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
I shall place first in this book a miracle that I experienced
recently. We were sitting at dinner after a fast and eating, when a
fish was served. The sign of the cross of the Lord was made over it,
but as we ate, a bone from this very fish stuck in my throat most
painfully. It caused me great distress, for the point was fastened
in my throat and its length blocked the passage. It prevented my
speaking and kept the saliva which comes frequently from the palate,
from passing. On the third day, when I could get rid of it neither
by coughing or hawking, I resorted to my usual resource. I went to
the tomb and prostrated myself on the pavement and wept abundantly
and groaned and begged the confessor’s aid. Then I rose and touched
the full length of my throat and all my head with the curtain. I was
immediately cured and before leaving the holy threshold I was rid of
all uneasiness. What became of the unlucky bone I do not know. I did
not cough it up nor feel it go down into my stomach. One thing only
I know, that I so quickly perceived that I was cured that I thought
that some one had put in his hand and pulled out the bone that hurt
my throat.
A PHANTOM ATTACKS A WOMAN
(_Ibid._, Book III, Ch. 37)
At this time when a certain woman remained alone at the loom when
the others had gone, a most frightful phantom appeared as she sat,
and laid hold of the woman and began to drag her off. She screamed
and wept since she saw there was no one to help, but still tried to
make a courageous resistance. After two or three hours the other
women returned and found her lying on the ground half dead and
unable to speak. Still she made signs with her hand, but they did
not understand and she continued speechless. The phantom which had
appeared to her attacked so many persons in that house that they left
it and went elsewhere. In two or three months’ time the woman came to
the church and had the merit to recover her speech. And so she told
with her own lips what she had endured.
PROCEDURE IN CASE OF A MIRACLE
(_Ibid._, Book III, ch. 45)
The facts that I relate ought not to seem to any one unworthy of
belief, because the names of individuals are not mentioned in the
account. The cause of it is this: when they are restored to health
by the saint of God, they leave immediately, and they sometimes go
so secretly that, so to speak, they are noticed by no one. And when
the report has spread that a miracle has been done by the blessed
bishop, I summon those who have charge of the church and inquire into
what has happened; but I do not always learn the names from them. I
generally tell by name of those I have been able to see or examine
personally.
MINOR MIRACLES WORKED ON GREGORY
(_Ibid._, Book IV, Ch. 2)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account