Saint of the Day – 18 December – St Flavitus (Died 630) Priest, Hermit, Miracle-worker. Born in the mid-6th Century in Lombardy, Italy and died on 18 December 630 at Marcilly-le-Hayer, modern France. Also known as – Flavitus of Sens, Flaive, Flav, Flavy. Additional Memorial – 16 December on some Calendars.
Flavitus was captured in his home region of Lombardy in Italy and then sold as a slave by the victorious Franks to a rich lord, named, Montan, whose home was located at Marcilly-le-Hayer, in France. There, Flavitus guarded his master Montan’s herd of pigs in the forest of Othe.
Flavitus was falsely accused by the wife of this lord. But having cured Montan of illness and despite the hostility of those around him, his master;s gratitude served to free him from slavery.
Flavitus became a Hermit in the forest and soon attracted the goodwill of the population through his mortifications and holiness. His prayers drew a Spring from the ground and the miraculous waters drew the blind, the crippled, demonically possessed – all who brought their faith and infirmities, were healed. The Bishop of Sens, Saint Lupus, hearing of Flavitus great spiritual attraction and his many miracles Ordains him as a Priest.
He became a missionary apostle and miracle-worker of the region. He died in Marcilly-le-Hayer on 18 December 630, under the Episcopate of Ragnegisius(?), the 17th Bishop of Troyes.
His Relics were shared between the Sainte-Colombe Abbey of Sens and the Saint-Flavit Priory of Villemaur-sur-Vanne which was destroyed in the 18th Century. The Treasury of the Cathedral of Sens preserves a Shrine of Saint Flavitus.
In 1807 a small Chapel was built on the site of his hermitage, very close to Marcilly-le-Hayer. The village of Saint-Flavy honours our Saint’s memory.
AnaStpaul 