E03492: Gregory of Tours, in his Miracles of Martin (3.8), learns from Florentius, an envoy from Spain passing through Tours in 582, how his grandfather had built a basilica to *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050), and consecrated it with relics of the saint obtained from Tours; and how the grandfather's child had been brought back from the dead after the saint was invoked. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 582/588.

Gregory of Tours, Miracles of Martin (Libri de virtutibus sancti Martini episcopi) 3.8

Gregory entertains Florentius and Exsuperius, two ambassadors to King Chilperic from Spain, who are passing through Tours.

... Florentius, qui erat aetate senior, sollicite flagitat aliqua de beati viri virtute cognoscere. At ego, Deo gratias agens, interrogo si vel nomen eius in illis regionibus audiretur, vel vita illius legeretur ab aliquo. Haec me interrogante, ait in illis locis magnifice honorari nomen eius, sed et se peculiarem alumnum antistis narrat, dicens super se magnam eius virtutem ostensam fuisse. "Avus" iniquit, "meus ante multorum curricula annorum basilicam construxit in honore beati Martini antistis. Perfectaque ac eleganti opere exornata, Turonis clericos religiosos destinavit, expetens reliquias pontificis, ut scilicet locum quem in eius nomine aedificaverat, eius reliquiis consecraret.

' ... Florentius, the older [of the two envoys], earnestly seeks to learn anything of the power of the blessed man. And I, giving thanks to God, ask if his [Martin's] name is heard in those regions, and if his Life is read by anyone. When I ask these things, he says that his name is magnificently honoured in those regions, and recounts that he himself is a special foster child (peculiaris alumnus) of the bishop, saying that his great power had been manifest on him (super se). "My grandfather", he says, "many years ago built a basilica in honour of the blessed bishop Martin. When it was finished and decorated with elegant workmanship, he sent pious clerics to Tours, seeking relics of the bishop, so that he might consecrate with his relics the place that he had built in his name."'

Having done this, the man with his wife prayed every day, and eventually a child was born to them. But when the boy was three months old he fell ill and died. The mother placed the child in front of the altar of the church, and ...

... tamquam si sanctum visibilibus cernerent oculis, avus alloquitur, dicens: "Spes nobis erat maxima, beatissime confessor, tua huc pignora deportare, per quae morbi depellerentur, febres extinguerentur, fugarentur caecitatis tenebrae, et aliae quoque infirmitates emendarentur, pro eo quod de te legantur plurima quae vel vivens feceris, vel post transitum operaris. Nam audivimus te oratione mortuos suscitasse, lepram osculo depulisse, energuminos curasse verbo, venenum digito compressisse, at alia multa fecisse. Hic apparebit virtus tua si et nunc iuxta fidem nostram hunc resuscitaveris parvulum. Quod si non feceris, non hic ultra colla curvabimus, luminaria accendemus, aut alicuius honoris gratiam exhibebimus."

'... as if they could see the saint with their own eyes, my grandfather spoke, saying: "It was our greatest hope, most blessed confessor, to bring here your relics (pignora), through which illnesses would be driven away, fevers extinguished, the shades of blindness put to flight, and all other infirmities cured, because we have read of the many things you did in life, and effected after your passing. For we have heard how through prayer you raised the dead, expelled leprosy with a kiss, cured the possessed with a word, drove out poison with your finger, and did much else besides. Here too your power will be manifest, if, respecting our faith, you revive this little one. But if you do not do this, we will no more bow before you, nor light your lamps, nor show you the grace of any honour."'

Returning the next morning, the parents found the boy cured, and from then on treated the place with yet greater respect. All this Gregory learns from Florentius himself.

Text: Krusch 1969, 184. Translation: Van Dam 1993, 262-263, modified (= de Nie 2015, 675-679).