E02705: Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Confessors (78), tells how *Remigius (bishop of Reims, ob. c. 533, S00456) from his grave punished a man with death, who had unjustly occupied a field given to the church of Reims (north-east Gaul). 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 78<br><br>During his episcopacy, Remigius, the bishop of Reims, revived a dead girl, cured ill people and was an avenger (ultor) against invaders of church property. Not far from his basilica there was a field that had been given to the church. One of the citizens scorned the man who had donated this field and occupied it. He was reprimanded by the bishop and the abbot, but always refused to surrender the field.<br><br>Denique causa extitit et non devotio, ut Remensim urbem adiret; properat ad sancti basilicam. Arguitur iterum ab abbate pro pervasione campi; sed nihil dignum rationi respondit. Explicitisque negotiis, ascenso equo, ad domum redire disponit; sed obstat nisu eius sacerdotis iniuria. Nam sauciatus a sanguine, diruit in terram; obligatur lingua, quae locuta fuerat, campum tolli; clauduntur oculi, qui concupierant; manus contrahuntur, quae adprehenderant. Tunc balbutiens et vix sermonem explicare potens, ait: 'Deferte me ad basilicam sancti et quantumcumque super me est auri ad sepulchrum eius proiecite. Peccavi enim auferendo res eius'. Aspiciens autem dator campi hunc cum muneribus venientem, ait: 'Ne aspicias, quaeso, sanctae Dei, munera eius, quae numquam accipere consuisti; ne sis, deprecor, adiutor eius, qui, inflammante concupiscentia, rerum tuarum nequam possessor exsistit'. Nec distulit sanctus audire vocem pauperis sui. Nam homo ille, licet dedisset munera, rediens tamen domum, amisit spiritum, recepitque eclesia res suas.<br> <br>'Then business, not piety, took him [the man who had seized the field] to Reims. He hurried to the church of the saint. Again the abbot denounced him for seizing the field; but he replied with nothing worthy of rational thinking. When his business was completed, he mounted his horse and prepared to return home. But the wrong done to the bishop was an obstacle to his intention. For the man had an apoplectic stroke and fell to the ground. His tongue that had suggested that the field be taken was bound, his eyes that had coveted it were closed, and his hands that had seized the field were contracted. Stuttering and was barely able to speak, he said: ‘Carry me to the church of the saint and throw on his tomb however much gold I have. For I have sinned by stealing his property.’ The man who had donated the field saw him coming with his gifts and said: ‘Saint of God, I ask you, do not look at his gifts that you never used to accept. I pray you, do not assist this man who under the influence of his burning lust was the wicked possessor of your properties.’ The saint did not delay in hearing the voice of the poor man. For although that other man presented gifts, upon returning home he gave up his spirit and the church recovered its properties.'<br><br>The chapter concludes with a second miracle of Remigius: his saving of Reims from plague ($E02706).<br><br><br>Text: Krusch 1969, 344-345. Translation: Van Dam 2004, 58, modified. <br>