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The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity


from its origins to circa AD 700, across the entire Christian world


Paulinus of Périgueux writes two poems about *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050) and sends them with a covering letter to Bishop Perpetuus of Tours (bishop 458/9-488/9). One poem, written to be inscribed on the walls of Perpetuus' new church of Martin in Tours (north-west Gaul), praises the many miracles of Martin, both in his lifetime and in the present; the other describes how an account of miracles of Martin, written by Perpetuus, saved Paulinus' grandson and the latter's wife from grave illness. Written in Latin, presumably in Périgueux (western Gaul), 465/471. With new translation of the letter and of the second poem.

Evidence ID

E08121

Type of Evidence

Literary - Letters

Inscriptions - Formal inscriptions (stone, mosaic, etc.)

Literary - Hagiographical - Other saint-related texts

Paulinus of Périgueux, Letter and two poems about Martin of Tours

The covering letter

DOMINO SANCTO AC BEATISSIMO PATRONO PERPETUO EPISCOPO PAULINUS.

Iterato asinae ora reserastis, qui mihi loquendi fiduciam praestitistis, cum obtecto ore in eo loco uerecundius silentio conticescerem quam inperita uerbositate garrirem. sed quae erit de suffragii adsiduitate suggestio, ni uotum loquendo prodidero? domine sancte ac beatissime, specialis aput deum patrone conuersationis angelicae et apostolicae dignitatis: ego conscientia perurguente credideram etiam hoc fuisse nimium, quod potueras notare temerarium, ut ad illam uirtutum tam perspicuam claritatem quasi inluminandus accederem, lucemque tam claram tenebrarum mearum nube restringerem. sed benigne de his quae scripseram sentiendo duplicatis audaciam iussione, ut etiamnum illi parietes consecrati uersuum meorum ferant lituras, uel oboedientiae studiis obsequamur, qui ad remedium humilitatis inbuimur.

Versus per Domnissimum meum diaconum sicut praecepisti emisi, quos pagina in pariete reserata susciperet. Etiam illos de uisitatione nepotuli mei memor tanti fauoris adieci, quem charta inscripta uirtutibus et manu beatitudinis uestrae subscripta sanauerat. uestra praestabit oratio, ut credulitas crescat auxiliis et quae adipisci cupimus scribere, quia permittis, audeamus.


'Paulinus, to his holy and most blessed master and patron, bishop Perpetuus.

You have again opened the mouth of the ass, giving me the confidence to speak, when I would have stayed quiet, mouth shut in this place, somewhat embarrassed, rather than gabble on with ignorant verbosity. But what will be the suggestion about the constancy of your support if I do not produce a prayer by speaking, holy and most blessed master, special patron before God of the angelic way of life and apostolic dignity? I believed, at the urging of conscience, that even this was too much. You could have considered it rash, that I should approach the shining splendour of those miracles, seeking to be bathed in their light but actually cloaking that shining light with the cloud of my own darkness. But by thinking kindly about what I had written, you doubled my boldness with your commission, that even now those sacred walls might bear the anointing of my verses, and we may yield to the study of obedience, by which we are inspired towards the cure of humility.

I have sent the verses through my deacon Domnissimus, as you instructed, which the page opened on the wall may receive. Mindful of so great a favour, I have also added those about my grandson’s illness. The document, inscribed with the miracles and signed by the hand of your beatitude, nursed him back to health. Your prayer will ensure that our faith may grow with help, and what we desire to attain we might dare to write, because you permit it.'


Text: Petschenig 1888, 160-161.
Translation: Philip Beagon.



The poem for Perpetuus's new church of Martin at Tours:

Quisque solo adclinis mersisti in pulvere vultum
Humidaque inlisae pressisti lumina terrae,
Attollens oculos trepido miracula visu
Concipe et eximio causam committe patrono.
Nulla potest tantas conplecti pagina vires,                       5
Quamquam ipsa his titulis caementa et saxa notentur.
Terrenus non claudit opus, quod regia caeli
Suscipit et rutilis inscribunt sidera gemmis.
Martini si quaeris opem, trans astra resurgens
Tange polum, angelicum scrutatus in aethere coetum.     10
Illic conjunctum Domino perquire patronum,
Sectantem aeterni semper vestigia regis.
Si dubitas, ingesta oculis miracula cerne,
Quis famuli meritum verus salvator honorat.
Accedis reliquis inter tot milia testis,                               15
Dum narranda vides sollers et visa retexis.
In sanctis quidquid signavit pagina libris,
Instaurat, renovante Deo: quo munere gaudent
Caecus, clodus, inops, furiosus, anxius, aeger,
Debilis, oppressus, captivus, maestus, egenus.                20
Omnis apostolicis gaudet curatio signis.
Qui flens adfuerit, laetus redit; omnia cedunt
Nubila; quod meritum turbat, medicina serenat.
Expete praesidium: non frustra haec limina pulsas.
In cunctum perget pietas tam prodiga mundum.             25


'You who have knelt on the ground, lowered your face to the dust,
and pressed your moist eyes to the compacted ground,
lift your eyes, and with a trembling gaze look at the miracles
and entrust your cause to the distinguished patron.
No page can embrace so many miracles.                                                                       5
Even though the very blocks and stones are engraved with these inscriptions,
a terrestrial building cannot not enclose what the royal palace of heaven
acknowledges and what the stars inscribe in glittering jewels.
If you seek Martin's assistance, rise beyond the stars
and touch the heavens after having encountered the chorus of angels in the upper air.     10
There look for the patron who is joined to the Lord
and who always follows the footsteps of the eternal king.
If you doubt, look at the miracles that are heaped before your eyes
and by means of which the true Saviour honours the merit of his servant.
You come as an eyewitness among so many thousands of others                                    15
when you carefully observe what must be narrated and repeat what you have seen.
Whatever a page of the holy books [= the bible] recorded,
he [Martin] renews through the restorative power of God. These rejoice in his gift:
the blind, the lame, the poor, the possessed, the distressed, the sick,
the disabled, the oppressed, the imprisoned, the grieving, the needy.                              20
Every remedy rejoices in these apostolic miracles.
Whoever has come in tears, leaves in happiness. All clouds vanish.
A medicine soothes whatever guilt disturbs.
Seek his protection; you do not knock at these doors in vain.
Such lavish generosity extends to the entire world.'                                                       25


Text: Pietri 1983, 807-808.
Translation: Van Dam 1993, 314.



The poem on the curing of Paulinus' grandson (Versus de visitatione nepotuli siu)

Quam modicam stillam quanto torrente rependis,
sancte deus, licet ipsa huius uel guttula roris
a te tam sterili data sit uel praestita cordi.
non his obsequiis tam largum flumen egebat,
ut tenuis leuibus foliis qui decidit humor                     5
tam profluo augmentum faceret dum labitur amni,
cum magis ad ramos de ripis surgeret humor,
dum uitreus fundit nebularum stamina gurges
contiguumque rapit sitiens uicinia frigus.
inde haec gutta meas tetigit tam prodiga fauces,        10
tangeret ut murmur solidi crystalla fluenti.
quantum haec sola mihi ferret patientia donum,
ut nullam incideret felix audacia culpam:
nunc uero his etiam duplicatur gratia signis,
ut nullo te fine canam, uenerande sacerdos.               15
non finitur opus quo susciter. addita crescunt,
quae meminisse iuuet. uirtus dum proditur, adstat.
tune meas uisis lacrimas? tu fletibus illis
fers miseratus opem? te uitae altissimus auctor
exorante grauis cohibet lamenta senectae?                 20
ipsa salus uitam reuehit. deiecerat aegrum
et paene exanimem morbi uis tanta nepotem
coniunctamque eidem nubendi lege puellam,
ut uix iam tenui spirarent corpora flatu,
nec posset sollers tactus deprendere uenas                 25
subtracto pulsu filo languente latentes.
me quoque submotum pietas arcebat ab omni
officio. exosam uitabant lumina lucem,
dum poena est quodcumque uident. spes una pauentis
cor tetigit iuuenis, causam mandare patrono                30
indulti et totiens propius meminisse fauoris.
nuper contigerat perlatam euoluere chartam,
quae tanti ad nosmet meriti peruenerat, inde
innumera ut miris fulgeret gratia signis,
quis dominus ueri meritum testatus amici                     35
ornabat sanctum per dona inmensa sepulchrum.
haec signa antistes dextra signauerat alma
Perpetuus, tanti gauisus laude magistri.
hanc igitur chartam uix linguae murmure paruo
incunctante fide spes non incerta poposcit.                   40
exanimi iuueni uires fiducia fandi
praestitit et fessam laxauit gratia linguam.
ergo inter medios quos febris mouerat ignes
uirtutum palmas stomacho coniunxit anhelo
et rapuit, recolendo fidem quae scripsit, in ipsis             45
condita uisceribus quidquid conclusa tegebat
pagina, et ad uotum uelox medicina cucurrit.
exiluit iussus tanta ad miracula sudor,
creuit et ad numerum tanti quoque muneris ordo,
ut scribenda fidem faciant, quam scripta retentant.         50
non tam pernici suspendunt sucina saltu
fistucam faeni uicini glute uaporis,
quam citus ad chartam madefacti corporis humor
mandato celerante redit. spe uita reuertens
affectu quaesiuit auum quasi nuntia tanti                        55
muneris, et reliquis iussit me iungere signis
quam persensit opem. tali mandanda patrono est
causa rei. adsistit propior clementia sancti
et culpae offensam releuat tutella fauoris.
nec mora commoditas numerum praegressa dierum,        60
quo saepe ignaros spes dinumerata fefellit,
auxiliis orantis adest. nec clauditur ullis
gratia uera locis nec uires terminus artat,
quas deus adcumulat. propter curatio tangit,
qua saluator adest. tam longe abiuncta sepulchro            65
cellula suscepit, quod mens adtenta poposcit,
atque ipso ingressa est quo credita gratia puncto.
ille aeger letumque pauens uxoris amatae
fit medicus suadetque fidem mittendo salutem,
poscit et ille torus, quidquid persenserat iste.                  70
est certamen opem retinere et quaerere partem.
hic possessa timet dimittere, at illa probatis
se quoque saluari festinat credula signis.
si + dure inque uices ambo optant, ambo retentant,
atque haerens uni pietas succurrit utrique.                      75
grates, sancte, tibi, dum spiritus hos regit artus,
mens et lingua canet. nunc respice cetera clemens
membra domus, celeris reuehens fomenta salutis,
et tibi commissam propior solare senectam,
optata indulgens propere uel praestita seruans.               80



'Holy God, with what mighty flood do you requite a meagre drip! And even that dew-droplet has been gifted by you to a barren heart. So great a river has no need of our humble tribute. (5) Slight moisture, which falls from light leaves, in falling barely adds to the flowing stream. How much more rises back from banks to branches, as the glassy eddy pours forth threads of clouds and the parched environs seize greedy hold of chilled borders. Then this drop, so lavish, touched my throat and penetrated with soft whisper the crystal of my frozen veins. (12) How great a gift this endurance alone might bring to me, that my lucky boldness might fall into no error!

Now indeed grace is even doubled by these signs, that I might sing your praise without end, venerable bishop. (16) The boundless nature of the task inspires me; it grows, wonders added, may it be a joy to remember. Your virtue is present, as it is proclaimed. Do you see my tears? Do you, in your pity, bring aid to my lamentation? In response to your prayers, does the most-high author of life limit the griefs of heavy old age?

(21) Salvation itself carries back life. So great a force of illness had cast down my grandson, ill to the point of death, and the girl joined to him by law of marriage, that their bodies scarcely now breathed with slight exhalation. (25) Even the expert touch could not find the feeble thread of failing pulse in hidden veins. Caring too much, I could not offer due care. I kept my distance. My eyes avoided the hated light, while whatever they saw was punishment. A single hope touched the heart of the fearful youth – to entrust his cause to our patron, mindful of favour granted so often close to us. (32) For it so happened that he had recently unrolled a scroll which had come to us, of such great worth that infinite grace shone with the wondrous signs with which the Lord, bearing witness to the merit of a true friend, decorated his holy tomb with mighty gifts.

(37) Bishop Perpetuus had put his name to these wonders with kindly right hand, rejoicing in the praise of so great a teacher. Therefore, though scarce able to utter sound, his not uncertain hope, urged on by faith, demanded this document. (41) Faith gave the sickly youth the power of speech and grace relaxed his weary tongue. And so, amid the fiery heat engendered by the fever, he placed the glory of those miracles on his panting chest and seized, by reflecting on the faith which chiselled the store of miracles in his vitals, whatever the confined page concealed. (47)
Healing ran, swift, to his prayer. The sweat leapt forth at the command of such great miracles. The new wonder rose equal to so great a gift, so that what had to be written now might create faith as much as what was already written preserved. (51) Straw does not leap so fast to stick to amber, glued by the surrounding humidity, as quickly as the paper, at swift command, absorbed the moisture of the soaking body. [For the ability of amber to act as magnet to straw, see Pliny, Natural History 37.37 & 37.48.]

Returning to life with hope, he sought his grandfather with affection, to report the great gift, and bade me add the help he had experienced to the other miracles. (57)
The defendant’s cause must be assigned to such a patron. The mercy of the saint stands near and his favouring protection lightens the offence of sin. There is no delay. Recovery of health, a matter where hope often deceives the ignorant, was made speedier with the help of prayer. (63) True grace is not enclosed in any place, no boundary limits the strength which God accumulates. Healing draws near where the Saviour is present. A small room, so far removed from the tomb, received what an attentive mind demanded, and in an instant grace entered the one by whom it was trusted. (68) The sick youth, fearful of death, became the doctor of his beloved wife and he championed faith by sending salvation. Her (sick)-bed too demanded what he had experienced. There was a struggle to keep the source of help and to acquire part of it. The possessor was fearful to let go but she, trusting in certain signs, hurried to be saved also. (74) And so, in turn both prayed, both tried again. The holy document, clinging to one, brought aid to the other.

(76) My mind and tongue shall sing thanks to you, holy one, while breath guides these limbs. Now look kindly in your mercy on the other members of the household, conveying the balms of swift salvation. Standing closer, console my old age, devoted to you, swiftly indulging things desired, or keeping safe favours already granted.'



Text: Petschenig 1888, 161-164.
Translation: Philip Beagon.

Non Liturgical Activity

Composing and translating saint-related texts

Miracles

Miracle after death
Healing diseases and disabilities

Relics

Miraculous books about saints
Handwriting of a saint

Protagonists in Cult and Narratives

Ecclesiastics - bishops

Source

Very little is known about Paulinus of Périgueux, all of it from his writings: he himself tells us he was called Paulinus, and manuscripts of his Life of Martin label him as 'of Petrocordium' (ancient Périgueux), though these are all from centuries after his death, so there is doubt over the accuracy of this statement. From his verse it is clear that he had enjoyed a thorough literary education, so must have come from a wealthy family; and from one of his poems (Poem 2 presented in this record) we learn that he had an adult grandson and considered himself old in the mid- to late 460s. It is also clear that he was devoted to Martin of Tours, whom he describes as his patron. In a letter to Perpetuus, bishop of Tours (458/9-488/9), he refers to the bearer of the letter as 'my deacon' (see E08121), which suggests Paulinus was a priest, or even a bishop, at the time of writing. For the details of what is known of his life, see Labarre 1998, 14-18, and Pietri and Heijmans 2013.

Paulinus' principal surviving work is a substantial six-book
Life of Martin in hexameters (E06355), which is based on the writings of Sulpicius Severus, except for the final volume, which consists of an account of posthumous miracles of the saint, for which Paulinus' source was a document sent him by Perpetuus of Tours (for which see Poem 2 of this record). Other than the Life of Martin, the only known works of Paulinus are the letter and two poems presented here.


Discussion

The poem which Paulinus wrote for the walls of Perpetuus' new church of Martin (dedicated probably in 471) was one of a number of poems commissioned by the bishop for this same purpose, including one by Sidonius Apollinaris (E06625). For a list and discussion of all these poems (and for some associated prose inscriptions), see: E08119; Pietri 1983, 800-823; Van Dam 1993, 308-317. It is clear from its wording, that Paulinus' poem was written to accompany a representation of some of Martin's miracles in fresco (or perhaps mosaic); the verses stress that Martin's miracles are on a level with those recounted in the bible, and that those performed during his lifetime are matched by those still happening at his grave.

The poem about the curing of Paulinus' grandson is a very interesting text. The story echoes one told in Sulpicius Severus'
Life of Martin (E00692, ch. 19), in which a letter from the saint cures a sick girl when placed on her breast. But in the case of Paulinus' grandson it is not a letter from Martin (an object which had been in very close contact with the saint and which bore his subscription), but simply a text about Martin that effects the cure.

The relationship between the miracle stories and the cure also functions in the other direction. The curative power that Paulinus' grandson and his wife experienced lent validity to the miracle stories that Perpetuus had sent – for had these stories not been true, the document on which they were written would surely not have had the miraculous effects that it did.

One further detail is also worth noting: at verses 37-38, Paulinus states that Perpetuus had himself added a subscription to the text he sent, a detail that flatters the latter by hinting that this added to the power and sanctity of the document.


Bibliography

Editions:
Gilardi, F.J., The Sylloge epigraphica Turonensis de S. Martino (Ph.D. thesis, Catholic University of America, Washington D.C., 1983), 210-211. (The Tours poem only)

Petschenig, M., “Paulini Petricordiae quae supersunt”, in Petschenig, M. and others,
Poetae Christianae Minores (Corpus scriptorum ecclesiasticorum latinorum 16; Vienna, 1888), 160-165.

Pietri, L., La ville de Tours du IVe au VIe siècle: naissance d’une cité chrétienne (Collection de l’École française de Rome 69; Rome 1983), 807-808, no. 11 (the Tours poem only).

Translations:
Gilardi, F.J., The Sylloge epigraphica Turonensis de S. Martino (Ph.D. thesis, Catholic University of America, Washington D.C., 1983), 223-224 (the Tours poem only).

Van Dam, R.,
Saints and their Miracles in Late Antique Gaul (Princeton University Press: Princeton, 1993), 314 (the Tours poem only).


Record Created By

Philip Beagon, Bryan Ward-Perkins

Date of Entry

11/01/2021

Related Saint Records
IDNameName in SourceIdentity
S00050Martin, ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397MartinusCertain


Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL:
Philip Beagon, Bryan Ward-Perkins, Cult of Saints, E08121 - http://csla.history.ox.ac.uk/record.php?recid=E08121