GC 40

English

St Germanus of Auxerre

The glorious confessor Germanus died in Rome. Then [his body] was lifted up, brought to Auxerre sixty days later, and there committed to burial. During the reign of queen Theudechild a tribune named Nunninus from Clermont in Francia delivered taxes to the On his return he went to Auxerre for the purpose of devotion. He knelt before the tomb of the blessed Germanus and prayed for a long time. Then he took his sword from its sheath and, while no one was looking, struck the stone [lid] that lay on top of the venerated tomb. Although [only] a tiny fragment was struck from the tomb, the tribune stiffened up as if [made of] bronze, so that he was totally unable to control his limbs or to make a sound. Some [of his] servants who saw him lying in this condition did not know what had happened to him. One of them approached but received no response from the tribune when he nudged him. Although the tribune was rigid, he understood that he had been censured; so he made a vow in his heart and said ‘Most blessed confessor, I realize that I was presumptuous, but my piety compelled me to be bold. Therefore, if you deign to forgive me and permit me to return to my own home with your goodwill, I will deposit these relics in a church and take care to celebrate your festival every year with great piety.’The holy man heard his quiet murmur, forgave him, and allowed him to leave in safety. The tribune went and placed the relics in a church [at Moissat]; every year he faithfully celebrated the festival of the saint.

Once I went with bishop Avitus [of Clermont] to the aforementioned church in which the relics were deposited. The holy bishop was observing a fast. When he entered at about the tenth hour, all of us who were with him inhaled through our noses the fragrance of lilies and roses. We did not doubt that this was shown to us because of the merit of the blessed bishop. For it was the ninth month [November]. This happened in the village of Moissat.

Latin

Germanus autem gloriosus confessor in urbe Roma obiit. Exinde vero levatus, post dies sexaginta ad civitatem Audisiodoro delatus, sepulturae mandatus est. Tempore autem Theudechildae reginae Nunninus quidam tribunus ex Arverno de Francia post reddita reginae tributa revertens, Audisiodorensim orbem adivit causa tantum religionis. Provolutusque ad beati sepulchrum, cum diutissime orasset, extractum de vagina tigrem, lapidem qui super venerabilem sepulchrum habebatur, nemine vidente, percussit. De quo excussam particulam modicam, tamquam aeneus diriguit, ita ut nullum membrum possit ullatenus iudicare aut vocem emittere. Videntes autem eum pueri sic iacere, nesciebant, quid ei evenisset. Accedens vero unus eorum, cum eum interpellasset, nullum ab eodem responsum accepit. Tunc ille, ut erat rigidus, in corde suo intellegens se damnatum, vovet, dicens: 'Scio, me praesumptiosum extetisse, beatissime confessor, sed devotio exegit, ut praesumerem. Et ideo, si me dignaris absolvere et ad propria cam tua gratia redire permiseris, in basilica has reliquias condens, festivitatem tuam devotissime annis singulis celebrare curabo'. Cuius clausam murmur vir sanctus intellegens, eum absolvit et abire permisit incolomem. Qui veniens, reliquias illas in eclesiam posuit et sancti festa per singulos annos fideliter celebravit. Quodam autem tempore ad supradictam basilicam, in qua reliquiae conditae eunt, cum Avito episcopo accessimus . Ubi cam sanctus pontifex ieiunus ingressus fuisset hora quasi decima, omnes qui cam eo eramus odorem liliorum, rosarum naribus hausimus, quod nobis beati pontificis praestitum merito non ambigimus. Erat enim mensis nonus. Actum in vico Musciacas.