ST HERIBALD, BISHOP OF AUXERRE - 25 APRIL

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN APRIL

Saints celebrated on the 25th of April

WELCOME!

SAINT HERIBALD, BISHOP OF AUXERRE 

From time immemorial Heribald (Heribaldus, Heriboldus) (April 25) has been venerated in Auxerre (Antissiodorum). The crypt of St Germain there contains a short inscription outlining his life story: "Here lies the body of St Heribaldus, who was first abbot of this house, then bishop of Auxerre." As such he was the successor of St Angelelmus.

The splendour of Heribald's virtues, which had previously remained hidden in the monastic cell - as a Gallican martyrology relates - shone in full view from now on and cast its rays throughout Gaul, attracting not only the love but also the admiration of the greatest men of the time. Because of the favour he enjoyed with King Charles the Bald, he also acquired many temporal advantages for his diocese. He restored St Stephen's Church and decorated it with stained glass and other works of art. From a trip to Rome he brought the relics of the holy martyrs Alexander and Chrysanthus and buried them in a magnificent tomb. In A.D. 841 he also raised the mortal remains of St Germanus of Auxerre and buried them in a more dignified place. Bucelin* states that Heribald administered the episcopal office for 33 years. He is documented to have attended a provincial council that was held in Tours in 849. His year of death is unknown. His brother Abbo, who succeeded him in the episcopate, attended a council at Metz and Toul in 859, meaning that St Heribald was no longer alive by then. (III. 378.)

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 2, Augsburg, 1861, p. 660)

*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 Heribald 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