Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 81

In the earlier times of the Goths too, there was near the city of Spoleto a man of venerable life, Isaac by name, who lived on almost to the last times of the Goths, whom many of our own knew, and above all the holy virgin Gregoria, who now dwells in this city of Rome beside the church of blessed Mary ever-virgin. She, when in the time of her youth, her marriage being already arranged, had fled into the church and sought the way of life of the consecrated state, was protected by that same man, and, under the Lord's protection, was brought to that habit which she desired. For because she fled a spouse on earth, she was accounted worthy to have a Spouse in heaven.

Now many things concerning this same man I came to know from the venerable Father Eleutherius, who both knew him intimately and gave credence to his life by his own words. This venerable Isaac, then, was not born of Italy, but I relate those miracles of his which he did while living in Italy. When first he had come from the parts of Syria to the city of Spoleto, entering the church he asked of the keepers that leave be granted him to pray as long as he wished, and that they should not urge him to go out at the more secret hours. He then stood up to pray, and passed the whole day in prayer, to which he joined the following night also. On the second day too, having persisted unwearied in prayers throughout the following night, he added the third day also to his prayer.

And when one of the keepers, puffed up with a spirit of pride, saw this, from that whence he ought to have profited, thence he came to the harm of ruin. For he began to call him a pretender, and in rustic speech to cry out that he was an impostor, who was showing himself before the eyes of men to be praying three days and nights. Running up at once, he struck the man of God with a blow, that, as a pretender of the religious life, he might go out of the church with disgrace. But suddenly an avenging spirit seized this man and threw him at the feet of the man of God, and through his mouth began to cry out: 'Isaac casts me out.' For it was not known by what name the stranger was called, but that spirit revealed his name, which cried out that it could be cast out by him.

Then the man of God bent over the body of the tormented man, and the malignant spirit which had entered him departed. Straightway then it became known throughout the whole city what had been done in the church. Men and women, noble and lowly alike, began to run together, and vied with one another in trying to carry him off to their own houses. Some wished suppliantly to offer the man of God estates for building a monastery, others money, others whatever supports they could. But the servant of the almighty Lord, receiving none of these things, went out from the city and found not far off a deserted place, and there built for himself a lowly dwelling.

When many resorted to him, they began, by his example, to be kindled with desire of that eternal life, and under his instruction gave themselves to the service of the almighty Lord. And when his disciples frequently pressed him humbly to accept, for the use of the monastery, the possessions that were being offered, he, a careful guardian of his own poverty, held to a firm resolve, saying: 'A monk who seeks a possession on earth is no monk.' For he was as afraid of losing the security of his poverty as greedy rich men are wont to guard perishing riches. And so there, by the spirit of prophecy and by great miracles, his life became renowned among all who dwelt far and wide.

For on a certain day toward evening he had iron tools thrown out into the garden of the monastery, which by our common name we call spades. So he said to his disciples: 'Throw so many spades into the garden, and return quickly.' Then, that same night, when according to custom he had risen with the brethren to render praises to the Lord, he commanded, saying: 'Go and cook food for our workmen, that it may be ready at early morning.' And when morning had come, he had the food brought which he had ordered to be prepared, and, entering the garden with the brethren, he found as many workmen laboring in it as he had ordered spades to be thrown.

For thieves had entered; but, their minds changed by the spirit, they took up the spades which they found, and from that hour in which they had entered, until the man of the Lord came to them, they cultivated all those spaces of that garden which had been untilled. As soon as the man of the Lord had entered, he said to them: 'Rejoice, brethren, you have labored much; now rest.' And at once he set before them the food which he had brought, and refreshed them after the weariness of so great a labor. And when they had been sufficiently refreshed, he said: 'Do no evil, but as often as you wish anything from the garden, come to the entrance of the garden, ask peaceably, receive it with a blessing, and cease from the wickedness of theft.' And straightway he had them loaded with vegetables that had been gathered.

And so it came to pass that those who had come to the garden to do harm returned both filled by him and unharmed, with the reward of their labor. And what is yet to be revered with great wonder, is that his head had been so united to the body as though it had by no means been severed, so plainly, that no traces of the cutting appeared. And when they turned this side and that, searching whether any sign might be shown from some other incision, the whole body was found so sound and untouched, as though no cutting of iron had ever touched it. PETER: Who would not be astonished at such signs of the dead, which come to pass for the training of the living?