E07807: Gregory of Tours, in the prologue to Book 3 of his Miracles of Martin, discusses the different kinds of miracle that take place at the tomb in Tours of *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050), and describes his own experiences of healing by Martiin. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 581/588.

Gregory of Tours, Miracles of Martin (Libri de virtutibus sancti Martini episcopi), Book 3, prologue

Tertio, ordinante Christo, libello de virtutibus beati Martini scribere incipientes, gratias agimus omnipotenti Deo, qui nobis talem medicum tribuere dignatus est, qui infirmitates nostras purgaret, vulnera dilueret ac salubria medicamenta conferret. Nam ad eius beatum tumulum humilietur animus, et oratio sublimetur. Si defluant lacrimae, et conpunctio vera succedat, si ab imo corde mittantur suspiria, et pectora facinorosa tundantur, invenit ploratus laetitiam, culpa veniam, dolor pectoris pervenit ad medellam. Nam saepius tactus beati sepulchri profluviis imperavit sistere, caecis videre, paralyticis surgere et ipsam quoque pectoris amaritudinem longe discedere. Quod ego plerumque expertus, indignum me iudico, ut inter tantorum miraculorum moles etiam illa hic inseram, quod super me operari dignatus est. Sed iterum timeo, ne noxialis appaream, si ea tamquam fraudulentus abscondam. Testor etenim Deum et spem illam, quam in eius virtute posui, credens, me ab illius misericordia non frustrari; quia, quotienscumque aut dolor capitis inruit, aut timpora pulsus inpulit, aut aures auditus gravavit, aut oculorum aciem caligo suffudit, aut aliis membris dolor insedit, statim ut locum dolentem vel tumulo vel pendente velo adtigi, protinus sanitatem recepi; mirans tacitus, in ipso tactu dolorem recessisse cum cursu.

'As I begin, under the direction of Christ, to write this third book about the miracles of the blessed Martin, I thank omnipotent God who deigned to provide me with the sort of doctor who cleanses my infirmities, washes away my wounds, and bestows effective remedies. For before his blessed tomb passion is to be humbled and prayer is to be raised. If tears flow and genuine remorse follows, if sighs rise up from the bottom of the heart and guilty breasts are beaten, then weeping will find happiness, guilt will find pardon, and the grief in our breasts will end with a remedy. For often simply touching the blessed tomb compels people suffering from diarrhea to control themselves, the blind to see, the paralyzed to stand up, and even the bitterness in our hearts to withdraw completely. Although I have often experienced this [miraculous power], I consider myself unworthy to include here along with this collection of great miracles even what he deigned to perform on my behalf. But again I fear to appear guilty, if like a charlatan I conceal these miracles. Indeed, I call God as my witness that I am not deprived of [Martin’s] compassion, and I trust in that hope that I have placed in his power. For however often a headache has attacked, or a pounding has struck my temples, or my hearing has oppressed my ears, or a darkness has obscured the sight in my eyes, or a pain has appeared in other limbs, as soon as I touched the painful part [of my body] either to the tomb or to the curtain hanging [there], I immediately recovered my health. I silently marveled that the pain quickly departed at the moment of contact.'


Text: Krusch 1969, 182. Translation: Van Dam 1993, 259-260.