Saint of the Day – 9 September – Saint Omer (c595-670) Bishop, a most zealous shepherd, founder of Monasteries and Churches, renowned scholar of Sacred Scripture, powerful preacher and evangeliser, converting his entire region to Christ. Born in France in c595 in near Constance and died in 670 in Thérouanne i France. Patronages – Luxeuil-les-Bains, Saint-Omer, Thérouanne. Also known as – Audomaro, Audomarus.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “In the territory of Thérouanne St Omer, Bishop.”
Omer was born of a distinguished noble family of Coutances, then under the Frankish realm of Neustria, towards the close of the 6th or the beginning of the 7th Century. His parents paid great attention to his education, in particular, they strove to inspire him with a love for God and for virtue.
Upon the death of his mother Omer entered the Monastery of Luxeuil in the Diocese of Besançon and persuaded his father to accompany him. They sold their worldly goods and distributed the proceeds among the poor. The father and son made their religious profession together.
Under the direction of St Eustachius, Omer studied the Scriptures, in which he acquired remathe Abbot, rkable proficiency. The humility, obedience, mildness and devotion, together with the admirable purity of intention which shone forth in every action of Saint Omer, distinguished him even among his saintly brethren.
When, in 639, King Dagobert requested the appointment of a new Bishop for the important City of Thérouanne, the capital of the ancient territory of the Morini in Neustria, he was appointed and Consecrated.
The greater number of the inhabitants of the region were still pagans and even the few Christians, through a scarcity of Priests, had lapsed. The holy Bishop applied himself to his task with such efficacious zeal that, in a short time, his Diocese became one of the most flourishing in France. Even a pagan overlord, who had persecuted the Christians could not resist his exhortations and after his Baptism gave large grants to the Church. On one of those properties, Bishop Omer built a Monastery in honour of the Blessed Virgin.
In 654, Bishop Omer founded the Abbey of Saint Peter (now the Abbey of Saint Bertin) in Sithiu, soon to rival the old Monastery of Luxeuil for the number of learned and zealous men educated there. Several years later, Omer erected the Church of Our Lady of Sithiu, with a small Monastery adjoining it which he granted to the administration and care of the Monks of Saint Bertin.
The exact date of his death is unknown but he is believed to have died in 670. The place of his burial is uncertain but he was probably laid to rest in the Church of Our Lady which is now the Cathedral of Saint Omer, where there is a 13th Century Cenotaph dedicated to him and where his Feast is celebrated today, 9 September.
AnaStpaul 