E03178: Gregory of Tours, in his Miracles of Martin (2.32), recounts how one of his deacons was healed after he anointed himself with oil from a flask placed beside the tomb of *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050) in Tours. The flask was later smashed, but the small amount of oil recovered multiplied, and has shown its power up to the present; AD 576/581. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 576/581.

Gregory of Tours, Miracles of Martin (Libri de virtutibus sancti Martini episcopi) 2.32

Gregory describes two miracles to confirm to doubters the story, told by Sulpicius Severus, of oil blessed by Martin that increased in quantity.

Quidam de diaconibus nostris male a quartani tipi febre cruciabatur; quem cum plerumque arguerem, quur segnis ad basilicam sancti proficisceretur nec ex corde oraret, ut ei virtus pontificis subveniret, tandem a nobis conpunctus, ad beatum tumulum provolvitur tremens. Dehinc cum paulisper ignis febrium quievisset, rogat, sibi exhiberi ampullam cum rosatio oleo semiplenam, — iam enim ad ipsam febrem, exinde licet partim proficisset, multum tamen expenderat, — et erat valde media. Perunctum ab hoc liquore frontem et timpora, postulat, ut vasculum secus beati tumulum poneretur. Quarta vero die cum eum febris urgueret, ad basilicam petiit provolutusque diutissime oravit. Adprehensam enim ampullam, quam reliquerat mediam, invenit plenam, admiransque virtutem beati antistitis, eam domi cum timore et veneratione reportat. Ex qua rursum perunctus, protinus omnis ardor quievit incommodi, nec ab eodem ultra contractus est.

Quid etiam de eadem ampulla post haec actum sit, non sine gravi suspirio atque miraculo memoramus. Nam cum in antedicti diaconis hospitiolo de pariete penderet, incursante insidia inimici, percussa atque in frustris decidit comminutar, effusumque oleum velociter terra absorbuit. Tamen puer qui aderat, cum vidisset fractum, accepto vasculo, ipsam terram expremens, parumper olei elicuit, rosamque, quae effusa fuerat, cum effracta vitra collegens, nobis exibuit. Quod ego accipiens, diligenter in vasculum alterum transmutavi. Erat enim mensura olei quasi dimedii calicis parvuli, et tamen in vasculo duorum digitorum tantum altitudinem fecit. In crastino autem prospiciens, erat altitudo olei quasi quattuor digitorum. Obstupefactus ego ob virtutem sancti liquoris, hoc signaculo meo munitum atque coopertum reliqui. Post dies autem septem iterum prospiciens, plus ibi quam unum sistarium repperi. Advocans enim diaconem et hoc ei ostendens, adfirmabat iuramento, tantum tunc in effractam perisse ampullam, quantum nunc in ista decernerit. Quae usque hodie in Dei nomine beneficium petentibus praestat. Ipse quoque postea ab hoc unguento similem infirmum perunguens, oleo crescente, sanavit et multos deinceps per illum sanitati restituit.


'One of my deacons suffered painfully from a quartan fever. Because I repeatedly criticised him for being sluggish in going to the saint’s church and for not praying from his heart that the power of the bishop assist him, he was finally goaded by my complaints and nervously knelt before the blessed tomb. After his blazing fever eased a bit, he asked that his flask that was half-filled with rose oil be brought out; for, though it helped only a little, he had already used much of it, and the flask was half empty. The deacon sprinkled his forehead and his temples with this oil and asked that the flask be placed beside the tomb of the blessed [Martin]. Four days later when the fever was again afflicting him, he went to the church, knelt, and prayed for a very long time. When he picked up the flask that he had left half empty, he found that it was full. He was impressed by the power of the blessed bishop, and fearfully and respectfully he took the flask home. Once he was again anointed from the flask, immediately his burning affliction vanished entirely, and he was never again troubled by it.

With a deep sigh I also record a miracle about what happened next to this same flask. For while it was hanging from the wall in the lodging of the aforesaid deacon, it was assaulted by the treachery of the Enemy. The flask was struck, fell down, and was smashed into bits, and the dirt quickly soaked up the oil that poured out. When a servant who was there saw what had happened, he took a container, squeezed the dirt, and recovered a bit of the oil. Then he collected the rose that had flowed out and the fragments of broken glass and brought them to me. I took these remains and carefully transferred them to another container. The amount of oil was about equal to half of a small cup, and in its container it reached a height of only two fingers. But on the next day I looked and the height of the oil was about four fingers. I was amazed at the power of the holy liquid, and I left the container covered and secured with my seal. Seven days later I looked again and found there more than one pint. I summoned the deacon and showed this to him, and he affirmed with an oath that he now saw in this container as much oil as had been lost in the broken flask. Still today this container is effective for people who seek a blessing in the name of God. For this deacon then sprinkled a man suffering from a similar illness with this ointment and healed him, as the oil again increased; thereafter he restored many people to health with this oil.'

Text: Krusch 1969, 170-171. Translation: Van Dam 1993, 244-245, lightly modified (de Nie 2015, 599-603).