E00660: Gregory of Tours, in the final chapter of his Glory of the Martyrs (106), tells the story of a diabolical fly confounded by the sign of the Cross, and then presents his considerations on how we should imitate the martyrs and seek their patronage, to help us now and at the Day of Judgement. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 580/594.
Creators: name: Admin, CSLA
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2015
Subjects: History

description: Gregory of Tours, Glory of the Martyrs 106<br><br>Pannichius Pictavensis termini presbiter, dum ad convivium cum amicis quos evocaverat resederet, poculum poscit. Quo accepto, musca inportunior circumvolans inquinare poculum nitebatur. Quod cum saepius manu presbiter abigisset, et illa paulum elevans rursus reverti niteretur, sensit esse insidiam inimici, susceptumque laeva poculum, de dextera crucem facit; mox in quattuor divisum partibus, liquor qui inerat, elevata in excelso unda, terrae diffunditur; patuit namque manifestissime fuisse haec insidiam inimici. <br><br>Ergo et tu, si viriliter et non tepide signum vel fronti vel pectori salutare superponas, tunc resistendo vitiis martyr habeberis, quia et ipsi martyres ea quae vicerunt non suis viribus, sed Dei haec auxiliis per signaculum crucis gloriosissime peregerunt, in quibus, ut saepe diximus, ipse Dominus et dimicat et triumphat. Unde oportet nobis eorum patrocinia expetere, ut eorum mereamur suffragiis adiuvari, vel, quod nostris digni non sumus meritis obtenere, eorum possimus intercessionibus adipisci, ut adiutorio sacratae Trinitatis usi, effici mereamur martyres, carnalibus desideriis abdicatis, ut ipse dicit, qui pro se fideliter dimicantes lapidibus pretiosis coronat in caelo; alumnos cultoresque amicorum suorum protegere dignetur in saeculo ac praestet, ut adsistant martyres invocati a suis, quos post victoriam paradisus beatitudinis retenet inmortales; ut in illo examinationis tempore, cum illos gloria aeterna circumdat, nos aut excuset mediatrix venia aut levis poena pertranseat; nec damnet reos pro criminis actione in perpetuo, quos pretiosi sanguinis commertio reparavit.<br><br>'A priest of from the borders of Poitiers named Pannichius asked for a cup when he sat down at a banquet with the friends whom he had invited. After he received it, an annoying fly buzzed around and tried to contaminate the cup. The priest often shooed the fly away with his hand. When the fly again flew up and tried to return, the priest knew that it was a trick of the enemy. He took the cup in his left hand and made the sign of the cross with his right hand. The cup shattered into four pieces, and the liquid in it, thrown up in a wave into the air, scattered on the ground. It was very clear that this was a trick of the enemy.<br><br>So you too, manfully and firmly placing the sign of salvation on your forehead or your chest, and then resisting vices, will be considered a martyr. For the martyrs themselves achieved their victories not by their own strength but with the assistance of God through the most glorious sign of the cross. As I have often said, the Lord himself struggles and triumphs in the martyrs. Therefore it is necessary for us to seek the patronage of the martyrs, so that we might be worthy to be helped by their assistance. What we are not worthy to obtain by our own merits, we can receive by their intercessions. Hence, by using the aid of the sacred Trinity and by rejecting the desires of the flesh we are worthy to become martyrs, as was said by Him who crowns with precious jewels in heaven those who faithfully struggle for Him. He deigns to protect in this world His pupils and those who respect his friends. He ensures that the martyrs whom he receives after their victory as immortals in the beauty of Paradise will be of assistance when invoked by his people. So that at the time of Judgement, when eternal glory surrounds the martyrs, either the mercy of their mediation may excuse us or a lenient penalty may pass over us, and He does not condemn for eternity those accused in the trial, whom he redeemed with the price of precious blood.'<br><br>Text: Krusch 1969, 110-111. Translation: Van Dam 2004, 101-102, modified.