Saint of the Day – 27 October – St Desiderius (Died c623) Bishop of Auxerre, France. Desiderius was the 19th Bishop of Auxerre. Born in Aquitaine, in modern France and died in Auxerre.
In the list of shepherds of the Diocese, he appears after Saint Aunarius and before Saint Palladius. Ancient texts say he was born in Aquitaine to Nectaria, a noblewoman related to Queen Brunechilde.
Desiderius is mentioned in the text “Gesta pontificum Autissiodorensium – The Acts of the Pointiffs of Autissio” in the Chronicle of Fredegar.
He was Consecrated as the Bishop on 3 October 605 and governed the Diocese of Auxerre for eighteen years with wisdom and pastoral care. Saint Desiderius was present at the Council of Paris in 614.
It is said that he made numerous donations to the Churches of Auxerre, Toulouse, Cahors and Burges. Many Monasteries also benefited from his donations, including that of Saint Julien. He is also said to have been responsible for the liberation of many serfs.
He died on 27 October c623 and was buried in the Basilica of Saint Germanus, in the Tomb of his predecessor, Saint Aunarius.
His Relics were translated twice – the first, in 859, to a new crypt in the same Church and a second in 939, to the Church of Notre Dame de Moutiers in Yonne.
In the proper of the Diocese of Sens, he is commemorated on 27 October, the day of his death.
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