CHAPTER 31: How a sick man was healed with bread blessed by Cuthbert
CHAPTER 31
How a sick man was healed with bread blessed by Cuthbert
IT would hardly be right to omit to mention a miracle performed by the power of that same venerable man but without his being actually present. You have already heard of the sheriff Hildmer – it was his wife Cuthbert exorcized. Hildmer himself was later confined to bed with a dangerous illness and grew daily worse till it seemed he could hardly last another minute. His friends had crowded round the bed to console him, when one of them suddenly remembered that he had in his pocket a piece of bread which Cuthbert had shortly beforehand blessed and given him.
‘I am sure this will restore him to health,’ he said, ‘unless our slowness to believe prevents it.’
They were all laymen but very devout, and having discussed the matter each one said he had not the least doubt that Hildmer could be healed by partaking of the bread. They filled a cup with water, dropped a tiny piece of bread in, and gave it him to drink. The moment the water the bread had made holy entered his stomach all internal pain left him and his body ceased to atrophy. Once the pain was gone, health and strength returned, inciting him and all who saw or heard of the unexpected recovery to praise Cuthbert’s holiness and marvel at the strength and sincerity of Hildmer’s faith.