An undisciplined disciple of Saint Martin in Tours, Brice succeeded him as bishop after a life of disorder followed by deep penance. Slandered and accused of fatherhood, he proved his innocence through miracles before enduring a seven-year exile. He ended his days holily governing his diocese.
Guided reading
6 reading sections
SAINT BRICE, ARCHBISHOP OF TOURS (444).
Youth and formation under Saint Martin
A native of Tours, Brice was trained at the monastery of Marmoutiers by Saint Martin, who endured his misconduct and predicted his succession despite his pride.
Saint Brice was from the city of Tours; he was placed at an early age in the hands of Saint Martin saint Martin Spiritual model for Aquilin. , who trained him in the famous monastery of Marmoutier monastère de Marmoutiers Famous monastery founded by Saint Martin where Brice was trained. s. At first, he profited from the lessons of such a good master, was admitted into the sacred Orders, and even received priestly ordination, despite many faults of which he had already been guilty. Soon he became a subject of scandal through his pride and his outbursts; Saint Martin had much to suffer at the hands of this ungrateful disciple, but he would never consent, despite the solicitations of his clergy, to degrade him from the priesthood and to drive him from his church; God had revealed to him that Brice would succeed him, and the Saint had declared it openly.
Conversion and accession to the episcopate
After the death of Saint Martin, Brice radically changed his life, performed penance, and became his successor at the head of the diocese of Tours.
The gentleness of Saint Martin contributed to bringing Brice back from his wanderings; and, upon the death of the holy bishop, there was no hesitation in giving him as a successor the one whom he himself had designated on behalf of God. Brice, from that moment on, became another man; he did everything in his power to make people forget his past conduct, and to atone, through penance, for the many faults he had committed.
The Trial of Calumny and Exile
Unjustly accused of fatherhood, he proves his innocence through the miracle of a newborn who speaks, but still undergoes seven years of exile before being reinstated by the Pope.
Saint Martin had foretold that tribulations would not be spared him; he was, indeed, slandered in various ways, and the virtue that was dearer to him than all others could not escape unjust suspicions. Trusting in Him who sooner or later establishes Himself as the defender of innocence, he had a nursing infant, whom he was accused of fathering, brought before the assembled crowd and ordered him to declare the truth. Immediately, the child's tongue was loosened to pronounce these words very clearly: "No, you are not my father." The people urged the bishop to ask who his father was; but Brice refused, saying that it was enough for him to be cleared of the crime of which he was accused. Despite this miracle and others that followed, they would not believe in his innocence. He was driven from his episcopal city, to which he did not return until after seven years of exile, by the order of the sovereign Pontiff who had recognized h souverain Pontife Unidentified pope who sent relics of Saint Peter to Évroult. is innocence. Brice governed his diocese for another seven years, after which he died, filled with merits.
Burial and translation of relics
Initially buried in Tours, his body was later transferred to Clermont by Saint Gregory of Tours to be placed near Saint Gall.
His body was deposited in the church he had built over the tomb of Saint Martin. Around the year 380 , Saint Gregory of Tour saint Grégoire de Tours Historian and bishop, primary source for the narrative. s had it transferred to Clerm Clermont Episcopal see of Saint Gal. ont, in Auvergne, and placed it next to that of the b ishop Sai saint Gal Bishop of Clermont and uncle of Gregory of Tours. nt Gall, his uncle.
Iconography and popular devotions
Represented with burning coals or a child, he is the patron saint of Tours and the Morvan, invoked for stomach ailments.
He is represented: 1° carrying burning coals in a fold of his garment. According to the Touraine legend, the holy bishop obtained this miracle from heaven to exonerate himself, before his stirred-up diocesans, of the crime of fornication of which he was accused; 2° making a newborn child speak, of whom he was accused of being the father.
Saint Brice is the patron saint Saint-Brisson A place of which Saint Brice is the patron. of Tours and Saint-Brisson, in the Morvan. He is invoked against stomach aches (because he was of a bilious temperament, no doubt).
Sources of the narrative
The narrative is based on the works of Mgr Crosnier and Father Cahier.
Drawn from the Historiographie Nivernaise, by Mgr Cros Mgr Crosnier Author of the Historiographie Nivernaise. nier, and the Caractéristiques des Saints, by the Reverend Father Révérend Père Cahier Author of the Caractéristiques des Saints. Cahier.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Formation at the Marmoutiers monastery under Saint Martin
- Priestly ordination despite youthful indiscretions
- Succession of Saint Martin as Bishop of Tours
- Accusation of paternity and miracle of the speaking child
- Seven-year exile after being driven from his city
- Return to Tours by order of the Sovereign Pontiff
- Governance of the diocese for seven years after his return
Miracles
- A newborn publicly declares that Brice is not his father
- Carried burning coals in his garment without being burned to prove his chastity
Quotes
-
No, you are not my father
Words of the newborn child cited in the text