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Dialogues
St Gregory the Dialogist, tr. P. W., 1608
Book 3, Of Theodorus, Keeper of St. Peter’sChurch, in the City of Rome
GREGORY. There be yet some alive that knew Theodorus, keeper of that church: by whose report a notable thing that befell him came to my knowledge. For rising somewhat early one night to mend the lights that hung by the door, and was upon the ladder (as he used) to pour oil into the lamps, suddenly St. Peter the Apostle in a white stole, standing beneath upon the pavement, appeared unto him, and spake to him in this manner: “Theodorus, why hast thou risen so early?” and when he had said so, he vanished out of his sight: but such a fear came upon him, that all the strength of his body did forsake him, so that he was not able to rise up from his bed for many days after. By which apparition what meant the blessed Apostle else, but to give those which serve him to understand by that his presence, that whatsoever they do for his honour, himself for their reward doth always behold it?
PETER. I marvel not so much at his apparition: as that being before very well, he fell sick upon that sight.
GREGORY. What reason have you, Peter, to marvel at that? for have you forgotten how the prophet Daniel, when he beheld that great and terrible vision at which he trembled, speaketh thus of himself: I became weak, and was sick for very many days;1 for the flesh cannot conceive such things as pertain to the spirit, and therefore sometimes when a man’s mind is carried to see somewhat beyond itself, no remedy but this earthly and frail vessel of ours, not able to bear such a burthen, must fall into weakness and infirmity.
PETER. Your reason hath taken away that scruple which troubled my mind.
Notes
- Daniel 8, 27.