VP 6.6

English

God also worked other great miracles through him. For when Julian, formerly the church's advocate, now a priest and a most kind man, was gravely tormented by the quartan fever, he sought the holy bishop's bed. After he had lain down on it under the covers and slept for a little while, he recovered so completely that he was thereafter never again racked by this illness.

When a great fire consumed the city of Clermont, and this holy man learned about it, he went into the church and for a very long time prayed to the Lord with tears before the altar; then he arose, took the gospel and carried it, opened, toward the fire. Its appearance instantly extinguished the blaze so completely that not one glowing ember remained.

About this time Clermont was shaken by a great earthquake, but why this happened we do not know. We do know, however, that none of the people were hurt.

And when the plague which they call "inguinal" came and ravaged various regions, depopulating the province of Arles above all, the holy Gallus feared not so much for himself as for his people. While he prayed to the Lord day and night that he might not live to see his people destroyed, there appeared to him in a dream an angel of the Lord whose hair as well as his robe shone white as snow. And the angel said to him: "Divine piety looks kindly upon you, O bishop, on account of your supplication for your people. Therefore do not fear, for your prayer has been heard. You and your people will indeed be rescued from this illness; while you are alive no one in this region will perish from its devastation. So don't be afraid at this time. After eight years, however, do be afraid." From this it was evident that he would leave this world after these years had passed.

When he woke up and had given thanks to God for this consolation and for His having deigned to comfort him with a heavenly messenger, he instituted the prayers and processions called Rogations in the middle of Lent, when people go on foot to the basilica of the blessed Julian in Brioude. This is a journey of about forty miles.

And when that illness ravaged other regions, as we said, it did not reach the city of Clermont because of holy Gallus's intercessory prayer. Hence I regard his grace as by no means small since he as their shepherd merited not to see his sheep being devoured, for they were protected by the Lord.

Latin

Praestitit enim Deus et alia miracula magna per illum. Nam cum Iulianus defensor, presbiter deinceps, dulcissimae voluntatis homo, a quartano typo correptus, graviter cruciaretur, lectulum sancti sacerdotis expetiit; in quo decubans, a lectuaria ipsa coopertus, paululum obdormiens, ita sanatus est, ut nec confractus postea ab hac infirmitate fuisset. Cum autem Arverna civitas maximo incendio cremaretur, et hoc sanctus comperisset, ingressus eclesiam, diutissime Dominum ante sanctum altare cum lacrimis exoravit, surgensque, euangelia conprehensa apertaque, in obviam se ignis obtulit. Quae contra parata, protinus ad aspectum eius ita omne incendium est extinctum, ut nec favillae quidem in eo igneae remansissent. Sub eius autem tempore magno terrae motu Arverna civitas est concussa; sed cur hoc accederit, ignoramus. Hoc tamen scimus, quod nullum ex populo laesit. Cum autem lues illa quam inguinariam vocant per diversae regiones desaeviret et maximae tunc Arelatensim provintiam depopularet, sanctus Gallus non tantum pro se quantum pro populo suo trepidus erat. Cumque die noctuque Dominum deprecaretur, ut vivens plebem suam vastari non cerneret, per visum noctis apparuit ei angelus Domini, qui tam caesariem quam vestem in similitudine nivis candidam efferebat et ait ad eum: 'Bene enim te, o sacerdos, prospectat divina pietas pro populo tuo supplicantem; ideoque ne timeas, exaudita est enim oratio tua; et ecce eris cum populo tuo ab hac infirmitate liberatus, nullusque, te vivente, in regione ista ab hac strage deperiet. Nunc antem noli metuere; post octo vero annos time'. Unde manifestum fuit, transactis his annis eum a saeculo discessisse. Expergefactus autem et Deo gratias pro hac consolatione agens, quod [et] per caelestem nuntium confortare dignatus est, rogationes illas instituit, ut media quadragesima psallendo ad basilicam beati Iuliani martyris itinere pedestri venirent. Sunt autem in hoc itenere quasi stadia 360. Cum antem regiones alias, ut diximus, lues illa consumeret, ad civitatem Arvernam, sancti Galli intercedente oratione, non attigit. Unde ego non parvam censeo gratiam, qui hoc meruit, ut pastor positus, oves suas devorari, defendente Domino, non videret