E05641: Venantius Fortunatus, in a poem On saint *Medard (bishop of Noyon buried at Soissons, ob. 557/558, S00168) recounts miracles during his lifetime, and after his death at his tomb in Soissons (north-east Gaul), where King Sigibert completed the construction of his church. Poem 2.16, written in Latin in Gaul, 565/575.

Venantius Fortunatus, Poems 2.16 (De Sancto Medardo, 'On Saint Medard', BHL 5863)

Summary:

Medard performed several miracles during his lifetime, especially with the blind, whom he healed with his touch (lines 25-30). He stopped a thief who was trying to steal grapes (lines 31-48); and exposed another thief who tried to steal a cattle-bell (lines 49-64).

After his body was laid on a bier, a blind man was cured (lines 65-76). Another man came to his church in Soissons, where he was miraculously freed from strong handcuffs and fetters (lines 77-92). A second prisoner, in wooden shackles, was similarly freed after he arrived at the church (lines 93-104). An old woman with knotted fingers was healed at Medard's tomb (lines 105-122). Medard also cured a young girl (now dedicated to virginity), and a baby girl, with similar deformities of the hand (lines 123-138). Another blind man was cured, after he had been advised in his sleep by Medard to come to his church, and had spent three days lying in front of his tomb (lines 139-156).

King Sigibert built this church, for whom Fortunatus invokes the protection of the saint (lines 161-164).

Finally, Fortunatus himself seeks Medard's aid (lines 165-166).

Text: Leo 1881, 44-48.
Summary Katarzyna Wojtalik.