The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity

Constantius of Lyon, Life of Germanus of Auxerre 38

For a full account of Constantius' Life of Germanus, see E05841.

This incident takes place while Germanus is in Ravenna, shortly before his death. It follows his miraculous freeing of prisoners (E08585), after a brief passage (§ 37) which describes how he was always surrounded by crowds, with an unspecific statement that 'the sick were healed' (sanabantur infirmi), and constantly attended by six bishops who later bore witness to his acts.

Volusiani cuiusdam filius, qui tum patricii Segisuulti cancellis praeerat, succensus igne febrium uexabatur et ita aestuantis uaporis accensio adulescentis medullas corpusque consumpserat, ut desperatio conclamata sequeretur. Medici manus et promissa iam subtrahunt; luctusque solus parentibus reseruatur. Ad beatum uirum spes tarda conuertitur, parentes cum amicis omnibus et propinquis sancti genibus inplicantur. Additur etiam intercessio sacerdotum cum quibus festinus expetit aegrotantem, euntibusque cursor obuius adulescentem iam mortuum nuntiauit nec esse causam qua se uir uenerabilis fatigaret.
      Insistunt tamen antistites, supplicat multitudo et coeptum misericordiae inpleret officium. Inueniunt corpus exanime et, uitae calore depulso, mortis rigore iam frigidum, depositaque pro animae requie oratione, remeabant: cum subito multitudinis luctus adtollitur, inhaerent senioris sui manibus sacerdotes ut pro parentum orbitate et defuncti reditu Domino supplicaret. Diu restitit sancto pudore confusus; cessit tandem misericordiae et caritatis imperio. Fidei arma concutiens turbas eiecit mortuoque in oratione prostratus adiungitur. Rigat lacrimis terram, in caelum alti gemitus porriguntur, uocat planctibus Christum. Interea mouetur exanimis et paulatim membris emortuis uitalia redduntur officia. Oculi lucem quaerunt, micant digiti, lingua iam resonat; uterque consurgit, ille de oratione, iste de morte.
      Germanus manu alleuat dormientem; residet, respirat, reficitur, respicit, paulatimque uigore concepto integram recipit sospitatem. Redditur parentibus filius, luctus uertuntur in gaudium et uno clamore populorum uirtus maiestatis extollitur. Continuat Christus uirtutes in famulo et mox recipiendum in requiem miraculorum laude sublimat.

'A man named Volusianus, who then directed the chancellory of Segisvultus the Patrician, had a son who was suffering from a burning fever. The heat of his blood had so wasted the boy's bodily strength that his condition was openly despaired of. The doctors could do no more and gave no hope, and the parents resigned themselves to mourning. Then a belated hope sprang up; they thought of the man of blessings. They clung to his knees, their friends and neighbours with them, and the attendant bishops aided their pleading. With them he hastened to the sick-bed but they were met by a runner saying that the boy was dead and that it was useless for the holy man to tire himself.
      But the prelates urged him on and the crowd begged him not to leave one of his works of mercy unfinished. They found the body lifeless, with the warmth of life departed, and already stiffening in the cold of death. With a prayer for his soul they were turning back, when suddenly the bystanders raised a cry of grief and the bishops clung to the hand of their elder to make him petition the Lord on behalf of the bereaved parents for the dead boy's return to life. For a long time he resisted them, full of embarrassment in his humility; but at last he yielded to pity and to the demands of charity. Girding himself with the weapons of faith, he sent the bystanders out and stretched himself out upon the corpse in prayer. He watered the ground with his prayers, his deep groans went up to heaven, he called upon Christ with his sighs. Presently the dead moved and, little by little, the lifeless organs resumed their normal functions. The eyes opened to the light, the fingers twitched, at last the tongue uttered sounds. Both rose, the one from prayer, the other from death.
      Germanus lifted the sleeper by the hand and he sat up, drew a breath, pulled himself together and looked about him. Little by little he regained strength, and full health returned. Thus a son was restored to his parents, mourning was turned into joy and the power of God's majesty was acclaimed by the united voice of his people. And Christ continued to show His power through His servant and made him shine more than ever with the glory of miracles, since he was soon to be called to his rest.'

Constantius goes on to describe the healing of the adopted son of the eunuch Acolius: E06023.


Text: Borius 1965.
Translation: Hoare 1954, modified.

Miracle during lifetime
Healing diseases and disabilities
Power over life and death

Ecclesiastics - bishops
Children
Officials
Crowds

Source

Discussion

Bibliography