¹ Saint Maglorius, as though “great glory,” rightly shines with such a name as he acquired in his deeds. He was born in Greater Britain, of notable lineage, and was a companion of Saint Sampson. When the latter was dying, he appointed him as his successor in the bishopric of Dol. While he there shone forth both by distinguished teachings and by examples, an angel appeared to him in a dream and admonished him that, leaving the height of the episcopal office, he should go to the retreats of a more remote place and lead a solitary life, so that, shepherding a flock of monks, he might celebrate the praises of the Lord more freely. When he awoke, he gave thanks to God and fulfilled the command of the Lord, and he shone forth with many miracles. A certain count, being a leper, heard his fame and, coming to him, received full health from him. The lands of this count were contained in a threefold division, of which he granted one—not whole but half—to the blessed Maglorius as a gift. Now these divisions were frequented by a great multitude of birds, which were of wonderful size and beauty, and there was also an abundance in the catching of fish.

² It happened therefore that when blessed Maglorius had entered his portion, all the flocks of birds and shoals of fish which were in the other half belonging to the count took flight and sought the portion of the saint. When the wife of the count bore this heavily, she persuaded him that he should claim that part for himself and give the other to Maglorius. He quickly accepting her wicked suggestion did what he ought not: and when the dispute of this wicked exchange had been made, suddenly the birds and fish departed from that part which the count had greedily taken away from the holy man and at once returned to their lord Maglorius.

³ Then the count, led by repentance within himself, granted both parts to Saint Maglorius; and then the flocks of birds and the shoals of fish filled both parts as before. Although this saint was a virgin from his mother’s womb, he took barley bread and the poorer kinds of vegetables, and that sparingly; on the fourth and sixth day he abstained from all food; his body was continually covered with haircloth, and outwardly he used modest garments; he drank neither wine nor strong drink. When the brothers gave themselves to sleep, he would secretly withdraw from them and keep watch over the channel of the sea throughout the night.

⁴ Finally, on the vigil of Easter, while he was spending the night in the church, a radiant angel of the Lord stood by him and said that his death was near and that he would receive the worthy reward of his struggle. When he hesitated, lest perhaps the devil had transformed himself into an angel of light, he prolonged prayer for a very long time; and the angel, wishing to make him certain of the vision, repeated the same message a third time. At length he visibly received the viaticum from the hand of that angel, and from that day, unless an unavoidable cause intervened, until the day of his calling he always repeated this verse upon his lips: “One thing I have asked of the Lord, this will I seek after…” [Psalm 27:4]. And on the ninth day before the Kalends of November he departed to Christ.

Narration #

¹ Saint Basil, going out of the city one day, said to his disciples: “My sons, follow me, that you may see with me the glory of God, and that we may marvel at the master through his disciple.” This the presbyter Anastasius knew by the power of the Holy Spirit. He had a wife who had lived with him in virginity for forty years, and he himself fasted daily on bread and water except on Saturday and Sunday. He said to the woman, his sister: “I am going to work in the fields; you rise and prepare the house, and about the ninth hour go to meet Saint Basil the bishop, who is coming to lodge in the house of sinners.”

² When she had done this with fear and reverence, the holy father arrived and said: “How are you, Lady Theogenia?” She, being afraid when her name was spoken, said: “Well, holy man of God.” And he said: “Where is the lord Anastasius, your brother?” She replied: “Lord, he is my husband, and he has gone to work in the fields.” Meanwhile Anastasius arrived, and kissing the feet of the saint said: “How is it that the holy man of God comes to me?” When they had gone into the church, at the bishop’s command the presbyter stood to perform his ministry. And while he was ministering, Basil saw at the time of the elevation of the Body of Christ the Holy Spirit descending in the form of fire and surrounding the presbyter and the altar. A

³ fter the Mass the bishop said to the priest: “Tell me what your life is.” He said: “I am a sinner, subject to public taxes, having two yokes of oxen: one for the service of strangers, the other for the payment of taxes; and this woman is my fellow-servant, who ministers to the poor and to me.” And the saint said: “Call her your sister, as she truly is, and tell me your virtues.” And he said: “I have nothing good, and I am a stranger to every virtue.” Then the bishop led him to one of the small rooms of the house and said to him: “Open the door for me.” When he did not wish to open it, saying that the necessities of the house were kept in that room, the bishop opened it by his word; and finding there a leper whose body had wasted away in many of its members, he said: “And did you wish to hide that treasure of yours?” He replied: “Truly he is mad and abusive; therefore I feared lest he might break out into speech.” The bishop said to him: “You have struggled well in caring for him; but allow me to minister to him this neart also, that I too may receive a reward.” Then they left the holy man of God in the room with the leper and shut the door. He spent the whole night making prayer over him and healed him; and bringing him out, he returned to the city.