A canon regular who became Bishop of Poitiers in the 12th century, Guillaume Tempier distinguished himself by his piety and his vigorous defense of the rights of the Church against secular power. After his death in 1197, his tomb became a place of pilgrimage famous for its miracles. His relics, almost entirely destroyed during the civil wars, partially survive with the Carmelites of Poitiers.
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SAINT GUILLAUME TEMPIER, BISHOP OF POITIERS (1197).
Life and Episcopate
A canon regular at Saint-Hilaire de la Celle, Guillaume Tempier was elected Bishop of Poitiers and distinguished himself by his defense of the rights of the Church against secular power.
The blessed Guillaume, surnamed Tempier, w Le bienheureux Guillaume, surnommé Tempier Third bishop of Poitiers of that name, defender of ecclesiastical liberties. hose memory arrives today, is the third Bishop of Poitiers of tha t name. Poitiers City where the saint settled and lived as a recluse. He was first a canon regular at the monastery of Saint-Hilaire de la Celle. He shone s monastère de Saint-Hilaire de la Celle Monastery of canons regular where William was first a religious. o brightly by his piety and the integrity of his morals that, after having passed through all the dignities of his monastery, he was called to the episcopal chair by the common and unanimous suffrage of the clergy and the people. He vigorously opposed the secular power, which was then invading ecclesiastical affairs almost everywhere. For the defense of the rights of the Church, he suffered with invincible firmness calumny and persecution. He flew into the bosom of eternal beatitude on March 29, in the year 1197.
Cult, miracles, and legacy of the relics
After his death in 1197, his tomb became a place of miracles. Despite the destruction of his body during the civil wars, a relic and his crozier remain in Poitiers.
He was buried in the chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary, behind the main altar of the basilica of Saint Cyprian of Poitiers: he performed great miracles. His sepulcher was frequented by a great concourse of people, coming to ask for the healing of their infirmities because of the numerous testimonies that God gave of his holiness; his cult was publicly established and even extended outside the diocese of Poitiers. His feast is celebrated throughout the Order of Canons Regular. His body was raised from the ground and solemnly recognized at the end of the 16th century. Later, it perished in the midst of our civil dissensions, in the destruction of the monastery and the basilica. A single portion of the relics, the femoral bone, formerly given to the church of Saint-Hilaire de la Celle, was saved by pious hands. Bishop Pic entrusted its care to the Carmelites of Poitiers, who inhabit the former conventual house of the Canons Regular. The same prelate, a worthy succe ssor to Saint Guillaume saint Guillaume Tempier Third bishop of Poitiers of that name, defender of ecclesiastical liberties. Tempier, had the crozier of our Saint replaced in the cathedral treasury. — Saint Guillaume was invoked especially against the flow of blood.
Source
The text is taken from the Proper of the Diocese of Poitiers.
Proper of Poitiers.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Canon regular at the monastery of Saint-Hilaire de la Celle
- Election to the episcopate by the clergy and the people
- Opposition to secular power in defense of the rights of the Church
- Suffering from slander and persecution
- Died on March 29, 1197
- Elevation of the relics at the end of the 16th century
Miracles
- Great miracles performed at his sepulcher
- Healing of the infirm