Quomodo caecus beatum Edwardum vidit de sepulcro exire, et ita visum recepit.
The Blind Young Monk
A well-born but blind young monk in St Peter's monastery is given adapted signals for the daily offices and devotes himself to persistent prayer, seeking the intercession of the blessed King Edward.
There was also in the monastery of the blessed apostle Peter a young man of no humble birth, handsome in appearance but deprived of the service of either eye. Those who were in charge of the monastery at the time, sympathizing with his misery, ordered the bells to be struck — the bells by which the brothers were called to whatever duties needed doing — and designated the remaining hours, assigned to specific solemnities, by the sound of cymbals. So this man, entrusted to himself, carried out his duty prudently: he frequented the church, was persistent in prayer, and earnestly asked that the merits of the blessed king might be present to him.
The Saint's Midday Visitation
While resting in the oratory, the blind monk sees King Edward in a dream rising from his tomb, striking him awake to summon the brothers to prayer, then proceeding in splendor to the altar before vanishing.
It happened one summer day, when the brothers were resting at the midday hour and he himself, lying down in the oratory, was giving his body rest, that suddenly he sees in a dream blessed Edward coming out of his tomb and looking back; then, reproving the man's drowsiness, he tells him by striking to put an end to his sleep and rouse the brothers for the hour of prayer, the ninth hour, which had now almost passed. After the holy one had given him these warnings with his advice, he sees the crowned king himself proceeding to the altar. When he had fixed his eyes intently on the splendor of that shining light, the blessed vision vanished.
Sight Restored and God Glorified
Awakening from the vision, the young man miraculously regains his sight, declares the vision to the brothers, and all glorify God for the posthumous miracle wrought through blessed Edward.
Awakened, the young man suddenly opened his eyes, and drawing in the light, he perceived that his former sight had been restored to him. He revealed the vision to the brothers, and by the attestation of the miracle gave credibility to his words, as all admired and blessed God for his works, who granted blessed Edward a greater life after death and caused his dead bones to flourish with wondrous works in their own place.
Read the original Latin
Fuit praeterea in monasterio beati Petri apostoli juvenis haud ignobilis, decorus quidem forma sed utriusque sideris privatus officio. Hujus compatientes miseriae qui tunc praeerant coenobio, campanas cum quibus fratres ad quaelibet agenda sciscitabantur pulsare jusserunt, et caeteras horas certis quibuscunque solemniis deputatas cymbalorum sonitu designare. Agebat igitur vir ille creditum sibi prudenter officium, frequentabat ecclesiam, orationibus crebro insistebat, et beati regis merita adesse sibi sedulo precabatur. Accidit autem die quadam aestivo tempore, dum fratres hora meridiana quiescerent, et ut ipse decumbens in oratorio daret membra quieti, et ecce videt in somnis beatum Edwardum egredi de sepulcro seque respicientem; deinde somnolentia arguens hominem, jubet ei pulsando finem somno facere, et fratres ad horam orationis nonam, quae jam pene transierat, excitare. Haec cum ei monita sanctus dedisset, videt ipsum regem coronatum ad altare procedere. Quem cum diligenter intuens in splendorem illius corusci luminis oculos infixisset, visio beata disparuit. Expergefactus juvenis subito aperuit oculos, et hausto lumine redditam sibi pristinam sensit sanitatem. Detexit visionem fratribus, et attestatione miraculi fidem verbis fecit, omnibus admirantibus et benedicentibus Deum in operibus suis, qui beato Edwardo post mortem dedit melius vivere, et ossa ejus mortua de loco suo miris operibus pullulare.
Aelred of Rievaulx, Vita Sancti Edwardi Regis et Confessoris companion
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