Saint of the Day – 17 October – Saint Florentinus of Orange (Died c526) Bishop

Saint of the Day – 17 October – Saint Florentinus of Orange (Died c526) Bishop of Orange in in Vaucluse, France now in the Diocese of Avignon, between c527-524, Miracle-worker. Born on an unknown date in Tours, France and died in c526 in Orange, Provence, France of natural causes. Also known as – Florent, Florentius, Fiorenzo, Florence, Florencio. Patronages – Fiorenzuola d’Arda, in Italy and Orange.

The Roman Martyrology reads: “At Orange, in France, St Florentinus, Bishop, who died leaving a reputation for many virtues.”

Florentinus was born in the 5th Century and received monastic training. He was undoubtedly Abbot of the Clastre Monastery in a suburb of Orange (on the site of the current Convent of the Nativity).

He was elected Bishop of this City after the year 500. He continued the restoration of the Diocese, damaged by incessant barbarian invasions and the reconstruction of its Churches.

In 509 the City was taken by the Ostrogoths and its inhabitants deported with their Bishop to Fidentia near Piacenza in Italy. But this captivity was short-lived, thanks to the intervention of BishopSt Caesarius of Arles (470-542) with King Theodoric.

In 517, Florentinus was present at the Council of Epaone (Albon) against Arianism and at the Councils of Lyon and Arles of 524. He died before 527.

The people of Orange have always preserved the memory of his holiness and his pastoral zeal, his goodness, his self-sacrifice and his charity, as have the people of Fiorenzuola d’Arda, in Italy, who chose him as their Patron in recognition of his benefits. This relates to the miracle worked there during his pilgrimage to Rome, when he stopped in Fiorenzuola d’Arda, where he performed the extraordinary miracle of bringing a deceased child back to life

Florentinus’ Relics are shared between the Cathedral of Avignon and that of Puy and between the Churches of Fiorenzuola, Laussonne (Haute-Loire) and Saint-Florent d’Orange, where he is venerated as one of the protectors of the City and the former Diocese.