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THE LIFE OF ST AUBIN by Venantius Fortunatus:

Chapter 2 Aubin is honoured by King Childebert and by many miracles through God's grace.


9. The fame of such great merit could not easily be hidden - indeed, it spread everywhere "on joyful wings". It so happened at that time that the city of Angers was without a bishop. With the complete agreement of the whole population, Aubin was unanimously chosen to occupy this position of chief pastor under the leadership of Christ - although he resisted the appointment with great humility and only finally accepted it as an honour to his priesthood. He befriended the poor, defended his fellow citizens, visited the sick and visited ransomed prisoners, with the result that the blessed deeds of this one man became a means of salvation to all - and by his good works, his heavenly virtues increased more and more in his heart.

10. In the city of Angers, a certain woman named "Fortunata" (although she was very unfortunate because of her withered hand) rushed up to Aubin with amazing energy. He made the sign of the Cross over her right hand (which was affected) and immediately a life-giving warmth spread over the dead palm. The next day, she returned to the same place to have the sign of the cross made again and, when this was done, her veins began to flow with blood again. On the third day, when Aubin made the sign of the Cross again, immediately all the sinews of her withered hand were loosened. When the miracle was thus completed, the woman crossed herself in the name of Christ with her hand which was now restored to life.

11. At another time, he came on his journeys to the village of Gegina and there came upon a young man

named Alaubaudus who had just died. Hearing the parents weeping at the death of their son, Aubin ran towards them and, in his efforts to restore the dead man to life, he prostrated himself in prayer lying over the body - thus he prayed for a long time. The priest, lying in the dust, grew pale, but a healthy glow of life came into the young man's body; so the heavens were shaken, hell was opened, the young man was rescued from death - and the priest finished his prayers.

When he visited the monastery at Asiacum with his usual fatherly concern, a certain blind man, who was a believer, cried out to Aubin asking his help. Aubin made the healing sign of the Cross over him and he received his sight as quickly as he had asked for it.

A certain Maurilio from Angers, who was blind, also asked for his sight to be restored. The bishop again resorted to his well-known remedy and made the venerable sign of the Cross over his eyelids. Like a huge catapult, the cross seemed to burst through the darkness and restored sight o the blind man. There was also a certain Marceilinus who had suffered from a cataract for about 10 years; he was taken to the blessed bishop and when the sign of the venerable Cross was made over his eyes, immediately the blood started to flow, the darkness vanished, and he saw clearly again.

12. There was another outstanding deed which we ought to describe. A woman of noble birth named Etheria was seized by order of the king and held in custody by soldiers as a prisoner in a house in Dullacensis. Our holy shepherd immediately came to help this member of his flock who was in danger; he went unaccompanied to avoid recognition. When she saw him, the distraught woman burst into tears and clung to his feet. The unfortunate jailer, in a fit of mad impetuosity, tried like a wolf to pull her away from the shepherd's cloak. The holy man was injured but he blew in the soldier's face and immediately this man, who had ignored the priest, collapsed and died on the spot. The rest of the soldiers were stricken with terror and paid homage to the bishop; although one of them was punished, the rest were absolved from ail blame. Aubin did not leave the woman until he had given the bail money to the king and set her free. So, at one and the same time, the suppliant found safety but the presumptuous met with death.

13. We ought not to omit another answer to prayer which has been handed down by memory. The holy Father came to a village called Albinia to spend some time in holy devotions. While he was there, a certain blind man begged him to have pity on him. This man had been seized by evil spirits and his whole body was affected. Aubin prostrated himself in prayer (he always found time to pray with holy earnestness). Then he restored sight to the blind eyes and also drove out the unclean spirit. What wonderful grace! What piety! The man only asked for one favour but he received a three-fold blessing - Aubin fed the hungry with food, he restored sight to the blind, and gave liberty to the captive.

14. He met King Childebert in Paris. Aubin was informed that the king would leave the city the next day to go hunting and left instructions that this worthy bishop would be expected to accompany him. But the blessed Aubin was handicapped by bodily weakness and when the king learnt of this, he hastened to come to see Aubin himself. He was travelling along quite happily until he came to the road which led to Aubin's house. But when he came to a place where 3 roads met and wanted to go in another direction, his horse, like molten metal, refused to go a step further. The king suspected that it was the horse’s stubbornness and no other reason, so he ordered a second horse to be saddled and tried to make it go in the same direction. But it refused to budge even when beaten - it was just as if it was facing a wall. He realised then that it was no use changing his horse unless he altered his direction, and from the horses’ behaviour he began to understand man's follies and how animals can surpass humans in understanding. So he turned to the road which led to Aubin’s house and began to journey in the other direction - rather like someone who had escaped from a trap, and peacefully reached the level ground.