Doctor of the Church, and Drithelm
THE PURGATORY VISION OF DRITHELM (FROM SAINT BEDE) . There was in Northumberland (Northeast England) a man named Drithelm, who, with his family, led a most holy and religious Christian life. He fell sick, and his malady increasing day by day, he was soon reduced to extremity, and died, to the great desolation and grief of his wife and children. The latter passed the night in tears by the remains. . The following day, before his interment, they saw him suddenly return to life, arise, and place himself in a sitting posture. At this sight they were seized with such fear that they all took to flight, with the exception of the wife, who, trembling, remained alone with her risen husband. . He reassured her immediately: “Fear not,” he said; “it is God who restores to me my life; He wishes to show in my person a man raised from the dead. I have yet long to live upon Earth, but my new life will be very different from the one I led heretofore.” . Then he arose full of health, went straight to t
