Saint Aubrin is the historical patron of Montbrison. A bishop whose see is disputed between Lyon and Autun depending on the era (5th or 9th century), he ended his days in the odor of sanctity in Montbrison after a life of zeal and learning. His relics, kept at the Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame, have been the subject of constant devotion despite the Wars of Religion.
Guided reading
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SAINT AUBRIN, PATRON OF THE CITY OF MONTBRISON,
IN THE DIOCESE OF LYON (UNCERTAIN ERA).
Origins and chronological debates
Saint Aubrin is traditionally considered to be from Montbrison, although his era and his episcopal see (Lyon or Autun) are the subject of debate among historians.
The veneration of the inha bitants of Montbrison Former capital of the Forez and principal site of the cult of Saint Aubrin. Montbrison for Saint Aubrin dates back to high antiquity, and written evidence of their devotion dates back more than six hundred years. A most respectable tradition holds that the bishop Albricius or Albricus, in French Aubri, whose local pronunciation has become Aubrin and even Aubrun, was born in the ancient capital of Forez.
Historians do not agree on the era in which this holy personage lived. According to La Mure, whose opinion was generally accepted in the 17th century, Saint Aubrin was born in Montbrison around the middle of the 5th century, and occupied the see of Lyon afte siège de Lyon Episcopal see of Saint Eucher. r Saint Stephen, who died in 500, and before Saint Viventiole, whose first known act is from the year 517. According to the learned editors of the Acta Sanctorum, Saint Aubrin lived three centuries later and should be placed among the bishop s of Autun. His évêques d'Autun Burgundian diocese associated with the saint's burial. name is indeed inscribed, without any commentary, in the catalogue of the Aeduan prelates, the seventh after Saint Lé ger, that i saint Léger Bishop of Autun and son of Saint Sigrada, author of a letter of consolation to his mother. s to say around the year 800.
It is also quite possible that this saint held the title of chorepiscopus or rural bishop in the diocese. His merits and virtues may have led to his subsequent elevation to the bishopric of Autun.
Last days and burial
The saint ends his life in Montbrison in piety and asceticism, predicting his death which occurs on January 2nd.
The life of Saint Aubrin was illustrated by great virtues, apostolic zeal, and a knowledge celebrated in the ancient offices composed in his honor.
The last moments of his life were spent in Montbrison; he was struck there by a slow fever and retired to the house of an inhabitant located in the parish of Saint-André.
It is stated in his office that he never wished, in the midst of his sufferings, to remove the hair shirt he habitually wore, and that, forcing his limbs broken by illness to remain the slaves of his soul, he patiently awaited the death whose day and hour he was able to foresee and predict.
He expired on January 2nd, and his body was placed, according to the Boll andists, beh Bollandistes A society of Jesuit scholars who publish the Acta Sanctorum. ind the high altar of Saint-André. The ancient Lyonnais calendars recall his name on January 2nd and July 15th. This latter date would be that of his revelation or his canonization.
History of the translations
His relics were transferred from the Saint-André parish to the castle chapel, then to the Notre-Dame collegiate church founded by Guy IV in 1227.
The house where he died, although rebuilt several times, has preserved through the centuries the precious privilege of receiving each year, during the solemn procession held on the day of the patronal feast, the relics of its blessed host, as noted by an ancient inscription that has since disappeared.
At a time that we cannot specify, these relics were transported to the castle chapel built in honor of the Blessed Virgin by the first counts of Forez. It was falling into ruins when Guy IV founded the collegiate church of Notre -Dame Guy IV Count of Forez, founder of the collegiate church of Notre-Dame. in the middle of the Vizezy marshes; in 1227, he had the relics from the old seigneurial chapel transferred there, specifically those of Saint Aubrin.
To preserve the memory of their stay within the castle grounds, a new chapel was built, not on the site of the old one, but a little lower down, near the gate known as Saint-Aubrin, on the small square that joins the current prison buildings, which remained until the Revolution.
Reliquaries and sacred objects
Detailed description of the saint's remains and personal items, including his head, crozier, episcopal ring, and liturgical vestments.
Transported, as we have said, to the church of Notre-Dame, the precious remains of Saint Aubrin were first enclosed in a large shrine suspended from beams, following an ancient custom and in order to be more easily exposed to public veneration, in the chapel that served as a chapter house for the canons, today the chapel of Saint-André. They were then placed at various times in special reliquaries. Here is the nomenclature: The principal bones of Saint Aubrin were placed in a new shrine of painted and gilded wood in 1563; some fragments were contained in an arm-shaped reliquary attached to the stone trunk that was in the choir; the head or chef of Saint Aubrin, very anciently deposited in a gilded silver bust, replaced, in 1638, by another mitred silver bust mounted on an ebony pedestal; a piece of his ivory crozier; fragments of his chasuble and one of his shoes; his episcopal glove in silk on which various embroidery designs depicted a cross, encased, in 1677, in a gilded wooden arm; his gold ring bearing the legend: Allericus episcopus; this jewel enclosed in a silver box was lost during the 18th centur son anneau d'or Episcopal jewel bearing the inscription Allericus episcopus, lost in the 18th century. y; his belt, part leather, part netting, with a horn buckle that served as a clasp, in a silver casket; another red silk belt with cords.
Wars of Religion and Restoration
The relics survived the Wars of Religion thanks to the canons; the cult was officially restored in 1665 after a period of suspension.
These relics escaped the vandalism of the Huguenots in 1562, thanks to the zeal of the canons who removed them from their reliquaries. Before reinstating them in the church, the Archbishop of L yon, Pierre d'A Pierre d'Apinae Archbishop of Lyon who authenticated the relics by fire. pinae, is said to have subjected them to the ordeal by fire to verify their authenticity.
Following the Wars of Religion, the solemn celebration of the feast of Saint Aubrin was suspended for many years, but in 1665, the administrators and the inhabitants of the city presented a petition to Mgr Ca mille de Neufville-Villerey to ob Mgr Camille de Neufville-Villerey Archbishop of Lyon who restored the saint's feast day in 1665. tain its restoration.
Patronage of Montbrison
Saint Aubrin remains the special patron of Montbrison, honored as Bishop of Lyon according to a constant local liturgical tradition.
The city of Montbrison has always regarded Saint Aubrin as its local saint and special patron. It is to him, after the glorious Virgin, Mother of God, that it has always had recourse; and, in many circumstances, it has felt the miraculous effects of his powerful protection.
It has always honored Saint Aubrin under the title of Bishop of Lyon. The titles of this quality are in the immemorial tradition of the country, in the calendars of the oldest manuscript breviaries of Lyon, in the authentic descriptions of the relics of the church of Notre-Dame, and finally in the rubrics of the missal and the breviary of Lyon.
We have extracted what we have just said about Saint Aubrin from a Notice on Saint Aubrin, patron of the city of Montbrison. At Lafond, bookseller in Montbrison.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Supposed birth in Montbrison
- Episcopate in Lyon or Autun
- Retreat in Montbrison at the Saint-André parish during an illness
- Died on January 2nd after predicting his passing
- Translation of relics in 1227 by Guy IV
- Ordeal by fire of the relics by Pierre d'Apinae after 1562
Miracles
- Prediction of the day and hour of his death
- Authentication of relics by the ordeal of fire
- Miraculous effects of his protection over the city of Montbrison
Quotes
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Allericus episcopus
Inscription on his gold ring