Bishop of Rennes in the 8th century, Moderan renounced his office after a pilgrimage to Rome marked by a miracle involving relics of Saint Remi on Mount Bardon. He retired to the monastery of Berzetto in Italy, where he became the abbot and apostle of the region. He died there in holiness in 730 after ten years of religious life.
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SAINT MODERAN OR MORAN, BISHOP OF RENNES (730).
Youth and elevation to the episcopate
Moderan, born in the diocese of Rennes and from a noble family, climbed the ecclesiastical ranks until he became bishop of Rennes with the approval of the prince and the people.
Moderan Moderan Bishop of Rennes and later a monk in Italy in the 8th century. came into the world in the diocese of R diocèse de Rennes Episcopal see where the saint exercised his ministry. ennes and received, from his childhood, an education in accordance with the high rank held by his parents. Attached by inclination to study, he made rapid progress and soon became a very learned young man. The bishop of Rennes received him among the number of the clerics of his church. The merit of the young servant of God growing with age, he was raised to the priesthood, and acquired by his virtues the esteem of the clergy and the faithful; thus, the episcopal see having become vacant, he was called to fill it with the general approval of the prince, the nobles, and the people.
Pilgrimage to Rome and relics of Saint Remi
Under the reign of Chilperic, Moderan undertook a pilgrimage to Rome, stopping at Reims to obtain relics of Saint Remi.
It was under the reign o f Chilper Chilpéric King of the Franks during whose reign Moderan was bishop. ic that he became Bishop of Rennes. After some time in the episcopate, he obtained permission from this prince to make a pilgrim age Rome Birthplace of Maximian. to Rome. Moderan directed his route so as to pass through the c ity o Reims Site of the baptism of Clovis. f Reims, and having lodged at the monastery Saint-Remi Patron saint of the village of Domrémy. of Saint-Remi, he obtained from Bernard, treasurer of the church, a portion of the stole, the hairshirt, and the mantle of the holy pontiff.
The miracle of Mount Bardon
During the crossing of the Apennines, the relics of Saint Remi remain miraculously fixed to an oak tree, only allowing themselves to be retrieved after the promise to leave a portion at the monastery of Berzetto.
Charmed to have acquired these riches, he continued his journey with joy toward Italy. One night, while he was at Mount Bard mont Bardon Site of the miracle of the relics in the Apennines. on, which is part of the Apennines, he hung these relics on a holm oak. He rose the next morning and continued his journey without remembering the precious pledge he had left at the tree. Having only noticed his loss quite far from there, he immediately sent a cleric named Wulfade to retrieve these relics; but the latter could not manage to execute what he had been ordered to do. It was impossible for him to reach them, and the closer he approached, the more they seemed to rise. The bishop, having learned of this miracle, returned to the same place and pitched his tent there; but though he prayed for part of the night, he could obtain nothing. His treasure was only returned to him when, while sa ying Mass the next da monastère de Berzetto Italian monastery where Moderan ended his days. y at the monastery of Berzetto—today a small town in the Parmesan region, which was nea saint Abundius Martyr to whom the monastery of Berzetto was dedicated. r there and dedicated to Saint Abundius, martyr—he had promised to leave a portion of the relics in that monastery. Immediately they were returned to him; he fulfilled his vow and continued his journey.
Monastic retreat and end of life
After resigning from his see of Rennes and distributing his goods, Moderan retired to the monastery of Berzetto in Italy where he died in 730.
Luitprand, who had reigned in Italy since the year 712, having been informed of this miracle, came to meet the bishop, and, for the love of Saint Remi, gave him the monastery of Berzetto with all the dependencies of the abbey. Moderan, after having satisfied his devotion in the capital of the Christian world, passed through Reims on his return from Rome, and visited the tomb of Saint Remi. He made to this blessed apostle of the French the same donation as that which he had received from Luitprand. Having then returned to Rennes, he had a successor ordained in his place, sold all his goods and distributed the price to the poor; then, having taken leave of his people, he returned to the monastery of Berzetto (720). His zeal made him the apostle of all the peoples in the vicinity of the abbey, to whom he announced the truths of the faith. It is asserted that God authorized his preachings through several miracles. After having spent ten years in the monastery he had chosen as the place of his retreat, he ended his days there holily in the exercises of religious life in October 730. This abbey still possessed the body of Saint Mod saint Moderan Bishop of Rennes and later a monk in Italy in the 8th century. eran at the end of th e last century. ville de Rennes Episcopal see where the saint exercised his ministry. There was in the city of Rennes, near the seas of the ancient city, a priory that bore the name of Saint-Moran. The church of Rennes celebrates the memory of this holy bishop on October 22, with an office of the minor double rite.
Source
The text is extracted from the work 'Les Saints de Bretagne' by Irma Lubincan.
Excerpt from Les Saints de Bretagne, by Irma Lubi Irma Lubincan Author of the source work on the saints of Brittany. ncan.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Elevation to the episcopal see of Rennes under Chilperic
- Pilgrimage to Rome and passage through Reims
- Miracle of the relics of Saint Remi at Mont Bardon
- Donation of the monastery of Berzetto by King Liutprand
- Renunciation of his bishopric and monastic retreat in Berzetto in 720
- Died at the monastery of Berzetto in 730
Miracles
- Supernatural elevation of the relics of Saint Remi, suspended from an oak tree on Mount Bardon to prevent their removal without a promise of donation.