 Statue of St Gangolf, Kluftern
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Returning from a succcessful expedition in the king’s service, Gengulphus and his men passed through Champagne.j Here Gengulphus came upon a pleasing spring, in a spot where he and his men stopped to take food and to graze their horses. When the peasant who owned this land approached, Gengulphus invited him to share their meal, and asked the man if he would be prepared to sell the spring for a suitable some of money.
The peasant was unaware of Gengulph’s spiritual powers and took him for a fool. Expecting to retain both the spring and the purchase money, he was duly given one hundred pieces of silver.
He Returns to his Wife
Gengulphus arrived at his home at Varennes sur Amance, unaware that his wife had commited herself to an adulterous relationship. He gave her an account of his activities, including the purchase of the spring. She upbraided him for his stupidity and for his wasteful expenditure.
After taking a walk in the grounds, Gengulphus plunged his staff into the ground and entered the house.
The Miracle of the Spring
The next morning Gengulphus found that there is no water with which to wash himself. He commanded a servant to go and pull his staff out of the ground, and to bring in the water which would appear. The servant did this, and a very great stream of water immediately flowed from the spot where the staff had been thrust.
Whereas springs in the neighbourhood of Varennes have a characteristic chalky cloudiness, this spring retained the perfect clarity that it had in its original location, from which it had been brought by divine power, and where no trace of a spring remained.
His Wife’s Adultery
Gengulph's wife meanwhile was committing adultery with a clerkk who was one of his own servants. This became the subject of common gossip, and eventually reached to the ears of Gengulphus himself. Torn between desire to punish her, and the wish to live his own life without reproach or guilt, he determined to entrust the matter to the judgment of God.
His Wife’s Adultery is Exposed
One day Gengulphus, in the company of his wife, approached a certain spring.l He mentioned the injurious rumours which are circulating about her - which she denied vehemently. Gengulphus proposed that she should plunge her hands into the water and draw out a pebble which lay at the bottom. He explained that if she was telling the truth, nothing would happen. If she was lying, then God will give some sign to expose her falsehood.
His wife gave no weight to his words, and unreflectingly plunged her hand into the water. She immediately pulled her hand out revealing the judgement of God - for the whole surface of her hand and arm had been scalded.
Gengulphus Parts from his Wife
Gengulphus expressed his regret at this confirmation of her unfaithfulness He indicated that rather than executing justice upon her himself he would leave her to the judgement of God, and advised her to repent. He allowed her to retain the property which she had received as dowry for her maintenance. He then parted from her to live in a distant estate in the region of Avalo,m where he continued to devote himself to good works.
His wife now took advantage of her freedom to continue her adulterous affair with the clerk. The pair however feared that Gengulphus might take revenge on them, and began to make plans to kill him.
His Murder
The clerk secretly watched Gengulph's household until one night, when an opportunity presented itself, he crept into Gengulph’s bedchamber, and attempted to decapitate him with his own sword which lay beside the bed. Gengulphus was able to deflect the blow, but received instead a serious wound in his hip. He attacker, meanwhile, fled.
Gengulphus survived several days, but realizing that his death was imminent he received the Sacrament and made the heavenward journey for which he had longed.
His Burial
Two aunts of Gengulphus who lived a religious life at Varennes came, accompanied by a large crowd of priest, monks and laypeople, to remove his body for burial. Astonishing miracles were performed as they made their way back to Varennes, where he was buried in his own church, dedicated to St Peter.
The Punishment of the Clerk
The clerk, after his attack on Gengulphus, had immediately fled back to his mistress. After they had performed a dance in misplaced celebration of his deed, he felt the need to empty his bowels. In the garderobe his bowels poured out (like Judas and Arius) and he plunged, unrepentant, to hell.
The Punishment of the Wife.
The tomb of Gengulphus attracted great crowds of people as a result of the many miracles which were performed at it. A young woman who was a servant of Gengulph’s wife rushed to tell her mistress this news. Overcome with fury her mistress said ‘If Gengulphus can work miracles, then so can my arse’. Immediately, from that very part of her body which she had indicated, there came a disgraceful sound.
This exchange took place on a Friday,n and every Friday for the rest of her life every time that she wished to speak shameful noises would instead be emitted by that part of her body which she had irrevently compared with the miraculous powers of the man of God.
This became widely known, and King Pepin commanded some of his men to investigate the truth of the matter. They discovered that it was entirely true, and reported to this effect.
Epilogue
The writer reminds his readers that miracles are not important in themselves, and that obedience to God is more important. He admits that little is known about miracles that Gengulphus performed during his lifetime, but points out that now that he is dead his miraculous powers are outstanding and well-known.
