Bishop of Comminges in the 6th century originally from Burgundy, Saint Affrique dedicated himself to the struggle against Arianism in Rouergue. Despite slander and imprisonment, he converted crowds through his eloquence and miracles. He left his name to the town where he was buried, and his relics were venerated until their dispersal by the Calvinists.
Guided reading
6 reading sections
SAINT AFFRIQUE, BISHOP OF COMMINGES (6th century).
Origins and historical context
Originally from Burgundy, Saint Affrique became Bishop of Comminges in the 6th century, a period marked by the expansion of Arianism under the influence of the Goths.
It is believed that Saint Affrique was origina lly from Bourgogne Region where the saint died. Burgundy and that he was born into a noble and illustrious house of that region.
The virtues that first adorned his life placed him in an eminent rank and designated him as worthy to govern, in the capacity of bishop, the churc h of Comm Comminges Diocese and principal city of the episcopate of Bertrand. inges. It is in the 6th century that the episcopate of Saint Affrique is situat ed. At th arianisme Heresy opposed by Columbanus in Italy among the Lombards. at time, Arianism was still deploying in the south of Gaul a most ardent zeal to sow the perfidious poison of its heretical doctrines. The succe sses Goths Germanic people who established Arianism in southern Gaul. that the Goths had obtained by their arms encouraged them to impose upon the conquered peoples the errors of Arianism with which they were infected, at the same time as their domination, and the pure Christian faith suffered numerous and mortal at tacks. The count pays de Ronezgue Region of Gaul where the saint settled. ry of Ronezgue was one of the provinces of the south of France where the Goths had best established their baleful empire, and where Arianism, asserting itself more strongly, had become the most flourishing.
Struggle against the Arian heresy
The saint leaves his see to evangelize the Rouergue, using debates and conferences to convert populations influenced by Arian doctrines.
Animated by a holy courage to avenge the glory of God, who was unworthily outraged, and the name of Jesus Christ, who was blasphemed, and by a zeal for the salvation of souls, Saint Affrique did not hesitate to devote himself to winning over those peoples whom heresy had torn from t he bosom of the Ch ville de Comminges Diocese and principal city of the episcopate of Bertrand. urch. He therefore left the city of Comminges, and, going to place himself in the very places where Arianism was most invasive and most stubborn, he called his adversaries to combat, sometimes through learned discussions on religious matters, sometimes by means of eloquent conferences; there he expounded the orthodox doctrine, highlighted the weakness, the error, and the perfidy of the Arian doctrines, and succeeded in bringing back to the true beliefs of Catholicism all those multitudes who had been deceived or held in error by the evil influence of their conquerors.
Trials and divine signs
Slandered and imprisoned by his adversaries, he continued his work after his release, supported by miracles such as the appearance of a halo of fire during Mass.
Such happy successes were not to leave the Arians indifferent. Thus, they blackened the reputation of the holy missionary Bishop with the most atrocious slanders: they imputed all sorts of crimes to him; they mistreated him; they overwhelmed him with reproaches, outrages, and insults. Like an immovable rock, the man of God was impassive and unshakable: he let these winds pass and the storm calm down, from the depths of the prison into which they had thrown him; and when the hour of deliverance had struck for him, even more intrepid than before, he continued his labors without discouragement. It was then that God, wishing to definitively ensure victory for the campaign that Saint Affrique had undertaken against Arianism, came to his aid in a striking manner through the power of miracles, which he possessed to an eminent degree.
One of the miracles that a pious tradition has transmitted to us took place at the moment when Saint Affrique was celebrating Holy Mass. At communion, a halo of fire shone, like a ravishing crown, around his head; those who were pure enough to receive communion alone had, says the historian of his life, the happiness of contemplating it; *quam qui sanctissima synaxis digni erant, conspicuibant, indignis autem non aspectabilem*.
Burial and fate of the relics
He is buried in a town in the Rouergue that takes his name. His relics, formerly kept in a collegiate church, were dispersed by the Calvinists.
After a life entirely apostolic, Saint Affrique, filled with merits, having died, his body was buried in one of the towns of the Roue Rouergue Region of Gaul where the saint settled. rgue which bears his name today, and which was formed following the great gathering of the faithful that the powerful protection of the glorious servant of God attracted to his tomb. His relics were kept in veneration there in the collegiate church established in 1444; the blind fury of the Calvinistes Religious group that destroyed the saint's relics in 1567. Calvinists dispersed them, and today only a few small fragments remain.
Celebrations and Patronages
His cult extends across several cities in the South of France, notably Rodez and Vabres, of which he is one of the patrons.
The cult of Saint Affrique is celebrated in several cities of the South: in Nîme s, Ro Rodez Diocese where the saint's feast day is celebrated on April 28. dez, Castres, Comminges, Albi, and Toulouse. The latter two cities possess some of his relics. The feast of Saint Affrique is celebrated in the diocese of Rodez on April 28.
The Magnificat antiphon for Vespers is proper:
*Affricane, speculum et nitor Ecclesiæ, Christi Tabernaculum et superum gratiæ; Pastor, rege populum in virge justitiæ, probeus adminientem in vallo miseriæ. Alleluia!*
Affrique, mirror and glory of the Church. Tabernacle of Christ and of heavenly grace; O Shepherd, guide your people with the rule of justice; support this people in the valley of tears. Alleluia.
Vabres chose hi m as o Vabres Town of which Saint Affrique is the patron. ne of its patrons, along with Saint Peter.
Popular miracles and iconography
Ancient objects bear witness to famous miracles, such as the rescue of a navigator on the Sorgue and the punishment of a fake paralytic.
Old tapestries and an antique enamelled copper basin, which were still in possession in the 18th century, recalled some of the miracles that had made Saint Affrique popular. Here, it is an imprudent navigator who wants to cross the Sorgue while i t is o Sorgue River associated with a rescue miracle. verflowing and who, cast into the waves, is transported by an invisible force to the other bank after having invoked the man of God; there, it is a wretch who, having feigned paralysis to extract alms from Saint Affrique, is truly struck with paralysis and is only healed after having confessed his fault to him. Further on, it is the miracle of the halo shining around his head during the celebration of the Holy Mass.
Excerpt from the Proper of Rodez, by Canon Bousquet; — Cf. Saints of Ro uergue, by Abbé Servièr M. le chanoine Bousquet Author of the Propre de Rodez and source of the biography. es; the Saints of Franche-Comté, etc.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Election to the bishopric of Comminges
- Struggle against the Arian heresy in the south of Gaul
- Evangelization mission in Rouergue
- Imprisonment by the Arians
- Deliverance and continuation of his apostolic work
Miracles
- Appearance of a halo of fire around his head during Mass
- Rescue of a navigator in the waters of the Sorgue
- Punishment and healing of a feigned paralysis
Quotes
-
Affricane, speculum et nitor Ecclesiæ, Christi Tabernaculum et superum gratiæ
Antiphon of the Magnificat for Vespers