Saint Prosper of Orléans

Prosper, Bishop of Orléan Prosper, évêque d'Orléans Bishop of Orléans in the 5th century and successor to Saint Aignan. s, was a relative of another Prosper, a Doctor of the Church, surnamed of Aquitaine, the famous defender of the orthodox faith against the Semi-Pelagians, whose life we provided on June 25. He succeeded Saint Aignan saint Aignan Predecessor of Prosper to the see of Orléans, famous for the defense against Attila. , who rendered his soul to God on November 17, 453, and engaged the il lustrious Saint Sidonius Apollinaris, Bishop saint Sidoine Apollinaire, évêque de Clermont Poet and contemporary who celebrated the basilica of Perpetuus. of Clermont, the most skillful writer of that time, to compose the history of the defeat of Attil Attila, roi des Huns Leader of the Huns responsible for the destruction of Besançon. a, King of the Huns, o n the plains of C Châlons-sur-Marne Territory where the Irish siblings settled. hâlons-sur-Marne, the siege of Orléans, the assault given to the city which was taken, but which the barbarians did not have time to plunder, and the preaching of Saint Aignan on the deliverance of Orléans. He wished not only to increase the fame of his predecessor, but also to deeply engrave in the hearts of the faithful the memory of his pure morals, his merits, and his virtues. Sidonius set about satisfying him on this point, but some obstacles that arose to this undertaking led him to apologize for it later in a letter he wrote to Saint Prosper, in which he praises him for the piety he had for the memory of such a great Saint.

He himself revived this memory, if not by the aid of letters, at least by that of his examples. He was the imitator of this great man, and Sidonius did not fear to say that for Saint Aignan himself, that pontiff so great, so consummate in holiness and the equal of Saint Lupus of Troyes and Saint Germanus of Auxerre, it was an honor to have met at his death a successor like Prosper. At that time flourished great bishops, in whom learning served to further enhance the luster of virtue: Mamertus of Vienne, Eucherius of Lyon, Hilary of Arles, Salvian of Marseille, Sidonius Apollinaris of Clermont, previously named, all co-workers and friends of Saint Prosper, and whose great merit allows one to appreciate that of the holy bishop of Orleans.

At the same time, the virgin S aint Genevieve, the illustrious patroness of P sainte Geneviève, l'illustre patronne de Paris Young girl met in Nanterre whose sanctity was predicted by Germanus. aris, having come to Orleans to pray at the tomb of Saint Aignan, restored, through a striking miracle, the health of a woman who was dying. Prosper exercised the episcopate for a space of ten years. He died around the year of Our Lord 463, on July 29.

He should not be confused with another Prosper who attended and subscribed to th e councils of Carpentras (52 conciles de Carpentras (527) Council held in 527, used to distinguish between the two Prospers. 7) and Vaison (529). Several hagiographers have nevertheless maintained that this was indeed the Saint Prosper of Orléans who concerns us, but one can hardly maintain this opinion in good faith, unless one gives our Saint more than seventy years of episcopate, and removes seven or eight bishops who succeeded him. It is known, moreover, that at the time of these two Councils where the subscription of a Prosper is found, it was Eusebius or Leontius who held the see of Orléans.

The Roman Martyrology and the oldest ones of Saint Jerome make mention of Saint Prosper on July 29; however, his feast is only celebrated the following day in the diocese of Orléans.

We see no mention of his relics anywhere. The opinion of those who attribute to him the book of the *Call of the Gentiles* does not appear to be supported by solid evidence.

Proper of Orléans, supplemented with Baillet. — Cf. *Acta Sanctorum*.