Some notable incidents in Dulac. Chapter XXXXIX.


In this residence, from the month of June in the year ninety-eight to
January in the year ninety-nine, there were solemnly baptized more
than one hundred catechumens who greatly desired the sacrament and
prepared themselves very carefully for holy baptism. This did not
include the sick, who through the mercy of God had been but few that
year; but among these sick persons, both children and adults, was
experienced the virtue of this holy sacrament for bodily health. Some
persons who were covered with leprosy and their recovery despaired of,
were restored by baptism to so good health that, although borne down
by years, they were able to till the soil and sow their fields. I wish
to relate the faith of a pagan woman whose husband, also a pagan, lay
sick. Believing his condition to be dangerous, she persuaded him to
accept baptism. For this purpose she sent for the father, and, when
the latter asked the sick man if he desired baptism or instruction,
she helped him to make his answers. The father, observing her to be
so capable and so desirous of the welfare of her husband, inquired
if she also wished to become a Christian. She answered affirmatively,
saying that she had heard in the church that only the good Christians
went to heaven, and that those who were not Christians must burn in
hell; and that for the sake of retaining her husband's affection she
was not willing to die an infidel, and come to so bad an end. Finally,
when it seemed that the sick man was well prepared, and his sickness
was becoming dangerous, he was baptized, and then our Lord was
pleased to give him health--whereat the good woman was more than
ever anxious to receive baptism for herself. After they were both