Northern mythology

NETHERLANDISH TRADITIONS.
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THE MONK OF AFFLIGIIEM.
Towards the close of the eleventh century a most extraordinary
event took place at the abbey of Afflighem.
It was one day announced to the pious Fulgentius, who
at that time was abbot, that a stranger monk of venerable
aspect had knocked at the gate and been admitted, who
said he was one of the brethren of the cloister. The abbot
caused him to be brought before him, and asked him who
he was and whence he came ? whereunto the monk answered,
that he had that
rest of the brotherhood ;
morning sung matins with the
that when they came to the verse
of the 89th Psalm, where it is said :
" A thousand years
in thy sight are but as yesterday," he had fallen into deep
meditation, and continued sitting in the quire when all the
others had departed. A little bird had then appeared to
him, which sang most sweetly, and which, because it
had
so delighted him, he had followed into the forest, from
whence, after a short stay, he was now returned, but
found the abbey so changed that he no longer knew it.
On Fulgentius asking him about his abbot, and also the
name of the king that reigned at the time, it was found, to
their great astonishment, that both
had been dead three
hundred years before.
The monk was startled, and said :
" Verily I now see
that a thousand years are as yesterday in the sight of the
Lord.'' He then prayed the abbot to impart to him the
holy sacraments, and, after partaking of them, died a holy
and edifying death.
A similar legend is related of the abbey of Heisterbach, opposite Bonn,
and of some other abbeys. The story has been well paraphrased in German
verse by E. Wegener. See Nordischer Telegraph, No. 31.
ST.
JULIAN THE FERRYMAN.
Many hundred years ago there lived in the province of
Saiutonge a young and rich nobleman, whose name was
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