Saint Evroul

However, Evroul, in order to have no further dealings with the world whose dangers he feared, donned the religious habit and retired to a solitary place, at some distance from Beauva is. In t Beauvais Region of France where the saint went into exile. his new Thebaid, he built himself a cell and a modest oratory, where he strove to follow in the footsteps of the most perfect anchorites. But it was in vain that he sought to hide his virtues from the eyes of men: their radiance shone forth from afar, and soon he found himself surrounded by numerous disciples. New cells rose up beside his own, his oratory was enlarged, and the Saint, who had wished to live unknown to all, found himself placed at the head of a fervent community.

To the influence that Evrou's virtues gave him over his brethren, Radingus, Bishop of Beauvais, wished to add that which is attached to the dignity of the priesthood. This prelate, having called the servant of God to him, succeeded in making the refusals of his humility yield before the duty of obedience, and conferred upon him the order of the priesthood.

The Saint found in his elevation a new motive to humble himself, to mortify his body, and to be assiduous in work and prayer. From that moment, he seemed to belong more to heaven than to earth. His voice was imbued with an inspired accent that penetrated hearts and led them to virtue: it was the effect of the grace that filled his soul and inspired all his actions. His detachment from himself and from all external things, and his continual union with God, earned him the gift of miracles. From all sides, the sick were brought to him so that he might lay his hands upon them and heal them. The prayers of the holy religious having restored health to some lords of the cou rt of Chilper Chilpéric Ier King of the Franks praised by Fortunatus. ic I, Evrou was appointed, by the counsel of Q ueen Frede Frédézonde Queen of the Franks, enemy of Gregory. gund, abbo t of the monastery of Sain monastère de Saint-Fuscien Monastery located near Amiens of which Evrou was appointed abbot. t-Fuscien, which had just been founded a league and a half from the city of Amiens.

He did not depart without regret from the religious of the Oratory; but his sorrow was tempered by the frequent relations he maintained with them. While giving his care to the new community, he exercised a paternal supervision over them, guided them with his counsel, and often recommended himself to their prayers.

Evroul had a great devotion to Saint Lu cian, apostl saint Lucien Apostle of the Beauvaisis whose cult and basilica were restored by Evroult. e of the Beauvaisis. Jealous of everything that could enhance his glory, he often thought with sorrow of the sad and deplorable state of the basilica raised over his tomb by the piety of the faithful. One day, as he was seeking ways to bring it out of its ruins, Saint Lucian appeared to him, ordering him to search at Montmille (Oise, commune of Fouquenies) and to join to his remains the relics of Maxian, a companion of his martyrdom. Without delay, Evroul went to make known this miraculous apparition to Dodon, succes sor o Dodon Father of Saint Lugle and Saint Luglien. f Radingue, on the episcopal see of Beauvais. The prelate and the holy Abbot immediately went to Montmille, questioned the local tradition, and eventually discovered the place where the body of the blessed Maxian rested. His translation to the tomb of Saint Lucian took place with great solemnity and was accompanied by several miracles. These events, marked by the finger of God, reawakened the confidence of the Beauvaisians in the glorious Martyrs. All, with a unanimous voice, asked that the church where they were invoked be rebuilt. Their wishes, presented to King Chilperic I by Dodon and Evroul, were not long in being granted.

A serious illness and the loss of two of his children had just reminded Chil peric of Chilpéric King of the Franks praised by Fortunatus. the fragility of life and the nothingness of earthly goods; he therefore willingly cooperated in a work destined to earn him powerful protectors in heaven and riches as solid as they are lasting. The ordinance he issued in this regard clearly shows what sentiments of faith and piety animated this prince. "As we remain but a short time in this life," he said, "and advance rapidly toward death, we must take care to do the will of God, and build churches in places where the Martyrs are honored, to merit sharing with them the joys of eternity... Dodon, venerable bishop of Beauvais, and our beloved Evrou, abbot, with a great number of the faithful, having prayed us to have a basilica rebuilt that was formerly constructed near the walls of Beauvais, we have resolved to grant their request. We were all the more inclined to do so, as our ancestors had already allocated some of their income to the restoration of this edifice... The apparition of the blessed Lucien to Evrou, the order he gave him to exhume the body of Saint Maxien, and the miracles that followed the execution of this order, determined us even more particularly... We therefore wish that this church, built formerly in honor of the Prince of the Apostles and of Saint Lucien, be rebuilt by our munificence, and appropriated for the service of Almighty God... We further wish that a community of cenobites be established there to attend to the divine service."

The generous intentions of King Chilperic were punctually executed. Thanks to his largesse and the solicitude of the pontiff Dodon and of Saint Evrou, one soon saw a church and a monastery rise, destined to revive, under the Rule of Saint Benedict, the virtues of Saint Lucien and his companions . Evrou fixed his res règle de Saint-Benoît Monastic rule followed by Winnoc. idence there and was its first abbot, without leaving the government of the monasteries of the Oratory and of Saint Fuscien. The activity of his zeal allowed him to successfully discharge this difficult and laborious task. He maintained in these three establishments the love of retreat, fidelity to the rule, manual labor, and the various exercises of religious life.

Faithful to the counsel given by Jesus Christ to His Apostles, Evroul regarded himself as the least of the religious of whom he was the superior. His charity moved him to render them the humblest services. And yet, through him, God worked great things: at his voice, the sick recovered their health, and demons took flight. As he was walking one day among his brothers, explaining the divine Scriptures to them, a man who was blind and possessed by an evil spirit was brought to him. His prayers restored his sight and delivered him from the power of the demon. This same enemy of the human race had, another time, seized a thief caught in the act of stealing in one of the monasteries governed by the holy religious; Evroul tore this wretch from the yoke of Satan, granted him his pardon, embraced him tenderly, and let him depart in peace.

Upon returning from a pilgrimage to the tomb of Saint Martin, the blessed Evroul felt his strength failing. Understanding then that his last hour was near, he called his religious and addressed his final farewells to them. To their prayers, accompanied by sobs and tears, he mingled his own and died in their arms on July 26, around the year 600.

## CULT AND RELICS.

After the death of the Blessed one, his disciples carried his body to the monastery of the Oratory: Evrou had wished to be buried in the place where he had renounced the servitude of the world for the amiable yoke of the divine Master. A lady of high birth, n Théolène Noblewoman who decorated the tomb of Evroul. amed Theolene, magnificently decorated his tomb. Later, Ch Chrodebert Bishop of Paris who had a church built near the saint's tomb. rodebert, Bishop of Paris, had a church erected near this tomb, and several buildings, each of which was dedicated to the memory of some Saint. Miracles performed at the sepulcher of Evrou attested to his holiness and earned him the trust and homage of the faithful. His relics, after having escaped the ruins that the Normans sowed everywhere in their path, were transferred to the cathedral of Beauvais. They remained there until 1793, and disa 1793 Period during which the saint's relics were hidden and lost. ppeared during one of the days of destruction so common to that fatal era.

The cult of Saint Evrou, interrupted during the storm that carried away his relics, has resumed the rank it had occupied for so long in our solemnities. The Church and the diocese of Beauvais continue to invoke the first abbot of Saint-Lucien as one of their most powerful protectors.

Excerpt from the Life of the Saints of the diocese of Beauvais, by Father Sabatier.