[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
what they had found; he being then alone in a place remote from the church, and encompassed on
all sides by the shifting waves of the sea. There he always used to spend the time of- Lent, and was
wont to pass the forty days before the Nativity of our Lord, in great devotion with abstinence. and
prayer and tears. There also his venerable predecessor, Cuthbert, had for some time served as the
soldier of the Lord in solitude before he went to the isle of Fame.
They brought him also some part of the garments that, had covered the holy body; which presents
he thankfully accepted, and gladly heard of the miracles, and he kissed the garments even, with
great affection, as if they had been still upon his father s body, and said, "Let new garments be put
upon the body, in place of these you have brought, and so lay it in the coffin which you have
prepared; for I know of a surety that the place will not long remain empty, which has been hallowed
with so great grace of heavenly miracles; and how happy is he to whom the Lord, the Author and
Giver of all bliss, shall vouchsafe to grant the privilege of resting therein." When the bishop had
made an end of saying this and more in like manner, with many tears and great compunction and
with faltering tongue, the brothers did as he had commanded them, and when they had wrapped
the body in new garments, and laid it in a new coffin, they placed it above the pavement of the
sanctuary. Soon after, Bishop Eadbert, beloved of God, fell grievously sick, and his fever daily
increasing in severity, ere long, that is, on the 6th of May, he also departed to the Lord, and they
160
Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England The Venerable Bede
laid his body in the grave of the blessed father Cuthbert, placing over it the coffin, with the
uncorrupted remains of that father. The miracles of healing, sometimes wrought in that place testify
to the merits of them both; of some of these we have before preserved the memory in the book of
his life. But in this History we have thought fit to add some others which have lately come to our
knowledge.
CHAP. XXXI. Of one that was cured of a palsy at his tomb.
THERE was in that same monastery a brother whose name was Badudegn, who had for no
small time ministered to the guests of the house, and is still living, having the testimony of all the
brothers and strangers resorting thither, of being a man of much piety and religion, and serving the
office put upon him only for the sake of the heavenly reward. This man, having one day washed
in the sea the coverings or blankets which he used in the guest chamber, was returning home, when
on the way, he was seized with a sudden infirmity, insomuch that he fell to the ground, and lay
there a long time and could scarce at last rise again. When he got up, he felt one half of his body,
from the head to the foot, struck with palsy, and with great trouble made his way home by the help
of a staff. The disease increased by degrees, and as night approached, became still worse, so that
when day returned, he could scarcely rise or walk alone. Suffering from this trouble, he conceived
the wise resolve to go to the church, as best he could, and approach the tomb of the reverend father
Cuthbert, and there, on his knees, humbly beseech the mercy of God that he might either be delivered
from that disease, if it were well for him, or if by the grace of God it was ordained for him to be
chastened longer by this affliction, that he might bear the pain which was laid upon him with
patience and a quiet mind.
He did accordingly as he had determined, and supporting his weak limbs with a staff, entered
the church. There prostrating himself before the body of the man of God, he prayed with pious
earnestness, that, through his intercession, the Lord might be propitious to him. As he prayed, he
seemed to fall into a deep sleep, and, as he was afterwards wont to relate, felt a large and broad
hand touch his head, where the pain lay, and likewise pass over all that part of his body which had
been benumbed by the disease, down to his feet. Gradually the pain departed and health returned.
Then he awoke, and rose up in perfect health, and returning thanks to the Lord for his recovery,
told the brothers what had been done for him; and to the joy of them all, returned the more zealously,
as if chastened by the trial of his affliction, to the service which he was wont before to perform
with care.
Moreover, the very garments which had been on Cuthbert s body, dedicated to God, either
while he was alive, or after his death, were not without the virtue of healing, as may be seen in the
book of his life and miracles, by such as shall read it.
161
Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England The Venerable Bede
CHAP. XXXII. Of one who was lately cured of a disease in his eye at the relics of St. Cuthbert.
NOR is that cure to be passed over in silence, which was performed by his relics three years
ago, and was told me lately by the brother himself, on whom it was wrought. It happened in the
monastery, which, being built near the river Dacore, has taken its name from the same, over which,
at that time, the religious Suidbert presided as abbot. In that monastery was a youth whose eyelid
was disfigured by an unsightly tumour, which growing daily greater, threatened the loss of the eye. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl ocenkijessi.opx.pl
what they had found; he being then alone in a place remote from the church, and encompassed on
all sides by the shifting waves of the sea. There he always used to spend the time of- Lent, and was
wont to pass the forty days before the Nativity of our Lord, in great devotion with abstinence. and
prayer and tears. There also his venerable predecessor, Cuthbert, had for some time served as the
soldier of the Lord in solitude before he went to the isle of Fame.
They brought him also some part of the garments that, had covered the holy body; which presents
he thankfully accepted, and gladly heard of the miracles, and he kissed the garments even, with
great affection, as if they had been still upon his father s body, and said, "Let new garments be put
upon the body, in place of these you have brought, and so lay it in the coffin which you have
prepared; for I know of a surety that the place will not long remain empty, which has been hallowed
with so great grace of heavenly miracles; and how happy is he to whom the Lord, the Author and
Giver of all bliss, shall vouchsafe to grant the privilege of resting therein." When the bishop had
made an end of saying this and more in like manner, with many tears and great compunction and
with faltering tongue, the brothers did as he had commanded them, and when they had wrapped
the body in new garments, and laid it in a new coffin, they placed it above the pavement of the
sanctuary. Soon after, Bishop Eadbert, beloved of God, fell grievously sick, and his fever daily
increasing in severity, ere long, that is, on the 6th of May, he also departed to the Lord, and they
160
Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England The Venerable Bede
laid his body in the grave of the blessed father Cuthbert, placing over it the coffin, with the
uncorrupted remains of that father. The miracles of healing, sometimes wrought in that place testify
to the merits of them both; of some of these we have before preserved the memory in the book of
his life. But in this History we have thought fit to add some others which have lately come to our
knowledge.
CHAP. XXXI. Of one that was cured of a palsy at his tomb.
THERE was in that same monastery a brother whose name was Badudegn, who had for no
small time ministered to the guests of the house, and is still living, having the testimony of all the
brothers and strangers resorting thither, of being a man of much piety and religion, and serving the
office put upon him only for the sake of the heavenly reward. This man, having one day washed
in the sea the coverings or blankets which he used in the guest chamber, was returning home, when
on the way, he was seized with a sudden infirmity, insomuch that he fell to the ground, and lay
there a long time and could scarce at last rise again. When he got up, he felt one half of his body,
from the head to the foot, struck with palsy, and with great trouble made his way home by the help
of a staff. The disease increased by degrees, and as night approached, became still worse, so that
when day returned, he could scarcely rise or walk alone. Suffering from this trouble, he conceived
the wise resolve to go to the church, as best he could, and approach the tomb of the reverend father
Cuthbert, and there, on his knees, humbly beseech the mercy of God that he might either be delivered
from that disease, if it were well for him, or if by the grace of God it was ordained for him to be
chastened longer by this affliction, that he might bear the pain which was laid upon him with
patience and a quiet mind.
He did accordingly as he had determined, and supporting his weak limbs with a staff, entered
the church. There prostrating himself before the body of the man of God, he prayed with pious
earnestness, that, through his intercession, the Lord might be propitious to him. As he prayed, he
seemed to fall into a deep sleep, and, as he was afterwards wont to relate, felt a large and broad
hand touch his head, where the pain lay, and likewise pass over all that part of his body which had
been benumbed by the disease, down to his feet. Gradually the pain departed and health returned.
Then he awoke, and rose up in perfect health, and returning thanks to the Lord for his recovery,
told the brothers what had been done for him; and to the joy of them all, returned the more zealously,
as if chastened by the trial of his affliction, to the service which he was wont before to perform
with care.
Moreover, the very garments which had been on Cuthbert s body, dedicated to God, either
while he was alive, or after his death, were not without the virtue of healing, as may be seen in the
book of his life and miracles, by such as shall read it.
161
Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England The Venerable Bede
CHAP. XXXII. Of one who was lately cured of a disease in his eye at the relics of St. Cuthbert.
NOR is that cure to be passed over in silence, which was performed by his relics three years
ago, and was told me lately by the brother himself, on whom it was wrought. It happened in the
monastery, which, being built near the river Dacore, has taken its name from the same, over which,
at that time, the religious Suidbert presided as abbot. In that monastery was a youth whose eyelid
was disfigured by an unsightly tumour, which growing daily greater, threatened the loss of the eye. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]