E07554: 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 miraculously frustrated a thief who tried to steal his horse

Constantius of Lyon, Life of Germanus of Auxerre 20

For a full account of Constantius' Life of Germanus, see $E05841.

Following his return from Britain (E05846), Germanus has embarked on a journey from Auxerre to Arles in order to obtain a remission of taxes for the cities in his see (§ 19)

Operae pretium puto mandare memoriae, etiam eius iter clarum fuisse uirtutibus. Necdum territorium suae ciuitatis excesserat, uiam leniter carpens eratque, imminente iam uespera, dies pluuius: cum subito comitatu suo nudus pede, cucullo uacuus, nimis expeditus uiator adcrescit cuius etiam nuditatem condoluit. Qui dolose inhaerens contubernio iungitur mansione et inter innocentes occupatosque custodes, qui Deo, non animalibus uigilabant, iumentum, quo senior uehebatur, praedo nocturnus abripuit. Die reddito amissio euectionis agnoscitur et, ut sacerdoti animal non deesset, unus ex clericis in peditem mutatur ex equite.

Dumque iter agitur, circumiecti comites intuentur beatum uirum extra morem conceptam laetitiam uultus obumbratione uelantem. Quod cum ab omnibus uideretur, unus ex reliquis, auctoritate concepta, causam laetitiae percunctatur. At ille inquiens: "Paulolum commoremur quia infelicis illius labor et inridendus est et dolendus quem mox uidebitis aestuantem." Cumque delapsi animalibus substitissent, paulo post eminus intuentur peditem post se manu captum animal deducentem. Qui breui adiungitur; dum ille accelerat, hi morantur, statimque uestigiis prouolutus, crimen quod commiserat confitetur et ita totius noctis spatium inretitum esse se retulit, ut longius prodire non posset nec euadendi uiam aliam repperisset, nisi ut abductum animal reformaret.

Ad haec uir beatissimus: "Si hesterna, inquit, die nudo tibi tegimen dedissemus, furandi necessitas non fuisset . Quod deest accipe; reforma quod nostrum est." Itaque confessor criminis pro poena commissi non solum ueniam, uerum etiam praemium cum benedictione suscepit.


'I think it worth while putting on record that even the journey itself was notable for miracles. He was still in the territory of his own diocese, making his way without haste, and evening was coming on after a rainy day, when his retinue was suddenly increased by a very scantily equipped traveller, barefoot and without a hood, whose very nakedness moved Germanus to pity. Cunningly passing as one of the party, he shared its quarters in the inn and presently, night robber that he was, went off with the beast ridden by the Bishop, while its unsuspecting guardians were occupied in watching God rather than the animals. When day returned, the loss of the animal was discovered and one of the clergy, in order that the Bishop should have a mount, changed himself from a horseman trooper into a foot solder.

As they proceeded on their journey, those around him noticed in the man of blessings an unusual mirth that he was trying to conceal by covering his face: soon they had all seen it and one of them took it upon himself to inquire the reason for it. “Let us halt for a little,” replied the Bishop, “for the plight of that unfortunate man is both laughable and pitiable. You will soon see him in his confusion.” They stopped and dismounted and soon saw in the distance a man on foot leading the animal he had taken. Before long he had caught them up, hurrying while they waited for him. At once he threw himself at the Bishop’s feet and confessed his crime. He described how all night long he had been held fast as it were in a trap. He could not go forward and had found that there was no other means of getting away except to restore the stolen animal.

To this the man of blessings replied: “If yesterday we had given you the clothing you lacked, you would not have been reduced to stealing. Now take this that you need, and restore what is ours.” Thus, for confessing his crime, the man received, instead of punishment, not only pardon but also a reward and a blessing.


After a brief description of the crowds which flocked to meet Germanus during his journey through Gaul (§ 21), Constantius narrates the miracle described in E06020.

Text: Borius 1965. Translation: Hoare 1954, slightly adapted.