Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 121

But that we may pursue what we began concerning departing souls, which foreknow many things, neither is this to be passed over in silence which, being placed in that same city, I came to know by the attestation of many concerning Theophanius, count of the city of Centumcellae. For he was a man given to acts of mercy, intent on good works, especially zealous for hospitality. Occupied indeed in exercising the cares of his countship, he carried on earthly and temporal affairs, but, as afterward at the end it became clear, more out of duty than out of intention. For when, as the time of his death drew near, a most grievous storm of the air stood in the way, so that he could not be led out for burial, and his wife sought him with most vehement weeping, saying: 「What shall I do?

How shall I carry you out for burial, I who cannot go forth from the door of this house because of the exceeding storm?」 Then he replied: 「Do not weep, woman, for as soon as I shall have died, at that same hour the serenity of the air will return.」 His death immediately followed his voice, and serenity followed his death. This wonder was accompanied also by other signs. For his hands and feet, swelling with the humour of gout, had been turned into wounds, and lay open with flowing corruption. But when his body, after the custom, had been stripped for washing, his hands and feet were found so healthy as if they had never had anything of a wound.

He was accordingly carried out and buried, and it seemed good to his wife that on the fourth day the marble which had been placed over his tomb ought to be changed. And when that marble which had been placed over his body had been removed, so great a fragrance of odour emanated from his body, as if from his rotting flesh, instead of worms, spices had bubbled forth. And when, as I was relating this in my homilies (Homily 36), it had come into doubt to certain infirm ones, on a certain day, as I sat in an assembly of nobles, the very craftsmen who had changed the marble on his tomb were present, about to ask me something of their own concern.

Those whom I questioned about this same miracle, in the presence of the clergy, the nobles, and the common people, testified that they too had been filled in a wondrous manner with that same fragrance of sweet odour; and they added certain other things, as a further increase of the miracle, concerning that same tomb of his, which I judge it would take too long to relate now. PETER: I now see that my inquiry has been sufficiently satisfied; but there is still this that strikes my mind with a question: since it was said above that the souls of the saints are already in heaven, it remains beyond doubt that the souls of the wicked too are believed to be nowhere but in hell. Yet what the truth holds concerning this matter, I do not know. For human estimation does not hold that the souls of sinners can be tormented before the judgment.