E00064: Gregory of Tours, in his Life of *Nicetius (bishop of Lyon, ob. 573, S00049), recounts how Nicetius, in a vision and aided by *Justus and *Eucherius (earlier bishops of Lyon, S02411 and S01995), asserted the value of his dead body and punished a critical priest; in Lyon (central Gaul), 573. From Gregory's Life of the Fathers, written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 573/594.
Creators: name: Dlambert
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2014
Subjects: History

description: Gregory of Tours, Life of the Fathers 8.5<br><br>Post dies autem, quos lex Romana sanccivit, ut defuncti cuiuspiam voluntas publice relegatur, huius antestitis testamentum in foro delatum, turbis circumstantibus, a iudice reseratum recitatumque est. Presbiter quoque basilicae tumens felle, quod nihil loco ille in quo sepultus fuerat reliquisset, ait: "Agebant semper plerique, stolidum fuisse Nicetium; nunc ad liquidum verum esse patet, cum nihil basilicae in qua tumulatus est delegavit". Sequenti autem nocte apparuit presbitero cum duobus episcopis, id est Iusto atque Eucherio, in veste fulgenti, dicens ad eos: "Hic presbiter, sanctissimi fratres, blasphemiis me obruit, dicens, quia nihil facultatis scripserim templo huic quo requiesco; et nescit, quia quidquid pretiosius habui ibidem dereliqui, id est glebam corporis mei". At illi dixerunt: "Iniuste fecit, ut detraheret servo Dei". Conversusque sanctus ad presbiterum, pugnis palmisque guttur eius inlisit, dicens: "Peccator conterendae, desine stulte loqui!" Expergefactus autem presbiter, tumefactis faucibus, ita doloribus coartatur, ut ipsas quoque salivas oris cum labore possit maximo degluttire. Unde factum est, ut per dies 40 lectulo decubans graviter cruciaretur; sed invocato confessoris nomine, sanitati redditus, numquam ausus est ea verba quae prius praesumpserat garrulare. <br><br>'When the period fixed by Roman law before a dead person's will could be read out in public had come to an end, the testament of this pontiff [Nicetius] was brought to the forum where, before the crowds of people, it was opened and read out by the judge. Then a priest of the basilica swelled with rage because the saint had left nothing to that church in which he was buried, and he said "Many people used to say that Nicetius was insensitive; it can now clearly be seen, since he has left nothing to the church in which he was buried." But the following night he appeared in shining robes to the priest, accompanied by two bishops, Justus and Eucherius, to whom he said, "This priest, my very holy brothers, covered me with blasphemies when he said that I had left nothing to this temple in which I rest. He does not realise that I have left there the most precious thing I have, the dust of my body." And they replied, "It is indeed wicked to disparage a servant of God." The holy man turned to the priest and hit him on the throat with his fists and hands saying "Sinner you ought to be crushed underfoot; cease your stupid mutterings!" The priest woke up with a swollen throat, which was so painful that he could swallow his saliva only with great difficulty. He had to stay in bed for forty days in considerable pain, but having called on the name of the confessor he was restored to health, and never again dared to prate such words as he had earlier presumed to do.' <br><br>Text: Krusch 1969, 245-246. Translation: James 1991, 54-56.