E05945: In the anonymous Life of the Jura Fathers, the author describes how a crowd of afflicted people went to *Eugendus (ascetic in the Jura mountains, ob. 512/515, S02182) for healing, and how he gave written injunctions (mandata) and oil to cure others who could not come in person; Condat, c. 496/515. Written in Latin at Condat in the Jura mountains (modern Saint-Claude in eastern Gaul), 512/525.

The Life of the Jura Fathers 147-148 (Life of Saint Eugendus the Abbot)

Cum ergo fama uitaue uiri uirtutum dilatationes succresceret, tanta miserorum aceruatim coepit in monasterium turba concurrere, ut saecularium, immo tribulantium multitudo paene cateruis uideretur numerosior monachorum. Interea dum inibi mox nonnulli, alii etiam post bidui triduique, quidam uero post mensibus quommoda uotiva percipiunt. Dei sanctus manum ad salutare conpendium mittens, fatigationem miseris auferebat. Dabat ergo supplicibus atque sospitibus deportanda inligandaque infirmis cum sancti olei quantitate superius, contraria larvis ac miseris scripta mandata, quae ita, cooperante fide, porrigebant in provinciis longe positis medicinam, ut illi quoque obtinebant, qui eius in monasterio praesentabantur aspectui. Neque solus beatissimus pater in coenobio, sed et presbyteri multique inibi fratres potiebantur charismata meritorum, et, zeli ambitione cessante, illis potissimum quam sibi Dei homo medendi delegabat officium.

'As the renown and the life of the man grew thanks to the spreading fame of his powers, such a large crowd of unfortunate people began to flock to the monastery in groups that the multitude of secular persons (or, rather, those afflicted) seemed almost more numerous than the companies of monks. In the meantime, while some received the prayed-for blessings at the monastery right away, others did so after two or three days, while for a certain number it took months: the holy man of God, laying his hands on them in a timely manner in order to heal them, removed their weariness and miseries. To those who came as suppliants and who were healthy, he would give, along with a generous quantity of holy oil, written injunctions against spirits and maladies for them to take with them and bind on those afflicted; they would bear these notes (which worked in cooperation with faith) to far flung provinces so that people there might obtain the same remedy of healing as those who had presented themselves to him in person at the monastery. Nor was the blessed father the only one in the community who had the possession of the gifts of good works, but presbyters too, and many brothers there; so that jealous desires might cease, the man of God would delegate to them this ministry of healing rather than keep it for himself.'

Text: Martine 1968, 396 and 398. Translation: Vivian et al. 1999, 169-170, adapted.