E05414: Venantius Fortunatus, in his Miracles of Hilary , describes how Castorius and Crispius, two lepers from Cahors (south-west Gaul) were cured after they applied over a long period dust from the tomb in Poitiers of *Hilary (bishop of Poitiers, ob. 367, S00183). Written in Latin in Poitiers (western Gaul), 567/568.
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posted on 2018-05-13, 00:00 authored by kwojtalikVenantius Fortunatus, Miracles of Hilary (Libri de virtutibus sancti Hilarii) 4 (11-14)
Castorius, who subsequently became a deacon, and Crispius, who subsequently became a subdeacon, two lepers from Cahors, came to the tomb of Hilary in Poitiers.
Nam cum a Cadurcis venissent duo leprae maculis immutati spem suae salutis in sancti intercessione fundantes, de pulvere qui ab eius sepulchro abstergebatur sua lavantes capita et membra reliqua perunguentes, tam diu sibi talem curam fideliter impenderunt, donec infirmitatis ipsiuis ulcus ac varietas de corpore quod captivaverat captiva migraret, ut decepta suis solatiis colorem quem invaserat inviolata relinqueret et quam secum attulerat turpitudinis speciem non teneret. Post innumerabilia vulnera membris omnibus instaurata est cutis una: vultus ille diuturna deletus sordidine sua coepit repingi imagine nec agnosci. Per fidelissimum lavacrum Pictavis illis purificus Iordanis inventus est et non ipsi ad fluvium sed fluvius ad ipsos hic occurrit. Quae tam praedicabilis patuit miseratio confessoris, qui et laborem longinqui itineris abstulit et salutis vota porrexit.
'Two lepers who were disfigured with sores came from Cahors. Since they had entrusted their hope for a cure to the intercession of the saint, they washed their heads and smeared their limbs with dust that had been wiped from his tomb. They faithfully applied this remedy to themselves for a long time until the ulcers and the discoloration caused by their illness were arrested and left the bodies that they had seized. Once this illness was ensnared by this cure, it was healed, left behind the [healthy] coloration that it had attacked, and did not maintain the ugly appearance that it had imposed. Despite countless sores, a single [healthy] skin was restored to all their limbs, and their faces that had been ruined by this lengthy disfigurement began to be reformed in their own likenesses, even if they were unrecognized. The purifying waters of the Jordan River were found in this most reliable fountain at Poitiers, and since these lepers did not go to this river, this river came here to them. The confessor’s compassion appeared to be so praiseworthy because he removed the effort of a lengthy journey and fulfilled their requests for a cure.'
Text: Krusch 1885, 8-9. Translation: Van Dam 1993, 157.
Castorius, who subsequently became a deacon, and Crispius, who subsequently became a subdeacon, two lepers from Cahors, came to the tomb of Hilary in Poitiers.
Nam cum a Cadurcis venissent duo leprae maculis immutati spem suae salutis in sancti intercessione fundantes, de pulvere qui ab eius sepulchro abstergebatur sua lavantes capita et membra reliqua perunguentes, tam diu sibi talem curam fideliter impenderunt, donec infirmitatis ipsiuis ulcus ac varietas de corpore quod captivaverat captiva migraret, ut decepta suis solatiis colorem quem invaserat inviolata relinqueret et quam secum attulerat turpitudinis speciem non teneret. Post innumerabilia vulnera membris omnibus instaurata est cutis una: vultus ille diuturna deletus sordidine sua coepit repingi imagine nec agnosci. Per fidelissimum lavacrum Pictavis illis purificus Iordanis inventus est et non ipsi ad fluvium sed fluvius ad ipsos hic occurrit. Quae tam praedicabilis patuit miseratio confessoris, qui et laborem longinqui itineris abstulit et salutis vota porrexit.
'Two lepers who were disfigured with sores came from Cahors. Since they had entrusted their hope for a cure to the intercession of the saint, they washed their heads and smeared their limbs with dust that had been wiped from his tomb. They faithfully applied this remedy to themselves for a long time until the ulcers and the discoloration caused by their illness were arrested and left the bodies that they had seized. Once this illness was ensnared by this cure, it was healed, left behind the [healthy] coloration that it had attacked, and did not maintain the ugly appearance that it had imposed. Despite countless sores, a single [healthy] skin was restored to all their limbs, and their faces that had been ruined by this lengthy disfigurement began to be reformed in their own likenesses, even if they were unrecognized. The purifying waters of the Jordan River were found in this most reliable fountain at Poitiers, and since these lepers did not go to this river, this river came here to them. The confessor’s compassion appeared to be so praiseworthy because he removed the effort of a lengthy journey and fulfilled their requests for a cure.'
Text: Krusch 1885, 8-9. Translation: Van Dam 1993, 157.
History
Evidence ID
E05414Saint Name
Hilarius/Hilary, bishop of Poitiers, ob. 367 : S00183Related Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Literary - Hagiographical - Collections of miraclesLanguage
- Latin
