The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity

Life of Gaugeric, Bishop of Cambrai (Vita sancti Gaugerici episcopi Cameracensis, BHL 3286, CPL 2103)

Summary

'Here begins the Life of Saint Gaugeric, bishop and confessor, III. Id. Aug. (11 August)'
(1) On Gaugeric's upbringing at Ivois (oppido Ebosio) by Gaudentius and Austadiola, his parents of Roman birth (parentibus... Romanis nationes). (2) How Magnericus, the bishop of Trier, learnt of the boy while passing through the town on a pastoral visitation, (3) and ordained him into the clergy with his own hands, (4) encouraging him to take up fasts and vigils, and to remember the psalter by heart: with this accomplished, the bishop immediately made him (continuo benedixit) a deacon. (5) How as a deacon Gaugeric came across a pagan leper, whom he brought to the town's priest for baptism, who then ordained him into the clerical office as soon as he was taken from the font; how that man later became a deacon and then priest.

(6) How, on the death of the bishop of Cambrai, all the clergy and people of that city petitioned Childebert, king of the Austrasians, that Gaugeric might be ordained his successor, and how the king sent letters to Egidius, bishop of Reims, ordering him to undertake the consecration. (7) How on that day Gaugeric asked Count Wado to free twelve prisoners in the city: when he refused, they were freed miraculously by his prayer. (8) How a similar request to free three prisoners was denied by the tribune Walcharius during the rogation days, and how he prayed outside the prison for their release. (9) How he prayed for the absolution of two boys sentenced to death by Landeric, mayor of the household of King Chlothar.

(10) How Gaugeric was sent to the tomb of the confessor *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050) by the 'most pious' King Chlothar 'to bestow many gifts for the provision of the poor' (ad sepulchrum beati Martini confessoris a memorato piissimo Chlodhario rege cum multis muneribus in dispensatione pauperum erogandum Toronis fuisset directus). How Gaugeric healed a blind man while passing through the Touraine.

(11) On Gaugeric's visit to the estates owned by his church in the territory of Périgueux, and the miracle which took place when he prayed at the tomb of the confessor *Frons (confessor of Périgueux, date unknown, S02946), when his staff became soldered upright into the ground (baculus... inplumbatus stetit firmatus). (12) How, in the territory of Fano-Martinse, he prayed for the absolution of some boys being led away for sale, who escaped to him while their merchant was asleep.

(13) On Gaugeric's death on 3rd of the Ides of August (11 August), after he had held the bishopric for thirty-nine years: he is buried in the basilica of the confessor *Medard (bishop of Vermand, ob. c. 500, S00168) at Cambrai, which he ordered to be built in his lifetime, having destroyed the idols there (quem ipse uiuens edificare iussit in loco, unde idola distruere procurauit).

(14) On his successor Bertoald, an 'apostolic man of Frankish birth' (uir apostolicus ex Francorum natione). How after his death, Gaugeric's bed (lectulus) was installed in the basilica of Saint Medard; and how a few days later Gaugeric appeared in a dream (nocte apparuit... per uisum) to Bertoald, and granted him his wish: that the locations of their beds would be changed. How Gaugeric's bed was then returned to the bedroom, psalms were sung, and an altar was set up and blessed, where relics were interred and to which the clergy ministered (beati pontificis lectulum cum digno psallentio in loco suum reduxit et in ipso cubiculo altarium constabiliuit, et reliquiis positis, cum ueneratione qua decuit benedixit, ubi adsidue uota redduntur, et minsteria a clericis celebrantur).

(15) On the thief Launeric, who one night went into the basilica and despoiled the bishop's tomb (sepulchrum beati pontificis furtu sceleris exploiauit). How Gaugeric then appeared in a vision to Baudegisil, the guardian (custos) of the basilica, who ran straight there and found the thief; and how, having grabbed back the spoils, Baudegisil allowed Launeric to flee to the basilica of Saint *Quintinus (martyr of Saint-Quentin, S00379), from which he was thrown out: he died a few years later (retentis spoliis, latronem ad basilicam sancti Quintini fugere permisit: excussatus exinde egressus est et paucos postea uixit annos).

(16) How healings take place daily at the tomb for whose who seek such with faith (fideliter expetierit): the blind are healed, the lame walk, the deaf hear, the mute speak.


Text: Krusch 1896
Summary: B. Savill

Eucharist associated with cult
Chant and religious singing
Ceremony of dedication

Saint’s feast

Cult building - independent (church)
Cult building - dependent (chapel, baptistery, etc.)
Altar
Burial site of a saint - tomb/grave
Place associated with saint's life

Prayer/supplication/invocation
Bequests, donations, gifts and offerings
Composing and translating saint-related texts
Distribution of alms
Visiting graves and shrines
Seeking asylum at church/shrine
Construction of cult buildings

Miracle during lifetime
Miracle after death
Healing diseases and disabilities
Apparition, vision, dream, revelation
Freeing prisoners, exiles, captives, slaves
Saint aiding or preventing the translation of relics

Unspecified relic
Bodily relic - entire body
Contact relic - saint’s possession and clothes
Transfer, translation and deposition of relics

Children
Ecclesiastics - bishops
Ecclesiastics - lesser clergy
Pagans
Monarchs and their family
Officials
Torturers/Executioners
Merchants and artisans
Slaves/ servants
Prisoners

Source

Discussion

Bibliography