ST SILVAIN OF AUCHY, BISHOP AND CONFESSOR

ST SILVAIN OF AUCHY, BISHOP AND CONFESSOR - 17th FEBRUARY

Saints celebrated on the 17th of February

ST SILVAIN OF AUCHY, BISHOP AND CONFESSOR

Saint Sylvain was born of a considerable family in the territory of Toulouse, and passed his first years at the court of two successive kings, Childeric II. and Theodoric III.

A CHANGE OF PLAN

Everything was ready for his marriage, when, powerfully touched by divine grace, he renounced all worldly prospects, and retired from court.

His thoughts were now bent upon Jesus Christ alone, and he longed for nothing so much as to enjoy silence and solitude.

PILGRIMAGES

After several devout penitential pilgrimages to Jerusalem and other places, he took orders at Rome, and was consecrated bishop, some say of Toulouse, others of Terouenne.

But his name is not found in any ancient register of either of those churches, and it is now agreed, among the most judicious critics, that he was ordained a legionary bishop to preach the gospel to infidels.

AN ITINERANT BISHOP

His zeal carried him into the north of France, and he spent most of his time in the diocese of Terouenne, which was then full of Pagans, and Christians but one remove from them.

He was indefatigable in preaching to them the great truths and essential obligations of our holy faith, and taught them to despise and renounce the pleasures of this life, by appearing on all occasions a strong lesson of self denial and mortification. Instructing them thus, both by words and actions, he gathered a large harvest in a wild and uncultivated field.

THE GREAT TRUTHS OF FAITH

After many years thus spent, he died at Auchy, in the county of Artois, on February 15, 718. He is commemorated in Usuard, the Belgic and Roman Martyrologies, on the 17th, which was the day of his burial; but at Auchy on the 15th. The greater part of his relics are now at St Bertin’s, at St Omers, whither they were carried in 951, for fear of the Normans.

HIS FEAST DAY

Usuard is the first who styles St Silvian bishop of Terouenne. Some think he was born not at Thoulouse, but at Thosa, or Doest, near Bruges, or rather at another Thosa, now Doesbury, in Brabant; for in his life it is said that he travelled westward to preach the gospel. His original life, which was ascribed to Antenor, a disciple of the saint, is lost: that which we have was compiled in the ninth century.

WELCOME

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BL. LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR 16th century houses, painted by Auguste Mayer He was born in the bishopric of Durham, according to Raissius ; others say at Richmond, in Yorkshire. He was master of arts in one of our universities; but going abroad to Douay, in Flanders, was received into the English college there, 1576, and made priest in 1577; and the year following sent upon the mission. Where he had not been long before he again went abroad, and travelled to Rome, partly for devotion, and partly for further improvement in learning. Here he remained in the English college till 1580, when he returned into England, and was not long after apprehended: for I find by a printed diary of things transacted in the Tower of London from 1580 till 1585, that on the 5th of December, 1580, Luke Kirby, Thomas Cottam , and other priests, were brought to the Tower from other prisons; and that these two, on the 10th...

BL. RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR Richard Newport, alias Smith , was born in Northamptonshire and performed his studies abroad, partly in the college of Rheims (if he be the Richard Smith whom I find in the Douay diary sent to Rome in 1586) and partly in that of Rome, where he was made priest. From thence he was sent upon the English mission, and behaved himself in such a manner as justly to acquire the character of a laborious missionary; being withal remarkably successful in bringing home many strayed sheep to the fold of Christ, to which his apostolical way of living did not a little contribute. He was several times apprehended and cast into prison, and twice banished. His name occurs amongst those who were transported in 1606; at which time, we are told, he took that opportunity of making a pilgrimage to Rome, there to pour forth his prayers at the tombs of the apostles, in behalf of thi...

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