Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 82

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 I learned many things about this same man from the account of the venerable Father Eleutherius, who both knew him intimately and by his very manner of life gave credit to his words. This venerable Isaac was not born in Italy; rather I relate those miracles of his which he performed while dwelling in Italy. When he first came from the region of Syria to the city of Spoleto, he entered the church and asked the keepers that he be granted leave to pray as long as he wished, and that they not press him to leave during the more secluded hours. He straightway stood up to pray, and passed the whole day in prayer, to which he joined the following night as well. On the second day too, and through the night that followed, he persevered untiring in his prayers, and joined a third day likewise in prayer.

But when one of the keepers, puffed up with a spirit of pride, beheld this, the very thing whereby he ought to have profited became for him an occasion of loss and ruin. For he began to call the man a pretender, and with rustic speech to cry out that he was an impostor, who would display himself before men's eyes praying for three days and nights. Running up at once, he struck the man of God with the flat of his hand, that as a mere counterfeit of the religious life he might go forth from the church in disgrace. But suddenly an avenging spirit seized this keeper and cast him down at the feet of the man of God, and began to cry out through his mouth: 「Isaac casts me forth!」 For the pilgrim was not known by what name he should be called, but the very spirit which cried that it could be cast out by him betrayed his name.

Then the man of God bent over the body of the tormented man, and the malignant spirit that had invaded him departed. At once it became known throughout the whole city what had been done in the church. Men and women, noble and common alike, began to run together, and vied with one another in their eagerness to carry him off into their own houses. Some wished to offer the man of God lands for the building of a monastery, some money, some whatever assistance they could, and did so as suppliants. But the servant of the almighty Lord, accepting none of these things, went out of the city and found a deserted place not far off, and there built himself a lowly dwelling.

As many resorted to him, they were kindled by his example with a desire for that eternal life, and under his instruction gave themselves to the service of the almighty Lord. And when his disciples frequently urged him humbly to accept the possessions that were offered, for the use of the monastery, he, being a careful guardian of his own poverty, held firmly to this saying: 「A monk who seeks possession on earth is no monk.」 For he feared to lose the security of his poverty as much as covetous rich men are wont to guard their perishable riches. There, then, 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 cast out into the garden of the monastery—those which by our common name we call spades (vangae). And so he said to his disciples: 「Cast so many spades into the garden, and return quickly.」 But that same night, when he had risen with the brethren according to custom to render praises to the Lord, he gave charge, saying: 「Go and cook a dish for our workmen, that it may be ready at earliest morning.」 And when morning came, he had the dish brought out which he had ordered to be prepared, and entering the garden with the brethren, he found as many laborers at work in it as he had commanded spades to be cast.

For thieves had entered, but with their minds changed by the Spirit they had taken up the spades they found, and from the very hour they entered until the man of the Lord should come to them, they had cultivated all the spaces of that garden which had lain untilled. As soon as the man of the Lord entered among them, he said: 「Rejoice, brethren; you have labored much—now rest.」 And forthwith he set before them the food he had brought, and refreshed them after the weariness of so great a toil. When they were sufficiently refreshed, he said: 「Do no evil; but whenever you want anything from the garden, come to the garden's entrance, ask peacefully, receive it with a blessing, and cease from the wickedness of theft.」 And at once he had them loaded down with the vegetables they had gathered.

And so it came to pass that those who had come to the garden to do it harm returned both filled by him with the reward of their labor and unharmed. And what is still more worthy of great admiration is this: that his head had become united to his body, as though it had never been severed, in such wise that no traces of the cutting appeared. And when they turned him over onto his back as well, searching whether any sign of the incision could be shown, the whole body was found so sound and unblemished as if no cut of iron had ever touched it. PETER: Who would not be astounded at such signs wrought upon the dead for the training of the living?