SAINT DRAUTIO, BISHOP OF SOISSONS - 5 MARCH

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MARCH

Saints celebrated on the 5th of March

SAINT DRAUTIO, BISHOP OF SOISSONS

Saint Drautio (Draussius, Drausinus), a bishop of Soissons in France, was born of noble parents in that city or in the diocese of Soissons before the year 628, and educated under the direction of the  bishop Saint Ansaric (Ansarich) of Soissons, who, according to Butler*, included him among his clergymen in 649. Appointed archdeacon, he worked hard to eradicate abuses and made the promotion of piety one of his main priorities.

When Bettolenus, the successor of Saint Ansaric, resigned his bishopric, our saint mounted the episcopal chair. In his new role, he zealously dedicated himself to the tasks at hand. Though of very frail body, he travelled about his district, performing all the duties of Christian charity towards the poor, prisoners, and pilgrims. In 657 he built the Abbey of Saint-Pierre de Rotondes, situated not very far from Compiegne, and took it upon himself to guide its religious in holy discipline on the way to perfection. 

On his advice the majordomo Ebroin and his wife Leutrudis built a convent at the gates of Soissons the following year, which was completed in 661. Later it was moved to the city and existed until recent times under the name Abbey of Our Lady of Soissons.

Saint Drautio died around the year 675 and was buried in the monastery, which was then still outside the city. On June 2, 680, his body was transferred to the new city church by Saint Adalbert, the second successor of our saint and the 24th bishop of Soissons.

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 1, Augsburg, 1858, p. 810)

*A hagiography source used by the authors 

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

PRAYER:

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