ST SULPITIUS THE SEVERE, BISHOP OF BOURGES - 29 JANUARY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JANUARY

Saints celebrated on the 29th of January

WELCOME!

ST SULPITIUS THE SEVERE, BISHOP OF BOURGES 

Two bishops of Bourges bore this name, Sulpitius [Sulpicius]: Sulpitius the Pious (January 17) and Sulpitius the Severe.

A MAN OF HIGH BIRTH

Saint Sulpitius the Severe, wrongly identified with Sulpicius Severus, the historian of St Martin, was raised to the see in 584. He was, says St Gregory of Tours, a man of high birth, one of the first senators of Gaul, of great oratorical talent, and expert in the art of poetical rhythms. 

THE ELECTION OF SULPITIUS

The See of Bourges having become vacant with the death of Remigius, several candidates offered gifts to King Gontran to secure the assistance of his favour. But the latter rejected all these simoniacal gifts to favour the election of Sulpitius. 

THE COUNCIL AT AUVERGNE

He was elected, given Holy orders, and consecrated bishop. Shortly afterwards he held a council in Auvergne, to adjust the dispute which had arisen between two of his suffragans, Innocentius, Bishop of Rodez, and Ursicinus, Bishop of Cahors, with regard to parishes for which they contended. The council decided that the Bishop of Cahors should retain the contested parishes, which the Bishop of Rodez had not proved that he or his predecessors had long possessed. 

HIS HOLY DEATH

Sulpitius assisted at a Council of Mâcon in 585; he died in 591, his feast being inserted in the Roman Martyrology on January 29.

(From Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913)