ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN AUGUST
Saints celebrated on the 5th of August
SAINT VENANTIUS OF VIVIERS, BISHOP
This holy Bishop, whose life story was first written in the 11th or 12th century and is therefore not entirely reliable, adorned the episcopal chair of Viviers (Vivarium) at the beginning of the 6th century.
Descended from Arian parents (the fact that he was a son of King St Sigismund is doubted by the Bollandists), he was introduced to the true Church by Bishop Avitus of Vienne and ordained some time later.
HE WAS ORDAINED
In the year 516 or 517 he came to Rome with the priest Alexis to deliver a letter from his bishop to Pope Hormisdas.
Soon afterwards he was chosen and consecrated to succeed Bishop Valerius of Viviers. As such, he attended the Council of Epaone (Epannum) in 517. He signed its resolutions.
THE SUCCESSOR OF BISHOP VALERIUS
His episcopal administration was such "that one admired the zeal of the apostles, the science of the doctors of the church, and the generosity of the princes in him." He built and restored several churches. In 530 he signed the resolutions of the Council of Clermont, then returned to his church and remained its teacher and example until 644.
HE DIED THE DEATH OF THE RIGHTEOUS
It is noteworthy that, in spite of his excellent virtues and loyalty to duty, he was in constant fear of the severe judgment of God. In his great humility he saw in himself one of the greatest sinners. With constant prayers, penances and alms he died the death of the righteous.
HIS RELICS
His relics, which were buried for a long time in the cathedral of Viviers, were later transferred to the Soyon convent (monasterium Subdionense), desecrated by the Calvinists in 1621, and partly burned; the remaining relics are now kept in the hospital church in Valence.
Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints
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