A Dominican religious born in 1462, Yves Mahyeuc became the confessor to Queen Anne of Brittany before being appointed Bishop of Rennes in 1507 despite his initial resistance. For thirty-five years, he distinguished himself by his charity toward the poor and his apostolic zeal. Having died in 1541, his body was found intact when his tomb was opened in 1596.
Guided reading
5 reading sections
THE VENERABLE YVES MAHYEUC,
Youth and formation
Born in 1462 near Morlaix, Yves Mahyeuc received a pious education and studied humanities and philosophy at Saint-Paul.
Yves Mahyeuc Yves Mahyeuc Breton Dominican and Bishop of Rennes in the 16th century. was born in 1462 in the territory of Plouvern, a parish in the diocese of Quimper, four leagues from Morlaix. His parents, who were wealthy merchants, taught him early on to fear God, and sent him to Saint-Paul to be instructed in the humanities and philosophy. He carefully avoided the company of unruly students, and, assiduous in prayer, he frequently poured out his heart before God at the foot of the altars. When he had completed his philosophy, his inclination led him to apply for the habit of Saint Dominic: he received it in 1483 in the monastery of Morlaix where he spent his novitiate in the practice of prayer, in the exercise of penance, in obedience and mortification. Shortly after, he was sent to Nantes to study theology, after which his superiors assigned him to the convent of Rennes (1489), where he was employed in heari Rennes Episcopal see where the saint exercised his ministry. ng confessions.
Dominican Vocation
He entered the Dominican Order in Morlaix in 1483, then continued his theological studies in Nantes before joining the convent in Rennes.
It was in the exercise of this role that he had the opportunity to be known by the young Duchess of Bri ttan Anne Duchess of Brittany and Queen of France, patron of Yves Mahyeuc. y, Anne, eldest daughter of the last duke, Francis II: he became her confessor, an d that of Ch Charles VIII King of France, husband of Anne of Brittany. arles VIII, her husband. The queen, appreciating more and more the high qualities of the humble religious, p resented him to th chapitre de Rennes College of clerics that elected Yves Mahyeuc to the episcopate. e chapter of Rennes to be elected bishop of this city, which had become widowed of its pastor. As soon as he was informed of the intentions of Anne of Brittany, Brother Yves went to throw himself at her feet to beg her to desist from her undertaking. The queen did not cease to pursue his election, which was carried out unanimously, to the great satisfaction of the whole city. The tears and resistance of the religious had been in vain, and he was consecrated Bishop of Rennes (1507).
Royal Service and Episcopal Election
Confessor to Anne of Brittany and Charles VIII, he was elected Bishop of Rennes in 1507 despite his initial resistance.
The new prelate retraced in his life all the virtues that make a true bishop. His tender charity toward the poor of his diocese has rendered his name immortal. His zeal for the house of God knew no bounds, and the incessant labors he undertook for the greater glory of God during the course of a thirty-five-year episcopate sufficiently demonstrated that he saw in this dignity only a painful burden, a heavy yoke which he had consented to take upon himself only to procure the spiritual advancement of souls.
An episcopate of charity
For thirty-five years, he dedicated himself to the service of the poor and the spiritual progress of his diocese with great zeal.
Beloved of God and men, full of days, virtues, and merits, after having fought the good fight and completed a long and useful career, the blessed Yves fell asleep gently in the Lord on September 20, 1541, in the seventy-ninth year of his age. He was buried in his cathedral church. His tomb was opened on January 15, 1596, and his body was found incorrupt. Since the demolition of the basilica o sans corruption The state of a saint's body found intact upon the opening of the tomb. f Rennes (1755), it is unknown what became of it.
Death and posterity of the relics
Died in 1541, his body was found intact in 1596, but his remains disappeared during the demolition of the cathedral in 1755.
Excerpt from the Lives of the Saints of Britt any, by Dom Dom Lubineau Hagiographer and historian of Brittany, author of the source. Lubineau.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Born in 1462 in Plouvern
- Entered the Dominican Order in Morlaix in 1483
- Confessor to Queen Anne of Brittany and Charles VIII
- Consecrated as Bishop of Rennes in 1507
- Died at the age of 79 after 35 years of episcopate
- Discovery of the intact body in 1596
Miracles
- Incorruptibility of the body observed in 1596