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E00157: Gregory of Tours writes the Life of *Patroclus (hermit of Berry, ob. 576, S00064): it presents the saint as an ascetic, founding monasteries in Berry (central Gaul), attracting the devout, and experiencing visions. From Gregory's Life of the Fathers, written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 573/594. Overview of Gregory's Life of Patroclus.
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posted on 2014-11-07, 00:00 authored by mszadaGregory of Tours, Life of the Fathers, Book 9 (Life of Patroclus)
Summary:
Preface: We should offer up stories of the saints. Gregory has recently learned about Patroclus, so feels he should tell his story, even if in poor prose.
§ 1: Patroclus was born in Berry (the territory of Bourges) into a modest but free family. In his childhood he guarded sheep. Called a "peasant" (rusticus) by his better educated brother, he hurriedly entered school, overtook his brother, and was recommended to work for a nobleman close to King Childebert [r. 511-558]. Despite the wishes of his widowed mother, he refused to marry, and was ordained deacon by the bishop of Bourges. His strict asceticism and habit of avoiding meals with the other deacons angered his archdeacon.
§ 2: Patroclus left Bourges through a wish to live as a hermit, and built an oratory at Néris where he placed relics of St Martin and taught children. The sick and possessed came to him and received cures. Patroclus could not bear the renown, and God revealed to him by means of divination that he should become a hermit. He established Néris as a female monastery and left for the forests. Here he constructed a cell in a place called Mediocantus [see $E00158]. He cured a particularly seriously possessed man, and repelled assaults and temptations of the devil; exposing a trick of the devil who falsely revealed himself as St Martin to a woman and offering cures against the plague [see $E00159]. Tempted to return to the world, an angel showed him in a vision all the evils of the world, discouraging him from ever leaving his cell.
§ 3: Patroclus founded a monastery at Colombier in the neighbourhood of his cell and nominated its abbot; he himself continued a solitary life. He announced to the monks his approaching death. After his death, his body was taken for burial in the monastery. The archpriest of Néris, planned to seize the body, but repented of his plan. Gregory lists a number of miracles at his tomb, and says that they continue [see $E00166].
Text: Krusch 1969, 252-255. Summary: Marta Tycner
Summary:
Preface: We should offer up stories of the saints. Gregory has recently learned about Patroclus, so feels he should tell his story, even if in poor prose.
§ 1: Patroclus was born in Berry (the territory of Bourges) into a modest but free family. In his childhood he guarded sheep. Called a "peasant" (rusticus) by his better educated brother, he hurriedly entered school, overtook his brother, and was recommended to work for a nobleman close to King Childebert [r. 511-558]. Despite the wishes of his widowed mother, he refused to marry, and was ordained deacon by the bishop of Bourges. His strict asceticism and habit of avoiding meals with the other deacons angered his archdeacon.
§ 2: Patroclus left Bourges through a wish to live as a hermit, and built an oratory at Néris where he placed relics of St Martin and taught children. The sick and possessed came to him and received cures. Patroclus could not bear the renown, and God revealed to him by means of divination that he should become a hermit. He established Néris as a female monastery and left for the forests. Here he constructed a cell in a place called Mediocantus [see $E00158]. He cured a particularly seriously possessed man, and repelled assaults and temptations of the devil; exposing a trick of the devil who falsely revealed himself as St Martin to a woman and offering cures against the plague [see $E00159]. Tempted to return to the world, an angel showed him in a vision all the evils of the world, discouraging him from ever leaving his cell.
§ 3: Patroclus founded a monastery at Colombier in the neighbourhood of his cell and nominated its abbot; he himself continued a solitary life. He announced to the monks his approaching death. After his death, his body was taken for burial in the monastery. The archpriest of Néris, planned to seize the body, but repented of his plan. Gregory lists a number of miracles at his tomb, and says that they continue [see $E00166].
Text: Krusch 1969, 252-255. Summary: Marta Tycner
History
Evidence ID
E00157Saint Name
Patroclus, hermit from Berry in Gaul, ob. 576 : S00064Saint Name in Source
PatroclusRelated Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Literary - Hagiographical - Lives of saintLanguage
- Latin