Saint Fructuosus of Braga

It is not surprising that Fructuosus had such an influence over men, since his gentle countenance touched even the animals. One day, while he was crossing a forest, a deer, pursued by hunters, came to take refuge under his cloak. The Saint took the animal under his protection and led it to the monastery. The animal, grateful, would no longer leave its liberator; it followed him during the day, slept at his feet at night, and would not cease bleating when he was absent. He had the beast led back into the woods more than once, but it always knew how to find the tracks of its liberator. One day, finally, it was killed by a young man who did not like monks. Fructuosus had gone on a journey for a few days; upon his return, he was surprised not to see his deer running to meet him, and when he learned of its death, grief seized him, his knees buckled, and he prostrated himself on the floor of the church. It is not said whether it was to ask God to punish the cruel man; but the latter soon fell ill and asked the Abbot to come to his aid: Fructuosus took revenge as a noble Visigoth and as a Christian: he went to heal the murderer of his deer and restored to him the health of the soul along with that of the body. One loves to see these graceful and innocent tendernesses in such harsh times and in these strong souls, born to lead peoples in their footsteps.

It is also said that, wishing to escape the homage of the people, he took refuge in the depths of the woods; but some jays that he had raised in his monastery went in search of him and betrayed his retreat by the joyful chatter with which they greeted him.

Fructuosus could no longer find deserts in Spain ; he ha Espagne Place of mission for Jude Barsabas. d populated a great number of them, his disciples were everywhere, and he was known throughout. How could he live in obscurity, as he desired? He was compelled to go to the Orient, under the pretext of visiting the Holy Places. He prepared secretly for this journey with some of his disciples. He was about to embark when he was suddenly stopped by order of the king. His plan had leaked. The king, as well as his council, unable to bear that Spain should lose such a great light, had him arrested with all possible respect and brought to his court, where he was kept under surveillance for some time, for fear that he might flee. A little later, he was ordained Bishop of Dume, and subsequ entl Dume First episcopal see of Fructuosus. y Archbishop of Braga.

Her e is Braga Diocese in Portugal celebrating the feast of the martyrs. the occasion upon which he was transferred from the see of Dume to that of Braga. Nineteen bishops of Spain were assembled in c ouncil at Toledo (December 1, 655). concile à Tolède (1er décembre 655) Assembly of bishops where Fructuosus was chosen for Braga. The prelates were in their final session when a document from Potamiris, Archbishop of Braga, Potamiris Predecessor of Fructuosus on the see of Braga, deposed for impurity. was presented to them, in which he acknowledged himself guilty of a sin of impurity. He was brought in and asked to acknowledge his writing; he was asked if his confession was free and contained the truth. He swore to it, and declared, bursting into tears, that he had for about nine months voluntarily left the government of his church to shut himself in a prison and perform penance there. According to the ancient ecclesiastical rules, he was to be deposed from the episcopate, but the council, moved by compassion, allowed him the title of bishop, condemned him to a penance that lasted his whole life, and chose Fructuosus, Bishop of Dume, to govern the church of Braga. He was the nearest bishop, Dume being only a league from that city.

Two words summarize the episcopate of Fructuosus: once raised to the pontifical chair, he nonetheless continued to wear the monastic habit and to live the holy life of the cloister.

Our Saint built new monasteries during his episcopate, and used the authority granted by his see to introduce or maintain the rules therein in all their purity. Two rules remain from him, one specific to the abbey of Compludo Compludo Abbey for which Fructuosus wrote a specific rule. , the other common to all his other houses.

When the holy Bishop was near death, he had himself carried to the church to receive the sacrament of penance, or simply the habit of penance; he remained prostrate before the altar for the rest of the day and the following night. A little before sunrise, with his hands raised toward heaven to offer his prayer to God, he expired in this Christian posture on April 16, 665. He was first buried in his monastery of Montel. In the year 110 2, his Montel Site of the saint's first burial. relics were transported to Compostela, where th ey are stil Compostelle A major pilgrimage site visited by the saint. l venerated today.

The attributes given to Saint Fructuosus are a doe and jays.

Cf. Patrologia Latina, vol. LXXXVII, col. 1087 (the rules); vol. LXXX, col. 690 (a letter to Braulton). In volume LXXXVII, one finds the verses of Saint Fructuosus, which we have mentioned: they are taken from the España Sagrada of Flores. Dom Coillier thinks they are not his. M. de Montalembert, Monks of the West, vol. II, book V, and Father Cahier are of a contrary opinion.