Christian Network
You are visitor: 
In Scotland the time is: 
Christian Network
XIX. How the same holy man, being detained there by sickness, by his prayers quenched a fire [429 A.D.]
CHAP. XVIII. How the same holy man gave sight to the blind daughter of a
tribune, and then coming to St. Alban, there received of his relics, and left
other relics of the blessed Apostles and other martyrs. [429 A.D.]
After this, a certain man, who held the office of tribune, came forward with his
wife, and brought his blind daughter, a child of ten years of age, to be healed
of the bishops. They ordered her to be brought to their adversaries, who, being
rebuked by their own conscience, joined their entreaties to those of the child’s
parents, and besought the bishops that she might be healed. They, therefore,
perceiving their adversaries to yield, poured forth a short prayer, and then
Germanus, full of the Holy Ghost, invoking the Trinity, at once drew from his
side a casket which hung about his neck, containing relics of the saints, and,
taking it in his hands, applied it in the sight of all to the girl’s eyes, which
were immediately delivered from darkness and filled with the light of truth. The
parents rejoiced, and the people were filled with awe at the miracle; and after
that day, the heretical beliefs were so fully obliterated from the minds of all,
that they thirsted for and sought after the doctrine of the bishops.
This damnable heresy being thus suppressed, and the authors thereof confuted,
and all the people settled in the purity of the faith, the bishops went to the
tomb of the martyr, the blessed Alban, to give thanks to God through him. There
Germanus, having with him relics of all the Apostles, and of divers martyrs,
after offering up his prayers, commanded the tomb to be opened, that he might
lay therein the precious gifts; judging it fitting, that the limbs of saints
brought together from divers countries, as their equal merits had procured them
admission into heaven, should find shelter in one tomb. These being honourably
bestowed, and laid together, he took up a handful of dust from the place where
the blessed martyr’s blood had been shed, to carry away with him. In this dust
the blood had been preserved, showing that the slaughter of the martyrs was red,
though the persecutor was pale in death.’ In consequence of these things, an
innumerable multitude of people was that day converted to the Lord.
CHAP. XIX. How the same holy man, being detained there by sickness, by his
prayers quenched a fire that had broken out among the houses, and was himself
cured of his infirmity by a vision. [429 A.D.]
AS they were returning thence, the treacherous enemy, having, as it chanced,
prepared a snare, caused Germanus to bruise his foot by a fall, not knowing
that, as it was with the blessed Job, his merits would be but increased by
bodily affliction. Whilst he was thus detained some time in the same place by
his infirmity, a fire broke out in a cottage neighbouring to that in which he
was; and having burned down the other houses which were thatched with reed,
fanned by the wind, was carried on to the dwelling in which he lay. The people
all flocked to the prelate, entreating that they might lift him in their arms,
and save him from the impending danger. But he rebuked them, and in the
assurance of his faith, would not suffer himself to be removed. The whole
multitude, in terror and despair, ran to oppose the conflagration; but, for the
greater manifestation of the Divine power, whatsoever the crowd endeavoured to
save, was destroyed; and what the sick and helpless man defended, the flame
avoided and passed by, though the house that sheltered the holy man lay open to
it, and while the fire raged on every side, the place in which he lay appeared
untouched, amid the general conflagration. The multitude rejoiced at the
miracle, and was gladly vanquished by the power of God. A great crowd of people
watched day and night before the humble cottage; some to have their souls
healed, and some their bodies. All that Christ wrought in the person of his
servant, all the wonders the sick man performed cannot be told. Moreover, he
would suffer no medicines to be applied to his infirmity; but one night he saw
one clad in garments as white as snow, standing by him, who reaching out his
hand, seemed to raise him up, and ordered him to stand firm upon his feet; from
which time his pain ceased, and he was so perfectly restored, that when the day
came, with good courage he set forth upon his journey.
