E03090: Gregory of Tours, in his Miracles of Martin (2.18), recounts how Landulf, a madman from Vienne (south-east Gaul), was miraculously cured in the church of *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050) in Tours; AD 575. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 575/581.
Creators: name: Kwojtalik
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2017
Subjects: History

description: Gregory of Tours, Miracles of Martin (Libri de virtutibus sancti Martini episcopi) 2.18<br><br>A man called Landulf from the territory of Vienne was so badly tormented by demons that he travelled to Tours to seek the help of Martin. There, in the forecourt of the church, he was still attacked by the demons, but piously repelled them with the sign of the cross. The Devil then approached him in the form of Martin:<br><br>Post has autem vacuas et inanes inmissiones, cum videret inimicus, ut eumsibi vindicare non posse, dolis eum temptavit inludere. Conponens autem se in speciem veterani venit ad eum, dicens: 'Ego sum Martinus, quem invocas; surge et adora coram me, si vis recipere sanitatem'. Cui ille ait: 'Si tu es domnus Martinus, fac super me signum crucis, et credam'. At ille, audito nomine signi sibi semper contrarii, tamquam fumus evanuit. Post haec autem stans ad pedes gloriosi domni factus est in stupore mentis, et vidit beatam basilicam novo lumine effulgere; ex qua egrediens, sanctus dixit ad eum: 'Exaudita est oratio tua, et ecce eris sanus ab infirmitate qua pateris!' Et sic beatae crucis signaculum super caput eius faciens, abscessit. Ille vero in se reversus, amota omni insidia, sensit se salutem integram recepisse. Tamen post receptam sanitatem, cum coepisset vinum uti superflue, corpusque a diu abstento imbre maduisset, latus ei cum uno pede manuque contrahitur'. Sed parsimoniae se iterum deputans caputque tunsorans, rursum beati virtute redditur sanitati.<br><br>'After these ineffective and unsuccessful threats, and when the Enemy saw that he was unable to claim the man for himself, he attempted to delude him with guile. Transforming himself into the appearance of a veteran soldier, he came to the man, and said: 'I am the Martin whom you are invoking. Rise and pray before me, if you wish to recover your health.' Landulf replied to him: 'If you are lord Martin, make the sign of the cross over me; then I will believe.' But once the demon heard the name of the sign [of the cross] that is always opposed to him, he vanished as if smoke. After thus, Landulf stood at the feet of his glorious lord [Martin] and was affected by a mental daze; he saw that the blessed church was shining in a fresh light. The saint came out of the church and said to him: 'Your prayer has been heard, and behold! you will be healed of the illness from which you suffer.' And so he made the sign of the blessed cross over his head and departed. Once Landulf returned to his senses, all his attacks had departed, and he felt that he had recovered his original health. But after the recovery of his health he began to drink wine to excess; and after he had besotted his body that had long abstained from wine, his side, one foot, and a hand stiffened up. But when he again dedicated himself to abstinence and tonsured his head, again he was restored to his health by the power of the blessed [Martin].'<br><br>Text: Krusch 1969, 165. Translation: Van Dam 1993, 237-238, lightly modified (de Nie 2015, 569-571).