Saint of the Day – 16 May – Saint Honorius of Amiens (Died 653)

Saint of the Day – 16 May – Saint Honorius of Amiens (Died 653) The Seventh Bishop of Amiens., Miracle-worker. Borin in Port-le-Grand, France and died on 30 September 653 at Porthieu, Amiens of natural causes. Hs Feast Day relates to the date of exumation of his body in 1060. St Honorius served as Bishop of Amiens until his death of natural causes in 653. Also known as – Honoratus, Honoré, Honortus,. Patronages – bakers, confectioners, bakers of altar bread, candle-makers, florists, flour merchants, corn chandlers, oil refiners, and pastry chefs. Honorius is a Latin name (Honoratus) that means “person who is honoured for their merits.“

The Roman Martyrology states of him today: “In Amiens, of Neustria, France, Saint Honoratus, Bishop.“

Honorius was born into a nobile family he was educated by Saint Beatus of Amiens, his predeccesor in the See of Amiens. A pious child, as an adult he became the reluctant Bishop of Amiens. His reluctance was the result of Honorius considering himself unworthy of the position and responsibility. Legend says that a ray of divine light and holy oil appeared upon his head at the time of his selection.

He was not the only one who had difficulty accepting he was selected as Bishop. When th news of his election reached his hometown, his nursemaid, who was baking bread for the family, refused to believe that Honoratus had been elevated to such a position. She remarked that she would believe the news only if the peel she had been using to bake bread put down roots and turned itself into a tree. When the peel was placed into the ground, it was transformed into a mulberry tree that gave flowers and fruit. This miraculous tree was still being shown in the sixteenth century. This miracle is the cause of most of his patroages.

During his episcopate he was honoured with other extraordinary events, such as the discovery of the bodies of Saints Fuscio, Victorico and Genten, Martyrs, which had remained hidden from the faithful. for more than three hundred years. They also say of Saint Honoratus, that his Bishopric was signified by a series of wonders that demonstrated his sanctity, being, especially graced by the Lord.

Many miracles occurred during his lifetime and after his death. Centuries after his death, to help the needs of the people in times of terrible drought, Bishop Guy, son of the Count of Amiens, ordered a general procession, in which the urn with the body of the Saint was carried around the walls of the City. Thus by the prayers raised to St Honorius for his intercession at the throne of God, at last, the rain so desired and needed, fell in abundance. Over the centuries countless miracles are attributed to him, the paralysed walked, the deaf heard, the blind saw and the prisoners regained freedom.

His devotion was widespread in France following reports of numerous miracles when his body was exhumed in 1060.

In 1202, a baker named Renold Theriens donated to the City of Paris some land to build a Chapel in honour of St Honoriust. The Chapel became one of the richest in Paris and gave its name to Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. In 1400, the bakers of Paris established their guild in the Church of Saint Honorius celebrating his feast on 16 May and spreading his cult. This devotion was so great that in 1659, Louis XIV specified that each baker “must observe the Feast of San Honorius, attend the divine service on 16 May and pay a retribution every Sunday to support the community’s expenses.”

He is also the patron of a Carthusian establishment at Abbeville, which was founded in 1306.

He is the namesake of the St Honoré Cake and their are many Villages, Towns, Churches, pastry shops and streets named for St Honorius.

A statue of Honorius stands in the portal of Amiens Cathedral, see below.