E00791: Sulpicius Severus tells of *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours in Gaul, ob. 397, S00050) acting before God as a patron of a deceased man and eventually raising him from the dead, all in Marmoutier, near Poitiers (western Gaul), c. 361/372 AD. Account in the Life of Martin, written Latin, in Primuliacum (south west Gaul), c. 396.
Creators: name: Robert
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2015
Subjects: History

description: Sulpicius Severus, Life of Martin 7<br><br>A novice catechumen has been dead for three days when Martin arrives. <br><br>Corpus in medio positum tristi maerentium fratrum frequentabatur officio cum Martinus flens et eiulans accurrit. <br>Tum vero tota sanctum spiritum mente concipiens egredi cellulam in qua corpus iacebat ceteros iubet ac foribus obseratis super exanimata defuncti fratris membra prosternitur. Et cum aliquandiu orationi incubuisset sensisset que per spiritum domini adesse virtutem erectus paululum et in defuncti ora defixus orationis suae ac misericordiae domini intrepidus expectabat eventum. Vix que duarum fere horarum spatium intercesserat videt defunctum paulatim membris omnibus commoveri et laxatis in usum videndi palpitare luminibus. Tum vero magna ad dominum voce conversus gratias agens cellulam clamore conpleverat. Quo audito qui pro foribus adstiterant statim inruunt. Mirum spectaculum quod videbant vivere quem mortuum reliquissent. Ita redditus vitae statim baptismum consecutus plures postea vixit annos primus que apud nos Martini virtutum vel materia vel testimonium fuit. Idem tamen referre erat solitus se corpore exutum ad tribunal iudicis ductum deputandum que obscuris locis et vulgaribus turbis tristem excepisse sententiam tum per duos angelos iudici fuisse suggestum hunc esse pro quo martinus oraret ita per eosdem angelos se iussum reduci et Martino redditum vitae que pristinae restitutum. Ab hoc primum tempore beati viri nomen enituit ut qui sanctus iam ab omnibus habebatur potens etiam et vere apostolicus haberetur.<br><br>'The body being laid out in public was being honoured by the last sad offices on the part of the mourning brethren, when Martin hurries up to them with tears and lamentations. But then laying hold, as it were, of the Holy Spirit, with the whole powers of his mind, he orders the others to quit the cell in which the body was lying; and bolting the door, he stretches himself at full length on the dead limbs of the departed brother. Having given himself for some time to earnest prayer, and perceiving by means of the Spirit of God that power was present, he then rose up for a little, and gazing on the countenance of the deceased, he waited without misgiving for the result of his prayer and of the mercy of the Lord. And scarcely had the space of two hours elapsed, when he saw the dead man begin to move a little in all his members, and to tremble with his eyes opened for the practice of sight. Then indeed, turning to the Lord with a loud voice and giving thanks, he filled the cell with his ejaculations. Hearing the noise, those who had been standing at the door immediately rush inside. And truly a marvellous spectacle met them, for they beheld the man alive whom they had formerly left dead. Thus being restored to life, and having immediately obtained baptism, he lived for many years afterwards; and he was the first who offered himself to us both as a subject that had experienced the miraculous power (virtutes) of Martin, and as a witness to their existence. The same man was wont to relate that, when he left the body, he was brought before the tribunal of the Judge, and being assigned to gloomy regions and vulgar crowds, he received a severe sentence. Then, however, he added, it was suggested by two angels of the Judge that he was the man for whom Martin was praying; and that, on this account, he was ordered to be led back by the same angels, and given up to Martin, and restored to his former life. From this time forward, the name of the sainted man became illustrious, so that, as being reckoned holy by all, he was also deemed a powerful and truly apostolic man.'<br><br>Text: Fontaine 1967. Translation: Roberts 1894, slightly adapted.