Baudilus
Encyclopedia
Saint Baudilus is venerated as a martyr
by the Catholic Church. His cult is closely associated with the city of Nîmes
, but also spread into Spain.
The first missionary in Nîmes is said to have been Saint Saturnin (Saturninus), who was sent by Pope Fabian
to Gaul
around 245 AD. Saturnin converted a native of Nîmes, Saint Honestus
, who was later martyred at Pamplona
. However, the Catholic Encyclopedia
writes that "the true apostle of Nîmes was St. Baudilus, whose martyrdom is placed by some at the end of the third century, and, with less reason, by others at the end of the fourth." Tradition also makes him a martyr during the reign of Julian the Apostate
.
The legend of Saint Baudilus states that he was not a native of Nîmes, but was a Christian
- possibly a deacon
- who came into the city one day during a festival celebrated by the Salii
or Agonales in honor of Veiovis
. The festival was being celebrated in hills near the city, formerly covered with oaks (and now occupied by vineyards). A crowd was grouped on the hillsides, watching the ceremony, which, according to Abbé Azaïs, writing in 1872, involved the immolation
of sacrificial victims.
Baudilus condemned this ceremony and toppled a statue of the god. Furious at this insult, the pagan priests whipped and then executed Baudilus instead, decapitating
him with an axe. According to the legend, his severed head bounced three times on the ground, each impact bringing forth a spring of water. Upon these springs of water was later built an oratory: l'oratoire des Trois-Fontaines ("Three Fountains").
Baudilus’ body was collected by his wife, and was transported to a place called "Valsainte", where there already existed a colony of Christians, and he was buried there. Valsainte became a place of pilgrimage, and a church was built there in the fourth century, and later a monastery in 511 AD (which survived until the 17th century). The crypt of Saint Baudilus (la crypte de St Baudile) at the corner of rue des Moulins and rue des Trois Fontaines, would mark the alleged spot where Baudilus was martyred.
Jules Igolin writes that Nîmes became the site of a bishopric by the fourth century and that its first bishop was Saint Felix of Nîmes (St Félix), who was martyred around 407 AD.
, Fabrègues
, and Neuilly-sur-Marne
.
His cult spread into Spain, where he became the patron of various churches. His name acquired variants, including Baudelio, Boal, Boi, Baldiri (the last two are Catalan
). One source has stated that Baudilus’ fame as a thaumaturgus resulted in his cult spreading beyond France, with a very widespread cult in Spain, including Catalonia
. Baudilus is mentioned briefly in Robert Southey
's Roderick. The notes to the text state that Baudilus "is a saint very little known, [and] it will be proper to say something of him. This saint is much reverenced in Salamanca
and in Zamora
; and in both cities he has a parochial church; and in Zamora they have a good part of his relics. They have so much corrupted the name, calling him St. Boal, that the saint is now scarcely known by his own." Salamanca has a church and a palace named San Boal; there is an image of the saint in the church.
Castile-Leon
Catalonia
La Rioja
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
by the Catholic Church. His cult is closely associated with the city of Nîmes
Nîmes
Nîmes is the capital of the Gard department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France. Nîmes has a rich history, dating back to the Roman Empire, and is a popular tourist destination.-History:...
, but also spread into Spain.
The first missionary in Nîmes is said to have been Saint Saturnin (Saturninus), who was sent by Pope Fabian
Pope Fabian
Pope Fabian was Pope from January 10, 236 to January 20, 250, succeeding Pope Anterus.Eusebius of Caesarea relates how the Christians, having assembled in Rome to elect a new bishop, saw a dove alight upon the head of Fabian, a layman and stranger to the city, who was thus marked out for this...
to Gaul
Gaul
Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
around 245 AD. Saturnin converted a native of Nîmes, Saint Honestus
Saint Honestus
Saint Honestus was, according to Christian tradition, a disciple of Saturninus of Toulouse and a native of Nîmes. Saturninus and Honestus evangelized in Spain, and Honestus was martyred at Pampeluna during the persecutions of Aurelian...
, who was later martyred at Pamplona
Pamplona
Pamplona is the historial capital city of Navarre, in Spain, and of the former kingdom of Navarre.The city is famous worldwide for the San Fermín festival, from July 6 to 14, in which the running of the bulls is one of the main attractions...
. However, the Catholic Encyclopedia
Catholic Encyclopedia
The Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia and the Original Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language encyclopedia published in the United States. The first volume appeared in March 1907 and the last three volumes appeared in 1912, followed by a master index...
writes that "the true apostle of Nîmes was St. Baudilus, whose martyrdom is placed by some at the end of the third century, and, with less reason, by others at the end of the fourth." Tradition also makes him a martyr during the reign of Julian the Apostate
Julian the Apostate
Julian "the Apostate" , commonly known as Julian, or also Julian the Philosopher, was Roman Emperor from 361 to 363 and a noted philosopher and Greek writer....
.
The legend of Saint Baudilus states that he was not a native of Nîmes, but was a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
- possibly a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
- who came into the city one day during a festival celebrated by the Salii
Salii
In ancient Roman religion, the Salii were the "leaping priests" of Mars supposed to have been introduced by King Numa Pompilius. They were twelve patrician youths, dressed as archaic warriors: an embroidered tunic, a breastplate, a short red cloak , a sword, and a spiked headdress called an apex...
or Agonales in honor of Veiovis
Veiovis
Vejovis or Vejove is a Roman god.-Representation and worship:Vejovis is portrayed as a young man, holding a bunch of arrows, pilum, in his hand, and is accompanied by a goat. Romans believed that Vejovis was one of the first gods to be born. He was a god of healing, and became associated with...
. The festival was being celebrated in hills near the city, formerly covered with oaks (and now occupied by vineyards). A crowd was grouped on the hillsides, watching the ceremony, which, according to Abbé Azaïs, writing in 1872, involved the immolation
Immolation
Immolation, from Latin immolare, "to sacrifice", originally "to sprinkle with sacrificial meal" , in modern English since the 16th century may refer to:* Fire sacrifice** Holocaust * Cremation...
of sacrificial victims.
Baudilus condemned this ceremony and toppled a statue of the god. Furious at this insult, the pagan priests whipped and then executed Baudilus instead, decapitating
Decapitation
Decapitation is the separation of the head from the body. Beheading typically refers to the act of intentional decapitation, e.g., as a means of murder or execution; it may be accomplished, for example, with an axe, sword, knife, wire, or by other more sophisticated means such as a guillotine...
him with an axe. According to the legend, his severed head bounced three times on the ground, each impact bringing forth a spring of water. Upon these springs of water was later built an oratory: l'oratoire des Trois-Fontaines ("Three Fountains").
Baudilus’ body was collected by his wife, and was transported to a place called "Valsainte", where there already existed a colony of Christians, and he was buried there. Valsainte became a place of pilgrimage, and a church was built there in the fourth century, and later a monastery in 511 AD (which survived until the 17th century). The crypt of Saint Baudilus (la crypte de St Baudile) at the corner of rue des Moulins and rue des Trois Fontaines, would mark the alleged spot where Baudilus was martyred.
Jules Igolin writes that Nîmes became the site of a bishopric by the fourth century and that its first bishop was Saint Felix of Nîmes (St Félix), who was martyred around 407 AD.
Veneration in France
Baudilus is the patron of various churches in France, including churches in NovesNoves
Noves is a commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône department in southern France.-Population:-Sights:*Church of Sainte Baudille, located in the site of a 3rd century Palaeo-Christian worship area and of a Roman temple...
, Fabrègues
Fabrègues
Fabrègues is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France.-See also:*Communes of the Hérault department...
, and Neuilly-sur-Marne
Neuilly-sur-Marne
Neuilly-sur-Marne is a commune in the eastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.-History:On 13 April 1892, a third of the territory of Neuilly-sur-Marne was detached and became the commune of Neuilly-Plaisance.- Heraldry :...
.
Cult in Spain
Catalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
). One source has stated that Baudilus’ fame as a thaumaturgus resulted in his cult spreading beyond France, with a very widespread cult in Spain, including Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
. Baudilus is mentioned briefly in Robert Southey
Robert Southey
Robert Southey was an English poet of the Romantic school, one of the so-called "Lake Poets", and Poet Laureate for 30 years from 1813 to his death in 1843...
's Roderick. The notes to the text state that Baudilus "is a saint very little known, [and] it will be proper to say something of him. This saint is much reverenced in Salamanca
Salamanca
Salamanca is a city in western Spain, in the community of Castile and León. Because it is known for its beautiful buildings and urban environment, the Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. It is the most important university city in Spain and is known for its contributions to...
and in Zamora
Zamora, Spain
Zamora is a city in Castile and León, Spain, the capital of the province of Zamora. It lies on a rocky hill in the northwest, near the frontier with Portugal and crossed by the Duero river, which is some 50 km downstream as it reaches the Portuguese frontier...
; and in both cities he has a parochial church; and in Zamora they have a good part of his relics. They have so much corrupted the name, calling him St. Boal, that the saint is now scarcely known by his own." Salamanca has a church and a palace named San Boal; there is an image of the saint in the church.
Castile-Leon
- Mozarabic church of San Baudelio de BerlangaSan Baudelio de BerlangaThe Hermitage of San Baudelio de Berlanga is a church situated at Caltojar, province of Soria, Spain, 80 km south of Berlanga de Duero. It is an example of Mozarabic architecture and was built in the 11th century, in what was then the frontier between Islamic and Christian lands...
(CaltojarCaltojarCaltojar is a municipality located in the province of Soria, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 111 inhabitants.right|thumb|250px|La Veruela Atalaya....
, SoriaSoria (province)Soria is a province of central Spain, in the eastern part of the autonomous community of Castile and León. Most of the province is in the mountainous Sistema Ibérico areaIt is bordered by the provinces of La Rioja, Zaragoza, Guadalajara, Segovia, and Burgos....
). - MudéjarMudéjarMudéjar is the name given to individual Moors or Muslims of Al-Andalus who remained in Iberia after the Christian Reconquista but were not converted to Christianity...
church of San Baudilio, SamboalSamboalSamboal is a municipality located in the province of Segovia, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 560 inhabitants....
(Segovia). - Sambol (Burgos), monastery in ruins, which gave name to a creek on the Way of St. JamesWay of St. JamesThe Way of St. James or St. James' Way is the pilgrimage route to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition has it that the remains of the apostle Saint James are buried....
. - Moraleja de las PanaderasMoraleja de las PanaderasMoraleja de las Panaderas is a municipality located in the province of Valladolid, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 34 inhabitants....
(Valladolid), church of San Boal or San Baudilio. - PozaldezPozaldezPozaldez is a municipality located in the province of Valladolid, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 497 inhabitants. The mayor is Eduardo Ibáñez Palacio and has been the mayor since 1991. The town has three significant monuments: two...
, parish of San Boal. Patron saint (feast day: May 20). - Parish of San Boal, city of SalamancaSalamancaSalamanca is a city in western Spain, in the community of Castile and León. Because it is known for its beautiful buildings and urban environment, the Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. It is the most important university city in Spain and is known for its contributions to...
. Nearby is the Palacio de San Boal. - BlascosanchoBlascosanchoBlascosancho is a municipality located in the province of Ávila, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2006 census , the municipality has a population of 132 inhabitants....
(Ávila), church of San Boal.
Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
- Hermitage of Sant Baldiri (Vilarig, GironaGironaGirona is a city in the northeast of Catalonia, Spain at the confluence of the rivers Ter, Onyar, Galligants and Güell, with an official population of 96,236 in January 2009. It is the capital of the province of the same name and of the comarca of the Gironès...
). - Hermitage of Sant Baldiri (Lliçà de Munt, BarcelonaBarcelonaBarcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
). - Parish church of Sant Baldiri, Sant Boi de LlobregatSant Boi de LlobregatSant Boi de Llobregat is a town of 80,000 inhabitants in the Barcelona province in Catalonia, located aside the Llobregat river.The town distributes its territory into six districts: Ciutat Cooperativa-Molí Nou, Marianao-Can Paulet, Barri Centre, Vinyets-Molí Vell, Camps Blancs-Canons-Orioles and...
(Barcelona). - Parish church of Sant Baldiri, Sant Boi de LluçanèsSant Boi de LluçanèsSant Boi de Lluçanès is a municipality in the comarca of Osona inCatalonia, Spain.-References:* Panareda Clopés, Josep Maria; Rios Calvet, Jaume; Rabella Vives, Josep Maria . Guia de Catalunya, Barcelona:Caixa de Catalunya. ISBN 84-87135-01-3 . ISBN 84-87135-02-1 ....
(Barcelona).
La Rioja
La Rioja (Spain)
La Rioja is an autonomous community and a province of northern Spain. Its capital is Logroño. Other cities and towns in the province include Calahorra, Arnedo, Alfaro, Haro, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, and Nájera.-History:...
- Muro de AguasMuro de AguasMuro de Aguas is a small municipality in the southern part of La Rioja, Spain, near Arnedo.-External links:*...
(La Rioja). Feast day of Saint Baudilus celebrated.