LIBER SECUNDUS. — De contracto ad ejus tumulum sanato.
The Power Hidden in a Holy Death
The chapter opens by declaring that Edward's holiness could not be hidden even in death, as miracles burst forth from his buried body.
Removed from human affairs, how powerful blessed Edward was in divine matters: the world could not lie hidden from him, since neither the virtue of his virgin body could be buried under the earth, nor enclosed in stone, nor even laid to rest with his own body when it could be buried; for the power that lay hidden in his limbs burst forth in miracles, since, while he restored sight to the blind, walking to the lame, and health to the sick, his precious death in the sight of the Lord, Ed. He declared this through clear signs.
Ralph's Affliction and Resourcefulness
Ralph, a man of Norman descent once supported by Edward, is described in his severe infirmity and the desperate contrivance he devised to move himself.
Among the poor, whom the holy one had supported during his life, there was a certain man of Norman descent named Ralph, whose nerves in the back of his knee were contracted and his feet twisted backward to hide them — he was deprived not only of his natural ability to walk, but also could not crawl on his knees, as is customary for the infirm of that kind, when pain resisted, he could not manage it. Necessity, the teacher of invention, devised a new kind of relief: he gets a hollowed-out vessel shaped like a basin, and thrusting in his buttocks along with the attached limbs, binding them more tightly to himself, he supported his upper body with his hands while dragging his lower half as if sailing across the ground.
Forsaken and Driven to the Tomb
When the king's burial deprives Ralph of his sustenance, he remembers Edward's holiness and sails in faith to the saint's tomb.
Therefore, when the king had been moved to higher ground, since the usual food had failed the wretched man, he began to endure the weakness of his limbs with even greater difficulty. But remembering the man of God who had supported him in life — whose wondrous holiness could not be hidden either — full of faith, he boarded his small boat and made his way to the holy king's tomb before the eighth day since his burial.
A Prayer from the Ruins of Loss
At the tomb, Ralph addresses Edward as if alive, recalling how the king once sustained him and lamenting his present misery.
There, approaching the king as if he were alive, he said: 'Are you not the one who, still clothed in corruptible flesh, used to care for the weak and sick with heavenly power?' And I, my lord, bore the loss of my limbs more gently while you were alive, since for this reason food, drink, delights, and the necessary clothing were most abundantly provided to me.
The Plea for a Healing Hand
Ralph begs Edward either to guide him or to restore his bodily strength, appealing to the saint's former mercy.
But now, as the misery of weakness piles up through want, either you must not keep silent about what I'm to do, where I should turn, whose majesty must be pleaded with, whose mercy must be sought — or you yourself must apply your healing hand as you once did, so that since it's not right for me to aspire to the spiritual delights you now enjoy, you might restore to me the bodily strength by which I may recover your powerful help.
Straightened Sinews, Flowing Blood
At once a hidden power restores Ralph's sinews, straightens his legs, and brings forth blood and moisture to renew his bones.
He had spoken, and behold, soon the holiness of the king shone forth, the grace and piety invoked resplendent; for a certain hidden power suddenly stretching the sinews into their natural state, straightened the legs and feet, and the joints having been torn from the flesh, blood flowed forth, and gradually with the moisture restored, the bones, previously dry, received their former strength.
Apostolic Grace at the Tomb
Witnesses rejoice that the same healing power persists in death, and the healed Ralph gives thanks for a double grace.
Those standing by rejoiced that the same power had shone forth in the dead man as they had seen in the living one, and from then on they strove to visit more frequently and more eagerly to honor the sacred relics of King Edward, knowing that apostolic grace was not lacking in them for healing the sick and driving away diseases. Furthermore, that man, having received his strength, stood upon his feet, giving thanks to God and to holy Edward, who after the first grace by which he had nourished the weak body, now adding a second, had removed the very weakness itself.
Read the original Latin
Rebus humanis exemptus quam potens fuerit in divinis beatus Edwardus mundum latere non potuit, cum nec virginei corporis virtus vel terra obrui, vel lapide claudi, vel cum ipso potuerit corpore sepeliri; vis enim quae latebat in membris erupit in miraculis, quoniam dum caecis visum, claudis gressum, infirmis sanitatem restituit, pretiosam in conspectu Domini mortem Ed. certis indiciis declaravit. Inter pauperes quos in vita sua sanctus aluerat fuit quidam Normannici generis Radulphus nomine, qui nervis in poplite contractis, pedibus etiam ad celanda retortis, non solum naturali privabatur incessu, sed et genibus repere, ut ejusmodi debilibus moris est, dolore obsistente non valuit. Novum solatii genus adinvenit magistra necessitas, vas cavatum in formam pelvis acquirit, cui nates cum cohaerentibus membris injiciens et sibi arctius colligans anteriora manibus sustentabat, posteriora quasi per terram navigando trahebat. Rege igitur ad superiora translato, cum alimenta solita misero defecissent, molestius coepit etiam debilitatem membrorum sustinere. Recolens autem viri Dei qui eum vivens aluerat, cujus sanctitas admiranda nec ipsum latere potuit, fide plenus suae insidens naviculae, infra octavum suae depositionis diem ad sancti regis sepulcrum applicuit. Ibi regem quasi viventem conveniens: «Tu non es, inquit ille, qui corruptibili adhuc carne circumdatus debiles et aegrotos coelesti virtute curabas? Et ego quidem, domine mi, membrorum dispendium lenius te vivente ferebam, cum hac mihi causa cibi, potus, deliciae, vestesque necessariae copiosissimae praestarentur.
At nunc infirmitatis inopia cumulante miseriam, aut tu quid mihi faciendum sit, quo divertendum, cujus supplicanda majestas, cujus pietas expetenda non taceas; aut ipse solito medicam manum adhibeas, ut quia ad spiritales quibus nunc frueris mihi fas non est aspirare delicias, membra mihi quibus corporales acquiram potenti virtute restituas.» Dixerat, et ecce mox sanctitas regis emicuit, effloruit gratia, pietas invocata resplenduit; vis enim quaedam occulta subito nervos extendens in naturalem statum crura pedesque retorquet, evulsisque a carne articulis sanguis profluit, paulatimque succo resumpto, arida prius ossa pristinum robur recipiunt. Gaudent astantes eamdem in mortuo quam in vivente viderant effulsisse virtutem, et exhinc sacras Edwardi regis reliquias et visitare frequentius et propensius honorare satagebant, scientes eis ad sanandos infirmos morbosque pellendos apostolicam gratiam non deesse. Porro vir ille receptis viribus stetit super pedes suos, gratias agens Deo et sancto Edwardo, qui post primam gratiam qua debile corpus aluerat, etiam nunc secundam adjiciens, ipsam debilitatem amoverat.
Aelred of Rievaulx, Vita Sancti Edwardi Regis et Confessoris companion
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