ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MARCH
Saints celebrated on the 11th of March
Initially, this holy bishop of Auxerre was well liked at the royal court due to his noble family background.
Saint Vigilus' predecessor had been Saint Palladius, whom he succeeded in A.D. 661 or 663.
In his new role, Saint Vigilius built a monastery with an attached church in honour of the Holy Mother of God, which he provided with rich income because of the hospital connected to it (xenodochium pauperum ibi esse praecepit).
Since he defended the clergy against the acts of violence of the majordomus Varaton (Waracho Warado), the latter had him attacked and killed on his way home from the royal court in the Forest of Compiegne (Compendium).
The Frankish kings of that time only cared about lust and luxury. As his corpse was being carried through the town of Sens, the prisoners' chains were loosened just as the funeral procession was passing the prison. To give thanks, they went to Auxerre, where they hung their chains on the saint's tomb. He was buried in the Church of Our Lady built by him.
The Bollandists* state that he died in 689; other hagiographers claim that his death occurred four years earlier. The former is more likely, however, because Baraton only held his office for a few months (in the years 688 and 689). In 1567 the Huguenots broke open the reliquary of the saint. Our Saint Vigilius is not listed in the Roman Martyrology*.
He is also commemorated on June 26 and July 27.
*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 Vigilius 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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