Saint Salvius

The abbot of this place having died, he was elected in his stead, and he could not excuse himself from occupying it for some time; but, as the affairs of this office, whose duties he fulfilled admirably, prevented him from devoting himself to prayer and contemplation as much as he desired, he renounced it and shut himself up in a remote cell, to be perfectly solitary there. It was like a tomb where he buried himself alive, to die to the world and be forgotten by it. He redoubled his fasts and other austerities in this hermitage where he enjoyed, moreover, those ineffable delights which the divine Goodness shares with those who are dead to the world and to themselves, and who seek only God alone. Nevertheless, he received with kindness those who visited him, instructed them in their duties, encouraged them in virtue, and healed their illnesses through his prayers and his touch.

In these pious exercises, he fell ill with a burning fever; his room trembled and was filled with a celestial light. He raised his hands and eyes to heaven, and it was believed that he was thus yielding up his most pure spirit, to appear before the majesty of his sovereign. The brothers gathered; they took his body from his bed, washed it, clothed it, placed it in the coffin, and spent the whole night beside him chanting psalms. During this time, his soul was carried by the angels into paradise. There it saw the King of glory, seated on his throne, the blessed company of angels and Saints, and the beauties of this place of delights, which infinitely surpass all the beauties of this world. Salvi even discerned there the Saints whom we honor on earth, and he enjoyed that ineffable light, before which the light of the sun is but darkness. However, he heard a voice saying: "Lord, send him back into the world, for this good servant is still necessary to the Church." At this voice, he pleaded strongly not to be sent back and deprived of the great happiness he was enjoying, and he said: "Ah! Lord, do not send me back into the world, this place of sin and misery, for fear that I might offend you again and render myself unworthy of possessing you eternally." But Our Lord gave him good courage, assured him that He would be his protector, and that after the services He expected of him, He would bring him back into a greater glory.

Thus his soul was sent back into his body; and, when they were preparing to bury him, color began to appear on his cheeks, his eyes opened, he felt in perfect health, and he rose from the coffin where he was laid. They asked him eagerly what had happened to him, but he went to his cell without wishing to give any answer, still exhaling an incomparable fragrance, which was like a remnant of the happiness he had enjoyed in heaven. After three days, his mother and brothers having gathered around him to make him speak, he cried out: "O folly, O vanity that all the things of the earth are! Happy and infinitely happy are those who do not attach their hearts to them, so as to be able to reach the goods of blessed eternity." He believed he had said enough; but they pressed him so much to explain himself more fully, that he finally told everything that had happened to him, as we have just recounted. At that very hour, he no longer felt that ravishing fragrance with which he had previously been perfumed, and his tongue was covered with sores. Tears then flowed from his eyes, and he added: "Woe to me for having discovered this secret of heaven! Doubtless, my God, you desired that it remain hidden; but I did it in the simplicity of my heart and not out of vanity, nor presumption. Forgive me, my divine Master, and do not fail to fulfill your promises in me." I fear, says Saint Gregory, his historian, that one might not believe this whole account, which appears extraordinary, because imperfect souls do not wish to believe what passes their understanding: but I take God as my witness that I learned all these things from the very mouth of Saint Salvi, who had the kindness to recount them to me.

Since that event, he made constant new progress in virtue, and the bishopric of Albi having b évêché d'Albi City in Gaul where Eugene spent his final days in exile. ecome vacant, he was torn against his will from his cell to govern that Church (around the year 574). For ten years, he fulfilled all the duties of a good shepherd there, inflaming all his children with the desire to possess that infinite happiness of which he himself had had some enjoyment. At the end of this time, the plague infected the city of Albi and carried off the greater part of the inhabitants. The holy Prelate, far from fleeing, remained in the midst of his flock, assisting the plague-stricken with intrepid zeal and courage. Few of his diocesans remained to him; but he did not diminish any of his vigilance and charity in providing them with aid. He deprived himself of the most necessary things in life to support them and give them alms. The patrician Mommolus, having taken several captives from the city of Albi, this good shepherd ran after them and delivered them. He gene roi Chilpéric King of the Franks praised by Fortunatus. rously rebuked King Chilperic, who held heretical sentiments regardi ng the Trinité Theological concept used by the saint for healings. adorable mystery of the Trinity and clung to them obstinately.

Saint Salvi attended, in 580, th e Council of Brai Concile de Braine Ecclesiastical assembly held in 580. ne, in the diocese of Soisson diocèse de Soissons Birthplace and place of death of Geoffrey. s. Following the example of the bishops of the first centuries, he brought the light of the Gospel into lands from which paganism had not yet been entirely banished. His words, supported by his example, bore wonderful fruit; he converted and baptized many infidels and set them on the path of eternal salvation. Having been warned of the day of his passing, he had his tomb prepared and the garments in which he was to be clothed after his death; being thus laden with an infinity of merits that he did not have at the time of his first death, he entered gloriously into heaven to enjoy the divine presence of Him whom he had so faithfully served on earth. This was on September 10 of the year 586. Saint Gregory ends his life with these words: *Multa de hoc viro bona audivi*: "Besides what I have just said, I have learned many very advantageous things about this holy personage."

In 1194, on the 8th of the Ides of October, the discovery of the body of Saint Salvi, who rested in a sepulcher behind the altar of Saint-Saturnin, was made in the presence of the bishop and a numerous clergy. As soon as the stone covering it was removed, a celestial perfume exhaled from it. His precious relics were reburied with honor, and from then on the devotion of the people toward the Saint only increased. The Church of Albi celebrates the feast of the invention and translation of his body on October 11.

He is depicted, in an ancient stained-glass window, in the posture and with the clothing of a hermit praying on his knees, with hands extended.

Saint Gregory of Tours, and the Propre d'Albi.