered and the world. What of that, that without delay he cured a feeble right hand? When at the festivity of St. Martin he had come to Tours, he cures a contracted hand. going out of the monastery a barbarian woman offers herself, with a hand contracted by the sinews, asking medicine. Whom received under his cloak, smeared with his own spittle, like a scattered collection of flour he macerates. Hence the right hand sweating she stretches and folds the fingers, rouses the old torpor to vivacity; and before he came to the door of Bl. Martin, with her own fingers he rendered the stretched-out right hand whole: which soon feeling to be straightened, he repelled the woman from him, entering the Basilica. Then going out of the aforesaid Basilica, when the servant of God betook himself to his dwelling; offers herself a maimed woman, the other palm with the fingers fixed, which first touched with saliva, then anointed with oil, to her pristine health from the present was restored: for it was the same for the holy man to cure the causes of infirmity, as to touch them.
ANNOTATA.
CHAPTER III.
Health conferred by Bl. Germanus on several variously sick.
[18] It was indeed wonderful, as often as the servant of God wished to come to Autun, He frees the possessed, soon to St. Symphorian's the demons announced it; and meeting through a Murvinum, with weeping and groaning they cried; Holy man, if from the cultivated places thou repellest us inconsiderately, at least grant us to dwell through the solitude of the woods, that it may be permitted to the wretched to wander secure through the deserts: before thy eyes neither bodies hide us, nor groves. Who weeping and not enduring the presence of the Saint, his right hand being applied, from the possessed bodies everywhere were turned into flight, and for the salvation of the people the cast-out demons lamented.
[19] Let that noble miracle be brought forth into the midst. When the Pontiff returned from St. Symphorian's, making his journey at the Castle of Avallon, and those shut in prison: he enters, where a multitude of accused was held in prison. Hence invited by Count Nicasius to dinner, the man of God began to have a colloquy about mercy: that, sureties being given, they should be loosed from the chain, and he should yield part of the fault from a regard of piety. Which he deferred to do with obstinate spirit: whence before he finished dining, the Saint snatched himself from the table, and cast over the subterranean prison prayed longer with weeping, that there might be conferred by divine aid, what was not obtained from the temporal judge. Thus that course of tears through the air rises to heaven, and the groaning reaches the vow: and so an Angel is deputed to the effect. and one hindering the captives, being punished, he heals: Thereupon the venerable man promising hope, exhorts the enclosed: nor does the speech lose what it speaks; faith is fulfilled by deeds. He departing soon the berries of the chains are broken, the bound doors are unbarred, day is brought back into the prison, the condemned proceed from darkness into light, nor longer did the penalty hold those whom it should torture. Thus snatched away, at Paris they meet the Pontiff, who were imperilled enclosed: but that he might confer something more on the guilty, from the King he obtained whatever was owed to the fisc for these. Thereupon when Nicasius wished to meet the holy man, and now presented, soon by a most grievous fall he was prostrated to the ground; and almost destitute of all solaces of health, the Saint himself interceding, to the desperate man virtue and sense returned. Soon the belt with which he was girt and his sword for a gift he delivered to Bl. Germanus: which the Count himself a price being given afterward redeemed. This was done, that what before he deferred to grant to the imprisoned, here a debtor he should compensate with a doubled interest, and with an augmented dower repair the damages, before deferring for them, afterward redeeming even himself. Before not pious to them, now also trembling for himself, he learned by his own fall to succor the troubles of others.
[20] he kills bears laying waste a cornfield: Let that of astonishment also be unfolded on the page. The holy Man going to the meeting of the blessed Martyr Symphorian, while from the village b of Cervedo in Murvinum he proceeds, the inhabitants of the place meeting suggest, that he would command to visit the cornfield of Panitia a widow woman, having nothing of residue, which was laid waste by bears, and by his holy coming the incursion might be repelled. Who, hastened, the ministers mocking, is led to the place, and a prayer being given made the little sign above. Hence by divine instinct against the parent beasts a savage anger is kindled, hatred is born in affection, in peace a fight is committed. By fury the beasts are doubly armed, forthwith one bear is suffocated by the other; and he who had resisted while he wished to go out, is transfixed by the stake of a hedge. Thus both the wasters in one moment are destroyed, and themselves forthwith were made the arms of death to themselves. Afterward to him returning the woman offered the skins of the bears
out of zeal, and presents the spoil as it were to her victor; which however he himself altogether refused to receive: and those who before had laughed, began to repent seeing the miracle.
[21] And since of the gift of God there ought to be no loathing, that also we judge to be briefly explained. he illuminates a blind woman, A certain woman Beretrudis, the matron of Munsunthus, when in the time of the Litanies, her eyes being blinded, she could not go with the people, hearing the choir of those singing psalms, with tears implores the aid of the Lord Germanus. The third following night through sleep the most blessed Man seemed to her to stand near her little bed, and as it were to have made the little sign on her blind eyes. The woman waking narrates to her husband what was done. Soon, blood dripping, day is restored to the eyes, and after the long-lasting cloud the lights flashed with a serene ray. The day also growing bright to Mass with the people the woman advances in procession, so that the image of the holy Man so seen through a dream was a remedy.
[22] There is present a no less laudable thing, life restored to a little infant. When in the Touraine the matron of the illustrious man Pientius lamented the last things of her buried daughter, he resuscitates a dead woman: and the eyes being closed nor with moving breath the little infant breathed, to the presence of the holy Man she commits all her protections. Who through a Messenger invited, as much as he is able hastens to the corpse of the bewailed girl. Received with many weepings, the family deploring, he approaches the bench, where now the little infant was stiff. He does violence to heaven with complaints. Almost the space of one hour being passed among these things, by a moving sob the breath of the girl is brought back, the vital heat of the bowels is diffused through the members, thereupon little by little animated she asked a drink, that she might drink. Then by the blessed Man bread being signed or the chalice being tasted, of the little infant recalled from death all is turned into health: who afterward in the monastery of Bl. Radegund consummated the end of a happier life.
[23] A certain Cleric from near the monastery of Bl. Silvester in c the Tonnerre district, when on the Lord's day, as we say from custom, he had shaped boots, he heals one punished for the Lord's day violated: incurred a debility of the hands or feet. But from Bl. Silvester he received the office of step, admonished through sleep he met St. Germanus, asking the abridgment of health: by whom asked, he confessed the cause of the fault. Then he commands the Cleric to cry through the people, that no one should rashly work on the Lord's day. Which the fifth day being passed, oil being poured over the feeble palm is straightened, and to go to his own with liberty he is dismissed. In the district d of Amiens what was done let it be repeated. At e Rotegiacum, a village of the Church of Paris, seven men raging were offered to him. he frees 7 possessed: Of whom being cured, one who was vexed by a more grievous spirit, when he was compelled to go out, professed to the man of God, that he being expelled from that place would make a grievous lamentation to the Parisians. Then the plague being put to flight, of the passing of the holy man Germanus he spread the report through the peoples, and for the death of the Pastor moved the flock into weeping: which possessed man however, although he sowed a lie, being expelled did not defend the possessed.
[24] he heals one paralytic, And because the works of the Just one forced miracles to grow, likewise in the aforesaid place is offered to him a paralytic, the members dissolved, conveyed in a cart, destitute of step and act: which the liquor of sanctified oil being poured over, when it had touched the surface of the skin, vigor entered the marrow. Thereupon the revived hands return to mobile use: the chest of the breast by vital impulse becomes stronger, the columnar weakness of the knees is strengthened, the soles on solidified bases are raised. Among these things the whole fabric of the members is repaired: who health being received, the holy man returning met on the way with a prepared gift, returning thanks to Christ for the restored little body. Nor is this to be passed over, how with similar merit virtue shone in another. Therefore Emmegisilus of the village f of Bucciacum, a certain boy quite little, paralytic in the members, in a chair was carried to Paris to the holy Man by the hands of those bearing him; and another neither the right hand vigorous with mobility, nor the sole rising with stability, nor the tongue sounding with fluency, captive in the marasmus of total debility, in a manner without the order of nature poured forth in the nature of things. Whom the Saint continuously for three days anointing with sacred oil, restoring to health in one moment, in voice, hand, step; astonishment embraces all, a cry is raised to heaven, that holy Germanus had surpassed all the art of physicians.
[25] he cures a contracted hand, Likewise from the same village of Bucciacum a certain woman met at Paris, so with a contracted hand, that the points of the nails pierced the palm to the inmost part. Who only the saliva of his mouth being drawn with the thumb, reforms the distension of the sinews, the image of the hand. His laurels the district of Bourges also retains. Therefore the good Pastor when from the village g of Novigentum to Vicus-Novus by the accustomed care of visiting the flock he had come; a certain little old woman offers herself, bearing in blindness twice four years of courses: upon whose eyes the Priest imposing the sign of our redemption, commands that following she should go where the Pontiff went. On the next day also, when the aforesaid woman met him unexpectedly, blood flowing from the light with a large fount the eyes wept their own health: who among the rest the holy Man standing by is beheld. Who rising from the assembly, he illuminates a blind octogenarian, the woman as being blind he draws into the lodging, where for himself was a chamber. Whose lights with tepid water washing with his own hands, he poured day back into the eyes. Who soon beholds the light, the fingers of the holy Man, unsated with joy, she immersed in her own jaws, and likewise the ministers weeping with compunction, that they saw a man, who to the blind for money in his house dispensed lights. But these things were done in the chamber, I being present.
[26] he heals very many sick, When the Priest came to the possession of the Church, which is called Inethe; a certain one met him, complaining that of a certain village he alone was unharmed, but all the inhabitants labored with a grave weariness. Whose blessings being carried to the infirm, forthwith from the sick all languor was put to flight, and at the first taste of the blessings the disease with the bread was consumed. Thus by that crowd with the food health was eaten. Likewise when at Paris to h the Basilica of the blessed Cross the man of God advanced; a woman a little one in white, palpitating with the last breath and now about to migrate, set forth before the saint, saying: Pious father, if thou wouldest look upon a lamenting one, a weeping mother I would not be bereaved; nor wouldest thou prefer to depart hence leaving me full of groaning, emptied of fruit: and unless thou hasten to succor, and a dying infant, thou seest the unhappy son snatched by extorting death from the breast. Either restore the son, or obtain me about to be buried together with him. Indulge, Pastor, a wretched woman, whom her own grief makes bold. Which woman tearfully asking, soon as the right hand of the Blessed one impressed the sign of the Cross above the expiring one, as if watchful from sleep he sought the milk of his mother, who now was cold in death. Thus in a moment of time the son is taken from the jaw of death, the mother from mourning. Hence the surrounding people is shaken with astonishment, a clamor is raised on all sides, returning thanks to the Creator for the reward, in the chief time of the Priest, by whom diseases and deaths are continually commanded.
[27] Then coming to i Bradeia, a village of the district of Paris, Mass being celebrated, likewise a paralytic woman, to him in the sacristy a chair being carried is offered a paralytic woman, bearing condemned the offices of all her members, retaining no vigor of sole or right hand. Soon having confidence in Him, who afforded large gifts to himself, when he smeared her over with the blessing of vital oil, forthwith the disease is shut out, healthful vigor glides in; and the bowels being recreated she is reborn better to health than to her stock; acquiring more from the gift than she had taken from her origin. So that afterward with her own hands she made a tunic for the Saint, as a tributary of the acquired medicine. There is handed down to memory what helps in praise. And so Audegisilus, Mayor of the Royal house, when he was gravely afflicted with the quartan type, met the blessed Man, trusting in his benefit. The man of God assigns him in his own cell, and bids him sit enclosed with one Deacon. Then the anxious and fasting minister trembling devises what he should do, and one vexed by the quartan: whence the infirm one should be cured. Therefore the feverish man, wrapped about everywhere with the k rachena of the servant of God, he composes in his little bed. On the same day also, by the touch of the noble garment, as if by the assault of a river, so all the fire of the quartan fever was extinguished. And returning from dinner, the chamber being unbarred, sound he rose from his little bed; the minister exulting for the reward of health, then the fast being broken for him. Thus by the touch of the garment the Blessed one absent wrought health.
ANNOTATA.
d Mosny in Brie.
CHAPTER IV.
Health conferred on other sick in divers ways by St. Germanus.
[28] Let us pursue the viaticum of the journey undertaken. And so when at Poitiers the man of God set out to the blessed Confessor Hilary a, a certain Baudofeifa, of the village of Sene-Corbiacum b, scarcely conveyed between two persons, was presented to him, who was mute, lame and maimed. He heals a mute and lame woman, The tongue stiffened immobile, the breath palpitating part was wholly of death, so that to the beholding eyes the rest was of a corpse. Upon whom mercifully when he expressed the sign of the sacred Cross, forthwith all vigor is diffused through the members, the flowing little rivulets of the veins are roused, the feeble torpor of the sinews is shaken off, with natural motions to vital use the whole fabric is renewed: soon the plectrum of the tongue is loosed, the balls of the fingers are stretched, the bases of the feet are solidified, and to vivify the whole mass of the bowels was the same with the Saint, as to touch it. Who the remedy convalescing, on the third day, to the city, returning thanks to the Saint, met with her own footsteps.
[29] It is judged worthwhile to insert also that proclamation of a cure. When the blessed Man passed by the district of Vendôme, various diseases by the straw of his bed, he turned aside to c Ransido for the sake of staying; where so great strength of blessing prevailed, that whoever faithfully took away the straw of the bed in which the holy Man rested, carried a gift of remedy, and from the seed of chaff reaped the harvest of medicine. Let the city of Nantes here render testimony of a noble deed, a gouty man by sacred oil, whither the man of God coming, received with quite religious obsequy, there met him Tecla, the matron of Damianus, a man prompt in business, supplicating that her husband either the Pastor himself, or his sent men should seek out. Which because access to him was difficult, with his Chrism-bearers he directed a Deacon. Who running to the man, as had been bidden him, touches the bowels of the infirm one. On the next day entreated the Priest himself comes to the feeble one, who under a double torturer, here pressed by sickness, there by the wound of gout, the pitiable man was tortured wantonly. Then the Priest of the Most High anointed the infirm one with blessed oil: at that moment the feeble one, forthwith the hands being straightened, from the long-standing languor the step being solidified leaped up. a blind, deaf, mute girl, But that the mystery might be doubled in one house, and the remedy which preceded in the father, might reach to the offspring; having a daughter they offer her to him, by name Maria, blind, deaf, and mute. They set forth a living corpse before the footsteps of the Saint, saying: Good Pastor, expend yet what of medicine remains for this languid one: for we believe it reserved for thee, whence thou shouldest hold the proclamation, that the family being restored may acquire from the Priest what it lost of its stock. Then notable piety is called into tears: soon to the arms of his warfare the warrior is turned, and to obtain victory the strong orator offers prayers. Then the blessed Man rising from prayer, with blessed oil anointing the places of the head, the threefold languor being driven away in the name of the Trinity, forthwith the passages of the ears and eyes being opened, all applauding the mute girl was made talkative. Which done the traders of the city of Nantes, each the remedy of himself, money, as he was able, to the holy Man, to be dispensed to the poor, devoutly either offered or directed.
[30] the feverish, Leudegisilus an illustrious man, according to what he himself professed, when anyone of the family of his house incurred the type of any fever, or some chill; washing those letters which in subscription the hand of the Saint had painted, restored very many of his own by this remedy to health. These things being briefly touched let us pursue from the rest. A certain Chusinus, unfittingly while on the Lord's day he gave care to a horse, the hand being put into a wound his finger swelled. Hence the heat prowling all the part of the arm is relaxed with putrefaction. Who through d Belsa the Saint journeying, that he might turn aside to his house prayers being poured forth obtained. a swollen arm, Soon his arm the man of God fomented with hot water: moreover anointing with blessed oil, cabbage leaves being placed over, the wondrous physician bound it. Thus whatever of ulcer was within, the precious care extinguished: afterward he himself returning thanks met the holy Man, cured by such a poultice. Likewise a servant of the Church, a contracted hand, Libanius by name, on the Lord's day inconsiderately while he closed a hedge, his hands were contracted by present vengeance: who to the holy Man at Paris the disease chastising ran: whom poured over with the liquor of blessed oil, and rather sprinkled with the unguent of the mystery, a prayer being added he restored to soundness.
[31] Through the abridgments of single things let the miracles of matters run. For Andulfus, a Cleric of the Church of Paris, while e on the day of the Resurrection in his little vineyard he shook nuts from a tree, he illuminates a blind woman, because he worked on the day of illumination, was struck with blindness, and with a dark countenance persisted for the space of a year. Thereupon offered to the Pontiff, and poured over with holy unction, he is again restored to day, and the serene of the Priest purged the cloud of the Cleric: thus whatever the minister lost, the medicinal Prelate obtained. And because the kinds of miracles grow through the times; when to be presented to the King the blessed Man met at the village of Roteiacum, he frees a possessed, a Cleric vexed by a spirit of wickedness is led to him. Whence the adversary being expelled, the bystanders beholding, like a little bird from the head of the demoniac, the shadow being put to flight goes out. Which while the rest pursued flitting through the house, the Saint himself crushed it with his footsteps: and when it was pressed by the foot, the deceiver was suddenly turned into blood; the proclamation being doubled, that it should neither be trodden, and by the indication of its fall the manifold artificer should become blood, guilty of bloods. Let the district of Exmes f bring forth among our things what is its own, he cures a blind woman, lest the matter of light be held in obscurity to posterity. Since the most holy Man to the village g of Tasiliacum had turned aside on his journey, there is offered to him a woman to whom was a double disease, on one side old age, on the other blindness. She began with trembling words to beseech health: by which supplication the old and feeble woman moved, prayer preceding, oil being poured over, the lamps of the eyes restore the rays of light, and the films being given the darkness fled. Who illuminated, returning glory to God, through whom Christ works, the bystanders proclaimed the merits of St. Germanus.
[32] and a dropsical man. The diseases are to be enumerated, that the fount of the physician may be proclaimed. Daningus son of Ardulfus, was so tense in the head, eyes, and all the bowels with the disease of dropsy, that into the likeness of a wineskin as it were the whole was belly, and the vitals being penetrated like glass the infected skin shone through within. Who despaired of by the physicians, by the last lot fled to the remedy of the Blessed one. Whom soon stripped of garments, and anointed with sacred hands, the enclosed liquor of the dropsy is consumed by the liquor, and the water by the infusion of oil is dried up. Thus in a wonderful manner neither did the humor go out without, nor was the languor retained within, by a praiseworthy art the humor to be dried from the humor. Likewise when to the Basilica of the most blessed Gervasius h and Protasius he came to keep vigil, a certain blind man stood by asking mercy. likewise a blind man, To whom the man of God commanded, that between the altar and the Relics of the Saints he should lie. Which done, at first dawn soon over the eyes he brought the sign of the Cross, the light shone forth: and all the labor of the physician the care expended, by the virtue of the holy Cross.
[33] and for the contempt of himself a woman immobile, A woman of Exmes, asking redemption from the holy Man, by I know not what lot, merited to receive nothing. Thereupon a Breton Presbyter, for the infirmity of the Rector of his fatherland, sought the blessing of the aforesaid and his Relics: who setting out on his journey, obtained a lodging in the village in which the aforesaid woman dwelt. Whom her husband addressed, that just as others, she also should go to the Relics of the Lord Germanus: who despised it, because the holy Man had not given her redemption. But forthwith in the place where she stood, as if fixed by a stake, she could not move a step: and her hands being contracted, to the Relics of the Saint by her husband's hand she was carried. Among these things repenting of what she had said, the pious man pitying her she was restored to health, confessing that by her contempt of him a sudden peril had come to her. And since by his merit the seeds of health were dispersed through every place; again a fever, it happened that the venerable Abbot Flameris of Chinon in the Touraine had received a letter subscribed by the hand of Bl. Germanus: who when he visited his Monk lying for two years in fevers at the little bed, the infirm one inquires whence the page had come. The Abbot answered, that it had been directed to him by the Lord Germanus. Which he asked to be offered to him: who wiping with his tongue the letter from his subscription, health descended into the bowels, and the painting of ink overcame all unguents. Whence it was approved, the languid one being recovered, that we may say in common, that from the Saint's subscription he had licked health for himself.
[34] Thereupon when to i Cainona the Castle he came, a certain one thrusts himself upon him, feeble with a contracted hand, a contracted hand, because on the Lord's day he had worked something: whom he commanded in the village k of Cariacum to meet him quickly after him. Which one coming, while he anointed his fingers with sacred oil, suddenly the dry palm grows green again: in the other, the skin bound to the bones, a humor running between relaxed the joints: the junctures almost disjoined are stretched into fingers; the long-lasting dryness suffused flourishes again in the vein, and forthwith the right hand closed of the wound is among the hands of the physician restored sound and distended. It happened that the holy Man, returning from the Nantes country, a sick woman, illuminated the house of the illustrious Nunnichus with his footstep. From whose garment the matron a thread being faithfully snatched, lays it up in the oratory: who incurring sickness, Vigils in honor of the Saint solemnly being celebrated and Mass, recalled from the present was cured. Thus the Most Blessed one not only by hand healed what he touched, but named scattered cures.
[35] Attila an illustrious man, and a domestic of the Royal court, falling in the bath, the arm being gravely injured, the whole hand itself had rotted from the shoulder. and a dying man: Who a physician being applied while he wished to expend care, a vein of the bowels being broken, almost all the blood of life in a moment was shed. It is announced to the Pontiff, that the man is in death; by the impulse of piety the elder comes, whom by the tears of those bewailing without any hope, oppressed with eyes closed, he found set forth. Whose jaws he scarcely opens with the handle of a little knife, a prayer first being given he brought into his mouth a little cold water, once, a second, and a third time. Meanwhile awaiting what should be the issue of the matter, he sat beside the little bed. Almost an hour being passed by a reviving sob the lifeless one is shaken, and by a soft motion the breath being recalled is led forth. The passage of the jaws the bowels being relaxed the spirit running between is brought back; little by little convalescing, beheld from death he returns; thereupon as if roused from sleep, he asks, who was at his head. That the Lord Germanus is present is said by the bystanders: he asks the hand of the Saint to be worthily offered to him, thus beginning to address him: Lord, thou hast recalled me going a long journey. And forthwith he offered a little bag full of money and a belt of ample weight, which he should bestow on the poor as the reward of life or grace. The holy Man going to Autun, while he comes to Rotagiacum, learns from Abbo that certain men were thrust into prison. Therefore for those to be absolved a suppliant he suggests to the Tribune, but he hard does not assent. he frees captives. Hence himself by cautious counsel while he says he is going around the field, the devout one runs to the prison. And so to entreat prostrate he is laid down, and there at the nocturnal time the chains were shaken off, the strong rigor of the torment is reduced to fragments, the heavy bar is dashed, the post is plucked from its hinge, the deadly prison is unclosed, the condemned to the vital airs as it were return from the sepulchre. Thus it comes to pass that at Rotagiacum at morning time entering they met him: and he who afforded nothing to the Saint, for the absolved accused, the Tribune, was made guilty.
ANNOTATA.
b Commonly Secorby.
c Commonly Rauscé.
d Belsa, la Beauce.
CHAPTER V.
Bishops ordained, the glory of virtues and miracles, his happy death.
[36] Therefore always solicitously instant for the health of all, when he had come to Bourges for the ordination of a Felix the Bishop; the Priest preaching, At Bourges he consecrates Felix Bishop. a certain Jew Sigericus, the Sacrament of faith being received, was converted, having in Judaism a wife by name Mammona. Who when she would not even receive mention of the conversion, and admonished through the Blessed one's messengers fled, a vigil being made by him the Doctor himself set out. Who when she would not even with her gaze attend to the blessed Man, the Course of Terce being sung, the Pontiff worthily moved his hand to the forehead of the woman, from the work of piety. Forthwith by the bystanders from the nostrils of the woman with sparkling fire smoke was seen to go out, so that to all it became clear, the betrayer being cast out, he converts the obstinate wife of a Jew, that the woman until then had resisted her own health through the hostage. Then unburdened of the enemy's bundle, breathing she confessed, that never before could she behold the face of the blessed Man. Who asking and praying, to be made a Christian with her own house she merited; and as if the head being subjected, by her example many of the Jews were converted.
[37] It is fitting here that that be inserted, how to a little pilgrim the light of an eye was restored. And so going to Autun for the ordination of b Syagrius the Bishop, hither among the rest of the citizens Florentinus an illustrious man by pious consent was carried, having a blemish in his eye, He ordains Syagrius of Autun: he heals an eye torn out, derogating somewhat from his comeliness, lest he should be held flourishing in countenance. Meanwhile while praises are acclaimed to the Bishop, by someone not knowing unexpectedly he is struck in the same eye; and torn from its place, it began above the cheek to hang doubtful with sight. Who with overhasty course pursues Bl. Germanus with a cry, himself clamoring much, as calamity is wont to speak. Then by the hand of St. Germanus the light is brought back into its place, and by him to Bl. Symphorian he is directed: he heals an eye torn out, who for him so long stood at vigils, until the lost eye, the pristine blemish being purged, a benefit being added more entire is restored, and returns better after the wounds, than what it had been born by nature. Which Florentinus was thereafter ordained Bishop at Mâcon. But how great was the virtue of his little sign, there is present among the rest this matter of testimony, which is brought forth in the following. When from the Basilica of St. Martin d he ran back to the village of the holy Church Severiacum, by the sign of the Cross he tears off a lock, he joins on the way a certain youth Amantius, whom he found being led bound in irons by Jews. It is asked what he had done. The boy answered truly, that for this he was led in chains, because he refused to be subjected to Jewish laws. Then the Jews dissimulated to unfasten the iron chains with the key. The sign of the Cross being made by the holy Man above, soon the lock of iron is torn off, and the boy unharmed is bidden to go away.
[38] and he unbars a bolt. Likewise when at Paris to the Basilica of SS. Gervasius and Protasius for the sake of praying he advanced, the doors being barred entrance was denied him. Then the keys being sought, nor they opening, thus he unbarred the bolt, the sign of the Cross being made. Astonishment invaded their minds at the present miracle, that there was opened by virtue, what with the key as guide could not be. These things also venerable were done, I being present. And because to the blessed man no metal stood in the way, when woods, stones, irons before him were loosed; it happened one of the days at Paris, when he gave a prayer at the door of the prison, At Paris he frees captives, the following night to the thrust-in there appears a light in the prison; he seemed to admonish them that they should dig, that they might go forth without. Who saying to each other that they had seen the Lord Germanus, and the signs each relates; a rib of cattle being found, digging they remove a stone, and the aforesaid friend of God they meet at the church at morning time, when he returned to his rest. Thus to many the image of the Pontiff was a cause of health, and in the stead of Bl. Peter the very figure of our Priest gave remedies.
[39] and the guards on that account cast into prison: Thereupon those being snatched away, the Tribune of the city began to rage against the soldiers, imputing it to have been their negligence, which is imputed to the most holy man for glory. The anger of the Judge being turned against the guards, those who were wont to keep watch he delivered to be kept in prison, and the keys being taken the Judge becomes guard to the guards. Meanwhile the blessed Man calls the Tribune to dinner; and while they sat together at the same banquet at the table of the holy man, there meet also they themselves, who had been sent for the accused in fetters. The Tribune having the keys in his hands when he scarcely believed of the snatched away what he saw, recognizing that he himself had so kept the prison likewise as also the soldiers, pardon being given in turn, likewise at Orleans the fault passes into grace. Let the noble proclamation of the man be brought in at Orleans: from which city the holy Man setting out, heard the voices of the condemned in the prison, where certainly there was a subterranean dungeon. Ascending above which, and prostrate lying down, the friend of Christ gave a prayer with tears. Forthwith by the obtaining of the oracle on the following night the prison being opened, to the Basilica of holy Anianus they flee: and so the blessed Pontiff, by his saliva he heals certain ones: although in passing, left after him a suffrage. Let it not be a loathing to hear, what Christ affords to the faithful, while of miracles at once the virtue grows and the number. And so to the Most Holy one met a certain man at Paris, whose eye like a fist had swollen out, so that even the said one inclined to ruin after the wounds. Who asking the man of God, from the saliva of his mouth smearing the eye, recalled remedy and grace to the light. A certain Moverta at Paris, having a pustule in her arm, tortured by pains, meeting the blessed Man, by like medicament by the touch of saliva was cured.
[40] But if we pursue the single miracles, which by his deeds flourished in the present life; he works infinite miracles: these are without end, begun nor will there be a measure on the page: because wherever the presence of the Pontiff turned itself, no medicine was lacking to the kinds of diseases: and as many wounds of the languishing offered themselves, so many seeds of health he poured forth. For what first of the Pontiff or last should we pursue, when by the saliva of his mouth many ulcers were cured, the possessed purged? Before whom although secretly the wickedness of the enemy had come, forthwith the fraudulent deceit manifested itself: and from the sight of the holy Man, because they could not be concealed, nor did they tolerate his presence, with terrible howling they bewailed their burnings, everywhere through places flitting they exposed also their crimes, suspended through the air: frequently not even questioned they confessed also their names, when often by their own impulse the demons ran to the holy Man to be tortured. Whose minister in what place held the staff of the Saint, there the demoniac hung bound by an aerial chain, and as if by nails fixed was held by his footstep. And because to the holy Man often the snares of the enemy were stretched, also concerning the possessed. that either the horse should incur a fall, or a branch of a tree should touch, or the water of a valley or ice should generate peril; soon who, or how many, or how, the demoniacs confessed the whole deed and the number. But when he carried his foot from the house or church, thou wouldest see slaughters of demons, before the gaze of so great a Pontiff and triumpher. They fell around the footsteps of the Saint in troops poured forth in divers manners; these mute, those crying out; those fixed, these slippery; and as if to a Judge while they referred their own deeds, they did not escape torments. But for the proclamation of the Saint how great is this praise, when ineffably many and stupendous things were done by him in a moment?
[41] He excels in compassion toward the wretched, For the rest how prodigal he was in alms, cannot be explained, not if the voice of the whole people glue itself into one: because frequently content with one little cassock or tunic, whatever was of residue he clothed the naked poor man, that the destitute might be warmed, the bestower being cold. How great also was the effusion of redemption, by no means will it be explained either in place or in number. Whence are the neighboring nations in testimony, the Spaniard, the Scot, the Briton, the Basque, the Saxon, the Burgundian, when at the name of the Blessed one they ran together, from everywhere to be freed from the yoke of servitude. But when somewhat there was nothing at hand, sad sitting and anxious, more severe in countenance, he was austere in address. Then if perchance he was invited by someone to dinner, he compelled the guests or his own ministers, that they should confer together whence they might free even one captive from servitude, and so somewhat the mind of the Priest might breathe from mourning. But if the Lord directed something from somewhere to be dispensed by the hands of the Saint, soon foreseeing in spirit he was wont to say: Let us give thanks to the Divine clemency, for whence the redemption may be made has approached. Forthwith without ambiguity the present effect is proved: which when he had received in his hands, the wrinkle of the brow being loosed the elder flourished in countenance, with a brisker step he proceeded, with a more pleasant tongue he flowed; that thou wouldest believe the man for the redeeming of others himself about to be freed from the chain of servitude.
[42] But who could worthily repeat, how great a virtue of words was rolled from his mouth, when he preached to the people? eloquent in his sermons: that to all literature astonishment was born, and there was made in common a general compunction; and from the mouth of the speaker thou wouldest believe, that the words were formed by an Angel, while more than a man he spoke transported in the excess of mind, when the blemishes being scraped away by the sincerity of doctrine he forced the breasts of the people to overflow with Divine pigments. Who riding on the journey, always of God something either conferred by word or sang; saying the e Course with bare head, although snow or rain pressed. But when he came to the table, forthwith a minister reciting was present with divine colloquies, that among the dishes of food, the soul being fed with nourishment, the guest might be more satisfied. No time did he interpolate, in which he either profited others, or did not himself advance. by assiduity of prayer But how great a care of vigils he always expended, who could narrate? or proclaim the colds tolerated by the ardor of faith? when frequently in his little bed, before he admonished the rest to rise from sleep, fifty Psalms or more, untiring in the temple of his own breast he chanted to the Lord. But who could either by hearing perceive that happy theft, or by sight detect it? when he himself from his little bed frequently without boots, lest he be perceived by anyone, proceeded into the oratory, desiring no witness to himself in that theft to meet save Christ: who the vigil being celebrated returning to his little bed, as if he had done nothing, then first roused the rest.
[43] But how great was his constancy for singing psalms, while like flesh clothed with the rigidity of iron he remained, and of psalmody, when cold encrusted the stones, and turned the waters into a crust? Who when with his own bowels he fought and conquered, almost forgetting himself, that the domestic torment being overcome by the body, a triumph over himself, in peace made a Martyr, he might acquire: so that the Clerics changing for themselves, without succession he himself would not finish the modulations of chanting. Then almost incredibly is this said, which is known: that entering the church at the third hour, and by pastoral solicitude. he did not go out
further from the order of those singing psalms, until, the day growing bright, the whole Course solemnly chanted was consummated according to the canon. But when he returned home, wearied by age or cold, either the suggestion of divers brought in disquieted him, or it was sought of him where he should afford suffrage: so that even to him reclining to rest or a little, from the complaints of the afflicted or poor coming to him, a cross was prepared in his little bed; postponing his own injuries, lest the necessity brought in should press the one suggesting. Prepared for mercy, always running for pardon; the Father and Pastor of the people, transferring to himself the causes and complaints of others, either in part mitigated the griefs, compassionating in heart; or as much as he could cured entirely, by deed succoring.
[44] He foreknows his death, So greatly also amplified by sacred advancements, even the day of his blessed passing he thus foretold as we subjoin. Some days before, calling to him his Notary, he commands in the chamber above his bed to write this only, On the fifth Kalends of June. But all not knowing what this was; afterward his holy departure from the world manifested it: for not even this did the Lord suffer to be hidden from his familiar soul. Finally on the same day, the battle being accomplished, he dies holily. the blessed one migrated to Christ. Occupied with these and similar zeals, and always intent nearly an octogenarian through the world with wondrous acts, to be admitted to the Martyrs, to be aggregated to the Apostles, to be glorified by merits, to be crowned among the peoples, snatched from the corporeal chain, with immaculate spirit by the blessed dowries of faith perpetually about to live, victor he flew away to the heavens, our Lord Jesus Christ reigning, to whom is glory, honor and power unto the ages of ages. Amen.
ANNOTATA.
APPENDIX I
On the miracles at his burial, and on the Epitaph of St. Germanus.
From Gregory of Tours and Aimoinus.
St. Germanus, Bishop of Paris.
[45] In that year (of Christ DLXXVI) also Bl. Germanus Bishop of the Parisians passed away. Gregory book 5, History chapter 8 At whose obsequies among the many virtues, which he had wrought in the body, this miracle made confirmation. For, the prisoners crying out, the body in the street was made heavy, and they being released, again without labor it is lifted. The captives are freed, They too, who had been loosed, in attendance of the funeral even to the basilica, in which he is buried, free arrived. But at his sepulchre many virtues, very many miracles are done. the Lord granting it, believers experience; so that each one, if he ask just things, swiftly carries back the things desired. If anyone however wishes solicitously to inquire his strenuous virtues, which he wrought in the body, reading the book of his Life, which was composed by Fortunatus the Presbyter, will find all things.
[46] King Chilperic entering the city of Paris, the day after the King entered the city, a paralytic, who in the portico of the basilica of St. Vincent, in which Bl. Germanus rests in body, sat, is directed thither. The same on the Glory of Confessors chapter 90 But the morning being made, A paralytic is healed. the people expecting, he returned thanks to the blessed Prelate. For often there both the steps of paralytics, and the sight of the blind by the virtue of the Saint are restored: and rarely comes his solemnity, but that there his virtue is shown.
[47] When it was announced to the King, that a paralytic had there been healed, with great devotion coming thither, and rejoicing at so great a miracle, he composed his Epitaph rhythmically in these distichs. Aimoinus book 3 chapter 16
The mirror of the Church, the vigor of the fatherland, the altar of the accused, Both Father and Physician, the Pastor and love of the flock, The Epitaph under the name of King Chilperic. Germanus blessed in virtue, faith, heart, mouth, In flesh holds the tomb, in the honor of his mind the pole. A man whom the hard fates of the sepulchre harmed nothing: For he lives, for death fears him whom it itself bore. The Just one grew yet rather after the funeral: for he who Had been an earthen vessel, shines a proud gem. His aid and merit the words given to the mute speak, And day restored to the blind proclaims with mouth. Now the Apostolic man snatching a trophy from the flesh, By triumphal right sits in the citadel of the pole.
APPENDIX II
Selections from the XI poem of book II by Fortunatus.
St. Germanus, Bishop of Paris.
The lofty reverence of the Parisian Clergy, the powerful Genius of the Church, glory, gift, honor; Composing divine poems in the Davidic song, With assiduous Courses he revolves the sweet work. Hence the Priests, hence shines the Levitical order; These hoariness, those a fair stole covers. In those is pallor, in these countenances a blush wanders; And lilies mixed with ruddy roses grow white. Those now with age, but also these well are white in garments, That the painted crown may please the highest God. In the midst Germanus the Prelate is present with honor, Who rules hence the young men, raises thence the old. The Levites go before, follows the grave order of the singers, These by walking he moves, these by moderating he draws. He himself however gently advances, like another Aaron; Not shining from his garment, but pleasing by piety. Not stones, scarlet, the tiara, gold, purple, byssus, Adorn his shoulders; but kindly faith shines. This Priest is much better than under the old Law: For he worships true things, what before was a shadow. Deeming great things future; the present, refuting all; Before lacking flesh, than the flesh falling at its end; Solicitous lest the wrath of wolves devour anyone, The rich pastor gathers to the folds the sheep. By assiduous admonitions to the salted pastures called The flock, knowing the voice, runs, following with love. The soldier swift to arms, the signal soon rings in the ears, He raises his sleepy members, the couch being shaken off. He flies before others, seeking the sacred mysteries Everywhere each one his temples to be sought in his place: With burning zeal the house waters all the people, And vying admonishes who is able to go first. The wakeful nights joining to the first dawn, The venerable crowd builds Angelic choirs. By the Pontiff's admonitions the Clergy, the people sings psalms, and the infant; Whence by short labor he is to be filled with fruit. Under leader Germanus this army is happy: Moses, stretch out thy hands, and aid thy camp.
HISTORY OF THE TRANSLATION
By the author a Monk of St. Germain des Prés.
St. Germanus, Bishop of Paris.
BHL Number: 3474, 3475, 3476
FROM MABILLON.
CHAPTER I.
The elevation of the body, asserted by the authority of Charlemagne.
I think it worthwhile by no means to pass over in silence, how the most blessed Germanus wished to show the venerable Transposition of his body by signs going before. For when for about two hundred or even more years, in the portico b of the church of Bl. Vincent the Levite and Martyr, a basilica indeed now being made, Under Lantfredus the Abbot his holy body had lain buried; in the c twenty-third year, in which Charles the son of Pippin the elder held the Monarchy of the kingdom of the Franks, the venerable man d Lantfredus, the Father of the aforesaid monastery, kindled by the incitement of the divine spirit, how to so great a Patron worthy veneration ought to be augmented, namely that his most holy members ought to be translated within the hall of the greater church, began with silent mind to consider, and with devout heart did not cease to investigate. But because to pious endeavors always the impediments of this world set themselves, the time of the same business being deferred, by the aforesaid Prince for the cause of a legation into Aquitaine he is sent. Meanwhile Charles dies: but the same Abbot by e Hunoldus, the Patrician of Aquitaine itself, as a spy for three and a half years unwilling is detained. But at last Pippin the Younger being substituted in the kingdom, and Pippin the King and peace being established between the kingdoms, Lantfredus is released: who returning, for almost twelve years in the restoration of the monastery, which in his absence had been dissipated, is occupied.
[2] But although hindered by these and other causes, yet lest he could forget his pristine devotion, by the recent and admirable miracles of Bl. Germanus again he began to be admonished. For in the f year following, from which the Pontiff of the Apostolic See Stephen having entered Gaul, sought the aid of the most excellent Pippin, whom he anointed King, against the nation of the Lombards, cruelly oppressing the Roman See; to a certain woman a vision of this kind was shown. made in a vision to a certain woman, For she thought that she had as it were for the cause of prayer at night-time gone to the church of Bl. Vincent. Where while coming she had found the doors of the church closed, before the doors lying down at prayer, she heard a multitude of those singing psalms resounding within the same church, and surpassing every melody of human pleasantness with the sweetness of its modulation. And when astonished at the hearing of so great a miracle, she desired to know what this was; suddenly as if by the ministry of a certain boy of glorious aspect, she beholds the doors of the church opened to her, and the same filled with so great a light of splendor, that it surpassed even the brightness of day. Which when she had entered, the boy preceding her; she looks toward the left part, over against the sepulchre of the blessed Confessor Germanus: and behold a multitude of men, clothed in Angelic garments; among whom also of most resplendent aspect she beholds a man, bearing his old age with snowy hoariness, to whom as if recognized she says: Most holy Lord Germanus, much, she says, time now is, in which these things which I see thy servant Lantfredus desired to be done. And he: I know, said he: for today twenty years are, from which I showed to him, that he ought to translate me hence. St. Germanus designates the place into which his body is to be translated, But do thou go and tell him, that the devotion of his will altogether pleases me, but indeed the slowness of executing the work greatly displeases through all: and if he deliberates to translate me hence even at last, behind the altar of Bl. Stephen let him put me. Which vision the woman when she had related to the Abbot and the Brethren, by two indications they proved it to have been true: either because the number of years the memory of the Abbot alone retained, or because to the whole Congregation, that in the altar also of the holy Cross there were relics of Bl. Stephen, hitherto remained unknown, which however afterward sagacious inquiry brought forth.
[3] Then the often-mentioned Abbot approached the most glorious King Pippin, and both those things which to him in preceding time by the Saint himself had been shown, and also those which lately to the woman herself had been revealed, by faithful narration strove to suggest. But hearing these things the most glorious and worshipper of God King Pippin, rejoiced with great joy: and all the Prelates of his kingdom being convoked, he made known to them the mystery revealed to him; and how he ought to perform so great a business, by skilful inquiry he sought out from them and treated. Then how he accomplished it, although I myself did not see, yet by many who saw narrating
I have known. Of all whom it pleased me to place in this work one most excellent author, namely the Lord Charles the most glorious Emperor, who then a boy of g seven was present at the pious work of his Begetter, as Charlemagne publicly narrated it done before himself at seven years old, and the things which he there saw he retained with admirable memory, and also with admirable eloquence most diligently confessed. To whose words indeed I gave greater faith, as was fitting, than if I myself had seen the things which were said h. [Whence so many witnesses both of the Bishops and of the Abbots, or even of the rest of the Nobles of the whole kingdom hearing these same things, hitherto exist, as almost the magnitude of the same church, where he standing spoke these things, could hold.] For he said (that I may speak in his own words) to all the multitude of the bystanders: You see, O peoples, the worthy adornment of this church. I certainly remember that time, in which none of these ornaments, namely of gold and silver, except this cross, was here fabricated. The Lord Germanus therefore was still resting in that crypt: and that little indeed, which was there had, was reckoned for great. But when, the Saint himself demonstrating it, it pleased my Begetter, that he should worthily be busy to entomb him in this Eastern part of this basilica; it pleases me to narrate, that I saw there such miracles, as afterward I neither saw, nor in earlier time read to have been done concerning any of the Saints.
[4] For my Begetter of good memory coming, asserting that he saw that the sepulchre being lifted, together with the Chiefs of his kingdom, the desired day is present: the earth is opened, with all facility that holy Body is lifted, with its sepulchre diligently closed; and the wall of the church being pierced, within the hall of this basilica, in the Western part, all exulting, it is set down: and there the rest of the day and the Office of the following night worthily celebrating, they awaited the morrow. Nor delay, at first morning is present my Begetter of divine memory, I also and my brother his attendants, and all the chiefs of that kingdom, desiring to bring the begun work to an honorable end. But poles were prepared very long, by which the holy Body placed above ought to be carried by many; not on account of the heaviness of weight, which they had now experienced could be borne by a few; but on account of the Religious obsequy, in which each one rejoiced that he could touch the poles even while others carried them i. Then moreover Religiously approaching my Begetter himself, and the chief men chosen by him, took hold of the sepulchre, it remained immovable, not only to the King, wishing to perform the begun work: but so it remained unmoved to the hands of many striving to lift it, as if by the roots it were held fixed to the earth. And when by these long with divers contrivances the labor had been spent without effect, my Begetter himself and all his Optimates began to be saddened, and themselves vehemently to reprehend, why they had presumed to lift him from the place, which living he had chosen for himself for resting, in which through the courses of so many years he had lain: and the Bishops are called, and questioned said: Your Serenity knows, O most glorious King, that the most blessed Germanus is a Bishop: therefore it seems right to us, and we think the holy one himself is delighted by this very thing, that by the Bishops his holy Body be translated. But all praising this counsel, but also to the Bishops, and with much prayer demanding this to be done by them; the rest being removed, the Bishops approach, and try to lift him from the earth: but nonetheless taking hold of the poles themselves, for some time laboring in vain, they made manifest their impossibility to all, the sepulchre remaining unmoved. But all having experienced the impossibility of lifting it, again the Bishops are consulted, and said; It is certain to us, O most pious King, that Bl. Germanus wishes to be translated hence to the designated place: yet because neither your Highness, nor our humility could perform it; we are of opinion, that the holy one himself wishes to honor the Brethren serving him in this monastery with the bearing of his body, that them always more rightly and lovably in sanctity to serve him it may delight. All assented, and bidden the Monks themselves approached the tomb of the Saint, and to the Monks: wishing to lift him from the earth: but able by no art to do it, long and much laboring vainly wearied, confessing their impossibility both by deed and voice they yielded.
[5] But my most pious Begetter weeping, and all his Optimates vehemently saddened, [until the King, for repairing the injuries inflicted by his ministers on the monastery,] there stood forth a certain one who said: If our most clement Lord the King deign to hear a word from the mouth of so small a servant of his, I think I shall truly narrate the causes of this impossibility. There is in this district of Paris your village, by name Palatiolum, and around it are situated the villages of this monastery: but your Fiscalines, on account of the strength of your Highness, are very insolent and rash, and perpetrate many evils against this place; namely by beating men and cattle, and killing; by devastating vineyards and harvests, meadows and woods, and in other ways persecuting and afflicting the family of this church; therefore I hope, that this most blessed Prelate, by these impossibilities, demands from your large munificence. Which heard, my Begetter of pious memory, astonished with great astonishment, said: Truly just in this part is our tribulation, and pious stands the admonition of the Most Blessed Germanus concerning us: because while we were very intent to consummate this work more quickly, not avarice to us, but forgetfulness is known to have brought in this mourning, which we have suffered. And placing his pledge upon the holy tomb, Receive, said he, O most blessed Germanus, he delivers the village of Palatiolum to St. Germanus: our village of Palatiolum with all its appendages, hitherto inimical to thee and thy family, but from now and henceforth perpetually about to profit; k only that I may be a worthy bearer of thy sacred Body. And at once with this word, both he himself and the Optimates chosen by him putting their hands to the bier, with so great quickness and facility they lifted it, as if it had no weight in itself. But so great a miracle being seen, both the Bishops and the rest of the Clerics, with as great a voice as they could, We praise Thee, O God, we confess Thee to be Lord, preceding the holy bier, began to jubilate. But who could worthily relate the joy and briskness of the whole people? how each one rejoicing strove to put his shoulders under the holy bier? But many to whom this faculty was by no means given, deemed it great gain to themselves, even to be able to touch the extreme part of the poles with the hand: but others, to whom even this was by no means supplied, rejoiced that they could touch even the garments of those bearing it. l
[6] It had come to the trench in the Eastern part of this church, and being borne to the trench prepared for him, which prepared awaited to receive so great a burden: and behold another difficulty arises. For the poles upon which the Holy body had been borne, on account of their length and the shortness of the crypt, prevented the sarcophagus itself from being fitted to the trench. It helps therefore a little to pause, until what need be done can be more fully seen. All consented, that the poles should be cut from the upper part; insofar as the sarcophagus itself could be fitted to the trench. But to these my Begetter objected, saying: I fear lest while according to your opinion the poles are cut, the holy sepulchre placed upon them be in any way, which God forbid, harmed. A safer counsel therefore must thence be sought. And while he said this, no man touching it, but all suspended on the word of the King, suddenly the sarcophagus was moved from those poles, and with a swift glide, all being astonished, and through fear holding their mouths, miraculously it descended into it of itself. was deposited in the trench prepared for it. But in that very motion so great an odor of wondrous and unexperienced sweetness evaporated from that sepulchre, and filled this whole church, that all standing therein, as if in ecstasy turned by that sweetness, for almost half an hour, could neither speak anything to themselves, nor look at one another. Then at last as if waking from sleep, when the power of speaking was given, among themselves with mutual address they began wondering to inquire, what had been done to them: and looking at the trench, the sepulchre itself, which they feared to have been broken in pieces, they see sound and entire, so orderly and decently composed, that to none was it doubtful, that this had been accomplished by the ministry of Angels. But all being astonished, I, as it were childishly playing, by chance leaped into that very trench, where soon I changed the first tooth from my mouth.
ANNOTATA.
CHAPTER II.
Illustrious miracles then done.
[7] The things digested hitherto, the most serene Caesar the Lord Charles narrating, we have learned; now to the following
let the article be turned with fitting discussion. A most wretchedly contracted man, For in that same year, in which the sacred body of that venerable Pontiff was translated in the order above mentioned, a certain young man of the Italian region had been so destitute of the office of his members, that to him the heels clung to the buttocks as if fixed with nails; the hands also behind the breasts on this side and that to the ribs as if by a certain glue were knit; but to the eyes and ears, and to the tongue itself, for about three years, their proper offices were denied. Who by his pious parents, while for the recovery of health he was carried round about through the churches of many Saints, nor merited to receive anything of pristine health from anyone; at length at last in sleep is admonished, that coming to Gaul, he should seek out Bl. Germanus the Prelate of the Parisians to be healed. Who certain of the vision, by the help of the faithful placed in a wallet, a boy accompanying him, by a horse conveying him came to Paris; and in the monastery received into the hospice a of Bl. Peter the Apostle, set forth the cause of his coming to the Clerics of the same monastery. a vision going before, But on the morrow carried by the office of the same boy, he was borne to the church of the aforesaid Prelate: in which when he had lain the whole day, in the evening he was received into the hospice. But the following night, a certain old Cleric appeared to the same bearer through a vision, saying: Why didst thou carry this feeble one from the church yesterday evening? Rise therefore and recall him into the church, since on account of thy ignorance I have spared thee. Who forthwith rising at dawn (for it was Saturday) from the house of the hospice carried back the aforesaid feeble one to the church: and placing him at the head of Bl. Germanus outside the rails, kept him lying until evening. And when after the evening synaxis the doors of the church according to custom were to be closed; the Custodian of the church admonished all to return to their hospices: whom with tearful voice the same feeble one entreating, said: I beg thee, O most blessed Father, do not command me this night to go away hence: because through St. Germanus the recovery of health is promised me: relying also on which confidence, fatherland together with parents being left, by no means doubtful of the promise, but secure by the virtue of so great a Confessor, hither to be healed I came. By the permission therefore of the Custodian, on the same night, that is the Lord's day, within the hall of the church, near the wall of the sepulchre of St. Germanus, he is healed, he obtained leave to lie. But at the time of night, before the Brethren rose to vigils, with great clamors he began to make noise, so that by his voices the resting Brethren were roused: and behold suddenly the cohering members began to be loosed; and the gore flowing down, little by little the legs and hands, constricted by the long-lasting glue, were loosed into pristine vigor. And it came to pass, that, the Clerics rising, and according to the custom of the Lord's day consummating the offices of Matins, he who in the evening had come sick borne by the hands of others, the morning being made already sound walked with his own footsteps: and so in him the fullness of health was restored, that at one and the same time both the eyes had received sight, and the ears hearing, and the tongue speech, and the hands the pristine office of working.
[8] rewarded by King Pippin, Nor much after coming the most excellent King Pippin, and rejoicing at the novelty of so great a miracle, prayer being accomplished entreated that the same one who had been restored to health be presented to his gaze. Whom when he had longer beheld, he began to inquire of him, what he had a will of doing, or where of staying. But he unmindful of his recoverer, and a lover of his pristine mendicity, asks that aid be granted him by the King, insofar as he could return thither whence he had come. But indeed the most pious King forthwith with clement mind commanding two silver vessels and likewise a horse to be given him, with prophetic spirit begins: I indeed most gladly favor thy will; but that thou wishest to depart hence, seems to me neither to be due, nor to be able to profit. Which sentence of his, brought forth by the spirit of the Divinity, the attestation of the soon following sign declared. For a not many days being interposed, just as with perverse mind he had conceived, accompanied by two Monks, even to a certain possession of the aforesaid monastery, whose name is b Acmantum, by pertinacious obstinacy he came: where the same night to both Monks who led him, lest they should presume to lead him further, on account of his ingratitude he is struck with blindness. one not dissimilar appeared in a vision. Which when in the morning they had related to the same one, and he persisted in his obstinacy, the following night he was struck with the vexation of intolerable pains. Who with obstinate mind, while in his deliberation he persevered, and so often corrected from the perverse journey would not draw back his foot; lest he could hold the ways of wickedness, by recurring loss of sight he was blinded.
[9] A certain one also from the province of the Angevins, while for almost twelve years he had been deprived of the office of hands and feet, but also of his eyes, An impotent man receives strength: coming to the city of Tours, in the church of Bl. Martin by the merits of that Confessor received the light of his eyes. But the following night when he had given himself to sleep, in sleep he is admonished, that coming to Paris, by the merits of Bl. Germanus he ought to acquire the health of his whole body. Who certain of the vision, coming to Paris, and in the church of the aforesaid Confessor passing the night, was freed from the trouble of all debility; so that both the hands had received the pristine office of working, and the feet long contracted obtained the effect of walking rightly. In which miracle, while the same languid one from Bl. Martin received only the health of his eyes, what else shone, but that the same venerable Confessor both could have restored him to the health of his whole body, and would not? namely that he might openly show, that this most blessed man Germanus the Prelate by no means existed unequal to him in heaven in merits, whom in curing the languid one he did not suffer to have a dissimilar companion of his virtue on earth.
[10] a contracted man who before with him had come thither, But also a certain youth of the territory of Bourges, who was from the loins downward immovable with rigidity of all his members, so that leaning on his hands, dragging his whole body after him, in the manner of worms he crawled along the ground; and who also had preceded by many days in coming him, whom we mentioned above, to have been nobly cured by the most blessed Confessors of Christ Martin and Germanus: in the same year, in which the most holy body of the same eminent Confessor often-mentioned Germanus was to be transmuted, the most sacred solemnity of his passing preceding, standing in his basilica, and seeing him who had come after him, so quickly to have been healed by the most blessed Man; turned to the sepulchre of the most blessed Confessor, with querulous tears he began to insist saying: O most holy Man, Confessor of Christ Germanus, for what fault of mine, or for what sin, didst thou not wish to heal me, so many days awaiting the aid of thy mercy? complaining that he is not heard, and behold to this one, sustaining no delay in awaiting, showing thy power, by which we know thee to avail very much with the Lord, thou hast conferred sudden health forthwith. The same night when he had given himself to sleep, the man of God appeared to him through a vision saying: The next evening of the Sabbath coming, remember to pass the night wakeful in the church. But if within the church leave of lying is denied thee; nonetheless, in the portico of the same, take care to await the coming of thy health. He did therefore as had been commanded him; and the Lord's night coming, doubting nothing of the promise, avid of health, he lay in the portico of the church. And when now near was the hour of vigils, little by little he began, health approaching, to be weighed down with sleep. When behold his eyes suddenly being opened, he saw three as it were most foul dogs standing against him: and forthwith rousing the boy, whom he had with him; the Saint appearing to him he is healed. Rise, said he, and cast these dogs out of the portico. Who quickly rising, the court and porticoes being surveyed, sought indeed the dogs; but the indications of the phantasm he could not find. And when returned he had rested a little, the Monks rising to vigils and insisting on the divine Offices, the same feeble one being held by sleep the man of the Lord Germanus, bearing a staff in his hand, appeared; with which gently touching his feeble members, clemently commanded that he should rise sound. Then forthwith to the same feeble one with the same voice the pristine use of the torpid members was restored: so that, the matutinal Lauds being accomplished, the venerable man Lantfredus the Abbot going out with the Brethren, in his own steps beheld sound and erect, whom the preceding evening he had seen contracted and creeping along the ground in the manner of worms.
[11] These things being briefly foretasted, and very many things learned by hearing from most reverend men being passed over, let us turn the article to those things which placed in their presence we ourselves saw. In the district of Hesbaye, the village of c Leudicum, a certain Withbaldus by name was Chorepiscopus, The paralysis of Withbaldus the Chorepiscopus cured: so struck with grave paralysis, that from the loins and downward all the members, dead to the feet, seemed to hang alive in the rest of the body. Who half-alive thus passing the course of twice eight years in body, by the hands of others, in a certain artificial seat of leather, fulfilled the office of his own feet. And so, as we said, conveyed by the hands of others, desiring to recover the health of his own body, he went round the places of many Saints: and at length at some time came to the sepulchre of the most holy Confessor Germanus, where for three days we saw him carried by the hands of others with laborious contrivance. And the temporal devotion there being fulfilled, likewise for the grace of prayer he approached the sepulchre of the most blessed Confessor Martin: where the devotion of praying being fulfilled, he took his journey to return to his own home. Who when by the hands of others, as above is noted, he was placed upon a horse; he felt a drop of blood, with a certain heat, from the loins to the feet descend through one hip: which forthwith, filled with joy, he took care to narrate to his companions. But persevering in that very debility, and somewhat tasting the hope of long-deferred health, to the sepulchre of the blessed Confessor Germanus he returned.
[12] But it came to pass, he approaching the monastery of the often-mentioned Prelate, the Author being witness. the evening hour now imminent (for it was Saturday) that he said to the boy guiding his horse: Hasten quickly, make no delay, that at the evening synaxis we may be able to come to the monastery of the most blessed Germanus. At this voice suddenly, the voice of the bell of the monastery, inviting to the evening Office, sounded in his ears: and at that very sound a most large wave of blood flowing from his loins, through the hips and shins descended even to the feet, with so great velocity indeed, that forthwith his feet, so long before immovable, leaped up from the artificial seats, in which placed they were held, with the utmost velocity. Whence the Bishop himself with high voice, "Thanks be to God," repeating; all his companions turned to admiration, even to the monastery rejoicing arrive: which when he had entered, he who by the hands of others before the hour had been placed upon and set on the horse, the pristine vigor being recovered and the bases of his members wondrously firmed, by his own effort descending from the horse, upon his own feet rejoicing stood. And so after the accustomed manner all the Brethren meeting him, he addressed them saying: Men brothers, let us give thanks to almighty God, because by the merits of Bl. Germanus, the divine grace aiding, I now do what no one in the world believed I would do: for I who through sixteen years half-alive was carried by the hands of others, now rejoice to go on my own feet. But when it came to the sepulchre of the aforesaid Pontiff, who could narrate how great in givings of thanks, both by the Bishop himself,
as by his companions, showers of tears were poured forth? And with all wondrous quickness restored to entire health, returning to his fatherland, all the remaining space of his life he continued in the same health which he had received.
[13] In the district also of d Tarn there was a certain poor little woman who had brought forth an infant: whom since she had not whence to nourish, A man mute and deaf from birth, through the nocturnal silences before the doors of the church she cast forth. But the morning being made the peoples approaching the same church, found the wailing boy cast forth before the doors of the church. Then a certain one of them moved by mercy, took the same boy with the counsel and exhortation of the rest to be nourished, on this condition namely, that if the boy himself the man nourishing him should live, the nourisher himself should retain him in his service for the days of his life. Whom when he had carried to his house, and therefore cast out by his nurse, he nourished about seven years. Who when he had now come to this, that according to the time he ought to speak or understand what was said to him; he was found so deaf and mute, that by no indication or sign could he show that he could speak or understand anything. Whence his nurse greatly saddened, seeing all hope which he had vainly conceived of his service taken from him, thinking nothing of the divine retribution, drove and turned him out half-dead from himself and his house. Then a certain poor little man, whose whole faculty was one little ass, which leading laden from city to city, whatever he bought in one village he was busy to sell dearer in another; finding the aforesaid boy exposed and now almost affected with hunger; when he had learned what had been done concerning him, partly for the cause of mercy, partly however by the hope of service taking him with him led him away. And so it came to pass, that thenceforth and afterward as his own little servant he fed and clothed him; but the burdens on the shoulders of the now wearied ass he lightened.
[14] the use of his ears and tongue being received, But the day of the most sacred deposition of the blessed Pontiff approaching, it happened that the same merchant from the city of Orleans, both with his ass and with the youth himself, laden with salt came to Paris. Where the trafficking being accomplished, while he returned to his own home, he himself, by a certain divine instinct, the master being left, sought the basilica of the blessed Confessor Germanus. Where when among the rest of the common people he led the whole night wakeful, the Brethren celebrating the solemnities of Matins after the custom, he himself first with great gnashings of teeth began to roar: whom when the bystanders wondering beheld, he began to sweat and grow pale, and to gnash with the teeth more and more. But a delay being made in this anxiety, with much pain and labor the tongue, which by long-lasting binding remained mute, with an impulse of blood is loosed for speaking; and the ears, which nature had brought forth into the light deaf, are loosed for hearing. Soon therefore both the offices of speaking and of hearing being received, he began to emit clamors and confused voices: for he only sounded certain brute and uncouth things: but what those voices expressed, neither he himself, nor another could understand. Led therefore to the sepulchre of the most blessed Prelate, there he received perfectly the possibility both of speaking and of hearing: but what he said, or what others said to him, he was utterly ignorant. For this was very wonderful, that since he himself could understand the word of no language, whatever in whatever language he heard spoken, he could forthwith express likewise in the same words. Whence it came to pass, that both by hearing and by speech in a short time, not only did he speak that rustic language perfectly, but also made a Cleric in that very church he began to learn letters.
[15] he becomes also a Cleric: But there was a great doubt, both about the land of his nativity, and also whether he had been baptized, or not; of which things neither he himself could by hearing know anything; nor was another present, who knowing him could give testimony. And when it had now been deliberated, that because no indications of these were found, he ought to be baptized; behold that man, who had, as we related above, in the manner of an ass led him round so many years, coming to the monastery itself, found this one within the church. Who when they had mutually seen one another, and is emancipated by his former Master one began to wonder, the other to fear: this one, that he saw his former (so to speak) ass emit human and lettered voices: that one, that he saw his master, as a fugitive and lately escaped, pursuing him. But at last his master, the things being known which concerning him through the merits of the Pontiff had been done, blessing God, glorifying the most blessed Germanus, was made more glad of his health, than he had before been of the carrying of his burden. And so glad was he made, that both about the land of his nativity, and about the rudiments of his infancy, and also about the sacrament of his Baptism, and all the things which above concerning him we have related, he himself affirmed to us with an oath on this condition that they are as said: and whom before half-dead unwilling he had lost and reckoned dead, now glad he willingly left, sound in all his members and the senses of his body.
[16] a paralytic is healed, But also in that very night, in which this deaf and mute man received the proper offices of his members, the blessed Man obtaining it, another miracle the Lord deigned to declare in that very church. For there was a certain rustic, by name Bertlaicus, of the district of Bourges, who his brother, dwelling in the district of e Artois, for the grace of visitation took care to go to. Where when he had stayed some days, he was so struck with the sickness of paralysis, that from the loins and downward he could fulfill no proper office of his members. But held by this dissolution for five years, supplying the offices of the feet by the execution of his hands, by crawling rather than walking, he strove often to traverse the provinces of all Gaul; namely acquiring the supplement of livelihood from men by the art of begging, but frequenting the temples of the Saints for the health of his body by crawling. But the day of the most sacred deposition of the blessed Confessor Germanus coming, it happened that this one among the rest of the common people approached his basilica. Where while he led that very night wakeful, the hour being come the Monks began to celebrate the Vigils in honor of the most blessed Pontiff after the accustomed manner. But the nocturnal Office being duly completed, when the Gospel according to the custom was begun to be read, the dissolved members of the paralytic himself, the pristine vigor being received, began to be solidified to their proper joining: and where before along the ground in the manner of worms leaning he supported himself on his hands, upon his own knees his soles being raised he attempted to go: then led to the sepulchre of the most blessed Man, there he rejoices most fully to have received the health of all his members. But soon in the aforesaid monastery for all the days of his life he promised that he would serve the blessed Germanus.
[17] a woman contracted, Likewise in the region of Gascony, in the city of f Wltrona, there was a certain woman by name Leutfreda, from her very nativity so contracted both in the hands and also in the arms, that the members, only clinging dead to the body, performed no natural office. Who with so great debility coming to perfect age, on a certain night held by sleep, by divine admonition was bidden, that to the sepulchre of Bl. Germanus the Prelate of Paris she should come to be healed. Who believing of the vision, her own land being left, to Paris as quickly as she could, came to the hall of the blessed Man: in which for a few days awaiting the festivity of the blessed Man, on the very night of the sacred deposition of the Pontiff, while the Monks celebrated the nocturnal melody, she herself, the merits of the blessed Pontiff obtaining it, was restored to health from all infirmity both of the arms and of the hands. And so it came to pass, that while for the health of this one the people returned thanks and praises to the Lord and the blessed Germanus; a certain blind man, a blind man, by name Rantfredus, of the village of Vedrariae g, sitting over against, first began vehemently to pour forth tears; then the eyes, struck with long-lasting blindness, after much effusion of tears, began to emit blood. And when those tears now mixed with blood from his face by wiping with his hand he dried, suddenly the opened eyes began little by little to recover the lost light.
[18] But also at the illumination of this one the peoples being held by astonishment, behold in the other part of the aforesaid basilica, a paralytic, a certain man, by name Lantbertus, of the village of Palatiolum, held by the sickness of paralysis, who had the loins and hips, or also the shins and the feet themselves, so dissolved by the infirmity of paralysis, that no office of his could he fulfill by moving any of them by natural condition; but the miracles being heard, which on those above named the divine grace had conferred, when, as he was wont, by the support of staffs he wished to advance, suddenly from those very loins to the feet a large impulse of blood flowing in, the members wasted by long dissolution, little by little began to recover their pristine offices. Which when the custodians of the church had known, both the woman herself and the blind man himself, and also that paralytic, all they led to the sepulchre of the most holy Confessor: where lying until dawn, most fully both the woman contracted in hands and arms, and the blind man the light of his eyes, and also that paralytic the pristine health of all his members merited to receive: and those who aided by the offices of others in the evening had entered the church feeble, the morning being made, the vegetation of their own members being received, to their own homes whole they returned.
[19] a man blinded by the points of ears of corn For how much we hasten wishing to attain the end, so much always do the marks of virtues object themselves to us. But if I shall attempt to run through all things in my writings, neither paper nor day will fail me without delay. Therefore in the district of Laon, in the village which is called Covinium h, there was a certain rustic, by name Ernoardus, who while at the time of harvest standing upon his wagon, he composed in the same wagon after the manner the sheaves offered to him by others; a certain one carelessly casting a sheaf into his face, his eyes, bored by the points of the ears of corn, lost the natural office of seeing. Who when he had been deprived of so great a gift, in this blindness he persisted about ten years: and while he went round many places of the Saints, that the light taken away he might merit to receive from the Lord; at length he came to Tours to the basilica of the most blessed Martin. and by a triple command Where likewise while he besought the mercy of the Lord, there appeared to him in a vision a certain woman consecrated to God saying: O man, if thou desirest to receive the pristine light of thy eyes, go to Paris: there the Lord by the merits of Bl. Germanus will recover for thee the light taken away. Who, as being now desperate, by no means accommodating faith to the vision, to his own home as he had come begging returned. But on a certain night while in the fortress of Choë i he rested, there appeared to him a certain Cleric, bearing venerable old age with hoariness, and said to him: Go to Paris to the Lord Germanus, and there the Lord will help thee. Who when neither to this second vision he had accommodated faith, the following night the same Cleric bearing a staff k in his hand, whose upper part to the middle seemed golden, and the lower iron, appearing to the same blind man struck him gently with the staff, saying: Why didst thou not walk to St. Germanus, as I commanded? Rise therefore now, and remember to hasten more quickly to his sepulchre, because there thou wilt receive the health of thy eyes.
[20] But the morning being made, when to the Clerics of the church he told this uniform threefold vision, at length obeying, certain of them mocking said, that it could now in no way come to pass, that he himself should see the light of heaven: but others, whose mind was sounder, began to exhort him, that according to what was commanded him, with hope of receiving health, he should more quickly take care to go to the basilica of the Lord Germanus. Strengthened by their counsel, his own soil being left, at length at some time he came to the hall of the most blessed one: in which the Brethren celebrating the evening synaxis, he himself holding in his hands two lights kindled, behind the rails awaited the coming of his health. But the evening synaxis being finished, when the Brethren had prostrated themselves to prayer; he, as being blind, ignorant of what was being done, others praying stood erect: and suddenly as if both his feet had been cut off by one stroke, with a great outcry he fell to the earth; and there for too great pain he emitted such clamors from his mouth, that the excess of the outcry interrupted the prayers of the Brethren. Which being duly finished, when by the custodians he was asked, why he emitted such voices; postponing other things, he asks, whither the doves had gone, with which he had seen the basilica itself filled. And all denying that there was then any dove at all therein, he says: I, when ignorant of what was being done, as being blind, stood; struck by a divine stroke I fell to the earth: but soon seized by much pain, I felt two doves to settle on my jaws; which when with their nails furrowing they pierced my eyes, suddenly by the merits of the Most Blessed Germanus I received the lost light, he receives sight. and looking upward I beheld all this church filled with white doves: which when or how they went hence, or what part they sought, my mind being confused, and rejoicing at the too great splendor, I could not know. Who the light of his eyes being fully received, whence lately blind by the hands of others he had been drawn, to his own home whole, Bl. Germanus healing him, returned.
ANNOTATA.
CHAPTER III.
Other miracles described by a more recent hand: the malevolent punished.
[21] Besides, how near the same venerable Prelate is to the straits crying out to him, One is snatched from the waters, although by a few, yet by certain miracles here we are compelled to make manifest. For it is necessary that by such things, that is, by divine admonitions, we be always kindled to fearing and beseeching the Lord and His Saints. A certain man of ours noble and powerful by stock, by name Adevertus, when he was once in Saxony, it happened that there alone he had to pass through a certain ford unknown to him. But when he had now somehow come to the other part of the channel, behold those three Saxons suddenly meeting are present ready, insofar as they might slay him even before he came out to the shore. Whom together impelling with their spears, although they took not his life, the coat of mail, nay Christ protecting him, by no means; yet by that very nimble thrust they pressed him down almost to the bottom of the same river: for the water and the boundary of the bank there was deeper. Whence in this very thrusting still covered by the waves, invoking the most blessed Germanus to be present to him, not only did he rise, but (which is more wonderful) likewise with his horse and all his arms so from the depth of that water is hastily brought forth, that when or how he held the desired soil, almost ignorant the same was astonished: in mind only he observed that by the divine clemency by the merits of this blessed man he had been lifted up. He also related, that he had so in that very place contended against those who had assailed him; insofar as never, unless aided by the heavenly and the same Saint's help, could he have done so.
[22] another from fire. And it is here to be noted, how once certain robbers, seizing a certain man of the Saint himself, cast him into the fire: who when with faithful and pure intention of heart he had cried out, saying: Free, O most blessed Germanus, thy innocently condemned little servant; forthwith the force of the flame so vanished from its heat, that not even his garments, the vapor being torn away hither and thither, blazed with the burning of so great a fire. But those who within burned kindled with the flames of obstinacy, it was not sufficient for them to have done this once: therefore again and a second time doing the same thing, they brought nothing else than an ancient and stupendous miracle to our mind. For he who was forced to be imperilled by the fire, fortified by the divine and the same Saint's protection, in the manner (so to attest) of the three children, once condemned by the cruelty of the Chaldeans, at last free went out.
[23] The invaders of the goods of St. Germanus are punished, Manualdus, But a certain Count Manualdus, when into the village of the same Blessed one, which even now is called Kalaus, he had entered; his companions began to lay it waste, and to affect its inhabitants with grave and inhuman torments. To whom when they had come, crying out that they suffered unjust things, and suppliants beseeching that he would deal more mildly with them; not only would he not hear, but indignant he spurned them, promising worse things thence to be for them. Who when cast out and so threatened by him they had gone out; they turned themselves forthwith, as is the custom of the poor, to imploring the aid of God and St. Germanus: whose faith is not defrauded of its vows. Moreover by whom they were tortured, the same Manualdus is so made wholly shattered with paralysis, insofar as to him speech and soon all walking of the feet was denied. Whence we beheld him, for the cause of recovering the soundness which he did not merit, to the sacred thresholds of the same Saint after in vain carried. Nothing therefore of health or remedy of his injuries did he receive so far, until consumed by little he failed in life. In a like manner indeed Rumaldus, Rumaldus, Count of a Madriacum, is known to have died struck in the village which is called Sicca-vallis. But this man when he had by no means feared wrongfully to bring violence upon certain men of the Saint, and to those crying out against him would not bend the ear of piety, the divine vengeance soon could not pass him by. And so while he wished to advance to hear Mass, since on that day the venerable solemnity of the same Pontiff was at hand; immediately touched by a heavenly scourge, as if his legs were cut he fell down, and in that same place dying expired. Unhappy! who while he was alive, deferred at least even by a moment to foresee, to what penalties perchance dead he went: and there was fulfilled in him that most true word of Scripture, that he who turns away his ear lest he hear the law, his prayer shall be execrable. Prov. 28, 9.
[24] Emminus, Then Emminus, a certain one of the Nobles of Aquitaine, when in the same kingdom, the fisc of the man of God himself, by name b Vernoilum, he had rashly invaded; he saw the same one on a certain night thus saying to him: Why then didst thou wish to usurp these towers? and again: Unless, said he, thou shalt leave them, know that soon thence thou wilt experience the scourge due for the fault already perpetrated. Which grace of vision and piety twice so shown to him, as the same one afterward deplored, holding for nothing; a third time when the man of God had appeared, he struck him in the belly with the rod which he bore in his hand, and then disappearing went away. But struck forthwith he is seized with too great vexation of the intestines. And so the family of the same place being called and reconciled to himself, all being present promising he began to swear, that never would he come to the same place any more, unless perhaps the necessity of an unavoidable cause urged, only that from the present strait by his piety he might merit to be snatched. By which prayers and promises of this kind the most gentle man being bent, what he asked he granted. For immediately the peace of health enters the grieving bowels, and the man who was vexed, within and without is cured. The same village finally Georgius, also himself a Count, once when he had begun to plunder, certain of the common people approaching the church, and Count Georgius; soon the bells began to sound, since the worthy veneration of the same Saint was there held by the peoples: whom he mad, as being overcome by anger, seizing, caused to be struck with scourges. But that the piety of the Lord and His Saints, how it is always at hand to those worthily invoking it, might be demonstrated by an evident indication, the heavenly vengeance forthwith follows this one. For indeed gorged from that plunder which he had there exercised, while to the place of retirement an urging cause indeed he had scarcely come; forthwith, as he was (which without doubt it is clear must be confessed) empty of faith and the grace of God, in the manner of Arius all the mass of the bowels being poured out, with empty belly he sat down; and deservedly had judgment without mercy, who while he could would not have mercy on others.
[25] In c Corboilum, a certain village of Paris, this known and terrible miracle was established: the Judge also of Corbeil. for that the same village once was Bl. Germanus's, even now rare is he who knows not. Where some of the colonists of the family dwelling there, vexed by the cruelty of a certain severe Judge over them, to the church there dedicated in honor of the same Saint, by such pressure compelled flee, and there commonly striking the stripped altar, thus groaning more frequently and with that voice repeated cried: Why, O Lord Germanus, hast thou thus forgotten us thy servants? rise, we beseech, and free us. By which voices forthwith roused, the holy and wakeful piety, which knows not sleep; forthwith truly that Judge, where he sat, began so to be mad, insofar as to none was it doubtful, but that he was acted upon by the malign enemy. He is held and at once bound is constrained, and to that basilica by force drawn is led. Then indeed having suffered there before those placed there no small vexation of his madness, at length by prayers and vows offered for him to the Saint he received his sense. Nor did any necessity hence compel him to be invited by anyone, in what way he should promise, that he would do nothing such thereafter. There was finally in the same church, where the same holy Priest living had slept, hay still lying so green, insofar as it might indeed seem to have been cut in those days:
for there had been no one who hitherto presumed to carry it thence.
[27] One about to violate the asylum of St. Germanus is punished. This virtue also of a very similar cause through contempt is inserted. For when certain men from the prison near the city, after the manner more often customary, the sacred day of his festivity had received; it happened that one of them, the others escaping in another direction, chose the monastery of this Saint for freeing himself: where such a custom is (just as ancient relation and the frequent exhibition of the modern time still has) that there is no one who would dare not only to hold, but even to pursue anyone fleeing thither, after he has touched namely even the first thresholds of the same Pontiff. Whither a certain one then eager to come, mounted a horse, and ran swiftly after the fugitive. Whom when he beheld now approaching nearer and nearer, and recognized the face of the pursuing executioner; with great voices he begins to implore the aid of the most blessed Germanus. To whom he who followed, thus the unhappy one is reported to have answered, saying: It is too late, says he, that holy Germanus should succor: for since he is just, he ought not to wish us to suffer anything unjustly. After which voice forthwith the horse slipping to the ground he fell, and crushing his hip almost to fragments broke it: and he there for a while resting, and (so to play with the word) wondering at the manner of the springing herb; he who had begun fled away, and to the hall of his deliverer worthily giving thanks secure he came e.
ANNOTATA.
CHAPTER IV.
Several other miracles briefly recounted.
[28] Hence indeed we judged, from the multitude of miracles which still remain, to run through certain ones, not as above, but with a much briefer series: so altogether that we be not blamed either to have passed over all things silently, or also by an excess of words to have brought begun loathing to readers. They will be indeed although by the abridgment of brevity least, yet by admiration or magnitude of matters, like the rest, chief.
[29] Girbertus therefore, for very many years being lame, There are healed; a lame man, to the sepulchre of the same Saint carried by the hands of others came: where while awaiting the time of his health he wove delays, that health which he faithfully sought, the same Prelate aiding, he merited to obtain, and to his house safe to return. For Bertoldus, a mute, likewise made mute for a similarly long space of days, rejoiced that he had recovered the pristine modulations of speech in that same place. Teutberga also, a mute woman, lacking the organ of voice, asked herself to be led to the healthful thresholds of the Saint: to whom what indubitably faith demanded, the accustomed pious mercy of our Prelate conferred. a maimed woman, Then Fredelindis a certain woman, having dry hands, doubting nothing of health came: she after a little, worthy of the suffrages of so great a Confessor, likewise healed departed. To Agembertus also, a deaf man; who confessed most certainly before all placed there that he had come thither deaf, the passages of the ears long denied, most quickly opened, were laid open. Then Guntramnus, coming thither mute, a mute, what for years he had not known, forthwith received the lost office of the tongue. Then Theodaldus blind is led: a blind man; but because confidently, all doubt being removed, he delivered himself to the merits of the Saint, soon he obtained the light of his eyes.
[30] a possessed woman For Justina, badly vexed by a demon for fourteen years, bound in hands, to the Saint, of whom we speak, pitiable is dragged. Where not many days being fulfilled, freed from the enemy by his healthful prayers, she merited to be healed. a lame man, So Bertoinus a lame man, while conveyed by the hands of his kinsmen he had come, although late, yet on his own soles rejoiced thence to go. There was also a certain woman, two blind women; from her nativity (as her parents said) blind, by name Ada: but to her what the rising of nature had denied of the lights, the swift suffrage of the most blessed Priest poured forth. Sirberga also, likewise blind from nativity, and also mute lying down forthwith (as it is most truly reported) there approaching is healed. a deaf and mute man, A certain Eusebius, condemned equally in hearing and in speech, rejoiced that in the same place he had been worthy of the twin gift of virtues. But Atoinus from nativity was punished in the sight of his eyes and the office of his ears: a blind and deaf man, who there made whole departed thence cheerful, where now unmindful of his pristine calamity he rejoiced himself aided. a blind and mute woman, Bildois also likewise from nativity living blind and mute, no less confidently betook herself thither: for soon, health being given, her own home safe she merited to revisit.
[31] a possessed man, Rainulfus, as his parents said, for nine years vexed by a malign spirit, now approached the meeting of death: and when he had been led to the sepulchre of the Saint, without delay he is restored to his ancient soundness. But also Gisleberga destitute of the neighboring (so to speak) suffrages of legs or feet, lacking step, nonetheless cured master of her vow departed. For Bernelinus, a blind man, having greatly endured the dark night of his eyes, offered himself, not without the leading of another, to be illuminated by the pious merits of the holy Confessor: by which mercifully aided, soon he rejoices in neighboring light. For Adriana, a lame woman; who from the course of much time persisted lame, asked herself to be carried thither, where having tarried a little, all health obtained praying she went out. For Audomarus, a deaf and mute man, also from nativity (as he himself afterward confessed) condemned in the use of hearing and speech, of all these, as soon as he came, strong he received the power. For indeed Gisberga, in like manner, namely from the very beginning of nativity, deaf and feeble in the feet lying, obtained there swift health. a possessed man, For Adrianus, for eighteen years possessed by a demon coming, on the spot is cured. Behold what he conferred on his Germanus, who once a man having the same years in his infirmity powerfully cured.
[32] a deaf and mute woman, Then Altberga came deaf and mute, who, the remedies of health which she suddenly obtained, in a wonderful manner rejoicing departed. Gisleveus, who from much time the vigor of his sinews being put to flight having dry steps lay on the ground, a paralytic, made sound there rising, home praying went away. a deaf and mute woman, Otberga finally grieved that the offices of her ears and tongue were gravely lost: but when to the pious aid of the same Saint she advanced, forthwith what she sought is declared by certain indications: for the woman rejoiced that she had there received the desired remedy. Daimberga also, a blind woman, from nativity nonetheless palpitating blind, by a sudden, betaking herself thither, surrounded with light saw. a possessed man, So Adalelmus is conveyed, gravely vexed by a malign spirit for several years: and these, the languor being cured by the merits of the Saint, snatched from the adversities, glad to his own a guest returned. Similarly Guntbertus, a deaf and mute man, from nativity alien both from the senses of hearing and of voice, these offices being restored, was given the medicine of health. Elboara, equally from the time of nativity found mute, a mute woman, brought herself to the sepulchre of the Saint by the care of her parents; and there the knots of the condemned tongue being loosed, to her home speaking she returns. A certain Hitgaudus, a blind man, from a boy persisting blind, the light of heaven, led thither, suddenly merited to see. But Nartelindis, punished by the too great tenacity of all speech, a mute woman, advances to the place where the tomb of the Saint is venerated; and forthwith her lips being opened, made talkative she returns.
[33] a blind and feeble woman, two lame women, A certain Reberta, incurring blindness and debility of steps, with swift course commanded herself to be carried to seek the remedy of the Saint: who soon poured over with the most copious gift of prayers, restored to herself she also wondered at her offices. So Witana, equally made blind and lame, by a similar gift of cure is supported: the gift of health being received, cheerful returning to herself she went. a contracted man, Erfredus, plainly hindered by contraction of legs or feet as if by chains, brisk now himself reading his own ways, to his own home returned. Bertinga, to whom both the ears denied hearing, and the tenacious taciturnity of the tongue the native manner of speech; these gifts being newly obtained, rejoicing she was astonished at the things granted. a blind woman, Ansa, by a similar event from nativity only enveloped in the darkness of blindness, when she came to the tomb of the Saint, the splendor of light, which she had never felt, two lame men, there rejoiced to have obtained. Moreover Benedictus, for very many years irremediably limping in the foot, to the protection of the holy Man begged himself to be carried with quite humble prayer. Which when it had been done, it happened that with those who had conveyed him, thence to his home with his own footsteps he returned. Natalis, indeed equally lame falling down, sound as he came was made, for never did he rejoice to have been more strong.
[34] a possessed woman, But a certain woman, Marsa by name, gravely molested by a malign spirit, and moreover made mad coming, on the spot by the praiseworthy gift of this Pontiff is cured. a blind woman, Also Helectrudis, weakened by the sickness of blindness and of feet, by his similar, that is, pious mercy, was found worthy. Guntildis, likewise from much time persisting lame, a lame woman, asked herself to be carried to the tomb of the Saint: where when she came, forthwith rejoicing in health she departed. a contracted man, Guandalbertus also incurring much slowness of steps, as being contracted, came to the sepulchre of the Saint; and there healthfully cured, exulting whence he had come he returns. Arcanrada finally, a blind and lame woman, deprived of the solaces of her eyes and no less of her knees;
as soon as she approached, the ancient virtue of her feet is brought back to her: for both seeing she departed, the Saint procuring remedies for her. a paralytic woman, Moreover Adalgundis, stupefied by the dryness of her loins, sick persisting asks her friends, that to the holy place she be carried; who after she touched his (so to say) pardoning thresholds, so the rigor of the sinews is wondrously loosed, that not only the bystanders, but also her very bearers, astonished were terrified. a contracted woman, But Furlindis, whom such a contraction of steps, namely of the sinews, had made feeble in the feet; wondered that in the same place she was prevented by unexpected health.
[35] a blind man, For Gildegaudus, who from a long time lived blind, carrying himself thither by another's leading, rejoiced suddenly that he had recovered the health of the light long denied. Adalgildis while vexed by a fierce spirit she suffered exceeding madness, a mad woman, soon led thither is cured, and rejoicing safe returns. a paralytic woman, Herasia whom the weakness of her whole body had rendered quite wretched, flying to the aid of the same Saint came, and forthwith by that manner of health by which also the others overshadowed, what she had hastened with curved loins, with them now to her own home she returned erect. a mute woman, But also a certain Gertina, a mute woman, and also deaf, when she came thither, by the pious mercy of the Saint is gifted: for a few days having elapsed after she approached, full health received in all things thence with her she carried back. a dying man, There was finally a certain Christian both by faith and by name, so desperately struck with languor, that nothing now but death could be suspected of him. He indeed more wonderfully than he had been infirm, is healed. Moreover he who from much and through much time languishing had lain, on the spot cured rose, and whole to his own home went. Besides Bertgaudus, whom the contraction of the sinews of almost his whole body had subjected to quite sluggish debility, a contracted man. from a disease of this kind by the intercession of the pious Pontiff himself merited to be healed. For he had ordered himself to be carried thither by neighboring hands, no doubt to the sepulchre of the most blessed Germanus. Where while praying, prostrate on the ground he lay, he felt little by little, the offices condemned by ancient age return to their pristine use. Without delay, he rose sound, and for his soundness gave thanks to God and to the most clement Prelate, those who were present beholding this, and all wondering. These and other things no less worthy of narration Christ through the same Most Holy and Apostolic man Germanus, after namely the translation of his body, deigned to work, who with God the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns and is named Omnipotent, through innumerable ages of ages.
HISTORY OF THE MIRACLES
And of the translations on account of the Norman irruptions.
By the author Aimoinus Monk of Prés in the IX century.
St. Germanus, Bishop of Paris.
BHL Number: 3480
BY THE AUTHOR AIMOINUS.
PREFACE.
To the studious in Christ and pious readers salvation and perennial peace from Jesus, the Ruler of all that rule. Since the eye is not satisfied with sight, nor the ear with hearing, since very many shall pass through, and manifold shall be the knowledge; this little book of the miracles of our Lord Germanus, shining with bright marks, I doubt not at all is to be turned over by the hands of some. These things, in the times of old of the Danes, namely Ragnar and his companions, by the merits of the holy Pontiff himself by supernal favor granted to the world, even to the ears of the most serene King Charles by worthy relation everywhere divulged flowed. By which he rejoicing, as if by their preciousness the world might be rendered more munificent during his reign; The miracles by the command of Charles the Bald under Ebroinus written down, commanded them to be noted with skilful diligence, and by ecclesiastical right to be aggregated to catholic pages. For then over the Monastery of the said holy Prelate presided the Lord and Abbot the venerable man Ebroinus, Bishop of the See of the Church of Poitiers. He pressing on how the business enjoined him by the royal censure should be performed, delegated this to be done by two Brethren of this our Congregation, advanced equally in maturity and in knowledge: who each according to the abundance of his sense writing separately, published thence each their several little works. Which both by the aforesaid Lord Prelate Ebroinus and others reciting it pleased [not] to approve, but the one somewhat to be preferred to the other. Therefore the unused labor of both remained until the time of the Lord Gozlinus, under Gozlinus polished. the chief Father of the same place. Which when it had now after the time of some years been thus found by him; he commanded me, not as one wiser, but rather as a manual Brother, that I should unite into one little body one of the two; only that if I found anything altogether superfluous, I should cut it out; and what was less adorned, with the comeliness of a more flourishing style, doing nothing beyond the truth, I should polish. Which I confess, not swelling with my strength, unless given from heaven, or with talent, I undertook; but rather by obedience, due to so great a Primate trusting, I received: and I should have deserved to myself the harm of a crime, if I should neglect to pursue the commands of the commanding Lord.
BOOK I.
The Norman irruption of the year DCCCXLVI.
PROLOGUE.
The Acts of the Saints excite to living well Just as we believe those worthy of praise, who are busy to write the deeds or miracles of the Saints, which the divine virtue deigns to work through them, for the edification of the Faithful; so without doubt we know those to be blamed, who through sloth and torpor of mind neglect to deliver them to letters for the profit of those to come. For as if from sleep daily to the love of God and the zeal of living well are excited very many, reading in books the deeds of the holy Fathers, and beholding their miracles as if present deeds. Therefore let each one having the gift of a talent fear, lest perchance he hear what that bad servant, who feared not to bring back the money received and badly buried in the earth, to his lord without the gains of usury. This is not only to be done of one's own accord, but also when it is enjoined, the command of the one enjoining is to be obeyed with the utmost effort. Many indeed and stupendous things and worthy of relation the omnipotent God, and of St. Germanus, here truthfully published. through the same blessed Prelate, in past and our times deigned to perform, which on account of inertia have been pressed with silence, and through the carelessness of writers omitted: but now those things which newly to the Founder of all things by the grace of the same most holy man it pleased to work, the Lord aiding and the merits of the Saint himself helping, the Lord King Ebroinus the Prelate and Rector of his Monastery commanding, although with unadorned and unlearned, yet truthful and faithful speech, glad we attempt to touch upon: and as they were truly done, and also among the people of the Normans now divulged, to leave to be read both by the present and by the future.
HISTORICAL RELATION.
[1] In the year 846 to the Normans, Rouen being taken, In the year of the Incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ eight hundred forty-sixth, but of the most excellent King Charles the sixth; when the Kingdom of the Franks, after the death of the Lord Louis the Emperor, had been divided into various parts, and the sins of the people grew, and blood touched blood; God permitting, the crimes indeed of ours demanding it, it came to pass, that foreign nations went out from their own seats, namely the nation of the Danes, who commonly are called Normans, that is Northern men; and with proud and swelling heart, with a strong apparatus of ships, entered the borders of the Christians. Who raging hither and thither, and with great pride going round all things, began by laying waste to overrun divers islands of the sea; until, no one resisting them, having entered the river Seine, they landed at Rouen by an incredible lot. And when in the same city for some time tarrying, the Princes of the region (which without immense contrition of heart we could not utter) they observed slow and timid for war; going out from the ships, far and wide diffused, they began to slaughter, to take captive a multitude of either sex; by depopulating villages, monasteries, and churches to burn; and the whole immensity of their lust, with all cruelty, against the people of God raging to exercise: until to the place, which is called c Charenton, the winds and sails by the just judgment of God seconding their malignity, beyond hope secure by sailing they came. Then the glorious Prince King Charles, because on account of their sudden ascent he could not altogether, some part of his army being convoked, came first to the monastery of the blessed Dionysius, that supported by his prayers, more securely against the enemies of God and his own he might proceed. Then as he was, as a youth, strenuous in mind and arms, to the aforesaid place to fight he came; prepared not only to fight, but also for the Faith, and for the defense of the holy Church of God laudably to die. Whose adversaries knowing his coming, turned aside to the other bank of the aforesaid river, where a certain small part of the people only was: who forthwith being turned into flight, on d a certain island of the same river, to the opprobrium of the Christians, more or less eleven captives on stakes they hung, and many others through houses and trees they transfixed, and to Paris coming, and not a few through villages and fields with miserable pursuit slaughtering they slew: and on the very most sacred Sabbath of the Paschal festivity coming to Paris, they found the city itself, once populous, utterly empty, and all the monasteries around it deserted by their inhabitants. For fear and dread had invaded all, as being deservedly for their iniquity stripped of divine aid, and therefore destitute of the solace of worldly defense. Who, I ask, would not grieve, before war was committed, the army put to flight? before the arrow was cast, transfixed? before the collision of the shield, ignominiously subdued? For the order of all altogether in the Church confused, and changed from the zeal of goodness, this, by the very privation of good, even to the fuel of destruction, by a sufficiently worthy vengeance had deserved. But the pious Father, the just corrector ever of the delinquent, and the clement receiver of the corrected, did not bring this in, that He should cruelly condemn us for the innumerable weights of our faults, the body of St. Germanus is dug up, to be carried to Cumbae. but that through the immense benignity of His largess He should amend the afflicted. Then, O grief! the most sacred body of Bl. Germanus, dug up from its sepulchre, was carried into a certain possession of the same church, which is called Cumbae e. But what eloquence or what speech can set forth, what and how great while these things were being done, mourning there was in the same church? Old men therefore and young, boys wept and infants, as no one being able to temper himself from tears. Likewise also the bodies of other Saints dwelling in the same district being disinterred, and through divers places carried, except only the members of the blessed Dionysius and his fellow Martyrs: which although they were withdrawn from their sepulchres, yet on account of the King's presence, were not then compelled to pass to other places. For the King had determined, the people namely falling away from him, that he would defend the monastery of the said holy Martyr, because his begetter of blessed memory had, when he was a little one, commended him to the same Saint by a special delivery.
[2] a wax candle being rekindled from heaven. This meanwhile according to the order of the narration let it be inserted, which while his holy body was being moved, the all-powerful Lord deigned to show. For while at the digging up of it, and how it ought to be carried we were unanimously intent, wax candles being kindled out of reverence; by chance it happened that one, which a boy incautiously held, slipping from his hands fell, and deprived of all light was extinguished. Which when from the ground the same boy with all velocity had lifted, desiring to borrow the lost light from another, by the merits of so great a Patron it came to pass, that forthwith in his hands the extinguished candle was illumined. Which indeed wonderful, nor yet from the purpose we deem, if there the divine fire shone again, where, although mournfully, the son
venerated the light. Whence all who were present returning thanks to God, and praising together the illustrious merits of the Pontiff, began more and more in psalmodies and the praises of God to be devout, until the work, although sad, was honorably consummated.
[3] and a light seen from heaven over the Relics, Is that vision which to some of the Brethren of the same monastery on the same night, on which his most blessed body was dug up, before the dawn of the following day appeared, to be omitted, that it may not be said? When therefore to the river Seine carrying their several things to the ships, at the first vigil of that night certain Brethren had gone, and thence to the monastery were now returning; there appeared to them and to the servants also accompanying them so immense a splendor of brightness, over that part of the church, where the body of the same most holy Man was placed, that it was equal to the brightness of day, and the same church as if fire were set beneath it seemed to be burned. Who when within themselves they too greatly wondered, and their hearts stupefied by consideration of this kind hung, the vision little by little failing disappeared. And coming to the monastery they inquired, whether anyone of the Brethren at that hour with a light had been over the church itself. No one however being found who had been, they knew it to be an Angelic vision, by divine virtue wrought by the merits of the Saint; who his bones about to migrate and pious ashes, the grace of such brightness granted to him, had taken care to visit.
[4] This removal had been foretold two years before. That notable miracle also, which two years before that in which these things happened, to a certain monk of the same monastery, in age and morals aged, was shown, by no means ought to be kept silent: whose examples and eminent acts if they be followed, very much can profit unto salvation. The same saw, on a certain night placed in sleep, Bl. Germanus as it were going out of his sepulchre, equipped and prepared for making a journey. Who as if knowing the same to be the most blessed servant of God, asked with humble voice, whither he had disposed to go away with such a procession. But he answered that he would migrate from the same place. Whom again with fearful mind questioning he said: Lord, even if thou goest away, we thy so small little servants what shall we do afterward? To whom, as it were with sad countenance and with great mourning, as it seemed to the same Brother, he said: You also will migrate from this place: yet truly you shall know, that I also shall return, and you by divine mercy together at the disposed time shall return. Which vision that it was most true, the things which were completed by the consequent end declared.
[5] and again a little before it was done, Nor that, which to a certain one in the same church, Christ revealing it, was laid open, ought we to pass over in silence: since while we preach such things, the hearts of the hearers are excited, to demand the mellifluous suffrages of the Saints. But a certain religious Brother of the same monastery, when the others, Compline being accomplished, hastened to their rest, that their bodies wearied after the labor of the day they might recline on their little beds; he himself cast himself before the sepulchre of Bl. Germanus for the cause of particular prayer. And when long beseeching the Lord of the heavens and of the whole world for his sins, he demanded the help of Bl. Germanus and the rest of the Saints with intent heart for all the Faithful (for now the frequent rumor of the Pagans had most certainly become known to our ears) about fifteen days before their coming, this wonderful vision was shown to him. For he who at prayer had lain rising, with open eyes saw, as once Father Benedict the whole world, the sepulchre of the most blessed Germanus as it were laid open, and the most holy body itself clothed in undisrupted garments, and by the divine ministry as it had been in the sarcophagus orderly composed; just as he himself a little after and all who together were present, lamentable! beheld. Thus the Lord to His beloved and holy Germanus wished to show, what shortly, our sins causing it, was to be fulfilled: nor is the vision laid open to all before the sequels of the vision.
[6] The oratory of St. Germanus the Normans strive in vain to burn, In the said place of Charenton finally, the Norman peoples themselves, perceiving themselves victors and superiors, while they still tarried; going out from the ships f, our Cell, which is placed against or beside the same place, hastening with rapid course they entered: whence the miracle, which we have learned was there then done, we think best if it be narrated. For in the same Cell to the churches of the Apostle Peter and the kindly Germanus striving thrice and four times to set fire, when they had failed; not being able by the merits of both to burn them, the cloisters of the same Cell at length having gone out, the barn which was there placed near they burned: from which so great a globe of flames, seeking the height of the air, ascended, that it set fire to certain trees, green beyond even the said Cell, but left the churches themselves untouched and entire as they were. When moreover the South wind blew most strongly, and threw almost the whole fire toward the same part; forthwith the North wind blowing from the opposite region swelled; and reflecting the South toward the side of the other part by a wondrous conversion, turned back all the force equally. So the wonderful God, who His servants shining with Him in the heavens always glorifies, works wondrous things by the common grace of His piety on earth.
[7] They come to Paris When therefore on the Paschal Sabbath, the diffused fleet of ships had come to Paris, as above is related; on the morrow, when the sun now emitted its light-flowing rays, illuminating the whole world with its own lamp, and destroy the monastery: bursting out of the ships, the city itself, as we have mentioned, and the neighboring suburbs without inhabitants they sought again: and having entered the monastery of the most blessed Germanus, the temple of God and the rest of the church, which by the loss of security had remained in array, to contaminate, and with polluted hands began to destroy. But because the Lord pitying it neither there was the virtue of the same most holy Father lacking, by no means ought to be kept silent, the miracles which then there the Creator of the whole world, to the praise of His name, by the grace of the Pontiff himself, deigned to show. Which, because none of us was present, we were utterly ignorant of: afterward however from the faithful envoys g of Louis King of the Bavarians, namely Kobbo and others, whom he had directed to the Prince of the Normans Horich h by name for the cause of a legation, we learned them: who narrated them faithfully to us, just as they themselves (as they testified) before Horich present in part saw, and in part heard from those, who then in the church itself, when these things were done, were together present with the Christians. For when the beams of the church that most wretched people, because they were of fir, and therefore handy for navigation, had attempted to cut down; three of their malign number, before the step of the altar of Bl. Stephen, weak of all strength of virtue falling fell down; and being broken, breathing out their incredulous and to God hateful souls, the others struck with fear, descended to the perpetual shades, where their devouring worm shall not die, and their excessive fire shall not be extinguished. From the beams thus was there a desisting.
[8] And when that temple of God, and at once the whole monastery was being depopulated, it happened that one of them even among them most nefarious, the hand of another withers: to the Confession of the Lord Germanus, a drawn sword bearing in his polluted hand (wonderful things indeed will be said) came; for a marble column, which there was placed at the right hand for those praying, thirteen times and with the effort of his whole body, as if striking down an enemy, he struck. To whom forthwith so the manliness of the right hand, with which he had cut the column itself, vanished, that after that day (just as the same Kobbo saw, who also showed those cuttings to us not knowing it, being present) even to his unhappy departure from this life, it remained always immovable and dry and as it had been stretched out: but the handle of the iron so to his hand joined had adhered, that never from it by any device or art except with part of the skin could it be torn away. Who so long was tortured by the too great vexation of his compassionating body, until he ended his most wretched life, full of indignation and wrath, by the hands of demons carried to the Tartarean seats of Cocytus and the foul lake of Avernus.
[9] others punished with blindness and dysentery, We believe it will be worthwhile, if that great miracle also be narrated. Therefore while that most holy oratory by the most cruel impiously violated crowd; suddenly it was filled with so great a density of a cloud, and the obscene violators of the same were so struck with the blindness of the divine judgment, that wishing to leave it terrified with too great fear and trembling, they could scarcely find the doors or gates through which they had entered. And so wearied longer in wandering about, at last bursting out as quickly as possible they fled away, struck from that day with so great a terror, by which they would not dare any longer with any foulness to contaminate the church itself. Moreover thence (as is divulged) with the disease of dysentery they were so afflicted, that while daily they died, none out of so great a multitude thought himself to escape.
[10] Meanwhile a feigned languor, for the cause of a legation they direct to the most excellent King Charles, this also in their departure that he, receiving them faithful in peace, would permit them to return to their own fatherland, a tribute of the Kingdom being given. These things being agreed, the King indeed unwilling, but certain Princes (as he confessed) injured by gifts, Ragnar their Duke, and all the Princes to the King, who then dwelt in the monastery of the blessed Dionysius, are led: by the gods, and by those numina or arms by which they thought themselves chiefly to be protected and saved testifying, that they would by no means any longer enter or touch the borders of his kingdom, unless perhaps as helpers. Who so dismissed and rejoicing for their escape which they had least hoped, likewise whither they had come a sum of gold and silver imposed being received glad they returned: but returning, they carry it with them and perish by the disease with which in the aforesaid church they had been struck daily failing they were tortured, and tortured most wickedly miserably breathed out their souls, none of the Christians whom they had with them feeling a plague of this kind. In all which the power of God is to be considered, and His piety to be embraced, who so mercifully saves the innocent, and so terribly, magnifying His Saints, punishes the profane.
[11] The nocturnal noise of the church ceases the body being brought back, What in the same church, after the greater part of the Brethren returned from exile, was done, we ought not to press with silence: for not yet had the most sacred bones of the blessed man been carried back to their own sepulchre. For on one of the nights, the custodians of the same church sleeping, before the Brethren were roused to render praises to God after the accustomed manner; there is heard by them before the altar of St. Stephen a huge noise of demons, as if a multitude of men running about for something were thought. Who forthwith rising, and with a light going round the whole church, when they had found no one; they understood it to have been the fraud and deceit of demons; who indeed grieved that they were expelled from the holy seats of the temple, into which, while it had been permitted by the perfidious to be polluted, no doubt but that somewhat according to that, And the hairy ones shall dance there, they had license of entering. Isa. 13, 21 But after his sacred ashes were brought back, and to their place Christ favoring were restored; nothing such in the same basilica, his sanctity meriting it, was heard.
[12] The Norman Duke returned to his King, For Ragnar the Duke, the author of all the said evil, before the profane Horich Prince of the Normans coming with vast pride, showed him that he had carried away hence with him much gold and silver: and said that he held the most renowned city of Paris captured; and that he had entered the dwelling of Germanus the old man, which in the same land was held most decent
held; moreover that he held all the Kingdom of Charles subjugated to himself by reason of tribute. But Horich while he did not believe such things, the said Ragnar bade part of the cut beam of the monastery of the Lord Germanus, and the bar of the gate of the city of Paris, to be brought before him in testimony. Besides he related to him how good and how fertile, as filled with all abundance, he had found the land: but the people inhabiting it, for fighting timid and trembling: and he related saying, that the dead there had greater virtue than the living, and that he had found none resisting him, except Germanus the dead old man. When he said these things, confessing that Germanus alone had resisted him, trembling forthwith and fearing he fell to the earth, and with terrific voice began to cry, that Germanus stood before him, and that he scourged him grievously with the staff which he bore in his hand. Which seeing, namely Horich and all standing by him, and Kobbo himself the Legate of King Louis directed thither, by this which had happened moved with too great astonishment, wondered. But the same Ragnar, so humbled and suddenly contrite, by the hands of others quickly lifted withdrew: who for three days afflicted ignominiously with the greatest torments, at length commanded one golden statue of his likeness to be made, and through the same Kobbo to be carried to Germanus the old man; promising that he, if he should escape, would thereafter be a Christian, and would undoubtedly believe in the God of the Christians: but because he was not of the sheep of Christ, therefore what he asked he merited not to obtain. he dies most wretchedly, So altogether swollen, just as to us the same Kobbo made manifest, and wholly turgid he became, that neither hearing, nor sight, nor smell, nor taste in his body could be discerned. And so his bowels at last being diffused he burst in the middle, and the most wretched man ended his life in the morning: but the statue unworthy of the sacred offerings, retained by those by whom it had been sent, as most unclean by the most clean Inspector of hearts refused remained.
[13] the King commands his companions to be slain for fear of contagion, But yet how those who were the rest failed from this life, let us narrate by pursuing. From that day indeed, on which they entered the monastery of the kindly Prelate Germanus, until penally all perished, so, as we said, with swelling (Kobbo being witness) inflation of the bowels were they struck; that all their assembly even in their fatherland daily dying perished, except those whom Horich afterward commanded to be slain. For he himself fearing and his Optimates and the whole people equally to be condemned by a most evil death of this kind, commanded all who were the rest, except a few slipped away by flight, whom we believe not to have escaped the destruction of death either, to be beheaded: and their heads, and the Christians to be released. as if satisfying the disease, to be delivered to the Christian people who there were captive. For so the slaughter increased, God permitting it, raged against many, that almost whoever touched a diseased one, on the spot touched by the same disease himself also failed. Moreover he commanded all the captives, who were reckoned by the name of Christianity, to be sought out in his kingdom; and them with liberty and honor, without anyone's contradiction, to return to their fatherland: who also said these and other things, beyond what are inserted. We however have disposed to set down only those things which we received from those who saw; having it sufficiently great, that the victory, which the multitude of the people, the common crime hindering, could not have over the enemies; Bl. Germanus, renowned in merits, glorious in miracles, with God endowed with such a triumph, merited to obtain.
[14] But because Christ leading hitherto, following the sweetness of signs, we have proceeded; now the order, in which the body of the same most blessed one was brought back, let us undertake to tell; these things being premised, which in the village of Cumbae to the sick coming, by his patronage we have learned to have been given: which the more they are narrated, the more it helps not to depart from the path of pious narration. Therefore when a certain boy, Dagenus by name, of the family of the same monastery, deaf and mute, and destitute of the office of all his members, to the aforesaid village by the aid of his parents had been carried; he was so suddenly by the merits of the glorious Pontiff himself restored to pristine health, that both he spoke and heard: and he who paralytic had come carried by the hands of others, rejoicing and glad, three wonders being shown in him, with his own footsteps now began to go. For from the ground a little after rising whole, with great briskness of heart to those who were present he said: Behold, behold, Bl. Germanus is present, by whom I, thanks be to God, know myself wholly cured.
[15] Two girls freed from fever, Nor ought that be omitted, which Christ to the praise and glory of His servant deigned to bestow, which also we believe to profit the hearers. There were therefore in the same village two girls, for a long time so greatly vexed by fevers, that scarcely now could they go on their feet, whom no art of medicine could so far help. Who with great confidence going to the same church, in which his most holy members were placed, asked of the custodians, that at least under the venerable body of so great a Pontiff a passage be afforded them. But they considering their full faith, permitted them as with humble prayer they asked to pass. Nor did faith defer the reward. So indeed, the bier of the holy body itself being passed, from the same infirmity soon they were cured, that no trouble thenceforth during that time any longer they suffered. Therefore wonderful is God in His Saints, who not only magnifies them in the present with gifts of graces, but also after death with so great gifts of benefits, their merits to the languishing being afforded, glorifies them with the signs of miracles.
[16] But after these things when his most sacred body from the aforesaid village of Cumbae to the monastery was being carried back; The body being brought back, what then on the way was done it pleases to make manifest among the peoples. The most blessed members of so great a Prelate the Monks with praises and hymns to their own place carrying back; it happened that the candle which was carried before burning, a most strong wind blowing, even in the lantern in which it was placed, was extinguished. And while with a horse someone, on account of the fire which again ought to be kindled, had wished to go to the village; from heaven it shone forth, that to all who were present, as if it had not been extinguished, in the same lantern shining it appeared. Whence for the testimony of this matter in the same place by the faithful a wooden Cross is placed: that what there then was done, and the miracle doubled before the monastery was reached, by those passing and by future generations be not unknown.
[17] But it was come, not a few sick being healed, with magnificence and the obsequy of honor to Teodasium i the village of the same Saint: whence on the following day, again the prodigies of virtues accompanying, gladly having gone out, they came singing psalms and going by a straight journey even to the river, which is commonly called k Biber. Which being crossed, the venerable Prelate and Abbot of the same monastery the Lord l Ebroinus came to meet, and many of either sex, of divers grade and order with crosses and candles, with great piety he is received. and the rest of the most holy array with him; the common people also of the city and the villages all around not small, with all briskness and devotion of heart all running. For the Clerics with great voice praising God, a sob from time to time shaking them sang psalms: but the peoples now for immense joy pouring forth tears, now indeed for the jubilation of heart exulting, returned innumerable thanks to God. Nor was the more abundant weeping of sadness at the migration, than was the joy at the return. The aforesaid Prelate therefore, and other Priests and noble men chosen for this, bearing his most sacred body on their own shoulders in turn, all the rest before and after the bier with praises and hymns dancing, and hastening to touch the garments of the bearers, to their own church carried it. And when to the first gate of the monastery they had come they began the hymn "We praise Thee, O God, we confess Thee to be Lord," the heaven resounding, before it to chant, placing it upon the altar of St. Stephen in the same principal church. Where it remained so long, until the festal day of his translation, which is celebrated on the eighth Kalends of August, came. Then the said Abbot the Lord Ebroinus the Bishop approaching, took it, and placed it in its sarcophagus, with fear and exceeding diligence, all who were present blessing and praising God.
[18] Afterward St. Germanus was seen to lay down his arms. Finally after his most sacred body was placed in its sepulchre, that vision by keeping silence we ought not to pass over, which to a certain Brother of ours in the same monastery on a certain night was revealed. For there seemed to him placed in sleep all the Brethren of the same monastery, standing in the choir, clothed in solemn garments, speaking to one another as of those evils which had happened: and looking toward the Eastern part of the same church, they saw the most blessed Germanus, as in military habit before the altar of St. Stephen helmeted and wondrously armed with a coat of mail standing, and as from the field of combat armed and weary coming: and looking at all, he asked by the usual name of the nation, where were or whither had gone the Normans, the violators of his temple, the destroyers of the fatherland, who his and the other Saints' members had compelled to be dug up. To whom with quite humble (as was fitting) answer they said, that they had withdrawn. Then the venerable Father, "Well," said he, and, "thanks be to God," answered. Then in the seat which before the said altar was prepared, as it seemed to the same Brother, sitting, he called them, and bade that they should help him to lay down those military arms which he bore: meanwhile that which was beheld failed. We indeed by such a habit and such a vision understand it to have been prefigured, what now truly we know to have been done, namely the vengeance by the holy man from the enemies obtained from heaven: whose questioning was the declaration of their perdition. In the helping also of the arms to be laid down we gather, that we ought to help him, nay rather ourselves by living well, lest such things to us or to him for us any longer come about.
[19] Epilogue. Now therefore it pleases for a little to consider, how to be feared are the judgments of omnipotent God; how great is the longanimity and justice of our most pious Creator, truly terrible in His counsels, patient and most equitable in all His works: who if He has been angry with His negligent servants, soon them repenting appeased He will be reconciled; and the visible or invisible enemies prostrated, He will give peace with victory to the contrite in heart. So of the Israelite people we often read, so in our times frequently we have heard, and so in ourselves the grace of His piety we have experienced. For He Himself is God repelling and destroying, being angry and pitying, and healing the contritions of the moved. It is also to be attended to, how greatly the most blessed Germanus is to be glorified, and how greatly to be venerated, who so mercifully helps those fleeing to him with confidence, and so terribly with just (which must be confessed) merits strikes the adversaries. And because it is long and difficult to weave again his virtues one by one, especially since even before he was born so beloved and pleasing to God, that like John exulting in his mother's womb, he was found, to whom the virtue of miracle stood as handmaid; it pleases in his praise in this place to sport with a few verses, and let it be the end of the prior little book.
This is Germanus, whom his mother in the womb wished To destroy, by assumed draughts bearing horror. But because he had been sprinkled with the vital olive, The evil could not defile the holy one.
For he was begotten of an excellent stock of parents: Who once on earth, now above the stars he shines. For if anyone desires to know what kind he was while he remained In the frail flesh, here let him read his deeds. And after he ascended the heavens, how great things through him The Omnipotent wrought, the tongue cannot bring forth. This is left to Him who alone the absorbent sands, And the drops of the sea is able to number: For I exhort all, whom the action of life stains, To ask his aid often with pious prayers: To whose sepulchre if the feeble crowd comes, Going thence it has returned sound, God favoring,
To whom now and always let us give thanks, who us by the merits of this most faithful Prelate of His from so many and so great evils snatched, and who to us daily affords the benefits of innumerable gifts by his suffrages, doing great and wonderful things without number: to whom be honor and power, glory and dominion, through the infinite ages of ages. Amen.
ANNOTATA.
BOOK II.
The miracles in the Norman irruption of the year DCCCXLVII.
PROLOGUE.
Because we have attained the bounds of the prior little book, approaching the desired port, Christ guiding the sails of speech; we deem it acceptable now to subjoin those signs of miracles, which afterward the Lord through the glorious merits of the same Pontiff deigned to lay open. Those things also which again in the peregrination of the Saint himself and ours were done, not incongruously would they be judged to be added, were they not perhaps seen to be of shame. Namely we who, the divine instructions of chastisement being set aside, the time of amendment and also the fruit of correction making little of, to this again have fallen, that a longer exile at last by a most worthy expulsion we should suffer. But far be it that either our iniquity by keeping silent be palliated unaccused; or the heavenly benignity, by which we were healed, clemently applied to us, be kept silent, that it be not proclaimed; or even the grace of virtues bestowed by so great a Pontiff for human salvation, be passed over unmentioned.
HISTORICAL RELATION.
A contracted woman is healed, But while the Saint's body was carried back, and in the order above digested was restored to its place, there came from a the district of Exmes a certain poor little woman, by name Hirmintrudis. She through nine years' courses oppressed by the calamity of contraction, from place to place, unless carried by the hands of others, could by no means go. And when the Lord through the glorious Prelate Germanus had wished to cure her, there stood by her, bringing her bread and milk, the sign of future health, and exhorting her to eat: for wearied by the trouble of her infirmity she had fallen asleep. And when she had eaten of those things which they had brought, they said to her: Rise, and however thou canst, hasten to Paris to the sepulchre of Bl. Germanus, by whose gift know thou art to be cured of thy own debility of body. Who by the long chain of sickness despaired of her own health, thought herself deluded by a vain phantasm of sleep: the same also her parents, to whom she had related these things, said. But again on another night the aforesaid virgins appearing to her, with a certain indignation, with bland speech indeed addressing her, said: Rejoice, for soon it is that thou be cured. And why, whither we commanded thee, didst thou not go? Go therefore, at least now, nor make delay. Then the woman awakened, by the aid at last of her brother is lifted onto an ass; and so before the tomb of so great a Patron carried she is set forth. She was permitted therefore in the court of the same church that night to rest. But before the space of midnight was passed, waking, as if smeared with a certain medicine, by herself she approaches the church, the Brethren now after the manner celebrating the solemnities of vigils. Meanwhile her members badly cohering began to be loosed, and soon to return to their ancient office: who for the anxiety of heart and the relaxation of body insisted on emitting great voices, as all we who were present heard: and the morning being made, the Lord pitying her by the prayers of Bl. Germanus, it was granted her to walk with her own footsteps: and so by the way by which she had come returning, to all the good bestowed on her she narrated.
[2] likewise a contracted man, Nor ought we to pass over that miracle which happened done in a similar manner. For among the rest hastening from divers places, there came a certain youth from b the district of Bayeux by name Hildemodus, who so contracted in the loins for three continuous years had been, that by that very pain he was deprived of the office of his knees and shins or feet: and he going round many places of the venerable Saints, that he might recover his pristine soundness by their suffrages, was destined by no one at all to be healed. But the aforesaid celebrity of the most holy Pontiff being imminent, by a certain venerable man through sleep he was admonished, that he should go to the monastery of the same to be healed. Who doubting nothing of the vision, on the day which precedes the same solemnity, on the ninth Kalends of August, with his crutches came before the sepulchre of the holy Father, casting himself prone on the earth. And when longer for his recovery he most intently besought God and the most blessed Prelate; suddenly he began, before the eyes of all standing there, the members, torpid by long sickness, groaning to stretch out. Without delay: for forthwith he rose blessing God, and glorifying holy Germanus: and not only he himself, but also we who were present, and all the throng of people who had assembled, equally we blessed the Lord, who deigned to grant such things by the merits of His Confessor.
[3] and a boy, moreover mute That also, which the divine goodness on the same evening for the fame of the name of so great a man wished to show, ought not to be kept silent but that among the rest of the notable miracles it be narrated. There was a certain boy (as was thought) twelve years old, of the district of Orleans and of the family of the blessed Father Benedict, who from his mother's womb into the light contracted in the loins and broken at the knees had come; nor could he in any way move himself otherwise, unless leaning on his hands he moved forward his half-strong little body: moreover from the beginning of his age so deprived of the office of speaking had he grown up, that after his manner the tongue rather a noise, than the sense of words expressed. Who when to the sepulchre of Bl. c Caro the Martyr, which is situated near the town of Chartres, by someone for the grace of piety he had been carried; by the intervention of the holy Caro himself, his feet, the contraction of the knees persevering, were only at the hinder parts disjoined. Thence indeed to the patronage of our kindly Patron at some time led, by the obtaining of mercy he was permitted to remain at the Confession of the holy Pontiff. And when he lay, the Brethren now in the church in the evening singing psalms, soon the sinews and knots of the body contracted from nativity began to be loosed, and also to the use of walking by the divine mercy through the suffrage of the blessed man to be fitted: who with faith coming could obtain, what vitiated nature had denied.
[4] A blind man receives light. They ought not to be (which be far from the Faithful) a burden, the things which Christ deigns to bestow on His holy friends: for he who refuses to hear the deeds and virtues of those, who now with the Lord reign in the heavenly Jerusalem, he himself without doubt is a witness to himself, that he does not yet perfectly sigh for their fellowship: on the contrary he who recollects, reads or hears; he indeed, although still placed on earth, evidently demonstrates himself their fellow-citizen on high. Therefore from a certain possession of the blessed Man himself, which in [d] the district of Poissy situated is called Prunidus e, there was a certain man by name Adoardus, so deprived of the light of his eyes, that to him there was continual night, nor could he drink anything of light. He to the festivity of the holy Pontiff by the hands, as being blind, of others led, to the sacred solemnities of the Masses among the rest who had assembled devout stood by: and behold suddenly, before the Gospel was begun to be read, there began from his eyes a great as it were flow of tears in a wonderful manner to flow. And when long this was done, and he himself the fount of the little rivulets from his cheeks by frequent application of his hand wiped; soon looked upon by the supernal gaze, he begins a little to behold of splendor. Then giving thanks with all the affection of devotion, prostrate on the ground earnestly he prayed, that to him the light now partly opened might more fully be restored. Nor were his prayers with the most high Inspector of the heart and the holy man frustrated: for forthwith heard, he received his pristine sight: and the solemnity of the Masses being accomplished, he came now clearly seeing before the burial-place of the most blessed Confessor, glorifying God, who to him by his prayers, through so many years' courses taken away, restored the dignity of his light.
[5] By another assault of the Normans That therefore the mercy of the inestimable divine goodness chastising us may be more evidently proclaimed, those miracles which again in the peregrination of the same Saint and ours (as we remembered) were done, let us pursue, even if not in speech adorned with abundance of words, yet to be honored by the comeliness of virtues. Not after many years finally, the evils being often repeated, God raised up for us a most savage persecution of the same nations, by which He deservedly afflicted us; and the afflicted, as a Father of piety, compelled to amendment. For just as prosperous things from the right path through the elation of mind sometimes deviate, so also adverse things through the humility of a contrite heart recall us to the keeping of ourselves: for vexation alone shall give understanding
to the hearing. This persecution's scourge therefore having arisen, the bodies of the Saints lying all around, not only from their sepulchres the grief being renewed dug up, but also to their own possessions were here and there carried. and by the carrying of the sacred body And when it had been prepared whereby the body of the most holy Germanus to the above-said village of Cumbae again ought to be carried, that miracle, which then there was done, it helps us to tell. A certain one of ours, by name Adalarius, a Monk and Priest, had for a time become so feeble by continual weariness of the loins, that in no way by himself even for a little, unless supported by one and especially two staffs, could he go. By which led he came to the church among the rest groaning: and approaching the body of the holy Prelate, now fitted to the bier for carrying, a feeble man is healed. he was busy to be one and not slower indeed of those bearing it. And this, by the divine aid favoring lifted up by the prayers of the Saint, the office of the staffs being left, nay (as he himself afterward said) forgotten, in turn he performed, until to the aforesaid village of Cumbae, the chain of infirmity being loosed, he reached. In which place, the clod of the blessed body being set forth upon the venerable altar, he himself giving thanks, to all whatever he wished sound came away.
[6] Then it happened, after some space of time elapsed, A demoniac is freed, that thither someone full of a demon was led, whom four men almost could scarcely hold. For he was strong with malign virtue, and was of the colonists of the family of the Saint himself, and from the village above mentioned Prunidus. He came therefore impelled by the hands of violent men, the enemy resisting with tergiversation, dreading too much the presence of the Just one. And so many adjurations according to the custom of exorcism certain of ours made to him, giving moreover also a draught of blessed water. But that in him rather the merit of the Apostolic man shining forth might be laid open, all at last desisting from him, there came the last medicine of the same to be entreated: by which the morbid foulness of the crafty invader being driven out, all soundness in him, the vigor of his sense being restored, is formed. The most iniquitous inhabitant being cast out, the captive went out free from the serpent: and remained strong not only four, but one man less.
[7] There is led also a certain woman, bearing both hands dry. A contracted woman cured. She once, for some infirmity adhering to her, to the basilica of St. Mary, which is situated near there, an annual vow, according to the measure of her poverty, of the quantity of half a denarius had established: but the day of the Lord's Resurrection coming, she bought thence, the bland occasion of the day stealing upon her, a food of flesh, and ate; making little of it that it is better not to vow, than after a vow not to render vows. And forthwith as, the sun being closed, for the grace of sleep, she sought the secret places of her couch; so with hands violators of the vow she is contracted in that night, in such a way that, the office of working in them being dead, the produced nails of the palms seemed to penetrate the inmost parts. Who the morning being made coming, while before the altar in which the holy body rested she had been set; so after a little, the fault being amended, as she had been before, sound she returns: nor did the glorious Lady disdain to have glorious Germanus as a companion or repairer of her miracle.
[8] But that we may be silent of the rest, at that time through the same Saint in the same place wrought miracles; let now that be told of a certain blind man, wonderfully cured: who while by the solace of another's step he had been drawn, his health there through days by praying awaited. For he was wont also, some other infirmity I know not what intervening, to pour forth many voices more frequently than sudden with the groaning of pain: whence sometimes as it were importunate, and one who was disquieting to the silences of the church, by certain ones rebuked, too greatly mourning disposing to go elsewhere he withdrew; and destined in mind, that to a certain church in the village g of Ruoilum, dedicated in honor of the same Saint, because it was near, he should turn aside; and there, while the time of pitying him should come, remain. Which when, a guide leading him, he had done, before he entered the door of the same basilica, he received the light of his eyes: and soon by so great a visitation given him from heaven joyful, to the same Saint seeing and crying out praises, he returns to Cumbae. There was therefore joy to the Brethren and all conversing therein, and through all all around no small joy of admiration. These therefore by whom exasperated he had withdrawn, repenting said, that they and others were admonished by such a deed, that they ought to be patient toward the importunities of the poor and feeble.
[9] Hence let us see Helagia, a woman of generous blood, a hysterical woman cured. among the rest to have come thither to be healed, and likewise healed to have returned. She so by the trouble of h suffocation through the course of a long time had languished, that wishing at least sometimes to be present at the divine offices, while only the lection of the Gospel alone was read, she could [not] endure standing on her feet. Nor did the Lord wish her to lack the pious benefits of the Saint: who for very many days conveyed by another's carrying, frequenting the church in which his body was, with candles and also other oblations, the most pious Patron from her soul venerated. And when the term, in which the labor of her devotion ought to be remunerated, divinely now prefixed was imminent; forthwith poured over with the heavenly medicine, so great a strength of body before the presence of the same Saint is given, that giving thanks to God and the most blessed one himself, restored to health, exulting she returned.
[10] We deem it worthy, what in the following is contained in rhythm to be recollected, to insert as a miracle. The Normans plunder the Monastery of St. Germanus. But the Normans at the same place which is called Oscellus [i], residing on a certain island of the Seine, often to Paris, when it altogether pleased, by a naval excursion came. There were redeemed therefore all the neighboring monasteries around, lest by their savagery, fires being set, they should be burned; and they strove besides at equal turns, that some of the nobles for the grace of money they could capture; whence (as from the redemption of the most gentle man the Lord k Louis the Abbot) no small and incomparable business of gain they acquired. And as often as such a thing they had disposed to do, they dissimulated themselves for many days before by no means to go anywhere, lest to anyone their stealthy coming should become known. Therefore they had decreed by mute and silent consideration to run to Paris, the Monks wonderfully preserved, or sometime to our place, and all dwelling there under ill-trusted security unexpectedly to deceive: for there had remained in the same monastery who should guard it Brethren about twenty. To whom the matutinal Office of the sacrosanct Paschal festivity, the dawn now arisen, celebrating, the Normans are present, who on the day of the Preparation having mounted horses had taken the journey of coming. Whom certain horsemen of ours a little anticipating, announced to them, although late, their malign coming. But they not believing, but rather insisting on the divine praises, the Pagans without delay pursuing came, and surrounded all as they were in the church singing psalms. Then, which was a great help of escaping, the doors of the church being closed in their eyes, all immersing themselves in any hiding-places or wells hid; whereby out of all, except one trusting more than was just, the merits of so great a Prelate suffraging, they slew not. And so fleeing before the sight of them they went; nor otherwise, I say most truly, but that some of them before even the bared swords, when it was day, unharmed passed by. Whom by the angelic administration thus saved, some servants being slain. the heralds being killed and others around and in the midst of the monastery of the family very many, all things as most filthy invaders contaminating, whatever in the church or outside they had found plundering; with the exultation of success, fire being set to the cellar of the Brethren, they returned. Then all from whatever lurking-places in which they had hidden themselves having gone out, the people of the city also running together hither and thither, overthrew so great a heat of the fire by the grace of the Holy Spirit, now, for consuming all things, seeking higher spaces. Nor, which afterward by our renewed faults happened to ours, did the place then utterly burned perish.
[11] For the rest that there be a memory of the Just one with praises, to those things which in m Novigentum, our village situated upon the river Marne, while he tarried there, and while thence he returned were done we have learned, but not to all, let us turn our speech: for if we go through each, there will be an overflowing measure on the page. [The body being carried to Novigentum, a sick man a candle being offered is healed:] It had happened therefore by the terror of the Pagans, now beyond Paris and the bounds of the castle n of Melun running, the most holy body from Acmantum, whither lately carried it had gone, thither to be transferred. A man therefore from the same village so infirm for years, that scarcely could he go, and in his whole body, no medicine succoring him, debilitated coming; a candle with him he carried, a gift of faith, the price of health. But before, attempting to kindle it, he had performed what he had begun, the thing sought, all who were present beholding, from heaven looked upon he received the gift. Therefore if the inestimable magnitude of the kingdom of heaven can be bought by the quantity of any price, much more by true faith the health of body: for a Christian receives as much, as he believes. For forthwith the gift being offered he is healed, and the thresholds of his house rejoicing revisits.
[12] There was indeed there a concourse of the infirm, flowing together hither and thither, very great: whose cases that I may thus briefly collect, very many are freed from their diseases, the blind rejoiced seeing, the lame walking, divers cured the feverish, and very many freed from various contagions of the body gave thanks rejoicing: and to each was bestowed the grace of remedy, according as they were found worthy by the clemency of the healer; so also at least, that he who in the evening feeble came, the morning being made very often whole went out. Among whom a little boy of the district of Étampes o insane is brought: for he had his members condemned by contraction of the sinews. Who carried by his mother, she earnestly beseeches, that with the boy that night in the same basilica, in which the body of the holy Prelate was venerated, she be permitted to remain. Then the hour of the same night coming (as was thought) now midnight, the boy his mother not knowing alone rising, through the same church, the cohesion of his feet somehow loosed, attempted to walk. The woman wakes, and rejoices at the seen health of her son: and so that and the following night being passed in the same place, wholly after two days made safe, with his mother joyful he departed.
[13] In the same Novigentum village finally, what and how great were (as a little above we related) the gifts of healings, by the gift of his goodness exhibited to those coming, without crime we confess we are ignorant: but how innumerable they were, In the carrying back of the body, He who gave them the most pious cooperator, alone knows Jesus: therefore passing to that for which the mind burns, his return with cheerful mind let us hasten to set forth. The Brethren therefore, who were there guarding the most holy members of his body, together with him to visit at least the ruins of the place hastily having gone out; the Normans now by a friendly treaty of peace being led out of the Kingdom, the journey of return glad they undertake: and there was to them in returning a fitting naval array. Whence sailing down the river Marne and likewise the Seine, they came making port on this side of the confluence of the Bièvre and the Seine: and the most sacred body being led out of the ship, we received it many of either sex and order there gathered, so that one might wonder that scarcely could the Clerics approach to lift him. For from his former Episcopal house the chief Canons, as assisting the Pontiff, performed the ministry of reception, jubilating the fitting melody of this Antiphon: O how venerable thou art, excellent Confessor Germanus, who didst despise earthly things, and didst exulting seek the gate of heaven;
now a victor thou shinest in heavenly virtue: therefore suppliant we beseech thee, that thou intercede for us with the Lord our God. And a kneeling being made, and the Lord's Prayer, and Mass for all solemnly said, from the monastery of St. Peter [p] and also of Bl. Genevieve the Virgin the Clerics religiously approaching, following the same order, began, the holy body being received on their shoulders, to sing this Antiphon, saying: there are healed a contracted woman and 2 blind men: This is Germanus the greatest Pontiff, who through the supernal grace giving divine miracles, taking the promised rewards, lives in perennial glory. Then we, as became little servants, falling down, having a new Hymn of salutation, reverently were present: and rising from the ground, on which prostrate in his most worthy reverence we had lain, after the Prayer and Collect, now to a certain contracted woman and two blind men the benefit of health being conferred, that each reception namely might be adorned with its own miracle, thus singing aloud we brought in.
[14] Hail, blessed Prelate, hail now most pious one, O venerable Germanus, Father and excellent one, With the faithful column of the people accompanying thee, A Hymn sung in praise of the Saint. Come now, come benignly, return best Pastor. Seek thy own sheep, and restore them to peace, Nor suffer them any longer to be saddened for the pledge taken away. Lutetia bewailed that thou hadst departed, O Lord, She lamented and mourned that she had lacked thy glory, Which she applauds that thy presence has now received. Alas! how they wept and groaned, thy servants the Monks, And the throng of the peoples all too much their own, When thou wast an exile from thy place, O Most Holy one. What speech of theirs avails to utter the lamentations of their hearts, And likewise to set forth the most bitter weepings, That the Priest of piety had been impiously driven out. Who if he yielded to the rigid ferocity of the Pagans, And to the place, or the avenging flame; yet he was present To the worthy vows of his servants, present in perils. Whence it helps us to approach that noble in the telling, Which brings in a stupendous and wondrous miracle, For which worthy thanks be rendered to the Confessor. And so while the splendid day of Easter grows light, And while the Monks celebrated the matutinal praises; Surrounding themselves the Pagans they mock in a wondrous order. For as the wretched ones glory that they have taken all, And as soon they almost all encircled in a near ring; Thee praying the little servants nearly captured are freed. And while no one thinks himself to have a survivor, Who had escaped the sword-armed line of the Danes; All they plunge themselves from the hidden places unharmed. Thou wouldest then discern them weeping, not speaking to one another, While from the jaw as it were of slaughter they saw themselves rise: The silent vows of their heart alone they gave most worthily, Only one is hindered by the bar of blind death, And is most swiftly transfixed by the dart of the enemy, Lest the highest Pontiff should lack so great a libation. Save, O clement one, hence we pray, save, O holy Prelate, All the Clergy worshipping thee with the devout people, That in the present we may merit to use opportune prayer: And hence the kingdom of lofty paradise obtain for us, Where together with thee we may sing praises to the Father the Lord And to the whole Trinity, consonant with the Angels, Holy, Holy, Holy God, the God of hosts, The heavens are full of Thy glory and the earth, Hosanna, who blessed in the highest hast come. Glory be to God the Father and praise to the most high, Honor, virtue and power to Jesus Christ the Lord, Dignity and one summit be also to the Paraclete, Amen.
[15] Which being thus completed to the very end, we were now, although from the opposite side, The body being carried to the meadow near the monastery, near to the city partly burned and also very much dissipated: whose demolished face leading us all into grief, fittingly demanded that we sing: Behold, O Lord, for the city full of riches is made desolate, the mistress of the nations sits in sadness, there is none who consoles her, save Thou our God. For many singing, but more were seen weeping: and so we proceeded even into the meadow [q], which is below the monastery itself. But we were mourning, that after we had entered our own land, we heard no virtues shown as before. But behold suddenly out of so great a multitude of people, one running forward approached: for he had for the cause of penance an iron ring on his arm, as is wont to be done, most tightly wrapped about: and now the time had grown, from which to him, by chance killing his own mother, a penalty of this kind had come. Who crying out and demanding the piety of so great a man as a helper to himself, that he might stretch out his hand to the bier, on which the sacred body of the Saint was carried, desiring at least to touch the pall over it; forthwith the iron leaping out of the arm wondrously cracked, so that flying upward into the air it was seen by many. Which thing making us all more cheerful, moved some also to tears for joy: but also the flesh, eaten into the deep by the roughness of a bracelet of this kind, displayed what precious thing had been done as a miracle.
[16] There had come also a certain woman, accompanied by the aids of faith, Other miracles. who from her cradle was so named, was called Electa. She altogether (as she said to us, as if still grieving with the same infirmity) for ten years' courses had wasted away by the dryness of her right hand, so that in no way could she have the power of stretching it even to her mouth. Approaching therefore she began with prayers of great humility to supplicate, that to her only under the bier of the same holy body, as we were in walking, a passage be granted. But when scarcely admitted (for there was a great pressure of people) she had passed, so the debility of that dry hand on the spot is cured, that, all vigor being received, she exercised the accustomed office of her own action. For her we saw whole, and Meroldus who had come blind, and also Aldegundis seeing.
[17] We came therefore singing psalms, wearied by too great weariness and the heat of the sun, about the sixth hour to the gate of the monastery. But the year of the circle of the rising Christ [r] eight hundred sixty-third; The body restored in the year 863. but the day of the month was reckoned the fourteenth Kalends of August. Then the hymn "We praise Thee, O God" being begun, we entered the church, depositing the same sacrosanct body upon the sepulchre itself, in which before it had lain. Then singing together the Antiphon, "Say praise to our God all His Saints, and ye that fear Him, little and great, for the Lord our God omnipotent shall reign; let us rejoice, and exult, and give glory to Him"; a prayer being made, and for all the assembly which had come the celebrity of the Masses being accomplished, we brought it into the crypt [s] of St. Symphorian, where first migrating he had rested, and after the altar of the same holy Martyr in the tomb prepared for him venerable we placed it. Whence, the spaces of times being elapsed, and the monastery now in part rebuilt, the glorious and ever pious King Charles coming, and the consort of his kingdom Queen Richildis, and likewise our father and pastor the Lord [t] Gauzlinus the Abbot, and Ingelvinus [u] the Bishop, and other Prelates or Princes of his Kingdom, carried back the same most holy members with praises and hymns to the place of his own sepulchre. Where, God and our Lord Jesus Christ aiding, with the associate grace of the Holy Spirit, many even today coming, by the merits of the same holy Pontiff are healed the infirm, to the glory and praise of the holy and individual Trinity, unto the ages of ages. Amen. [x]
ANNOTATA.
p The Acts of St. Genevieve we gave on January 3, where of this 2nd incursion of the Normans. That monastery was founded under the honor of SS. Peter and Paul, afterward called St. Peter's and St. Genevieve's.
q Hence the monastery of St. Germain of the Field or des Prés so called by posterity.
r There is indicated the year to be begun after the Gallic manner from Easter.
s Mabillon notes that the chapel of St. Symphorian hitherto stands in the court of the church, and so hence is to be explained the Author of the Translation number 1 saying, that the body of the Saint had been buried in the portico of the church of St. Vincent.
t Gauzlinus or Goslinus, afterward Bishop of Paris, was Abbot of St. Germanus from the year 850, or the 10th year of the reign of Charles, as from a diploma in Mabillon is established.
u Ingelwinus Bishop of Paris succeeded Aeneas, at least after the year 868, as from his diploma is established in the Sammarthani.
x Mabillon adds besides the above-alleged diploma of Caroli-venna, also a Precept of Charles the Bald concerning the partition of estates, for the uses of the Monks of the monastery of St. Germanus, at the petition of Goslinus the Abbot.
APPENDIX
On the other translations and miracles of St. Germanus.
from the III Benedictine century of R. P. Mabillon.
St. Germanus, Bishop of Paris.
BHL Number: 3481
FROM MABILLON.
[18] When Lutetia of the Parisians again was attacked by the Normans in the year DCCCLXXXVI, then the citizens to implore the aid of St. Germanus their Patron, In the year 886 the body being translated into the city besieged by the Normans, to flock to his tomb, from which his sacred body dug up again into the city was carried. This sang Abbo, a Monk of our monastery, in book 1 on the siege of Paris.
Then the citizens tremble, and all call upon Germanus to be celebrated: Have mercy on thy poor little ones, Germanus. Mothers run together, likewise young men and girls To the tomb of the Saint, to ask the pleasing suffrages, Here lay continually his venerable body, And that monastery was nobler than all: Hence by his own servants he was carried into the city.
Namely into the Church called St. Germanus the Old. In which the arm of the Saint, for the wage of hospitality, was left. Then
The hall of Germanus the Prelate becomes a cattle-stall, It is filled with bulls, little sows, and at the same time she-goats.
[19] The same Author in book 2 recites two miracles, done against two Norman women, [their two women are punished, by force carrying water from the well of the Saint,] who had drawn water from the well of
St. Germanus for their own uses. That well hitherto is seen in the Church of St. Germain, once frequented by the feverish, to whom its water, marked with a blessing, often was a medicine. It is situated in the eastern apse, in nearly that place, in which the body of St. Germanus was deposited by Lantfredus the Abbot. All which things are understood from the subjoined verses of Abbo, book 2.
At whose resting-place there lies a well, whose Waters whoever shall drink, on the spot, laboring with fever, Trusting in the aid of the Saint shall take medicine. Desiring to compose bread with these, a certain woman bade A Dane by force be brought to her * Scotta. For the Priest Guarding the temple, sold the well to the sick at a great price. The bread placed on the flame, soon itself took the red Figure of blood. Afterward another by chance Is known; by force attempting to draw the waters she drew blood.
[20] Gozlinus Bishop of the Parisians being taken away in the time of the siege from the midst, In the year 888 the siege being raised and likewise Duke Henry, whom Charles the Fat had sent in aid; the Normans strenuously resisted Ebbolus the nephew of Gozlinus, Abbot of St. Germain, and Odo the Count, and compelled them to raise the siege. This was done in the year DCCCLXXXVIII, in which the Relics of St. Germanus from the city were led back to their pristine place, and laid up in a precious shrine, with the following little verses sculptured in it:
Here placed, the body of the Saint venerable to many, Germanus, in this casket is now guarded. Let no one dare hence to take away any ornament, Who fears not to perish only by perpetual death, Dares to approach the blind darkness of hell. For the cause of help, Christ granting health, the body is carried back to the monastery in a new ark, That it may be able to be carried, wheresoever it shall have to be carried; This casket in thy honor, Germanus, asked Ebbolus the pious Abbot to be made, and filled it with gifts. Here also, Father Henry, thy gifts shine forth. Odo the Count flourishes, and many of the worshippers of Christ.
That Odo or Eudo was a Count, afterward called King, son of Robert Count of the Angevins, a man of Saxon stock, slain in the Norman war. Who that Henry was, whether the Duke, who was sent by Charles to bring aid to Paris, is not established. in the year 1408 it was repaired.
[21] William surnamed Episcopi, a most pious Abbot, whose incorrupt body we said persists hitherto in the tomb, in the year MCCCCVIII caused the same shrine to be remade with more elegant work. To this twenty-six gold marks, of which consists the upper part of the shrine, taken from the old casket, were added two hundred and fifty marks of gilded silver for joining the sides: the bottom, industriously chased; was moreover cast of silver. But William, lest he should seem to obscure the memory of Ebbolus the first artificer (such was the man's modesty), restored the aforesaid verses in the shrine, with these four added:
In the year one thousand four hundred and also nine, This work was completed, filled with shining beauty, Following others' beginnings William the Abbot of Episcopus Adorned it himself piously to the honor of the Church.
There survives even now that excellent workmanship, as also the silver tablet of the greater altar, both a monument of William's piety. It remains that we relate a certain miracle, done in the year MLXI, from Manuscript codices once wont to be read on the Vigil of the Translation of St. Germanus.
[22] In the year 1061. King Philip. To the miracles, which the Lord God, for the merits of the most blessed Germanus the Prelate of Paris, hitherto does not cease to work copious, we deem to be added that, which happened in the successive times of Philip the Great King of the Franks. For that Philip, son of King Henry, the dignity of the royal Principality, his father being buried, undertook while still in boyish years. The aforesaid King therefore, by the counsels of flatterers, as being a youth, too credulous, the Basilica of St. Germanus, which is near Paris, quite irreverently entered: that from the treasures of the church, which there King Childebert for the adornment of the house of God had gathered many, he might satisfy his cupidities and pleasures. Therefore he commanded the golden Cross, which was placed behind the altar of Bl. Vincent the Martyr, to be taken down, that he might carry away thence the gold and precious stones, and distribute them carried away to his satellites. For that Cross is of incomparable work and weight, beautified with the most exquisite gems, as one which they say was brought from the Spains, and into the aforesaid church from royal munificences brought: of which most precious offering the matter itself even now testifies; and as long as it shall survive, the wondrous work itself, and the immense weight of gold will testify. he is prevented from breaking the golden Cross offered to St. Germanus, The King commanding and present the Cross was taken down from the column, on which it remained; and placed upon one carpet on the pavement of the church. There were present artificers, with their apparatus, by the King's edict, insisting on the destruction of the cross: nor less were present the Monks of that Church compassionating, invoking St. Vincent and especially the most blessed Germanus. Some of the Monks placed on the ground the little caskets, in which the pledges of the Saints were contained, and with tearful voice and sighing heart beat upon the mercy of God.
[23] At this so execrable a spectacle was present Stephen, the Prefect of the aforesaid city, a man much irreverent and foolish, by whose nefarious instigation King Philip had undertaken the whole matter. But to the presumptuous endeavors, thanks be to God, forthwith the most benign God objected. For as it has been related, those who stood by beholding it, a certain cloud the Holy of holies of that church seemed to overcloud: but the King forthwith desisted from his purpose, and terrified by a certain fear from these rash daring deeds thereafter restrained himself. That even of the divine vengeance not a doubtful, nay an evident proof might be given, Stephen the Prefect was forthwith deprived of the sharpness of his eyes: and as long as he lived, the author of the counsel being punished with blindness. with such a worthy confutation he was punished. The wretched man was compelled therefore in himself to recognize, that a flattering counsellor, for the love of an earthly King, ought not arrogantly to raise his counsel against the heavenly King. The lament therefore of the Monks was turned into joy: the Cross also with all reverence was raised in its pristine state, and the people of Paris by this vision of the Lord gladdened. For that miracle was held celebrated, and among many solemnly divulged. But we transmit it written to our posterity, to the praise and glory of God, and to recount the memory of our Patron the most blessed Germanus, by whose prayers and merits may we incessantly be aided. Amen.
ANNOTATA.
* whether Gotta?
* the sick.
ON SS. NICEPHORUS THE BISHOP AND MAXIMILIANUS THE DEACON,
OF HUMAGUM AND PETINA IN ISTRIA.
CRITICAL COMMENTARY.
On the Acts of St. Gerontius of Ficocle and St. Nicephorus of Antioch, fabulously fitted to this Nicephorus.
St. Nicephorus, Bishop, of Humagum and Cittanova in Istria.
St. Maximilianus, Deacon, of Humagum and Cittanova in Istria.
BY THE AUTHOR D. P.
[1] Petina, commonly Pedina, to the ancients Pitinum or Pucinum, an Episcopal city of Istria under the Patriarchate of Aquileia and the Dominion of the Austrian nation, from the shore of the Adriatic sea toward the North is distant XXX miles. This Ferdinand Ughellus, tome 5 of Italia Sacra, says is of most ancient institution, as being from the time of Constantine the Great: yet the names of the Bishops are hidden, until Ursianus, who (as the same Ughellus says) subscribed the Roman Council under Pope Agatho in the year DCLXXX. To Ursinianus is subjoined St. Nicephorus, The cult is proved, Confessor and Bishop of this See, whose body rests in the maritime town of Omagum, distant XXX miles from Petina; but the arm is had at Petina. At what time he lived and his acts are unknown. So Ughellus column 451 and following. Ferrarius in the general Catalogue on this XXVIII of May, from the Tables of the Church of Humagum and Petina relates these things: At Humagum in Istria, of the holy Confessors Nicephorus the Bishop and Maximilianus the Deacon of Petina. There is cited a Life from the tables and monuments of both Churches by Nicolaus Manzolus the Jurisconsult of Capodistria published at Venice, The Acts are omitted, namely in that little work which is entitled the Description of Istria, and which contains also the Lives of other Saints of that region collected in Italian. We received it by the kindness of Joannes Ludovicus Schonlebius Archdeacon of Lower Carniola, but again, this little Commentary being composed, from our eyes I know not how it vanished. Ferrarius in the Appendix to the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy page 816 extracted thence some history with such an Annotation: Although this history may deservedly seem suspect to someone, because making no mention of time it seems to narrate certain improbable things, yet it pleased to relate it in a few words; thinking I should do an acceptable thing, if, where accurately written things are lacking, whatsoever could be had be related. We, the curious reader being sent away to Manzolus and Ferrarius, prefer with Ughellus, who wrote forty years later, to say, that his Acts, namely the true ones, are unknown.
[2] because taken from the Acts of St. Gerontius of Ficocle, For it is certain to us, that the fabulous Life of St. Gerontius of Ficocle, of which we treated on May IX, was fitted to this St. Nicephorus; and indeed especially in that which it has most absurd, which not without some blushing we touched on, at number 8 of our Commentary on that Saint, concerning the two nieces, cherishing the holy old man as once the Shunammite David, and the innocence of so extravagant a deed proved by miracles; when namely at the command of him ordering the wild geese, falling from the midst of their flight to the ground, permitted themselves to be driven like sheep; and a ray of the sun, like a pole, received the pall of the Saint. Only an accusation of Nicephorus is said to have been brought to the Patriarch of Aquileia, whereas Gerontius is read to have been accused to the Roman Pontiff: and for the miracle of the pregnant hinds, offering their udders to those thirsting on the way, which is ascribed to Gerontius; of Nicephorus it is narrated, that going to Aquileia, the tradition being added of two fountains, at Piquentum, a very old town of Istria, by the sign of the Cross and prayer he raised up a fountain for the people, laboring with the greatest scarcity of waters, and imploring help from him whom they had known as a holy man: which fountain still remains serving many mills, a chapel there in his name being built by the people of Piquentum. Which also at Covedum not far from the Trieste borders he effected: where lodged, when a bear had devoured the mule, by which the holy Bishop was conveyed, he ordered it to be led to him by two virgins his nieces; who bidding it to come to the Bishop, it obeyed forthwith; and doing the things commanded it by the Bishop, the little burdens wont to be carried by the mule being placed on it it carried, following the Bishop… and by his death at Omagum: But when the Saint returned to Petina, at Humagum, together with Maximilianus the Deacon, falling sick in a short time both departed life, whose bodies at Humagum are hitherto kept: and a feast day is kept there and at Petina, where the hand of St. Nicephorus is had, on the V Kal. of June. So he from that Life, which (as I said) appears to be taken from the Life of St. Gerontius, with some proper traditions of St. Nicephorus added, of which traditions a monument are the aforesaid two fountains, most certain witnesses of the popular tradition concerning his sanctity, to whom they are ascribed. But Piquentum is, in the maps, Pinguentum, and Petina is distant from it toward the North 15 miles, and on the longer circuitous land journey to one seeking Aquileia it had to be passed, as also the Trieste Borders, near which it is to be sought. Covedum the maps do not express. But however the Saint at some time went to Aquileia, he seems to have returned by sea, since he died at Humagum, a maritime town, distant nothing more from Aquileia than Petina.
[3] just as the Acts of St. Nicephorus Martyr of Antioch. But that the people of Humagum or Petina, destitute of the true and proper Acts of this their Patron, permitted those Gerontian things to be imposed on themselves, received from Ficocle, situated on the opposite shore of the Adriatic, he will the less wonder; who shall have seen Ferrarius on December XXX page 812 treat of St. Nicephorus Martyr Patron of Petina, as a different one, from the monuments of the Church of Petina and the History of the aforenamed Manzolus, a similar epitome being adduced of those things which we gave on February IX concerning Nicephorus and Sapritius, of whom this one unwilling to forgive the offense to the other, left the palm of martyrdom also cast away from his hands to be taken up by the other. But these things are proposed by Ferrarius under this variety only, that the things which were done at Antioch, under the same Emperors Valerian and Gallienus, are transferred to Sablonicum, a city known to none of the ancients. Then the people of Petina add, that the Body honorably buried by the Christians, afterward Constantine the Great placing it on a ship, with lights and Clerics accompanying, there ordered a basilica which should be the Cathedral to be built, where the body of the Martyr, carried in his ship the winds of their own accord impelling it, should have rested. Which when it had landed on the shores of Liburnia and Istria, and to Petina, then called Pentapolis, against the stream had carried the sacred pledges; there a Church granted to a Bishop was built, they were fitted to the other Patron of the people of Petina. in which the body of St. Nicephorus is hitherto kept and venerated. For he is the Tutelar and Patron not only of that city, but also of the whole diocese. So Ferrarius closes his epitome, in the Annotation subjoined likewise acknowledging, that the Acts offered to him need some emendation; and leaving it to the people of Petina themselves to be proved, so great an antiquity of their Episcopate, since of this matter nothing is read in grave authors. A little before, that is page 811, the same Ferrarius had treated of the same Saint, excusing that he had not yet seen the Acts: but there he adds, that the same who is venerated at Petina, also in the Church of Aquileia and the whole of that diocese is celebrated, and in the tables of the same Church is noted, on December XXX wont to be honored.
[4] That two Nicephori are venerated by the people of Petina, and indeed both as Patrons, perhaps brought from Sabiona. one a Bishop on this XXVIII of May, the other a Martyr at the end of the year, if we ought to believe it; we shall be able also by conjecture to opine, that one of them (uncertain at what time or how) suffered Martyrdom at Sabiona, in the County of Tyrol, a city of Raetia, once Episcopal under the Patriarch of Aquileia near Brixen, which succeeded it in the Title; whose body then either submerged in the river Eisack flowing into the Adige, and by this carried into the Adriatic sea was borne to the shores of Istria; or rather, the persecution ceasing, was conveyed by ship; but the Acts being lacking the Acts of Nicephorus of Antioch were fitted to him. Whatever it be, it appears sufficiently by this example, that the Istrians had little explored, what they assumed about their Saints too lightly to be believed: of whom therefore we should have nothing to say, were not, as all the rest are uncertain, so on the contrary the cult certain, as we have already shown. We await however for January IX, or December XXX, that someone make us thence more certain, that the bodies of two Saints Patrons of the same name are really had and venerated as different: for deservedly we fear, lest here some confusion lie hidden. We desire also concerning the body of St. Maximilianus to be more distinctly informed, if it can be done.