ST AVITUS II., BISHOP OF CLERMONT - 21 JANUARY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JANUARY

Saints celebrated on the 21st of January

Prayer to the Angels and the Saints

Heavenly Father, in praising Your Angels and Saints we praise Your glory, for by honouring them we honour You, their Creator. Their splendour shows us Your greatness, which infinitely surpasses that of all creation.

In Your loving providence, You saw fit to send Your Angels to watch over us. Grant that we may always be under their protection and one day enjoy their company in heaven.

Heavenly Father, You are glorified in Your Saints, for their glory is the crowning of Your gifts. You provide an example for us by their lives on earth, You give us their friendship by our communion with them, You grant us strength and protection through their prayer for the Church, and You spur us on to victory over evil and the prize of eternal glory by this great company of witnesses.

Grant that we who aspire to take part in their joy may be filled with the Spirit that blessed their lives, so that, after sharing their faith on earth, we may also experience their peace in heaven. Amen.

ST AVITUS II., BISHOP OF CLERMONT 

Saint Avitus II.'s feast day is celebrated on January 21 or April 3. His name is derived from the Latin avus = grandfather; avitus = ancient, etc. 

HE CAME FROM A VERY DISTINGUISHED FAMILY

St Avitus (French Avit), bishop of Clermont in the former province of Auvergne, came from a very distinguished family of this city. He was extremely pious and learned. One of the things he is particularly remembered for is the monastery he built on the spot where Saints Prejectus, Amarinus and Elidius had been martyred.

HE ADMINISTERED HIS DIOCESE FOR FIFTEEN YEARS

St Avitus administered its bishopric with apostolic zeal for fifteen years, and died towards the end of the seventh century. Because of his excellent piety, he was counted among the "saints" soon after his death. 

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, 1858)