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Des Tombés

XXV.

J’ai été moi-même témoin du fait suivant. Des parents, fuyant les rigueurs de la persécution, laissèrent leur fille encore enfant entre les mains d’une nourrice. Celle-ci porta l’enfant aux magistrats. Comme, à cause de son âge, elle ne pouvait pas encore manger de viande, on lui donna un peu de pain trempé de vin, reste d’un sacrifice précédent. Plus tard, la mère reprit sa fille. Mais l’enfant ne pouvait déclarer un crime dont elle n’avait aucune connaissance. Elle fut donc portée à l’église, alors que j’offrais moi-même le saint sacrifice. Mais à peine fut-elle au milieu de l’assemblée des fidèles, qu’elle ne put supporter nos prières. Elle se mit à pleurer; dans sa fureur étrange, elle se frappait, se jetait par terre, se tordait comme sous la main du bourreau, enfin elle indiquait à sa manière qu’elle n’était pas digne d’assister à nos mystères. A la fin du sacrifice, quand le diacre présenta le calice aux fidèles, il s’approcha aussi de l’enfant; mais elle, comme frappée par la majesté divine, détournait la tête, serrait les lèvres, repoussait le calice. Le diacre persista cependant et, malgré sa résistance, il glissa dans la bouche de l’enfant quelques gouttes de vin consacré. Alors vinrent les convulsions et les vomissements. L’Eucharistie ne pouvait rester dans un corps et dans une bouche souillée le sang divin en sortait violemment. C’est ainsi que le Seigneur manifesta sa puissance et sa majesté ; il éclaira lui-même les ténèbres et le ministre de Dieu découvrit le crime dans toute son horreur.

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On the Lapsed

25.

Learn what occurred when I myself was present and a witness. ¹ Some parents who by chance were escaping, being little careful ² on account of their terror, left a little daughter under the care of a wet-nurse. The nurse gave up the forsaken child to the magistrates. They gave it, in the presence of an idol whither the people flocked (because it was not yet able to eat flesh on account of its years), bread mingled with wine, which however itself was the remainder of what had been used in the immolation of those that had perished. Subsequently the mother recovered her child. But the girl was no more able to speak, or to indicate the crime that had been committed, than she had before been able to understand or to prevent it. Therefore it happened unawares in their ignorance, that when we were sacrificing, the mother brought it in with her. Moreover, the girl mingled with the saints, became impatient of our prayer and supplications, and was at one moment shaken with weeping, and at another tossed about like a wave of the sea by the violent excitement of her mind; as if by the compulsion of a torturer the soul of that still tender child confessed a consciousness of the fact with such signs as it could. When, however, the solemnities were finished, and the deacon began to offer the cup to those present, and when, as the rest received it, its turn approached, the little child, by the instinct of the divine majesty, turned away its face, compressed its mouth with resisting lips, and refused the cup. ³ Still the deacon persisted, and, although against her efforts, forced on her some of the sacrament of the cup. Then there followed a sobbing and vomiting. In a profane body and mouth the Eucharist could not remain; the draught sanctified in the blood of the Lord burst forth from the polluted stomach. So great is the Lord's power, so great is His majesty. The secrets of darkness were disclosed under His light, and not even hidden crimes deceived God's priest.