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Reliquary of St. Virgil,
Archbishop of Arles (+710)
Feast: Mar. 5
A native of Gascony, Virgil
(Virgilius) studied at the island monastery of Lèrins off the southern
coast of Gaul, near Cannes. He became abbot at Lèrins and later abbot
of the monastery of St. Symphorian at Autun. He then became Archbishop
of Arles and was the legate of the Pope of Rome to King Childebert II.
It is thought that St. Virgil consecrated to the episcopate the Apostle
of England, St. Augustine of Canterbury. In any event, he founded many
churches in his diocese. St. Gregory the Great reproved the Saint for
countenancing the forced conversion of Jews. St. Virgil was famed as a
wonder-worker, performing many miracles through the grace of Christ.
Holy Father Virgil, pray to God for us!
Reliquary rests in the great
church at Arles, France.
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