e 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
baptized, they received the nuptial benediction, as do all the other
married people who are baptized, renewing their marriage according
to Christian usage. I will also mention the death of a child, which
was no less remarkable than the recovery of the other. The father
was passing through a village late in the day, on his way to another
settlement. He was hastening his steps, for the sun was setting and
there still remained a considerable strip of road before he could reach
his destination. But at the very entrance of the village a Christian
came out and called to him, entreating him to go and baptize a child,
the son of infidel parents, who was very sick. The father went to the
house and baptized the child; and, having offered a prayer for it,
went away. No sooner had he gone, than our Lord called the child to
Himself; and it seemed as if the little on