Saint of the Day – 19 December – Saint Gregory of Auxerre (c455-c540) Bishop and Confessor who reigned as the Bishop of that Diocese for nearly 13 years. Probably born in France in c455 and died in Auxerre, France in c540 of natural causes.
The Roman Martyrology reads: “At Auxerre, St Gregory, Bishop and Confessor.”
A Window in Auxerre Cathedral showing an ancient Bishop which might be our St Gregory
Saint Gregory was the 12th Bishop of Auxerre. In the chronology of Bishops, he was placed after Saint Theodosius and before Saint Optatus.
If Saint Theodosius is mentioned at the first Council of Orléans in 511 and Saint Optatus had a very short Episcopate around 530, the pastoral government of our Gregory also appears within those dates.
He appears in the first catalogue of bishops compiled in the year 875, by the canons Rainogala and Agaldo, considered quite truthful by later historians, even if doubts were raised about the chronology before the 7th Century.
In the ancient text “Gesta Episcopurum Autissiodorensium” it is reported that Gregory governed the Diocese of Auxerre for twelve and a half years and died at the age of eighty-four. It is said that he died on 19 December of an unspecified year and was buried in the Crypt of Saint Germanus. His seven-line Epitaph, painted in the 12th Century on a pillar of the Crypt, is now almost completely erased.
In 1635, Bishop Dominique Séguier exhumed and recognised his remains. The Roman Martyrology lists his Feast Day as today, 19 December.
A portion and ceiling of the Crypt at Auxerre Cathedral
St Adelaide of Susa (c1014-1091) Countess, Married Laywoman, mother of 5, widowed 3 times. Born in c1014 in Turin, Italy and died on 19 December 1091 also in Italy. Adelaide made donations to the Monasteries of Turin, founded the Monastery of Santa Maria at Pinerolo and received communication from many leading Ecclesiastical dignitaries of the day. She also furthered the processes of reform within the Church hierarchy. Her Life: https://anastpaul.com/2023/12/19/saint-of-the-day-19-december-saint-adelaide-of-susa-c1014-1091-widow/
St Boniface of Cilicia Bl Cecilia of Ferrara St Fausta of Sirmium St Gregory of Auxerre (c455-c540) Bishop and Confessor St Jaume Boguñá Casanovas St Johannes Gogniat St Josep Albareda Ramoneda
Blessed Mercedarian Fathers – (6 Beati): A group of Mercedarian Friars noted for their dedication to the Order’s Rule, for their continuous prayer life and their personal piety. Blessed Bartolomeo of Podio Blessed Giovanni of Verdera Blessed Guglielmo de Gallinaris Blessed Guglielmo of Prunera Blessed Pietro of Benevento Blessed Pietro of Gualba
Martyrs of Nicaea – (4 Saints): A group of Christians Martyred together. The only surviving details are four of their names – Darius, Paul, Secundus and Zosimus. They were martyred at Nicaea, Bithynia (modern Izmit, Turkey).
Martyrs of Nicomedia – 5 Saints: A group of Christians Martyred together in the persecutions of Diocletian. We know little more than the names of five – Anastasius, Cyriacus, Paulillus, Secundus and Syndimius. They were martyred in 303 at Nicomedia, Asia Minor.
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