ST EVORTIUS, BISHOP OF ORLEANS - 7 SEPTEMBER

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN SEPTEMBER

Saints celebrated on the 7th of September

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 EVORTIUS, BISHOP OF ORLEANS

Saint Evortius is also known as Euortius, Evurtius, and St Euverte. According to the Roman Martyrology, Evortius was formerly sub-deacon of the Roman Church and then Bishop of Orleans (Aurelia) in France. 

HE ATTENDED THE COUNCIL OF VALENCE

It is known that in 374 he attended the Council of Valence in the Dauphins; but the other circumstances of his life are not known, although the ancient martyrologists remember that he used to enjoy great fame.

HIS HOLY DEATH

According to some, St Evortius died on September 7, 391; other sources claim he passed on in 340 and that he lived under Emperor Constantine the Great. 

HE IS OFTEN DEPICTED WITH A DOVE

In order to designate him in the election as bishop according to the will of God, as the legend says, a dove flew on the head of the saint, which is why he is also depicted with a dove. 

VENERATION IN FRANCE AND ENGLAND

His relics were brought to the abbey that bears his name in Orleans. According to Migne, he used to enjoy great veneration not only in France, but also in England. 

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints)