ST PALLADIUS OF SAINTES, BISHOP AND CONFESSOR - 7 OCTOBER

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN OCTOBER 

Saints celebrated on the 7th of October

ST PALLADIUS OF SAINTES, BISHOP AND CONFESSOR 

Saint Palladius was bishop and confessor of Saintes (Mediolanum Santonum) in France. He came from a noble family and was raised to the Chair of Saintes around the year 573 following the death of Bishop Didymus. 

In the year 573 (576) he attended the Council of Paris, which King Guntram had called together in order to settle - through the bishops - a dispute that had arisen between the kings Sigebertus and Childerich. 

He was also present at the Synod of Macon in 585. With great zeal did the bishops endeavour to settle the disputes by means of a document in accordance with the canonical statutes; but after the end of the synod, cruel wars broke out between the two rulers, which brought much misery and calamity to the church. 

From now on St Palladius spent the remaining days of his life exclusively in the exercise of his episcopal office. 

He had a great devotion to St Eutropius, first bishop of Saintes, whose remains he exhumed along with those of Abbot Martinus.

Pope Gregorius the Great recommended to him St Augustine and the rest of the missionaries whom he sent to England. He received another letter from this holy Pope on the occasion of the sending of relics of SS. Peter and Paul, which he had asked him to do, as well as those in honour of SS. Laurentius and Pancratius for the church built by him at Saintes. He died in the odour of sanctity at the end of the 6th century.

(From Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints)

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Palladius 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.