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E06716: Venantius Fortunatus writes the Life of *Marcellus (5th c. bishop of Paris, S01301), presenting him as a miracle-worker and defender of the city of Paris. Written in Latin in Paris, shortly before May 576.
online resource
posted on 2018-10-05, 00:00 authored by BryanVenantius Fortunatus, Life of Marcellus (Vita Marcelli, BHL 5248)
Summary:
The Life of Marcellus is dedicated to Bishop *Germanus of Paris (S01166), named in a dedicatory letter. In the prologue Venantius Fortunatus presents his aim as preserving the stories of the saint's miracles for posterity.
4. Marcellus is born in Paris to middle-class parents, and from early childhood he engages in fasting and exhibits the qualities of humility and charity. So outstanding are his virtues that he is made a reader in the church.
5. He performs his first miracle when a craftsman challenges him to hold a hot piece of iron and tell its weight. Marcellus proceeds to hold the iron in his hand without injury and to give its correct weight.
6. He is made a subdeacon, and on the day of Epiphany, while drawing water from the river Seine for his bishop, Prudentius, the water changes into wine. Many people partake in communion from this wine, and its volume miraculously increases.
7. Later, when Marcellus is washing Prudentius' hands, the water turns to balsam.
8. When an archdeacon orders a young cleric to sing against the bishop's wishes, the bishop orders the cleric to be whipped and suddenly loses his voice as punishment; Marcellus, still a subdeacon, arrives and heals the bishop.
9. Marcellus is ordained a bishop, a dignity he considers more a burden than an honour. One day he sees a man who wishes to take communion but cannot because his arms are contracted behind his back. After the man confesses his sins, Marcellus heals him and gives him communion.
10. A dragon begins to inhabit the tomb of an adulterous woman and terrorises the people of Paris; in a miracle that Venantius Fortunatus compares to one of saint *Silvester (E03229), Marcellus drives the beast away by hitting its head with his staff three times and stuffing a cloth in its mouth.
Marcellus dies on the kalends of November [=1 November].
Text: Krusch 1885. Summary: Kent Navalesi.
Summary:
The Life of Marcellus is dedicated to Bishop *Germanus of Paris (S01166), named in a dedicatory letter. In the prologue Venantius Fortunatus presents his aim as preserving the stories of the saint's miracles for posterity.
4. Marcellus is born in Paris to middle-class parents, and from early childhood he engages in fasting and exhibits the qualities of humility and charity. So outstanding are his virtues that he is made a reader in the church.
5. He performs his first miracle when a craftsman challenges him to hold a hot piece of iron and tell its weight. Marcellus proceeds to hold the iron in his hand without injury and to give its correct weight.
6. He is made a subdeacon, and on the day of Epiphany, while drawing water from the river Seine for his bishop, Prudentius, the water changes into wine. Many people partake in communion from this wine, and its volume miraculously increases.
7. Later, when Marcellus is washing Prudentius' hands, the water turns to balsam.
8. When an archdeacon orders a young cleric to sing against the bishop's wishes, the bishop orders the cleric to be whipped and suddenly loses his voice as punishment; Marcellus, still a subdeacon, arrives and heals the bishop.
9. Marcellus is ordained a bishop, a dignity he considers more a burden than an honour. One day he sees a man who wishes to take communion but cannot because his arms are contracted behind his back. After the man confesses his sins, Marcellus heals him and gives him communion.
10. A dragon begins to inhabit the tomb of an adulterous woman and terrorises the people of Paris; in a miracle that Venantius Fortunatus compares to one of saint *Silvester (E03229), Marcellus drives the beast away by hitting its head with his staff three times and stuffing a cloth in its mouth.
Marcellus dies on the kalends of November [=1 November].
Text: Krusch 1885. Summary: Kent Navalesi.
History
Evidence ID
E06716Saint Name
Marcellus, bishop of Paris, ob. AD 450/500 : S01301 Silvester, bishop of Rome, ob. 336 : S00397Related Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Literary - Hagiographical - LivesLanguage
- Latin
