CHAPTER 62: [Wilfrid’s illness – c. 708]
CHAPTER 62
[Wilfrid’s illness – c. 708]
BUT in this world no joy comes to us unmixed with sorrow and everything is by nature mortal. Our holy bishop was on his way to Hexham when the time foretold by the Archangel Michael came round. He fell suddenly ill with the same complaint that had stricken him at Meaux, only this time the attack was worse. We, the members of his household, overwhelmed with anguish, rushed to the armoury of prayer. We chanted and prayed day and night without ceasing, imploring God to prolong his life so that at least he might have time to speak to us and appoint abbots to his monasteries and divide up his possessions lest we should be left like orphans without a superior. The news of this calamity spread quickly. All his abbots and hermits came hastening in from far and wide. They even travelled on through the night in the hope of seeing him alive and refused to be turned back by rumours of his death. We were sure he would die before they arrived, but were proved wrong. Entering the house they all knelt down with one accord, beseeching the Lord to remember His promise: ‘When two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them’, and not to take their bishop just yet. Their prayer was heard. He was given time to arrange everything that had not yet been put in order, namely to lay down the rule of life for the various houses and appoint superiors and share out his goods as he thought fit between God and man, that is to allot some for sacred, some for profane use. His reason, memory, and power of speech all came back to him; indeed the sickness left him as sleep goes on waking. We were overjoyed at this complete recovery, and having thanked God for it each went off on his own way.