E00574: Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Martyrs (50), narrates three miracles associated with *Benignus (martyr of Dijon, S00320): how *Paschasia (religious woman of Dijon, S00321) appeared from her burial-church in Dijon (eastern Gaul) to encourage the builders of Benignus' church; how liquids poured onto a stone of his martyrdom cure people (including Gregory); and how Gregory's mother, by keeping the vigils of Benignus, saved her home in Clermont (central Gaul) from the plague. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 580/594.

Gregory of Tours, Glory of the Martyrs 50

Gregory narrates how the sarcophagus of Benignus was discovered in Dijon by Bishop Gregory of Langre, who refurbished the saint's crypt, acquired an account of his martyrdom, and began a large church for the saint (see E00573). He continues:

In proximo autem est et alia basilica, in qua Paschasia quaedam religiosa veneratur. Nam visum est eo tempore structoribus, quendam anum egressam fuisse ab ipsa basilica, nigra veste, cigneo capite vultuque decora, quae sic affata est structoribus: "Heia, dilectissimi, perficite opus bonum; eleventur machinae, quibus erigitur haec structura, et merito acceleratur, quae talem habet exsecutorem. Nam si permitteretur, ut vestrorum oculorum acies contemplaret, nempe videbatis vobis operantibus sanctum praeire Benignum". Haec effata, basilicam, de qua egressa fuerat, ingrediens, nulli ultra conparuit. Autumabant enim eius temporis homines, beatam ibi apparuisse Paschasiam.

'There is another church nearby in which a certain religious woman (quaedam religiosa) Paschasia is venerated. At that time it seemed to the builders [of the church of Benignus] that an old woman had come out of the church. She was dressed in black, her hair was white as a swan, and her face was glorious. She said to the builders: 'Greetings, my most beloved men; complete your fine work. Let the scaffolding that supports this building be raised, and the task that has such a director will justly proceed quickly. For if it were possible for the sight of your eyes to see, you would surely realise that Saint Benignus is directing your construction.' After she said this, she entered the church from which she had come and never again appeared to anyone. The men of that time thought that the blessed Paschasia had appeared there.'


Super lapidem vero illum, in quo cum plumbo remisso pedes eius confixi fuerunt, factis loculis vinum aut siceram multi infundunt; unde, si aut oculi lippitudine gravati aut quaelibet vulnera fuerint peruncta, protinus, fugata infirmitate, sanantur. Quod ego evidenter expertus sum. Nam cum mihi nimia lippitudine oculi gravarentur, ex hoc sacrato unguine tactus, dolorem protinus carui.

'Receptacles were made (factis loculis) and many people pour wine and cider on the stone to which Benignus' feet were affixed with molten lead. Then, once eyes afflicted with inflammation or some other sores are soaked [with this liquid], immediately the illness leaves and they are healed. I certainly experienced this. For when my eyes were severely inflamed, I was touched with this holy ointment and immediately lost the pain.'


Cum autem ad Arvernam regionem lues illa inguinaria adveniret, quae sancti Galli episcopi oratione depulsa est, et in subita contemplatione parietes domorum atque eclesiarum signarentur atque caraxarentur, matri meae apparuit in visu noctis quasi vinum, quod in apothecis nostris habebatur, sanguis esset effectus. Cui lamentanti ac dicenti: "Vae mihi, quia signata est plagae domus mea", ait ei vir quidam: "Nosti", inquid, "quod post pridie, quod erit in Kalendis Novembris, passio Benigni martyris caelebrabitur?" "Novi", ait. "Vade", inquid, "et vigila totam noctem in honore ac revoca missas, et liberaberis a plaga". Expergefacta autem a somno, implevit quae sibi fuerant imperata, signatisque vicinorum domibus, domus nostra inviolata permansit.

'When that plague of the groin that the prayer of the holy bishop Gallus repulsed was approaching the territory of Clermont, signs and marks appeared on the walls of homes and churches suddenly, as men looked. My mother had a vision during the night in which it seemed that the wine that was in our cellars had been changed into blood. She wept and said: 'Woe am I, because my house has been marked for the plague.' A man replied to her and said: 'Do you know that the [anniversary of the] suffering of the martyr Benignus will be celebrated tomorrow on the Kalends of November [I November]?' 'I know,' my mother said. He said: 'Go, keep the vigil in his honour during the entire night, attend the mass, and you will be rescued from the plague.' My mother awoke from her sleep and did what she had been ordered. Although the houses of our neighbours were marked, our home remained untouched.'

Text: Krusch 1969, 73. Translation: Van Dam 2004, 50-51, lightly modified.