Saint of the Day – 24 September – St Geremarus (c608-658) French Priest, Abbot, Founder of Monasteries. Born in c608 in Vardes, Neuf-Marché, France and died in 658 near Beauvais, France of natural causes. Also known as – Germer de Fly, Geremar, Geremaro. He appears in the Roman Martyrology: “In the Diocese of Beauvais, St Geremarus, Abbot.”
Geremarus’ parents, Rigobert and Aga, were of the prime nobility in the territory of Beauvais. He was born at their Castle in the Village Warandra and was educated at the Cathedral school in Beauvais.
Geremarus married a pious lady named Domana and held high positions in the Courts of the Merovingian Kings, Dagobert and Clovis. the couple were blessed with two daughters and a son.
Geremarus met St Audoin (c605-684) Bishop of Rouen, at Dagobert’s Court and on his advice founded the Isle-sur-Epte Monastery in honour of Saint Peter. St Audoin also Ordained Geremarus to the Priesthood. This Monastery was afterwards destroyed by the Normans and is now an estate belonging to Saint Geremarus Abbey.
Again by the advice of Saint Audoin’s, Geremarus made his monastic profession in the Monastery of Pental, in the territory of Rouen. He was soon after chosen Abbot but finding the Monks averse to regularity he left the Abbacy and led an Hermit’s life in a cave near the river Seine. This lastest for 5 1/2 years.
When his only son, Amalbert, died and was buried in Saint Peter’s Monastery, the family estate reverted to Geremarus from his son and with the proceeds he founded the Monastery of Fly or Flaviacum, near Beauvais, now dedicated to our Saint. There he assembled a community of fervent Monks.
Having governed this house for 3 1/2 years, he happily died on the 24th of September 658. His body was interred in the Church of his Abbey which soon after took his name. His Relics, for fear of the Norman plunderers, were conveyed secretly to Beauvais, where they are still kept in the Cathedral, except the bones of one arm, which have been given back to Saint Geremarus’ Monastery. In August of 1643 Bishop Potier of Beauvais, placed Monks of the congregation of Saint Maur in this Abbey,and erected there, a great school.
AnaStpaul 