Saint Innocent of Le Mans

Upon the deat h of the blessed Sev bienheureux Sévérien Predecessor of Innocent on the episcopal see of Le Mans. erian, universal suffrage placed Innocent on the episcopal see of Le Mans (532). The new pastor took extreme care to instruct his people by word and by example; he loved the ascetic life and neglected nothing to propagate it. He gave the hidden and deserted places of his diocese to be cleared by the monks and solitaries who came from all sides to place themselves under his direction: several among them became famous, such as Calais, Ulphace, R igomer Calais Monk famous under the direction of Innocent. , Constantien, Fraimhault, Leonard of Vandoeuvre, Bonner, and many others.

The very year that followed the consecration of Innocent, a counci l was held in the city of Orléa concile dans la ville d'Orléans Ecclesiastical assembly held in 533 in which Innocent participated. ns, the second celebrated in that city (June 23, 533). Thirty-one prelates were present at this assembly, among others Saint Innocent; it has remained famous for the importance of the disciplinary canons that were drawn up there, and which the zeal of our pious bishop, one cannot doubt, applied in his Church.

One of his first concerns, once returned from the council, was to continue the work undertaken by Saint Victorius I, by working on the rebuilding of his cathedral church. The bishops, his predecessors, had undoubtedly been delayed in the completion of this great work by the disorders that hindered their ministry. But the degree of temporal prosperity to which the Church of Le Mans attained during the episcopate of Innocent gave this prelate the means to pursue and finish it. He consecrated the high altar to the holy martyrs Ger vasius and Protasius and placed r saints martyrs Gervais et Protais Martyrs whose relics were placed in the Cathedral of Le Mans. elics of them there; however, he was not content with those that Saint Martin had given to Saint Victorius; he sent a message to Saint Batius who wa s then gover saint Batius Bishop of Milan who sent relics to Innocent. ning the Church of Milan with as much glory as holiness, and he obtained from him new relics more considerable than the first.

The feelings of filial piety that Saint Innocent had maintained for his master Saint Victorius led him to conceive the plan of building a basilica in his honor. It was near the ancient Christian cemetery, where the precious remains of the holy bishop had first been deposited. When it was completed, Innocent translated the relics of Victorius there, as well as those of Saint Victor. He took the greatest care to adorn these two tombs, and he chose his own within the same enclosure. The sentiments of filial piety th at Saint Inn saint Julien First bishop of Le Mans, whose burial place was honored by Innocent. ocent had preserved for his master Saint Victorius led him to conceive the design of building a basilica in his honor. It was near the ancient cemetery of the Christians, where the precious remains of the holy bishop had first been deposited. When it was completed, Innocent translated the relics of Victorius there, as well as those of Saint Victor. He took the greatest care to adorn these two tombs, and he chose his own within the same enclosure. To honor Saint Julian and his first successors, whose ashes still rested in the church of the Holy Apostles, Innocent adorned it with all the splendor of the arts of the time, and he enlarged it considerably. He also increased the number of monks who served it and enlarged their monastery; he entrusted them with the care of providing hospitality to the pilgrims who came to implore the protection of Saint Julian and the other saints who had their burial place in this sanctuary. To this end, he built hospitals for the poor and separate inns for strangers and travelers, ensuring through sufficient endowments all the aid they would need, both for food and for lodging.

We have said that our holy bishop was actively involved in the formation of solitaries and the foundation of religious houses. It was in the midst of these cares that he grew old and saw the end of his days arrive. He was buried, according to custom, in the cemetery which, from the beginning, had been reserved for Christians, not in the basilica of the Apostles, like his predecessors, but in the one he himself had built in honor of Saint Victorius II. His death occurred on the thirteenth of the kalends of July, that is to say, June 19, the day of the feast of Saints Gervase and Protase. The innumerable miracles which, after his death, took place at his tomb, signaled the glory he enjoyed in heaven. A religious from Maine, a contemporary of Innocent, celebrated the marvelous graces that were obtained near the tomb of the holy bishop. In the 14th century, the course of these wonders had not yet been interrupted, and the venerable Hil debert, who was the vénérable Hildebert Bishop and poet who celebrated the miracles of Innocent. n the glory of the Church of Le Mans, celebrated them in his verses.

Taken from the History of the Church of Le Mans, by Dom Plotin, and from the Proper of Le Mans.