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Life of St Wilfrid
Eddius Stephanus, tr. Colgrave, 1927
56. How Our Patron Was Sick and How Michael Appeared to Him
Then, as they were journeying, our holy bishop was seized with a very great infirmity of body. At first he was borne on horseback, but at last he was carried on a litter by his friends who mourned and wept the while and called upon God, until he was brought, scarcely alive, to the town of Meaux, his comrades never doubting that he would die. In fact he had not tasted any food or drink for four days and four nights; but though he was unconscious, yet his breathing and the warmth of his limbs proved that he was alive.
At last on the fifth day as the morning was breaking, lo! an angel of the Lord in shining raiment appeared to our holy bishop and said, “I am Michael the messenger of the most high God, who sent me to tell you that years of life have been added to you by the intercession of St Mary, Mother of God and ever Virgin, and by the lamentations of your followers, which have reached the ears of the Lord; and this shall be a sign to you: from this day you will begin to grow better day by day, and you will reach your native land; and all the most precious of your possessions will be returned to you, and you will end your life in peace. Also be prepared; for after the space of four years I will visit you again. Now remember that you have built churches in honour of the Apostles St Peter and St Andrew; but you have built nothing in honour of St Mary, ever Virgin, who is interceding for you. You have to put this right and to dedicate a church in honour of her.” After these words the angel of the Lord was taken up from his sight and departed.
And so our holy bishop, as though aroused from sleep, rose up and sat amongst the company of those who were chanting and weeping. “Where is Acca our priest?” he said. He immediately came with great joy at his call, thanking God with all the others because they saw him sitting up and talking. Then when the brethren had been sent from the chamber, and his faithful priest Acca, he who is now bishop of blessed memory by the grace of God, was alone with him, Wilfrid revealed the whole vision at length as we have described it. Forthwith the said holy priest, who was a man of acute mind, gave thanks to God, understanding that in this way years of life had been added to our bishop through the intercession of St Mary the Mother of the Lord, and through the prayers of his followers, as fifteen years were added to Hezekiah, King of Judah: of these five were added because of the election of his father David, another five for the intercession of the prophet Isaiah in the temple of God, and the remaining five years of life for the goodness of the king himself and because he wept turning his face to the wall.