History of the FranksGregory, Bishop of Tours, Saint
History
History of the Franks
Gregory, Bishop of Tours, Saint
France -- Church history -- To 987; France -- History -- To 987; Franks -- History -- To 768
9. Domnolos, bishop of Mans, began to sicken. In the time of king
Clothar he had been in charge of the monks at the church of St.
Laurence in Paris. But as he had always been faithful to king Clothar
while the older Childebert was still living and often concealed his
messengers when sent to spy, the king was awaiting an opportunity
to make him bishop. When the bishop of Avignon passed away he had
purposed to appoint him there. But the blessed Domnolus heard of this
and came to the church of St. Martin where king Clothar had then
come for prayer, and after spending a whole night in watching, he
sent a hint to the king through the leading men who were there not
to remove him far from the king’s sight like a captive and not to
permit a man of his straightforward character to be worn out among
sophistical senators and philosophizing judges,[DF] saying this was a
place of humiliation for him rather than of honor. To this the king
assented, and when Innocentius bishop of Mans died he appointed him
as bishop of that church. When he had reached this honor he conducted
himself so that he rose to the summit of holiness and restored the
power of walking to a lame man and sight to one who was blind. After
twenty-two years in his episcopate he perceived that he was greatly
worn out with the king’s evil and gout and he selected the abbot
Theodulf for his place. The king assented to his desire but not long
after changed his mind, and the election was given to Batechisil the
king’s major domo.[DG] He received the tonsure, went through the
grades of the clergy in forty days, and when the bishop passed away
he succeeded him.
10. In these days thieves broke into St. Martin’s church. They placed
a railing which was on the tomb of a dead man at a window of the apse
and climbing up by it they broke the glass and entered; and taking a
great quantity of gold and silver and silken cloths they went off,
not fearing to set foot on the holy tomb where we scarcely dare to
touch our lips. But the saint’s power made this foolhardy deed known
by a terrible judgment. For after committing the crime they went to
the city of Bordeaux and a quarrel arose and one killed the other;
and thus their deed was found out and their theft was revealed, and
the broken silver and the cloths were taken from their lodging. When
this was reported to king Chilperic he ordered them to be bound and
brought into his presence. Then I was afraid that men would die
because of him who in his lifetime in the body often prayed for the
lives of the lost, and sent the king a letter of entreaty not to
put these men to death since we to whom prosecution belonged did not
accuse them. And he received my request with kindness and restored
them to life. And the valuable articles which had been scattered he
collected very carefully and ordered them sent back to the holy place.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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