Sulpicius Severus, in his Letter 2, describes a vision he had of *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050) and *Clarus (disciple of Martin, ob. c. 397, S00479), shortly after the former's death, and expresses his belief that Martin attained martyrdom 'without blood' and will be his patron in heaven. Written in Latin in Primuliacum (south-west Gaul), in 397.
E00693
Literary - Letters
Literary - Hagiographical - Other saint-related texts
Sulpicius Severus
Sulpicius Severus, Letter 2 (to the deacon Aurelius)
Martin appears to Sulpicius Severus in a dream vision in white garments and with a shining face, holding in his hand the book describing his life, written by Sulpicius. He blesses the latter and is taken into heaven. Then the author sees Clarus (sanctus Clarus), a monk of Marmoutier, following Martin. Shortly afterwards Sulpicius learns of the death of Martin and expresses both his grief and hope in Martin's patronage and high position in heaven:
Praemisi quidem patronum sed solacium vitae praesentis amisi etsi si rationem ullam dolor admitteret gaudere deberem. Est enim ille consertus apostolis ac prophetis et quod pace sanctorum omnium dixerim in illo iustorum grege nulli secundus ut spero credo et confido illis potissimum qui stolas suas in sanguine laverunt adgregatus agnum ducem ab omni integer labe comitatur.
'I have sent on before me a patron, but I have, at the same time, lost my source of consolation in this present life; yet if grief would yield to reason, I certainly ought to rejoice. For he is now mingling among the Apostles and Prophets, and (with all respect for the saints on high be it said) he is second to no one in that assembly of the righteous as I firmly hope, believe, and trust, being joined especially to those who washed their robes in blood, and follows the Lamb free of any stain.'
There follows a passage of praise for Martin, declaring that had he lived during the persecutions, he would have sought martyrdom and eagerly accepted any torment. Still, Martin suffered much during his lifetime and his sufferings can be qualified as a martyrdom:
Sed quamquam ista non tulerit inplevit tamen sine cruore martyrium.
'But although he did in fact suffer none of these things, yet he fully attained to the honour of martyrdom without shedding his blood.'
Finally, the author returns to the issue of Martin's intercession:
Quod mihi ipse sum conscius conscendere arduum illud iter ac penetralia non potero ita sarcina molesta me praegravat et peccati mole depressum negato in astra conscensu saeva miserabilem ducit in tartara. Spes tamen superest illa sola illa postrema ut quod per nos obtinere non possumus saltim pro nobis orante Martino mereamur.
'To such a degree does a miserable burden press me down; and while I cannot, through the load of sin which overwhelms me, secure an ascent to heaven, the cruel pressure rather sinks me in my misery to the place of despair. Nevertheless, hope remains, one last and solitary hope, that, what we cannot obtain of ourselves, we may, at any rate, be worthy of through the prayers of Martin on our behalf.'
Text: Fontaine 1967.
Translation: Roberts 1894, lightly modified.
Summary: R. Wiśniewski.
Apparition, vision, dream, revelation
Theorising on SanctityConsiderations about the veneration of saints
Considerations about the hierarchy of saints
Source
Sulpicius Severus was a well-educated aristocrat who, after a career in the law, converted to the ascetic life under the influence of Martin, founding a monastic community on his estate of Primuliacum in Aquitania. He was a friend and close associate of Paulinus of Nola, from whose letters most of our knowledge of Sulpicius' life derives. He was the author of the Life of Martin, completed shortly before Martin's death in 397 (for which, see E00692), of three letters about the saint (E00635, E00691, E00693), and of the Dialogues about Martin (E00845), written in c. 404/406. In these works the saint is presented as an ideal monk and bishop, and a great miracle-worker.This letter can readily be dated to shortly after Martin's death on 11 November 397.
Discussion
This letter, written shortly after Martin's death in 397 is a very early testimony to the employment of the term patronus (patron) in reference to a saint, and to belief in the intercession of a non-martyr saint (see also E00680). Yet, when expressing this belief, Sulpicius Severus felt a need to justify it by presenting Martin's life as a bloodless martyrdom (martyrium sine cruore). This idea, which appeared already in the Life of Antony (see E00631), will be developed in later hagiography. Clarus, a disciple of Martin who died shortly before him is obviously considered to be in heaven, but this letter does not suggest that he also played the role of a patron.This vision of Martin at the time of his death, holding in his hand Sulpicius' Life, is one of the pieces of evidence that show that this was written before Martin died.
Bibliography
Edition, French translation and commentary:Fontaine, J., Sulpice Sévère,Vie de saint Martin. 3 vols. (Sources Chrétiennes 133-135; Paris: Cerf, 1967-1969).
English translations:
Hoare, F.R., The Western Fathers, being the Lives of SS. Martin of Tours, Ambrose, Augustine of Hippo, Honoratus of Arles and Germanus of Auxerre (London: Sheed and Ward, 1954), 51-55.
Roberts, A., Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers. Second Series, vol. 11 (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1894).
Further reading:
Stancliffe, C., Saint Martin and his Hagiographer: Miracle and History in Sulpicius Severus (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1983).
Robert Wiśniewski
03/09/2015
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00050 | Martin, ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397 | Martinus | Certain | S00479 | Clarus, disciple of Martin of Tours, ob. c. 397 | Clarus | Certain |
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