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E05122: Paulinus of Nola, writing in Latin after 408 in Nola (south Italy), describes how Christ taking the form of *Felix (priest and confessor of Nola, southern Italy, S00000) appeared to, and aided, a man at risk of shipwreck.
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posted on 2018-02-21, 00:00 authored by francesPaulinus of Nola, Letter 49
In this letter to a high ranking Roman nobleman called Macarius, Paulinus describes a miraculous story concerning an old man called Valgius. A ship owned by a certain Secundinianus was loaded with grain and, under imperial orders, set sail from Sardinia to Rome. It was hit by a storm and all but Valgius abandoned ship. Alone, Valgius remained on the ship which was buffeted by winds for twenty-three days. He was protected by God: angels helped him by performing the work of the crew and God woke him – by tweaking his ear – when he slept too long. At times, Christ watched over him, taking on the ‘revered appearance of his friend and confessor, my lord and our common patron Felix’ (confessoris et amici sui, domini mei, communis patroni Felicis ore uenerabilis). At these times, Valgius threw himself at Felix’s feet and placed his head in his lap as Felix steered the boat for him. Paulinus makes it clear that Christ was present in the image of Felix.
After twenty three days, Valgius was rescued by fishermen who towed him to land. He took refuge in Nola and recounted his tale to Paulinus. Paulinus sends Valgius to Rome as a ‘spiritual gift' (xenium spirituale)’for Macarius. He emphasises his holiness as a man whom Christ helped and whose ear Christ touched. Indeed, he focuses on this ear at length, stating:
nam tam adsidue aurem ipsius retractaui, ut paene detriuerim. Uoluissem quoque uel unius partem auris abscidere, nisi in illo uulneris quae mihi pignoris res fuisset.
‘I have so incessantly fingered his ear that I have almost worn it away; I should even have liked to cut off a part of that ear, except that such a token would have meant wounding him’.
Paulinus then asks Macarius to help Secundinianus, the owner of the ship. He recounts how Valgius had landed on the estate of a senator called Postumianus. There, the boat was stripped of all goods. Secundinianus had then travelled to Rome, where he was now present, petitioning for compensation for this act.
Text: Hartel 1894. Translation: Walsh 1966-7.
Summary: Frances Trzeciak.
In this letter to a high ranking Roman nobleman called Macarius, Paulinus describes a miraculous story concerning an old man called Valgius. A ship owned by a certain Secundinianus was loaded with grain and, under imperial orders, set sail from Sardinia to Rome. It was hit by a storm and all but Valgius abandoned ship. Alone, Valgius remained on the ship which was buffeted by winds for twenty-three days. He was protected by God: angels helped him by performing the work of the crew and God woke him – by tweaking his ear – when he slept too long. At times, Christ watched over him, taking on the ‘revered appearance of his friend and confessor, my lord and our common patron Felix’ (confessoris et amici sui, domini mei, communis patroni Felicis ore uenerabilis). At these times, Valgius threw himself at Felix’s feet and placed his head in his lap as Felix steered the boat for him. Paulinus makes it clear that Christ was present in the image of Felix.
After twenty three days, Valgius was rescued by fishermen who towed him to land. He took refuge in Nola and recounted his tale to Paulinus. Paulinus sends Valgius to Rome as a ‘spiritual gift' (xenium spirituale)’for Macarius. He emphasises his holiness as a man whom Christ helped and whose ear Christ touched. Indeed, he focuses on this ear at length, stating:
nam tam adsidue aurem ipsius retractaui, ut paene detriuerim. Uoluissem quoque uel unius partem auris abscidere, nisi in illo uulneris quae mihi pignoris res fuisset.
‘I have so incessantly fingered his ear that I have almost worn it away; I should even have liked to cut off a part of that ear, except that such a token would have meant wounding him’.
Paulinus then asks Macarius to help Secundinianus, the owner of the ship. He recounts how Valgius had landed on the estate of a senator called Postumianus. There, the boat was stripped of all goods. Secundinianus had then travelled to Rome, where he was now present, petitioning for compensation for this act.
Text: Hartel 1894. Translation: Walsh 1966-7.
Summary: Frances Trzeciak.
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