Saint of the Day – 5 August – Saint Memmius (Died c300) the 1st Bishop of Châlons-sur-Marne, now called Châlons-en-Champagne and Châlons for short, by default he was the Founder of that Diocese and is now its Patron Saint. Also known as – “The Apostle of Châlons,” Menge,, Meinge, Memmie.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Châlons, in France, St Memmius, a Roman citizen who, being Consecrated Bishop of that City by St Peter, brought to the Truth of the Gospel, the people committed to his care.”
According to tradition, Memmius was a Roman citizen who was Consecrated by Saint Peter and sent to Gaul (modern France) to preach the Gospel.
However, the earliest known account of Memmius comes from St Gregory of Tours, who names him as the City’s Bishop and its Patron Saint and extols his miraculous healing powers both in life and posthumously which he ,himself experienced at the Saint’s tomb. when he miraculously cured one of his servants, who had fallen ill in Chalons.
According to a Vita written at various times with subsequent additions, Memmius achieved such success that he converted all the inhabitants, to the point that no-one could be found to enforce the edicts of persecution against him. It is said that Memmius, initially rejected by the people of Châlonnais, withdrew to the Bauchet Woods, where he waited for God’s time by praying and working. A painting and a stained-glass window in the Cathedral show Memmius resurrecting the Governor’s son who had drowned.
The Bishop’s miracles touched the hearts of the inhabitants and his preaching converted many. Saint Memmie was thus the first bishop of Châlons.Memmius was thus able to die in peace after eighty years of service and was succeeded by Donatian, his Deacon.
The cult of Memmius is very well attested. From the testimony of St Gregory of Tours, it appears that already in the latter’s time, a Basilica had been erected over the Tomb of the 1st Bishop officiated by Monks, later replaced by Canons Regular.
Memmius’ name appears in all codices of the St Jerome’s Martyrology on 5 August with this eulogy: ‘on this date Memmius was accepted into the historical Martyrologies and then into the Roman Martyrology, with a eulogy derived from the Vita mentioned above.
The Saint’s Tomb, however, was not in the City of Châlons but in a nearby Village which today bears his name, Saint-Memmie. The village of Saint Memmie grew up around his Tomb, where his Relics and those of Saint Pome, his sister, of Saint Donatien and of Saint Domitien, his 2 initial assistants, the latter who succeeded him, are preserved to this day.
Twelve Churches in the Diocese have Saint Memmiudas their Patron Saint and an entire district bears his name.
AnaStpaul 
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