Born into an illustrious family of saints from Poitou, Maximin became Bishop of Trier in 332. An intrepid defender of the orthodox faith against Arianism, he welcomed the exiled bishops Athanasius and Paul. He is famous for having forced a bear to carry his luggage during a journey to Rome.
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SAINT MAXIMIN, BISHOP OF TRIER
Origins and family of saints
Maximin was born in Poitou into an illustrious family counting several saints, including his brothers Maixent, Jouin, and Maximin of Chinon.
Maximin Maximin Bishop of Trier and defender of the orthodox faith in the 4th century. was born in Mouterre-Si Mouterre-Silly Parish encompassing the saint's birthplace. lly, near Loudun, in Poitou, towards the end of the 3rd or the beginning of the 4th century. His family was one of the most illustrious in the region, but it was above all a family of Saints. The Church of Poitiers considers as such three brothers of our Saint: Saint Maixent, Bishop of Poitiers, Saint Jouin of Marnes, and Saint Maximin of Chinon, of whom an important relic is preserved in that city; finally, a sister named Maxima. Our Maximin and his brother Maixent received an education worthy of their birth. As God destined them both to be pastors in His Church, He inspired their parents to have them study, and even to have them learn the divine sciences. Maixent settled in Poitiers, and was subsequently elected its bishop, a charge he fulfilled most worthily. As for Maximin, desirous of increasing his knowledge through solid studies, he went to Trier, then the capita Trèves Birthplace of the saint. l of the Gauls and especially renowned for the fame of its schools. There, he placed himself under the guidance o f Saint Agri saint Agrice Bishop of Trier and mentor to Maximinus. tius, who governed the church there with an extraordinary reputation. He was not long in such a good school without revealing the solidity of his mind, the greatness of his faith, the eminence of his virtue, and all the heroic qualities with which God had adorned his soul. Agritius, recognizing the treasure that God had sent him in Maximin, placed him among the clergy and raised him shortly thereafter to Holy Orders. This new dignity only increased the fervor of this holy ecclesiastic. He fulfilled all the duties of this state perfectly; everyone judged that there was no one more worthy than he to succeed Saint Agritius. A holy man, named Quiric, who was praying in the church of Saint-Eucher, received an order from heaven to tell him that it was God's will that he take on this great ministry after the death of his bishop. Saint Agritius himself was warned by an angel to ordain him from then on as his successor. Maximin found, in his humility, many reasons to reject this burden; but he was obliged to yield to the insistence of his master, the remonstrances of the entire clergy, the desire of the people, and above all to the will of God, who had chosen him as bishop (January 13, 332).
Formation and accession to the episcopate
Having left to study in Trier under Saint Agritius, Maximin was ordained a priest and then designated by divine sign to succeed his master as bishop in 332.
Saint Jerome, in his Chronicle, makes known in a word the high reputation he acquired in this office. It was a very difficult time, and where, to be a good bishop, one needed intrepid courage, a constant and unshakable faith, and a perfect detachment from all things of the world; one had to be ready for exile, for torments, and even for death, for the defense of the consubstantiality of the Son of God with His Father: for the Arians, under the favor of the prince, persecuted without mercy all the Catholic bishops. However, this holy Doctor represents Saint Maximin to us as a generous defender of the truth, and as one of the most courageous bishops who was then in the Church. He began his battles for the faith from the time of Constantine, by receiving into his home Saint Athanasius, exiled for this cause. H saint Athanase Father of the Church who cited Leontius among the Catholic luminaries. e did not look upon him as a criminal, nor as an outcast, but as an illustrious confessor of Jesus Christ. He believed himself infinitely happy to possess him; he surrounded him with all the honors due to his dignity as patriarch, and he made no difficulty in sharing his revenues to allow him to subsist with splendor during the two years and four months that he remained in Trier.
Defender of Orthodoxy against Arianism
In a context of Arian persecutions, Maximin distinguished himself by his courage and his defense of the consubstantiality of the Son with the Father.
He extended the same hospitality to Saint P saint Paul Patriarch of Constantinople and martyr for the defense of the consubstantiality of Christ. aul, Bishop of Const Constant Roman Emperor of the West, protector of Saint Paul. antinople, who had been banished by the Emperor Constantius. To this role of comforter of the most illustrious afflicted, our Saint added that of defender of the faith. In Trier, where the Emperor Constans, brother of Constantius, reigned over the West, Maximin made every effort to protect this prince from the snares of heresy. He fought valiantly for the orthodox faith at the Sardique Council held in 347 for the defense of the orthodox faith. Councils of Milan, Sardica, and Cologne.
Hospitality towards exiled saints
The bishop welcomes with splendor and charity Saint Athanasius of Alexandria and Saint Paul of Constantinople, both banished for their faith.
During a journey from Rome, a bear having devoured the animal that carried Maximin's luggage, he commanded it to carry it itself: which it did throughout the entire journey, by an extraordinary miracle.
The miracle of the bear
During a journey to Rome, Maximin subdues a bear that had devoured his beast of burden, compelling it to carry his luggage.
Saint Maximin did not survive long after the Council of Sardica. Upon his return from Illyria, he went to Trier to put the affairs of his church in order, then, whether to visit his relatives or friends, or for another reason, he set out towards Poitou. He died where he was born , in Mouterre- Mouterre-Silly Parish encompassing the saint's birthplace. Silly, no later than 349. The body of the Saint was, shortly after, under the pontificate of Paulinus, his successor, transferred to Trier; there were many miracles during this translation. He was received in Trier with incredible magnificence: he was deposited in the church of Saint John the Evangelist, where his tomb was thereafter extremely frequented, because of the great number of supernatural healings that the sick received there. Saint Hidulph had his relics transferred in 667 to the abbey church, which became famous under the name of Saint-Maximin: they remained there until the French Revolution.
Death and posterity of the relics
Maximin died in his native village around 349. His remains were later transferred to Trier where they performed numerous miracles.
During the time of the disastrous barbarian invasion, they were hidden from their fury, then discovered in 888, and it was on the occasion of this event that numerous miracles occurred, of which the most respectable authors have transmitted to us a faithful account.
Local cult and representations
Particularly honored in Poitiers on May 29, he is traditionally represented with Saints Athanasius and Paul or accompanied by a bear.
The church of Mouterre-Silly, near Loudun, is placed under the patronage of Saint Maximin; we dare not decide whether this patron is the holy bishop of Trier, or if it is a bishop of Poitiers of the same name, whose virtues we shall recount later. We are inclined to think, however, that due to the renown of the host of Saint Athanasius, it is to him that this honor should be attributed.
His feast is celebrated in Poitiers on May 29, under the double rite.
Saint Maximin is represented welcoming Saint Athanasius and Saint Paul with charity, and ordering a bear to carry his belongings.
See the Works of Saint Athanasius, of Saint Hilary; the History of the Councils; Dom Rivet, Literary History of France; Dom Calmet, History of Lorraine; Greg. of Tours, De Gloria Conf., ch. 93; Auber, de Chargé, Saints of Poitou.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Born in Mouterre-Silly
- Studies in Trier under the direction of Saint Agritius
- Elevation to the episcopate on January 13, 332
- Hosted Saint Athanasius in exile for two years and four months
- Participation in the Councils of Milan, Sardica, and Cologne
- Miracle of the bear during a journey to Rome
- Died in Mouterre-Silly in 349
- Translation of relics to Trier during the pontificate of Paulinus
Miracles
- A bear that devoured his pack animal is forced to carry his luggage to Rome
- Numerous supernatural healings at his tomb
- Miracles during the translation of his relics
Quotes
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Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my end be like theirs.
Num. 23:10