ST BIBIANUS, BISHOP OF SAINTES - 28 AUGUST

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN AUGUST

Saints celebrated on the 28th of August

ST BIBIANUS, BISHOP

Saint Bibianus (Vivianus), Bishop of Saintes (Mediolanum Santonum), descended from a noble family, some believe that his was a royal family. 

His father, whose name is not mentioned, was a pagan and remained so until his death; but his mother was a zealous Christian who raised him for all good things, and was called Maurela (Maurelia). 

HE MADE THE MOST BRILLIANT PROGRESS IN WISDOM AND VIRTUE

Under the direction of St Ambrose, the bishop of that city, he made the most brilliant progress in all wisdom and virtue, was ordained a priest by him and after his death elected his successor, which office he presided over with apostolic zeal. 

THE ZEALOUS BISHOP DID EVERYTHING TO RESCUE HIS SHEEP

Under his reign the Visigoths, who had settled in Spain, invaded the country, and took a large part of his flock there into captivity. The zealous bishop did everything he could to help his unfortunate little sheep. He travelled to Spain himself and, although he treated the Gothic king with all frankness, obtained their release. 

HE TOOK A RELIC WHILST THE HOLY BISHOP WAS STILL ALIVE

Once a rich merchant from the Orient came to France and was lucky enough to meet our holy Bishop, whose reputation was widespread. On the occasion of his conferring with him, it happened that the saint began to bleed from his nose. The merchant, deeply moved by the holiness of the bishop, took with him the blood that had been shed on the earth and returned to his fatherland. 

THE DEVILS BEGAN TO SHRIEK 

Scarcely had he arrived there when the devils of some of the possessed began to shriek, and praised the holiness of Bishop Bibianus. The inhabitants of that city (probably Constantinople), hearing this, thought that it was the holy  Bishop himself who had just arrived at the port, and hurried there, but found no one but the merchant who, greatly astonished, told them what had happened. 

A CHURCH WAS BUILT IN HIS HONOUR

As a result, probably after the death of holy Bishop, a church was built there in his honour; but he himself died towards the middle of the 5th century, and his death caused much weeping among his flock. According to Weissbacher Bishop Bibianus died in A.D. 490.

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints)

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Bibianus may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.