E02575: Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Confessors (22), recounts how *Maximus (abbot in Chinon, mid-5th c., S01253) was saved from drowning in the Saône river; came to Chinon (north-west Gaul) and founded a monastery; during a siege by Egidius, successfully prayed for a supply of water; was buried in Chinon, where the sick are cured at his tomb. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 587/588.
Creators: name: Kwojtalik
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2017
Subjects: History

description: Gregory of Tours, Glory of the Confessors 22<br><br><br>Gregory of Tours recounts how he learned of Maximus through reading a verse Life of the saint: <br><br>ut liber vitae eius docet, quam versu conscriptam legimus, nostri fuit Martini discipulus<br><br>'As the book of his life, which I read written in verse, teaches us, he was a student of our Martin [= *Martin, ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050]' <br><br>Maximus became a monk in Lyon. However, deciding to return home he was nearly drowned in the Saône:<br><br>Denique dum Ararem fluvium transire cupiret, nave impleta dimergitur, ac ipse sacerdos pelago operitur, habens ad collum cum euangeliorum libro ministerium cotidianum, id est patenulam parvam cum calice. Sed pietos divina non perferens perire quod suum est, ita de hoc periculo, Domino iubente, restitutus est litori, ut nec vitae damna perferret nec rerum detrimenta lugeret.<br><br>'Then while he was intending to cross the Saône river, his boat was swamped and sank, and the priest was covered by the water. Around his neck he had a book of the Gospels and [the utensils for the celebration of] the daily liturgy, that is, a small paten and a chalice. But divine mercy did not allow what was its own to perish. At the command of the Lord Maximus was saved from this danger [and brought] to the bank, so that the Lord neither allowed the loss of a life nor mourned for the destruction of the liturgical utensils.'<br><br>Maximus came to Chinon and founded a monastery there. Once:<br><br>Quod castrum cum ab Egidio obsederetur, et populus pagi illius ibidem esset inclusus, hostis adversus effossum a latere montis puteum, quem obsessi ad usum habebant bibendi, obturants. Quod cum antedictus Dei famulus, qui tunc cum reliquis infra castri munitionem conclusus erat, cerneret videretque populum consumi sitis iniuria, orationem noctem tote fudit ad Dominum, ut respiciens populum hostes inprobos effugaret et non pateretur, eos sitis ardore consumi. Tunc, revelante sibi Spiritu sancto, ait ad plebem: 'Quisquis habet vasculum, eiciet foris in platea et deprecetur Dominum. Dabit enim vobis hodie largitas eius aquas in abundantiam, ut non deficiatis vos et parvuli vestri. Haec eo dicente, subito nubes texerunt caelum, et discendit imber magnus de caelo cum tonitruis et corruscationibus super castrum, duplum populis beneficium praebens, pluvia arcens sitim, fragoribus effugans hostem. Conpletaque sunt vasa omnium, et satiati sunt cuncti. Sicque obtentu sacerdotis fugatis adversariis, populus salvatus a castro discessit.<br><br>'Egidius besieged this village and the people of this region were shut up there, the hostile enemy blocked up a well that had been cut from the side of a mountain and that the besieged people used for drinking water. The aforementioned servant of God, who with the others was shut up within the fortifications of the village, learned of this. When he saw the people dying from devastating thirst, he prayed to the Lord for an entire night that the Lord look upon his people, scatter the wicked enemy, and not allow the people to die from a burning thirst. Then, at the revelation of the Holy Spirit, he said to the people: ‘Let whoever has a container place [it] outside in the street and let him pray to the Lord. For today he will give you his waters bestowed in abundance, so that you and your small children will not be lacking.’ As Maximus said this, suddenly clouds covered the sky and a heavy rain accompanied by thunder and lightning fell from the sky upon the village. The storm was doubly beneficial to the people, since it eliminated thirst with its rain and scattered the enemy with its crashing. Everyone’s containers were filled, and everyone was satisfied. After the enemy fled because of the plea of the priest, the people were saved and left the village.'<br><br>Maximus died in his monastery and was buried there. The sick are often cured at his tomb (Ad cuius sepulchrum saepius infirmi sanantur); Gregory then describes the specific cases of a slave boy and slave girl belonging to the church of Tours (ex familia eclesiae Turonicae).<br><br>Text: Krusch 1969, 311-312. Translation: Van Dam 2004, 19-20, lightly modified. <br>