E00536: Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Martyrs (36), tells of relics of *Clement (bishop and martyr of Rome, S00111) being brought to the territory of Limoges (western Gaul); their authenticity was proved when they miraculously regenerate a dry spring, invoked by the prayers of *Aredius (monk of Limoges, ob. 591, S00302). Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 580/594.
Creators: name: Kwojtalik
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2015
Subjects: History

description: Gregory of Tours, Glory of the Martyrs 36<br><br>A spring in the territory of Limoges, which had provided abundant water to sustain crops and plants, dried up, or rather moved to the middle of a swamp, where it was of no use.<br><br>Tertio quoque anno accidit, ut quidam iter agens beati Clementis martyris, cui iam supra meminimus, reliquias exhiberet, quas Aridio ipsius urbis presbitero, viro in omni sanctitate religioso, detulit. Ad quem cum die noctuque vicinia maesta penderent, confisi de eius oratione, quod, si peteret Dominum, fontem possit suo restituere loco, ait: "Eamus", inquid, "dilectissimi, et si vera sunt, quae portitor noster adseruit, haec esse Clementis martyris pignora, nunc apparebit, cum eius fuerit virtus manifestata". Tunc cum psallentio ad locum fontis accedit. Et dictis psalmis, in oratione prosternitur; positisque sanctis reliquiis in ipso fontis aditu, petiit, ut, qui quondam in deserto damnatis ad secanda marmora flumen inriguum patefecit, in hunc locum aquas, quas prius pia indulserat clementia, Clementis iterum intercessio revocaret. Ilico vena recurrit ad aditum, magnas evomens aquas, illumque quem prius tenuerat alveum decurrendo replevit; admirantibus populis, inmensae gratiae Domino referuntur, qui et martyris virtutem prodidit et fidelis sui orationem implere dignatus est.<br><br>'But in the third year [of the drought] a man happened to travel by and displayed relics (reliquias) of the blessed martyr Clement, whom I have already mentioned. He brought these relics to Aredius, a priest of Limoges and a man devout in all holiness. Day and night the [people in the] neighbourhood sadly gathered around Aredius. Since they trusted his prayer that, if he petitioned the Lord, the Lord was able to restore the spring to its proper spot, Aredius said: 'Beloved brothers, let us arise. If the claim of our traveller that these are relics (pignora) of the martyr Clement is true, then it will be apparent when his power is revealed.' With the accompaniment of the chanting of psalms he went to the [former] location of the spring. After the chanting of the psalms he knelt in prayer and placed the holy relics in the source of the spring. He prayed that [just as] intercession had once revealed to those condemned in the desert the refreshing water from a split rock [Numbers 20: II], so again the intercession of Clement should recall to this spot the water which faithful mercy had earlier granted. Immediately the flow of water reappeared at the source, and it spewed out [so] much water [that] it filled and overflowed the banks that had earlier contained it. The people were full of wonder and gave great thanks to the Lord, who had displayed the power of the martyr and had deigned to grant the prayer of his faithful [servant Aredius].'<br><br>Text: Krusch 1969, 61. Translation: Van Dam 2004, 34-35, lightly modified.