Honoratus of Amiens
Encyclopedia
Saint Honoratus of Amiens (Honoré, sometimes Honorius, Honortus) (d. May 16, ca. 600) was the seventh bishop of Amiens. His feast day
is May 16.
(Ponthieu
) near Amiens to a noble family. He was said to be virtuous from birth. He was taught by his predecessor in the bishopric of Amiens, Saint Beatus
(Beat). He resisted being elected bishop of Amiens, believing himself unworthy of this honor. According to tradition, a ray of light of divine origin descended upon his head upon his election as bishop. There also appeared holy oil of unknown origin on his forehead.
According to a legend, when it was known in his hometown that he had been proclaimed bishop, his nursemaid, who was baking bread for the family, refused to believe that Honoratus had been elevated to such a position. She remarked that she would believe the news only if the peel
she had been using to bake bread put down roots and turned itself into a tree. When the peel was placed into the ground, it was transformed into a blackberry
tree that gave flowers and fruit. This miraculous tree was still being shown in the sixteenth century.
During his bishopric, he discovered the relics of Victoricus, Fuscian, and Gentian
, which had remained hidden for 300 years.
following reports of numerous miracle
s when his body was exhumed in 1060.
After his death, his relics were invoked against drought
. Bishop Guy, son of the Count of Amiens, ordered that a procession be held, in which an urn
holding Honoratus' relics were carried around the walls of the city. Rain is said to have fallen soon after.
In 1202, a baker named Renold Theriens (Renaud Cherins) donated to the city of Paris some land to build a chapel in honor of the saint. The chapel became one of the richest in Paris, and gave its name to Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré
. In 1400, the bakers of Paris established their guild
in the church of Saint Honoratus, celebrating his feast on May 16 and spreading his cult.
He is also the patron of a Carthusian
establishment at Abbeville
, which was founded in 1306.
In 1659, Louis XIV ordered that every baker observe the feast of Saint Honoratus, and give donations in honor of the saint and for the benefit of the community.http://es.catholic.net/santoral/articulo.php?id=5285
He is the namesake of the St. Honoré Cake
.
A statue of Honoratus stands in the portal of Amiens Cathedral
.http://www.patrimoinedefrance.org/ico026.htm
Calendar of saints
The calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the feast day of said saint...
is May 16.
Life
He was born in Port-le-GrandPort-le-Grand
Port-le-Grand is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Port-le-Grand is situated on the D40 road, some northwest of Abbeville.-Population:-External links:*...
(Ponthieu
Ponthieu
Ponthieu was one of six feudal counties that eventually merged together to become part of the Province of Picardy, in northern France. Its chief town is Abbeville.- History :...
) near Amiens to a noble family. He was said to be virtuous from birth. He was taught by his predecessor in the bishopric of Amiens, Saint Beatus
Beatus
Beatus, meaning blessed in Medieval Latin, may mean:*a term in the Catholic Church for a person who has been beatified, the stage before being declared a saint.* A copy of the Commentary on the Apocalypse, Beatus, meaning blessed in Medieval Latin, may mean:*a term in the Catholic Church for a...
(Beat). He resisted being elected bishop of Amiens, believing himself unworthy of this honor. According to tradition, a ray of light of divine origin descended upon his head upon his election as bishop. There also appeared holy oil of unknown origin on his forehead.
According to a legend, when it was known in his hometown that he had been proclaimed bishop, his nursemaid, who was baking bread for the family, refused to believe that Honoratus had been elevated to such a position. She remarked that she would believe the news only if the peel
Peel (tool)
A peel is a shovel-like tool used by bakers to slide loaves of bread, pizzas, pastries, and other baked goods into and out of an oven. It is usually made of wood, with a flat carrying surface for holding the baked good and a handle extending from one side of that surface...
she had been using to bake bread put down roots and turned itself into a tree. When the peel was placed into the ground, it was transformed into a blackberry
Blackberry
The blackberry is an edible fruit produced by any of several species in the Rubus genus of the Rosaceae family. The fruit is not a true berry; botanically it is termed an aggregate fruit, composed of small drupelets. The plants typically have biennial canes and perennial roots. Blackberries and...
tree that gave flowers and fruit. This miraculous tree was still being shown in the sixteenth century.
During his bishopric, he discovered the relics of Victoricus, Fuscian, and Gentian
Victoricus, Fuscian, and Gentian
Victoricus , Fuscian and Gentian are venerated as martyrs by the Catholic Church...
, which had remained hidden for 300 years.
Veneration
His devotion was widespread in FranceFrance
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...
following reports of numerous 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 when his body was exhumed in 1060.
After his death, his relics were invoked against drought
Drought
A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. Generally, this occurs when a region receives consistently below average precipitation. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region...
. Bishop Guy, son of the Count of Amiens, ordered that a procession be held, in which an urn
Urn
An urn is a vase, ordinarily covered, that usually has a narrowed neck above a footed pedestal. "Knife urns" placed on pedestals flanking a dining-room sideboard were an English innovation for high-style dining rooms of the late 1760s...
holding Honoratus' relics were carried around the walls of the city. Rain is said to have fallen soon after.
In 1202, a baker named Renold Theriens (Renaud Cherins) donated to the city of Paris some land to build a chapel in honor of the saint. The chapel became one of the richest in Paris, and gave its name to Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré
Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré
The rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré is a street in Paris, France. Although relatively narrow and nondescript , it is cited as being one of the most fashionable streets in the world, thanks to the presence of virtually every major global fashion house...
. In 1400, the bakers of Paris established their guild
Guild
A guild is an association of craftsmen in a particular trade. The earliest types of guild were formed as confraternities of workers. They were organized in a manner something between a trade union, a cartel, and a secret society...
in the church of Saint Honoratus, celebrating his feast on May 16 and spreading his cult.
He is also the patron of a Carthusian
Carthusian
The Carthusian Order, also called the Order of St. Bruno, is a Roman Catholic religious order of enclosed monastics. The order was founded by Saint Bruno of Cologne in 1084 and includes both monks and nuns...
establishment at Abbeville
Abbeville
Abbeville is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Location:Abbeville is located on the Somme River, from its modern mouth in the English Channel, and northwest of Amiens...
, which was founded in 1306.
In 1659, Louis XIV ordered that every baker observe the feast of Saint Honoratus, and give donations in honor of the saint and for the benefit of the community.http://es.catholic.net/santoral/articulo.php?id=5285
He is the namesake of the St. Honoré Cake
St. Honoré Cake
St. Honoré Cake is named for the French patron saint of bakers and pastry chefs, Saint Honoré or Honoratus , bishop of Amiens.This classic French dessert is a circle of puff pastry at its base with a ring of pâte à choux piped on the outer edge...
.
A statue of Honoratus stands in the portal of Amiens Cathedral
Amiens Cathedral
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Amiens , or simply Amiens Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral and seat of the Bishop of Amiens...
.http://www.patrimoinedefrance.org/ico026.htm