Saint Maximin (Mesmin) of Verdun

Two years after this foundation, the blessed Eusebius fell asleep in the Lord: Mesmin was so grieved that Bishop Eusebius was obliged to go expressly to Micy, even taking him to his palace and keeping him there for several days to console him for this loss. Having returned to his abbey, his virtues appeared there with even more brilliance than before. He was a perfect model of humility, patience, gentleness, affability, and all other religious perfections; he so combined the study of contemplation with pastoral solicitude that the one did not hinder the other, and that, without losing the spirit of prayer or the presence of God, he wisely provided for all the needs of his religious. His community grew day by day, because everyone hastened to place themselves under his guidance, and even hermits left their deserts, and monks their abbeys, to come and submit to the direction of such an enlightened man. His charity towards the poor had no bounds, and his monastery having become extremely wealthy through the care he took to cultivate the lands that the king had given him, he abundantly distributed to the needy the goods he received from the liberal hand of God. The gift of miracles was conferred upon him in a most excellent manner. By his word alone, he calmed a storm that was about to destroy boats of grain he had on the Loire. He multiplied wine and wheat during a famine, in order to have enough to continue his a lms t Loire River where Mesmin calmed a storm. o the afflicted people who were almost consumed by hunger. He caused a horrible dragon that was poisoning the entire Orléanais region with its breath to die by setting up a pyre where he compelled it to burn itself. He delivered a possessed man who did not deserve this grace, because he was very libertine. He restored sight to two blind men, one of whom had lost it for maliciously cutting down a tree that belonged to his monastery. Finally, he performed many other wonders that caused him to be respected as the thaumaturge of his century.

His life was not very long, because he was soon ripe for eternity. He died in the arms of his children, full of merits and glory, around the year 520. His body was buried, just as he had ordered, in the same place where he had defeated the monster of which we have just spoken: this is the place where the parish church of Saint-Mesmin (Loiret, arr ondissement Saint-Mesmin Abbot of Micy and 6th-century thaumaturge. and canton of Orléans) is now located. Later, he was transported to a church closer to the city, which Saint Avitus had built in h saint Avit Third abbot of Saint-Mermin and master of Saint Almir. is honor; but subsequently, under Jonas, Bishop of Orléans ( 821-843), he was return Jonas, évêque d'Orléans Bishop of Orléans in the 9th century who restored the relics to Micy. ed to his abbey of Micy, which has taken his name.

A simple reading of the life of Saint Mesmin will easily suggest its main characteristics.

This account is by Father Giry.