E02805: Gregory of Tours, in his Miracles of Martin (1.6), recounts how Perpetuus, bishop of Tours (c. 460-490), built a new church to house the body of *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050), and, with miraculous help, transferred into it the body of the saint. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 573/576.
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) 1.6<br><br>Anno sexagesimo quarto post transitum gloriosi domni Martini beatus Perpetuus Turonicae sedis cathedram sortitus est dignitatis. Adeptusque hunc apicem, cum magno votorum consensu fundamenta templi ampliora quam fuerant supra beata membra locare disposuit. Quod sagaci insistens studio, mirifice mancipavit effectui. De qua fabrica multum quod loqueremur erat; sed, quia praesens est, conticere exinde melius putavimus. Adveniente ergo optato tempore sacerdoti, ut templum dedicaretur, et sanctum corpusculum a loco ubi sepultum fuerat transferretur, convocavit beatus Perpetuus ad diem festum vicinos pontifices, sed et abbatum ac diversorum clericorum non minimam multitudinem. Et quia hoc in Kalendis lulii agere volebat, vigilata una nocte, facto mane, accepto sarculo, terram quae super sanctum erat tumulum coeperunt effodere. Quo detecto, manus, ut eum commoverent, iniciunt, ibique multitudo tota laborans, nihil prorsus per totam diem proficit. Vigilata denique alia nocte, mane temptantes iterum nihil omnino agere potuerunt. Tunc conturbati atque exterriti, quid facerent nesciebant. Dicit eis unus ex clericis: 'Scitis, quia post hunc triduum natalis episcopati eius esse consueverat, et forsitan in hac die se transferri vos admonet'. Tunc ieiuniis et orationibus ac iugi psallentio die noctuque insistentes, triduum illud continuatione duxerunt. Quarta autem die accedentes ponentesque manus, non valebant penitus movere sepulchrum. Pavore autem omnes exterriti, iam in hoc stantes, ut terra vasculum quod detexerant operirent, apparuit eis veneranda canities senis, ad instar nivis candorem efferens, dicens se esse abbatem, ait eis: 'Usquequo conturbamini et tardatis? Non videtis domnum Martinum stantem vobis iuvare paratum, si manus adponitis?' Tunc iactans pallium quod utebatur, posuit manum ad sarcofagum cum reliquis sacerdotibus, crucibus paratis et cereis, inpositaque antephonam, dederunt cuncti voces psallentium in excelso. Tamen ad senis conatum protinus sarcofagum in summa levitate commotum, in loco ubi nunc adoratur, Domino annuente, perducitur. Quod ad voluntatem sacerdotis conpositum, dictis etiam missis, ut ventum est ad convivium, requirentes sollicite senem, nequaquam repperiunt. Sed nec homo quidem extetit, qui eum de basilica exire vidisset. <br><br>'Sixty-four years after the death of the glorious lord Martin the blessed Perpetuus became bishop of the honorable see of Tours. After he acquired this high office he decided, in agreement with many prayers, to lay the foundations for a larger church than had previously been over the blessed body. He encouraged this project with wise enthusiasm and completed it with marvelous workmanship. There is much that I might say about this building; but since it is still here, I have decided it is therefore better to be silent. When the blessed bishop Perpetuus came at the anticipated time to dedicate the church and to transfer the holy body from the spot where it had been buried, he assembled the neighboring bishops for the festival day as well as a large crowd of abbots and various clerics. Since he wished to complete [this transfer] on the calends of July, they kept vigils during the night. When morning came, they [each] took a hoe and began to dig up the dirt that was on top of the holy coffin. They uncovered the coffin and took hold to move it; but even though the entire crowd worked, it accomplished nothing at all during the entire day. They kept vigils for another night and tried again in the morning; but again they were unable to accomplish anything at all. Then they were upset and frightened and did not know what they might do. One of the monks said to them: “You know that it has been customary to observe this bishop’s anniversary in three days; perhaps he is telling you that he is to be transferred on that day.” Day and night they devoted themselves to fasts and prayers and constant chanting of Psalms, and they passed those three days without interruption. On the fourth day they went, took hold of the coffin, but were unable to move it at all. Everyone was horrified with fear, and they were already on the verge of covering with dirt the body that they had uncovered. Then there appeared to them a distinguished old man with white hair that gleamed like snow who said that he was an abbot. He said to them: “How long are you to be confused and delay? Do you not see lord Martin standing ready to assist you, if you take hold?” He tossed aside the cloak he was wearing and took hold of the sarcophagus with the other bishops. They prepared crosses and candles and recited the antiphon, and everyone chanted Psalms on high. Then with the old man’s assistance the sarcophagus was very easily lifted and immediately moved to the place where it is now honored with the approval of the Lord. This was accomplished in accordance with the wishes of Bishop Perpetuus. After the celebration of mass they went to a banquet, and although they looked carefully for the old man, they never found him; but there was no one who had seen him leave the church.'<br><br>Text: Krusch 1969, 141-142. Translation: Van Dam 1993, 208-209.