Saint Severian of Mende

Although the ravages of time, the devastations of civil wars, and the blind fury of heretics have caused the loss of documents as numerous as they are important regarding the antiquities of the very ancient church of Mende, there nevertheless remain historical monuments of the most authentic character, such as several martyrologies and a fairly large number of manuscripts religiously preserved in Mende, from which it results th at Sever Sévérien Disciple of Saint Martial and first bishop of Mende. ian, a faithful compan ion of Saint Martial of saint Martial de Limoges Saint in whose honor the Parisian monastery was dedicated. Limoges in the preaching of the Gospel, followed this great apostle of Aquitaine as a priest in his travels through the mountains of Gévauda montagnes du Gévaudan Historical region evangelized by Severian. n. Soon, a church having been founded in the town of Mende and placed under the patronage o f the blessed Virgin Mary bienheureuse Vierge Marie Mother of Jesus, who appeared to Bertrand. , Martial, at the moment of going to visit other regions, raised to the dignity of pontiff the one who had been his disciple, the companion of his labors, and the imitator of his virtues. He ordained him and left him in the land of Gévaudan, so that he might win to the Gospel the people still sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death. The authority of the documents of which the diocese of Mende is in possession is confirmed by a constant, very ancient tradition to which no beginning can be assigned.