Saint Celine
Celinie
Mother of Saint Remigius
Wife of the Count of Laon in the 5th century, Saint Celine is the mother of Saint Prince and Saint Remigius. After a long period of sterility, she gave birth to Remigius in her old age following the prophecy of the hermit Montanus. She is honored for her piety and for raising her sons in holiness.
Guided reading
5 reading sections
SAINT CELINE OR CELINIE, MOTHER OF SAINT REMIGIUS (5th century).
Marriage and first offspring
Celine, wife of Emile, Count of Laon, leads a virtuous life and gives birth to a first son, Saint Prince, future Bishop of Soissons.
Saint Celine, Sainte Céline Young woman from Meaux converted to virginity by Genevieve. commendable for her piety and virtues, had married in her youth Emile, Co unt of Laon, a lord Émile, comte de Laon Count of Laon and husband of Saint Céline. of high nobility who earned the praises of Saint Sidonius Apol linaris, Bishop of Clermo saint Sidoine Apollinaire Bishop of Clermont-Ferrand who praised Count Ecdicius. nt-Ferrand. She lived with her husband in great union; she was dear to him because of her amiable character and also because of her prudence, her reserve, her modesty, and the tender and chaste affection she bore him. The Lord blessed this marriage, one of the first fruits of which was the birth of a child called to a high destiny: this was Saint Prince or Principe, who became Bishop of Soissons.
The prophecy of the hermit Montanus
After years of sterility, the hermit Montanus receives a divine revelation announcing that Celine will give birth to Remigius for the salvation of Belgic Gaul.
After some time, by a secret design of Providence, Celine ceased to be fruitful, and for many long years, she often groaned before the Lord over the deprivation of a more numerous offspring. Her prayers were not in vain before the God of goodness and mercy. A famous solitary named Montanus, who lived in the middle of the woods of La Fère, spending his life in fasting, vigils, and continual prayers, was often favored with heavenly revelations. As the Church was then burdened with various evils in Belgic Gaul, this saint constantly asked God to have compassion on this region and to restore its peace. Having, on one occasion among others, spent an entire night in ecclesiastical prayer for this subject, he heard a voice from above which said: "The Lord has deigned to look upon the earth from the height of heaven, so that all the nations of the world may proclaim the wonders of his power and that kings may hold it an honor to serve him. Celine shall be the mother of a son who shall be named Remigius (Remi or R emed Remi Bishop of Reims who baptized Clovis. ius); I shall employ him for the deliverance of my people."
The announcement to Céline and the miraculous sign
Montan informs Céline of her future motherhood despite her advanced age and predicts the healing of his own blindness through the saint's milk.
Montan received the order three times to go and warn this virtuous lady of the wonders that God would perform through her. The holy hermit therefore went t o Cer Cerny Location of the castle of Céline. ny, where Céline's castle was, and communicated to her what he had heard in his vision. "How can it be," replied Céline, "that my husband and I being so old, I should still find myself a mother in my old age?" — "Not only will this happen," replied the holy man, "but when you come to wean your child, a few drops of your milk put on my eyes will make me recover the sight that I have lost for so long."
Birth of Saint Remi and education
Remi is born in Laon, the miracle of Montan's sight is fulfilled, and the child is trained in piety before becoming the apostle of the Franks.
Celine and Emile believed these words; and in the tenth month that followed, this lady gave birth to a son whom she named Remi; Laon prides itself on having seen him born. As for the pious hermit, he recovered his sight by rubbing his eyes with his milk, just as he had predicted. Celine and Emile took the greatest care in the education of this child of blessing. They placed him in Laon to be instructed in letters and sciences, and at the same time formed in piety among the clerics of the Church of Saint Mary. He became Archbishop of Reims and baptized archevêque de Reims Bishop of Reims who baptized Clovis. Clovis, the first Clovis First king of the Franks to convert to Catholicism. king of France.
Death and burial place
Saint Celine died at an advanced age and was buried in Lavergny, near Laon.
Celine died at an advanced age, full of merits before God and men. She was buried in Lavergny (Labriniacum ), forme Lavergny Burial place of Saint Celine. rly a parish, today a farm belonging to the district, about two leagues from Laon.
Saint Celine is represented in the company of her son Saint Remi.
Notice due to the kindness of Father Henri Congnet, of the chapter of Soissons.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Marriage to Émile, Count of Laon
- Birth of her first son, Saint Prince
- Long period of infertility
- Prophetic announcement of the birth of Remi by the hermit Montan
- Miraculous birth of Saint Remi in her old age
- Healing of Montan's blindness with her breast milk
- Christian education of her children in Laon
Miracles
- Late and miraculous conception of Saint Remi
- Healing of the hermit Montan's blindness with a few drops of her breast milk
Quotes
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How can it be that, my husband and I being so old, I find myself a mother in my old age?
Dialogue with the hermit Montan