E00494: Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Martyrs (27), describes the church and tomb of *Peter (the Apostle, S00036) at the Vatican in Rome, and the cult practices that take place there: in particular how supplicants lower pieces of cloth down to the grave, and also take from the shrine golden keys which have the power of healing. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 580/594.
Creators: name: Pnowakowski
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2015
Subjects: History

description: Gregory of Tours, Glory of the Martyrs 27<br><br>Gregory tells of the activity of Peter and Paul in Rome (see E00493) and continues:<br><br>Sicque dirigens spiritum vivacem in astris, sepultus est in templo quod vocitabatur antiquitus Batecanum, quattuor ordines columnarum valde admirabilium numero nonaginta sex habens. Habet etiam quattuor in altare, quod sunt simul centum, praeter illas quae ciborium sepulchri sustentant. Hoc enim sepulchrum sub altare collocatum, valde rarum habetur. Sed qui orare desiderat, reseratis cancellis, quibus locus ille ambitur, accedit super sepulchrum; et sic fenestella parvula patefacta, inmisso introrsum capite, quae necessitas promit efflagitat. Nec moratus effectus, si petitionis tantum iusta proferatur oratio. Quod si beata auferre desiderat pignora, palliolum aliquod momentana pensatum iacet intrinsecus; deinde vigilans ac ieiunans, devotissime deprecatur, ut devotionis suae virtus apostolica suffragetur. Mirum dictu! Si fides hominis praevaluerit, a tumulo palliolum elevatum ita imbuitur divina virtute, ut multo amplius, quam prius pensaverat, ponderetur; et tunc scit qui levaverit, cum eius gratia sumpsisse quod petiit. Multi enim et claves aureas ad reserandos cancellos beati sepulchri faciunt, cui ferentes pro benedictione priores, quibus infirmitates tribulantum medicantur. Omnia enim fides integra praestat. Sunt ibi et columnae mirae eligantiae candore niveo quattuor numero, quae ciborium sepulchri sustenere dicuntur.<br><br>'Then, after sending his living spirit to the stars, he [Peter] was buried in the church that for a long time has been called the Vatican. This church has four rows of truly spectacular columns, ninety-six in all. There are four more columns at the altar, which make a total of one hundred, excepting those that support the ciborium over the tomb. The tomb is located beneath the altar and is truly extraordinary. Whoever wishes to pray comes to the top of the tomb after unlocking the gratings (cancelli) that surround the spot; a small opening (fenestrella) is exposed, and the person inserts his head and requests whatever they need. No delay will result if only a just prayer of petition is offered. But if someone wishes to take away blessed relics (pignora), he weighs a little piece of cloth (palliolum) on a pair of scales and lowers it into [the tomb]; then he keeps vigils, fasts, and earnestly prays that the power of the apostle will assist his piety. Wonderful to report! If the man's faith has prevailed, when the piece of cloth is raised from the tomb it will be so soaked with divine power that it will weigh much more than it weighed previously; and the man who raised [the cloth] then knows that by its good favour he has received what he requested. Many people also fashion the gold keys for unlocking the gratings of this blessed tomb, to which they present them for a blessing; these cure the afflictions of those who suffer. For a pure faith overcomes all. In that church there are four wonderfully elegant columns that shine like snow, which we are told support the ciborium over the tomb.'<br><br>Text: Krusch 1969, 53-54. Translation: Van Dam 2004, 24, modified