A priest of the diocese of Le Mans in the 6th century, Saint Rigomer evangelized the Sonnois and founded the church of Mamers on an ancient pagan temple. Accompanied by Saint Tenestine, he lived as a hermit in Souligné-sous-Vallon, where he caused a miraculous fountain to spring forth. Their relics were later transferred to the Abbey of Maillezais.
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SAINT RIGOMER AND SAINT TENESTINE, HERMITS,
Origins and formation
Rigomer was born in the 6th century in the Sonnois region and received a religious education under the priest Launillus before being ordained by Bishop Innocent.
IN THE DIOCESE OF LE MANS (6th cen tury). Rigomer Solitary and evangelist of the Diocese of Le Mans in the 6th century. Rigomer was born in the diocese of Le Mans, in the part known as the Sonnois, where one can see today a village that bears his name (Saint-Rigomer-des-Bois, near the forest of Perseigne). His parents belonged to the class of free persons, and, to ensure their son received an education in accordance with his pious inclinations, they entrusted him, from his childhood, to a holy priest named Launillus, under whom he made rapid progress in piety and letters. Raised to the priesthood by Saint Inn ocent, Bishop saint Innocent Bishop of Le Mans who ordained Constantianus. of Le Mans (532-543), he was charged with announcing the word of God. Rigomer set himself, with untiring zeal, to preach the Christian truths in his own family and throughout the Sonnois region, and to exhort the people to abandon the superstitious customs of paganism. His discourses, full of a simple eloquence and supported by the brilliance of miracles, brought about numerous conversions; a multitude of infidels renounced the worship of idols and embraced the religion of Jesus Christ. Having learned, during one of his apostolic journeys, that there was in the region a temple dedicated to the god Mars, he hastened to go and preach in that place. His word was so effective that the inhabitants destroyed this temple and raised upon its ruins a church where the true God would be worshipped. Such was the origin of the town of Mamers Mamers Town founded on the site of an ancient temple of Mars. .
Apostolic mission and foundation of Mamers
Rigomer evangelizes his region, combats paganism, and transforms a temple dedicated to Mars into a church, marking the origin of the city of Mamers.
The reputation for holiness that Rigomer enjoyed was such that people came from all sides to commend themselves to his prayers; a crowd of the sick and infirm implored him to intercede for them before God; he would make the sign of the cross over them and anoint them with blessed oil, and they would recover their health. In the same way, he healed a lady of illustrious birth named Truda; he then addressed to her pressing exhortations to piety. They made the deepest impression on a young girl of the household named Ténestine. Renouncing from that mom Ténestine Disciple of Saint Rigomer and founder of a monastery. ent all the advantages of the world, she followed Rigomer into solitude and went to live in a cell near his own, to perfect herself under his direction in the spiritual life. Calumny pursued these two pure souls even into the desert: but God took the cause of his servants into his own hands and took it upon himself to justify them. Ténestine had an oratory built with a small monastery near the Sarthe, at the place where the parish church of Gourdaine was later located. As for Rigomer, he withdrew three and a half leagues from Le Mans, into a solitary place covered with woods, where the parish of Souligné-sous-Vallon (Sarthe, arrondisse ment of Le Mans, can Souligné-sous-Vallon Final retreat of Rigomer, featuring a miraculous spring. ton of La Suze) is seen today. It owes to his miraculous intervention a fountain whose very clear water serves for the maintenance of the inhabitants and bears the name of Saint-Rigomer; it has never dried up, even in the greatest droughts.
Miracles and vocation of Tenestine
Renowned for his healings, Rigomer inspires the young Tenestine, who chooses to follow him into the solitary life despite the calumnies.
Saint Rigomer died in his solitude on August 24. His body was transported to Le Mans, and a basilica was built in his honor; but it has since been demolished, and today the location where it was built is not even known. Later, his body was transported, along with that of Saint Tenestine, to the Abbey of Maillezais in Poitou abbaye de Maillezais Site of the translation of the relics of the two saints in Poitou. , where they were long honored as patrons. The parish of Souligné-sous-Vallon is under the patronage of Saint Rigomer, as are those of Saint-Rigomer-des-Bois and Saint-Rémi-du-Plain. The church of Souligné possesses a statue of the Saint; but it is deprived of his relics.
Retreat and foundations
Ténestine founded a monastery at Gourdaine while Rigomer retired to Souligné-sous-Vallon, where he caused a miraculous spring to gush forth.
We owe this notice to the kindness of Father Loguicheux, parish priest of Souligné-sous-Vallon.
Death and posterity of the cult
After his death on August 24, the remains of Rigomer and Tenestine were transferred to the Abbey of Maillezais; his cult remains vibrant in several parishes of the Sarthe.
Saint Rigomer died in his solitude on August 24. His body was transported to Le Mans, and a basilica was built in his honor; but it has since been demolished and today one does not even know the place where it was built. Later, his body was transported with that of Saint Tenestine to the Abbey of Maillezais, in Poitou, where they were long honored as patrons. The parish of Souligné-sous-Vallon is under the patronage of Saint Rigomer, as are those of Saint-Rigomer-des-Bois and Saint-Rémi-du-Plain. The church of Souligné possesses a statue of the Saint; but it is deprived of its relics.
Sources of the notice
The text is based on information provided by Abbé Loguicheux, parish priest of Souligné-sous-Vallon.
We owe this notice to the kindness of M. l'abbé Loguicheux, parish priest of Souligné-sous-Vallon.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Education by the priest Launillus
- Ordination to the priesthood by Saint Innocent, Bishop of Le Mans
- Evangelization of the Sonnois and destruction of a temple of Mars in Mamers
- Miraculous healing of the lady Truda
- Retreat into solitude with Ténestine
- Foundation of an oratory by Tenestine near the Sarthe river
Miracles
- Healings through anointing with blessed oil and the sign of the cross
- Creation of an inexhaustible fountain in Souligné-sous-Vallon
- Divine vindication against slander