GC 44

English

Severinus, bishop of Bordeaux

Bordeaux also has venerable patrons who often reveal themselves in miracles. With great faith the city honors the bishop St Severinus in a suburb outside the walls. For although I already said in the preface of this book that I would record only those events that God deigned to work after the death of his saints at their intercession:’ nevertheless I do not think it absurd if I recall a few events from the life of those about whom I know that nothing has been written. According to the trustworthy account of the clergy at Bordeaux, St Severinus came to that city from the East. Bishop Amandus then governed the church at Bordeaux. While Severinus was traveling, the Lord appeared to Amandus in a vision during the night and said: ‘Arise and go to meet my servant Severinus. Honor him just as the holy Scriptures say that a friend of the Divine is to be honored. For he is a better man than you and more distinguished because of his merits.’ Bishop Amandus got up, took his staff in his hand, and went to meet Severinus. He knew nothing about the holy man except what the Lord had revealed [to him]. And behold, St Severinus came as if to meet him. They approached each other and addressed each other with their own names. In like manner they quickly embraced; after kissing and offering a prayer they entered the cathedral accompanied by the loud chanting of psalms. Bishop Amandus subsequently loved and venerated Severinus to such an extent that he put him in his own office [of bishop] and considered himself to be his subordinate. A few years later the blessed Severinus died. After the burial of Severinus bishop Amandus again received his office; there is no doubt that this office was restored to him because of the obedience that he had demonstrated toward the saint of God. Because Severinus’ holiness was recognized, the local inhabitants thereafter took him as their patron. They knew that whenever their city was either invaded by an illness or besieged by some enemy or disrupted by some vendetta, they would immediately be delivered from this threatening disaster as soon as the people gathered at the church of the saint, observed fasts, celebrated vigils, and piously offered prayers. After I wrote this entry I learned that the priest Fortunatus had written a Vita of St Severinus.

Latin

Habet et Burdegalensis urbis patronos venerabiles, qui saepius se virtutibus manifestant, sanctum Severinum episcopum suburbano murorum summa excolens fide. Et licet iam dixerimus in prologo libri huius, ut ea tantum scriberemus, quae Deus post obitum sanctorum suorum, eis obtenentibus, est operare dignatus, tamen non puto absurdum duci, si de illorum vita memoremus aliqua, de quibus nulla cognovimus esse conscripta. Sanctus igitur Severinus, ut ipsorum Burdegalensium clericorum fidelis relatio profert, de partibus Orientis ad eandem distinatur urbem. Dum autem iter ageret, et eclesiam Burdegalensim Amandus episcopus regeret, apparuit ci Dominus in visu noctis, dicens: 'Surge et egredere in occursum famulo meo Severino et honora eum, sicut honorari Scriptura sancta docet amicum Divinitatis. Melior est enim tibi meritisque sublimior'. Exsurgens autem Amandus episcopus, accepto bacello in manu sua, perrexit in occursum eius, nihil de viro sancto sciens, nisi quae Dominus revelasset. Et ecce sanctus Severinus veniebat quasi in obviam ei. Tunc adpropinquantes sibi ac propriis se nominibus salutantes, ruunt pariter in amplexibus, deosculatique, fusa oratione, eclesiam cum magno psallentio sunt ingressi. Quem deinceps in tantum dilexit ac veneratus est Amandus episcopus, ut eum in loco subsubstitueret, ac ipse quasi iunior habebatur. Denique post paucos annos obiit beatissimus Severinus. Quo sepulto, Amandus episcopus recepit locum suum, quem ei non dubium est per oboedientiam redditum, quam in Dei sanctum exercuit. Ex hoc incolae cognita eius sanctitate, patronum sibi adsciscunt, certi, quod, si quandoque urbem aut morbus obrepat aut hostilitas obsedeat aut aliqua quaerella percellat, protinus concurrentes populi ad basilicam sancti, indictis ieiuniis, vigilias celebrant, devotissime orationem fundentes, et mox ab inminenti calamitate salvantur. Vitam tamen huius, postquam haec scripsimus, a Fortunato presbitero conscriptam cognovimus.