Constantius of Lyon, in his Life of *Germanus (bishop of Auxerre, ob. c. 448, S00455), recounts how the saint while travelling to Ravenna (mid to late 440s) was recognised in Milan by a demoniac, whom he proceeded to cure. Written in Latin at Lyon (south-east Gaul) between c. 460 and c. 480.
E08359
Literary - Hagiographical - Lives
Constantius of Lyon, Life of Germanus of Auxerre 32
For a full account of Constantius' Life of Germanus, see E05841.
Germanus, travelling to Ravenna to intercede for the rebellious Armoricans, arrives in Milan:
Erat autem dies sanctorum sollemnitate uenerabilis, qui in unum plurimos collegerat sacerdotes. Et dum missa sacris misteriis celebratur ad altare, incognitus et inprouisus ingreditur, statimque unus e populo, captiuus inimici, cum ingenti uociferatione proclamat: "Cur nos in Italia, Germane, persequeris ? Sufficiat tibi quod nos de Galliis exclusisti; sufficiat quod nos et oceanum mare oratione superasti. Quid uniuersa perlustras ? Quiesce ut nos quieti esse possimus."
Fit admiratio et terror in populo; quis esset Germanus, dum alter ad alterum intuetur, inquiritur. Et licet habitu despicabilis uideretur, uultus tamen dignitate cognoscitur. Consultus gradum aut ordinem non negauit. Episcopi omnes sanctum Dei digna humilitate uenerantur; exorant ut furiosum qui nomen eius confessus fuerat, uisitaret. Quem non praesumptionis coturno, sed oboedientiae studio praecepit exhiberi, remotumque in secretario, celeri absolutione purgatum ad conuentum publicum reuocauit.
Hoc primum uirtutis suae signum in Italia per famulum suum Christus operatus est. Concurrebat diuersa populi multitudo, benedictionem expertae sanctitatis operiens, iunctisque cum praedicatione miraculis, et animas curabat et corpora.
'He arrived on the solemn festival of its saints, for which great numbers of bishops had assembled. While the sacred mysteries of the Mass were being celebrated at the altar, he entered, unknown and unexpected. Immediately, one of the congregation, who was possessed by a demon, shouted out in a tremendous voice: "Germanus, why do you pursue us into Italy? Be content that you have driven us out of Gaul. Be content that your prayers have defeated both us and the ocean. Why do you scour the whole world? Take a rest and let us rest ourselves."
Amazement and terror filled the congregation. They looked at one another, asking which was Germanus; and, in spite of the poverty-stricken look of his clothes, he was recognised by the majesty of his face. When asked, he did not deny his position and episcopal rank. Thereupon all the bishops with fitting humility showed their reverence for this saint of God; and they asked him to treat the demoniac who had proclaimed his name. It was not from swaggering presumption but in a spirit of obedience that he had the man shown to him. He took him aside into the sacristy, speedily exorcised him, and sent him back into the congregation.
This was the first manifestation of miraculous powers given by Christ through this servant of His in Italy. Crowds came hurrying from all directions, coveting the blessing of a man of such proved sanctity; and when he followed up his miracles by sermons he healed souls as well as bodies.'
Constantius goes on to narrate an incident that took place during Germanus' journey across northern Italy towards Ravenna (E08584).
Text: Borius 1965.
Translation: Hoare 1954.
Service for the saint
FestivalsSaint’s feast
Cult PlacesCult building - independent (church)
MiraclesMiracle during lifetime
Exorcism
Protagonists in Cult and NarrativesDemons
Ecclesiastics - bishops
Crowds
Source
Germanus of Auxerre (PCBE 4, 'Germanus 1', pp. 878-883) was the most important and revered episcopal saint of 5th-century Gaul. The Life of Germanus was written some years after his death (traditionally dated to 448, but perhaps earlier) by Constantius, a literary figure, possibly a cleric, attested in Lyon in the 460s and 470s (PCBE 4, 'Constantius 3', pp. 521-522). The precise date when he composed the Life is not documented, but it must have been sometime between the 460s and the early 480s. For full discussion of the authorship and date of the Life of Germanus, see its overview entry: E05841.Discussion
This event occurs when Germanus is on his way to the western imperial capital of Ravenna in order to intercede for the rebellious inhabitants of Armorica. Germanus died during his stay in Ravenna, at a date which is nowhere recorded directly but which the balance of evidence strongly suggests was in the second half of the 440s, though the specific year traditionally given (448) may not be the correct one.Constantius does not tell us which Milanese saints were being feasted when Germanus entered Milan: Gervasius and Protasius, the premier martyrs of the city are the most likely candidates, who were (and are) celebrated on 19 June: a favourable period for Germanus to have been travelling, and one which is consistent with the date of his death in Ravenna (31 July)
Bibliography
Editions:Borius, R., Constance de Lyon, Vie de saint Germain d'Auxerre (Sources chrétiennes 112; Paris: Cerf, 1965), with French translation.
Levison, W., Vita Germani episcopi Autissiodorensis auctore Constantio, in: Passiones vitaeque sanctorum aevi Merovingici V (Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Scriptores rerum Merovingicarum 7; Hannover and Leipzig, 1919), 246-283.
English translation:
Hoare, F.R., The Western Fathers (London, 1954), 283-320. Reprinted in T.F.X. Noble and T. Head (eds.), Soldiers of Christ: Saints and Saints' Lives from Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages (University Park PA: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1995), 75-106.
David Lambert; Bryan Ward-Perkins
28/04/2025
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00455 | Germanus, bishop of Auxerre, ob. 445/450 | Germanus | Certain |
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