“Remembered, Blessed, And Praised”. Immaterial Relics in Radbod of Utrecht’s Miracle Story of St. Martin

Abstract

The history of Utrecht has been deeply connected with St. Martin of Tours for many centuries. Although the beginning of the Utrecht cult of Martin is obscure, it developed long before actual relics of the saint were acquired in the fi nal quarter of the twelfth century. In the time of bishop Radbod (899/900-917), relics of St. Martin were treasured in immaterial ways. St. Martin and the power of his relics were central to the Libellus de miraculo sancti Martini he composed. The liturgical commemoration of these relics, celebrated on 4 July, meant more to Radbod than the material remains as such, as the analysis in this chapter of his miracle story shows.