E04595: Gregory the Great, in his Dialogues (4.54-56), describes how the bodies of sinners buried in churches dedicated to *Faustinus (martyr of Brescia, S01845) in Brescia (northern Italy), *Syrus (bishop and martyr of Genoa, S01846) in Genoa (northern Italy), and *Ianuarius (deacon and martyr of Rome, S00204) in Rome, are miraculously ejected from the churches. Written in Latin in Rome, c. 593.

Gregory the Great, Dialogues 4.54–56

Summary:

Gregory describes three instances in which sinners who sought to be buried in the vicinity of saints’ tombs or churches were miraculously expelled.

Valerianus, a patrician of Brescia, was buried in the local church of Faustinus in Brescia. Faustinus appeared in a vision to the sacristan, demanding he tell the bishop to remove the body of Valerianus. If he did not do so, he would die (ch. 54).

Valentinus, a lawyer (defensor) of the church of Milan, was buried in the church of Syrus in Genoa. Two spirits bound Valentinus' feet and dragged him from the church. In the morning, it was found that he was no longer in his tomb, but his body was placed in a grave outside with the feet still bound (ch. 55).

A craftsman of Rome was buried in the church of Ianuarius which is near the gate of Laurence (porta sancti Laurentii). The sacristan heard a voice shouting from his burial place 'I burn!'. The next day, when the tomb was opened, his clothes were found untouched but his body was gone (ch. 56).

Gregory tells his interlocutor, Peter, that this demonstrates how sinners cannot redeem themselves by being buried in holy places, but instead will be punished for their presumption (ch. 55).

Ex qua re, Petre, college quia hii quos peccata grauia deprimunt, si in sacro loco sepeliri se faciant, restat ut etiam de sua praesumptione iudicentur, quatenus eos sacra loca non liberent, sed etiam culpa temeritatis accuset.

'Learn from this, Peter, that those weighed down by heavy sins, if they arrange to be buried in a holy place, will still be judged for their presumption, since holy places will not free them; rather the guilt of their recklessness will also accuse them.'

Text: de Vogüé (1978). Summary and translation: Frances Trzeciak.