A Roman nobleman who renounced his possessions, Saint Grat settled in Rouergue with his companion Ansute to lead a life of austerity and prayer. Renowned for their miracles at Capdense, they were seized by pagans and beheaded around 316. Their relics are preserved near Villefranche, where Grat is invoked to heal madness.
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SAINT GRAT AND SAINT ANSUTE, MARTYRS IN ROUERGUE (316).
Origins and asceticism
Born in Rome into an illustrious family, Grat renounced his possessions to settle in Rouergue with his companion Ausute, practicing rigorous penance.
The city of Rome was the homeland of Saint G saint Grat Martyr of Rouergue originally from Rome. rat: it was there that he was born into an illustrious family. After leaving his parents and saying farewell to all that the world loves and all the goods for which it is passionate, Grat went to Gaul and settled in the land of the Ruteni (Rouergue). Filled and animated by the spirit of God, Grat offered an exemplary life, the most constant fidelity to his duties, and an enlightened zeal for the practice of good; and, by all possible means, he endeavored to excite the witnesses of his virtues to piety. Grat had as a companion in his labors Au sute, Ausute Companion in labor and martyrdom of Saint Grat. as devoted as he was to the service of God and of his neighbor. Day and night, they occupied themselves together with prayer, for all the time they were not occupied with work. Both of them gave themselves over to the austere rigors of penance; both of them mortified their rebellious flesh; and, to better subdue themselves, they both wore a heavy iron chain around their bodies. lourde chaîne de fer Instrument of penance worn by the saint.
Miracles at Capdense
Retired to Capdense, the two companions attract crowds through their miraculous healings performed in the name of Jesus Christ.
God blessed lives as holy and admirable as those of Grat and Ausute. The solitary place where they flowed without noise and far from the world became illustrious through the miracles that God was pleased to perform there, at the prayer of His serva nts: Cap Capdense Place of retreat and miracles for the two saints. dense, where Grat and Ansute lived in retreat, was visited by the sick and infirm of all kinds, flocking to them in crowds to obtain their health and the healing of their moral and physical miseries; and they healed them, by invoking over them the name of Jesus Christ.
Martyrdom and persecution
Under the persecution of Diocletian, the local pagans, irritated by the success of their faith, capture and behead Grat and Ansute.
The demon could not bear the sight of such an edifying spectacle, which confirmed, in a striking manner, both the holy life of Grat and Ansut Ansute Companion in labor and martyrdom of Saint Grat. e, and the truth of the religion they professed. Thus, he inflamed with anger against Grat and Ansute the pagans who lived around them, by showing them the conduct of the two servants of God as a living insult to their own conduct; and the progress of the religion of Grat and Ansute among them as a certain sign of their cowardice and their weak attachment to their deities. The fate of Grat and Ansute was therefore sealed. The pagans gathered, seized them, and loaded them with chains; then they cut off their heads.
Cult and relics
Honored on October 16 in the diocese of Rodez, the saints left behind relics and objects of penance venerated for the healing of madness.
Saint Grat Saint Grat Martyr of Rouergue originally from Rome. and Saint Ansute are honored on October 16 in the diocese of Rodez. It is believed that their glorious martyrdom took place at Saint-Grat, near Villefranche, one of the parishes of the diocese of Rodez, under the persecuti Dioclétien Roman emperor under whom the martyrdom is said to have taken place. on of Diocletian. The greater part of their relics are venerated today in the church of Saint-Grat, where one is even shown a helmet that is believed to have belonged to Saint Grat, as well as his heavy iron chain.
This Saint is invoked, and with success, for the healing of madness.
Notice provided through the kind ness of Mr. Abbé M. Labbé Bousquet Canon of Rodez and author of the notice. Bousquet, canon of Rodez.
Annexes & related entities
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