Blessed Nicolas Appleine

The miracles that occurred every day at his tomb testified to the power he enjoyed with God. The sick from the surrounding countries went or had themselves transported to Prémery to obtain their healing at the tomb of this holy priest, and their hope was not deceived. And a few years after the death of Blessed Nicolas Appleine, it was no longer only the inhabitants bienheureux Nicolas Appleine Priest and canon of the collegiate church of Saint-Marcel de Prémery in the 15th century. of Prémery and the neighboring parishes who came to prostrate themselves before his tomb; crowds flocked there from the neighboring dioceses. Louis XI, then ill, also wished to have Louis XI King of France who enriched the reliquary of the Innocents in Paris. recourse to the prayers of the holy priest; he wrote to Pierre de Fontenay, Bisho p of Nevers, to be Pierre de Fontenay Bishop of Nevers, contemporary of Louis XI. g him to send him évêque de Nevers The saint's first episcopal see. the cassock of the venerable canon of Prémery; the Bishop of Ne soutane du vénérable chanoine Garment of the saint sent to King Louis XI. vers could not refuse the king what he asked of him, and charged the sister of the Blessed one to carry this precious relic to the prince herself. It is not known if the king experienced any relief from it; one would be inclined to believe so according to the letter he wrote to Pierre de Fontenay when returning it to him.

Eustache de Chéry Eustache de Chéry Bishop of Nevers who performed the first exhumation of the body. , Bishop of Nevers, performed the exhumation of his body and deposited his bones in a lead chest two and a half feet long, which he enclosed in masonry above which was a tomb with an inscription.

In 1731, Charles Fontaines des Montées Charles Fontaines des Montées Bishop of Nevers who organized the translation of the relics in 1731. , Bishop of Nevers, who was in the course of visitations, went to the said tomb on May 2, appointed two surgeons to whom he had an oath sworn to ascertain the state of the bones, and removed them from the lead box that contained them, then wrapped them with respect in a white cloth. They were placed with care in the sacristy, in a cupboard that was sealed with the episcopal seal; on May 11, they were placed in an oak chest, which was also sealed with the bishop's coat of arms and put in the sacristy, while waiting for the new altar arranged to receive them to be prepared. This altar was erected behind the altar of the collegiate church, in the form of a charnel house, that is to say square, hollow inside with an opening on the front, fitted with an iron grille closing with two keys. It was on July 3, 1731, that Charles Bernard, parish priest-archpriest of Saint-Saulge, commissioned for this purpose, removed the relics from the sacristy and carried them solemnly to the new altar, in the presence of a large gathering of people.

By his ordinance of May 2, Charles Fontaines des Montées permitted the celebration of the Holy Mass at this altar, in honor of the Holy Trinity and of the Blessed Nicolas, on the anniversary days of his death and of the translation of his relics, and whenever it would be requested, and confirmed all that his predecessors had done.

Excerpt from the Hagiologie Nivern Hagiologie Nivernoise Reference work by Mgr Crosnier. oise, by Mrs. Crouvier.