E06024: Constantius of Lyon, in his Life of *Germanus (bishop of Auxerre, ob. c. 448, S00455), written in Latin at Lyon (central Gaul) between c. 460 and c. 480, describes how Germanus calmed a storm while crossing from Gaul to Britain in 429, with the assistance of *Lupus (bishop of Troyes, ob. 479, S00418).

Constantius of Lyon, Life of Germanus of Auxerre 13

For a full account of Constantius' Life of Germanus, see $E05841. This passage follows the one discussed in $E07039.

Germanus and Lupus are travelling to Britain in response to a delegation from the British church, which asked for assistance from the Gallic bishops in combating the spread of Pelagianism. They set sail across the Channel:

Nec multum post occurrit in pelago relegionis inimica uis daemonum, qui tantos ac tales uiros pertendere ad recipiendam populorum salutem liuidis iniquitatibus inuiderent. Obponunt pericula, procellas concitant, caelum diemque nubium nocte subducunt et tenebrarum caliginem maris atque aeris horrore congeminant. Ventorum furorem uela non sustinent et oceani moles fragilis cumba uix tolerat. Cedebant ministeria uicta nautarum; ferebatur nauigium oratione, non uiribus; et casu dux ipse uel pontifex, fractus corpore, lassitudine et sopore resolutus est.

Tum uero, quasi repugnatore cessante, tempestas excitata conualuit et iam nauigium superfusis fluctibus mergebatur. Tum beatus Lupus omnesque turbati excitant seniorem, elementis furentibus obponendum. Qui periculi inmanitate constantior Christum inuocat, increpat oceanum et procellis saeuientibus causam relegionis obponit statimque, adsumpto oleo, in nomine Trinitatis leui aspergine fluctus saeuientes obpressit. Collegam commonet, hortatur uniuersos, oratio uno ore et clamore profunditur.

Adest diuinitas, fugantur inimici, tranquillitas serena subsequitur, uenti e contrario ad itineris ministeria uertuntur, nauigium famulatrix unda prosequitur, decursisque inmensis spatiis, breui optati litoris quiete potiuntur. Ibi conueniens ex diuersis partibus multitudo excepit sacerdotes quos uenturos etiam uaticinatio aduersa praedixerat; nuntiabant enim sinistri spiritus, quod timebant. Qui imperio sacerdotum, dum ab obsessis corporibus detruduntur, et tempestatis ordinem et pericula quae intulerant fatebantur uictosque se eorum meritis et imperio non negabant.


'Then it was not long before the ocean was assaulted by the violence of demons, haters of religion, who were livid with malice at the sight of such great men hastening to bring salvation to the nations. They heaped up dangers, roused the gales, hid the heavens and the day under a night of clouds and filled the thick darkness with the terrors of the sea and air. The sails could not resist the fury of the winds and the fragile craft scarcely sustained the weight of the waters. The sailors were powerless and abandoned their efforts; the vessel was navigated by prayer and not by muscles. And at that point the leader himself, the bishop, his body worn out, in his weariness went to sleep.

Then indeed did the storm put forth its strength; it was as if a restraining hand had gone. Before long the vessel was actually being swamped by the waves that swept over it. At last the blessed Lupus and all the excited throng aroused their chief, to match him against the raging elements. He, all the more steadfast for the very immensity of the danger, in the name of Christ chided the ocean, pleading the cause of religion against the savagery of the gales. Then, taking some oil, he lightly sprinkled the waves in the name of the Trinity and this diminished their fury. Consulting his colleague, he now called upon everybody; and prayer was poured out by their united voices.

And there was God! The enemies of souls were put to flight, the air became clear and calm, the contrary winds were turned to aid the voyage, the currents flowed in the service of the ship. Thus great distances were covered and soon all were enjoying repose on the desired shore. There great crowds had gathered from many regions to receive the bishops, whose coming had been foretold by the enemies of souls, for the spirits of evil were heralds of what they feared. And, as they were being cast out of the bodies of the possessed by the prelates, they acknowledged that they had contrived the storm and its dangers, and could not deny that the holiness and the authority of the prelates had vanquished them.'

Constantius goes on to describe the activities of Germanus and Lupus in Britain: they attract vast crowds to hear them preach and they defeat the Pelagians in debate (§ 14). There then follows the healing miracle discussed in E05881.

Text: Borius 1965. Translation: Hoare 1954.