Praesentium Signorum Munera: The Cult of the Saints in the World of Gregory of Tours

The Story of Florentius, The Legate from Spain My grandfather, many years ago, had built a basilica in honour of blessed Martin the priest. When it was finished and decorated with choice workmanship, he sent some clerics in holy orders to Tours to seek out relics of the priest . . . . When that had been done he carne every day, and prostrating himself alone with his wife, he s ought the help of the holy priest. Some time after this child was born. But when it was only three months old, it was stricken with a fever and so weakened that it was unable to suck the teat or take any food at all. All this time, as the disease progressed, the baby refused to eat, but kept struggling for breath; nothing remained but to await its death. And it was not long before the baby breathed its last. Then its mother, grief-stricken at the death of her only and first-born child, together with the grandmother, took the little body in their arms and placed it already lifeless before the altar of the blessed Martin. But their hope never failed. And, as if they could see the saint with their own eyes, grandfather spoke up and said: "Our hope was very great, most blessed confessor, when we brought your relics here, relics by which diseases are driven 44 45 away, fevers extinguished, the darkness put to flight (and other infirmities cured). For we had read many accounts concerning you, of deeds which you had done while still alive or deeds which you worked after your passing. We heard that you raised the dead by your prayer, drove away leprosy with your kiss, cured the possessed by a word, constrained infection with your finger -- and many other things as well. Here too your holy power (virtus) will appear, if even now, respolling to our faith, you will revive this little one. But if you do not do so we will not bend our necks h e r e again, we will not light a lamp, nor will we give you any honour by our grateful support (gratiam)." So saying, they left the infant before the altar, and went away. When morning came they returned and found him turned towards the altar. In amazement, his mother took him up in her arms and, seeing that he had begun to breathe again, she put him to her breast; straightway he drank up her milk and grew strong. Then his mother with his father and the whole household raised their voices to the heavens, blessed God, and said: "Now we know that you, God, are indeed great and you alone work wonders, for you have restored to us our little child, by the prayer of your holy confessor." And they showed even greater reverence at that place than they had done before (Gregory of Tours, De Virtutibus S. Martini 3,8).