No More Learning

verted many French nobles, in the presence of King Clodovseus,^^ while the bishop baptized them at the font. Greatly rejoiced, the king retired to his chamber the first night after the bishop and abbot had arrived, while they
were honourably lodged in the guest-house ; and, early on the day following, he arose to assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, oftered by the pious visitors. Afterwards, Fridolin asked permission to have an audience, the bishopbeingpresent,andthekinggraciouslyassented; when,hearingthe whole wonderful account of Fridolin's vision, and about the discovery of St. Hilary's remains, Clodovasus not only highly approved of an intention to re- store the monastery, and to depose the relics there, but he even promised to contribute a large amount of gold and silver, to aid in that pious object.
Then taking leave of the king, Fridolin and the bishop returned to Poi- tiers. There, the church and monastery, with the assistance of King Clovis, were both rebuilt by our saint, as they had already fallen in a great measure to decay. His next object was to have a shrine prepared for the reception of St. Hilary's relics. The bishop and people of the city rendered every possible assistance, to have all that was necessary provided, so that the occasion should be one of great ceremony and solemnity. Part of the illus- trious founder's remains was placed in a suitable manner, within the pre-
cincts of the restored edifice : another portion being reserved by our saint, for ulterior purposes. This honourable deposition was executed, with befit- ting rites and magnificence ; while, it is stated, with great respect and
veneration on the 13th day of January,3» that of his commemoration, the body of St. Hilary was enshrined in the city of Poitiers.
Whilst in this place, St. Fridolin was visited by two very near relations,^* who were priests, and who came from Northumberland. They had long desired his companionship, and they wished to labour with him on the mission. Oursaintacknowledgedtherelationship,andreceivedhiskinsmen with great honour and affection. They were likewise overjoyed to have found him, and they took up their abode under the same roof. 33
CHAPTER III.
A VISION OF ST. HILARY WARNS ST. FRIDOLIN TO LEAVE FOR SECKINGEN—THE HOLY PILGRIM BUILDS SEVERAL CHURCHES AND MONASTERIES, IN HONOUR OF ST. HILARY, THROUGHOUT—THE TERRITORIES OF METZ, ALSACE, LORRAINE, BOUR- GOGNE,ANDAUSTRASIE HEDEPARTSFORRH^TIA,ANDARRIVESATTHESITEOF SECKINGEN—OPPOSITION OF THE PEOPLE THERE—HE OBTAINS A CHARTER FOR FOUNDATION FROM THE KING—A NUNNERY IS FOUNDED AT SECKINGEN, AND GREAT MIRACLES ARE WROUGHT BY THE SAINT.
An apparition of St. Hilary to the holy abbot warned him to proceed to- wards Germany. For after he had entertained his nephews from Northum- bria, and having retired to bed, first signing himself with the cross, St. Hilary
:
addressedhim "BrotherFridolin,whydelayyoutheaccomplishment
3° See O'Flaherty's "Ogygia," pars, i. , Translation of St. Hilary's Relics, hold the Pi"oIoquium, p. 28. opinion, that both were natives of Ireland.
"
3' Yet, other accounts have it, that the Bruschiiis, De Monasteriis Germania:,"
Translation took place on the 26th of June, states, that they were his nephews on the and according to Bouchet, in his Annals, father's side ; while Bauchet, in his Annals,
jhus
many miracles were wrought on this occasion.
3^ Colgan remarks, Petrus Canisius, in his Life of St. Fridolin, chap, xiv. , and St. Peter Damian, in his Discourse on the
relates, how twelve or thirteen yeai's before
he wrote, their bodies were found as perfect,
as if they had been only four days buried, in the church of St. Hilary.
"
33 gee Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber*
March 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 165
of what you promised to God and to me, when you were obliged to separate a certain part of my remains to carry with you. Therefore, do not tarry longer in this place, which your nephews shall take care to have dedicated to the service of the Almighty, after your departure. " Then Fridolin asked, whither he should proceed, and he was told to a certain island^ in the Rhine. Awaking from this dream, word was brought, that the bishop had been stricken with paralysis ; and, with his nephews, our holy abbot, at once, went to render spiritual and temporal comfort. Almost at the point of death, the
prelate lay prostrate, but Fridolin bent down in prayer. He arose in tears, and in great perturbation of spirits, but he found, that the patient was entirely
restored. All those, who were present, devoutly gave thanks to God. Then, Fridolin told the bishop, to his great regret, what admonition he had received
from St. Hilary. Not the prelate alone, but all his clergy and people, be» wailed the inevitable loss their district must suffer, owing to the holy abbot's enforced absence \ yet, the will of God should be accomplished, and sur- rounded by the sorrowing citizens of Poitiers, Fridolin, taking with him the relics of St. Hilary, bade them adieu. He set out immediately to visit King Chlodovgeus, according to the Life, and he related the particulars of his vision. From that monarch, he obtained permission to occupy the island indicated, but as yet unseen by him, and to accomplish there whatever the Providence of God decreed.
With joy, St. Fridolin parted from the king, who had so graciously
assented to his request, and his steps were first directed towards the Moselle.
Before leaving France, however, he founded several churches, especially in the provinces of Bourgogne and Alsace. On the banks of that river already
named, he began to build the monastery of Helera f and, perhaps, at a different place, called Hilariacum,3 he erected another church. This, or these, he dedicated to St. Hilary, but he only remained, until his work was completed. FromtheMoselle,hedeparted,aswearetoldbyBalther,and his course lay through a gorge of the Vosges mountains. * There he selected the site for a church he built—perhaps not different from Hilariacums—and he dedicated it to St. Hilary. Thence, he passed on to the city, called
niae," Martii vi. Vita S. Fridolini, lib. i. ,
cap. iv. to xyi. , and nn. lo, ii, pp. 482 to "
it answers Balther's description of a church he erected, after leaving the banks of the Moselle. See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xvi. , sect, xiv. , n. 130, pp. 481, 482.
490. Also, the BoUandists' Acta Sancto- rum," tomus i. , Martii vi. Vita S. Fridolini, lib. i,, cap. ii. , num. 14 to 23, pp. 435 to 437.
3
bold, Bishop of Metz, gave this place to St.
Chapter hi.
'
St. Peter Damianquali-
*
Helera was a distinct place from Hila-
—
According to the Sanmarthann, Sige-
fies it, the
by epithet
the BoUandists think this should be niam. "
"
714. But,
riacum, according to Mabillon. While the
former was on the banks of the Moselle, the
latter was situated not far from the Saar, a
considerable distance from the former river.
Helera had been long extinct, but Hilaria-
cum was extant, in the time of Mabillon,
and then called Nova-cella, or the Benedic-
tine Monastery of St. Nabor or St. Avol.
"
See
i. , lib. viii. , sect, xxvii. , p. 221. Dr.
Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus
originally, not to St. Paul, but to St. Hilary, and he thinks it to have been one of St. Fri- dolin's foundations, and that being in the eastern and mountainous part of Lorraine,
tianity was planted, by some religious men, "
" Gallinariam," but
Fridolin, and dedicated it A. D.
according to another account, Hilariacum was built from its foundations, by Meurissius, Bishop of Metz, dedicated to St. Paul, and endowed A. D. 734. This latter statement was to be found, in an old MS. of that monastery. Wherefore, the BoUandists, re- marking on the lateness of these dates, state, that either Helera was a different place from Hilariacum, or that the first house, built there by St. Fridolin, having been destroyed, it must have been rebuilt by Sigebold, or Sigebald, Bishop of Metz.
"* So early as the fifth century, Chris-
Seca-
Lanigan is of opinion, that the name of Hi-
lariacum indicates it had been dedicated among those mountains. According to
Menologium Scoticum," Fri-
Dempster's
dolin founded eight monasteries,
5 See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's " Lives of the Saints," vol. iii. , March vi. , p. 92.
1 66 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 6.
Argentina^ by the Latins, and now known as Strasburg, situated on the River
Rhine. Here again, our saint erected another church, in honour of his
patron, St. Hilary.
The same course of labour was undertaken by him, in the territories of
Metz and Austrasia, through which countries he travelled for some time. He left Argentoratum, however, and he appears to have visited several monas- teries, on his way through the Kingdom of Burgundy, until at last he came
to the Bishop? of Curia,^ in the territory of Rhaetia. Here the holy pilgrim remained, for some time, and here, once more, he built a church, dedicated to St. Hilary. 9 Yet, impelled by the Divine admonition to seek his ultimate
point of destination, he enquired from those, who knew the neighbouring territories, if they could direct him to any island, in the Rhine, as yet uncul- tivated and uninhabited. They spoke of one, the elegibility of which they knew not, and they indicated where and how it might be reached. Fridolin set out on his travels, and, after incredible fatigue, he arrived at the spot. Hefeltrejoicedtobeholdthissceneofhisfuturelabours; but,itseems,the
people of that country mistrusted his motives, for coming among them. Being noticed as a stranger, wandering about, and making observations on the site, he was upbraided by the neighbouring inhabitants, that he had taken up his quarters, in the island, as a robber, intending to seize on their cattle. They offered so violent and persistent an opposition, that Fridolin barely escaped from a violent death ; and, he was obliged to return, so that he might obtain the king's charter for possession of lands, claimed as a royalty, fromtimeimmemorial. Thisthekinggrantedtohim,andtohismonks,for ever, and signed the document with his own hand. Nor was this all, for royal messengers or guards were sent back with Fridolin. These signified the king's grant, and also his decree, that if any intruder should further interfere with the holy pilgrim's labours or title to the place, death without reprieve should be the punishment for such an offence. '°
In fine, he obtained a grant of the island and territory at Seckingen. " This island lay in the Rhine, and at its entrance into Suabia. But, whether
the grant was made to him by Thierry I. , King of Austrasie," or by Sigismond, King of Bourgogne,'3 is disputed among those, who adhere to, or dissent from, the opinion ot our saint's early arrival in France. '* Here, according to Dr.
Lanigan, he built a church and a stately monastery, under the patronage of
'Argentoratum is the name it receives, from the more ancient writers.
lini Abbatis, &c. Vila, &c. , lib. i. , cap. xvii. to xxiii. , pp. 485, 486. Also, the Bol-
7 In Bruschius' "
landists' "Acta tomus Sanctorum,"
Catalogus Episcoporum Curiensium," he is called Puricius, or Pruri-
i. , Martii vi. De S. Fridolino Abbate Seck-
cius.
* Now Coire, in the Grisons of Switzer-
land. See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives
ingse in Germania. Vita, &c. , lib. i. , cap. iii. , num. 24to 31, andnn. (a, b, c, d, e, f, g. ), pp. 437, 438.
'' Challoner Bishop
of the
vol.
March
that
lay on the borders of Switzerland. See
Saints,"
9 This, we are told, by Bruschius, was
afterwards dedicated to St. Martin. Speche- nis asserts, tliat the vestiges of this church and its adjoining cell were to be seen there
"
in his time. See Chronicum Rhaeliae,"
p. 223.
'^ The writer Balther affirms, that for the
Seckingcn
iii. ,
vi. , p. 92.
states,
foregoing account, so far, he had depended
on the Helera MS. as an authority, and then
closes his First Book, The old MS. was
illegible towards the end, and his Second
Book is made up, mainly of what he learned
on good authority, in the monastery of cum Dempster makes our saint the
See
rum Hiberniw," vi. Martii.
" Acta Sancto- Vita S. Frido-
of nations on the and Apustle lying Meuse,
of the Rhaeti,
Seckingeii.
Colgan's
"Britannia Sancta," pan i. , p. 159.
" Metz was the capital of his Icingdom, which included a part of the present German
Empire, beyond the Rhine, as also a portion of that country, between the rivers Rhine and Meuse.
'3 The ancient kingdom of Burgundy corn- prised what was afterwards known as the Uuchy of Burgundy, Franche-Comle, Pro- vence, Dauphine, Lyonnais, Switzerland
and Savoy.
In his " Menologium Scoti- "
March 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 167
Pepin of Heristal, Mayor of the French palace. They were dedicated to St. Hilary. '3 In after times, this celebrated religious establishment had a history of great interest to recommend its perusal, and the fortunes of Seeking or Seckingen'^ were mingled with singular vicissitudes. The place itself is situated a few miles, eastward from the famous city of Basle. Seckingen lies between Switzerland'^ and the duchy of Baden, but within the bounds of this latter province. The Canton of Glarus was formerly subject to the Abbess of Seckingen, under whom and a mayor,'^ the people enjoyed very consider- able privileges, and a democratic form of government. Towards the latter end of the thirteenth century, the Emperor Rodolph I. obtained there an exclusive administration. The mayoralty had gradually become hereditary, and it was purchased by his son Albert, who reunited in his own person the whole civil and judicial authoiity. The Dukes of Austria oppressed the people, who, after several struggles, at last obtained their freedom, in 1388. '9
When St. Fridolin got secure possession of the island, it happened, that the relics of St. Hilary, which were carried in a shrine and usually borne on his shoulders, happened to be left hanging on the branch of a certain tree, while he slept near them, for his long journey had caused him great fatigue. What must not have been his surprise, on awaking, and on conmiencing his prayers, to find that the large tree^° had bent down like a slender twig towards him, and to the earth, while inclined from its topmost to its lowest branches, as if to do him reverence ! This the holy pilgrim judged to portend his being obliged to remain in that place, and he removed, with great joy, the shrine from its resting place, in order to set it up in a more suitable position. It occasionally happened, while our saint was on his missionary tours, he and his religious were obliged to apply for a night's lodging and for hospitality,
from the country people. Once he entered the house of a respectable man,
calledWacher. But,thewifeofthismanmetthesaint,and,inavehement
shethusaddressedhim " Iwonder others manner, : Brother, why you pass
in this village, and come to our house, as you see, with the exception of one
room, in which my husband and myself are obliged to lodge, all the remain-
ing part has been destroyed by fire, and moreover, do not you and your
travelling companions know, that famine has greatly pressed on our means
"
this year ?
toned down her anger; since, he had heard of Fridolin's reputation for sanctity, so he contrived to make the best provision possible for the visitor's entertainment and rest. That very night, his wife gave birth to a daughter ; and, notwithstanding a reluctance still expressed by the mother, Wacher desired St. Fridolin to baptize it. With this request he complied. Not only did the father afterwards bestow property on the holy abbot, for religious purposes, but he even sent this daughter to receive instruction, and to take the veil, at Seckingen, where she subsequently served God, in the religious state. This daughter is said to have been the first nun professed there ; while her parents and friends bestowed many charitable gifts on St. Fridolin.
St. Fridolm is supposed to have established a house for female religious, at Seckingen, having obtained some lands for its endowment, from Urso," a
period,
giens, sect, ii. , iii. , pp. 45, 46.
Yet, the husband palliated the violent language of his wife, and
'• See an account of these kings and their
'? The main channel of the Rhine flows on the Swiss side.
'" He was appointed by the abbess, but chosen from among the inhabitants.
Letter vi. , pp. 41 to 44.
"
France. " Premiere Race dite dcs Merovin-
in L. P.
Histoire de
Anquetil's
'5 See Godeau's " Fran9ais," Siecle iv. , pp. 10, 22.
** An account of this religious establish-
"See Coxe's "Travels
Eloges des Eveques
in
and in the Country of the Grisons," vol. i. ,
ment will be found in L'Abbe " Balther that living in his " Migne's adds, many,
Dictionnaire des Abbayes et Monasteres," &c. , col. 714.
time, had often seen the tree in question.
Switzerland,
1 68 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 6.
wealthy Swiss noble of Glarus. His brother Landolph seems to have had an interest, also, in these lands, but which he ceded, in our saint's favour. A community of Canonesses reside in the same place, to the present day. *^ According to a custom, then prevalent, the aforesaid grant was confirmed, by aninstrumentinwriting. Soonafterwards,however,Ursodied,andthenhis brother, Landolph, unjustly seized upon all the conventual possessions. This action was brought before tlie judges, by St. Fridolin, and these required the fullest evidence of his rights. The Landgrave, Baldeberch,^3 appointed a certain day for Landolph and Fridolin to meet, at the tomb of Urso, in Clarona or Glaritz. The saint raised its occupant to life, calling upon him, in the name of Christ to arise. Taking him by the hand, Fridolin brought the dead man to the Villa of Ranckwail, where the Landgrave presided in
court, with a great number of attendants. Landolph was present, to hear
these words science, by taking
Urso " :
Brother, why
have
con- in amazement cried
"
belonged
My dear brother, not only do I restore your part of these possessions,
spoken by what
to me ? "
you injured your Landolph
out :
but I shall even add what belongs to myself, as a gilt to Seckingen. " Then Fridolin, according to the mediaeval legend, led Urso back to the tomb. ^-* Another very incredible story is related, about the saint having released a certain man from his position, in a bath ; and, for this service, the person thus delivered gave a part of his inheritance, for support of the monastery at Seckingen. 's
CHAPTER IV.
ST. FRIDOLIN MAKES IMPROVEMENTS, AT SECKINGEN—HIS RIGHT TO THE ISLAND MIRA- CULOUSLY CONFIRMED—HIS PIOUS WORKS AND MISSION—HE IS SAID TO HAVE COM- POSED A BOOK OF EXHORTATIONS TO SACRED VIRGINS, AND OTHER WRITINGS—HIS DEATH—MIRACULOUS OCCURRENCES AFTER HIS DEPARTURE—MEMORIALS AND VENERATION FOR THIS SAINT—CONCLUSION.
At first, Seckingen was covered with a thick growth of trees and brushwood. This was cleared away by St. Fridolin, in order to build his monastery, and to bring the lands under cultivation. But, when King Chlodoveus departed this life, those, who had opposed the saint on a former occasion, still persisted in their hostility. They affirmed, that the island belonged to them, by here- ditary right. It was resolved, however, by mutual concession, obtained through some prudent friends of the contenchng parties, that the contestants should assemble at a place, agreed upon, and where, at a time subsequent, the great cmrent of the Rhine flowed.
='
Urso is said to ha\e been one of St. Fridolin's converts, by Canisius, in his Life,
.
Suscitat luuic dignus testem, ducitque be- n gnus :
Tuiba timore tremit, Sanctus sua jura re- demit. "
*3 See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
chapter xxiv.
" See L'Abbe
" Dictionnaire des Abbayes et Monastercs," &c. , col. 714.
*3 brecht.
Migne's
his name is written Balde-
By some,
=* Balther tells us, that in memory of the foregoing miracle, t—he following Latin verses
niae," vi. Martii. Vita S. Fridolini Abbatis, &c. , Hb. ii. , cap. i. , ii. , iii. , vi. , pp. 486,
were written there
487.
rum,"
Abbate Seckinga: in Germania. Vita, &c. , lib. ii. , cap. i. , num. I, 2, 3, 8, pp. 438 to 439, with notes. —
"
Fridolino :
:
tomus Martii vi. i. ,
Prsedia pro Domino dant Fratres lia;c
Tempore post multo, negat alter fratre sepulto.
Chapter iv.
»
See Colgan's
Then, the case was different, for
Also the Bollandists'
Acta Sancto-
" Acta Sanctorum llibernice," Martii vi. Vita S.
"
De S. Fridolino
March 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 169
Alpine snows, melting in summer time, ran from the moimtain hollows, through another channel. Fridolin prayed earnestly, both by day and night, that the power and justice of God might be made manifest, in the decision to be arrived at ; so that, when the moment came, he entered the island
*'
alone, and at a particular spot, he prayed in presence of a multitude,
the Almighty himself, who has created all good things in Heaven and on
earth, turn this water against his enemies, so that henceforth, they may not, so persistently as heretofore, pass over to destroy this place. " During the
wholeofthatnight,heremainedinprayer. Onthedayfollowing,thecourse, which could be passed over dry-shod, became the great bed of the Rhine ; and, the saint's enemies departed, not alone in admiration and prayer, but asking Fridolin to offer his petitions, so that they might not incur Divine dis-
pleasure.
The fame of our saint's learning and eloquence thus went abroad ; and,
the fruits of his ministry fell ripe, before his sickle. Without further moles- tation, he was allowed to build his church, in honour of St. Hilary, and there, too, various miracles took place, both during his lifetime, and after his death. In the good government of his religious brethren, and in a sort of religious retreat, he passed the remaining years of his life. We may infer, from his Acts, that the saint here established a sort of Lyceum for boys of tender years, and Fridolin's gentleness of manner gained on the confidence and affection of these youths ; for, he encouraged their sports, and even lent himself, as it were, to promote their innocent hilarity. It is indicated, also, that he had a community of Canonesses, under his charge, at Seckingen, and probably these had female pupils in training. ^ His affability and patience were among the most remarkable traits of his noble character. St. Fridolin is surnamed
Viator,^ on account of his many travels, to spread amongst the people of different nations, a knowledge and an observance of the Gospel of Christ.
Especially are we told, that he brought over the people of Glarus, to the Christian religion. 3
When we know, how in early youth, he had such a passion for learning
and literature, it should not be surprising, that in more mature years, he
undertook the task of composing several useful works. He is said to have
written, a Book of Exhortations to Sacred Virgins, probably intended for the
guidance of the female community he had established at Seckingen. Another
"
authority than his statement, that Fridolin wrote the foregoing works.
After a serious and pious preparation for the closing struggle, his happy soul went to heaven, the day before the Nones of March. 5 On the division
of the kingdom of Bourgogne, between the Kings Clotaire and Childebert, Seckingen was included in the principality of the Upper Rhine. It fell under the dominion of their nephew, Theodobert, King of Austrasia. During the reign of this latter prince, the translation of St. Fridolin to bliss, is said, by many writers, to have taken place; accordmg to the most probable
Fiidolini Al)batis, lib. ii. , cap. iv. , v. , vi. , xi. il. filius, vel Comaiii XI. V, regis. "—
ad Monachos,'' another " Ad and Augustanos,"
Acta D. Hilarii," are ascribed to him, by Demp- ster. •* Notwithstanding, such assertions, we ought desire, somewhat better
Book, intituled,
again, one denominated,
Praecepta "
*'
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martii vi. De S. tomus i. , lib. vi. , num. 515, p. 280.
pp. 486, 487. Also, the Bollandists' "Acta
Fridolino Abbate
Seckingas
in Germania.
3 See " In Germa- Cratepolius, Episcopis
niae," p. Ixi.
* See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco-
torum," tomus i. , lib. vi. , num. 515, p. 281. 5 50 stale, the old Acts, by Balther.
Vita, &c. , lib. ii. , num. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, pp.
439) 440-
*
While offering this statement, Dempster, who seeks to malce him the son of a king of
Scotland, adds, "nisi falior,
* He
Arnold VVion's
"Lignum
Dongardi
quotes
May
170 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 6.
accounts, however, his death must be assigned to a much later period. Dempster has it, that our saint Uved, in the year 495, or in 560. ^ Father StephenWhitesays,thathedieda,d. 514. 7 Anotherstatementplaceshis demise, at a. d. 538. ^ It seems more probable, however, that his death fell within the seventh century. 9
After death, the body was consigned to its tomb, within the enclosure of
his church, at Seckingen ; and, the remains have been piously kept there, as the richest treasure of the place. But, they were not destined to remain un-
disturbed ; for, frequent irruptions of the Pagans caused the monks and nuns, to fly for their lives, to other places of refuge. On a certain occasion of this kind, the sarcophagus and body of the holy abbot were left behind. A devoted lover of Fridolin, named Wenilo, declared, that he could not bear to live any longer, if the sacred remains were burned by the Pagans. Full of this agonizing thought, and yet inspired by Faith, he entered the church, and kissing the tomb, he lay prostrate over it, for a time, and then cried out : •' O my master, Fridolin, I beseech thee, through the Almighty power, that either you would have me killed, at once, by the Pagans, or grant that I may beabletobearyourbodyhence. " Sayingthesewords,helaidhishandon the covering stone, and raised it, an effort of strength, ordinarily speaking, which six men could only effect. Then the mausoleum being exposed, the coffin was raised, and Wenilo bore it, without any difficulty, to the fugitives, while it was thought, the saint himself directed this miraculous action. The clergy and the nuns greatly rejoiced, at such an occurrence; but, when certain clerics, noble laics and others tried to move the coffin for protection to a fortified castle, its weight was found to be an insuperable obstacle. Vet, when a few of Fridolin's own monks and nuns approached, they carried his precious remains very easily. '" It is related by Balther, that occurrences, similar to what have been just related, took place, when the barbarians made
inroads, on the territory around Seckingen.
After the death of St. Fridolin, various miracles are recorded. A man,
who was a paralytic from his infancy, continued to live for many years, yet hardly able to move his limbs, to speak, or to walk. Prostrated by excessive weakness, the feast of St. Fridolin was near, and his parents brought the poorcreaturetothechurch,whithersomanyofthefaithfulflocked. During the time of Mass, the cripple lay prostrate, over the tomb of the saint ; then, owing to the power of God, and to the merits of Fridolin, he arose unex- pectedly and perfectly restored to health, and to the enjoyment of his long- deprived faculties. The clergy and people present gave thanks to the Almighty, while the fame of this miracle was spread far and near.