Saint Vincentian

Beraldus, obliged to go to Cahors, one of the cities under his government, had his family and the principal officers of his household accompany him; the young Viance was part of the journey. The Duke was received w ith honor by Bishop évêque saint Didier Bishop of Cahors who instructed Maximus. Saint Didier, who invited him to his table. During the meal, his ward was tasked with the reading; he performed it with such grace and ease that the holy prelate implored the Duke to leave him, to attach him to his Church, a subject so full of promise. Beraldus yielded to the entreaties of Didier, despite the opposition of his son and his wife, and his young protégé passed under the jurisdiction of the bishop. He was immediately admitted to the ep Cahors Episcopal see of the saint. iscopal school of Cahors, where he distinguished himself as he had already done under the guidance of the deacon Herimbert, and received the order of reader.

Until now, Viance had seen, so to speak, only the bright side of life; until the death of Beraldus, he lived happily under the very special protection of Providence. The death of the duke was the beginning of the crucified life of our Saint; for immediately B arontus Barontus Son of Beraldus, cruel master then repentant of Viance. claimed Viance by virtue of the rights he possessed over him, and for the maintenance of which he had previously protested. The bishop and his pupil resigned themselves in the presence of force, not without shedding tears, for both sensed that the trial would be hard and difficult for the one who was about to fall into the hands of a cruel and capricious barbarian.

Viance took the road to the castle, and, stifling in his heart the repulsions of nature, he threw himself at the feet of the duke and humbly asked for his orders. Without further preamble, this lord, little touched by this act of submission and humility, assigned him the job of supervising the slaves employed in the service of the stables, the main ones of which were located in Nanti-niccum, in Anjou, although the duke lived at that time in Poitiers. Viance therefore went to the country that had seen him born to fulfill his office; he put all his care into it. After having attended to his indispensable duties, he would draw from prayer and pious readings the strength to endure the troubles and persecutions of this sad exile. He, who was charity, patience, and gentleness itself, had to endure insults, mockery, and even blows either from his violent and capricious master, or from the slaves attached to the same service as him and who had orders not to spare him; and they mistreated him all the more willingly as they were jealous of his fine qualities and his brilliant education. Viance nonetheless continued his life of piety and devotion; he had the bowels of a father for all the suffering members of Jesus Christ, visiting the sick, feeding those who were hungry, giving to all what they needed and almost always at the expense of his own necessities; for, in the midst of the rigors of winter, he went so far as to strip himself of his clothes, forced, in this state of nakedness, to take his rest on the straw of the stable with the animals entrusted to his care! God rewarded him for it with the interior consolations that He sent him. But some envious people could not suffer this way of life: it was a censure of their own and a just reproach for their excesses. The alms of our saint became prodigality and breach of trust, his prayers and vigils, plots and disorders. Everything was reported in this sense to Barontus, who gave credence to these slanders and immediately summoned the accused. "What have you done," he said to him, "with the clothes that I gave you? Are you so devoid of reason as to give everything without reserve to endure cold and hunger and make me pass for a torturer? — Lord," replied the servant of God, "if I have fed those who were hungry, if I have stripped myself in favor of those who were naked, it is because I fear the terrible judgments of God and I fear without ceasing this reproach that the Son of Man will make to the reprobates who will not have had compassion on the unfortunate: Go, you cursed, into eternal fire; you deserve it justly; for I was hungry in the person of the poor and you did not give me to eat; I was thirsty and you did not give me to drink; I was naked and you did not cover my nakedness."

A response so firm and so courageous disarmed the duke; and in the first movement of his admiration, says the deacon Hérimbert, he stripped himself of his rich clothes, took off his shoes and his gold baldric, and gave them to Viance. He nevertheless gave him a very express prohibition to give anything away anymore. The man of God accepted with respect and gratitude; but the conditions imposed on his charity were too hard to be observed for long. The very next day, having met two poorly dressed poor people, he forgot the duke's recommendations and shared between the two unfortunates what he had received from Barontus. The latter was soon informed of this and asked Viance what he had done with his rich clothes. "I met yesterday," replied the saint, "two poor people almost naked and I remembered this word of the Savior: Let him who has two robes share with him who has none. — But," said the duke in anger, "did I not forbid you to give anything at all? I only entrusted you with the care of the servants and the horses. — Lord," replied Viance, "see if everything that is in my hands is not in a prosperous state. But is it then a crime to have as much solicitude for feeding the poor as for fattening the beasts of burden?"

This time, the duke, irritated, sent our saint back to Nantiniacum, reiterating the prohibition to occupy himself with anything other than the stables and the servants. Deep in his soul, however, he was touched by the conduct of his servant and had great confidence in him. The opportunity to prove it did not take long to present itself.

There was in the vicinity of Nantiniacum a rich lord closely linked with Barontus, who had promised to unite his daughter Sensa with Meneleus, son of this lord. The two children had been betrothed by their parents. But one had vowed his virginity to God, and Sensa had thoughts higher than those of the earth. Viance was in the secrets of both. On the very eve of the wedding, it is said that Meneleus had fled secretly from his father's manor. Still reeling from this painful emotion, Barontus learned that his beloved daughter, as well as the sister and mother of Meneleus, had taken refuge in the deserts of Auvergne to live there in solitude. This news afflicted him extremely and irritated him so much that he resolved to pursue the two new converts immediately to bring them back to Nantiniacum. Arriving at the abbey of Menat, which Meneleus had just raised from its ruins, he found his daughter and the one who was to be his son-in-law. At the end of prayers and threats, he raised an audacious hand against Meneleus. Instantly his arm became paralyzed like that of Jeroboam for having attempted to harm the person of a prophet. Ashamed, but still irritated, the duke begged Viance to intercede for him, and the two men of God having begun to pray, the withered arm immediately regained its former vigor. Barontus, at once terrified and grateful, offered to God for the pious solitaries all the riches and possessions intended as a dowry for his daughter Sensa, and, to perpetuate the memory of the inestimable benefit he had received, he wished to build a church at Avelca-Curta, in a place ca lled today S Avelca-Curta Burial place of the saint and church founded in his honor. aint-Viance. Having received from Rusticus, Bishop of Limoges, the necessary relics, he had them carried to the new church by Vincentien. The latter, while returning from his mission, met a solitary friend of his who begged him to accept hospitality in his cell; he accepted and spent the night there. The duke, irritated by his delay, and listening to no reason, struck him in the face with such violent blows that blood gushed out in great abundance onto the ground. A stranger named Donatus, who knew the holiness of Vincentien and had been a witness to his admirable patience, collected this blood as best he could and carried it to his country, where he deposited it in a chapel he had built for this purpose.

Barontus left Limousin to return to Poitiers, ordering his servant to go and resume his duties at Nantiniacum. By a quirk inexplicable in any age other than these barbaric times, he once again presented him with rich garments, on the condition that he would wear them and keep them for himself. The gentlemen in the duke's retinue did the same to acknowledge Vincentien's services. The latter had not bound himself to keep them and, the day after his arrival, his charity led him to give all these fine clothes to the poor, with the exception of one which was the worst and which he kept for himself.

The duke having come to Nantiniacum, and finding his groom in such poor attire, asked him angrily for an explanation of his conduct and what he had done with his precious robes: "They run no risk," replied the Saint, "from the earth the hand of the poor has transported them to heaven into the treasures of God." Barontus could no longer contain his anger: he reproached Viance for having suggested to his daughter that she withdraw into solitude and despise his orders. At the same time, he drove him from his house and commanded his officers to give him neither food nor shelter, so that he would sleep on the ground exposed to all the rigors of winter. God did not abandon his servant and granted him his miraculous protection more than once.

Viance's chastity shone with no less brilliance than his charity and his love of suffering. Delivered from one persecution only to undergo another, he was recalled by the duke who had the idea of marrying him off. He energetically refused the hand of the one who was presented to him and wanted to leave; but Barontus, increasingly irritated by his opposition, had him cruelly beaten and thrown into a foul dungeon. The next day he renewed his fruitless attempts. Outraged by this new defeat, the tyrant armed himself with a stick and struck the blessed man's shoulder with such violent blows that one was shattered; then he sent him back to his prison. The Saint suffered everything with patience, but not without anxiety regarding the intentions of his master who could use violence and brutality for the dreaded union; that is why he resolved to flee. While he was wandering at random, he met a servant of God named Ambrose, whom he had known in the past. They recounted their trials to each oth er and w Ambroise Bishop of Cahors and companion in eremitism to Viance. ithdrew together into a deep forest on the banks of the Vienne, to live there in prayer and solitude. God did not allow them to enjoy this happiness for long. Ambrose returned to Cahors, of which he was bishop, and from which an ungrateful people had driven him out. On the way, he saw at the top of an oak tree the enemy of our salvation in the guise of a fisherman who was casting a hook into the earth. — "What!" said Saint Ambrose, "you are fishing in this dry place as if there were waters. — I am fishing," replied the spirit of lies, "in all places and at all times, I catch the great and the small; but I have been fishing for forty years to catch Vincentien. — You are wasting your effort and your time," Ambrose told him, "since from his earliest years he has served God without stain or blemish, and he will take good care not to fall into your nets."

Ambrose continued his journey toward Cahors, then went to end his days in a village in Berry, which today bears his name, in the department of Cher.

Viance had remained in his cell, when suddenly an angel appeared to him: "Viance," he said to him, "tomorrow Barontus is to come hunting in this place, with the intention of removing you from it; but fear nothing, be strong and courageous in this struggle; God will be with you and will soon make you enjoy the reward due to your triumphs." Barontus did indeed come to the forest of Limousin where Viance was; part of his pack rushed into the Saint's cell, leaping with joy, and came to lick his hands and feet. One of the hunters was about to seize him and take him to his master; as he stretched out his hand, his arm withered. Barontus, frightened by this new miracle, forgot his plans for vengeance and begged Vincentien to heal his officer.

The servant of God replied that the time had not yet come, but that, on the day of his death, he hoped to obtain his healing. Our Saint then went to Rouffiac, one of the duke's villas. On the way, he met a troop of horses grazing under the guidance of several of Barontus's slaves; in the name of his former authority, he commanded them to follow him to the place where he was to be buried: they obeyed. Scarcely had he arrived when Viance was warned by revelation of his approaching death. "Your prayers and your alms," the heavenly messenger told him, "have risen to the throne of God like a delicious perfume; next Saturday, at the eighth hour of the day, you will fall asleep in the peace of the Lord." The holy bishop of Limoges, Rusticus, had the same vision with the or der to g Rusticus Bishop of Limoges present at the death of Viance. o to Vincentien; he arrived there to administer the last sacraments to him.

When the inhabitants of Rouffiac learned that our blessed one was coming among them, they went out to meet him to form a procession; Barontus had already left this village. During the few days that still remained to him, Viance occupied himself only with heaven; all his thoughts and aspirations were there.

Finally, the last day being near, he received the Bread of Angels while pronouncing these beautiful words: "My Lord and my Creator, my Savior and my all, I commend my soul into your hands." Upon finishing these words, he expired. It was January 2, a Saturday in the year 667 or 674. Then Bishop Rusticus, accompanied by several priests, celebrated the office ordered by the Church at the death of its children; a great multitude of people had rushed there to honor the mortal remains of the humble groom, and God manifested His goodness and power through several miraculous healings, thus glorifying His faithful servant and rewarding the faith of those who invoked Him in the name of the blessed Viance.

However, the priest Savinien, in charge of the construction of the church that the duke wished to build at Avelca-Curta, was warned by an angel of the death of his holy friend; the heavenly messenger ordered him to send for the body of Vincentien and to bury him honorably in that church. Savinien immediately went to Rouffiac and made known to Rusticus the object of his journey; both then shared with Barontus the orders that heaven itself had given. The duke rejoiced at such a favor for himself and his church, and begged the two servants of God to ask, through the merits of Viance, for the healing of his officer, who was only delivered from his infirmity after following the body of the Saint to the place of his burial. The venerated remains of the Confessor had been placed on a cart pulled by two horses that could not be made to move despite all efforts. The priest Savinien remembered a similar trait from the book of Kings and proposed to harness two cows that were nursing their young and to abandon the direction of the chariot to the guidance of these animals, which took the road to Avelca-Curta with haste. About halfway along the road, they had stopped to take a little rest and food; a bear, suddenly coming out of the nearby forest, threw itself on one of the cows that were grazing and strangled it. Rusticus and Savinien were not at all frightened by this accident; the latter, full of confidence in God, advanced toward the forest and, addressing the ravisher: "In the name of Jesus Christ and Saint Viance," he said to him, "come out of your retreat and come to fulfill the office of the beast that you have put to death." At this order, supported by the authority of heaven, the bear obeyed and came to place itself under the yoke, where it was attached until Avelca-Curta; it only moved away after having received the blessing of Bishop Rusticus. Innumerable healings took place in the new church sanctified by the presence of the holy confessor. Barontus did not remain insensitive to all these favors in which he had a share, and provided the necessary funds for the completion of the building and its ornamentation. Dedicated at first under the title of Our Lady, it later took the name of Viance, who performed so many miracles there.

Avelca-Curta underwent the same change as the church. Saint-Viance is today a town of about thirteen hundred souls, in the diocese of Tulle. The inhabitants are very jealous of the honor of their patron saint, whose relic s were l reliques Remains of the saint preserved in Saint-Viance and Solesmes. argely saved during the Revolution. The Abbey of Solesmes possesses the arm bone shattered by Barontus.

Three days of the year are dedicated to honoring the relics of Saint Viance in the Limousin: January 2, the day of the Saint's death; the day of the Assumption; and the Sunday within the Octave of that feast, in memory of the consecration of the church by Bishop Rusticus. On this last day, the inhabitants bring their livestock before the door of the church, and they are blessed with the relics of the Saint, who is also invoked against animal diseases.

Saint Viance has a place in the liturgy of the diocese of Tulle; the ninth lesson with commemoration is dedicated to him. The parish that bears his name considers him a secondary patron and celebrates his office as a major double; the Blessed Virgin is the principal patron. A confraternity erected in 1672 and dissolved in 1789 was re-established in 1864 by M. Nauche, the current parish priest of Saint-Viance; only men are members.

Authors to consult: Annales Francorum, by P. Lencinte. — Life of Saint Vincentien, written three years after his death by the deacon Hístmbert. (Brive, 1669 and 1669.) — Matellon (Art. É.E., 1081, 117). — Rolland., vol. v, July. — Gallia Christ. nova; Les Saints d'Anjou, by D. Chamard and D. Rivet (Hist. littér. de la France, vol. IV).