g that it was a sign
of the great merit of him, or those, whose bodies rested under that
altar, ran and plunged into the midst of the flames with outstretched
arms and embraced the sacred altar. What he did there, or what he
perceived, none knows; but that from that fire he went forth ablaze more
than his wont with heavenly fire, I suppose there is none of the
brothers who were with him then that does not know.

66. These things have been mentioned, a few out of many, but many for
this time. For these are not times of signs, as it is written, _We see
not signs; there is no more any prophet._[810] Whence it appears
sufficiently how great in merits was my Malachy, who was so rich in
signs, rare as they now are. For in what kind of _ancient miracles_[811]
was not Malachy conspicuous? If we consider well those few that have
been mentioned, he lacked not prophecy,[812] nor revelation,[813] nor
vengeance upon the impious,[814] nor _the grace of healings_,[815] nor
transformation of minds,[816] nor lastly raising the dead.[817] By all
these things God was blessed who so loved and adorned him, who also
magnified him _before kings_,[818] and gave him _the crown of
glory_.[819] That he was loved is proved in his merits, that he was
adorned, in his signs, that he was magnified, in his vengeance on
enemies, that he had glory, in recompense of rewards. You have in
Malachy, diligent reader, something to wonder at, you have also
something to imitate. Now carefully note what you may hope for as the
result of these things. For _the end of these things is a precious
death_.[820]

FOOTNOTES:

[718] _Rem._ This may have been a follower of Berengarius, who in his
recantation in 1059 anathematized the heresy that the bread and wine
"after consecration are merely a sacrament and not the true Body and
Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Mansi, xix. 900).

[719] Compare St. Bernard's method with Abelard, _V.P._ iii. 13;
and for his dealing with a brother who did not believe in
transubstantiation, _ibid._ vii. 8, 9.

[720] I follow the printed text: _de consensu confusus quidem exiit,
sed non correptus_. But Mabillon, supported by A, has "he retired from
the assembly confounded, but not brought to the right opinion" (_de
conuentu ... non correctus_). K reads _de conuentu ... non correptus_.

[721] It would seem from this that Malachy was acting as legate. The
date is therefore after 1140.

[722] Prov. xxviii. 21 (vg.).

[723] John xi.