Saint Sylvin

« Saint Peter did not delay in learning that idolatry dominated in the Gauls: he therefore resolved to break the scepter that the demon extended over these provinces, and he said to Sylvin and Sylvester: « My dearest brothers, go to the land of the Gauls: direct your steps toward a town in Berry that is call ed *Gab Gabatum Principal site of the saint's ministry and veneration. atum*. With the grace of God, save there the souls that the ancient enemy holds in his nets ». Sylvin and Sylvester, after having received the blessing of the Apostle, obeyed his voice. While they were on their journey and staying in Bethany, a town not far from Rome, it happened that Sylvester fell ill and died. Saint Sylvin rendered him the last duties as was fitting, and returned to Rome to inform Saint Peter of what had occurred. The blessed Apostle handed to Sylvin his pastoral sta ff and said to bâton pastoral Instrument used by Sylvin to resurrect Sylvester. him: « Retrace your steps; go to the tomb of Sylvester, and, in the name of Jesus Christ, command that he be resurrected ». Sylvin set out again with the pastoral staff of Saint Peter, and having gone to the place where the body of Sylvester rested, he overturned the tomb, made the staff of the Apostle touch the holy body, and said, as he had received the order: « My brother, in the name of the Father, and of the Son who resurrected Lazarus, and of the Holy Spirit, return to life. It is in the name of Jesus Christ that I speak, return to life and let us fulfill together the ministry that obedience has entrusted to us ». Scarcely had he spoken, and behold, Sylvester, like a man emerging from a deep sleep, opened his eyes and returned to life. The two Saints set out again on their journey so as not to delay in spreading afar the words of salvation that they had received from the Master.

« Sylvin and Sylvestre raised a church which they dedicated to the Lord and to Peter, prince of the Apostles, where Jesus Christ was blessed and adored. The lame, the blind, the paralyzed, all the sick who came to pray there were healed, and Sylvin, by the mere laying on of hands, delivered the possessed from the demon. The report of the miracles that the Lord performed in this place, through the ministry of his servants, spread far and wide. But soon Sylvin himself fell ill, and, full of contempt for the things of this world, he spoke with enthusiasm of the happiness he would soon enjoy in heaven as a servant of Jesus Christ. His disciples and the virgin Ro vierge Rodène Virgin and disciple of Saint Silvin. dène were plunged into sadness and said to him: « Beloved Father, why do you leave us so soon? ». Sylvin, who had but a breath of life left, gathered his strength and answered them: « Ah! I implore you, do not abandon yourselves to grief ».

« At the same moment, the Christians who surrounded his bed heard melodious voices singing in the sky; the air was perfumed with sweet odors, and the soul of the blessed confessor, separating from his body, flew into the bosom of God. The Christians celebrated his funeral, and, two hours later, Saint Sylvestre and the blessed Rodène themselves breathed their last, and thus passed with Sylvin to the kingdom of heaven, where they enjoy eternal happiness with the Saints and the elect of God ».

Let us say a word about the posthumous glory of Saint Sylvin of Levroux. A powerful lord at the court of King Clotaire imposed no restraint upon himself and led the most disorderly life. God, in His goodness, struck the body of this hardened courtier to save his soul. Such a trembling came upon him that he could not even raise his hand to his forehead; he finally recognized the hand of God chastising him, and had himself carried for several days in a row to the church of Saint-Martin of Tours, spending long hours praying to the blessed bishop to intercede for him and obtain mercy for him. He experienced no relief; but one night, while he slept, Sa int Martin a saint Martin Spiritual model for Aquilin. ppeared to him and warned him to have himself carried to Levroux, before the relics of Saint Sylvin. This lord, immediately upon waking, gave orders; he set out, and after having prayed in the church of Levroux for about two hours, his infirmity disappeared, and he returned home, praising the power of Saint Sylvin, to whom he was indebted for his healing.

A cleric from the city of Toulouse, named Hugon, and of illustrious extraction, was so covered in leprosy that, unable to bear the disgust he inspired in his friends and even his family, he resolved to leave his country and go from pilgrimage to pilgrimage, until God, taking pity on his fate, had restored his health. Hugon had already visited many churches, prayed before the relics of a great number of Saints, and he felt no softening of his condition. He arrived at Levroux: he spent several days and several nights in prayer before the tomb of Saint Sylvin, and he recovered such perfect health that not the slightest trace of his hideous disease remained. Hugon did not wish to return to Toulouse; but full of gratitude for the Saint to whom he was indebted for his healing, he dedicated the rest of his days to the service of the church of Levroux, where he fulfilled the office of deacon until his death.

[APPENDIX: CULT AND RELICS. — PILGRIMAGE.]

We know neither the date nor any detail of the first translation of the relics of Saint Sylvin: we only know that the chapter of Levroux celebrated its anniversary on May 1st, and the feast of Saint Philip was postponed to the following day. The second translation was presided over by Saint William, Archbishop of Bourges: it is believed to have taken place at the beginning of the 13th century, after the construction of the current church.

The relics of Saints Sylvin and Sylvester were visited and recognized several times by the archbishops of Bourges. In 1439, some people maliciously spread the rumor that the head venerated at Levroux was not that of Saint Sylvin; the canons were moved by this and implored Mgr Henri d'Avaug our to have the stat Mgr Henri d'Avaugour Archbishop of Bourges who ordered a visitation of relics in 1439. e of the holy relics verified. The prelate commissioned Guillaume Crasset and Pierre Durand, priests and apostolic notaries, to visit the shrines. They found three chests of mediocre size. On one was this inscription, in very ancient characters: shrine of Saint Sylvin; on the second: shrine of Saint Sylvester, and on the third: shrine of Saint Rodène. In the first were enclosed all the bones of Saint Sylvin, with the exception of the head and an arm which remained exposed, in the church, to the veneration of the faithful, in separate shrines. This chest also contained the Acts and legends of these three Saints, several church books of great antiquity, and the letters of Philippe Berruyer, which confirmed that the head and arm of Saint Sylvin had been removed and placed by him in other reliquaries. On this occasion, the archbishop granted forty days of indulgence to all those who, truly contrite, would visit the church of Levroux, give some alms, and pray there for peace. Some time before, Pope Eugene IV had granted one hundred days of indulgence to all those who would visit the sa me church on t pape Eugène IV Pope who sent Nicholas Albergati to the Council of Basel. he days of Christmas, the Circumcision, Easter, Pentecost, and on the feasts of the Virgin, and of Saints Sylvin, Sylvester, and Rodène. In 1444, the shrine of Saint Sylvin was opened again, and the official of the diocese authorized Guillaume Vaquelin, canon of Saint-Agnan, to detach a bone, four fingers long, to have it venerated in the province. In 1505, the holy relics were recognized again by Mgr Guillaume de Cambrai, who, in his letters patent, praised those that had been issued, in 1439, by his predecessor Henri d'Avaugour.

The holy bodies of Saint Sylvin, Saint Sylvestre, and Saint Rodène were desecrated by the Huguenot s in 1562 Huguenots Event during which the Cathedral of Meaux was devastated. . The heretics pillaged the church of Levroux and burned the holy relics. However, they managed to save the heads of the two holy confessors from their sacrilegious fury, as is confirmed by the letters of Mgr Michel Phelippaux who, in 1685, recognized the state of these precious relics and the authentic letters that accompanied them.

The Revolution of '93 did not entirely strip Levroux of its pious treasure. The head of Saint Sylvin was saved during those disastrous days by a man named Gengry, who later returned it to the church. Abbé Villeret, the parish priest of Levroux at that time, drew up a report of this restitution in the presence of several clergymen, local authorities, the most notable persons of the parish, and two doctors. This report was submitted to Mgr de Meret, Archbishop of Bourges,

who, after a serious examination, recognized the authenticity of the relics and permitted them to be publicly exposed for the veneration of the faithful. These two letters patent are carefully preserved in the reliquary of Saint Sylvin.

The feast of Saint Sylvin and Saint Sylvester is marked on September 22 in the Roman Martyrology. The fifth Sunday after Easter and August 15 are the times of the great gathering: but not a day passes without several people coming to Levroux to commend themselves to the protection of the holy confessor. They come from the most distant regions; but they flock especially from the arrondissements of La Châtre and Le Blanc, from Limousin, Poitou, Touraine, and the Blaisois.

Excerpt from the *Pieux pèlerinage de Saint-Sylvin de Levroux* (Pious Pilgrimage of Saint-Sylvin of Levroux), by the Rev. Fr. Pessac, of the Society of Jesus. Nantes, 1854.