ST MAXIMUS, ABBOT - 20 AUGUST

SAINT MAXIMUS, ABBOT

Saint Maximus, Abbot, is commemorated on August 20; alternatively on January 2. This Saint, called in French Saint Meisme or Même, was a disciple of Saint Martin of Tours. We owe the following details of his life to Saint Gregory of Tours (De gloria confessorum, ch. 22), who had access to a biography written in verse. As a young man, he sought obscurity in Christian humility, hoping to find it at the monastery of Île-Barbe near Lyon (apud Insulam Barbaram). He was likely ordained a priest by Saint Eucherius, Bishop of Lyon. Upon returning to his homeland, the boat in which he was attempting to cross the Saône began to fill with water; the priest - who was carrying the Book of the Gospels and the "daily service" (ministerium quotidianum), i.e., a small paten and chalice suspended around his neck - found himself in mortal danger. Yet he was brought to shore without losing any of the items he was carrying. Subsequently, he established a monastery near Chinon in Touraine (castrum Cainonense, Chinonium).

One day, when the settlement was hard-pressed by the enemy and the inhabitants’ water supply had been cut off, they came to him asking that he pray for them. He did so, and the following day, filled with trust in God, he spoke to the people: "Let everyone place their water vessel outside their door today and pray to the Lord; then, this very day, the Lord will grant you water in abundance, so that neither you nor your children shall suffer want." Indeed, shortly thereafter, the sky clouded over and such heavy rain fell that every water bucket was filled. Saint Maximus lived to a great age. He was laid to rest in Chinon. The sick were often healed at his tomb. His death occurred in the fifth century - specifically, according to the Martyrologium Parisiense*, in the year 463. He is also listed in the Martyrologium Romanum* under August 20. The foundation he established continued as a monastery until approximately 980 or 1007, when canons took over, remaining there until 1790 (Gallia christiana* XIV, 191). Some accounts record that the saint's relics were consigned to the flames by the Huguenots in 1563; according to others, however, they were snatched from their fury just in time and taken to Saint Maxe, near Bar-le-Duc (IV, 55 and 56).

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 4, Augsburg, 1875, pp. 374-75)

*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 Maximus 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

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