Saint of the Day – 3 July – Saint Raymond of Toulouse (Died 1118)

Saint of the Day – 3 July – Saint Raymond of Toulouse (Died 1118) Archdeacon, Canon of the Lateran Canons Regular at St Sernin Basilica in Toulouse, France. Born at Toulouse, France as Raymond Gayrard and Died on 3 July 1118 of natural causes. Also known as – Raymond Gayrard, Raimund, Raimundus. Additional Memorial – 8 July when Raymond is commemorate in the Order of the Lateran Canons.

The Roman Martyrology reads: “In Toulouse on the Garonne in France, Saint Raymond Gayrard, who, as a teacher, remained a widower, passionately devoted himself to works of charity, founded a hospice and was finally admitted among the Canons of the Basilica of San Saturnin.”

What we know of Raymond has come down to us as narrated in a ‘Vita’ written in the 13th Century, based on older documents, therefore, relatively close to the years of his existence.

Following a custom of the time, Raymond, of noble birth, was placed at the service of the Church of St Sernin dedicated to the first Bishop of Toulouse, becoming its Cantor while remaining a layman.

He married but his wife died shortly after the wedding; Raymond in his grief, renounced ever to remarry and decided to devote himself entirely to the service of others.

He distributed generous alms to the poor of the area and founded a Hospice. True rescuer of his fellow citizens, he had two bridges built over the Hers river, whose frequent floods were an obstacle to the passage of people and trading.

But his most important work remains his participation in the re-construction of the Church of St Sernin; the ancient complex had been under restoration since the beginning of the 11th Century, under the Bishop Ruggero. The Choir had been consecrated by Pope Urban II on 24 May 1096 but the transept, a large part of the nave and the aisles, still had to be built. Thanks to Raymond’s skills in architecture, he took over the management of the construction site, giving great impetus to the works; the long construction, to which he devoted all his activities, had great repercussions on his spiritual life, who, to bind himself even more to this Church, asked to be accepted among the Canons of St Sermin, who later elected him as Provost of the Chapter.

Unfortunately, he could not see the long and laborious work completed, in fact Raymond died on 3 July 1118 and it is recorded that by that date, he had “brought the walls all the way around up to the completion of the windows…”

Raymond was buried at the Hospice which he had founded.

Numerous miracles soon took place at his grave, for which he became the object of a local cult. In 1652, on the occasion of an epidemic which had brought a large number of sick people to his tomb, Pope Innocent III officially confirmed his cult.

(Not to be confused with Raymond, Count of Toulouse).

Below is a Welcome Note from the Curé of St Sernin.

Dear pilgrims and visitors,
welcome!

Going through the doors of the Basilica of Saint-Sernin
is to touch the millennial history of the Christian faith of the City of Toulouse,
to be amazed by the majesty of Romanesque art,
to be edified by the testimony of the Martyr Saint Saturnin,
to venerate an impressive number of Relics of Saints.
Stopping on the way to Santiago de Compostela,
feeling the prayers rising to Heaven,
being in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Whatever the reason that brings you to Saint-Sernin,
this Church will not leave you indifferent.
Take the time to soak up its atmosphere,
ask the volunteers to give you a spiritual visit,
light a candle as a sign of prayer,
come and attend the Masses and the Offices.
You will then contemplate the true beauty of this Basilica,
a jewel of Romanesque art in the heart of Toulouse,
and will understand why people from Toulouse are said
to have always had two Parishes – theirs and Saint-Sernin

Enjoy your stay among us.

God bless you !
https://basilique-saint-sernin.fr/