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GREGORY I (DIALOGOS): Second Dialogue (Life = of St.=20 Benedict)

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           THE  SAINT   PACHOMIUS  ORTHODOX   LIBRARY=20



 This document is in the public domain. Copying it is encouraged. =20



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THE DIALOGUES OF SAINT GREGORY, SURNAMED DIALOGUS AND THE GREAT, = POPE OF=20 ROME AND THE FIRST OF THAT NAME.

Divided into Four Books, wherein = he=20 entreateth of the Lives and Miracles of the Saints in Italy, and of the = Eternity=20 of Men's Souls.=20

Translated into our English Tongue by "P. W." and printed at Paris in = 1608.=20 Re-edited by Edmund G. Gardner in 1911, and again by the Saint Pachomius = Library=20 in 1995.=20

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THE SECOND BOOK OF THE DIALOGUES, containing the Life and Miracles of = St.=20 Benedict (Bennet) of Nursia.=20

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PROLOGUE (spoken by GREGORY):

There was a man of venerable life, blessed by grace, and blessed in = name, for=20 he was called "Benedictus" or Bennet: who, from his younger years, = carried=20 always the mind of an old man; for his age was inferior to his virtue: = all vain=20 pleasure he contemned, and though he were in the world, and might freely = have=20 enjoyed such commodities as it yieldeth, yet did he nothing esteem it, = nor the=20 vanities thereof. He was born in the province of Nursia, of honourable=20 parentage, and brought up at Rome in the study of humanity. But for as = much as=20 he saw many by reason of such learning to fall to dissolute and lewd = life, he=20 drew back his foot, which he had as it were now set forth into the = world, lest,=20 entering too far in acquaintance therewith, he likewise might have = fallen into=20 that dangerous and godless gulf: wherefore, giving over his book, and = forsaking=20 his father's house and wealth, with a resolute mind only to serve God, = he sought=20 for some place, where he might attain to the desire of his holy purpose: = and in=20 this sort he departed, instructed with learned ignorance, and furnished = with=20 unlearned wisdom. All the notable things and acts of his life I could = not learn;=20 but those few, which I mind now to report, I had by the relation of four = of his=20 disciples: to wit, of Constantinus, a most rare and reverent man, who = was next=20 Abbot after him; of Valentinianus, who many years had the charge of the = Lateran=20 Abbey; of Simplicius, who was the third General of his order; and lastly = of=20 Honoratus, who is now Abbot of that monastery in which he first began = his holy=20 life.=20

CHAPTER ONE: HOW HE MADE A BROKEN SIEVE WHOLE AND SOUND

Bennet having now given over the school, with a resolute mind to lead = his=20 life in the wilderness: his nurse alone, which did tenderly love him, = would not=20 by any means give him over. Coming, therefore, to a place called Enside = and=20 remaining there in the church of St. Peter, in the company of other = virtuous=20 men, which for charity lived in that place, it fell so out that his = nurse=20 borrowed of the neighbours a sieve to make clean wheat, which being left = negligently upon the table, by chance it was broken in two pieces: = whereupon she=20 fell pitifully a-weeping, because she had borrowed it. The devout and = religious=20 youth Bennet, seeing his nurse so lamenting, moved with compassion, took = away=20 with him both the pieces of the sieve, and with tears fell to his = prayers; and=20 after he had done, rising up he found it so whole, that the place could = not be=20 seen where before it was broken; and coming straight to his nurse, and=20 comforting her with good words, he delivered her the sieve safe and = sound: which=20 miracle was known to all the inhabitants thereabout, and so much = admired, that=20 the townsmen, for a perpetual memory, did hang it up at the church door, = to the=20 end that not only men then living, but also their posterity might = understand,=20 how greatly God's grace did work with him upon his first renouncing of = the=20 world. The sieve continued there many years after, even to these very = troubles=20 of the Lombards, where it did hang over the church door.=20

But Bennet, desiring rather the miseries of the world than the = praises of=20 men: rather to be wearied with labour for God's sake, than to be exalted = with=20 transitory commendation: fled privily from his nurse, and went into a = desert=20 place called Sublacum, distant almost forty miles from Rome: in which = there was=20 a fountain springing forth cool and clear water; the abundance whereof = doth=20 first in a broad place make a lake, and afterward running forward, = cometh to be=20 a river. As he was travelling to this place, a certain monk called = Romanus met=20 him, and demanded whither he went, and understanding his purpose, he = both kept=20 it close, furthered him what he might, vested him with the habit of holy = conversation, and as he could, did minister and serve him.=20

The man of God, Bennet, coming to this foresaid place, lived there in = a=20 strait cave, where he continued three years unknown to all men, except = to=20 Romanus, who lived not far off, under the rule of Abbot Theodacus, and = very=20 virtuously did steal certain hours, and likewise sometime a loaf given = for his=20 own provision, which he did carry to Bennet. And because from Romanus' = cell to=20 that cave there was not any way, by reason of an high rock which did = hang over=20 it, Romanus, from the top thereof, upon a long rope, did let down the = loaf, upon=20 which also with a band he tied a little bell, that by the ringing = thereof the=20 man of God might know when he came with his bread, and so be ready to = take it.=20 But the old enemy of mankind, envying at the charity of the one and the=20 refection of the other, seeing a loaf upon a certain day let down, threw = a stone=20 and brake the bell; but yet, for all that, Romanus gave not over to = serve him by=20 all the possible means he could.=20

At length when almighty God was determined to ease Romanus of his = pains, and=20 to have Bennet's life for an example known to the world, that such a = candle, set=20 upon a candlestick, might shine and give light to the Church of God, our = Lord=20 vouchsafed to appear unto a certain Priest dwelling a good way off, who = had made=20 ready his dinner for Easter day, and spake thus unto him: "Thou hast = provided=20 good cheer for thyself, and my servant in such a place is afflicted with = hunger": who, hearing this forthwith rose up, and upon Easter day = itself, with=20 such meat as he had prepared, went to the place, where he sought for the = man of=20 God amongst the steep hills, the low valleys and hollow pits, and at = length=20 found him in his cave: where, after they had prayed together, and = sitting down=20 had given God thanks, and had much spiritual talk, then the Priest said = unto=20 him: "Rise up, brother, and let us dine, because today is the feast of = Easter."=20 To whom the man of God answered, and said: "I know that it is Easter = with me and=20 a great feast, having found so much favour at God's hands as this day to = enjoy=20 your company" (for by reason of his long absence from men, he knew not = that it=20 was the great solemnity of Easter). But the reverent Priest again did = assure=20 him, saying: "Verily, to-day is the feast of our Lord's Resurrection, = and=20 therefore meet it is not that you should keep abstinence, and besides I = am sent=20 to that end, that we might eat together of such provision as God's = goodness hath=20 sent us." Whereupon they said grace, and fell to their meat, and after = they had=20 dined, and bestowed some time in talking, the Priest returned to his = church.=20

About the same time likewise, certain shepherds found him in that = same cave:=20 and at the first, when they espied him through the bushes, and saw his = apparel=20 made of skins, they verily thought that it had been some beast: but = after they=20 were acquainted with the servant of God, many of them were by his means=20 converted from their beastly life to grace, piety, and devotion. And = thus his=20 name in the country there about became famous, and many after this went = to visit=20 him, and for corporal meat which they brought him, they carried away = spiritual=20 food for their souls.=20

CHAPTER TWO: HOW HE OVERCAME A GREAT TEMPTATION OF THE FLESH.

Upon a certain day being alone, the tempter was at hand: for a little = black=20 bird, commonly called a merle or an ousel, began to fly about his face, = and that=20 so near as the holy man, if he would, might have taken it with his hand: = but=20 after he had blessed himself with the sign of the cross, the bird flew = away: and=20 forthwith the holy man was assaulted with such a terrible temptation of = the=20 flesh, as he never felt the like in all his life.=20

A certain woman there was which some time he had seen, the memory of = which=20 the wicked spirit put into his mind, and by the representation of her = did so=20 mightily inflame with concupiscence the soul of God's servant, which did = so=20 increase that, almost overcome with pleasure, he was of mind to have = forsaken=20 the wilderness. But, suddenly assisted with God's grace, he came to = himself; and=20 seeing many thick briers and nettle bushes to grow hard by, off he cast = his=20 apparel, and threw himself into the midst of them, and there wallowed so = long=20 that, when he rose up, all his flesh was pitifully torn: and so by the = wounds of=20 his body, he cured the wounds of his soul, in that he turned pleasure = into pain,=20 and by the outward burning of extreme smart, quenched that fire which, = being=20 nourished before with the fuel of carnal cogitations, did inwardly burn = in his=20 soul: and by this means he overcame the sin, because he made a change of = the=20 fire.=20

From which time forward, as himself did afterward report unto his = disciples,=20 he found all temptation of pleasure so subdued, that he never felt any = such=20 thing. Many after this began to abandon the world, and to become his = scholars.=20 For being now freed from the vice of temptation, worthily and with great = reason=20 is he made a master of virtue: for which cause, in Exodus, commandment = is given=20 by Moses that the Levites from five-and-twenty years and upward should = serve,=20 but, after they came to fifty, that they should be ordained keepers of = the holy=20 vessels. [Numbers 8:24-26]=20

PETER: Somewhat I understand of this testimony alleged: but yet I = beseech you=20 to tell me the meaning thereof more fully.=20

GREGORY: It is plain, Peter, that in youth the temptation of the = flesh is=20 hot: but after fifty years the heat of the body waxeth cold, and the = souls of=20 faithful people become holy vessels. Wherefore necessary it is that = God's elect=20 servants, whiles they are yet in the heat of temptation, should live in=20 obedience, serve, and be wearied with labour and pains. But when, by = reason of=20 age, the heat of temptation is past, they become keepers of holy = vessels;=20 because they then are made the doctors of men's souls.=20

PETER: I cannot deny, but that your words have given me full = satisfaction:=20 wherefore, seeing you have now expounded the meaning of the former text = alleged,=20 prosecute, I pray, as you have begun, the rest of the holy man's life.=20

CHAPTER THREE: HOW BENNET, BY THE SIGN OF THE HOLY CROSS, BRAKE A=20 DRINKING-GLASS IN PIECES.

GREGORY: When this great temptation was thus overcome, the man of = God, like=20 unto a piece of ground well tilled and weeded, of the seed of virtue = brought=20 forth plentiful store of fruit: and by reason of the great report of his = wonderful holy life, his name became very famous. Not far from the place = where=20 he remained there was a monastery, the Abbot whereof was dead: whereupon = the=20 whole Convent came unto the venerable man Bennet, entreating him very = earnestly=20 that he would vouchsafe to take upon him the charge and government of = their=20 Abbey: long time he denied them, saying that their manners were divers = from his,=20 and therefore that they should never agree together: yet at length, = overcome=20 with their entreaty, he gave his consent.=20

Having now taken upon him the charge of the Abbey, he took order that = regular=20 life should be observed, so that none of them could, as before they = used,=20 through unlawful acts decline from the path of holy conversation, either = on the=20 one side or on the other: which the monks perceiving, they fell into a = great=20 rage, accusing themselves that ever they desired him to be their Abbot, = seeing=20 their crooked conditions could not endure his virtuous kind of = government: and=20 therefore when they saw that under him they could not live in unlawful = sort, and=20 were loath to leave their former conversation, and found it hard to be = enforced=20 with old minds to meditate and think upon new things: and because the = life of=20 virtuous men is always grievous to those that be of wicked conditions, = some of=20 them began to devise, how they might rid him out of the way: and = therefore,=20 taking counsel together, they agreed to poison his wine: which being = done, and=20 the glass wherein that wine was, according to the custom, offered to the = Abbot=20 to bless, he, putting forth his hand, made the sign of the cross, and=20 straightway the glass, that was holden far off, brake in pieces, as = though the=20 sign of the cross had been a stone thrown against it: upon which = accident the=20 man of God by and by perceived that the glass had in it the drink of = death,=20 which could not endure the sign of life: and therefore rising up, with a = mild=20 countenance and quiet mind, he called the monks together, and spake thus = unto=20 them: "Almighty God have mercy upon you, and forgive you: why have you = used me=20 in this manner? Did not I tell you before hand, that our manner of = living could=20 never agree together? Go your ways, and seek ye out some other father = suitable=20 to your own conditions, for I intend not now to stay any longer amongst = you."=20 When he had thus discharged himself, he returned back to the wilderness = which so=20 much he loved, and dwelt alone with himself, in the sight of his = Creator, who=20 beholdeth the hearts of all men.=20

PETER: I understand not very well what you mean, when you say that he = dwelt=20 with himself.=20

GREGORY: If the holy man had longer, contrary to his own mind, = continued his=20 government over those monks, who had all conspired against him, and were = far=20 unlike to him in life and conversation: perhaps he should have = diminished his=20 own devotion, and somewhat withdrawn the eyes of his soul from the light = of=20 contemplation; and being wearied daily with correcting of their faults, = he=20 should have had the less care of himself, and so haply it might have = fallen out,=20 that he should both have lost himself, and yet not found them: for so = often as=20 by infectious motion we are carried too far from ourselves, we remain = the same=20 men that we were before, and yet be not with ourselves as we were = before:=20 because we are wandering about other men's affairs, little considering = and=20 looking into the state of our own soul.=20

For shall we say that he was with himself, who went into a far = country, and=20 after he had, as we read in the Gospel, prodigally spent that portion = which he=20 received of his father, was glad to serve a citizen, to keep his hogs, = and would=20 willingly have filled his hungry belly with the husks which they did = eat: who=20 notwithstanding afterward, when he thought with himself of those goods = which he=20 had lost, it is written of him that, returning into himself, he said: = How many=20 hired men in my father's house do abound with bread? [Luke 15]=20

If then, before he were with himself, from whence did he return home = unto=20 himself? and therefore I said that this venerable man did dwell with = himself,=20 because carrying himself circumspectly and carefully in the sight of his = Creator, always considering his own actions, always examining himself, = never did=20 he turn the eyes of his soul from himself, to behold aught else = whatsoever.=20

PETER: Why, then, is it written of the Apostle, St. Peter, after he = was by=20 the Angel delivered out of prison, that, returning to himself, he said: = Now I=20 know verily, that our Lord hath sent his Angel, and hath delivered me = from the=20 hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. = [Acts=20 12:11]=20

GREGORY: We are two manner of ways, Peter, carried out of ourselves: = for=20 either we fall under ourselves by sinful cogitation, or else we are, by = the=20 grace of contemplation, lifted above ourselves: for he that kept hogs, = through=20 wandering of his mind and unclean thoughts, fell under himself: but he = whom the=20 Angel delivered out of prison, being also rapt by the Angel into an = ecstasy, was=20 in truth out of himself, but yet above himself. Both of them, therefore, = did=20 return unto themselves; the one when he recollected himself, and forsook = his=20 lewd kind of life; and the other from the top of contemplation, to have = that=20 usual judgment and understanding, which before he had: wherefore = venerable=20 Bennet in that solitary wilderness dwelt with himself, because he kept = himself,=20 and retired his cogitations within the closet of his own soul: for when = the=20 greatness of contemplation rapt him up aloft, out of all question he did = then=20 leave himself under himself.=20

PETER: Your discourse doth very well content me: yet I beseech you to = answer=20 me this question, whether he could in conscience give over those monks, = whose=20 government he had now taken upon him?=20

GREGORY: In mine opinion, Peter, evil men may with good conscience be = tolerated in that community, where there be some good that may be = holpen, and=20 reap commodity. But where there be none good at all, that receive = spiritual=20 profit, often times all labour is lost, that is bestowed in bringing of = such to=20 good order, especially if other occasions be offered of doing God = presently=20 better service elsewhere: for whose good, then, should the holy man have = expected, seeing them all to persecute him with one consent? and (that = which is=20 not to be passed over with silence) those that be perfect carry always = this=20 mind, that when they perceive their labour to be fruitless in one place, = to=20 remove straight to another, where more good may be done.=20

And for this cause, that notable preacher of the word, who was = desirous to be=20 dissolved, and to be with Christ, unto whom to live is Christ, and to = die is=20 gain [Phil. 1:21]: and who not only desired himself to suffer = persecution, but=20 did also animate and encourage others to suffer the same; yet being = himself in=20 persecution at Damascus, got a rope and a basket to pass over the wall, = and was=20 privily let down. [Acts 9:25] What then? shall we say that Paul was = afraid of=20 death, when as himself said, that he desired it for Christ's sake? not = so: but=20 when he perceived that in that place little good was to be done by great = labour,=20 he reserved himself to further labour, where more fruit and better = success might=20 be expected: and therefore the valiant soldier of Christ would not be = kept=20 within walls, but sought for a larger field where he might more freely = labour=20 for his master. And so, in like manner, you shall quickly perceive, if = you mark=20 well, that venerable Bennet forsook not so many in one place, that were=20 unwilling to be taught, as he did in sundry other places raise up from = the death=20 of soul many more, that were willing to be instructed.=20

PETER: It is so as you say, and plain reason teacheth it, and the = example of=20 St. Paul alleged doth confirm it. But I beseech you to return unto your = former=20 purpose, and to prosecute the life of the holy man.=20

GREGORY: When as God's servant daily increased in virtue, and became=20 continually more famous for miracles, many were by him in the same place = drawn=20 to the service of almighty God, so that by Christ's assistance he built = there=20 twelve Abbeys; over which he appointed governors, and in each of them = placed=20 twelve monks, and a few he kept with himself, namely, such as he thought = would=20 more profit, and be better instructed by his own presence. At that time = also=20 many noble and religious men of Rome came unto him, and committed their = children=20 to be brought up under him, for the service of God. Then also Evitius = delivered=20 him Maurus, and Tertullius the Senator brought Placidus, being their = sons of=20 great hope and towardness: of which two, Maurus, growing to great = virtue, began=20 to be his master's coadjutor; but Placidus, as yet, was but a boy of = tender=20 years.=20

CHAPTER FOUR: HOW BENNET REFORMED A MONK THAT WOULD NOT STAY AT HIS = PRAYERS.=20

In one of the monasteries which he had built in those parts, a monk = there=20 was, which could not continue at prayers; for when the other monks knelt = down to=20 serve God, his manner was to go forth, and there with wandering mind to = busy=20 himself about some earthly and transitory things. And when he had been = often by=20 his Abbot admonished of this fault without any amendment, at length he = was sent=20 to the man of God, who did likewise very much rebuke him for his folly; = yet=20 notwithstanding, returning back again, he did scarce two days follow the = holy=20 man's admonition; for, upon the third day, he fell again to his old = custom, and=20 would not abide within at the time of prayer: word whereof being once = more sent=20 to the man of God, by the father of the Abbey whom he had there = appointed, he=20 returned him answer that he would come himself, and reform what was = amiss, which=20 he did accordingly: and it fell so out, that when the singing of psalms = was=20 ended, and the hour come in which the monks betook themselves to prayer, = the=20 holy man perceived that the monk, which used at that time to go forth, = was by a=20 little black boy drawn out by the skirt of his garment; upon which = sight, he=20 spake secretly to Pompeianus, father of the Abbey, and also to Maurus = saying Do=20 you not see who it is, that draweth this monk from his prayers?" and = they=20 answered him, that they did not. "Then let us pray," quoth he, "unto = God, that=20 you also may behold whom this monk doth follow": and after two days = Maurus did=20 see him, but Pompeianus could not.=20

Upon another day, when the man of God had ended his devotions, he = went out of=20 the oratory, where he found the foresaid monk standing idle, whom for = the=20 blindness of his heart he strake with a little wand, and from that day = forward=20 he was so freed from all allurement of the little black boy, that he = remained=20 quietly at his prayers, as other of the monks did: for the old enemy was = so=20 terrified, that he durst not any more suggest any such cogitations: as = though by=20 that blow, not the monk, but himself had been strooken.=20

CHAPTER FIVE: OF A FOUNTAIN THAT SPRUNG FORTH IN THE TOP OF A = MOUNTAIN, BY=20 THE PRAYERS OF THE MAN OF GOD.

Amongst the monasteries which he had built in those parts, three of = them were=20 situated upon the rocks of a mountain, so that very painful it was for = the monks=20 to go down and fetch water, especially because the side of the hill was = so steep=20 that there was great fear of danger: and therefore the monks of those = Abbeys=20 with one consent came unto the servant of God, Bennet, giving him to = understand,=20 how laborious it was for them daily to go down unto the lake for water: = and=20 therefore they added, that it was very necessary to have them removed to = some=20 other places. The man of God, comforting them with sweet words, caused = them to=20 return back again; and the next night, having with him only the little = boy=20 Placidus (of whom we spake before), he ascended up to the rock of that = mountain,=20 and continued there a long time in prayer; and when he had done, he took = three=20 stones, and laid them in the same place for a mark, and so, none of them = being=20 privy to that he had done, he returned back to his own Abbey. And the = next day,=20 when the foresaid monks came again about their former business, he said = thus=20 unto them: "Go your way to the rock, and in the place where you find = three=20 stones laid one upon another, dig a little hole, for almighty God is = able to=20 bring forth water in the top of that mountain, and so to ease you of = that great=20 labour which you take in fetching it so far." Away they went, and came = to the=20 rock of the mountain according to his direction, which they found as it = were=20 sweating drops of water, and after they had with a spade made an hollow = place,=20 it was straightways filled, and water flowed out so abundantly, that it = doth=20 plentifully, even to this day, spring out and run down from the top to = the very=20 bottom of that hill.=20

CHAPTER SIX: HOW THE IRON HEAD OF A BILL, FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE = WATER,=20 RETURNED TO THE HANDLE AGAIN.

At another time, a certain Goth, poor of spirit, that gave over the = world,=20 was received by the man of God; whom on a day he commanded to take a = bill, and=20 to cleanse a certain plot of ground from briers, for the making of a = garden,=20 which ground was by the side of a lake. The Goth as he was there = labouring, by=20 chance the head of the bill slipped off, and fell into the water, which = was so=20 deep, that there was no hope ever to get it again. The poor Goth, in = great fear,=20 ran unto Maurus and told him what he had lost, confessing his own fault = and=20 negligence: Maurus forthwith went to the servant of God, giving him to=20 understand thereof, who came straightways to the lake: and took the = handle out=20 of the Goth's hand, and put it into the water, and the iron head by and = by=20 ascended from the bottom and entered again into the handle of the bill, = which he=20 delivered to the Goth, saying: "Behold here is thy bill again, work on, = and be=20 sad no more."=20

CHAPTER SEVEN: HOW MAURUS WALKED UPON THE WATER.

On a certain day, as venerable Bennet was, in his cell, the foresaid = young=20 Placidus, the holy man's monk, went out to take up water at the lake, = and=20 putting down his pail carelessly, fell in himself after it, whom the = water=20 forthwith carried away from the land so far as one may shoot an arrow. = The man=20 of God, being in his cell, by and by knew this, and called in haste for = Maurus,=20 saying: "Brother Maurus, run as fast as you can, for Placidus, that went = to the=20 lake to fetch water, is fallen in, and is carried a good way off."=20

A strange thing, and since the time of Peter the Apostle never heard = of!=20 Maurus, craving his father's blessing, and departing in all haste at his = commandment, ran to that place upon the water, to which the young lad = was=20 carried by force thereof, thinking that he had all that while gone upon = the=20 land: and taking fast hold of him by the hair of his head, in all haste = he=20 returned back again: and so soon as he was at land, coming to himself he = looked=20 behind him, and then knew very well that he had before run upon the = water: and=20 that which before he durst not have presumed, being now done and past, = he both=20 marvelled, and was afraid at that which he had done.=20

Coming back to the father, and telling him what had happened, the = venerable=20 man did not attribute this to his own merits, but to the obedience of = Maurus:=20 but Maurus on the contrary, said that it was done only upon his = commandment, and=20 that he had nothing to do in that miracle, not knowing at that time what = he did.=20 But the friendly contention proceeding of mutual humility, the young = youth=20 himself that was saved from drowning did determine: for he said that he = saw when=20 he was drawn out of the water the Abbot's garment upon his head, = affirming that=20 it was he that had delivered him from that great danger.=20

PETER: Certainly they be wonderful things which you report, and such = as may=20 serve for the edification of many : for mine own part, the more that I = hear of=20 his miracles, the more do I still desire.=20

CHAPTER EIGHT: HOW A LOAF WAS POISONED, AND CARRIED FAR OFF BY A = CROW.

GREGORY: When as the foresaid monasteries were zealous in the love of = our=20 Lord Jesus Christ, and their fame dispersed far and near, and many gave = over the=20 secular life, and subdued the passions of their soul, under the light = yoke of=20 our Saviour: then (as the manner of wicked people is, to envy at that = virtue=20 which themselves desire not to follow) one Florentius, Priest of a = church=20 hardby, and grandfather to Florentius our sub-deacon, possessed with = diabolical=20 malice, began to envy the holy man's virtues, to back-bite his manner of = living,=20 and to withdraw as many as he could from going to visit him : and when = he saw=20 that he could not hinder his virtuous proceedings, but that, on the = contrary,=20 the fame of his holy life increased, and many daily, upon the very = report of his=20 sanctity, did betake themselves to a better state of life : burning more = and=20 more with the coals of envy, he became far worse; and though he desired = not to=20 imitate his commendable life, yet fain he would have had the reputation = of his=20 virtuous conversation.=20

In conclusion so much did malicious envy blind him, and so far did he = wade in=20 that sin, that he poisoned a loaf and sent it to the servant of almighty = God, as=20 it were for an holy present. The man of God received it with great = thanks, yet=20 not ignorant of that which was hidden within. At dinner time, a crow = daily used=20 to come unto him from the next wood, which took bread at his hands; = coming that=20 day after his manner, the man of God threw him the loaf which the Priest = had=20 sent him, giving him this charge: "In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, = take up=20 that loaf, and leave it in some such place where no man may find it." = Then the=20 crow, opening his mouth, and lifting up his wings, began to hop up and = down=20 about the loaf, and after his manner to cry out, as though he would have = said=20 that he was willing to obey, and yet could not do what he was commanded. = The man=20 of God again and again bade him, saying: "Take it up without fear, and = throw it=20 where no man may find it." At length, with much ado, the crow took it = up, and=20 flew away, and after three hours, having dispatched the loaf, he = returned back=20 again, and received his usual allowance from the man of God.=20

But the venerable father, perceiving the Priest so wickedly bent = against his=20 life, was far more sorry for him than grieved for himself. And = Florentius,=20 seeing that he could not kill the body of the master, laboureth now what = he can,=20 to destroy the souls of his disciples; and for that purpose he sent into = the=20 yard of the Abbey before their eyes seven naked young women, which did = there=20 take hands together, play and dance a long time before them, to the end = that, by=20 this means, they might inflame their minds to sinful lust: which = damnable sight=20 the holy man beholding out of his cell, and fearing the danger which = thereby=20 might ensue to his younger monks, and considering that all this was done = only=20 for the persecuting of himself, he gave place to envy; and therefore, = after he=20 had for those abbeys and oratories which he had there built appointed = governors,=20 and left some under their charge, himself, in the company of a few = monks,=20 removed to another place.=20

And thus the man of God, upon humility, gave place to the other's = malice; but=20 yet almighty God of justice did severely punish [Florentius'] = wickedness. For=20 when the foresaid Priest, being in his chamber, understood of the = departure of=20 holy Bennet, and was very glad of that news, behold (the whole house = besides=20 continuing safe and sound) that chamber alone in which he was, fell = down, and so=20 killed him: which strange accident the holy man's disciple Maurus = understanding,=20 straightways sent him word, he being as yet scarce ten miles off, = desiring him=20 to return again, because the Priest that did persecute him was slain; = which=20 thing when Bennet heard, he was passing sorrowful, and lamented much: = both=20 because his enemy died in such sort, and also for that one of his monks = rejoiced=20 thereat; and therefore he gave him penance, for that, sending such news, = he=20 presumed to rejoice at his enemy's death.=20

PETER: The things you report be strange, and much to be wondered at: = for in=20 making the rock to yield forth water, I see Moses; and in the iron, = which came=20 from the bottom of the lake, I behold Eliseus; in the walking of Maurus = upon the=20 water, I perceive Peter; in the obedience of the crow, I contemplate = Elias; and=20 in lamenting the death of his enemy, I acknowledge David: and therefore, = in mine=20 opinion, this one man was full of the spirit of all good men.=20

GREGORY: The man of god, Bennet, had the spirit of the one true God, = who, by=20 the grace of our redemption, hath filled the hearts of his elect = servants; of=20 whom St. John saith: "He was the true light, which doth lighten every = man coming=20 into this world," [John 1:9]. Of whom, again, we find it written: "Of = his=20 fulness we have all received," [John 1:16]. For God's holy servants = might=20 receive virtues of our Lord, but to bestow them upon others they could = not; and=20 therefore it was he that gave the signs of miracles to his servants, who = promised to give the sign of Jonas to his enemies [Matt. 12:40]: so that = he=20 vouchsafed to die in the sight of the proud, and to rise again before = the eyes=20 of the humble: to the end, that they might behold what they contemned, = and those=20 see that which they ought to worship and love: by reason of which = mystery it=20 cometh to pass that, whereas the proud cast their eyes upon the contempt = of his=20 death, the humble contrariwise, against death, lay hold of the glory of = his=20 power and might.=20

PETER: To what places, I pray you, after this, did the holy man go: = and=20 whether did he afterward in them work any miracles, or no?=20

GREGORY: The holy man, changing his place, did not for all that = change his=20 enemy. For afterward he endured so much the more grievous battles, by = how much=20 he had now the master of all wickedness fighting openly against him. For = the=20 town, which is called Cassino, standeth upon the side of an high = mountain, which=20 containeth, as it were in the lap thereof, the foresaid town, and = afterward so=20 riseth in height the space of three miles, that the top thereof seemeth = to touch=20 the very heavens: in this place there was an ancient chapel in which the = foolish=20 and simple country people, according to the custom of the old gentiles,=20 worshipped the god Apollo. Round about it likewise upon all sides, there = were=20 woods for the service of the devils, in which even to that very time, = the mad=20 multitude of infidels did offer most wicked sacrifice. The man of God = coming=20 thither, beat in pieces the idol, overthrew the altar, set fire to the = woods,=20 and in the temple of Apollo, he built the oratory of St. Martin, and = where the=20 altar of the same Apollo was, he made an oratory of St. John: and by his = continual preaching, he brought the people dwelling in those parts to = embrace=20 the faith of Christ.=20

The old enemy of mankind, not taking this in good part, did not = privily or in=20 a dream, but in open sight present himself to the eyes of that holy = father, and=20 with great outcries complained that he had offered him violence. The = noise which=20 he made, the monks did hear, but himself they could not see: but, as the = venerable father told them, he appeared visibly unto him most fell and = cruel,=20 and as though, with his fiery mouth and flaming eyes, he would have torn = him in=20 pieces: what the devil said unto him, all the monks did hear; for first = he would=20 call him by his name, and because the man of God vouchsafed him not any = answer,=20 then would he fall a-reviling and railing at him: for when he cried out, = calling=20 him "Blessed Bennet," and yet found that he gave him no answer, = straightways he=20 would turn his tune, and say: "Cursed Bennet, and not blessed: what hast = thou to=20 do with me? and why dost thou thus persecute me?" Wherefore new battles = of the=20 old enemy against the servant of God are to be looked for, against whom=20 willingly did he make war, but, against his will, did he give him = occasion of=20 many notable victories.=20

CHAPTER NINE: HOW VENERABLE BENNET, BY HIS PRAYER, REMOVED AN HUGE = STONE.=20

Upon a certain day, when the monks were building up the cells of the = same=20 Abbey, there lay a stone which they meant to employ about that business: = and=20 when two or three were not able to remove it, they called for more = company, but=20 all in vain, for it remained so immovable as though it had grown to the = very=20 earth: whereby they plainly perceived that the devil himself did sit = upon it,=20 seeing so may men's hands could not so much as once move it: wherefore, = finding=20 that their own labours could do nothing, they sent for the man of God, = to help=20 them with his prayers against the devil, who hindered the removing of = that=20 stone. The holy man came, and after some praying, he gave it his = blessing, and=20 then they carried it away so quickly, as though it had been of no weight = at all.=20

CHAPTER TEN: OF THE FANTASTICAL FIRE, WHICH BURNT THE KITCHEN.

Then the man of God thought good that they should presently before = his=20 departure dig up the ground in the same place; which being done, and a = deep hole=20 made, the monks found there an idol of brass, which being for a little = while by=20 chance cast into the kitchen, they beheld fire suddenly to come from it, = which=20 to all their sight seemed to set the whole kitchen on fire; for the = quenching=20 whereof, the monks by casting on of water made such a noise, that the = man of=20 God, hearing it, came to see what the matter was: and himself beholding = not any=20 fire at all,which they said that they did, he bowed down his head = forthwith to=20 his prayers, and then he perceived that they were deluded with = fantastical fire,=20 and therefore bad them bless their eyes, that they might behold the = kitchen safe=20 and sound, and not those fantastical flames, which the devil had falsely = devised.=20

CHAPTER ELEVEN: HOW VENERABLE BENNET REVIVED A BOY, CRUSHED TO DEATH = WITH=20 THE RUIN OF A WALL.

Again, as the monks were making of a certain wall somewhat higher, = because=20 that was requisite, the man of God in the meantime was in his cell at = his=20 prayers. To whom the old enemy appeared in an insulting manner, telling = him,=20 that he was now going to his monks, that were a-working: whereof the man = of God,=20 in all haste, gave them warning, wishing them to look unto themselves, = because=20 the devil was at that time coming amongst them. The message was scarce=20 delivered, when as the wicked spirit overthrew the new wall which they = were a=20 building, and with the fall slew a little young child, a monk, who was = the son=20 of a certain courtier. At which pitiful chance all were passing sorry = and=20 exceedingly grieved, not so much for the loss of the wall, as for the = death of=20 their brother: and in all haste they sent this heavy news to the = venerable man=20 Bennet; who commanded them to bring unto him the young boy, mangled and = maimed=20 as he was, which they did, but yet they could not carry him any = otherwise than=20 in a sack: for the stones of the wall had not only broken his limbs, but = also=20 his very bones. Being in that manner brought unto the man of God, he bad = them to=20 lay him in his cell, and in that place upon which he used to pray; and = then,=20 putting them all forth, he shut the door, and fell more instantly to his = prayers=20 than he used at other times. And O strange miracle! for the very same = hour he=20 made him sound, and as lively as ever he was before; and sent him again = to his=20 former work, that he also might help the monks to make an end of that = wall, of=20 whose death the old serpent thought he should have insulted over Bennet, = and=20 greatly triumphed.=20

CHAPTER TWELVE: HOW BY REVELATION VENERABLE BENNET KNEW THAT HIS = MONKS HAD=20 EATEN OUT OF THE MONASTERY.

Among other miracles which the man of God did, he began also to be = famous for=20 the spirit of prophecy: as to foretell what was to happen, and to relate = unto=20 them that were present, such things as were done in absence. The order = of his=20 Abbey was, that when the monks went abroad (to deliver any message) = never to eat=20 or drink anything out of their cloister: and this being diligently = observed,=20 according to the prescription of their rule, upon a certain day some of = the=20 monks went forth upon such business: and being enforced about the = dispatch=20 thereof to tarry somewhat long abroad, it fell so out that they stayed = at the=20 house of a religious woman, where they did eat and refresh themselves. = And being=20 late before they came back to the Abbey, they went as the manner was, = and asked=20 their father's blessing: of whom he demanded where they had eaten: and = they said=20 nowhere. "Why do you," quoth he, "tell an untruth? for did you not go = into such=20 a woman's house? and eat such and such kind of meat, and drink so many = cups?"=20 When they heard him recount so in particular, both where they had = stayed, what=20 kind of meat they had eaten, and how often they had drunk, and perceived = well=20 that he knew all whatsoever they had done, they fell down trembling at = his feet,=20 and confessed that they had done wickedly: who straightways pardoned = them for=20 that fault, persuading himself that they would not any more in his = absence=20 presume to do any such thing, seeing they now perceived that he was = present with=20 them in spirit.=20

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: OF THE BROTHER OF VALENTINIAN THE MONK, WHOM THE = MAN OF=20 GOD BLAMED FOR EATING IN HIS JOURNEY.

A brother also of Valentinian the monk, of whom I made mention = before, was a=20 layman, but devout and religious: who used every year, as well to desire = the=20 prayers of God's servant, as also to visit his natural brother, to = travel from=20 his own house to the Abbey: and his manner was, not to eat anything all = that day=20 before he came thither. Being therefore upon a time in his journey, he = lighted=20 into the company of another that carried meat about him to eat by the = way: who,=20 after the day was well spent, spake unto him in this manner: "Come, = brother,"=20 quoth he, "let us refresh ourselves, that we faint not in our journey": = to whom=20 he answered: "God forbid: for eat I will not by any means, seeing I am = now going=20 to the venerable father Bennet, and my custom is to fast until I see = him." The=20 other, upon this answer, said no more for the space of an hour. But = afterward,=20 having travelled a little further again he was in hand with him to eat=20 something: yet then likewise he utterly refused, because he meant to go = through=20 fasting as he was. His companion was content, and so went forward with = him,=20 without taking anything himself. But when they had now gone very far, = and were=20 well wearied with long travelling, at length they came unto a meadow, = where=20 there was a fountain, and all such other pleasant things as use to = refresh men's=20 bodies. Then his companion said to him again: "Behold here is water, a = green=20 meadow, and a very sweet place, in which we may refresh ourselves and = rest a=20 little, that we may be the better able to dispatch the rest of our = journey."=20 Which kind words bewitching his ears, and the pleasant place flattering = his=20 eyes, content he was to yield unto the motion, and so they fell to their = meat=20 together: and coming afterward in the evening to the Abbey, they brought = him to=20 the venerable father Bennet, of whom he desired his blessing. Then the = holy man=20 objected against him what he had done in the way, speaking to him in = this=20 manner: "How fell it out, brother," quoth he, "that the devil talking to = you, by=20 means of your companion, could not at the first nor second time persuade = you:=20 but yet he did at the third, and made you do what best pleased him?" The = good=20 man, hearing these words, fell down at his feet, confessing the fault of = his=20 frailty; was grieved, and so much the more ashamed of his sin, because = he=20 perceived that though he were absent, that yet he did offend in the = sight of=20 that venerable father.=20

PETER: I see well that the holy man had in his soul the spirit of = Eliseus,=20 who was present with his servant Giezi, being then absent from him.=20

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: HOW THE DISSIMULATION OF KING TOTILAS WAS = DISCOVERED AND=20 FOUND OUT BY VENERABLE BENNET.

GREGORY: You must, good Peter, for a little while be silent, that you = may=20 know matters yet far more important. For in the time of the Goths, when = Totilas,=20 their king, understood that the holy man had the spirit of prophecy, as = he was=20 going towards his monastery, he remained in a place somewhat far off, = and=20 beforehand sent the father word of his coming: to whom answer was = returned, that=20 he might come at his pleasure. The king, as he was a man wickedly = disposed,=20 thought he would try whether the man of God were a prophet, as it was = reported,=20 or no. A certain man of his guard he had, called Riggo, upon whom he = caused his=20 own shoes to be put, and to be apparelled with his other princely robes, = commanding him to go as it were himself to the man of God; and to give = the=20 better colour to this device, he sent three to attend upon him, who = especially=20 were always about the king: to wit, Vultericus, Rudericus, and = Blindinus;=20 charging them that in the presence of the servant of God, they should be = next=20 about him, and behave themselves in such sort as though he had been king = Totilas=20 indeed: and that diligently they should do unto him all other services, = to the=20 end that both by such dutiful kind of behaviour, as also by his purple = robes, he=20 might verily be taken for the king himself. Riggo, furnished with that = brave=20 apparel, and accompanied with many courtiers, came unto the Abbey: at = which time=20 the man of God sat a little way off, and when Riggo was come so near = that he=20 might well understand what the man of God said, then, in the hearing of = them=20 all, he spake thus: "Put off, my good son, put off that apparel, for = that which=20 thou hast on, is none of thine." Riggo, hearing this, fell straightways = down to=20 the ground, and was very much afraid, for presuming to go about to mock = so=20 worthy a man, and all his attendants and servitors fell down likewise to = the=20 earth, and after they were up again, they durst not approach any nearer = to his=20 presence: but returned back to their king, telling him with fear, how = quickly=20 they were discovered.=20

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: HOW VENERABLE BENNET PROPHESIED TO KING TOTILAS, = AND ALSO=20 TO THE BISHOP OF CAMISINA, SUCH THINGS AS WERE AFTERWARD TO FALL OUT. =

Then Totilas himself in person went unto the man of God; and seeing = him=20 sitting afar off, he durst not come near, but fell down to the ground: = whom the=20 holy man (speaking to him twice or thrice) desired to rise up and at = length came=20 unto him, and with his own hands lifted him up from the earth, where he = lay=20 prostrate: and then, entering into talk, he reprehended him for his = wicked=20 deeds, and in few words told him all that which should befall him, = saying: "Much=20 wickedness do you daily commit, and many great sins have you done: now = at length=20 give over your sinful life. Into the city of Rome shall you enter, and = over the=20 sea shall you pass: nine years shall you reign, and in the tenth shall = you leave=20 this mortal life." The king, hearing these things, was wonderfully = afraid, and=20 desiring the holy man to commend him to God in his prayers, he departed: = and=20 from that time forward he was nothing so cruel as before he had been. = Not long=20 after he went to Rome, sailed over into Sicily, and, in the tenth year = of his=20 reign, he lost his kingdom together with his life.=20

The Bishop also of Camisina used to visit the servant of God, whom = the holy=20 man dearly loved for his virtuous life. The Bishop, therefore, talking = with him=20 of King Totilas, of his taking of Rome, and the destruction of that = city, said:=20 "This city will be so spoiled and ruined by him, that it will never be = more=20 inhabited." To whom the man of God answered: "Rome," quoth he, "shall = not be=20 utterly destroyed by strangers: but shall be so shaken with tempests,=20 lightnings, whirlwinds, and earthquakes, that it will fall to decay of = itself."=20 The mysteries of which prophecy we now behold as clear as the day: for = we see=20 before our eyes in this very city, by a strange whirlwind the world = shaken,=20 houses ruined, and churches overthrown, and buildings rotten with old = age we=20 behold daily to fall down. True it is that Honoratus, by whose relation = I had=20 this, saith not that he received it from his own mouth, but that he had = it of=20 other monks, which did hear it themselves.=20

CHAPTER SIXTEEN: OF A CERTAIN CLERGYMAN, WHOM VENERABLE BENNET FOR A = TIME=20 DELIVERED FROM A DEVIL.

At the same time a certain clergyman, that served in the church of = Aquinum,=20 was possessed: whom the venerable man Constantius, Bishop of the same = city, sent=20 unto many places of holy martyrs for help: but God's holy martyrs would = not=20 deliver him, to the end that the world might know what great grace was = in the=20 servant of God, Bennet: wherefore at length he was brought unto him, = who,=20 praying for help to Jesus Christ our Lord, did forthwith cast the old = enemy out=20 of the possessed man's body, giving him this charge: "Go your way, and = hereafter=20 abstain from eating of flesh, and presume not to enter into holy orders, = for=20 whensoever you shall attempt any such thing, the devil again will have = power=20 over you." The man departed safe and sound, and because punishment fresh = in=20 memory useth to terrify the mind, he observed for a time what the man of = God had=20 given him in commandment. But after many years, when all his seniors = were dead,=20 and he saw his juniors preferred before him to holy orders, he neglected = the=20 words of the man of God, as though forgotten through length of time, and = took=20 upon him holy orders: whereupon straightways the devil that before had = left him=20 entered again, and never gave over to torment him, until he had = separated his=20 soul from his body.=20

PETER: This holy man, as I perceive, did know the secret counsel of = God: for=20 he saw that this clergyman was delivered to the power of the devil, to = the end=20 he should not presume to enter into holy orders.=20

GREGORY: Why should he not know the secrets of God, who kept the = commandments=20 of God: when as the scripture saith: "He that cleaveth unto our Lord, is = one=20 spirit with him?" [1 Cor. 6:17]=20

PETER: If he that cleaveth unto our Lord, be one spirit with our = Lord, what=20 is the meaning of that which the Apostle saith: "Who knoweth the sense = of our=20 Lord, or who hath been his counsellor?" [Rom. 11:34], for it seemeth = very=20 inconvenient to be ignorant of his sense, to whom being so united he is = made one=20 thing.=20

GREGORY: Holy men, in that they be one with our Lord are not ignorant = of his=20 sense: for the same Apostle saith: "For what man knoweth those things = which=20 belong to man, but the spirit of man which is in him ? Even so, the = things which=20 belong to God, no man knoweth, but the spirit of God." And to show also = that he=20 knew such things as belong to God, he addeth straight after: "But we = have not=20 received the spirit of this world, but the spirit which is of God." And = for this=20 cause, again he saith: "that eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor it = hath=20 ascended into the heart of man, those things which God hath prepared for = them=20 that love him, but God hath revealed to us by his spirit." [1 Cor. = 2:9-12]=20

PETER: If, then, the mysteries of God were revealed to the same = Apostle by=20 the spirit of God, why did he then, entreating of this question, set = down these=20 words beforehand, saying: "O the depth of the riches of the wisdom and = knowledge=20 of God: how incomprehensible be his judgments, and his ways = investigable?" [Rom.=20 11:33]=20

And again, whiles I am thus speaking of this matter, another question = cometh=20 to my mind: for the prophet David said to our Lord: "With my lips have I = uttered=20 all the judgments of thy mouth," [Ps. 118 (119):13]. Wherefore, seeing = it is=20 less to know, than to utter: what is the reason that St. Paul affirmeth = the=20 judgments of God to be incomprehensible; and yet David saith that he did = not=20 know only them, but also with his lips pronounce them?=20

GREGORY: To both these questions I have already briefly answered, = when I said=20 that holy men, in that they be one with our Lord, are not ignorant of = the sense=20 of our Lord. For all such, as do devoutly follow our Lord, be also by = devotion=20 one with our Lord; and yet for all this, in that they are laden with the = burthen=20 of their corruptible flesh, they be not with God: and so in that they be = joined=20 with him, they know the secret judgments of God, and in that they be = separated=20 from God, they know them not: for seeing they do not as yet perfectly = penetrate=20 his secret mysteries, they give testimony that his judgments be=20 incomprehensible.=20

But those that do with their soul adhere unto him, and cleaving unto = the=20 sayings of the holy scripture, or to secret revelations, acknowledge = what they=20 receive: such persons both know these things and do utter them: for = those=20 judgments which God doth conceal they know not, and those which he doth = utter=20 they know: and therefore the prophet David, when he had said: "I have = with my=20 lips uttered all the judgments;" [Ps. 118(119):13], he addeth = immediately, "of=20 thy mouth:" as though he should plainly say: Those judgments I may both = know and=20 utter, which I knew thou didst speak, for those things which thou dost = not=20 speak, without all question, thou dost conceal from our knowledge.=20

Wherefore the saying of David and St. Paul agree together: for the = judgments=20 of God are incomprehensible; and yet those which himself with his own = mouth=20 vouchsafeth to speak, are uttered with men's tongues: because men may = come to=20 the knowledge of them, and being revealed, they may be uttered, and by = no means=20 can be kept secret.=20

PETER: Now I see the answer to my question. But I pray you to = proceed, if=20 anything yet remaineth to be told of his virtue and miracles.=20

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: HOW THE MAN OF GOD, BENNET, DID FORETELL THE = SUPPRESSION=20 OF ONE OF HIS OWN ABBEYS.

GREGORY: A certain noble man called Theoprobus was by the good = counsel of=20 holy Bennet converted: who, for his virtue and merit of life, was very=20 intrinsical and familiar with him. This man upon a day, coming into his = cell,=20 found him weeping very bitterly. And having expected a good while, and = yet not=20 seeing him to make an end (for the man of God used not in his prayers to = weep,=20 but rather to be sad), he demanded the cause of that his so great = heaviness, to=20 whom he answered straightway, saying: "All this Abbey which I have = built, and=20 all such things as I have made ready for my brethren, are by the = judgment of=20 almighty God delivered to the gentiles, to be spoiled and overthrown: = and scarce=20 could I obtain of God to have their lives spared, that should then live = in it."=20 His words Theoprobus then heard, but we see them to be proved most true, = who=20 know that very Abbey to be now suppressed by the Lombards. For not long = since,=20 in the night time, when the monks were asleep, they entered in, and = spoiled all=20 things, but yet not one man could they retain there, and so almighty God = fulfilled what he promised to his faithful servant: for though he gave = them the=20 house and all the goods, yet did he preserve their lives. In which thing = I see=20 that Bennet imitated St. Paul: whose ship though it lost all the goods, = yet, for=20 his comfort, he had the lives of all that were in his company bestowed = upon him,=20 so that no one man was cast away.=20

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: HOW BLESSED BENNET KNEW THE HIDING AWAY OF A = FLAGON OF=20 WINE.

Upon a certain time, Exhilaratus our monk, a lay-brother, whom you = know, was=20 sent by his master to the monastery of the man of God, to carry him two = wooden=20 bottles, commonly called flagons, full of wine: who in the way, as he = was going,=20 hid one of them in a bush for himself, and presented the other to = venerable=20 Bennet: who took it very thankfully, and, when the man was going away, = he gave=20 him this warning: "Take heed, my son," quoth he, "that thou drinkest not = of that=20 flagon which thou hast hidden in the bush: but first be careful to bow = it down,=20 and thou shalt find what is within it." The poor man, thus pitifully = confounded=20 by the man of God, went his way, and coming back to the place where the = flagon=20 was hidden, and desirous to try the truth of that was told him, as he = was bowing=20 it down, a snake straightways leaped forth. Then Exhilaratus perceiving = what was=20 gotten into the wine, began to be afraid of that wickedness which he had = committed.=20

CHAPTER NINETEEN: HOW THE MAN OF GOD KNEW THAT ONE OF HIS MONKS HAD = RECEIVED=20 CERTAIN HANDKERCHIEFS.

Not far from his Abbey, there was a village, in which very many men = had, by=20 the sermons of Bennet, been converted from idolatry to the true faith of = Christ.=20 Certain Nuns also there were in the same town, to whom he did often send = some of=20 his monks to preach unto them, for the good of their souls. Upon a day, = one that=20 was sent, after he had made an end of his exhortation, by the entreaty = of the=20 Nuns took certain small napkins, and hid them for his own use in his = bosom:=20 whom, upon his return to the Abbey, the man of God very sharply rebuked, = saying:=20 "How cometh it to pass, brother, that sin is entered into your bosom ?" = At which=20 words the monk was much amazed for he had quite forgotten what he had = put there;=20 and therefore knew not any cause why he should deserve that = reprehension:=20 whereupon the holy man spake to him in plain terms, and said: "Was not I = present=20 when you took the handkerchiefs of the Nuns, and put them up in your = bosom for=20 your own private use?" The monk, hearing this, fell down at his feet, = and was=20 sorry that he had behaved himself so indiscreetly: forth he drew those = napkins=20 from his bosom, and threw them all away.=20

CHAPTER TWENTY: HOW HOLY BENNET KNEW THE PROUD THOUGHT OF ONE OF HIS = MONKS.=20

Upon a time, whiles the venerable Father was at supper, one of his = monks, who=20 was the son of a great man, held the candle: and as he was standing = there, and=20 the other at his meat, he began to entertain a proud cogitation in his = mind, and=20 to speak thus within himself: " Who is he, that I thus wait upon at = supper, and=20 hold him the candle? and who am I, that I should do him any such = service?" Upon=20 which thought straightways the holy man turned himself, and with severe=20 reprehension spake thus unto him: "Sign your heart, brother, for what is = it that=20 you say? Sign your heart": and forthwith he called another of the monks, = and bad=20 him take the candle out of his hands, and commanded him to give over his = waiting, and to repose himself: who being demanded of the monks, what it = was=20 that he thought, told them, how inwardly he swelled with pride, and what = he=20 spake against the man of God, secretly in his own heart. Then they all = saw very=20 well that nothing could be hidden from venerable Bennet, seeing the very = sound=20 of men's inward thoughts came unto his ears.=20

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: OF TWO HUNDRED BUSHELS OF MEAL, FOUND BEFORE THE = MAN OF=20 GOD'S CELL.

At another time, there was a great dearth in the same country of = Campania: so=20 that all kind of people tasted of the misery: and all the wheat of = Bennet's=20 monastery was spent, and likewise all the bread, so that there remained = no more=20 than five loaves for dinner. The venerable man, beholding the monks sad, = both=20 rebuked them modestly for their pusillanimity, and again did comfort = them with=20 this promise: "Why," quoth he, "are you so grieved in your minds for = lack of=20 bread? Indeed, today some want there is, but tomorrow you shall have = plenty":=20 and so it fell out, for the next day two hundred bushels of meal was = found in=20 sacks before his cell door, which almighty God sent them: but by whom, = or what=20 means, that is unknown to this very day: which miracle when the monks = saw, they=20 gave God thanks, and by this learned in want, not to make any doubt of = plenty.=20

PETER: Tell me, I pray you, whether this servant of God had always = the spirit=20 of prophecy, when himself pleased, or only at certain times?=20

GREGORY: The spirit of prophecy doth not always illuminate the minds = of the=20 prophets; because, as it is written of the Holy Ghost that "he breatheth = where=20 he will" [John 3:8], so we are also to know that he doth breathe = likewise for=20 what cause, and when he pleaseth. And hereof it cometh, that when king = David=20 demanded of Nathan whether he might build a temple for the honour of = God, the=20 prophet Nathan gave his consent; and yet afterward utterly forbad it. = From hence=20 likewise it proceedeth that, when Eliseus saw the woman weeping, and = knew not=20 the cause, he said to his servant that did trouble her: "Let her alone, = for her=20 soul is in grief, and God hath concealed it from me, and hath not told = me." [4=20 Kings 4:27] Which thing almighty God of great piety so disposeth: for = giving at=20 some times the spirit of prophecy, and at other times withdrawing it, he = doth=20 both lift up the prophets minds on high, and yet doth preserve them in = humility:=20 that by the gift of the Spirit, they may know what they are by God's = grace: and=20 at other times, destitute of the same Spirit, may understand what they = are of=20 themselves.=20

PETER: There is very great reason for that you say. But, I pray you, = let me=20 hear more of the venerable man Bennet, if there be anything else that = cometh to=20 your remembrance.=20

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: HOW, BY VISION, VENERABLE BENNET DISPOSED THE = BUILDING=20 OF THE ABBEY OF TARACINA.

GREGORY: At another time he was desired by a certain virtuous man, to = build=20 an Abbey for his monks upon his ground, not far from the city of = Taracina. The=20 holy man was content, and appointed an Abbot and Prior, with divers = monks under=20 them: and when they were departing, he promised that, upon such a day, = he would=20 come and shew them in what place the oratory should be made, and where = the=20 refectory should stand, and all the other necessary rooms: and so they, = taking=20 his blessing, went their way; and against the day appointed, which they = greatly=20 expected, they made all such things ready as were necessary to entertain = him,=20 and those that should come in his company. But the very night before, = the man of=20 God in sleep appeared to the Abbot and the Prior, and particularly = described=20 unto them where each place and office was to be builded. And when they = were both=20 risen, they conferred together what either of them had seen in their = sleep: but=20 yet not giving full credit to that vision, they expected the man of God = himself=20 in person, according to his promise. But when they saw that he came not, = they=20 returned back unto him very sorrowfully, saying: "We expected, father, = that you=20 should have come according to promise, and told us where each place = should have=20 been built, which yet you did not." To whom he answered: "Why say you = so, good=20 brethren? Did not I come as I promised you?" And when they asked at what = time it=20 was: "Why," quoth he, "did not I appear to either of you in your sleep, = and=20 appointed how and where every place was to be builded? Go your way, and=20 according to that platform which you then saw, build up the abbey." At = which=20 word they much marvelled, and returning back, they caused it to be = builded in=20 such sort as they had been taught of him by revelation.=20

PETER: Gladly would I learn, by what means that could be done: to = wit, that=20 he should go so far to tell them that thing in their sleep, which they = should=20 both hear and know by vision.=20

GREGORY: Why do you, Peter, seek out and doubt, in what manner this = thing was=20 done? For certain it is, that the soul is of a more noble nature than = the body.=20 And by authority of scripture we know that the prophet Abacuck was = carried from=20 Judea with that dinner which he had, and was suddenly set in Chaldea; by = which=20 meat the prophet Daniel was relieved: and presently after was brought = back again=20 to Judea. If, then, Abacuck could in a moment with his body go so far, = and carry=20 provision for another man's dinner: what marvel is it, if the holy = father Bennet=20 obtained grace to go in spirit and to inform the souls of his brethren = that were=20 asleep, concerning such things as were necessary: and that as Abacuck = about=20 corporal meat went corporally, so Bennet should go spiritually about the = dispatch of spiritual business?=20

PETER: I confess that your words have satisfied my doubtful mind. But = I would=20 know what manner of man he was in his ordinary talk and conversation.=20

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: OF CERTAIN NUNS ABSOLVED AFTER THEIR DEATH. =

GREGORY: His common talk, Peter, was usually full of virtue: for his = heart=20 conversed to above in heaven, that no words could in vain proceed from = his=20 mouth. And if at any time he spake aught, yet not as one that determined = what=20 was best to be done, but only in a threatening manner, his speech in = that case=20 was so effectual and forcible, as though he had not doubtfully or = uncertainly,=20 but assuredly pronounced and given sentence.=20

For not far from his Abbey, there lived two Nuns in a place by = themselves,=20 born of worshipful parentage: whom a religious good man did serve for = the=20 dispatch of their outward business. But as nobility of family doth in = some breed=20 ignobility of mind, and maketh them in conversation to show less = humility,=20 because they remember still what superiority they had above others: even = so was=20 it with these Nuns: for they had not yet learned to temper their = tongues, and=20 keep them under with the bridle of their habit: for often did they by = their=20 indiscreet speech provoke the foresaid religious man to anger; who = having borne=20 with them a long time, at length he complained to the man of God, and = told him=20 with what reproachful words they entreated him: whereupon he sent them = by and by=20 this message, saying: "Amend your tongues, otherwise I do excommunicate = you";=20 which sentence of excommunication notwithstanding, he did not then = presently=20 pronounce against them, but only threatened if they amended not = themselves.=20

But they, for all this, changed their conditions nothing at all: both = which=20 not long after departed this life, and were buried in the church: and = when=20 solemn mass was celebrated in the same church, and the Deacon, according = to=20 custom, said with loud voice: "If any there be that do not communicate, = let them=20 depart": the nurse, which used to give unto our Lord an offering for = them,=20 beheld them at that time to rise out of their graves, and to depart the = church.=20 Having often times, at those words of the Deacon, seen them leave the = church,=20 and that they could not tarry within, she remembered what message the = man of God=20 sent them whiles they were yet alive. For he told them that he did = deprive them=20 of the communion, unless they did amend their tongues and conditions. = Then with=20 great sorrow, the whole matter was signified to the man of God, who = straightways=20 with his own hands gave an oblation, saying: "Go your ways, and cause = this to be=20 offered unto our Lord for them, and they shall not remain any longer=20 excommunicate": which oblation being offered for them, and the Deacon, = as he=20 used, crying out, that such as did not communicate should depart, they = were not=20 seen any more to go out of the church: whereby it was certain that, = seeing they=20 did not depart with them which did not communicate, that they had = received the=20 communion of our Lord by the hands of his servant.=20

PETER: It is very strange that you report: for how could he, though a = venerable and most holy man, yet living in mortal body, loose those = souls which=20 stood now before the invisible judgment of God?=20

GREGORY: Was he not yet, Peter, mortal, that heard from our Saviour:=20 "Whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in the = heavens:=20 and whatsoever thou shalt loose in earth, shall be loosed also in the = heavens?"=20 [Matt. 16:19] whose place of binding and loosing those have at this = time, which=20 by faith and virtuous life possess the place of holy government: and to = bestow=20 such power upon earthly men, the Creator of heaven and earth descended = from=20 heaven to earth: and that flesh might judge of spiritual things, God, = who for=20 man's sake was made flesh, vouchsafed to bestow upon him: for from = thence our=20 weakness did rise up above itself, from whence the strength of God was = weakened=20 under itself.=20

PETER: For the virtue of his miracles, your words do yield a very = good=20 reason.=20

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: OF A BOY THAT AFTER HIS BURIAL WAS CAST OUT OF = HIS=20 GRAVE.

GREGORY: Upon a certain day, a young boy that was a monk, loving his = parents=20 more than reason would, went from the Abbey to their house, not craving = the=20 father's blessing beforehand: and the same day that he came home unto = them, he=20 departed this life. And being buried, his body, the next day after, was = found=20 cast out of the grave; which they caused again to be put in, and again, = the day=20 following, they found it as before. Then in great haste they went to the = man of=20 God, fell down at his feet, and with many tears beseeched him that he = would=20 vouchsafe him that was dead of his favour. To whom the man of God with = his own=20 hands delivered the holy communion of our Lord's body, saying: "Go, and = lay with=20 great reverence this our Lord's body upon his breast, and so bury him": = which=20 when they had done, the dead corpse after that remained quietly in the = grave. By=20 which you perceive, Peter, of what merit he was with our Lord Jesus = Christ,=20 seeing the earth would not give entertainment to his body, who departed = this=20 world out of Bennet's favour.=20

PETER: I perceive it very well, and do wonderfully admire it.=20

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: HOW A MONK, FORSAKING THE ABBEY, MET WITH A = DRAGON IN=20 THE WAY.

GREGORY: A certain monk there was so inconstant and fickle of mind, = that he=20 would needs give over the Abbey; for which fault of his, the man of God = did=20 daily rebuke him, and often times gave him good admonitions: but yet, = for all=20 this, by no means would he tarry amongst them, and therefore continual = suit he=20 made that he might be discharged. The venerable man upon a time, wearied = with=20 his importunity, in anger bad him depart; who was no sooner out of the = Abbey=20 gate, but he found a dragon in the way expecting him with open mouth, = which=20 being about to devour him, he began in great fear and trembling to cry = out=20 aloud, saying: "Help, help! for this dragon will eat me up." At which = noise the=20 monks running out, dragon they saw none, but finding him there shaking = and=20 trembling, they brought him back again to the Abbey, who forthwith = promised that=20 he would never more forsake the monastery, and so ever after he = continued in his=20 profession: for by the prayers of the holy man, he saw the dragon coming = against=20 him, whom before, when he saw not, he did willingly follow.=20

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: HOW HOLY BENNET CURED A BOY OF LEPROSY.

But I must not here pass over with silence that which I had by = relation of=20 the honourable man, Anthony, who said that his father's boy was so = pitifully=20 punished with a leprosy, that all his hair fell off, his body swelled, = and=20 filthy corruption did openly come forth. Who being sent by his father to = the man=20 of God, he was by him quickly restored to his former health.=20

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN: HOW BENNET FOUND MONEY MIRACULOUSLY TO RELIEVE = A POOR=20 MAN.

Neither is that to be omitted, which one of his disciples called = Peregrinus=20 used to tell: for he said that, upon a certain day, an honest man, who = was in=20 debt, found no other means to help himself, but thought it his best way = to=20 acquaint the man of God with his necessity: whereupon he came to the = Abbey, and=20 finding the servant of almighty God, gave him to understand, how he was = troubled=20 by his creditor for twelve shillings which he did owe him. To whom the = venerable=20 man said that himself had not so much money, yet giving him comfortable = words,=20 he said: "Go your ways, and after two days come to me again, for I can = not=20 presently help you": in which two days, after his manner, he bestowed = himself in=20 prayer: and when upon the third day the poor man came back there were = found=20 suddenly upon the chest of the Abbey, which was full of corn, thirteen=20 shillings: which the man of God caused to be given to him that required = but=20 twelve, both to discharge his debt, and also to defray his own charges.=20

But now will I return to speak of such things as I had from the mouth = of his=20 own scholars, mentioned before in the beginning of this book. A certain = man=20 there was who had an enemy that did notably spite and malign him, whose = damnable=20 hatred proceeded so far that he poisoned his drink, which, although it = killed=20 him not, yet did it change his skin in such sort that it was of many = colours, as=20 though he had been infected with a leprosy: but the man of God restored = him to=20 his former health: for so soon as he touched him, forthwith all that = variety of=20 colours departed from his body.=20

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: HOW A CRUET OF GLASS WAS THROWN UPON THE = STONES, AND=20 NOT BROKEN.

At such time as there was a great dearth in Campania, the man of God = had=20 given away all the wealth of the Abbey to poor people, so that in the = cellar=20 there was nothing left but a little oil in a glass. A certain sub-deacon = called=20 Agapitus came unto him, instantly craving that he would bestow a little = oil upon=20 him. Our Lord's servant, that was resolved to give away all upon earth = that he=20 might find all in heaven, commanded that oil to be given him: but the = monk that=20 kept the cellar heard what the father commanded, yet did he not perform = it: who=20 inquiring not long after whether he had given that which he willed, the = monk=20 told him that he had not, adding that if he had given it away, that = there was=20 not any left for the Convent. Then in an anger he commanded others to = take that=20 glass with the oil, and to throw it out at the window, to the end that = nothing=20 might remain in the Abbey contrary to obedience. The monks did so, and = threw it=20 out at a window, under which there was an huge downfall, full of rough = and=20 craggy stones upon which the glass did light, but yet continued for all = that so=20 sound as though it had never been thrown out at all, for neither the = glass was=20 broken nor any of the oil shed. Then the man of God did command it to be = taken=20 up again, and, whole as it was, to be given unto him that desired it, = and in the=20 presence of the other brethren he reprehended the disobedient monk, both = for his=20 infidelity, and also for his proud mind.=20

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE: HOW AN EMPTY BARREL WAS FILLED WITH OIL.

After which reprehension, with the rest of his brethren he fell to = praying,=20 and in the place where they were, there stood an empty barrel with a = cover upon=20 it: and as the holy man continued in his prayers, the oil within did so=20 increase, that the cover began to be lifted up, and at length fell down, = and the=20 oil, that was now higher than the mouth of the barrel, began to run over = upon=20 the pavement, which so soon as the servant of God, Bennet, beheld, = forthwith he=20 gave over his prayers, and the oil likewise ceased to overflow the = barrel. Then=20 he did more at large admonish that mistrusting and disobedient monk, = that he=20 would learn to have faith and humility, who upon so wholesome an = admonition was=20 ashamed, because the venerable father had by miracle shown the power of = almighty=20 God, as before he told him when he did first rebuke him: and so no cause = there=20 was why any should afterward doubt of his promise, seeing at one and the = same=20 time, for a small glass almost empty which he gave away, he bestowed = upon them=20 an whole barrel full of oil.=20

CHAPTER THIRTY: HOW BENNET DELIVERED A MONK FROM THE DEVIL.

Upon a certain time, as he was going to the oratory of St. John, = which is in=20 the top of the mountain, the old enemy of mankind upon a mule, like a = physician,=20 met him, carrying in his hand an horn and a mortar. And when he demanded = whither=20 he was going: "To your monks," quoth he, "to give them a drench" [i.e. a = large=20 dose of veterinary medicine].=20

The venerable father went forward to his prayers, and when he had = done, he=20 returned in all haste, but the wicked spirit found an old monk drawing = of water,=20 into whom he entered, and straightways cast him upon the ground, and = grievously=20 tormented him. The man of God coming from his prayers, and seeing him in = such=20 pitiful case gave him only a little blow with his hand, and at the same = instant=20 he cast out that cruel devil, so that he durst not any more presume to = enter in.=20

PETER: I would gladly know, whether he obtained always by prayer, to = work=20 such notable miracles; or else sometimes did them only at his will and = pleasure.=20

GREGORY: Such as be the devout servants of God, when necessity = requireth, use=20 to work miracles both manner of ways: so that sometime they effect = wonderful=20 things by their prayers, and sometime only by their power and authority: = for St.=20 John saith: "So many as received him, he gave them power to be made the = sons of=20 God." [John 1:12] They, then, that by power be the sons of God, what = marvel is=20 it, if by power they be able to do wonderful things? And that both ways = they=20 work miracles, we learn of St. Peter: who by his prayers did raise up = Tabitha;=20 and by his sharp reprehension did sentence Ananias and Sapphira to death = for=20 their lying. For we read not, that in the death of them he prayed at = all, but=20 only rebuked them for that sin which they had committed. Certain = therefore it is=20 that sometimes they do these things by power, and sometimes by prayer: = for=20 Ananias and Sapphira by a severe rebuke, St. Peter deprived of life: and = by=20 prayer restored Tabitha to life. And for proof of this, I will now tell = you of=20 two miracles, which the faithful servant of God, Bennet, did, in which = it shall=20 appear most plainly that he wrought the one by that power which God gave = him,=20 and obtained the other by virtue of his prayers.=20

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE: OF A COUNTRY FELLOW, THAT, WITH THE ONLY SIGHT = OF THE=20 MAN OF GOD, WAS LOOSED FORM HIS BANDS.

A certain Goth there was called Galla, an Arian heretic, who, in the = time of=20 King Totilas, did with such monstrous cruelty persecute religious men of = the=20 Catholic church, that what priest or monk soever came in his presence, = he never=20 departed alive. This man on a certain day, set upon rapine and pillage,=20 pitifully tormented a poor country man, to make him confess where his = money and=20 wealth was: who, overcome with extremity of pain, said that he had = committed all=20 his substance to the custody of Bennet, the servant of God: and this he = did, to=20 the end that his tormentor, giving credit to his words, might at least = for a=20 while surcease from his horrible cruelty.=20

Galla hearing this tormented him no longer: but binding his arms fast = with=20 strong cords, drave him before his horse, to bring him unto this Bennet, = who, as=20 he said, had his wealth in keeping. The country fellow, thus pinioned = and=20 running before him, carried him to the holy man's Abbey, where he found = him=20 sitting before the gate, reading upon a book. Then turning back to Galla = that=20 came raging after, he said: "This is father Bennet, of whom I told you": = who=20 looking upon him, in a great fury, thinking to deal as terribly with him = as he=20 had with others, cried out aloud to him, saying: "Rise up, sirrah, rise = up, and=20 deliver me quickly such wealth as thou hast of this man's in keeping."=20

The man of God, hearing such a noise, straightways lifted up his eyes = from=20 reading, and beheld both him and the country fellow; and turning his = eyes to his=20 bands, very strangely they fell from his arms, and that so quickly as no = man=20 with any haste could have undone them. Galla, seeing him so wonderfully = and=20 quickly loosed, fell straight a-trembling, and prostrating himself upon = the=20 earth bowed down his cruel and stiff neck to the holy man's feet, and = with=20 humility did commend himself to his prayers. But the venerable man for = all this=20 rose not up from his reading, but calling for some of his monks = commanded them=20 to have him in, and to give him some meat. And when he was brought back = again,=20 he gave him a good lesson, admonishing him not to use any more such = rigour and=20 cruel dealing. His proud mind thus taken down, away he went, but durst = not=20 demand after that anything of the country fellow, whom the man of God, = not with=20 hands, but only with his eyes, had loosed from his bands.=20

And this is that, Peter, which I told you, that those which in a more = familiar sort serve God, do sometime, by certain power and authority = bestowed=20 upon them, work miracles. For he that sitting still did appease the fury = of that=20 cruel Goth, and unloose with his eyes those knots and cords which did = pinion the=20 innocent man's arms, did plainly shew by the quickness of the miracle, = that he=20 had received power to work all that which he did. And now will I = likewise tell=20 you of another miracle, which by prayer he obtained at God s hands.=20

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO: HOW BY PRAYER VENERABLE BENNET RAISED UP A DEAD = CHILD.=20

Being upon a day gone out with his monks to work in the field, a = country man=20 carrying the corpse of his dead son came to the gate of the Abbey, = lamenting the=20 loss of his child: and inquiring for holy Bennet, they told him that he = was=20 abroad with his monks in the field. Down at the gate he laid the dead = body, and=20 with great sorrow of soul ran in haste to seek out the venerable father. = At the=20 same time, the man of God was returning homeward from work with his = monks: whom=20 so soon as he saw, he [the country man] began to cry out: "Give me my = son, give=20 me my son!"=20

The man of God, amazed at these words, stood still, and said: "What, = have I=20 taken away your son?" "No, no," quoth the sorrowful father, " but he is = dead:=20 come for Christ Jesus' sake and restore him to life."=20

The servant of God, hearing him speak in that manner, and seeing his = monks=20 upon compassion to solicit the poor man's suit, with great sorrow of = mind he=20 said: "Away, my good brethren, away: such miracles are not for us to = work, but=20 for the blessed Apostles: why will you lay such a burthen upon me, as my = weakness cannot bear?" But the poor man, whom excessive grief enforced, = would=20 not give over his petition, but swore that he would never depart, except = he did=20 raise up his son.=20

"Where is he, then?" quoth God's servant.=20

He answered that his body lay at the gate of the Abbey: to which = place when=20 the man of God came with his monks, he kneeled down and lay upon the = body of the=20 little child, and rising, he held up his hands towards heaven, and said: = "Behold=20 not, O Lord, my sins, but the faith of this man, that desireth to have = his son=20 raised to life, and restore that soul to the body, which thou hast taken = away."=20

He had scarce spoken these words, and behold the soul returned back = again,=20 and therewith the child's body began to tremble in such sort that all = which were=20 present did behold it in strange manner to pant and shake. Then he took = it by=20 the hand and gave it to his father, but alive and in health. Certain it = is,=20 Peter, that this miracle was not in his own power, for which prostrate = upon the=20 ground he prayed so earnestly.=20

PETER: All is most true that before you said, for what you affirmed = in words,=20 you have now verified by examples and works. But tell me, I beseech you, = whether=20 holy men can do all such things as they please, and obtain at God's = hands=20 whatsoever they desire.=20

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE: OF A MIRACLE WROUGHT BY HIS SISTER = SCHOLASTICA.

GREGORY: What man is there, Peter, in this world, that is in greater = favour=20 with God than St. Paul was: who yet three times desired our Lord to be = delivered=20 from the prick of the flesh, and obtained not his petition? Concerning = which=20 point also I must needs tell you, how there was one thing which the = venerable=20 father Bennet would have done, and yet he could not.=20

For his sister called Scholastica, dedicated from her infancy to our = Lord,=20 used once a year to come and visit her brother. To whom the man of God = went not=20 far from the gate, to a place that did belong to the Abbey, there to = give her=20 entertainment. And she coming thither on a time according to her custom, = her=20 venerable brother with his monks went to meet her, where they spent the = whole=20 day in the praises of God and spiritual talk: and when it was almost = night they=20 supped together, and as they were yet sitting at the table, talking of = devout=20 matters, and darkness came on, the holy Nun his sister entreated him to = stay=20 there all night, that they might spend it in discoursing of the joys of = heaven.=20 But by no persuasion would he agree unto that, saying that he might not = by any=20 means tarry all night out of his Abbey.=20

At that time, the sky was so clear that no cloud was to be seen. The = Nun,=20 receiving this denial of her brother, joining her hands together, laid = them upon=20 the table: and so, bowing down her head upon them, she made her prayers = to=20 almighty God: and lifting her head from the table, there fell suddenly = such a=20 tempest of lightning and thundering, and such abundance of rain, that = neither=20 venerable Bennet, nor his monks that were with him, could put their head = out of=20 door: for the holy Nun, resting her head upon her hands, poured forth = such a=20 flood of tears upon the table, that she drew the clear air to a watery = sky, so=20 that after the end of her devotions, that storm of rain followed: and = her prayer=20 and the rain did so meet together, that as she lifted up her head from = the=20 table, the thunder began, so that in one and the very same instant, she = lifted=20 up her head and brought down the rain. The man of God, seeing that he = could not=20 by reason of such thunder and lightning and great abundance of rain = return back=20 to his Abbey, began to be heavy and to complain of his sister, saying: = "God=20 forgive you, what have you done?" to whom she answered: "I desired you = to stay,=20 and you would not hear me, I have desired our good Lord, and he hath = vouchsafed=20 to grant my petition: wherefore if you can now depart, in God's name = return to=20 your monastery, and leave me here alone."=20

But the good father, being not able to go forth, tarried there = against his=20 will, where willingly before he would not stay. And so by that means = they=20 watched all night, and with spiritual and heavenly talk did mutually = comfort one=20 another: and therefore by this we see, as I said before, that he would = have had=20 that thing, which yet he could not: for if we respect the venerable = man's mind,=20 no question but he would have had the same fair weather to have = continued as it=20 was, when he set forth, but he found that a miracle did prevent his = desire,=20 which, by the power of almighty God, a woman's prayers had wrought. And = it is=20 not a thing to be marvelled at, that a woman which of long time had not = seen her=20 brother, might do more at that time than he could, seeing, according to = the=20 saying of St. John, "God is charity" [1 John 4:8] and therefore of right = she did=20 more which loved more.=20

PETER: I confess that I am wonderfully pleased with that which you = tell me.=20

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR: HOW BENNET SAW THE SOUL OF HIS SISTER ASCEND = INTO=20 HEAVEN.

GREGORY: The next day the venerable woman returned to her Nunnery, = and the=20 man of God to his Abbey: who three days after, standing in his cell, and = lifting=20 up his eyes to heaven, beheld the soul of his sister (which was departed = from=20 her body), in the likeness of a dove to ascend into heaven: who = rejoicing much=20 to see her great glory, with hymns and lauds gave thanks to almighty = God, and=20 did impart the news of this her death to his monks, whom also he sent = presently=20 to bring her corpse to his Abbey, to have it buried in that grave which = he had=20 provided for himself: by means whereof it fell out that, as their souls = were=20 always one in God whiles they lived, so their bodies continued together = after=20 their death.=20

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE: HOW HE SAW THE WHOLE WORLD REPRESENTED BEFORE = HIS EYES;=20 AND ALSO THE SOUL OF GERMANUS, BISHOP OF CAPUA, ASCENDING TO HEAVEN. =

At another time, Servandus, the Deacon, and Abbot of that monastery, = which in=20 times past was founded by the noble man Liberius in the country of = Campania,=20 used ordinarily to come and visit the man of God: and the reason why he = came so=20 often was, because himself also was a man full of heavenly doctrine: and = so they=20 two had often together spiritual conference, to the end that, albeit = they could=20 not perfectly feed upon the celestial food of heaven, yet, by means of = such=20 sweet discourses, they might at least, with longing and fervent desire, = taste of=20 those joys and divine delights. When it was time to go to rest, the = venerable=20 Father Bennet reposed himself in the top of a tower, at the foot whereof = Servandus the Deacon was lodged, so that one pair of stairs went to them = both:=20 before the tower there was a certain large room in which both their = disciples=20 did lie.=20

The man of God, Bennet, being diligent in watching, rose early up = before the=20 time of matins (his monks being yet at rest) and came to the window of = his=20 chamber, where he offered up his prayers to almighty God. Standing = there, all on=20 a sudden in the dead of the night, as he looked forth, he saw a light, = which=20 banished away the darkness of the night, and glittered with such = brightness,=20 that the light which did shine in the midst of darkness was far more = clear than=20 the light of the day. Upon this sight a marvellous strange thing = followed, for,=20 as himself did afterward report, the whole world, gathered as it were = together=20 under one beam of the sun, was presented before his eyes, and whiles the = venerable father stood attentively beholding the brightness of that = glittering=20 light, he saw the soul of Germanus, Bishop of Capua, in a fiery globe to = be=20 carried up by Angels into heaven.=20

Then, desirous to have some witness of this so notable a miracle, he = called=20 with a very loud voice Servandus the Deacon twice or thrice by his name, = who,=20 troubled at such an unusual crying out of the man of God, went up in all = haste,=20 and looking forth saw not anything else, but a little remnant of the = light, but=20 wondering at so great a miracle, the man of God told him all in order = what he=20 had seen, and sending by and by to the town of Cassino, he commanded the = religious man Theoprobus to dispatch one that night to the city of = Capua, to=20 learn what was become of Germanus their Bishop: which being done, the = messenger=20 found that reverent Prelate departed this life, and enquiring curiously = the=20 time, he understood that he died at that very instant, in which the man = of God=20 beheld him ascending up to heaven.=20

PETER: A strange thing and very much to be admired. But whereas you = say that=20 the whole world, as it were under one sunbeam, was presented before his = eyes, as=20 I must needs confess that in myself I never had experience of any such = thing, so=20 neither can I conceive by what means the whole world can be seen of any = one man.=20

GREGORY: Assure yourself, Peter, of that which I speak: to wit, that = all=20 creatures be as it were nothing to that soul which beholdeth the = Creator: for=20 though it see but a glimpse of that light which is in the Creator, yet = very=20 small do all things seem that be created: for by means of that = supernatural=20 light, the capacity of the inward soul is enlarged, and is in God so = extended,=20 that it is far above the world: yea and the soul of him that seeth in = this=20 manner, is also above itself; for being rapt up in the light of God, it = is=20 inwardly in itself enlarged above itself, and when it is so exalted and = looketh=20 downward, then doth it comprehend how little all that is, which before = in former=20 baseness it could not comprehend. The man of God, therefore, who saw the = fiery=20 globe, and the Angels returning to heaven, out of all doubt could not = see those=20 things but in the light of God: what marvel, then, is it, if he saw the = world=20 gathered together before him, who, rapt up in the light of his soul, was = at that=20 time out of the world? But albeit we say that the world was gathered = together=20 before his eyes, yet were not heaven and earth drawn into any lesser = room than=20 they be of themselves, but the soul of the beholder was more enlarged, = which,=20 rapt in God, might without difficulty see that which is under God, and = therefore=20 in that light which appeared to his outward eyes, the inward light which = was in=20 his soul ravished the mind of the beholder to supernal things, and = shewed him=20 how small all earthly things were.=20

PETER: I perceive now that it was to my more profit that I understood = you not=20 before: seeing, by reason of my slow capacity, you have delivered so = notable an=20 exposition. But now, because you have made me thrughly to understand = these=20 things, I beseech you to continue on your former narration.=20

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX: HOW HOLY BENNET WROTE A RULE FOR HIS MONKS. =

GREGORY. Desirous I am, Peter, to tell you many things of this = venerable=20 father, but some of purpose I let pass, because I make haste to entreat = also of=20 the acts of other holy men: yet I would not have you to be ignorant, but = that=20 the man of God amongst so many miracles, for which he was so famous in = the=20 world, was also sufficiently learned in divinity: for he wrote a rule = for his=20 monks, both excellent for discretion and also eloquent for the style. Of = whose=20 life and conversation, if any be curious to know further, he may in the=20 institution of that rule understand all his manner of life and = discipline: for=20 the holy man could not otherwise teach, than himself lived.=20

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN: HOW VENERABLE BENNET DID PROPHESY TO HIS MONKS = THE=20 TIME OF HIS OWN DEATH.

The same year in which he departed this life, he told the day of his = holy=20 death to his monks, some of which did live daily with him, and some = dwelt far=20 off, willing those that were present to keep it secret, and telling them = that=20 were absent by what token they should know that he was dead. Six days = before he=20 left this world, he gave order to have his sepulchre opened, and = forthwith=20 falling into an ague, he began with burning heat to wax faint, and when = as the=20 sickness daily increased, upon the sixth day he commanded his monks to = carry him=20 into the oratory, where he did arm himself with receiving the body and = blood of=20 our Saviour Christ; and having his weak body holden up betwixt the hands = of his=20 disciples, he stood with his own lifted up to heaven, and as he was in = that=20 manner praying, he gave up the ghost. Upon which day two monks, one = being in his=20 cell, and the other far distant, had concerning him one and the = self-same=20 vision: for they saw all the way from the holy man's cell, towards the = east even=20 up to heaven, hung and adorned with tapestry, and shining with an = infinite=20 number of lamps, at the top whereof a man, reverently attired, stood and = demanded if they knew who passed that way, to whom they answered saying, = that=20 they knew not. Then he spake thus unto them: "This is the way," quoth = he, "by=20 which the beloved servant of God, Bennet, is ascended up to heaven." And = by this=20 means, as his monks that were present knew of the death of the holy man, = so=20 likewise they which were absent, by the token which he foretold them, = had=20 intelligence of the same thing. Buried he was in the oratory of St. John = Baptist=20 which himself built, when he overthrew the altar of Apollo; who also in = that=20 cave in which he first dwelled, even to this very time, worketh = miracles, if the=20 faith of them that pray requireth the same.=20

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT: HOW A MAD WOMAN WAS CURED IN HIS CAVE.

For the thing which I mean now to rehearse fell out lately. A certain = woman=20 falling mad, lost the use of reason so far, that she walked up and down, = day and=20 night, in mountains and valleys, in woods and fields, and rested only in = that=20 place where extreme weariness enforced her to stay. Upon a day it so = fell out,=20 that albeit she wandered at random, yet she missed not the right way: = for she=20 came to the cave of the blessed man Bennet: and not knowing anything, in = she=20 went, and reposed herself there that night, and rising up in the = morning, she=20 departed as sound in sense and well in her wits, as though she had never = been=20 distracted in her whole life, and so continued always after, even to her = dying=20 day.=20

PETER: What is the reason that in the patronage of martyrs we often = times=20 find, that they do not afford so great benefit by their bodies, as they = do by=20 other of their relics: and do there work greater miracles, where = themselves be=20 not present?=20

GREGORY: Where the holy martyrs lie in their bodies, there is no = doubt,=20 Peter, but that they are able to work many miracles, yea and also do = work=20 infinite, to such as seek them with a pure mind. But for as much as = simple=20 people might have some doubt whether they be present, and do in those = places=20 hear their prayers where their bodies be not, necessary it is that they = should=20 in those places shew greater miracles, where weak souls may most doubt = of their=20 presence.=20

But he whose mind is fixed in God, hath so much the greater merit of = his=20 faith in that he both knoweth that they rest not there in body, and yet = be there=20 present to hear our prayers. And therefore our Saviour himself, to = increase the=20 faith of his disciples, said: "If I do not depart, the Comforter will = not come=20 unto you," [John 16:7]: for, seeing certain it is that the comforting = Spirit=20 doth always proceed from the Father and the Son, why doth the Son say = that he=20 will depart that the Comforter may come, who never is absent from the = Son? But=20 because the disciples, beholding our Lord in flesh, did always desire to = see him=20 with their corporal eyes, very well did he say unto them: "Unless I do = go away,=20 the Comforter will not come:" as though he had plainly told them: If I = do not=20 withdraw my body, I cannot let you understand what the love of the = spirit is:=20 and except you give over [cease] to love my carnal presence, never will = you=20 learn to affect me with true spiritual love.=20

PETER: That you say pleaseth me very well.=20

GREGORY: Let us now for a while give over our discourse, to the end = that if=20 we mean to prosecute the miracles of other Saints, we may through = silence be the=20 more able to perform it.=20

The end of the Second Book=20

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++= +++++=20

The St. Pachomius Orthodox Library,=20

Have mercy, O Lord, on Thy servants the translator P.W., the editor = Edmund,=20 and the scribes Boris, Deborah, Demetrios, Edward, Gerald, Jeff, Larry, = Mary,=20 Matthew, Paul, Robert, Steven, Susan, Timothy, and Walter.=20

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++= +++++

               THE END, AND TO GOD BE THE GLORY! =20



                                +=20

This text is presented here as part of the Internet Medieval = Source=20 Book. The Sourcebook is a collection of public domain and = copy-permitted=20 texts related to medieval and Byzantine history.=20

Unless otherwise indicated the specific electronic form of the = document is=20 copyright. Permission is granted for electronic copying, distribution in = print=20 form for educational purposes and personal use. If you do reduplicate = the=20 document, indicate the source. No permission is granted for commercial = use.=20

Paul Halsall Mar 1996
halsall@murray.fordham.edu =