January 1st 6th century

Saint Aspace

Aspais

Priest, Apostle of Melun

Feast
January 1st
Death
573 (calendes de janvier) (naturelle)
Associated Places
Sens (FR) , Melun (FR)

A priest sent by the Bishop of Sens in the 6th century, Saint Aspace was the first evangelizer of Melun. Honored as the apostle and patron saint of the city, he died there in 573. A local church bears his name and he is traditionally invoked against headaches.

Guided reading

4 reading sections

SAINT ASPACE OR ASPAIS (year of our Lord 573).

Mission 01 / 04

Mission and evangelization

Aspais is sent by the bishop of Sens to Melun to preach the Gospel and exercise his priestly ministry there.

Aspais Aspace Priest and evangelizer of Melun in the 6th century. , a priest sent by the bishop of Sens to Melu Melun City whose evangelization and diocesan status are central to the work of Leo. n, was perhaps the first to announce the Gospel of salvation there. Inflamed by the divine Spirit, he fulfilled his priestly ministry in such a way as to merit the palm promised by the Lord to those who teach justice to a great number of their brothers.

Cult 02 / 04

Death and cult in Melun

Dying on January 1st, he is honored as the patron saint of Melun where a church is built over his tomb; he is invoked for headaches.

He died on the day of the Kalends of January, in M Melun City whose evangelization and diocesan status are central to the work of Leo. elun, whose inhabitants honor him as their patron and apostle. There exists in the same city a chur ch of Saint-Aspace, bu église de Saint-Aspace Religious building in Melun, believed to be built over the saint's tomb. ilt, as it is believed, over his tomb. He is invoked particularly by those who suffer from headaches.

Source 03 / 04

Debate regarding his identity

The text mentions a historical divergence sometimes identifying the saint as bishop of Auch or Eauze, although the tradition of Melun prevails.

Father Cabier makes Saint Aspais saint Aspois Priest and evangelizer of Melun in the 6th century. a bishop o f Au Auch Episcopal city of which Leothade was the pastor. ch o r Eau Eause Former metropolis of Novempopulania and first see of Taurinus. ze: th e Martyrology of Fran Martyrologe de France Liturgical and historical source confirming the tradition of Melun. ce that we have reproduced agrees, on this latter point, with tradition and a good number of scholars.

Source 04 / 04

Sources and references

Mention of 19th-century scholarly works and ancient manuscripts dealing with the life of the saint.

Adélard, by consulting the work that M. Hoffman de Fallerxleben published in Ghent under the title of *Monuments of the Romance and Rudesque languages in the 9th century*. (Hagiography of Amiens, by M. Corblet Author of the Hagiographie d'Amiens. M. Corblet.)

Official source Les Petits Bollandistes, by Mgr Paul GUÉRIN, chamberlain to His Holiness Pius IX.

Annexes & related entities

Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.