Born in Nantes into a noble family, Pasquaire became bishop of the city after Harco. He distinguished himself by his charity towards the poor and his pastoral zeal, bringing Saint Hermeland and twelve monks from Fontenelle to establish them on the island of Aindre. He died at the beginning of the 9th century.
Guided reading
4 reading sections
SAINT PASQUAIRE OR PASQUIER.
BISHOP OF NANTES
Introduction and moral context
The text opens with a moral reflection on charity and the absence of jealousy, citing Dom Lehtman in the introduction to the saint's life.
8th century.
A Christian who possesses true charity does not take offense at the successes of others: he is far from viewing them with a jealous eye, because he knows that charity makes him a participant in the successes they obtain and the merits they acquire.
Dom Lehtman, Eulogy of Saint Pasquaire.
Youth and elevation to the episcopate
Born in Nantes to a wealthy family, Pasquaire renounced the world for the ecclesiastical state and became bishop of Nantes despite his initial humility.
Pasquaire Pasquaire Bishop of Nantes in the 8th century, founder of a monastery. was born in Nan Nantes Episcopal city and principal site of the saint's cult. tes, to parents distinguished by their rank and wealth. Having received a good education and having become imbued with the importance of salvation, he renounced the world, which nevertheless offered him temporal advantages, but in the midst of which it is so easy to be lost, and he dedicated himself to the Lord by embracing the ecclesiastical state. His merit led to his being chosen to fill the see of Na ntes Harco Predecessor of Pasquaire to the see of Nantes. after the death of Bishop Harco, who occupied it and who is known only by name. The Saints, imbued with the maxims of the Gospel, of which humility is one of the principal ones, have always fled from elevation and honors; thus, Pasquaire protested strongly against his election and only submitted to receiving episcopal consecration when he saw clearly that such was the will of God. Knowing the full importance of the pastoral office and the extent of the duties it imposes, he discharged his obligations with the exactitude and zeal of a man animated by the spirit of God. He applied himself above all to regulating his clergy well, to instructing his people, and to relieving the poor, to whom he distributed all his patrimony, which was considerable. Although he gave himself entirely to the service of his neighbor and spared nothing to enlighten and save the souls entrusted to his care, he nevertheless felt that he was not accomplishing all the good he would have liked to do. His desire was to have pious co-workers who would preach as much by their examples as by their discourses, and whose regular and penitent life could serve as a model for all. Speaking one day to his flock about the two states found in the Church, that is to say, the clergy and the simple faithful, he also spoke to them of the religious state and the perfection to which this profession could lead, according to the testimony of Jesus Christ. His discourse touched his listeners so much that they all showed the greatest eagerness to obtain these men of God, who were to enlighten them by their words and edify them by their holy life.
Call to the monks of Fontenelle
Desirous of establishing the regular life in his diocese, Pasquaire obtains from Saint Lambert the sending of twelve monks, including Saint Hermeland.
Seeing his people in such well-disposed spirits, Pasquaire sent to the monastery of Fontenelle, to Saint Lambert who was its abbot, trusted persons to ask him for some of his religious, in order to establish them in the diocese of Nantes. Responding to the wishes of the holy prelate, the venerable abbot sent him twelve of his brothers, at the head of whom was the famous Saint Hermeland. They soo n arrived in Na saint Hermeland Abbot of Indre in the 7th century (mentioned here as a contemporary). ntes, and their first care was to go to the church of Saint-Pierre to implore the help of heaven and to draw its blessings upon their enterprise.
Establishment on the island of Aindre and cult
The saint settles the monks on the island of Aindre. He died at the beginning of the 9th century (noted by mistake as the 19th in the text) and is the object of a local cult in Nantes.
Informed of their presence in the holy place, Pasquaire, full of joy, went to find them, received them as angels, and blessed God that, fulfilling his most ardent desire, He gave his diocese men who would ceaselessly praise His divine majesty and help him to procure the salvation of souls. After spending some time with them in pious conversation, he led them to the island of Aindre, located in the middle of the Loire and two leagues from Nantes. He established them there and granted them several privileges. The other actions of the holy pastor are not known to us; but his zeal for the sanctification of his flock, and his charity towards Saint Hermeland and his companions, are all titles that prove how well-founded is the cult that his Church has long rendered to him. He died towards the beginning of the 9th century, on July 10, the day on which he is honored in the diocese of Nantes. His feast was formerly celebrat diocèse de Nantes Episcopal city and principal site of the saint's cult. ed there with the double rite; since 1790, it has been only of the semi-double rite. It is not known that his body was ever raised from the ground, and the location of his tomb is unknown.
We have extracted this biography from the Lives of the Saints of Brittany, by Dom Lobineau, from the Pr Dom Lobineau Hagiographer and historian of Brittany. oper of Nantes, and from the Acta Sanctorum.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Born in Nantes into a wealthy family
- Entry into the ecclesiastical state
- Election to the episcopal see of Nantes after Harco
- Distribution of his wealth to the poor
- Call to the monks of Fontenelle Abbey
- Establishment of Saint Hermeland and his companions on the island of Aindre
Quotes
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A Christian who possesses true charity does not take offense at the successes of others: he is far from viewing them with a jealous eye, because he knows that charity makes him a participant in the successes they achieve and the merits they acquire.
Dom Lehtman, Eulogy of Saint Pasquaire