Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Wright - 2.djvu/36

24 prognostication; and early in the morning, desired him to bring them to the rock. He did so; and there finding Gregory, they said, "Man of God, go up with us; by the command of the Omnipotent, go up with us: for it is His will that thou shouldst be appointed his vicar upon earth." To which Gregory replied, "God's will be done," and then followed them from the rock. As soon as he approached the city, the bells rang of their own accord, which the citizens hearing, crossed themselves, and hastened to meet him whom they acknowledged the legitimate vicar of Christ. St. Gregory, thus appointed, conducted himself worthily in every respect; and multitudes from every part of the world came to ask his counsel and assistance. Now his mother, hearing of the remarkable sanctity of the reigning pope, thought that no where could she find help sooner than from so holy a man. But that he was her son and husband she knew not. Hastening, therefore, to Rome, she confessed herself to the vicar of God; nor was it till after confession that the pope recollected his unhappy mother.