Life of St Martin 2

VERSES OF PAULINUS ON THE VISITATION OF HIS LITTLE GRANDSON. With how great a torrent do you repay so small a drop, O holy God, although that very droplet of dew was given to so barren a heart, or bestowed by You. So bounteous a stream had no need of these tokens of service, as does the thin moisture that falls from light leaves give increase to so abundant a river as it glides down, when rather the moisture would rise from the banks to the boughs, while the glassy flood pours out the threads of mists and, thirsting, snatches the neighboring chill close by. Hence this drop, so lavish, touched my throat, so that a murmur might touch the crystals of the solid stream. How great a gift this patience alone would bring me, that my happy boldness might fall into no fault!

But now by these signs as well the grace is doubled, so that I may sing of you without end, venerable priest. The work whereby I am raised up is not ended; things are added which grow, things that it is a delight to remember. While the power is shown forth, it stands present. Did you behold my tears? Do you, in compassion, bring help to that weeping? Does the most high Author of life, at your entreaty, restrain the heavy laments of grievous old age? Salvation itself brings back life. So great a force of disease had cast down, sick and almost lifeless, my grandson, and the girl joined to him by the law of marriage, so that their bodies scarcely breathed now with faint breath, nor could a skilled touch detect the veins hidden, the pulse withdrawn, the thread of life languishing. Me too, set apart, affection kept back from every service. Their eyes shunned the hated light, since to behold whatever they saw was a torment.

One hope touched the heart of the trembling youth: to commend his cause to the Patron of indulgence, and so often to remember the favor close at hand. Lately it had befallen that a letter was brought and unrolled, which had come to us about so great a merit, telling how grace shone forth in countless wondrous signs, by which the Lord, attesting the merit of His true friend, adorned the saint's holy sepulcher through immense gifts. These signs the bishop Perpetuus had marked with his kindly right hand, rejoicing in the praise of so great a master. This letter, then, with scarce a faint murmur of the tongue, with unhesitating faith, a hope not uncertain demanded. To the lifeless youth confidence in speaking gave strength, and grace loosed his weary tongue.

And so, amid the very fires that the fever had stirred, he joined the palms of mighty deeds to his panting breast and snatched them up, recalling the faith which the writing had recorded; and whatever the enclosed page covered, stored within his very vitals, the swift remedy ran to his desire. At the command, sweat leapt forth at so great miracles, and the order grew even to the measure of so great a gift, so that the things to be written might give credit to faith, which the written things retain. Not so swiftly with nimble bound does amber suspend a stalk of hay by the neighboring glue of its warmth, as swiftly the moisture of the moistened body returns to the writing, the command hastening it. Returning to life with hope, in affection he sought his grandfather, as it were the herald of so great a gift, and bade me join to the other signs the help he had perceived. To such a Patron the matter of the affair must be entrusted.

The saint's mercy stands present nearer, and the guardianship of his favor relieves the offense of guilt. Without delay, the timely help, anticipating the number of days—the number by which the reckoned hope has often deceived the unwary—is present to the one praying. Nor is true grace shut up in any places, nor does any boundary constrain the strength which God heaps up. Healing touches near at hand, where the Savior is present. A little cell, so far separated from the sepulcher, received what the intent mind demanded, and the bestowed grace entered at the very instant it was believed. That sick man, dreading death, becomes the physician of his beloved wife, and persuades faith by sending salvation; and that marriage-bed too begs whatever this man had perceived. There is a contest to retain the help and to seek its share.

He fears to let go of what is possessed, while she, by the proven signs, hastens believing that she too may be saved. Though sternly and by turns both wish it, both retain it, and devotion, clinging to one, succors both. Thanks to you, O holy one, while breath rules these limbs, my mind and tongue shall sing. Now look in mercy upon the remaining members of my household, bringing back swift comforts of salvation, and console more closely the old age entrusted to you, granting speedily the things desired, or guarding the things bestowed.