A noble missionary of the 3rd century, Eubert evangelized the Nervii and cleared the region of Lille. A companion of Saint Piat and Saint Chryseuil, he died in Séclin before his relics were transferred to Lille in 1067. His cult, once forgotten, was restored in the 19th century following the cholera epidemic.
Guided reading
7 reading sections
SAINT EUBERT OF SÉCLIN, PATRON OF LILLE (3rd century).
Origins and apostolate of Eubert
Eubert, a noble companion of Saint Chryseuil and Saint Piat, evangelized the Nervians and the Lille region under Diocletian before dying in Seclin.
Eubert or Eugene Eubert ou Eugène Apostle of the Lille region and the Nervians in the 3rd century. was of noble birth. He joined as a companion to Saint Chryseuil, Saint Piat, and others, who came under the emperors Maximian and Diocletian to preach the evangelical faith in Gaul. He announced Christ to the Nervians of the Tournai region and to other populations as well. Tradition holds that he was marked with the episcopal character. He first undertook the clearing of the district that was later called the Chatellenie of Lille: it was for th Châtellenie de Lille City of origin of Didier's family. is part of the Lord's field that his most abundant sweat flowed. When Saint Chryseuil and Saint Piat had suffered martyrdom, he took care to confirm their neophytes in the true religion. Finally, after having fought the good fight and finished his course, he died towards the end of the 3rd century, in Seclin, where he was buried.
Translation of the relics to Lille
Eubert's relics were transferred from Seclin to the collegiate church of Saint-Pierre in Lille in 1067, then circulated between various abbeys before being authenticated in 1229.
This is why the holy relics of Eubert were first honored at Seclin. But having been brought to Lille in 10 67, f Lille City of origin of Didier's family. or the solemn dedication of the collegiate church of Saint-Pierre, which was immediately subject to the Holy See, they Saint-Siège Papal authority that approved the cult of Aemilian. were kept there with great honor. They were shortly after transferred for a time to the monastery of Hannon, on the occasion of the dedication of that abbey. The canons ceded one of his bones to the abbey of Liessies. In the year 1229, Walter or Gantier, Bishop of Tournai, piously recognized these precious relics in the city of Lille.
Veneration and revival in the 19th century
After a decline following the destruction of his church, the cult of Eubert was restored in 1848 by Cardinal Giraud following the cholera epidemic.
They were exposed to the veneration of the faithful on the day of the Saint's feast, honored on February 1st as patron of Lille, and they were carried devoutly in the streets of the city, in the famous procession that took place every year for the feast of Saint-Marie-des-Grilles. The holy confessor appeared in the series of blessed bishops, in the litanies that were usually sung through the streets of the city. But since the unfortunate and criminal destruction of the church of the prince of the Apostles, the m emory of Sai saint Hubert Apostle of the Lille region and the Nervians in the 3rd century. nt Hubert disappeared insensibly. It revived on the occasion of the terrible siege of cholera-morbus. Finally, Saint Hubert recovered his ancient cult, when in 1848, at the request of His Emi nence Cardinal Pierre cardinal Pierre Giraud Archbishop of Cambrai who restored the cult of Eubert. Giraud, Archbishop of Cambrai, the Holy See kindly permitted that the feast of the blessed Hubert be celebrated throughout the diocese.
Proper of Cambrai.
Saints Torquatus and Josserand
Evocation of Saint Torquatus, Bishop of Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, and Saint Josserand, whose relics were burned by the Calvinists at Cruas.
--SAINT TORQUATUS, BISHOP OF SAINT-PAUL-TROIS-CHÂTEAUX, AND SAINT JOSSERAND, MONK OF CRUAS (321).
Saint Torquatus, Bishop of Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux, died in 321. His feast day is found in the ancient Breviary of the Tricastine church, in the proper of the Saints of that diocese, printed in 1758, and in the liturgical books of the church of Viviers. His life is unknown to us. His body was formerly kept in the monastery of Cruas, in Vivarais, where it was burned by the Calvinists. There still exists another chapel that bears his name, near Suze-la-Rousse, on the banks of the Lez, in the ancient diocese of Saint-Paul.
The Hollandists report that grass ceased to grow on the spot where the Calvinists burned the bodies of Saint Torquatus and Saint Josserand. Having asked the parish priest of Cruas if this miracle had ever existed, here is what was answered to us on January 18, 1872:
« I regret very much not having found in my parish any tradition regarding the person of Sa int Josserand, saint Josserand Monk of Cruas whose relics were burned. nor his manner of death, nor the miracle that supposedly took place at his tomb. During the days of the Terror, the books and manuscripts of the abbey were burned in the square in front of my church, archives where one might have found some information on the Saint of whom you speak. All that I have on this subject is a note left by a former president of the parish council, where it is said that the church of Cruas was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and to Saint Josserand ».
The election of Saint Severus of Ravenna
Severus, a simple weaver, is designated Bishop of Ravenna by a divine dove, despite the initial mockery of the crowd and his wife.
Severu Sévère A weaver who became Bishop of Ravenna through divine designation. s, a citizen of the city of Rave Ravenne Birthplace of the saint and site of his final mission. nna, in Italy, had as his trade the working of wool; a trade he practiced with Vincentia, his wife, and his daughter Innocentia. The bishop, eleventh successor of Apollinaris, who was a disciple of the Apostles, having died, the entire people, after a three-day fast, gathered at the church for the election of a new prelate: then a pure white dove came and perched on the head of Severus, in the sight of everyone. Some immediately concluded, by this sign, that this man was worthy of the priesthood; but others, shocked by his rags, drove him from the church. The same prodigy having been renewed the next day and the day after, all the people, conforming to the judgment of God, elected him bishop, and he was consecrated according to the ecclesiastical rite. His wife and daughter took the veil and became servants of God. Severus, in whom doctrine was divinely infused rather than humanly acquired, possessed a power of wisdom and virtue that was rare. When he had most holily governed the flock entrusted to his care, feeling the end of his life approaching, a little after having finished the office of the Holy Mass, he set out for the tomb of his wife and daughter, who had died before him; having arrived there, he had the tomb opened and commanded that a place be made for him; at his voice the sarcophagus moved of its own accord and shifted miraculously. The holy bishop, having descended alive into this tomb, fell asleep in the Lord while praying.
Posterity and relics of Saint Severus
The remains of Severus were transported from Pavia to Mainz and then to Erfurt by Archbishop Otger in the 9th century.
After a certain lapse of time, it happened that Otger, Archbishop of Main Mayence Site of the assassination of Emperor Alexander Severus. z, went to Italy to restore peace between the Emperor Louis and his son Lothair. Having learned that the relics of Saint Severus were kept in Pavia, he had them removed from the place where they had first been deposited, brought them with him to Mainz, and placed them in the church of Saint Alban. They were subsequently taken from there to be transported, amidst an immense gathering, to the monastery of Erfurt, then dedicated to Saint Paul; there they were honored with a splendid basilica by the name of Saint Severus, in which great miracles have been performed.
Symbolism and trade patronages
The dove symbolizes the assistance of the Holy Spirit for this worker-bishop, who became the patron saint of weavers and drapers.
The dove that came to rest on the head of Saint Severus at the moment of his election is his attribute and the attribute of a great number of other bishops of Ravenna, for the inhabitants of that city claim that for a long time, in their midst, Heaven was pleased to designate their chief pastor in this manner. Whatever may be said of the claim of the Ravennates, it is permissible to see in the dove that artists place on the head of Saint Severus a moral significance, namely that, although ignorant and long accustomed to manual labor, he showed in his discourses a habitual assistance of the Holy Spirit. The diocese of Ravenna has obtained permission to celebrate in a single office its twelve bishops qualified as Colombini.
Legend has given a very pedestrian turn to the election of Saint Severus: « A weaver by trade and living in continence with his wife, he felt the desire to go and attend the election of a new bishop. His wife observed to him that they would elect a bishop well enough without him, and that he would do much better to advance the household chores. But as he insisted on going, the wife said to him mockingly: Do you not see that they are going to make you bishop if you show yourself there? It turned out that she had spoken more truly than she herself thought, for he was acclaimed by the entire people. In memory of this unexpected election, he is found painted in worker's attire, with a shuttle coming out of his pocket or with a roll of fabric under his arm, as if he were going to serve his customers. In this case, a letter near him indicates the adventure that answered his wife's joke. It is because of his former profession that in certain countries weavers, drapers, fullers, silk weavers, etc., have taken him as their patron.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Arrival in Gaul under Maximian and Diocletian
- Preaching to the Nervians in the region of Tournai
- Clearing of the Châtellenie of Lille
- Confirmation of the neophytes after the martyrdom of his companions
- Death and burial in Séclin