Maturinus
Encyclopedia
Saint Maturinus, or Mathurin (died ca. 300 AD) was a French
exorcist
and missionary
venerated as a saint
.
The first source to mention Maturinus is the Martyrology of Usuard
, written in 875. In the next century, a biography of Maturinus was composed. According to his legend, Maturinus was born in Larchant
. His parents, Marinus and Euphemia, were pagan
. His father was entrusted by Maximian
with the task of exterminating the Christians of the region.
His son Maturinus, however, was secretly baptized
by Polycarp
, when the boy was twelve. He began to perform miracle
s, drive out demon
s, and calm rowdy or riotous individuals. He eventually converted his parents to Christianity.
He became a priest at the age of twenty, and took care of the diocese when the local bishop went to Rome.
His fame grew, and the emperor himself requested that he come to Rome
so that his daughter-in-law Flavia Maximiana Theodora
, who had been possessed by an evil spirit, could be cured by the saint. The demon in Theodora’s body was expelled. Maturinus lived for three more years in Rome, interceding with the emperor on behalf of persecuted Christians. He died on November 1, and was buried in a Roman cemetery. However, Maturinus miraculously indicated that he wished to be buried in Larchant; his body was taken to Sens
and then to Larchant.
Maturinus' relics were kept at Saint-Mathurin, Larchant, as well as in the church of Saint-Mathurin in Paris
, situated in the Latin Quarter
. Saint-Mathurin de Larchant, a property of the chapter of Notre-Dame de Paris since 1005, was rebuilt beginning in 1153, and the church became a popular pilgrimage
site, which Harry Bailey, host of the Tabard Inn of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales was recalling, when he swore "by that precious corpus Madrian". Both Louis XI and Henry IV
visited the church.
Maturinus’ cult became popular during the Middle Ages
. He was invoked against mental illness
and infertility
, and the faculty of medicine of the University of Paris
kept their great seal safely in the Church of Saint-Mathurin. Due to his association with madness and mental illness, he also became the patron saint
of comic actors, jesters, and clown
s. He was also the patron saint of sailors (in Brittany
), of tinmen (in Paris), and of plumbers.
In France
, Trinitarian
friars were known in France as “Mathurins”; this is because the Trinitarians were based in the church of Saint-Mathurin in Paris from 1228 onwards.
His relics were destroyed by the Huguenots.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
exorcist
Exorcist
In some religions an exorcist is a person who is believed to be able to cast out the devil or other demons. A priest, a nun, a monk, a healer, a shaman or other specially prepared or instructed person can be an exorcist...
and missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
venerated as a saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
.
The first source to mention Maturinus is the Martyrology of Usuard
Martyrology of Usuard
Usuard was a Benedictine monk of the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris. He seems to have died about the year 875, and the prologue in which he offers to Charles the Bald his most important work, the Martyrology, which he had undertaken at that monarch's instigation, was apparently written very...
, written in 875. In the next century, a biography of Maturinus was composed. According to his legend, Maturinus was born in Larchant
Larchant
Larchant is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region.-External links:* * * *...
. His parents, Marinus and Euphemia, were pagan
Paganism
Paganism is a blanket term, typically used to refer to non-Abrahamic, indigenous polytheistic religious traditions....
. His father was entrusted by Maximian
Maximian
Maximian was Roman Emperor from 286 to 305. He was Caesar from 285 to 286, then Augustus from 286 to 305. He shared the latter title with his co-emperor and superior, Diocletian, whose political brain complemented Maximian's military brawn. Maximian established his residence at Trier but spent...
with the task of exterminating the Christians of the region.
His son Maturinus, however, was secretly baptized
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
by Polycarp
Polycarp
Saint Polycarp was a 2nd century Christian bishop of Smyrna. According to the Martyrdom of Polycarp, he died a martyr, bound and burned at the stake, then stabbed when the fire failed to touch him...
, when the boy was twelve. He began to perform miracle
Miracle
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that a god may work with the laws...
s, drive out demon
Demon
call - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...
s, and calm rowdy or riotous individuals. He eventually converted his parents to Christianity.
He became a priest at the age of twenty, and took care of the diocese when the local bishop went to Rome.
His fame grew, and the emperor himself requested that he come to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
so that his daughter-in-law Flavia Maximiana Theodora
Flavia Maximiana Theodora
Flavia Maximiana Theodora was the stepdaughter of Maximian. Her parents were Flavius Afranius Hannibalianus and wife, divorced before 283, Eutropia, later wife of Maximian. Theodora's father was consul in 292, and praetorian prefect under Diocletian...
, who had been possessed by an evil spirit, could be cured by the saint. The demon in Theodora’s body was expelled. Maturinus lived for three more years in Rome, interceding with the emperor on behalf of persecuted Christians. He died on November 1, and was buried in a Roman cemetery. However, Maturinus miraculously indicated that he wished to be buried in Larchant; his body was taken to Sens
Sens
Sens is a commune in the Yonne department in Burgundy in north-central France.Sens is a sub-prefecture of the department. It is crossed by the Yonne and the Vanne, which empties into the Yonne here.-History:...
and then to Larchant.
Veneration
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, situated in the Latin Quarter
Latin Quarter
Latin Quarter is a part of the 5th arrondissement in Paris.Latin Quarter may also refer to:* Latin Quarter , a British pop/rock band* Latin Quarter , a 1945 British film*Latin Quarter, Aarhus, part of Midtbyen, Aarhus C, Denmark...
. Saint-Mathurin de Larchant, a property of the chapter of Notre-Dame de Paris since 1005, was rebuilt beginning in 1153, and the church became a popular pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
site, which Harry Bailey, host of the Tabard Inn of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales was recalling, when he swore "by that precious corpus Madrian". Both Louis XI and Henry IV
Henry IV of France
Henry IV , Henri-Quatre, was King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France....
visited the church.
Maturinus’ cult became popular during the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. He was invoked against mental illness
Mental illness
A mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern generally associated with subjective distress or disability that occurs in an individual, and which is not a part of normal development or culture. Such a disorder may consist of a combination of affective, behavioural,...
and infertility
Infertility
Infertility primarily refers to the biological inability of a person to contribute to conception. Infertility may also refer to the state of a woman who is unable to carry a pregnancy to full term...
, and the faculty of medicine of the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
kept their great seal safely in the Church of Saint-Mathurin. Due to his association with madness and mental illness, he also became the patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of comic actors, jesters, and clown
Clown
Clowns are comic performers stereotypically characterized by the grotesque image of the circus clown's colored wigs, stylistic makeup, outlandish costumes, unusually large footwear, and red nose, which evolved to project their actions to large audiences. Other less grotesque styles have also...
s. He was also the patron saint of sailors (in Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
), of tinmen (in Paris), and of plumbers.
In France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Trinitarian
Trinitarian Order
The Order of the Holy Trinity is a Catholic religious order that was founded in the area of Cerfroid, some 80 km northeast of Paris, at the end of the twelfth century. The founder was St. John de Matha, whose feast day is celebrated on 17 December...
friars were known in France as “Mathurins”; this is because the Trinitarians were based in the church of Saint-Mathurin in Paris from 1228 onwards.
His relics were destroyed by the Huguenots.