E00059: Gregory of Tours, in his Life of *Nicetius (bishop of Lyon, ob. 573, S00049), records how he has an earlier Life of Nicetius, but wishes to add to it; and how this Life cured a deacon of Autun (central Gaul) of a disease of the eyes. From Gregory's Life of the Fathers, written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 573/594.

Gregory of Tours, Life of the Fathers 8, preface and chapter 12

(Preface) De cuius vita retenetur quidem exinde libellus nobiscum, nescio quo conpositus, qui multas quidem virtutes eius pandit, non tamen vel exordium nativitatis conversionisque eius vel seriem virtutum declarat ad liquidum. Et licet nec nos omnes eius virtutes investigavimus, quas per eum Dominus vel occulte operari est dignatus vel publicae, tamen quae ad priorem auctorem non pervenerunt etsi rusticiori stilo pandere procuravimus.

(Preface) 'We possess a small book on his [Nicetius'] life, whose author I don't know, which tells us much about his many miracles, but which nevertheless does not tell us clearly either about his birth, nor his entry into religious life, nor the sequence of the miracles he worked; and so, although we have not found out about all the miracles which the Lord deigned to work through him, either secretly or in public, nevertheless we have decided to tell the things which had not come to knowledge of the earlier author, although in a more simple style.'

At the very end of his Life of Nicetius, Gregory returns to this book, recounting a miracle that it effected:

(ch.12) (...) unum adhuc admirandum de libro vitae eius, quem supra a quodam scriptum praefati sumus, memorabo miraculum, de quo virtus divina procedens, non reliquit inglorium, sed ad conprobandam virtutem dictorum patefecit esse plurimis gloriosum. Diaconus enim Agustidunensis gravi oculorum caecitate turbatus, audivit haec quae glorificator sanctorum suorum Deus ad sancti tumulum exercebat, dixitque suis: "Si eius adirem sepulchrum, aut aliquid de sanctis pignoribus sumerem, aut certe, si pallio quo sancti artus teguntur mererer attingere, fiebam sanus". Cumque haec et huiuscemodi cum suis verba conferret, adstetit repente clericus quidam, dicens: "Bene", inquid, "credis, sed, si de hisdem firmare mentem cupis virtutibus, en volumen carteum, quod de his habetur scriptum, ut facilius credas ea quae ad auditum tuarum aurium pervenerunt". At ille, priusquam legi apeteret, inspirante divinae pietatis respectu, ait: "Credo, quia potens est Deus egregia operari per famulos suos". Et statim posuit volumen super oculos suos. Extemplo autem fugato dolore, disrupta caligine, usum videndi recipere meruit voluminis a virtute, et in tantum claritate positus est, ut ipse propriis oculis legens virtutum gesta cognosceret. (...)


(ch.12) '(...) [W]e shall relate an admirable miracle relating to the book which has already been written about his life, which we have mentioned before. Divine power flowed from this book, and far from leaving Nicetius without glory, it showed to many people just how glorious he was, in proving the efficacy of the miracles told in it. A deacon of Autun, affected by a painful disease of the eyes, learnt what was done at the shrine of the saint by God, the glorifier of saints. He said to his family, "If I went to his tomb and took some relics of his, or better still, if I touched the cloth (pallium) that covers his remains, I should be cured." And as he repeated that and other similar things to his friends, a cleric suddenly came to his side and said "You are right to believe that, but to confirm your opinion of these miracles, here is a papyrus volume (volumen carteum) relating to them which will make you believe easily what your ears have heard". But even before he had tried to read the book he said by divine inspiration, "I believe that God has the power to work miracles by His servants." And as he said this he placed the volume over his eyes. Immediately the pain and the shadows dissipated, and by the power of this volume he recovered his sight, and with so much clarity that he could read the tales of miracles with his own eyes. (...)'

Text: Krusch 1969, 240-241, 251-252. Translation: James 1991, 49, 63-64, lightly modified.