Saint Eligius, or Saint Eloy, was born near Limoges at the end of the 6th century. Flanders owes much of its conversion to him.
Newsroom (01/12/2025 Gaudium Press ) Saint Eligius of Noyon, or Saint Eligius, Bishop, was born in Chaptelat, near Limoges, around the year 588.
He learned the art of metal engraving from his father, and while in Paris, King Chlothar II commissioned him to create a throne adorned with gold and precious stones.
The monarch, admiring the young man’s work, took him into his household and appointed him head of the mint. Even amidst the dangers of court life, his conduct remained virtuous, distinguished by his charity toward the poor.
Saint Eligius ransomed many slaves, and several remained in his service for life, thus remaining loyal to his generosity.
King Dagobert I loved the saint as his father had loved him. He gifted him the lands of Solignac in the Limousin, where Saint Eligius founded a monastery. The king also gave the saint a house in Paris to serve as a convent for nuns.
But since he was a little short of land to complete the construction, he asked the king for it. However, the saint took a little extra land, and when he realized it, he went to ask the king for forgiveness. “Some of my subjects have no qualms about stealing entire possessions from me, while Eligius is distressed about having taken a few inches of land that don’t belong to him,” the king said in admiration.
He was eventually elected bishop of Noyon and Tournai.
His goal was the conversion of the pagans, who were numerous in his region. A large part of Flanders owes its conversion to the holy bishop.
His charity overcame the obstinacy of the pagans.
The saint’s charity, which lavished care on the sick and protected the rights of all, ultimately overcame the obstinacy of many pagans.
In his sermons, he drew inspiration from the sermons of Saint Caesarius of Arles. He tirelessly combated the superstitious practices of the pagans, urging them to pray to the one true God, to receive the Body and Blood of Christ in communion, and to receive all the sacraments.
He also founded a convent for nuns in Noyon.
Shortly before his death, he served as an advisor to the regent Queen Bathilde, who held him in high esteem.
He persuaded the Council of Chalon to prohibit the sale of slaves outside the kingdom, a step toward their emancipation.
After nine years governing his diocese, he prophetically foresaw his death and told his clergy.
Some time later, he contracted a fever and, after six days, was in agony. Seeing his clergy weeping, he too was overcome with tears and commended them all to God. This occurred on December 1, 660.
Queen Bathilde, who wished to see him still alive, arrived only the day after his death. He wanted to take his remains to a monastery the saint had founded in Chelles, but the people objected, and he was buried in Noyon.
Based on information from Butler’s Lives of the Saints.
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