¹ Saint Yvius was born of a distinguished British family, to devout parents—his father Branone and his mother Egida—and was brought up in the region of Lindisfarne. From early childhood he was instructed in the elements of learning and, inspired by the grace of the Holy Spirit, surpassed his contemporaries in scholarship, so that he was held in esteem by learned teachers. He did nothing childish in word or deed; rather, as he grew older, he grew equally in religious devotion, obeying the divine commandments and giving thanks not only for favourable events but also for those that did not turn out as he wished. When he had reached the bloom of youth, his family frequently urged him, as heir to a great inheritance, to take up arms; but he preferred a heavenly reward to an earthly one and, without his parents’ knowledge, entered the lower ranks of holy orders.

² A little later, having lost both parents, and having been instructed by the most holy Bishop Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, whose disciple he was, he received the diaconate. In the monastery he was constant in his duties, now persevering in prayer, now receiving spiritual nourishment from the Lord’s table. Unconcerned about the future, he distributed daily to the poor whatever he had at hand, according to each person’s need; he forgave those who wronged him, clothed the cold, and comforted the sorrowful. In exchange for perishable things he acquired eternal ones; for earthly goods, heavenly rewards. Now on a certain solemn day, when the same bishop was celebrating and Saint Yvius was serving as deacon, a man afflicted with fever approached through the crowd to make an offering, supporting his weak steps with a staff. The blessed deacon, moved by compassion, took him by the hand as he struggled to climb the step nearest the altar, which hindered him because of his weakness, and supported him. At once, in a marvellous way, at the touch of this man of exceptional humility, the illness—though severe—departed, and the man rejoiced as full strength returned to all his limbs. As he threw himself down in gratitude, the holy man said: “It was not through my merits, brother, but through the intercession of the holy bishop whose hand you wished to kiss, that heavenly mercy has worked this healing in you.”

³ Not long afterwards, while the same blessed man was sitting at home one day after a modest meal, it happened that a poor man, long afflicted by illness—so wasted that, his flesh having shrunk away, nothing but wrinkled skin covered his bare bones—came to the door. Moved by compassion for his misery, he gently asked what he might like to receive. When the poor man replied, “I take no pleasure in food, nor do I wish to eat with you; only give me something to drink to quench the burning within me,” he quickly brought some ale and gave it to him. When the poor man had drunk it, he straightened his bent shoulders and, restored to health, gave thanks to God. Saint Yvius, however, fearing that human praise might do him harm, resolved to leave his homeland altogether by flight, and, fortifying himself with the sign of the cross, set out for a certain harbour.

⁴ As he approached the anchorage of the ships on the seventh day, the sailors asked him where he was going. When he replied that he was travelling wherever the Lord might see fit to call him, he added: “If any of you wish to cross the sea now, I ask that you receive me, in the name of the Lord, as a companion on the journey and a partner in the labour.” They said to him: “If the wind had not delayed our course, we would long ago have reached Lesser Britain; and if you wish to go there, until a favourable breeze carries us to our destination, we will provide you with what you need.” On hearing this, the holy man blessed the Lord and, showing joy on his face, said: “Let us go down then, brothers, and prepare what is necessary.” And when the longed-for wind suddenly arose and they set sail, a very violent storm broke out. The sailors, despairing, began to stretch out their hands to heaven and ask God for help. At last the man of God, Yvius, awoken from the sleep by which he had refreshed his weary body, poured out prayers to God, and the whole turmoil of the sea immediately subsided. A paralysed man, unable to take food except with another’s help, deserved to receive healing through his holy prayers.

⁵ Meanwhile the servant of God, afflicting his body with constant vigils and fasts, offered himself to all as an example of humility, virtuous deeds, and complete integrity; and on the day before the Nones of October he passed happily in Lesser Britain to joys that would endure for ever. In our own day his holy body rests near Wilton, where it is held in great veneration.

⁶ When Abbot Zenon was sitting beside a cucumber patch, his own mind urged him, saying: “Take one cucumber for yourself and eat it.” He replied to the thought: “Thieves are sent to punishment; therefore test yourself, to see whether you can endure punishment.” And rising, he stood in the heat for five days, saying, as though his mind were speaking to him: “I cannot endure punishment.” And he replied: “Then do not steal and eat.”

⁷ A certain brother, made ill by excessive fasting, was coughing and spitting up phlegm. When he was unwilling to restrain himself, some of his spittle fell on another brother. As this brother was urged by his own thoughts to say to him, “Stop now and do not spit on me,” in order to overcome his thoughts he took what had been spat out and, putting it into his mouth, immediately swallowed it. Then he began to say to himself: “Either do not say to your brother what would distress him, or eat what you find repulsive.”