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Life of St Wilfrid
Eddius Stephanus, tr. Colgrave, 1927
So our Lord proved to men by virtue of miracles that the holy bishop (a great man and a …
So our Lord proved to men by virtue of miracles that the holy bishop (a great man and a faithful servant as we believe) was with Himself and among His saints. For on a certain day the abbots came from every quarter, some to carry away the holy body of the bishop in a chariot and others intending to wash the holy body and to clothe it carefully and honourably as was fitting; and they obtained permission to do so. Then a certain abbot named Bacula spread out his robe upon the ground, and the brethren laid the holy body upon it, after washing it with their own hands, and clothing it in ecclesiastical robes, and so they carried him to the appointed place with hymns and canticles in the fear of God. Once again above the monastery they heard as it were the noise of birds settling down with a sound and flying away again into the sky, their wings making sweet melody. The wise men who were present said that they knew of a truth that bands of angels had come with Michael to take the soul of the holy bishop to Paradise. Then they put up a tent outside, bathed the holy body and emptied the bath on to the ground in the same place. The people who inhabited the monastery afterwards built a wooden cross on the spot, and the Lord used to perform many marvels there. Then our brethren clothed the holy body in linen, placed it in a carriage, and setting forth singing psalms, came to the monastery at Ripon. Forthwith all the community came to meet them bearing holy relics. Hardly any of them could keep from tears and weeping. Raising their voices in hymns and canticles, they brought in the body of the most holy man with honour and placed it in the church which our holy bishop had once built and dedicated to the honour of St Peter the Apostle. He was in his seventy-sixth year, and who can tell how many bishops, priests, and deacons he had ordained, and how many churches he had dedicated during the forty-six years of his episcopate? His praise remains for ever. The abbots surrounded and led in his worthy heir the priest Tatberht, according to our holy bishop’s command.
And once again the abbot above mentioned gave his robe to his boy servant, folded up and somewhat soiled by the feet of those who had been ministering; he bade him take it to the abbess of our holy bishop, Cynithrith by name, telling her to keep it as it was until he came again to her, if God so willed. At first she obeyed the abbot’s commands, but afterwards she gave orders to wash it.
There was a certain nun both poor and weak who for many years had had a withered and useless hand like the mason in the Gospel. When she heard this, she came to the abbess and kneeling before her begged her with tears, saying, “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the soul of your holy bishop, grant that I may wash my decrepit limbs in this water. For I believe with unwavering faith that this crooked hand of mine and this arm which has long been withered can be healed, if God so wills it, in this water, through the mingling therewith of the holy sweat.” The pious abbess, not daring to refuse her, gave her permission in accordance with her faith. Then at once with one hand she plunged the other lifeless limb into the warm soapy water and touched the robe; then she washed the stump of her withered hand, rubbing it with the garment. Thereupon (why should I make a longer story of it?) her fingers were straightened, her hand was revived, and her arm strengthened and she was healed through her faith by touching the garment, just as the woman in the Gospel, named Moerisa, was healed of the issue of blood when she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment. And both of them giving thanks to God praised Him in His wonderful works.