(ABOUT A.D. 530.)
[Roman Mart. Authority:--S. Gregory the Great, Dialog., lib. i.,
c. 12.]
S. Severus was priest to a church in the district of Valeria, which is
that part between the Tiber and the Velino, occupied by the cities
Riete, Terni, and Narni. S. Gregory relates that on one occasion a
message was brought him, whilst he was pruning his vines, that a dying
man needed his pastoral assistance. Severus promised to go as soon as
he had done cutting the vine he was then engaged upon. When he drew
near to the sick man's house, the people ran out to meet him, saying,
"Oh, sir! why didst thou delay? the man is dead." Then Severus
entered, full of self-reproach, praying to God for pardon. And when he
saw the dead body, he burst into tears, and beat his head against the
ground, reproaching himself for his neglect. Then the dead man's
spirit returned, and he opened his eyes, and sat up. So he made his
confession and received absolution, and died shortly after.
The relics were translated to the monastery of Münster-Maifeld, near
Coblenz, about the year 980, by S. Egbert, bishop of Trèves.