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E02635: Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Confessors (45), describes how *Romanus (priest of Blaye, ob. late 4th c., S01129) from his grave at Blaye (near Bordeaux, south-west Gaul) protected people travelling on the river Garonne from shipwreck; Gregory himself witnessed the calming of a storm and flood. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 587/588.
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posted on 2017-03-31, 00:00 authored by kwojtalikGregory of Tours, Glory of the Confessors 45
Habetur in hoc terreturio et sanctus Romanus presbiter, quem, ut scripta vitae eius edocent, Martinus eum noster sepulturae locavit. Est autem sepulchrum eius contiguum Blaviensi castello super litus amnis Garonnae. In quo saepe naufragio perituros virtutis suae salvat occursu, proclamantibus inter fluctus torrentis undosi: 'Miserere nostri, sanctae Romane confessor Dei'. Sed mox sedata tempestate, obtata litora potiuntur. Nec fas est tamen ullum perire naufragio, qui eius basilicam amnis de medio contemplare meruerit. Quod et nos valde in grandi necessitate experti sumus. Nam cum imber creberrimus per multos defluens dies amnem Garonnam extra litora eiecisset, atque, inpellente vento, validis fluetibus exundaret, elevarenturque fluctuum montes validii, qui non parvum intuentibus ingererent metum, exoratos beatus confessor obtenuit, sicut credimus, virtutis suae suffragio, ut, conpressis fragoribus, planum praeberetur fluminis alveum. Et sic ingressi navem, ripae alteri sine periculo sumus devecti.
'In this territory [of Bordeaux] is [the tomb of] Saint Romanus the priest. According to the written records of his life, our Martin [of Tours] placed him in his tomb. For his tomb is next to the fortress of Blaye, which is situated on a bank of the Garonne River. Often through the display of his power he rescues people who are about to die from being shipwrecked in this river, when they cry out amidst the waves and currents of the torrent: ‘Have pity on us, Saint Romanus, confessor of God.’ Soon the storm is quieted, and the people reach the banks they had hoped for. It is not proper for anyone who has deserved to see Romanus’ church from the middle of the river to die in a shipwreck. I myself experienced his power in a situation of great duress. A driving storm that rained for many days caused the Garonne river to flood outside its banks. As the wind whipped about, the river overflowed in huge waves. Overpowering mountains of water were tossed up that caused great fear among the onlookers. But after the blessed confessor was petitioned, by the assistance of his power he brought it about (so I believe) that he restrained the crashing and caused the channel of the river to be level. And so I entered a boat and crossed to the other bank without any danger.'
Text: Krusch 1969, 325-326. Translation: Van Dam 2004, 36, lightly modified.
Habetur in hoc terreturio et sanctus Romanus presbiter, quem, ut scripta vitae eius edocent, Martinus eum noster sepulturae locavit. Est autem sepulchrum eius contiguum Blaviensi castello super litus amnis Garonnae. In quo saepe naufragio perituros virtutis suae salvat occursu, proclamantibus inter fluctus torrentis undosi: 'Miserere nostri, sanctae Romane confessor Dei'. Sed mox sedata tempestate, obtata litora potiuntur. Nec fas est tamen ullum perire naufragio, qui eius basilicam amnis de medio contemplare meruerit. Quod et nos valde in grandi necessitate experti sumus. Nam cum imber creberrimus per multos defluens dies amnem Garonnam extra litora eiecisset, atque, inpellente vento, validis fluetibus exundaret, elevarenturque fluctuum montes validii, qui non parvum intuentibus ingererent metum, exoratos beatus confessor obtenuit, sicut credimus, virtutis suae suffragio, ut, conpressis fragoribus, planum praeberetur fluminis alveum. Et sic ingressi navem, ripae alteri sine periculo sumus devecti.
'In this territory [of Bordeaux] is [the tomb of] Saint Romanus the priest. According to the written records of his life, our Martin [of Tours] placed him in his tomb. For his tomb is next to the fortress of Blaye, which is situated on a bank of the Garonne River. Often through the display of his power he rescues people who are about to die from being shipwrecked in this river, when they cry out amidst the waves and currents of the torrent: ‘Have pity on us, Saint Romanus, confessor of God.’ Soon the storm is quieted, and the people reach the banks they had hoped for. It is not proper for anyone who has deserved to see Romanus’ church from the middle of the river to die in a shipwreck. I myself experienced his power in a situation of great duress. A driving storm that rained for many days caused the Garonne river to flood outside its banks. As the wind whipped about, the river overflowed in huge waves. Overpowering mountains of water were tossed up that caused great fear among the onlookers. But after the blessed confessor was petitioned, by the assistance of his power he brought it about (so I believe) that he restrained the crashing and caused the channel of the river to be level. And so I entered a boat and crossed to the other bank without any danger.'
Text: Krusch 1969, 325-326. Translation: Van Dam 2004, 36, lightly modified.
History
Evidence ID
E02635Saint Name
Romanus, priest at Blavia (Gaul), ob. c. 390 : S01129 Martin, ascetic and bishop of Tours (Gaul), ob. 397 : S00050Saint Name in Source
Romanus MartinusRelated Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Literary - Hagiographical - Other saint-related textsLanguage
- Latin