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THE MIRACLES OF ST AUBIN by Nicholas Belfort

Chapter 1 Madmen are healed at St Aubin's Tomb - Sacred Healing of Fever

1. In the vicinity of Angers there was a certain knight named Beruerius who was possessed of several evil spirits (why God passed this secret judgement of him is unknown). He began to howl, gnash his teeth and tear at himself; those who were present and saw this madness were stricken with great horror and began to ask him what strange thing had happened to him. But he was quite unable to hear or give any reason for it. He rushed at them violently and assaulted them, biting and punching the unfortunate bystanders, until he finally drove them ail out of the house. His friends were stricken with grief and did not know what course of action to take - for they realised that this was not just the strength of just one ordinary man but the mighty strength of a raging adversary. So they summoned several strong men who lived nearby and at considerable risk to themselves, they bound this raging maniac with chains and ropes. They tried in vain to expel the evil spirit with incantations and for a long time harrassed the man. Finally, realising that this did him no good but only made him worse, they took a wiser step and decided to seek protection by trusting in God and his saints. First they carried their friend and brought him to the colleagues of the Blessed Julianus, the Bishop of Cenomanses. But after making several long tiring journeys in different directions to no avail, they were wearied, saddened and almost in despair. On the advice of some friends, they went to St Aubin's tomb. They spend three days there in prayer and fastings, and on the third day, he seemed a little less troubled and began to sleep. When he awoke, he was completely cured. He quietly and rationally addressed words of assurance to his friends who were standinq by and asked them to unfasten his chains. They were amazed and still a little hesitant fearing that this sudden gentleness might be a trick of the evil spirits and at first they did not trust his words. But finally, after lengthy conversation with him, they recognised that he had truly been cured by the grace of Christ.

2. Another miracle like the one mentioned above took place at that same time which the Lord deigned to reveal through the faithful servant. A certain girl called Amelina, of noble birth, sister of one Elina Militus who lived near to the coast of Britain at the Credonensian camp, had been troubled for a long time by an evil spirit. Her parents heard of the fame of the holy Bishop Aubin and his outstanding power in banishing these spirits. So in great confidence they brought their afflicted daughter to his monastery and begged and implored the whole community of the monks to intercede with their holy Patron Saint not to allow this girl whom Christ had redeemed with his own blood to be subject to the devil. Because of their prayers and entreaties, the pious Confessor did not hesitate to come to their aid. Soon the proud and wicked spirit was put to flight and the distraught girl was restored to complete health - so our Master Christ triumphed through his humble servant.

3. At another time, in a certain village called Cunaidum, by the banks of the river Loire, a man named Berfridus was seriously ill - one of his feet was deeply inflamed because a horrible fire had burnt it up to the heel. He found no medicine to cure this and thought the only way he might be helped was to go to the tomb of the blessed Aubin. So he came to the spot and stayed there some time, praying earnestly to the Saint to intervene and cool the burning fever in his body. What more can I say? Daily he was there at the door of the church and did not cease from prayer until the black marks of inflammation had completely disappeared from his half-burnt foot.