E04382: Gregory the Great, in his Dialogues (3.1), describes how *Paulinus (bishop of Nola, southern Italy, ob. 431, S01321) offered himself as a slave in order to redeem a prisoner; he also describes Paulinus’ gift of prophecy and a miracle which occurred on his deathbed. Written in Latin in Rome, c. 593.

Gregory the Great, Dialogues 3.1

Summary:

When Campania was attacked by the Vandals, Paulinus gave away many of the furnishings of his episcopal residence to those attacked or captured by the Vandals. He was unable to give anything to free a widow’s son who had been taken prisoner by the Vandal king’s son-in-law, so he offered himself as a slave in place of the son. He was then taken to North Africa, where he was employed as a gardener and won the respect of the Vandal king’s son-in-law. He predicted the death of the Vandal king and appeared as a judge in a dream to the same king. As a result, he and all his people were freed from captivity.

When Paulinus died, the room he was in shook, as if in an earthquake, although the rest of the house remained still.

Summary: Frances Trzeciak.