File(s) not publicly available
E00621: Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Martyrs (74), tells of the penance, endowment of the shrine, and eventual burial of *Sigismund (king of the Burgundians, ob. 523, S00380), at the tomb of the martyrs of the *Theban Legion (soldiers and martyrs of Agaunum, S00339) at Saint-Maurice-d'Agaune (eastern Gaul); healing miracles take place at Sigismund's tomb. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 580/594.
online resource
posted on 2015-07-15, 00:00 authored by pnowakowskiGregory of Tours, Glory of the Martyrs 74
Saepe enim Dominus arrogantiam contumacis mentis virga correctionis enervat, ut eandem cultus sui venerationi restituat, sicut quondam de Sigimundo rege manifesta fides gestum profert. Hic etenim post interemptum per iniquae consilium coniugis filium conpunctus corde, Agauno dirigit, ibique prostratus coram sepulchris beatissimorum martyrum legionis felicis, paenitentiam egit, deprecans, ut quaecumque deliquerat in hoc ei saeculo ultio divina retribueret, ut scilicet habeatur in iudicio absolutus, si ei mala quae gesserat, priusquam de mundo decedat, repensetur. Ibique et psallentium cotidianum instituit locumque tam in territuriis quam in reliquis rebus affluentissime ditavit. Postea vero captus a Chlodomere rege cum filiis, interfectusque eius iussu, ad eodem locum delatus, sepulturae mandatus est; quem in consortio sanctorum adscitum ipsa res quae geritur manifestat. Nam, si qui nunc frigoritici in eius honore missas devote celebrant eiusque pro requie Deo offerunt oblationem, statim, conpressis tremoribus, restinctis febribus, sanitati praestinae restaurantur.
'For the Lord often suppresses the arrogance of a stubborn mind with his rod of correction so that he might restore the same mind to respect for his worship. As clear confirmation there is the behaviour once of king Sigismund. His heart was filled with remorse after he had killed his own son at the urging of his evil wife. He went to Saint-Maurice-d'Agaune, and there he knelt before the tombs of the most blessed martyrs of the propitious [Theban] Legion. He performed penance and prayed that divine vengeance would punish him for his misdeeds in this world, so that he might be considered absolved in judgement if he repaid the evils he had committed before he departed from the world. He instituted there the daily recitation of psalms, and he most generously enriched the place with new lands and with other endowments. Later he and his sons were captured by king Chlodomer, at whose order he was killed. His body was brought to the same place and buried in a tomb. This [following] event indicates that he was received into the company of the saints (in consortio sanctorum). For whenever people suffering from fevers piously celebrate a mass in his honour (in eius honore missae) and make an offering to God for the king's repose, immediately their tremors cease, their fevers disappear, and they are restored to their earlier health.'
Text: Krusch 1969, 87. Translation: Van Dam 2004, 69, lightly modified.
Saepe enim Dominus arrogantiam contumacis mentis virga correctionis enervat, ut eandem cultus sui venerationi restituat, sicut quondam de Sigimundo rege manifesta fides gestum profert. Hic etenim post interemptum per iniquae consilium coniugis filium conpunctus corde, Agauno dirigit, ibique prostratus coram sepulchris beatissimorum martyrum legionis felicis, paenitentiam egit, deprecans, ut quaecumque deliquerat in hoc ei saeculo ultio divina retribueret, ut scilicet habeatur in iudicio absolutus, si ei mala quae gesserat, priusquam de mundo decedat, repensetur. Ibique et psallentium cotidianum instituit locumque tam in territuriis quam in reliquis rebus affluentissime ditavit. Postea vero captus a Chlodomere rege cum filiis, interfectusque eius iussu, ad eodem locum delatus, sepulturae mandatus est; quem in consortio sanctorum adscitum ipsa res quae geritur manifestat. Nam, si qui nunc frigoritici in eius honore missas devote celebrant eiusque pro requie Deo offerunt oblationem, statim, conpressis tremoribus, restinctis febribus, sanitati praestinae restaurantur.
'For the Lord often suppresses the arrogance of a stubborn mind with his rod of correction so that he might restore the same mind to respect for his worship. As clear confirmation there is the behaviour once of king Sigismund. His heart was filled with remorse after he had killed his own son at the urging of his evil wife. He went to Saint-Maurice-d'Agaune, and there he knelt before the tombs of the most blessed martyrs of the propitious [Theban] Legion. He performed penance and prayed that divine vengeance would punish him for his misdeeds in this world, so that he might be considered absolved in judgement if he repaid the evils he had committed before he departed from the world. He instituted there the daily recitation of psalms, and he most generously enriched the place with new lands and with other endowments. Later he and his sons were captured by king Chlodomer, at whose order he was killed. His body was brought to the same place and buried in a tomb. This [following] event indicates that he was received into the company of the saints (in consortio sanctorum). For whenever people suffering from fevers piously celebrate a mass in his honour (in eius honore missae) and make an offering to God for the king's repose, immediately their tremors cease, their fevers disappear, and they are restored to their earlier health.'
Text: Krusch 1969, 87. Translation: Van Dam 2004, 69, lightly modified.
History
Evidence ID
E00621Saint Name
Sigismundus, king of the Burgundians, ob. 523 : S00380 Theban Legion, soldiers commanded by *Maurice, martyred in Gaul, ob. 286 : S00339Saint Name in Source
Sigimundus martyres legionis felicisRelated Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Literary - Hagiographical - Collections of miracles Literary - Hagiographical - Other saint-related textsLanguage
- Latin
Evidence not before
583Evidence not after
593Activity not before
523Activity not after
593Place 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
- Service for the Saint