Saint of the Day – 15 April – Saint Sylvester (Died c536) Abbot of Réome Abbey now Moutier-Saint-Jean, in Burgundy, France. He was a favourite disciple of the Founder, St Jean I, whom he succeeded in the Office of Abbot. Also known as – Sevetre, Silvestro. Additional Memorial – 17 April on some calendars.
We have vert little information regarding the life of our Saint today except that which is record in the Vita of his spiritual master, St Jean I.
In the list of Abbots of the largest Abbey in Burgundy, he naturally ranks second, after the Founder St Jean I and before Mummolus, the 3rd Abbot.
According to the “Life” of the Founder St Jean I, written by the Italian Monk and Historian, Jonah of Bobbio, the Founder, before dying, asked Sylvester, his disciple and a man of great virtue, to succeed him in leading the Monastery.
During his government, Sylvester enjoyed the favour of the Kings of France, Clotaire and Childebert.
Considered a holy Abbot, it is said that he partially cured a cleric, who was later completely cured thanks to St Germanus of Paris.
Saint Sylvester died on 15 April c536. In some cases, he is wrongly remembered among the Benedictine Saints and celebrated on 17 April. But in various local Martyrologies, his Feastday for was established on 15 April.
NOTE on the Image above:
Moutiers-Saint-Jean was sacked, burned and rebuilt a number of times. In 1567, the protestant Huguenot army struck off the heads of the two Kings on the main doorway (since restored, see above).
In 1797, after the French Revolution, the entire building was sold as rubble for rebuilding. It lay in ruin for decades, with the sculptures and artworks, being severely defaced, before, in 1932, the Doorway was bought from the landowner and moved to New York, where it now resides in The Cloisters Museum.
AnaStpaul 