E00691: Sulpicius Severus responds to a critic who mocked at his Life of *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050), and its presentation of him as a miracle-worker. Letter 1, written in Latin, in Primuliacum (south west Gaul), c. 396.

Sulpicius Severus, Letter 1, to Eusebius

Sulpicius Severus begins this letter by referring to his Life of Martin being read by many people. Subsequently he responds to an unnamed person who mocked at the image of Martin presented in this text. The question asked by the critic is presented in the following way:

(2) Interea indicatur mihi dixisse quendam malo spiritu suscitatum cur Martinus qui mortuos suscitasset flammas domibus depulisset ipse nuper adustus incendio periculosae fuisset obnoxius passioni.

'In the meantime, however, I was told that a certain person, under the influence of an evil spirit, had asked why Martin, who was said to have raised the dead and to have rescued houses from the flames, had himself recently become subject to the power of fire, and thus been exposed to suffering of a dangerous character.'

The author admits that such a situation took place (when Martin was badly burned in a fire), but compares the critic to the Jews who doubted in Christ and emphasises that even the greatest saints happened to be in danger. He compares Martin to Paul the Apostle who once was almost bitten by a viper in the following words:

(3) O beatum et per omnia similem apostolis etiam in his conviciis virum.

'O you blessed man, and in all things like to the Apostles, even in the reproaches which are thus heaped upon you!'

Text: Fontaine 1967. Translation: Roberts 1893. Summary: Robert Wiśniewski.