ST CAESARIUS OF ARLES - 27 AUGUST

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN AUGUST

Saints celebrated on the 27th of August

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SAINT CAESARIUS OF ARLES, BISHOP

Saint Caesarius was born in 470, in the territory of Challons, on the Saone, and descended from a family of distinguished piety. When but seven years old, he often gave his clothes to poor people whom he met begging. In his youth he resolved to renounce the world.   

Eonius, the archbishop,  ordained him deacon, and afterwards priest; soon after he made him abbot of a monastery built in an island in the Rhone, within the suburbs of the city. Three years after, lying on his death-bed, he recommended him for his successor. The saint fled, and hid himself among the Roman sumptuous tombs, a great number of which are remaining to this day near the city; but being discovered, he was obliged to acquiesce in the unanimous election of the clergy and the whole city, in 501.

HE WAS OBLIGED TO ACQUIESCE IN THE UNANIMOUS ELECTION

He was then thirty years old, and he presided over that church above forty years.

He strenuously exhorted all persons never to fail, except in cases of the greatest necessity, to assist at all the hours of the divine office, that are sung in the day, and in Lent also, at those of the night. Knowing that the church puts the poor under the special protection of the bishops, he consecrated to them almost his whole revenue, and built many hospitals. 

HE BUILT MANY HOSPITALS

He preached on all Sundays and holydays, and often on other days, both morning and evening. He taught the faithful to dread, above all other terrible judgements that God ever inflicts on souls in his anger, a spiritual famine of his divine word. He strongly inculcated the fear of the pains of purgatory for venial sins, and the necessity of effacing them by daily penance. His ordinary exhortations regard prayer, fasting, alms, the pardon of injuries, chastity, and the practice of all manner of good works, especially in Lent, on the Rogation-days, and in other such times of devotion.

HE BUILT A NUNNERY AT ARLES

Saint Caesarius built a nunnery at Arles, and assisted in working with his own hands. The church was very large, and divided into three parts.  He committed the government of it to his sister Caesaria, she having been educated, and having taken the veil in a nunnery at Marseilles, probably that founded by Cassian. 

HE PRESIDED IN THE COUNCIL OF AGDE

St Caesarius presided in the council of Agde in 506, where several decrees were framed for the reformation of manners; also in the second council of Orange, in 529, the canons of which he drew up. In them was condemned the heresy of the Semipelagians, who affirmed, that the first desire or beginning of faith and good works is from the creature. So complete was the victory which he gained over it by the council of Orange, that the confirmation of this council closes the history of that heresy.

HE HAD HIS SHARE IN THE PUBLIC CALAMITIES

St Caesarius had his share in the public calamities of the age in which he lived. 

The French and Burgundians laid siege to Arles in 508; during which the Goths threw Saint Caesarius into prison, upon suspicion that he had attempted to deliver up the city to the besiegers; but he was cleared, and set at liberty. 

HE DIED IN THE PRESENCE OF SEVERAL HOLY BISHOPS

In the seventy-second year of his age, being broken with infirmities, he died in the presence of several holy bishops and priests, on the eve of the feast of Saint Austin, in 542. His relics healed a great number of sick people, and he wrought several like miracles whilst he was living, as the authors of his life testify. 

(From Fr Butler's Lives of the Saints)