E02778: Gregory of Tours, in his Glory of the Confessors (108), tells of the holy life of *Paulinus (bishop of Nola, ob. 431, S01321); how he wrote in verse about *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050), and was visited when dying by Martin and *Genuarius/Ianuarius (bishop, and martyr of Naples, S01322). Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 587/588.

Gregory of Tours, Glory of the Confessors 108

Paulinus and his wife, Tharasia, were of noble birth and very rich. Inspired by the Gospels he gave all his wealth away,even once seeking to give away his last loaf of bread (though Tharasia prevented this - wrongly, as the story shows). He and Tharasia leave their native land; he then becomes bishop of the rich see of Nola, ruling it with humility and giving the church's revenue to the poor, with his wholly chaste (castissima) wife always in agreement.

Erat autem vir sanctus mirae prudentiae et rethoricis litteris eruditus. Quod opus eius, de quanto ad nos pervenit,
valde patefacit. Nam cum ad diversos tam versu quam prosa scripserit, de virtutibus beati Martini sex versu conscripsit libros; scripsit et alios versiculos in laude eius. Viditque eum in corpore positum et oculum suum ab eo inluminatum recepit. Qui tantum in virtute, multiplicata gratiarum spiritalium charismata, resplenduit, ut in obitum suum ipsum Martinum Genuariumque Italicum, priusquam spiritum redderet, corporeis oculis contemplaret; prius enim ab eo de hoc mundo migraverant. Et quia de huius beati vita nihil legeramus, idcirco ea quae per relationem fidelium cognovimus, dum de elymosinis proloqui voluimus, memoramus; de transitu autem eius est apud nos magna lectio, ideo eum ex ordine prosecuti non sumus.

'Paulinus was a holy man [noted] for his marvelous discretion and educated in rhetorical skills. His literary corpus, so far as it is extant for me, truly demonstrates his skill. He wrote on various subjects in verse as well as in prose. He wrote six books in verse about the miracles of the blessed Martin and some other short poems in praise of Martin. For Paulinus saw Martin when he was alive in his body, and he received sight in his own eye from Martin. Because Paulinus had increased the gifts of his spiritual favors, he was so distinguished for his power that at his death, before he gave up his spirit, he saw with the eyes of his body Martin and Genuarius of Italy, who had migrated from this world before Paulinus. Because I have read nothing about the life of the blessed Paulinus, I am relating what I learned from an account of trustworthy men when I wished to speak of his almsgiving. Because I have a long account of Paulinus’ death, I have therefore not repeated it in turn.'

Text: Krusch 1969, 367-368. Translation: Van Dam 2004, 81-83. Summary: Katarzyna Wojtalik