Narcissus was almost 80 years old when he was made Bishop of Jerusalem, at some point in the middle of the second century. Numerous miracles have been attributed to him–one happened when, the night before one Easter, the deacons discovered they were without oil for their worship lamps. So Narcissus instructed them to go, collect water; he prayed over the water; and the water turned into oil that they were then able to use for the Easter vigil and service (with some left over!).

Anyhow, with greatness comes jealousy and meanness. Three “incorrigible sinners”–who did not like what high standards Narcissus set when he became bishop–accused Narcissus of such a detestable crime that early Church historian Eusebius would not even name it! To underscore the sincerity of their accusations, these three men took oaths that their charges were true: the first swore that if he wasn’t telling the truth, he might perish by fire; the second, that he might be struck with leprosy; the third, that he might lose his sight.

Not surprisingly, there was no credible evidence to support the charges they lodged against old Narcissus. Also, not surprisingly, Butler relates:

The first was burnt in his house, with his whole family, by an accidental fire in the night; the second was struck with a universal (body-wide) leprosy; and the third, terrified by these examples, confessed the conspiracy and slander, and by the abundance of tears which he continually shed for his sins, lost his sight before his death. (Note: the third seems to have literally “cried himself blind”!)

So…word to the wise–don’t go slandering holy people, especially our elders!