Here begins the Prologue to the Life of Saint Briocell, Bishop and Confessor #

¹ It was the custom of the historians of old, when they wished to exalt certain people with the highest praise, first to extol in words the character of their lineage by careful inquiry, and thus gradually, through the illustrious deeds of the parents, to heap great commendation with the utmost diligence upon the life and works of the children. For it has, as it were, grown by a kind of natural law among human beings that those whose noble origins they have learned by reliable report are judged to be superior to others in merit. Yet in the praiseworthy life of this saint, about whom we have resolved to write briefly, insofar as the smallness of our humble talent allows, it clearly appears that this need not be done; for it was not so much the nobility of his family that raised him up as the fact that he himself adorned the dignity of his birth with good character and with fortunate, devout, and holy deeds. How religious and how pleasing to God his life was will, with God’s help, be shown by the account of the narrative that follows.

² End of the Prologue

Beginning of the Life of Saint Briocmagli, Bishop and Confessor #

¹ Saint Briomaglus, a native of the region of Coriticia, was born of parents who were noble according to the dignity of the world. His father was named Cerpus and his mother was called Eldruda. Although they were still held fast by the error of paganism and were wholly ignorant of the worship of the true God, they were nevertheless devoted to works of kindness and were greatly loved by all the inhabitants of their region. They were indeed exceedingly wealthy, endowed with many riches, and every year on the Kalends of January they provided for all their friends and neighbours a most splendid feast lasting three consecutive days. At this gathering there was such abundance and variety of food, and such delight from games and songs filling the minds of the guests—being pagans—that the whole seemed to present a spectacle of joy before their eyes.

² One night, therefore, after the third day of the feast had passed and the same wife of Cerpus had given her limbs to sleep, an angel stood by her in a vision, guided by divine wisdom which foresaw that from her would be born a vessel of election, and addressed her in these words: “Rise up, woman, and faithfully worship the God of heaven, the creator of all things, and with all the affection of your heart humbly beg him to deign to drive away the darkness of error and to open the light of truth to you and to your husband.” When she heard this, the woman awoke from sleep and, struck with overwhelming fear, stood bewildered, not knowing what answer she ought to give.

³ Seeing her so terrified, the angel addressed her again in gentle words, saying: “Do not be troubled, woman, nor be afraid as though this were a deceptive fantasy, for I have been sent to you by God to announce things that will without doubt come to pass for you and your husband. Blessed indeed are you, whom divine mercy has at last looked upon, and more blessed still is the fruit of your womb, whom God has chosen beforehand as a temple for himself. For you shall bear a son, dear to God and of great merit, who in the Christian religion will be of benefit to many as an example of good conduct. He will be handsome in appearance, holy in character, outstanding in chastity, sincere in devotion, kind in humanity, well instructed in spiritual learning, eminent in the unity of charity, and he shall be called Brioccius. Go therefore and announce these things to your husband, and diligently urge him to shatter all his idols, which cannot help him, and to hasten to worship the God of all things who is in heaven, by whose kindness he lives, though he does not yet know him. You shall then make three rods: two of them of silver, one for you and the other for your husband; the third shall be of gold for your son. These you are to place in your treasury until his birth. When the child has been born, you shall send him to the city of Paris to the blessed man Germanus, bishop of that city, that he may instruct him in the liberal arts and train him by good character to live well.”

⁴ When the woman heard this, she quickly rose from her bed, and when morning came she told her husband everything that had been commanded to her by the angel. He, mocking his wife’s words as though they were foolish ravings, regarded them as nothing and replied that he would by no means abandon the gods whom his parents had worshipped because of the emptiness of dreams. On the following night the angel again appeared to the same woman and asked whether she had reported to her husband what he had commanded. When she replied that she had told him everything but that he had scorned it with ridicule, the angel said to her again: “Go once more, therefore, and repeat everything to him, adding besides that, unless he quickly submits to your words, he will be punished severely.”

⁵ She therefore went and repeated everything to her husband, adding that, unless he believed her words, he would shortly feel the scourge of punishment. But he nevertheless mocked her and utterly despised what she said. On the third night, however, when the same Cerpus had laid his limbs down to rest, look, the same angel appeared to him and, after first reproaching him sharply for such great unbelief, then began to strike him severely, saying: “Rise up and call upon the gods whom you worship, that they may now deliver you from this distress.” Shaken by the greatest fear, he awoke and rose up in bewilderment, confessed that he had sinned grievously, and willingly declared that he would carry out everything that had been commanded. When the angel departed and dawn broke, Cerpus told his friends all that he had seen. He immediately shattered all the idols that he possessed and resolved to give half of all his goods to God.

⁶ When the three rods mentioned above had been made, and the greater part of his treasure distributed to the needy, after a few days his wife Eldruda conceived and bore a son, giving him the name that had been foretold to her by the angel. In his earliest years he was kept within the household by his parents and was nourished, guarded, and instructed with great care. Even in infancy he began to show mature character, and he did not wish to go with other boys of his own age to childish games which they played in the fields, but rather stayed at home and, as best he could, tried to form little letters on tablets.

⁷ His mother, seeing the little boy advancing both in years and in understanding, and recalling the angelic vision and its command, urged her husband that he ought now to be sent to Paris to the blessed Germanus. Her husband, however, opposed this, judging it unworthy that his son should take up clerical office, since he had decided to make him his successor and heir to all his rank and honour. But when the same Cerpus, having set aside worldly cares for a while, gave himself to sleep the following night, the angel again appeared to him and reproved him with these words: “Why do you keep back your son, whom God has deigned to consecrate to himself even from his mother’s womb? Go rather and send him without delay to the man of God Germanus, as I commanded.” When he awoke, he related what he had heard to his friends. As they rejoiced in the vision and urged him to hasten to fulfil what he had heard, Saint Brioccius was sent to Paris with the three rods already mentioned and with great provision, accompanied by four men who were to conduct him there.

⁸ When they arrived in Paris at the man of God, the blessed Saint Germanus, seeing him from afar before anyone told him who the boy was, said: “Look, a boy from the people of the Coriticians, illustrious in nobility of birth, keen in intellect, adorned even in tender age with outstanding character, and destined by God to be the head of the holy religion of the land in which he was born.” For as the boy entered the house where the blessed Germanus lived, a little bird in the form of a dove was seen to go before him, and when he humbly bowed himself at the knees of the holy man, it was seen hovering above his head. Therefore Saint Germanus and his disciples, perceiving such great grace of God in the boy, unanimously blessed God and received him with great joy and fitting honour. And although all held him in the greatest affection, two above the rest—namely Patricius and Heltutus—always embraced him more dearly with sincere love.

⁹ The venerable boy Brioccius, devoted to learning letters under the man of God, mastered in a single day all the elements of Latin letters. He also learned all the Psalms by heart within the space of five months, and thereafter devoted all his effort to the liberal arts. When he was ten years old, he applied himself as far as he was able to almsgiving, so that at one time he would give a cloak, at another a mantle, sometimes a tunic, and often, when he had nothing else ready at hand, even a belt to those in need. On one occasion, when he had gone to draw water from a spring in order to wash his teacher’s hands, some lepers met him and asked for alms. As he had nothing suitable at hand to give them, he handed over to them the little jug which he was carrying to fetch the water, and sent them away rejoicing.

¹⁰ One of the servants of the monastery saw this and, moved more by the zeal of envy than by concern for the loss to the household, went at once to Saint Germanus and began to speak to him thus: “Do you know that Brioccius is destroying the substance of the monastery by scattering it among the poor? For he has just given to lepers the little jug from which the brothers used to drink.” When the saint heard this, he immediately asked where the boy was. Those who were present replied that they did not know, unless he was with his close companions, namely Patricius and Heltutus, with whom he was accustomed to spend most of his time. Then he said: “Let one of you go quickly and look for him.” Meanwhile one of the brothers came to Brioccius and said to him: “Why, boy, do you distribute the monastery’s utensils to beggars as you please? Why did you give today as alms the jug that was necessary for the brothers?”

¹¹ Hearing the words of the one who reported this and, as is usual at such an age, greatly fearing to go to his teacher on the one hand, and on the other dreading that his almsgiving might in some way be rendered void, the boy hurried quickly to the church. There, before the altar, he humbly cast himself down in prayer with tears and many supplications to God. After he had prayed for a long time, he rose from the ground and looked to his right, where he saw a bronze jug; he took it up, giving immense thanks to God for having mercifully looked upon his prayers. When he left the church he found the one who had been seeking him. On asking what he wanted, he learned his teacher’s words. He went before him, confessed that he had sinned, fell at his feet, and begged for forgiveness.

¹² The saint, as though indignant, said: “Your words are foolish. Why did you give to lepers, for the sake of vainglory, a jug that was necessary for the monastery? Rise at once and look for it.” The boy rose and, going outside for a short while, brought back the jug he had found through prayer and set it before his teacher, humbly fixing his gaze on the ground. “Is this, my lord,” he said, “the jug that you were asking for?” The venerable man, gazing upon the vessel of marvellous beauty and understanding—by revelation of the Holy Spirit—that such a gift of extraordinary workmanship had been divinely bestowed upon the boy, said: “The boy whom divine grace already fills in this way is more righteous than we are.” But he replied: “By no means, my lord; I am but dust and ashes, as it is written: Man is corruption, and the son of man a worm [Job 25:6]. Yet I have heard that it is written in the Gospel: Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy [Matthew 5:7].” All who were present, hearing this, marvelled at the grace of faith in so small a boy. Indeed, when he was twelve years old, often subjecting his little body to fasts of two or even three days, he longed for the desert, and would have fulfilled this desire in spirit, as is said of that Martin revered throughout the whole world, Saint Martin, had not the weakness of his age prevented him.

¹³ At a certain time it happened that a young man went out to one of the monastery’s estates for some necessary business. A demon met him in the likeness of a savage wolf and, with mouth open and a dreadful howl, attacked him as though it wished to devour him. Terrified by the immense fear of such a monster, he turned and fled, rushing like a madman into the forest, and, becoming half-dead, fell to the ground. When this was seen by one who happened to be guarding horses grazing nearby, he hurried off and informed the brothers. They went to the forest and found him barely alive and gasping as though already close to death. All wept as they saw a brave young man, and a not inconsiderable promise of his lineage, perishing. To them the venerable Brioccius said: “Do not, brothers, do not give time to tears, but let us all together with the whole affection of our hearts call upon the creator of the world and the most merciful restorer of fallen humanity.” Having said this, he ordered them to withdraw a little. When they had withdrawn as he commanded—for all already depended on the grace of his holiness at the mere sign of his will—he at once bent himself to prayer, lifting his eyes to heaven and raising his hands in the form of a cross, and prayed with the greatest intensity for nearly half an hour.

¹⁴ When the prayer was finished, he went up to the young man and humbly chanted over him the psalm in which it is written, The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all [Psalm 103:19]. Then he said: “In the name of the crucified Christ, our God and Lord, I command you, demon, to depart quickly from this young man.” At once, at the sound of his voice, the enemy of the human race fled away, leaving behind a great stench and crying out: “Brioccius drives me out; I vanish like smoke.” The brothers were then called back; the young man rose up unharmed and returned joyfully with them to the monastery. Saint Germanus heard of the power of the miracle and gave thanks to God, by whose will he knew it had been accomplished.

¹⁵ Day by day the grace of the Lord increased in the boy. Now he would sing psalms, now persevere in prayer with tears, now devote himself to reading. Ever intent upon heaven, detached from worldly affairs, despising all transitory things and longing with his whole desire for those that are eternal, he continually recalled that evangelical saying, Do not possess gold or silver [Matthew 10:9], and likewise, Do not be anxious about tomorrow [Matthew 6:34]. He was indeed, as far as he was able, always careful that no one might justly find fault with him in anything; he loved all sincerely, showed reverence to those younger than himself, and was subject to everyone in service, although he surpassed all in merit.

¹⁶ At the same time it happened that a certain boy, while crossing a hedge, was injured by the prick of a thorn and was left lame in one foot. He came to Saint Brioccius where he was staying in the oratory, humbly made known his infirmity, tearfully begged his help, and at once received healing through the sprinkling of blessed water. He returned sound to his home, giving thanks to God.

¹⁷ In those days two young men came to the man of God Germanus, asking for ordination to the priesthood. When he questioned them, as is customary, whether they were learned in the Scriptures, they replied that they had some training in the liberal arts. Immediately the venerable Germanus ordered his pupil Brioccius to be summoned. When he was called, he stood before his teacher. Asked whether he was prepared to receive ordination together with the two young men, he replied with wonderful simplicity and gentle humility that he would gladly do whatever his teacher commanded, especially since he knew for certain that a man of such diligence and holiness would impose nothing unfitting either on him or on anyone else. What more need be said? The fitting day for such an office arrived, and the three young men were ordained priests together.

¹⁸ But this must not be passed over carelessly, what miracle was divinely shown at their ordination. For when the bishop, chanting the prayers of ordination, laid his hand upon their heads, there appeared above the head of Brioccius, who was standing close to the bishop, something like a column of fire reaching up to the ceiling of the church. This was seen only by the blessed Germanus, the deacon who was reading the Gospel, the sacristan, and two other brothers; all the rest who were in the church saw indeed a brightness, but did not know at all what it was. Those who had seen the miracle no longer proclaimed him as merely an earthly man, but as one almost heavenly, both in conduct and in miracles. He himself, however, always desiring to advance to what was better, strove at every hour to keep watch over the actions of his life.

¹⁹ Moreover, one night, when after the weariness of the night watches he had again laid his limbs down to rest, he saw in a dream an angel saying to him: “Return to your homeland, from which you came here, for your parents are still alive, and with God’s help you will free them from the error of paganism.” When he awoke, he carefully reported everything he had seen to his teacher. Saint Germanus, hearing the words of his disciple and marvelling greatly within himself, said: “You have a good guide, my son. Go therefore to your province, as you have been commanded, for you will be great before almighty God.”

²⁰ Saint Germanus therefore gladly granted him the blessing he requested. And he, having received his commission from him, took with him one disciple and also a single horse, which carried what was necessary for the celebration of Mass and provisions sufficient for only one day, and thus set out on his journey. On the following day, as they were travelling together and could already see the sea from afar, they came upon beggars. When these asked for alms, Saint Brioccius at once, in the name of Christ, mercifully gave them the horse. Going on to the shore, he saw sailors sitting in the harbour, waiting for a favourable hour to sail and praying that God would grant them a prosperous wind. Seeing them downcast, the man of God said: “Why, brothers, do you wear such a sorrowful expression?” They replied: “This is the seventh day since we set out to sail, but an adverse wind has held us here.” When the saint heard this and understood that they wished to sail to the river Seine, he said with a cheerful face: “Tomorrow, with God as helmsman, the sea will become calm, so that we may sail swiftly and safely.”

²¹ On the next day, rising early, they spread their sails; the sea was calm and the breeze turned to the right, and they began to cross. While they were sailing and had reached the middle of the sea, dolphins and other huge creatures suddenly came towards them and, rushing at the ship as though they wished to sink it, surrounded it on all sides. All the sailors, trembling, implored the help of the man of God. Seeing them in distress, he immediately began the psalm in which it is written, The Lord preserves all who love him, and he will destroy all the wicked [Psalm 145:20], and said: “Take courage, men, and fear nothing.” Then turning to prayer he said: “Lord God, who led the people of Israel fleeing from the face of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, through the midst of the Red Sea on dry ground, graciously deliver this little flock from the assault of these beasts.” At his word the swarm of creatures immediately vanished, and with God’s will guiding the ship straight ahead, they reached the river Seine.

²² Saint Brioccius therefore turned aside to his homeland, in the twenty-fifth year of his age, with that single youthful companion, arrived by God’s guidance at his father’s house after a prosperous journey. On the very day on which the blessed Brioccius reached his father’s home, that famous and great feast was being celebrated which he had always been accustomed to hold on the Kalends of January, in which, as we said above, many vanities of games and songs were practised. When his venerable mother saw her son Brioccius arriving, she ran eagerly to meet him, rushed to embrace and kiss him, and led him to his father, saying: “Look, our most beloved son has come, whom we have longed with such desire to see for so long a time.” When the father heard this, he rose up at once, and on seeing his son began to weep for joy; embracing and kissing him, he could scarcely remain standing because of the immensity of his happiness. They then sat down together, spoke with one another, and rejoiced mutually beyond what words can express.

²³ When his father asked him to eat with them at the feast, the holy young man refused. Asked why, he humbly explained the reason: “It is unfitting, father,” he said, “for Christians and servants of God to partake of pagan food unless they have first been baptised.” While he was speaking thus, and when his father asked what baptism was, one of those who were playing and dancing with impious gestures suddenly fell to the ground, his thigh and right hand broken. When the others who were engaged in the same, or perhaps even worse, behaviour saw this, their empty games were at once turned into real grief. Then the saint, together with his father and many of the other guests, hurried to the place where people were gathering around the half-dead man. As some marvelled greatly at the misfortune and others wept or tried to lift him up with their hands, the venerable Brioccius said: “Why, dearest brothers, do you choose to persist in your folly? Why do you so eagerly devote yourselves to impious games by which the true God is offended and eternal life despised? Abandon, I beg you, beloved ones, these errors, and break your idols, which, though they seem to have mouths and eyes, ears and nostrils, are utterly unable to hear or see or feel anything, nor are they of any help whatever to anyone’s salvation.”

²⁴ Turning then to his father, he said: “Look, father, up to heaven above and down to the earth below; see the seas and all that is in them; and know and understand that all these things were created out of nothing by one supreme craftsman, and that apart from him there cannot be any God.” And he added: “Therefore be converted, all of you, and confessing your sins receive baptism and renounce all idols. For if you do this, I shall at once, calling upon the holy name of Christ my Lord and God, restore this man—whom neither you nor your gods can save—to health, and you will see the glory of the God of heaven.” When all the others readily pledged themselves to do whatever he commanded, his father alone resisted, insisting that the custom of his ancestors ought rather to be preserved. For the habit of long-standing custom is very difficult and scarcely ever changed. Then the holy man ordered his disciple to bring water mixed with oil. When it had been brought and all had withdrawn, he blessed it, sprinkled it over the body of the man lying as though dead, and taking him by the hand said: The Lord raises up those who are cast down; the Lord sets free those who are bound [Psalm 146:8]. Immediately after these words the man rose up unharmed. All who were present marvelled greatly; all cried out and proclaimed with loud voices that the God whom Brioccius worshipped is the true God.

²⁵ He himself, however, while earnestly giving them exhortations for salvation, confirmed more frequently by signs of miracles what he was always most zealous to preach. It is fitting therefore to recount another miracle which he accomplished besides preaching. A certain woman brought to him her son, who had been wounded by the bite of a rabid dog and, as a result, had fallen into madness, and with tears began to beg him to have pity on him. He was so seized by the frenzy of rabies that necessity had compelled his hands and feet to be bound; for when he could do nothing else, the wretched man tore his own tongue with his teeth. When his mother had laid him before the feet of the holy man, she began to ask—just as the female sex, as though by a kind of natural inclination, is accustomed lightly to turn towards unlawful means for the sake of any kind of help—whether he knew magical arts by which he might aid her son. As though, indeed, a lost health could be restored by a draught opposed to the drink of life! Or is it not rather the case that whatever is sought by such a potion is usually driven away together with life itself? For what is wholesome and eternal can never be obtained through unlawful and impious means.

²⁶ Hearing the sorrowful words of the pleading woman, who in her overwhelming grief did not know what she was saying, he, being always most gentle, humbly replied before them all: “I am not a magician, nor have I learned the art of magic from my teacher. But if you believe with your whole heart that Christ Jesus is the true God, your son, by his granting, will be able to return to health.” When she confessed that she firmly believed according to his words, the saint placed his finger in the boy’s mouth and ordered him to thrust out his tongue; making the sign of the cross he blessed him, and, his bonds being broken, restored him to his mother sound both in mind and in all his limbs.

²⁷ He then ordered all those sitting around to observe a fast for the space of seven days and to gather together again in that place on the eighth day. Meanwhile he preached the word of salvation to his father and gently invited him by kindly speech to the faith of true belief. What more is there to say? The eighth day arrived, all assembled together in the appointed place, were instructed in the faith, and together were reborn through holy baptism. Finally, through the preaching of the most holy Brioccius, all the inhabitants of that region were converted from paganism and within a short time became Christians. Cerpus himself also became a Christian and gave half of all his possessions to God. Eldruda, his wife, ardently wished to leave him and her whole household in order always to follow her holy son Brioccius; but her friends and neighbours, declaring it utterly unfitting that a woman of such standing should live as though a widow while her husband was still alive, firmly prevented her.

²⁸ After all his fellow provincials had thus been brought to the practice of Christianity, the holy man ordered churches to be built throughout the land in suitable places. He himself, moreover, built in a short time, by his own efforts, a certain place called Landa Magna, with marvellous skill, though at great expense.

²⁹ One day, while he was sitting in such a place that he could both hear his disciples reading and see the carpenters working on the materials for the church, the devil stood before him in the appearance of a certain Moor, showing him a man’s thumb as though it had just been cut off. “One of yours, O Brioccius,” he said, “has just now been injured.” The holy man, however, at once understood—by revelation of the divine Spirit—that it was the devil. “O instigator of all evils,” he said, “why do you always lie in wait for the human race from its very beginning, to increase the punishment of your own perdition? Depart, accursed one, from the servants of God, whom you will not be able to overthrow while he himself protects them.” Immediately, at the saint’s command, the enemy fled away and was seen no more. Not long afterwards, when the devil had departed, someone came to him and sorrowfully reported that one of the workmen had cut off his thumb with an axe and had moreover fallen into frenzy. The saint rose at once and hurried to the place; taking the thumb, he joined it to the hand. Then, making the sign of the cross, the wound was restored, the hand made whole, and with no trace of the amputation remaining, the man was returned unharmed to his work. All marvelled at the power of the deed, and with one voice raised Brioccius in praise. But he firmly recalled them from this and directed them rather to glorify God, insisting that the deed had certainly been accomplished by God’s power. For the venerable man always attributed the signs which the Lord deigned to show through him not to his own merits, but to the grace of God.

³⁰ Thus, as the fame of his holiness spread far and wide, diffusing the sweet fragrance of good repute, many flocked to him from all sides, desiring to be instructed by him both in word and in conduct. Many of these, moreover, by remaining constantly with him, became his disciples. Some of them applied themselves most diligently to reading; others devoted themselves to frequent prayer; some wrote; others worked with their hands, faithfully bringing into the common store whatever they had produced by their labour.

³¹ The holy man himself, persevering continually in prayer, except for those hours in which he attended as little as possible to bodily necessity, humbly prayed to God a hundred times by day and the same number by night. One morning, while he was standing before the altar in prayer, he suddenly perceived that an evil spirit was present. At once he began, and stretching out his hands and lifting his eyes to heaven, rebuked it with many words and commanded it to depart quickly. Without delay it vanished, leaving behind its foul stench, so that it was clearly evident that it had been a demon, slipping away and dissolving into the thin air. Some of the disciples who were standing outside, hearing the sound of voices in conversation, asked who it might be that was speaking thus. Entering the baptistery and finding no one except the teacher alone, they marvelled among themselves and went away.

³² At another time, as he was walking along the road, a certain tyrant was eagerly engaged in hunting and was pursuing a hind with his dogs. Although at first it escaped by swift flight, it was at last worn out by constant pursuit and was almost about to be caught. Seeing the man of God standing by the road, it came to him and, exhausted, lay down at his feet. The holy man, understanding that it was seeking refuge from him, raised his right hand made the sign of the cross against the approaching dogs, commanding them to withdraw; they immediately obeyed. As soon as they withdrew, the hind, now freed from fear, made for the wilderness. Although the man filled with God always preferred to keep this and all his other virtues hidden, lest he fall into pride, this remarkable deed nevertheless soon became known to all.

³³ When a famine arose throughout that whole land, and a great lack of food severely oppressed many, some poor people came to him and asked that food or at least the comfort of lodging for one night might be given to them. The saint at once ordered the steward to lead them into the guest-house and to prepare abundant refreshment for them. It was replied that there were no more than five wheaten loaves in the house. He ordered that all be given. After the evening synaxis had been completed and everyone had returned to their cells, he himself, according to custom, remained alone within the church until morning, repeating psalms and hymns with tears throughout the night. At daybreak the baker and the steward came to the saint and announced that they had found twelve baskets full of wheat before the bakehouse. No one doubted that this had been sent by God, since the doors were shut and all entrances secured, and no one could discover how it had been brought there. When he heard the words of the servants, he ordered that the matter be kept secret. He commanded the poor to be called and their sacks to be filled with grain. The servants carried out his orders; the poor returned joyfully to their homes, and what remained was reserved for the use of the brothers. It was supplied daily in sufficient measure and did not fail: what nature had not produced was increased by faith; the wheat, so to speak, grew by being spent; the heap was enlarged by continual distribution; hunger was overcome by faith, and until fertility returned, abundant food did not fail the brothers.

³⁴ With such great signs of virtue shining forth in the blessed man, on the holy night of Pentecost, after the duties of divine service had been completed, as he rested a little in the basilica as though sleeping, an angel of the Lord appeared to him and said: “You must, O holy one, undertake the labour of pilgrimage across the sea as far as Latium, so that you may also show to others the rite of holy religion and an example of good conduct.” Having said this, and filling the whole church with the fragrance of a most sweet scent, he departed. Rising in the morning, the hero therefore reported to the brothers what he had heard from the angel. They all urged him to hasten to fulfil what had been commanded him. He at once took leave of the brothers and, taking with him one hundred and sixty-eight men, went aboard a ship.

³⁵ In the middle of the night, while favourable breezes were blowing and a prosperous voyage had already carried them halfway on their journey, the ship suddenly came to a standstill as though held fast by an anchor. The sailors immediately rushed together, examined the ship on every side, and searched carefully for the cause of the sudden delay, but found no explanation at all. All were troubled and terrified; they raised their voices to the stars. Yet, since this was their only remaining hope, they turned to the intercession of the holy man, reported the danger of the voyage, and urged him earnestly to pray. While he was praying, the lookout, who was peering ahead to see whether adverse winds threatened them, suddenly saw a demon in the likeness of a beast of monstrous size standing crosswise in front of the ship. He called the others and showed them the monster; they all saw it, and their hearts, cast down in sorrow, sank horribly into despair. Then the saint, when he had finished praying, sternly commanded the demon to depart. The adversary obeyed the command, though unwillingly; he yielded the place and vanished like smoke. When the savage enemy had withdrawn, an angel of peace appeared and became the guide of the men whom the enemy had hindered.

³⁶ The venerable man, perceiving the presence of the holy angel, urged them all to fear nothing any longer but to press on confidently with the voyage. At the saint’s word the men immediately took heart, all recovered their strength, and applied themselves to the ship. The sea was churned by the oars, favourable winds drove the sails, the stern glided swiftly onward, and what remained of the crossing was soon passed; they reached in safety the long-desired harbour of rest and the wished-for shore.

³⁷ One day, then, while the blessed man was sitting in a cart and chanting psalms—for by reason of his bodily frailty in old age he was no longer able to walk far on foot—with the brothers going before him, towards evening they suddenly caught sight of a pack of wolves coming towards them. Terrified, the brothers turned and fled. The wolves, seeing him left alone in the cart, rushed upon him and surrounded him; yet being wholly unable to harm him, they fell down at his feet as though begging for mercy. He, remaining fearless, called back the brothers who were fleeing. At the sound of his voice they hastened back, but the wolves stood between them and their teacher like a living barrier.

³⁸ While they were thus detained there, it happened that a certain local ruler named Conan, travelling that same road with his armed band now that the sun had risen, passed by. Seeing the wolves surrounding the cart and the men standing gathered on the other side, he stood amazed and questioned his followers: “Do you see,” he said, “what I see?” They replied that they did indeed see men, wolves, and a cart. Coming nearer to the place where the saint was with his companions, they asked carefully what they were waiting for there among the wolves. Conan, moreover, was a pagan. When he learned of the disciples’ flight, the steadfastness of the holy man, and also how the wolves, after their first fierce attack, had afterwards shown humble submission to the saint, he at once leapt down from his horse, threw himself to the ground before the saint in reverence, and humbly begged that he and all his men might be baptised. The saint, regarding him with a cheerful expression, appointed for him and his followers a fast of seven days, then ordered him to return home and gather his whole household together. The warrior gladly obeyed everything and joyfully fulfilled his commands. Meanwhile the saint ordered the wolves to depart, firmly forbidding them to presume to harm anyone. They immediately withdrew at his command, like the gentlest lambs, harming no one, made for the wilderness. When the seven days of fasting had been completed, Conan, having been instructed in the faith by the most holy man, was baptised together with all his people.

³⁹ After this, the venerable man and his companions sailed across the British Sea and, with a straight course and a favourable voyage, came to the region of Armorica. Leaving their ship in the harbour called Achim, they came to a certain river named Loudi. Having examined the suitability of the place, they began there, invoking the name of God, to build a monastery. Divine assistance was present with them; all applied themselves to the work, it prospered well, and was completed in a short time. A place once despised and uninhabitable was now made dear to God. Its fame spread among the peoples, men flocked there from all sides, and Christ worked miracles through his servants.

⁴⁰ Meanwhile a messenger came from the region of Coriticia, sought out Saint Brioccius, and found him in a certain secluded place intent upon prayer. At once he fell at his feet and humbly begged him with tears to return to his homeland, saying: “The whole region of Coriticia is being devastated by a grievous calamity. The inhabitants mourn, deprived of your help, and their sole and last hope of escaping such danger remains this alone: that you should return to them and they might enjoy your blessing.” To this the saint replied in his usual humble and gentle voice: “I ought not, brother, having once for the love of Christ undertaken pilgrimage and left my homeland, to return again to my country and parents and entangle myself once more in earthly cares and worldly affairs.” When the envoy heard this, he renewed his entreaties; but now, placing little confidence in himself, he called upon the help of the brothers. They therefore all came to the saint, fell at his feet, and together begged him, imploring relief in such great peril. They further declared with certainty that this cause alone for returning to his homeland was most just and pleasing to God, namely that the plague might be driven away and former health restored to the people. At length, overcome both by reason and by prayers, he yielded to their counsel and promised that he would go.

⁴¹ Entrusting therefore the care of the monastery to his beloved nephew Papu-Tugualo, and exhorting all the brothers with gentle words to strive always to advance in goodness, he set out on the journey with the same messenger, and with the Lord faithfully accompanying him reached his homeland visited his parents. His arrival was announced to the others; a very great crowd of people gathered from all sides; they eagerly sought his blessing and tearfully begged that the remedy of salvation be bestowed upon them. But he, raising his right hand on high and blessing them all, said: “Confess your sins and hold fast with constancy to true faith, and fear no such calamity.” Immediately the whole pestilence was driven away, and afterwards none of the inhabitants of that land experienced danger of this kind. The saint then at once returned to the place from which he had come.

⁴² Therefore the brothers of the same monastery, learning that the most blessed man had returned, gathered together and came to him; weeping for joy and kissing him, they said: “Where have you stayed so long, most holy father? For it seemed too long to many of us if you were absent from us even for a single day.” For it is the custom of those who love one another greatly to find it a long time if even one is absent from another for a little while. Some of them, however, said that it seemed unfitting that he should wish to change anything further concerning the office which he had entrusted to his nephew. Understanding their thoughts, and being of the gentlest disposition, he yielded to their will and withdrew from them, leaving all in peace.

⁴³ Setting out with eighty-four men, he came to a river called by the inhabitants of the land Sanguis. When they had put in there, they disembarked from the ship, cast out the anchor, gathered up the ropes, and left the boat, stripped of all its gear, resting alone on the shore. Then, walking along the riverbank, they carefully explored whether, by God’s disposing, a place suitable for building an oratory might be found anywhere. As they searched most attentively through great oak woods and examined ancient thickets on all sides, they came to a double valley watered by an abundant spring; and there, sitting together by its edge, they relaxed their bodies in brief rest. Suddenly a single horseman belonging to a certain count named Rigualis came upon them. Asking who they were and from what lands they had come to those parts, he received the reply that they were men from across the sea, servants and worshippers of the one true God. The horseman swiftly returned to his lord, the same count, and reported that some men from overseas, clothed in red garments and wearing skins, had arrived and were sitting by the spring of the valley of Bine. When the count heard the words of his soldier, gnashing his teeth in fury, he hastily ordered his attendants to go at once and drive them from his territory.

⁴⁴ As they were hurrying on their way, a messenger suddenly ran after them, crying out with such words as these: “A sudden pain has just pierced the heart of Rigualis and so torments his chest and stomach that he can scarcely endure it, whether lying in bed or in any other way, because of the distress.” When they heard this, those who were on their way to expel the servants of God immediately returned home; and the lord whom they had left in health they found crushed by the most severe pains. For the house of Rigualis was situated in the oak-grove, that is, in the field of the oak. Then Rigualis himself, having summoned the same horseman to him, again asked whose men those were and what manner of dress they wore. He replied that they were men from across the sea, and that they wore red and rough garments. On hearing this, the count at once ordered that the men be invited to him, and one of his household hastened to address the saint and humbly invite him to the prince.

⁴⁵ The blessed man did not delay in going, taking with him twelve of his companions, priests of exemplary life. When the often-mentioned count saw him approaching from afar, he said: “This is my kinsman Brioccius, the best leader of those from across the sea and a most Christian teacher, through whom, with the Lord’s help, my bodily health will be restored.” Saint Brioccius entered the house and, taking the sick man by the hand, raised him from his bed. They kissed one another and exchanged greetings, and conversed together in great friendliness, praising with one accord the God who had brought them together. Then the holy man ordered that clear water be brought to him in a clean vessel. When it had been brought and he had blessed it, he gave it to the sick man to drink. He drank it, though scarcely, hindered by sobbing; yet immediately he was freed from all pain and restored to his former health.

⁴⁶ Then, granting to the most blessed man the estate of the Field of the Oak with all the revenues belonging to it, so that he might build there a dwelling suitable for monastic life and for the perpetual service of God, the count himself moved with his whole household to the estate of Helyon, which had formerly been called the Old Stable, and thereafter dwelt there. When these things had been done, the most blessed Brioccius, with his most devout company of priests, walked through a certain valley adorned with the beauty of woods, and by God’s providence discovered a spring of very clear water. There, after first pouring out prayer to God and halting with the brothers, he himself was the first to set his hands to the work of building an oratory. All girded themselves to the task: they felled trees, cut down thickets, tore out brambles and masses of thorns, and quickly turned the densest forest into open ground. The grace of Christ was present with his servants; everything succeeded according to their desire, and the basilica was completed.

⁴⁷ Thereafter all, united in purpose, devoted themselves to their studies and labours, and were occupied day and night with spiritual exercises. They were indeed most diligent in reading, most constant in prayer, sober in vigils, and exceedingly strict in fasting. Nor did they neglect manual labour according to the Apostle’s command: some cut great beams and hewed them with axes; others smoothed timbers for the walls of houses; many worked on roof-beams; others turned the soil with hoes. The land was then cultivated with mattocks, and, scored with the finest furrows, was afterwards shaped with pleasing variety into well-ordered fields.

⁴⁸ At fixed hours they always gathered in the oratory to perform the work of God. After the evening synaxis they refreshed their bodies with common and equal fare. Then, after Compline, returning together to their little beds under the unbroken guard of deep silence, they rose with equal diligence about the middle of the night and, according to the voice of the psalmist who says, At midnight I rose to give thanks to you [Psalm 119:62], they offered most devout praises to God in hymns and psalms. When these were finished, they again entrusted their bodies for a little while to rest. Once more, at cockcrow, alerted by the sound of a bell, they leapt quickly from their beds and daily rendered to the Lord the vows of morning praise according to custom, following the example of the same psalmist who sings thus to the Lord: In the morning I stand before you and watch [Psalm 5:3]. After the completion of this service, the time until the second hour was spent continuously in prayer and spiritual tasks, and then they returned cheerfully to manual labour. Thus, by daily practice, like athletes striving with the greatest zeal, they hastened with eager course towards the prize of eternal life through good works, keeping in mind that saying of the Apostle where he says, He is not crowned unless he has competed lawfully [2 Timothy 2:5]. They allowed no time to slip away in idleness. Such indeed were the venerable practices of the disciples of Saint Brioccius; by these the religious community was continually exercised.

⁴⁹ But the most blessed man himself, now ninety years of age and exalted by great merits of virtue, began more frequently to give himself to contemplation, to persevere in prayer with tears, to keep vigil tirelessly through the night in sacred meditation, and even beyond the measure of nature and of his age unceasingly to afflict his body with fasts; yearning eagerly for heavenly things, all earthly matters had become of little worth to him. Shining indeed with constant signs, most renowned for the power of miracles, and most kindly to all in the compassion of his humanity, he always supplied the poor, as far as he was able, with necessary food, showed anxious care for the sick, and very often provided remedies for their healing. Having briefly touched upon these matters, as it were in passing, let my pen now return, as far as it is able, to recount more precisely the remaining deeds of this most holy man.

⁵⁰ At the same time two men were carrying a third who was lame in his gait and deprived of sight in a litter. Having been misled by error, they happened to lose the road by which they were making for their lodging, and as night was already falling they were wholly unable to reach it, wandering to and fro. Crying out and lamenting bitterly, they somehow came to the saint. They showed him the sick man, explained how they had lost the way, and begged for lodging for a single night and the necessary sustenance of food. Seeing them in tears and moved with compassion, he said: “Leave the sick man with me here tonight; you yourselves go to your home in peace.” Then, raising his hand, he showed them the road. Rejoicing, they at once left the sick man there, departed, and by a swift and straight journey reached their own home. Meanwhile the saint, entering the church according to his custom, wholly gave himself to prayer; he assailed heaven with his supplications and called upon Christ with tears. Christ was present to the prayers of his servant, heard what was asked, and granted what was sought. Soundness of all his limbs was restored to the sick man, and light returned to eyes long deprived of sight. All marvelled when they suddenly saw whole the man whom shortly before they had left crippled. With one voice they blessed God and extolled with immense praise the merit of the blessed man.

⁵¹ At the same time the count Rigualis fell ill and, afflicted by a grievous sickness, was utterly laid low upon his bed. As his weakness grew daily more severe and he was now close to the brink of death, he humbly caused Saint Brioccius to be summoned to visit him by means of messengers. For Rigualis had declared to them that he could neither die nor recover health unless he should first be granted to see the blessed Brioccius. He had moreover vowed that he would receive communion from no other, nor, if he died, would he wish the rites of his burial to be celebrated by anyone else. The holy man was by then very old and was able to travel any distance only if carried in a cart or on horseback. When the saint heard the words of the count, he quickly mounted the cart and set out to visit the sick man. As he went, chanting psalms according to his custom, with the multitude of his devout company going before and following after him, he suddenly heard the sound of a spiritual instrument in heaven. Signalling with his hand, he ordered everyone to stop. Then, explaining to them what he had heard, he commanded that the sign of the holy cross be made and set up in that place. Many healings of the sick are afterwards said to have been accomplished there. Reaching the sick man, he immediately strengthened his departure with the viaticum of holy communion. Rigualis himself, handing over his own house with the whole estate and all the people belonging to it to the holy man and his monks to be held for ever, and humbly commending himself to their prayers, fell asleep in peace.

⁵² After these things the most glorious man Brioccius, foreknowing that his final day was drawing near, summoned all the brothers together and, having first exhorted them with many words, then spoke to them thus: “Brothers, during these six days it behoves us to devote ourselves more constantly than usual to psalms and prayer, by which the almighty Lord has appointed, as he promised, to reward his servant with the recompense of his labour.” When they most devoutly fulfilled what he had commanded, he himself, beginning shortly afterwards to fall ill, summoned the brothers again and, fortified with the holy sacraments of the Lord, peacefully closed his last day. When he had departed, a most sweet fragrance filled the whole house where his most sacred body lay, so that until the limbs of the most holy man were honourably laid in the tomb, anointed with spices, it never failed all who were celebrating the rites of the holy funeral. And when the body of the most blessed man had been most devoutly committed to the earth with hymns and praises, as was fitting, the frequent miracles performed at his tomb bear witness that his spirit, enriched with blessed merits, lives in heaven.

⁵³ On the very day of his death, a certain Marcano, a devout presbyter greatly fearing God, received a revelation divinely manifested to him as he was praying. He saw four angels, having the likeness of eagles and flashing with fiery wings, bearing the soul of the blessed man in the form of a dove and entering with great joy the hidden realms of heaven.

⁵⁴ There was also a certain disciple of the holy man, named Simaus, surnamed Simorus, who was in the region of Coriticia when the day of his teacher’s death occurred. When he had given himself to sleep that same night, he saw in a dream Brioccius ascending a ladder which seemed to touch heaven, with a host of angels going before him with hymns and following after him. Waking at once and, when morning came, setting out to sail towards Britain, he crossed the British Sea in the middle of the night. There the devil attacked him as he slept in the stern, seeking to suffocate him; but immediately driving him away by twice invoking the name of his teacher, and with the mercy of God granting him a second passage, he reached in safety on the eighth day after the death the port called Seson.

⁵⁵ Disembarking therefore from the ship with his companions, still unaware of his teacher’s death, he made his way towards the monastery. When news of his arrival was heard, the brothers at once went out to meet him; they fell into one another’s arms and, weeping together, exchanged kisses. Then, as they began to speak with one another, amid laboured sighs and frequent sobs they at last, with difficulty, told him of their father’s death, and so they reached the monastery. After Simaus had refreshed himself with food, he carefully related to all the brothers in due order everything that he had seen concerning his teacher in his dream and also what had happened to him on the journey. They, rejoicing greatly in the merit of their father and in so great a grace, blessed with one voice God, whose gifts these were, and with equal desire of heart praised him day and night.

⁵⁶ At a later time, when the solemn feast of the blessed man was approaching, a considerable crowd of the afflicted gathered from all sides, both in hope of recovering health and of receiving sustenance from public alms. While all were keeping the holy night watches with the greatest intensity, there was present among the others a man so deprived of the use of his limbs that his calves clung to his thighs, and his hands, though hanging from his arms, were utterly unable to grasp anything. The merit of the saint so delivered him from this misery that his feet recovered free movement for walking and his hands fully regained their former function. Simaus himself later reported that he had been present at this miracle, having seen the man first crippled and afterwards walking about in health.

⁵⁷ Thus the most blessed Brioccius, freed from the mortal burden of the flesh, lives forever in heaven through his happy merits. For by the invocation of his holy name and faith in his glorious merit, at his most sacred tomb the weak recover health, the blind receive the light of their eyes, those possessed by demons are completely healed, paralytics regain firm movement, and the prayers of all who ask with faith are fulfilled, through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom, with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, be honour and glory now and for ever and ever. Amen.

⁵⁸ That the most blessed Brioccius was indeed a bishop—although the deeds of his episcopate that have come to our knowledge are passed over in silence—is certainly attested by the inscription of a certain title which is found engraved in ancient letters on the marble that was formerly placed over his most sacred body. However, the same inscription does not expressly state how he lived in the episcopate or over which city he presided in particular. It states only this: that a certain king of the Britons, named Respoius, transferred his most sacred bones to the city of Angers and honourably laid them to rest in a certain basilica of the holy martyrs Sergius and Bacchus, which is situated near the walls of that city. Yet it does not clearly indicate in whose time, whether of bishop or ruler, this translation took place. Therefore we have judged it better to keep complete silence than to offer anything frivolous or invented of our own to the ears of the faithful; for heavenly things are not to be mixed with earthly conjectures, nor do truths require the support of falsehoods.

⁵⁹ End of the Life of Saint Brioccius.