April 20th 5th century

Saint Mamertinus of Auxerre

Religious in Auxerre

Feast
April 20th
Death
30 mars 462 (Vendredi saint) (naturelle)
Categories
religious , abbot , priest , convert

A former pagan healed of physical and spiritual infirmities by Saint Germain of Auxerre after a vision at the chapel of Saint-Carcodème, Mamertin became a monk and then an abbot. He is the author of the account of his own conversion, later integrated into the life of Saint Germain by the priest Constantius.

Guided reading

6 reading sections

SAINT MAMERTIN, RELIGIOUS IN AUXERRE (462).

Conversion 01 / 06

Conversion and healing

Initially a pagan and suffering from physical infirmities, Mamertinus converted after a vision at the chapel of Saint Carcodemus and received baptism from Saint Germanus.

Saint Mamertin Saint Mamertin Principal subject, abbot of Auxerre converted from paganism. us was born into paganism in a land not far from Auxerre, as he himself tells us. He was so attached to idolatry that it had been impossible to make him abandon it. However, the assiduous worship he rendered to Jupiter, Mercury, Apollo, and other false deities did not prevent him from losing an eye and becoming crippled in one hand.

A day when he was going, sadder than usual, to visit their temple, he met on his way a cleric of the church of Auxerre named Savinus. The latter, having learned the subject of his sadness and his errand, began to disabuse him of his error and persuaded him to go find Germanus, his bishop, who would heal him if Germain Spiritual model for Aquilinus. he would renounce idolatry. The cleric's discourse restored hope to Mamertinus, who immediately took the road to Auxerre. He spent the following night in the chapel of Saint Carcodemus, where he had a miraculous vision that brought about his complete conversion.

The next day, he presented himself to the holy Bishop who, knowing by the light of God what had happened, gave him holy baptism and restored the use of his limbs.

Life 02 / 06

Monastic Commitment

Mamertin entered the monastery founded by Saint Germain under the direction of Abbot Aloge, whom he eventually succeeded.

In gratitude for so many graces received, Mamertin dedicated himself to God under the guidan ce of Abbot l'abbé Aloge Abbot of the monastery of Auxerre and predecessor of Mamertinus. Aloge, in the monastery that Saint Germain had built outside the city. Our Saint was so attached to his state that he never left the monastery except to follow Saint Germain or to carry out the missions with which he entrusted him. He made such progress in science and spiritual virtue that, after the death of the pious Aloge, he was named his successor. Saint Mamertin died on Good Friday, March 30, in 462. The day of his death is nevertheless marked on April 29 in the oldest martyrologies, which give him the title of priest.

Source 03 / 06

The account of the conversion

The saint himself recorded the story of his conversion, a text later integrated into the biography of Saint Germanus by the priest Constantius.

Mamertinus himself wrote the history of his conversion, perhaps by the order of Saint Germanus, who had listened to the account several times with respect and who had wished for the priests to know it in order to praise God.

It is found in the life of Saint Germanus by the priest C prêtre Constance Roman emperor during whose reign Domitian was born. onstantius: it is titled therein: The revolution of Saint Corcodemus and in what manner Mamertinus arrives at grace.

Life 04 / 06

The disciple Marien

Marien, fleeing the Goths, becomes the disciple of Mamertin and leads a humble life as a shepherd marked by animal miracles.

The memory of Saint Marien or Marcien, his disciple, is readi ly associate saint Marien Lector and martyr, son of Mary, known for his visions and courage under torture. d with that of Saint Mamertin. Marien had left the land of the Bitur pays des Bituriges Region of origin of Saint Marianus. iges, then occupied by the Arian Goths, whose domination was cruel to Catholics. Welcomed at the monastery of Auxerre by Mamertin, he fulfilled the humble duties of shepherd and cowherd in the stables and farmyards of the religious, in the midst of which he sanctified himself. His legend is filled with graceful wonders. Thus, he would call the small birds of the fields to him and feed them, and he would dismiss with authority the bears and other animals hostile to men and herds.

But what is more precious, he used the gift of miracles with which God had favored him to bring back to the good path the thieves and pillagers—not rare in those centuries—who lived by depredations.

Cult 05 / 06

Posterity of the abbey and the relics

The history of the Saint-Marien abbey spans the centuries, from the spoliations of Charles Martel to its takeover by the Premonstratensians in the 12th century.

One of these thieves even became an excellent preacher of the commandments of God. It is believed that the farm where Saint Marien sanctified himself was located at the place called today Merry, and that he died in the year 466 or 477. There was formerly, at the gates of Auxerre, beyond the Yonne, an abbey by the n abbaye du nom de Saint-Marien Monastery founded by Saint Germanus where Mamertinus and Marianus lived. ame of Saint-Marien whose history is divided into two distinct periods: before an d after th Prémontrés Religious order that took over the Abbey of Saint-Marien in the 12th century. e Premonstratensians. (From the end of the 5th century to 1138, and from 1138 to 1789.) Founded by Saint Germain, sanctified by him and his fervent imitators, Saint Mamertin and Saint Marien, it fe ll into the ha Charles-Martel Mayor of the palace, possible ancestor of the saint. nds of laymen und er Charles Charlemagne Emperor of the Franks and uncle of Saint Folquin. Martel.

Restored by Charlemagne to the 33rd bishop of Auxerre, Saint Aaron, it was deserted at the time of the Norman invasion by the religious who took with them the relics of Saint Mamertin and Saint Marien: the former were deposited at the cathedral and the others at the abbey of Saint-Germain.

In the 13th century, this place, sanctified by the retreat of so many pious figures, was marked only by an oratory or altar under the title of Saint-Germain. Rimer, a cleric of the cathedral of Auxerre, resolved to revive these ruins. The monument completed, it was entrusted to the religious of Prémontré who took possession of it by placing themselves under the aegis of the relics of Saint Marien. At the moment the Revolution broke out, this abbey counted forty-two abbots.

Source 06 / 06

Documentary sources

The life of the saint is documented by the Legendary of Autun and the Golden Legend.

Legendary of Autun, and Golden Legen Légende dorée Famous hagiographic source mentioning the saint. d.

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.

Key Events

  1. Born into paganism near Auxerre
  2. Meeting with the cleric Savin
  3. Miraculous vision in the chapel of Saint-Carcodème
  4. Baptism and healing by Saint Germanus of Auxerre
  5. Entered the monastery under Abbot Aloge
  6. Election as abbot after the death of Aloge
  7. Writing of the account of his conversion

Miracles

  1. Healing of a lost eye and a withered hand during his baptism
  2. Miraculous vision in the chapel of Saint-Carcodème

Quotes

  • The conversion of Saint Corcodemus and how Mamertinus arrives at grace Title of his account in the life of Saint Germanus by Constantius

Important entities

Ranked by relevance in the text