Sulpitius the Pious
Encyclopedia
Distinguish from Sulpitius I, Bishop of Bourges, called Sulpitius Severus, often wrongly identified with Sulpicius Severus
, the historian of St. Martin of Tours.
Sulpitius (Sulpicius) the Pious or the Débonnaire was a 7th century bishop of Bourges. Born at Vatan
(Diocese of Bourges), of noble parents, before the end of the sixth century, Sulpitius devoted himself from his youth to good works, according to his Vita
, and to the study of Holy Scripture.
Austregisilus
, Bishop of Bourges, ordained him cleric of his church, then deacon
, and finally made him director of his episcopal school. Clotaire II
, King of the Franks
, who had heard his merits spoken of, summoned him and made him chaplain of his armies. But at the death of Bishop Austregisilus (c. 624) he was recalled to Bourges
to take his place. Sulpitius thenceforth labored with much zeal and success to re-establish ecclesiastical discipline, for the relief of the poor and the conversion of the Jews.
In 626 Sulpitius assisted at the Council of Clichy and held several others with the bishop
s of his province, but nothing of them remains. At the request of the same king he consecrated to the See of Cahors his treasurer Didier of Cahors
, who was his personal friend, and there are extant three letters which he addressed to him. In the settings of Vita Sulpicii Episcopi Biturgi, Sulpicius' miracles show him receiving "Theudogisilus", a noble from the palatium of the king with entertainments and a "great heaped fire" (extinguished, when it threatened to get out of control, with an outstretched hand); the vita asserts with approval that "he, the holy man gave leave for no-one, neither heretic, gentile or Jew, to live in the city of Bourges without the grace of baptism" with many consequent conversions from the Jews of Bourges.
The Vita tells that Dagobert I
sent his representative the merciless general Lollo (Lollonius) to reside at Bourges and bring the city more closely under the king's command; when the people came complaining of their treatment to Sulpicius, he decreed a three-day fast for clergy and laity, but also sent one of his clergy Ebargisilus by name to Clovis II
with a remonstrance that alarmed the young king to the extent that he revoked the census or tax, and returned the assessment, setting a precedent, it was claimed: "Indeed, having been relieved from affliction, those people remain in total liberty up to this present day."
Towards the end of his life Sulpitius took a coadjutor, Vulfolnde, and retired to a monastery which he had founded near Bourges. There he died on 17 January 646, which day several manuscripts of the Hieronymian Martyrology indicate as his feast. The reports of miracles at his tomb in the basilica
he had ordered built began soon after his death and the place became a place of pilgrimage.
In his honour the church of Saint-Sulpice
was built in Paris
, from which the Society of Saint-Sulpice
derives its own.
Sulpicius Severus
Sulpicius Severus was a Christian writer and native of Aquitania. He is known for his chronicle of sacred history, as well as his biography of Saint Martin of Tours.-Life:...
, the historian of St. Martin of Tours.
Sulpitius (Sulpicius) the Pious or the Débonnaire was a 7th century bishop of Bourges. Born at Vatan
Vatan, Indre
Vatan is a commune in the Indre department in central France.The town holds a weekly market on Wednesdays.-References:* -Gallery:...
(Diocese of Bourges), of noble parents, before the end of the sixth century, Sulpitius devoted himself from his youth to good works, according to his Vita
Biography
A biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
, and to the study of Holy Scripture.
Austregisilus
Austregisilus
Saint Austregisilus was bishop of Bourges from 612 to 624. His feast day is May 20. A native of Bourges, he was educated as a courtier. However, Austregisilus was desirous to become a monk and entered the abbey of Saint-Nizier at Lyon, where he became abbot...
, Bishop of Bourges, ordained him cleric of his church, then 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...
, and finally made him director of his episcopal school. Clotaire II
Clotaire II
Chlothar II , called the Great or the Young , King of Neustria, and, from 613 to 629, King of all the Franks, was not yet born when his father, King Chilperic I died in 584...
, King of the Franks
Franks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
, who had heard his merits spoken of, summoned him and made him chaplain of his armies. But at the death of Bishop Austregisilus (c. 624) he was recalled to Bourges
Bourges
Bourges is a city in central France on the Yèvre river. It is the capital of the department of Cher and also was the capital of the former province of Berry.-History:...
to take his place. Sulpitius thenceforth labored with much zeal and success to re-establish ecclesiastical discipline, for the relief of the poor and the conversion of the Jews.
In 626 Sulpitius assisted at the Council of Clichy and held several others with the bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s of his province, but nothing of them remains. At the request of the same king he consecrated to the See of Cahors his treasurer Didier of Cahors
Didier of Cahors
Saint Didier, also known as Desiderius was a Merovingian royal official of aristocratic Gallo-Roman extraction....
, who was his personal friend, and there are extant three letters which he addressed to him. In the settings of Vita Sulpicii Episcopi Biturgi, Sulpicius' miracles show him receiving "Theudogisilus", a noble from the palatium of the king with entertainments and a "great heaped fire" (extinguished, when it threatened to get out of control, with an outstretched hand); the vita asserts with approval that "he, the holy man gave leave for no-one, neither heretic, gentile or Jew, to live in the city of Bourges without the grace of baptism" with many consequent conversions from the Jews of Bourges.
The Vita tells that Dagobert I
Dagobert I
Dagobert I was the king of Austrasia , king of all the Franks , and king of Neustria and Burgundy . He was the last Merovingian dynast to wield any real royal power...
sent his representative the merciless general Lollo (Lollonius) to reside at Bourges and bring the city more closely under the king's command; when the people came complaining of their treatment to Sulpicius, he decreed a three-day fast for clergy and laity, but also sent one of his clergy Ebargisilus by name to Clovis II
Clovis II
Clovis II succeeded his father Dagobert I in 639 as King of Neustria and Burgundy. His brother Sigebert III had been King of Austrasia since 634. He was initially under the regency of his mother Nanthild until her death in her early thirties in 642...
with a remonstrance that alarmed the young king to the extent that he revoked the census or tax, and returned the assessment, setting a precedent, it was claimed: "Indeed, having been relieved from affliction, those people remain in total liberty up to this present day."
Towards the end of his life Sulpitius took a coadjutor, Vulfolnde, and retired to a monastery which he had founded near Bourges. There he died on 17 January 646, which day several manuscripts of the Hieronymian Martyrology indicate as his feast. The reports of miracles at his tomb in the basilica
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
he had ordered built began soon after his death and the place became a place of pilgrimage.
That place, the basilica, where the memorable man of God is buried, is called Navis, because the port of ships is seen to be there. It is a most lovely place between two rivers with pastures and woods and vineyards in great number, with fields and rivers flowing between huge plains so that there, the inhabitants may be seen to possess the image of paradise.
In his honour the church of Saint-Sulpice
Saint-Sulpice (Paris)
Saint-Sulpice is a Roman Catholic church in Paris, France, on the east side of the Place Saint-Sulpice, in the Luxembourg Quarter of the VIe arrondissement. At 113 metres long, 58 metres in width and 34 metres tall, it is only slightly smaller than Notre-Dame and thus the second largest church in...
was built in Paris
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...
, from which the Society of Saint-Sulpice
Society of Saint-Sulpice
The Society of Saint-Sulpice is a Catholic Society of Apostolic Life named for Eglise Saint-Sulpice, Paris, in turn named for St. Sulpitius the Pious. Typically, priests become members of the Society of St. Sulpice only after ordination and some years of pastoral work. Uniquely, Sulpicians retain...
derives its own.