E05466: Gregory of Tours writes the Life of *Nicetius (bishop of Trier, ob. c. 565, S01305): it presents the saint as a fearless reprimander of the powerful, including kings; set mainly in Trier (north-east Gaul). From Gregory's Life of the Fathers, written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 573/594. Overview of Gregory's Life of Nicetius of Trier.

Gregory of Tours, Life of the Fathers, Book 17 (Life of Nicetius of Trier)

Summary:

Preface: Gregory states that he has learned of many of the deeds of Nicetius from *Aredius (monk of Limoges, ob. 591, S00302), a close witness and himself a man able to effect miracles - and therefore not a source to be doubted.

§ 1: Nicetius was born with a ring of downy hair around his head, a sign that he would become a priest. As a child he was sent by his parents to the abbot of a monastery, to whose office he eventually succeeded. He was highly respected by King Theuderic [r. 511-533], who offered him the bishopric of Trier. When he arrived for his consecration, he admonished the dignitaries accompanying him to withdraw their horses from feeding in the fields of poor people, and threatened them with excommunication. Then he personally chased the horses from the fields. Once, while sitting on his episcopal throne, he felt a weight on his neck, which he realised was the burden of episcopal dignity, because it was accompanied by a sweet smell.

§ 2: Nicetius tried to reform the way of life of kings. He often berated Theuderic's successor, Theudebert [r. 533-548], for his unjust deeds and for not reproving people who had committed crimes. One Sunday the king entered church with people whom Nicetius had excommunicated. During the mass, Nicetius said that he would not continue the service until those who were excommunicated had left the church. The king resisted, but suddenly a young man seized by a demon, cried out and began to confess both the virtues of Nicetius and the crimes of the king, whom he called an adulterer (adulter). Theudebert demanded that the possessed man be sent out, but the bishop said that only if the malefactors left the church, would the man be silenced. The king gave the order for those who had been condemned by the bishop to leave the church, and the bishop ordered the demoniac to be expelled. But he clung to a column and ten men could not drag him away. But when the bishop made secretly under his clothing (sub vestimento suo) the sign of the cross, immediately the man fell to the ground and after a while was cured. After the ceremony nobody could find the man. Subsequently, Theudebert treated Nicetius with more respect. Nicetius reproved the evil ways of many people, willingly putting his own life in danger. One of the people he excommunicated several times was King Chlothar [r. 548-561].

§ 3: Nicetius was sent into exile, accompanied by only one loyal deacon [Aredius]; in exile he predicted his imminent return, which duly happened on the death of Chlothar and the accession of Sigibert [in 561]. While crossing the river Moselle, he was miraculously saved from drowning, and during another journey a frightful creature appeared to him when he entered some bushes to relieve himself, but vanished after Nicetius made the sign of the cross against it.

§ 4: At the church of *Maximinus (bishop of Trier, ob. c. 347, S00465), Nicetius healed three possessed men. During the plague, Trier was protected by three of its bishops: *Eucharius (bishop of Trier, ob. 250/300, S00469) and Maximinus, both from their graves, and the living Nicetius [see $E05472]. A broken fish-trap was found to be full of the fish needed by Nicetius.

§ 5: Nicetius had a vision foretelling the length of the reigns of the present and future kings of the Franks [see $E05474]. He calmed a storm on a river with the sign of the cross and dreamed that he cast nets over the world, aided only by Aredius. A man from Clermont told him how he had been saved from shipwreck when he convinced his pagan fellow travellers to invoke the help of Nicetius.

§ 6: Nicetius learnt in a vision of his salvation, died in Trier, and was buried in the church of Maximinus. Miracles occur at his grave [see $E05477].

Text: Krusch 1969, 277-283. Summary Katarzyna Wojtalik