ST JULIAN, BISHOP OF MANS

ST JULIAN, BISHOP OF MANS - 27 JANUARY

SAINT JULIAN, BISHOP OF MANS

Saint Julian, (January 27), Apostle and first Bishop of Mans (Cenomanorum) in France, is considered by some to be Simon the Leper, at whose home in Bethany Jesus dined (according to Matthew 26:6). Some accounts say he was sent to France to preach the Gospel by Saint Peter, while others attribute this mission to Saint Clement. According to the biography by the monk Lethaldus - which Bollandus* presents based on three ancient manuscripts under the date of January 27 (I. 762) - Saint Julian was a highly respected Roman. He was chosen by God as an Apostle for Le Mans, just as Saint Photinus was for Lyon, Saint Trophimus for Arles, Saint Paul for Narbonne, Saint Saturninus for Toulouse, Saint Austremonius for Auvergne (Clermont), Saint Martial for Limoges, Saint Gatianus for Tours, and Saint Dionysius for Paris. The biography itself does not state exactly when Saint Julian arrived in Le Mans; however, the dedication letter Lethaldus wrote to Bishop Avesgaudus of Le Mans - subsequently included by Bollandus* in the appendix (Jan. II. 1152) - indicates that this occurred during the pontificate of Pope Sixtus II. Armed with the sword of the Holy Spirit, this man of God initially dwelt in a suburb, where he soon won over the initially unbelieving inhabitants to the new teaching through miracles. For instance, during a severe water shortage, his prayers brought forth a spring known as Centonomium, so named because the number of believers increased as a result of this miracle. The city's ruler, named Defensor, also summoned him, and after Saint Julian restored the sight of a blind man by making the sign of the cross, the man had himself and his entire family instructed in the faith and baptized; indeed, he even gave Saint Julian his house to be converted into a church, and the wealth that had previously served pagan extravagance was now used to alleviate the misery of the poor. In the same way, another prominent man named Anastasius - whose son Saint Julian raised from the dead at his request - embraced the faith and was baptized with his entire family; the same was true of a certain Jovinianus and a third man, whose sons the saint also raised from the dead. After performing further miracles, thereby silencing the pagans who conspired against him and leading almost the entire region to the Christian faith, he neared the end of his life. He designated Saint Turibius as his successor and died joyfully in the peace of the Lord, who continued to glorify his tomb with many miracles. Some of his relics were brought to Paderborn in 1243. According to Butler* (II. 115), his head is venerated in the Cathedral of Le Mans, while his remaining relics were kept at the Benedictine abbey of Saint Julien-du-Pré but were reportedly burned by the Huguenots in 1562. He is also listed in the Roman Martyrology* on January 27.

Volume 3. Augsburg 1869,

(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 Julian 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

BL. RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR Richard Newport, alias Smith , was born in Northamptonshire and performed his studies abroad, partly in the college of Rheims (if he be the Richard Smith whom I find in the Douay diary sent to Rome in 1586) and partly in that of Rome, where he was made priest. From thence he was sent upon the English mission, and behaved himself in such a manner as justly to acquire the character of a laborious missionary; being withal remarkably successful in bringing home many strayed sheep to the fold of Christ, to which his apostolical way of living did not a little contribute. He was several times apprehended and cast into prison, and twice banished. His name occurs amongst those who were transported in 1606; at which time, we are told, he took that opportunity of making a pilgrimage to Rome, there to pour forth his prayers at the tombs of the apostles, in behalf of thi...

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