De ecclesia Westmonasterii quam sanctus Petrus dedicavit.
The Two Foundations
As the faith spreads among the English kings, Seberht builds a church for Saint Paul in London and his nephew-king founds a monastery for Saint Peter outside the city walls.
At the time when King Æthelberht, who reigned in Kent, had received the sacraments of the faith through the preaching of blessed Augustine, his nephew Seberht, who ruled over the East Angles, also received the faith through the same bishop preaching the gospel. He, in London, which was considered the capital of his kingdom, within the walls, building a church in honor of the most blessed Paul, wanted it to be exalted with an episcopal seat. To which church Saint Mellitus, whom blessed Pope Gregory had sent with many others to help Augustine, rightfully presided over all, with both merit and pontifical honor. Wishing, however, to present himself as pleasing to each apostle, the king, in the western part of the same city, outside the walls, in honor of blessed Peter, founded a distinguished monastery, adorning it with many gifts and enriching it with possessions.
The Night of Watching
As the new Christian community prepares for the dedication with eager anticipation, a fisherman sees the apostle Peter cross the Thames by night and enter the church, which fills with heavenly light.
Moreover, the time had come when the church in that place was to be dedicated, and with all things prepared according to the location, the season, and the monastery's dignity, with the bishop even spending that night in tents, the next day was awaited. There was great anticipation among the people, who were still new to the faith, rejoicing to take part in these solemnities not only out of devotion, but also out of wonder. That same night, to a certain fisherman on the river Thames, which flows beneath the same monastery, on the opposite bank, in the garb of a pilgrim, the blessed Apostle Peter appeared, and having promised payment to be ferried across by him, he both asked and obtained it. Having come ashore from the boat with the fisherman watching, he enters the church; and behold, suddenly a heavenly light shone forth, illuminating all things with wondrous splendor, and turned the night into day.
The Heavenly Dedication
The church is filled with angelic light, music, and fragrance, so that the earthly rite seems joined to heaven like Jacob's ladder with angels ascending and descending.
With the apostle there was a great number of heavenly citizens going out and coming in, and choirs of singers leading the way made a heavenly melody sound out. Everything was full of light, everything filled with sweetness. The delight of an angelic voice soothed the ears, the fragrance of an indescribable scent filled the nostrils, and a heavenly light illuminated the eyes. It was as if earthly things were mingled with heavenly, human matters joined with divine, and on Jacob's ladder angels were seen descending and ascending during those sacred solemnities.
The Fisherman of Men
After the solemnities, Peter returns with the fisherman, calms his fear, and echoes Christ's own words to a fisherman, gently restoring him.
What more is there to say? After all the solemnities for the church's dedication had been completed, the excellent fisherman of men returned to the fisherman of fish. When he found that the man was terrified and almost driven out of his senses by the brilliance of the divine light, he restored him to himself with gentle consolation and brought his mind back to reason. As both fishermen stepped into the boat together, the apostle addressed the man with the same words his own master had once fittingly used: 'Don't you have any relish?' he said.
Wash Your Nets
The fisherman testifies that he received nothing at first but waited in hope; then Peter commands him to wash his nets, and an abundant catch follows.
Then, stunned by the flood of an unfamiliar light, then held back by the expectation of you, I received nothing, but I waited securely for the reward promised by you. At this the apostle said: "Wash your nets now for a catch."✦ The fisherman obeyed the one giving the command, and soon a great multitude of fish filled his net.✦ When these had been drawn ashore, the apostle said: "This one, which surpasses the others in size and value, carry from my share, fisherman, to the bishop, Mellitus." For your passage fee, then, take the rest for yourself.1
The Apostle Declares Himself
Peter reveals his identity, declares that he has already dedicated the church, and instructs the fisherman to tell Mellitus to complete the mysteries and know that Peter will often be present there.
I am Peter, who am speaking with you; who, along with my fellow citizens, dedicated the basilica built in my name; I anticipated the episcopal blessing with the authority of my own sanctification.2 Therefore tell the pontiff what you saw and heard, and the signs impressed on the walls will bear witness to your account. Let him therefore forgo the dedication, and let him supply what we omitted — namely, the most holy mysteries of the Lord's Body and Blood — and instructing the people with his discourse and confirming them with his blessing, let him make it known to all that I will frequently visit this place, that here I will be present with the voices and prayers of the faithful.3
Heaven's Door Opened
Peter promises that the door of heaven will be opened for those who live devoutly in that place, then vanishes from sight.
For those living soberly, justly, and devoutly in this place, the door of heaven will be opened. With these words spoken, the heavenly keeper of the keys vanished.
Signs on the Walls
At dawn Mellitus comes to dedicate the church, meets the fisherman, and then sees the mysterious inscriptions, anointings, and candles left by the apostle.
And now dawn had put an end to the darkness of night as blessed Mellitus was on his way to celebrate the coming dedication's mysteries, when the fisherman met the fish. When he had handed everything over to the bishop — all the commands the apostle had given him — he carries them out. The bishop is astounded. Once the doors of the sacred basilica are opened, he sees the floor marked with an inscription of each alphabet, the wall anointed with the oil of consecration in twelve places, the remains of as many wax candles clinging to twelve crosses, and everything still wet as if freshly sprinkled. No further doubt could linger in anyone's mind about what the fisherman had built up, since his claim was being confirmed by heavenly signs.
One Commonwealth of Praise
Mellitus proclaims the miracle to the people, who praise God uniting heaven and earth, and later generations honor Peter with tithes in memory of the wonder.
The bishop reports these things to the people, and soon one voice of all rises to heaven praising God and blessing him, who to confirm the faith of all made the homeland of heaven and earth one commonwealth in the dedication of this most holy temple. The entire line of successors gives credence to that fisherman's miracle, and just as they had received from their father, they never fail to offer tithes of the full benefit that art conferred on them from then on, to blessed Peter and to those serving him.
Fraud and Restoration
One man who tries to defraud the church soon loses his catch until he confesses, restores what he took, and promises amendment.
But one man, once daring to commit fraud, soon lost the benefit of his skill for a long time, until, confessing his guilt, he restored what he had taken and promised to amend his ways.4
Read the original Latin
Tempore quo rex Aedelbertus qui regnavit in Cantia, praedicante beato Augustino, fidei sacramenta susceperat, nepos quoque ejus Sebertus qui orientalibus Anglis praefuit, fidem eodem episcopo evangelizante suscepit. Hic Londoniis, quae regni sui metropolis habebatur, intra muros ecclesiam in honore Pauli beatissimi construens, episcopali eam sede voluit esse sublimem. Cui sanctus Mellitus quem beatus papa Gregorius cum pluribus aliis miserat in adjutorium Augustino, merito simul et honore pontificali primus omnium praefuit. Volens autem rex utrique apostolo se gratum praestare, in occidentali parte ejusdem civitatis extra muros, in honore beati Petri monasterium insigne fundavit, multis illud donariis ornans et ditans possessionibus. Venerat autem tempus quo ecclesia in eo fuerat dedicanda, paratisque omnibus pro loco, pro tempore, pro monasterii dignitate, agente etiam ea nocte in tentoriis episcopo, dies crastina praestolabatur. Magna plebis exspectatio, quae adhuc rudis in fide, his solemniis interesse non solum pro devotione, sed etiam pro admiratione gaudebat. Eadem nocte piscatori cuidam in Thamensis fluvii, qui eidem monasterio subterfluit, ulteriori ripa, in habitu peregrino beatus apostolus Petrus apparens, promissa mercede transponi se ab eodem et petiit et promeruit. Egressus autem e navicula piscatore cernente ecclesiam ingreditur; et ecce subito lux coelestis emicuit, miroque splendore collustrans omnia, noctem convertit in diem.
Adfuit cum apostolo multitudo supernorum civium egredientium et ingredientium, et choris hymnidicis praeeuntibus melodia coelestis insonuit. Omnia plena lumine, omnia referta dulcedine. Aures angelicae vocis mulcebat jucunditas, nares indicibilis odoris fragrantia perfundebat, oculos lux coelestis illustrabat. Videbantur quasi mista terrena coelestibus, humana conjuncta divinis, et quasi in scala Jacob angeli descendentes et ascendentes in illis sacris solemniis visebantur. Quid plura? Peractis omnibus quae ad ecclesiae dedicationem pertinent solemniis, redit ad piscatorem piscium piscator egregius hominum. Quem cum divini luminis fulgore perterritum alienatum pene sensibus reperisset, blanda consolatione hominem sibi, animum reddidit rationi. Ingredientes cymbam simul uterque piscator, inter loquendum apostolus hominem hisdem quibus se quondam magister suus conveniens verbis: «Nunquid, ait, pulmentarium non habes?
--Tum, inquit, inconsuetae lucis perfusione stupidus, tum exspectatione tui detentus, nihil cepi, sed promissam a te mercedem securus exspectavi.» Ad haec apostolus: «Lava nunc, inquit, retia ad capturam.» Paruit imperanti piscator, et mox implevit rete piscium maxima multitudo. Quibus ad ripam extractis: «Hunc, inquit, apostolus qui caeteris magnitudine pretioque praecellit, Mellito ex mea parte piscem defer episcopo. Pro naulica vero mercede caetera tibi tolle. Ego sum Petrus qui loquor tecum, qui cum meis concivibus constructam in meo nomine basilicam dedicavi, episcopalem benedictionem meae sanctificationis auctoritate praeveni. Dic ergo pontifici quae vidisti et audisti, tuoque sermoni signa parietibus impressa testimonium perhibebunt. Supersedeat igitur dedicationi, suppleat quod omisimus, Dominici videlicet corporis et sanguinis sacrosancta mysteria, populumque erudiens sermone et confirmans benedictione, notificet omnibus hunc locum me crebro visitaturum, hic me fidelium vocibus et precibus adfuturum.
Sobrie vero, juste et pie in hoc loco viventibus coeli januam reseraturum.» His dictis, clavicularius coelestis disparuit. Et jam nocturnis tenebris finem dedit aurora, cum beato Mellito ad futurae dedicationis celebranda mysteria processuro, cum pisce piscator occurrit. Quem cum episcopo resignasset, omnia quae ei ab apostolo fuerant mandata prosequitur. Stupet pontifex, reseratisque sacrae basilicae valvis, videt pavimentum utriusque alphabeti inscriptione signatum, parietem bissenis in locis sanctificationis oleo litum, tot cereorum reliquias duodenis crucibus inhaerere, et quasi recenti respersione adhuc cuncta madescere. Nihil ulterius ambiguitatis de his quae piscator astruxerat in cujusquam animo potuit residere, cujus assertioni signa coelestia testabantur. Refert haec episcopus populo et mox una vox omnium pulsat coelos laudantium Deum et benedicentium, qui ad fidem omnium confirmandam, in hujus templi sanctissimi dedicatione coeli terraeque patriam unam fecit rempublicam. Dant fidem miraculo piscatoris illius tota successio, quae sicut a patre acceperant, totius emolumenti quod eis ars illa deinceps contulit, beato Petro eique servientibus offerre decimas non desunt.
Unus tamen semel fraudem ausus inferre, mox tam diu artis caruit beneficio, donec confessus reatum, et ablatum restitueret, et promitteret correctionem.
Scripture echoes
Notes
- 1 ↩naulica refers to the fare or passage money paid to a ferryman or boatman; Peter frames the remaining fish as the fisherman's payment for the crossing.
- 2 ↩concivibus refers to Peter's heavenly fellow citizens (cives supernorum, cf. section 2), i.e., the saints and angels in glory.
- 3 ↩Supersedeat dedicationi is somewhat unusual: Peter tells Mellitus to hold off on the formal dedication rite so that he may first supply the Eucharistic mysteries and blessings that were omitted.
- 4 ↩The phrase 'artis... beneficio' could refer to the supernatural benefit conferred by Peter's miraculous fishing craft or to the mundane profit of his trade; the ambiguity is likely intentional, linking spiritual loss to material loss.
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