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THE LIFE OF ST AUBIN by Venantius Fortunatus:

Chapter 1: Aubin the monk (later the abbot) renowned for his miracles

5. In describing the lives of devout men, the more famous they are by their merits, the more frequently they are spoken of by people; but although they bestow blessings on all, they only inspire a few individuals to sing their praises. So with acute discernment I must strike a happy medium in describing the life and deeds of this most blessed man, Aubin. Bishop Aubin lived in the region of Venetum bordering the English Channel. He was born of wealthy parents - indeed he came from very aristocratic stock - and the merits of his successful life increased the renown which was his from birth. He illuminated the world with his fame because Christ chose to glorify him and he is universally venerated. Even in his tender years he showed such great fervour for the Faith that he would have left his parents (whom he was eager to please right from his infancy) to follow Christ of his own accord. He shunned all carnal delights as enemies of the soul, deeming it sufficient to find all his happiness only in his Heavenly Father. He entered the monastery at Tintillac to serve his Master. Such was the humility of his spirit that with a completely clear conscience he made no claim whatsoever on privileges because of his gentle birth. Though a freeman by ancestry, yet he willingly became a servant; he realised that it was more praiseworthy for his noble birth to be subordinated to the love of Christ, which was real, rather than to appear arrogant over something which was of no account.

6. He made good progress as a monk in his daily spiritual exercises, always exerting himself by his merits to his fullest capacity, not in order to outstrip the others but rather to tame and subdue his own body. Who can fully tell of the extremity of his fastings, his zeal and delight in keeping vigils, his earnest steadfastness in prayer, his outstanding works of mercy? Who can tell how he destroyed the enemy who attacked him or how he helped everyone giving them such great confidence, and was only indifferent to his own well-being? He was of ready obedience, quick to destroy evil, so that, even in his novitiate, he served as an example to the other monks. The only thing he had in common with the rest of mankind was that he was born, and while he lived he wanted to belong entirely to Christ. He had no eye for pleasures nor ears for gossip, no mind to dwell of frivolous things. He kept himself firmly bound by his sense of gravity. So he spent 7 years in the monastery and, even when he went out in public, he always seemed to be enclosed in the prison of his heart. He preferred to see nothing outside himself but Christ whom he bore and carried faithfully in his heart.

7. His devotion to these pious practices brought him such great renown that the Lord confirmed his dedicated service to the world by his miracles. When still a boy, after following the funeral procession of one Abbot through a village, he stopped at some man’s house. A violent storm blew up with thunder, and the rain beat down so heavily that everyone sheltering in that spot was soaked. Only the Blessed Aubin kept dry; the rain could not touch him because when it felt the warmth of his faith, it turned away from him and did him no harm. When this was discovered, the revelation of his holiness, which had been hidden through the years, was recognised by its merits because even in the flower of his youth, his virtue was like a sweet-smelling fragrance.

8. These heavenly gifts increased with his years and when he was about 35, he was appointed Abbot and holy father of the monastery - and, in very truth, he had merited this office by his renown. Under his strict rule, the discipline of the monastery greatly improved, for when wrongdoing was thus checked by his severity, it dies a natural death. His concentration on piety was truly remarkable, like the joyful harmony of the Psalms, and amongst his brethren, the full extent of his obedience shone forth. His devotion to holy works of charity was outstanding; for just as he was zealous in destroying evil so he was equally concerned in promoting heavenly gifts. In his position as Abbot, he successfully ruled the community entrusted to him for 25 years.