E00176: Gregory of Tours, in his Life of *Friardus (recluse near Nantes, ob. 573, S00078), recounts how, Secundellus, Friardus' fellow recluse on an island near Nantes (north-west Gaul), was deceived by the devil and believed he was a saint. From Gregory's Life of the Fathers, written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 573/594.
Creators: name: Kwojtalik
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2014
Subjects: History

description: Gregory of Tours, Life of the Fathers 10.2<br><br>Friardus decided to withdraw from the world, and with two companions went to the island of Vindunitta, in the territory of Nantes. One of the companions leaves after a short time. <br><br>Sanctus vero Friardus cum Secundello diacono in supradicta insola stetit immobilis. Habebat tamen uterque eorum propriam cellulam, sed procul a se positam. Cumque strenuae in oratione persisterent, nocte Secundello diacono apparuit temptator in specie Domini, dicens: "Ego sum Christus, quem cotidie deprecaris. Iam enim sanctus effectus es, et nomen tuum in libro vitae cum reliquis sanctis meis adscripsi. Egredere nunc ab hac insola et vade, fac sanitates in populos". His et ille inlectus deceptionibus, discessit ab insola nec satelliti nuntiavit. Tamen, cum infirmis in nomine Christi manus inponeret, sanabantur. Regressus autem [valde] post multum tempus ad insolam, venit ad socium cum vana gloria, dicens: "Abii enim extra insolam et virtutes multas in populis feci".Cumque conterritus ille interrogaret, quid hoc sibi vellet, cuncta quae gesserat simpliciter pandit. At senior obstupiscens suspiransque et lacrimans, ait: "Vae nobis, in quantum audio, a temptatore delusus es! Vade, age paenitentiam, ne ultra tibi praevaleant eius doli!" Quod ille intellegens et perisse se timens, cum fletu ad pedes eius prosternitur, rogans, ut pro se Dominum deprecaretur. [Et ille]: "Vade", inquid, "et pariter eius omnipotentiam pro salute animae tuae poscamus. Non est enim difficilis Dominus se confitentibus miserere, cum ipse per prophetam dicat: Nolo mortem peccatoris, sed ut convertatur et vivat". Orantibus autem illis, advenit iterum temptator in similem speciem ad Secundellum diac. 10, p., dicens: "Nonne praeceperam tibi, eo quod oves meae morbidae essent et pastorem indigerent, ut egrederes et visitares atque opem sanitatis eis tribueres?" Et ille: "In veritate enim conperi, quod seductor sis, neque te Deum credo, cuius te speciem mentiris habere. Tamen, si Christus es, crucem tuam, quo reliquisti, ipsam ostende, et credam tibi". Cumque non ostenderet, diaconus crucem Domini in os eius faciens, confusus evanuit. Rursumque ad eum veniens cum multitudine daemonum, tanta eum caede mactavit, ut vix putaretur evadere. Et discedens, nusquam conparuit. Idem postea diaconus in summa sanctitate perdurans, die debito defunctus est.<br><br>'But St Friardus remained on the island with the deacon Secundellus, and did not leave it. They each had their own cell, far removed from the other. And as they courageously persevered in prayer the Tempter appeared during the night to the deacon Secundellus, in the shape of the Lord, saying "I am Christ, to whom you pray each day. Already you are a saint and I have inscribed your name in the book of life together with my other saints. Leave this island, therefore, and go and work cures among the people." He was deceived by this lie and left the island without saying anything to his companion. And when he put his hands on the sick in the name of Christ they were cured. After a long time he returned to the island and sought out his companion and said to him with vainglory, "I left the island and I did many miracles among the people." Friardus was frightened, and asked him what he meant, and Secundellus told him simply what had happened. The older man was astonished at this story, and sighing and weeping he said "Woe on us, for as far as I understand you have been deceived by the Tempter. Go and do penance, lest his ruses overcome you." Understanding these words and fearing lest he perish, the other threw himself at his feet, begging him with tears to intercede for him before the Lord. "Come," he said, "let us pray together to the Almighty for the salvation of your soul. For the Lord readily pities those who admit their faults, since He has said by His prophet 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live" [Ezech. 33:11]." But while they prayed the Tempter appeared to the deacon Secundellus in the same guise, saying "Did I not order you to go out to my sheep and cure them, since they are ill and lack a pastor?" And he replied "I found out that you are the Tempter, and I do not believe that you are God, whose appearance you have falsely taken. However, if you are Christ, show me your cross by which you left this earth, and I shall believe in you." And as he did not show him the cross, the deacon made the sign of the cross in the face of the devil, who immediately disappeared in disorder. But he returned with a multitude of demons and attacked the deacon with so much violence that he could hardly escape. At length he withdrew and did not reappear. The deacon afterwards lived in great sanctity, and died when his time had come.'<br><br>Text: Krusch 1969, 257. Translation: James 1991, 73-74. <br><br>