CHAPTER 37: He heals a woman
CHAPTER 37
He heals a woman
WHILE our holy bishop was waiting patiently in prison he was honoured with miracles, just as St John the Evangelist during his confinement on Patmos was granted visions of the mighty works of God. For at this time when, as we have said, Wilfrid was in a sorry plight, the sheriff’s wife was suddenly taken ill. She went quite stiff, lost all feeling in her limbs, went cold and began to foam at the mouth, then lost consciousness and was almost breathing her last. The sheriff, realizing she was dying, rushed to Wilfrid like the centurion ran to Our Lord; he knelt before him confessing his faults and admitting the king’s wrongdoing, and begged Wilfrid in God’s name to help him, unworthy as he was, by coming to his dying wife. Our bishop harboured no malice. He went to the poor woman, and, standing over her, sprinkled her face with holy water. Then, calling on the Lord for help, he poured the water drop by drop into her mouth until it was well moistened. The woman opened her mouth and took deep breaths. She opened her eyes and consciousness and understanding returned. After a while warmth came back to her limbs, and she was able to raise her head and move her tongue. She thanked God aloud and then, like Peter’s mother-in-law, ministered to our holy pontiff. She is still living and is now an abbess having taken the name of Aebbe in religion. She often recounts this story with tears.