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E00543: Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Martyrs (45), tells of a broken chalice miraculously repaired by the intervention of *Laurence (deacon and martyr of Rome, S00037) in his church in Milan (northern Italy); the chalice was then hung over the altar and a new annual feast instituted for the saint. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 580/594.
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posted on 2015-05-26, 00:00 authored by dlambertGregory of Tours, Glory of the Martyrs 45
Est enim apud eandem urbem basilica sancti Laurenti levitae, cui supra meminimus, ibique admirabili pulchritudine calix cristallinus habebatur. Acta vero quadam solemnitate, dum per diaconem ad sanctum altare offerretur, elapsus manu in terram ruit et in frustra comminutus est. At diaconus pallidus et exsanguis collecta diligenter fragmenta vasculi super altare posuit, non diffisus, quod eum possit virtus martyris solidare. Denique in vigiliis, lacrimis atque oratione deductam noctem, requisitum calicem repperit super altare solidatum. Quae virtus cum populis nuntiata fuisset, tanta animos devotione succendit, ut a sacerdote peterent, nova in honorem eius Deo solemnia celebrari. Tunc pontifex loci, suspensum super altare calicem, et tunc agens, et in posterum per singulos annos devotissime instituit celebrari.
'In the same city [of Milan] there is a church of St Laurentius the deacon, whom I have already mentioned. In the church there is a crystal chalice of marvellous beauty. But once after the celebration of mass, as a deacon was carrying the chalice to the holy altar, it slipped from his hand, fell to the ground, and was smashed into small pieces. The deacon was pale and white, but he carefully gathered the fragments of the chalice and placed them on top of the altar. He never doubted that the power of the martyr could fuse them together again. After spending the night keeping vigils, weeping, and praying, he looked for the chalice and found it on top of the altar in one piece. When this miracle was announced to the congregation, it encouraged their hearts with such devotion that they requested the bishop to celebrate another festival to God in honour of Laurentius. The chalice was hung over the altar. The bishop of the city celebrated the festival then, and directed that in the future a festival be celebrated most piously every year.'
Text: Krusch 1969, 68. Translation: Van Dam 2004, 44.
Est enim apud eandem urbem basilica sancti Laurenti levitae, cui supra meminimus, ibique admirabili pulchritudine calix cristallinus habebatur. Acta vero quadam solemnitate, dum per diaconem ad sanctum altare offerretur, elapsus manu in terram ruit et in frustra comminutus est. At diaconus pallidus et exsanguis collecta diligenter fragmenta vasculi super altare posuit, non diffisus, quod eum possit virtus martyris solidare. Denique in vigiliis, lacrimis atque oratione deductam noctem, requisitum calicem repperit super altare solidatum. Quae virtus cum populis nuntiata fuisset, tanta animos devotione succendit, ut a sacerdote peterent, nova in honorem eius Deo solemnia celebrari. Tunc pontifex loci, suspensum super altare calicem, et tunc agens, et in posterum per singulos annos devotissime instituit celebrari.
'In the same city [of Milan] there is a church of St Laurentius the deacon, whom I have already mentioned. In the church there is a crystal chalice of marvellous beauty. But once after the celebration of mass, as a deacon was carrying the chalice to the holy altar, it slipped from his hand, fell to the ground, and was smashed into small pieces. The deacon was pale and white, but he carefully gathered the fragments of the chalice and placed them on top of the altar. He never doubted that the power of the martyr could fuse them together again. After spending the night keeping vigils, weeping, and praying, he looked for the chalice and found it on top of the altar in one piece. When this miracle was announced to the congregation, it encouraged their hearts with such devotion that they requested the bishop to celebrate another festival to God in honour of Laurentius. The chalice was hung over the altar. The bishop of the city celebrated the festival then, and directed that in the future a festival be celebrated most piously every year.'
Text: Krusch 1969, 68. Translation: Van Dam 2004, 44.
History
Evidence ID
E00543Saint Name
Laurence/Laurentius, deacon and martyr of Rome : S00037Saint Name in Source
LaurentiusRelated Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Literary - Hagiographical - Collections of miracles Literary - Hagiographical - Other saint-related textsLanguage
- Latin
Evidence not before
583Evidence not after
593Activity not before
313Activity not after
593Place of Evidence - Region
Gaul and Frankish kingdomsPlace of Evidence - City, village, etc
ToursPlace of evidence - City name in other Language(s)
Tours Tours Tours Toronica urbs Prisciniacensim vicus Pressigny Turonorum civitas Ceratensis vicus CéréMajor author/Major anonymous work
Gregory of ToursCult activities - Festivals
- Commemoration of miracle