Elected abbess of Arles at only eighteen, Rusticula led a community of three hundred nuns with great austerity. Falsely accused by King Clotaire III of sheltering a fugitive prince, she was exonerated thanks to the intervention of the Bishop of Vienne and her own virtues. She died in 632, leaving behind a reputation for holiness marked by the gift of tears.
Guided reading
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SAINT RUSTICULA OR RUSTICLE,
ABBESS OF SAINT-CÉSAIRE D'ARLES
Vocation and abbatial election
Rusticula refuses to return to the world and devotes herself to religious life, learning the Scriptures and practicing great humility. She is elected abbess of the monastery of Arles at only eighteen years of age after the death of Liliole.
to spend the rest of her days in the monastery where she was. In vain did her mother make efforts to re-engage her in the world. Having become a nun, she occupied herself only with the fulfillment of her rule. She learned by heart all the books of Scripture. She studied to forget the beautiful qualities of body and mind that she had received from nature, and distinguished herself only by her modesty and her humility. She was so esteemed by her community that she was elected abbess after the death of the venerable vénérable Liliole Predecessor of Rusticula as head of the monastery. Liliole, although she was hardly more than eighteen years old. She responded to the hope that had been conceived of her. Her zeal for austerities was astonishing; often she took only one meal in three days. She watched over each of her nuns, although they were three hundred in number.
Accusation and political ordeal
Suspected by King Clotaire III of hiding Prince Childebert, Rusticula was arrested and taken to court. She was defended by Bishop Domnolus of Vienne and was eventually released after proving her innocence through her virtues and miracles.
Clotaire III, King of Soissons, after having put to death Brunhilda, Queen of Austrasia, searched everywhere for the grandson of the deceased, Childebert, who had escaped his grasp, in order to make him suffer the same fate. A rumor spread that this prince was hidden in Arles, in the monastery of Saint-Caesarius. A alarmed Clotaire immediately ha d the Abbess Rust abbesse Rusticule Abbess of Arles in the 7th century, known for her piety and political trials. icula arrested. She was taken to court. Her slanderers already regarded her ruin as certain. But God confounded her enemies and made her innocence shine forth. Domnolus, Bishop o Domnole, évêque de Vienne Bishop who defended Rusticula before the king. f Vienne, openly declared himself the defender of the Abbess of Arles against her accusers, and predicted to the king that, in punishment for the ill-treatment he had inflicted upon the servant of the Lord, he would lose his son. The young prince indeed died. The holy abbess confounded the slander even better by the brilliance of her miracles and her virtues, which edified the entire court. Clotaire, persuaded that Heaven was taking up the cause of this holy nun, restored her to liberty. Rusticula suffered this ordeal with great resignation, and forgave all those whom malice or prejudice had armed against her.
Governance, death and relics
Returning to Arles, she led her community with wisdom until her death in 632. Her body was transferred to the Saint-Trophime cathedral, while her head remained at the Saint-Césaire abbey.
Upon returning to her community, she continued to govern with the same edification. She took care not to demand from her nuns tasks that were beyond their strength; but at the same time, she kept them always occupied, to protect them from the danger of idleness. She died in 632 and was buried in her monastery by Theodosius, Bishop of Arles. He r body was later transpo Théodose, évêque d'Arles Roman emperor who ordered the closure of pagan temples. rted to the cathedral dedicated under the invocation of Saint Trophime. However, her head was left in the Abbey of Saint-Césaire, which, at the time of the Revolution, had long been under the Rule of Saint Benedict, and was commonly called the Grand-Couvent Grand-Couvent Monastery directed by Rusticula, later under the Rule of Saint Benedict. .
Iconography and historical sources
The saint is traditionally depicted in tears, symbolizing her gift of tears. Her life is known to us through the account of the priest Florent of Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux.
She is often depicted shedding tears, either because of the gift of tears she had received from God in her prayers, or because of the persecutions she had to endure.
Florent, a priest of Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, left Florent, prêtre de Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux Author of the ancient biography of Rusticula. us her life, which is very elegantly written.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.