ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN SEPTEMBER
Saints celebrated on the 1st of September
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SAINT LUPUS OF SENS, ARCHBISHOP
St Lupus [Leu] was a saint from the cradle, and brought up in the sanctuary, like another Samuel, in learning and piety among the clergy of Orleans, his native city.
It was always a favourite devotion with him to visit often the tombs of the martyrs, honouring God in his faithful servants who had glorified his divine name by the sacrifice of their lives.
Studying to walk in their spirit, he subdued his flesh by austere fasts, watching in holy prayer, humiliations, and penance.
FASTS, WATCHING, HUMILIATIONS, PENANCE
Having succeeded Artemius in the archbishopric of Sens in 609, he signalised himself by the most zealous discharge of every branch of the pastoral duty, and showed, that as no dignity could inspire him with pride, so no application to public employments could divert him from constant attention to God.
When King Clotaire had become master of Burgundy, he sent Farulph thither to take care of his affairs. This minister was exasperated against the saint because he did not bring him presents; accused him falsely to the king, and was seconded in his calumnies by Medigisil, abbot of St Remigius’s in the suburbs of Sens, whose aim it was to supplant Saint Lupus in his archbishopric.
ST LUPUS WAS BANISHED
Clotaire had not yet learned how dangerous a thing it is in a prince to listen to, or encourage informers, those caterpillars of the state; and, being seduced by the artifices of flattering slanderers, banished St Lupus, and gave orders to Landegesil, a pagan officer, to conduct him to Ausene, a village in Vimeu, not far from Lyons.
The holy bishop having come thither, and finding profane temples in which the people of the country worshipped false gods, believed he was sent by God for their conversion, which he soon compassed by his zealous preaching and example. By restoring sight to a blind man he converted Landegesil, the duke or governor, and baptised him with several who were still Pagans, in the armies of the Franks.
HE NEVER SHOWED THE LEAST RESENTMENT AGAINST HIS ENEMIES
In the meantime St Vinebaud, abbot of St Lupus at Troyes, and the citizens of Sens, solicited King Clotaire to recall St Lupus. That prince, who was then near Rouen, was made sensible of the injury he had done the holy man, and of the slanders of his accusers. He therefore disgraced and detested them, sent for St Lupus, prostrated himself at his feet to ask him forgiveness, caused him to eat at his table, and sent him back to his church loaded with presents.
The saint never showed the least resentment against his enemies, sought no other revenge than by conferring the greatest benefits on his calumniators, and by the evenness of temper with which he bore his disgrace, gave the highest mark of true heroism and sincere virtue.
HIS BODY WAS CARRIED BACK TO SENS
He died happily about the year 623, on September 1. His body was carried back to Sens, and buried as he had ordered, out of humility, under the water-conduit pipe in the church of St Columba.
[His relics were transferred to the new St Columba's basilica, Sens, on July 23, 853. St Lupus is patron against epilepsy.]
Source: Fr Butler's Lives of the Saints
PRAYER:
Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Lupus 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.
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