GC 45

English

Romanus, a priest of the same city [of Bordeaux]

In the territory [of Bordeaux] is [the tomb of] St Romanus the priest. According to the written records of his life, our Martin [of Tours] placed him in his tomb. For his tomb is next to the town of Blaye, which is situated on a bank of the Garonne River.53 Often through the display of his power he rescues people who are about to die from being shipwrecked in this river. [When swamped] by the waves of this billowing torrent they cry out: ‘Have pity on us, St Romanus, confessor of God.’ Soon the storm is quieted, and the people reach the banks they had hoped for. It is not proper for anyone who has deserved to see Romanus’ church from the middle of the river to die in a shipwreck. I myself experienced his power in a situation of great duress. A driving storm that rained for many days caused the Garonne river to flood outside its banks. As the wind whipped about the river overflowed in huge waves. Overpowering mountains of water were tossed up that caused great fear among the onlookers. But after the blessed confessor was petitioned, by the assistance of his power he brought it about (so I believe) that he restrained the crashing and caused the channel of the river to be level. And so I entered a boat and crossed to the other bank without any danger.

Latin

Habetur in hoc terreturio et sanctus Romanus presbiter, quem, ut scripta vitae eius edocent, Martinus eum noster sepulturae locavit. Est autem sepulchrum eius contiguam Blaviensi castello super litus amnis Garonnae . In quo saepe naufragio perituros virtutis suae salvat occursu, proclamantibus inter fluctus torrentis undosi: 'Miserere nostri, sanctae Romane confessor Dei'. Sed mox sedata tempestate, obtata litora potiuntur. Nec fas est tamen ullum perire naufragio, qui eius basilicam amnis de medio contemplare meruerit. Quod et nos valde in grandi necessitate experti sumus. Nam cum imber creberrimus per multos defluens dies amnem Garonnam extra litora eiecisset, atque, inpellente vento, validis fluctibus exundaret, elevarenturque fluctuum montes validi, qui non parvum intuentibus ingererent metum, exoratus beatus confessor obtenuit, sicut credimus, virtutis suae suffragio, ut, conpressis fragoribus, planum praeberetur fluminis alveum. Et sic ingressi navem, ripae alteri sine periculo sumus devecti.

Notes

• boat in a storm