SAINT PATERNUS, BISHOP OF VANNES - 15 APRIL

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN APRIL

Saints celebrated on the 15th of April

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SAINT PATERNUS, BISHOP OF VANNES

The Bollandists* initially considered this Bishop of Vannes (Venetum) in Brittany to be the same person as the bishop of Avranches of the same name, who died in Vannes. (cf. Mart. I. 45.) The two bishops were contemporaries, and Paternus of Vannes too is said to have been a hermit in his youth. But the locations and other details are quite different. He is said to have built monasteries and churches in the Cardigan region, the most important of which was named after his name Clan-Patern Vaur - Church of the Great Paternus. He accompanied Saint David to Jerusalem, and was consecrated bishop by Patriarch John III. Appointed bishop of Vannes, he built a monastery not far from this town. He died around A.D. 560 in voluntary exile at an unknown location. Formerly, the inhabitants of Vannes and the Brittany celebrated three feast days of Saint Paternus: November 1, June 20, and April 15. No proper vita is available for Saint Paternus; the history of his life dates back to the 14th century, it is not entirely reliable. (II. 378-382).

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 4, Augsburg, 1875)

*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 Paternus 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.

Sources of these articles (in the original German): books.google.co.uk, de-academic.com, zeno.org, openlibrary.org