Sulpicius SEVERUS
Art Neuendorffer
Sulpicius II Pius B (January 17th)
(also known as Sulpice or Sulpicius Le Debonnaire)
http://users.erols.com/saintpat/ss/0117.htm
<<Born in Berry; died 647. The very celebrated seminary of Saint-
Sulpice in Paris is named after this beloved bishop of Bourges,
Aquitaine (France) from 624 to 647. Sulpice was born into a wealthy
family. In his youth, he renounced marriage, gave his patrimony to the
Church, and devoted himself to Christ. After his ordination, he served
King Clotaire II as almoner and chaplain for his armies. He once
restored the dangerously ill king to health through his prayers and
fasting.
In 624, Sulpicius succeed Saint Austregesilus as the second bishop of
Bourges. He gained popular admiration for his generosity, solicitude,
and defense of his people against the tyranny of the Merovingian kings,
particularly an official of King Dagobert. His charity seemed
inexhaustible and evinced itself in miraculous powers. It is related
that he converted all the Jews in his diocese and employed all his time
in prayer and episcopal work.
In 627, Sulpice attended the council of Clichy. Late in life, he
resigned his position in order to spend more time in solitude. His death
and funeral were attended by extraordinary demonstrations of popular
mourning. The enormous crowds made it almost impossible for the
officiating clergy to conduct the burial service.
The collection of letters of Saint Desiderius of Cahors contain a set
entitled "To the holy patriarch, Sulpicius and several of our saint to
him." The famous monastery of Saint-Sulpice at Bourges is said to have
been founded by him under the invocation of the Blessed Virgin; it now
belongs to the congregation of Saint Maur, and is enriched with part of
his relics, and some of the blood of Saint Stephen, titular saint of the
stately cathedral. A bone of one of the arms of Sulpicius is kept in the
famous parochial church in Paris. In art Saint Sulpicius is portrayed
visiting the sick.>>
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Sulpicius SEVERUS
SUS E.VER
http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulpicius_Severus
<<Sulpicius Severus (born around 360, died between 420 and 425), wrote
the earliest biography of Saint Martin of Tours. Sulpicius Severus was
an aristocrat of Aquitaine intended for an administrative career and
educated in the classical manner who, after the early death of his wife,
renounced his career and entered the monastic life. Sulpicius'
correspondence with his friend Paulinus of Nola tells us something of
Sulpicius' own life and opinions and more of his actions in founding a
monastery and decorating its buildings. Both men, members of the late
Roman senatorial aristocracy, turned to ecclesiastical careers.
Sulpicius wrote a world chronicle, (Chronicorum Libri duo or Historia
sacra), which extends from the creation of the world to A. D. 400,
omitting the historical events recorded in the New Testament writings.
It is an important source of information for the Arian controversy,
especially with regard to Gaul. Sulpicius's life of Saint Martin of
Tours was begun during the lifetime of St. Martin (who died only in 397)
and remained the most popular biography of that very popular saint.>>
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Sulpicius Severus
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14332a.htm
<<An ecclesiastical writer, born of noble parents in Aquitaine c. 360;
died about 420-25. The scanty information which we possess concerning
his life is derived mainly from the writings of his friend Paulinus of
Nola and Gennadius. He enjoyed excellent educational advantages, studied
jurisprudence, and was renowned as an eloquent lawyer. His marriage with
the daughter of a wealthy consular family seemed to seal his earthly
happiness. His wife, however, was snatched away by a premature death and
shortly after 390 Severus renounced his brilliant career and followed
his friend Paulinus into monastic retirement. Through this sudden change
of life he incurred his father's displeasure, but was encouraged in his
determination by his mother-in-law. He became a personal friend and
enthusiastic disciple of St. Martin and lived near Eauze, at Toulouse
and Luz in Southern France. His ordination to the priesthood is vouched
for by Gennadius, but no details of his priestly activity have reached
us. According to the same Gennadius he was caught in the toils of
Pelagianism towards the close of his life and, upon discovering his
error, subjected himself to lifelong silence in expiation of his
imprudence in speech.
The following works are undoubtedly genuine:
(1) "The Chronicle";
(2) "Life of St. Martin";
(3) two dialogues, formerly divided into three;
(4) three letters.
"The Chronicle" ("Chronicorum Libri duo" or "Historia sacra") extends
from the creation of the world to A. D. 400, but omits the historical
events recorded in the New-Testament writings. It was published in or
after 403 and has been preserved in a single eleventh-century
manuscript. It is a source of primary importance for the history of
Priscillianism and contains considerable information respecting the
Arian controversy. More popular during the Middle Ages was his "Life of
St. Martin", as were also the dialogues and letters which relate to the
same subject. The biography was written during the lifetime of the
saint, but was published only after his death. Like the dialogues, it
abounds in miraculous events. Beside the, above-mentioned three letters,
seven others have been attributed to Severus. These are rejected as
spurious by some critics, whilst the genuineness of the first two is
admitted, rightly it would seem, by others. The "World Chronicle" of the
so-called Sulpicius Severus has nothing to do with the subject of this
biography; it was written in Spain in the sixth century. Sulpicius
Severus has been rightly styled the Christian Sallust; his diction,
notably in the "Chronicle", is elegant and reminds the reader
of the classical age.>>
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Art Neuendorffer