E02767: Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Confessors (103), tells of the tomb near Paris of *Criscentia (young girl of the territory of Paris, S01315): a man who swallows dust scratched from the tomb is cured; a sick moneyer sees the girl in a vision, who tells him to build an oratory over her grave; people with toothache who lay little sticks on the tomb, and then apply them to their teeth, find relief. 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 103<br><br>Tumulum erat in vico Parisiorum haud procul a loco, in quo senior, ut aiunt, eclesia nuncupatur, nullo operto tegumine; ibique in lapide habebatur scriptum: HIC REQUIESCIT CRISCENTIA SACRATA DEO PUELLA.<br>Sed nulla aetas recolere poterat, quale ei fuerit meritum vel quid egisset in saeculo. Nuper autem a quodam clerico hoc epytaphium legitur. Instigante vero fide, suspecti sunt habiti homines, quod aliquid cum divina maiestate virgo potuerit obtenere. Dum vero in hac suspitione penderent, quidam, quem ardor tertianae febris cum gravi tremore vexabat, erasi a tumulo parumper pulveris haurit, moxque, sedato tremore, convaluit. Vulgatumque verbum plerumque profuit multis in hac infirmitate detentis. Succedente deinde tempore, monitarius urbis [ipsius] graviter aegrotare coepit, cui in visione puella apparuit, dicens: "Vade", ait, "quantotius et tumulum Criscentiae virginis tege. Erit tibi hoc adiutorium, ne a morbo quo captus es diutius fatigeris". At ille confisus, calces inquerit, oratorium desuper construit, protinusque ab infirmitate laxatur. Sed ut virtus virginis in maioribus efferretur honoribus, cuidam ex urbe dens indoluerat, ita ut, intumescente maxilla, vix vel tenues cibi parumper capere possit. Pergit fide plenus ad tumulum, factaque hastula una de parte acuta, ut in humanis usibus ad purgandos dentes fieri solet, super sepulchrum puellulae ponit. Statimque ut exinde dentem quae dolebat attigit, omnis dolor obstipuit. Ex hoc enim accepto experimento, quos hic dolor vexat, huius virtutis ut expetunt praesidia, mox sanantur.<br><br>'In a village [in the territory] of Paris there was a tomb not far from the spot where, as they say, the church is called the ‘Older Church’. The tomb was not covered by a shelter. On the stone was this inscription: ‘Here lies Criscentia, a girl dedicated to God.’ But no generation could remember of what value her merit had been and what she had done in this world. Recently, however, a cleric read this epitaph. Under the motivation of their faith men suspected that the virgin could have influence with the divine majesty. While they continued in this suspicion, a man whom the burning of a tertian fever was distressing with severe tremors scratched a bit of dust from the tomb and drank it; soon his tremors were calmed and he was well. The news was published and was of great benefit to many people afflicted with this illness. At a later time a moneyer of the same city fell seriously ill. A girl appeared to him in a vision and said: ‘Go as quickly as you can and cover the tomb of the virgin Criscentia. This deed will assist you so that you will not suffer long from the illness that holds you.’ The man believed, looked for limestone, and built an oratory over the tomb; immediately he was freed from his illness. But so that the power of the virgin might be exalted by greater honours, one man from the city had such a painful tooth that his jaw swelled and he was barely able to chew a small piece of tender food. Filled with faith he went to the tomb. He made a little wooden stick pointed at one end, as is usually made for cleaning people's teeth, and put it on the tomb of the girl. As soon as it then touched the tooth that ached, all the pain went numb. After the reception of this proof, those whom this pain bothered were soon cured when they sought the assistance of her power.'<br><br>Text: Krusch 1969, 363-364. Translation: Van Dam 2004, 77-78.<br>