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E00291: Gregory of Tours, in his Life of *Senoch (ascetic and miracle-worker near Tours, ob. 576, S00116), recounts how, through the prayers of the saint, a reliquary miraculously fitted into the altar of a renovated oratory in the Touraine (north-west Gaul), where *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050) had once prayed. From Gregory's Life of the Fathers, written in Latin in Tours, 573/594.
online resource
posted on 2015-02-13, 00:00 authored by BryanGregory of Tours, Life of the Fathers 15.1
(Ch. 1) Igitur beatissimus Senoch (...) et conversus ad Dominum clericusque factus, monasterium sibi instituit.
Repperit enim infra territurii Turonici terminum parietes antiquos, quos erudirans a ruinis, habitationes dignas aptavit. Repperitque ibi oratorium, in quo ferebatur celebre nostrum orasse Martinum. Quod diligenti cura conpositum, erecto altari loculumque in eo ad recipiendas sanctorum reliquias praeparatum, ad benedicendum invitat episcopum. Adfuit tunc Eufronius beatus episcopus, qui, consecratum altare, eum diaconatus honori donavit. Celebratis igitur missis, cum capsula reliquiarum in loculo cupirent collocare, extetit capsa prolixior nec recipere in loculum poterat. Tunc prostratus diaconus cum ipso sacerdote pronus ad orationem, lacrimis precibus mixtas effudit, obtenuitque petita. Mirum dictu! Ita enim loculum divinitus amplificatum capsulaque constricta est, ut in eo spatiosissime non sine admiratione reciperet. In hoc loco, collectis tribus monachis, Domino assidue serviebat et in primis artum vitae tramitem incedebat, exiguosque cibos, tenues potiones utens.
'The blessed Senoch (...) having turned towards the Lord, became a cleric and established a monastery for himself. Namely, he found in the territory of Tours old walls, and by restoring them from ruins he made worthy dwellings. And he discovered there an oratory in which, it is often said, our St Martin had prayed. He restored it with much care, and having placed an altar inside which had a small compartment suitable for containing relics (loculum in eo ad recipiendas sanctorum reliquias praeparatum), he invited the bishop to come to bless it. The blessed Bishop Eufronius came, and when he had blessed the altar he bestowed on Senoch the honour of the diaconate. They then celebrated masses. But when they wanted to place the casket of relics (capsula reliquiarum) in the hollow prepared for it they found that the casket (capsa) was too large and would not go in. Then the deacon fell down and began to pray with the bishop himself, weeping, and he obtained what they asked for. What a marvellous thing! The place which had been too small was enlarged by divine power, and the casket itself grew smaller, so that it entered very easily, to the great amazement of those who were present. Senoch assembled three monks in this place, and served the Lord assiduously.'
Text: Krusch 1969, 271-272. Translation: James 1991, 95-96, lightly modified.
(Ch. 1) Igitur beatissimus Senoch (...) et conversus ad Dominum clericusque factus, monasterium sibi instituit.
Repperit enim infra territurii Turonici terminum parietes antiquos, quos erudirans a ruinis, habitationes dignas aptavit. Repperitque ibi oratorium, in quo ferebatur celebre nostrum orasse Martinum. Quod diligenti cura conpositum, erecto altari loculumque in eo ad recipiendas sanctorum reliquias praeparatum, ad benedicendum invitat episcopum. Adfuit tunc Eufronius beatus episcopus, qui, consecratum altare, eum diaconatus honori donavit. Celebratis igitur missis, cum capsula reliquiarum in loculo cupirent collocare, extetit capsa prolixior nec recipere in loculum poterat. Tunc prostratus diaconus cum ipso sacerdote pronus ad orationem, lacrimis precibus mixtas effudit, obtenuitque petita. Mirum dictu! Ita enim loculum divinitus amplificatum capsulaque constricta est, ut in eo spatiosissime non sine admiratione reciperet. In hoc loco, collectis tribus monachis, Domino assidue serviebat et in primis artum vitae tramitem incedebat, exiguosque cibos, tenues potiones utens.
'The blessed Senoch (...) having turned towards the Lord, became a cleric and established a monastery for himself. Namely, he found in the territory of Tours old walls, and by restoring them from ruins he made worthy dwellings. And he discovered there an oratory in which, it is often said, our St Martin had prayed. He restored it with much care, and having placed an altar inside which had a small compartment suitable for containing relics (loculum in eo ad recipiendas sanctorum reliquias praeparatum), he invited the bishop to come to bless it. The blessed Bishop Eufronius came, and when he had blessed the altar he bestowed on Senoch the honour of the diaconate. They then celebrated masses. But when they wanted to place the casket of relics (capsula reliquiarum) in the hollow prepared for it they found that the casket (capsa) was too large and would not go in. Then the deacon fell down and began to pray with the bishop himself, weeping, and he obtained what they asked for. What a marvellous thing! The place which had been too small was enlarged by divine power, and the casket itself grew smaller, so that it entered very easily, to the great amazement of those who were present. Senoch assembled three monks in this place, and served the Lord assiduously.'
Text: Krusch 1969, 271-272. Translation: James 1991, 95-96, lightly modified.
History
Evidence ID
E00291Saint Name
Martin, bishop of Tours (Gaul), ob. 397 : S00050 Saints, unnamed or name lost : S00518 Senoch, ascetic and miracle-worker from Poitou, Gaul, ob. 576 near Tours : S00116Saint Name in Source
Martinus SenochRelated Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Literary - Hagiographical - Lives of saintLanguage
- Latin
Evidence not before
573Evidence not after
593Activity not before
556Activity not after
576Place of Evidence - Region
Gaul and Frankish kingdomsPlace of Evidence - City, village, etc
ToursPlace of evidence - City name in other Language(s)
Tours Tours Tours Toronica urbs Prisciniacensim vicus Pressigny Turonorum civitas Ceratensis vicus CéréMajor author/Major anonymous work
Gregory of ToursCult activities - Liturgical Activity
- Eucharist associated with cult