Saint Augustus

With the inspiration of God and the proceeds of pious alms, he had built in the village of Brives, near Bourges, an oratory in honor of the blessed bishop Marti n, whe re no sooner had he placed relics of this Saint than he felt his limbs stretch and found himself completely healed.

From then on, surrounded by a few monks and living himself under the monastic rule, he spent all his time in prayer. Later, appointed abbot of Saint-Symphorien by his bishop, who had built this church in view of the walls of Bourges, a nd not wishing, however, to abandon the monks he had called to his side, he gave them a prior and governed both sanctuaries.

Finally, as he was staying at Saint-Symphorien, Saint Ursin appeared to him in a nocturnal vision and said to him: "Dig the earth and seek my body, for I am Ursin, the first bishop of this city."

— "Where shall I go," replied Auguste, "where shall I seek your tomb, the place of which I do not know?"

But the Saint, taking him by the hand, led him to the place where it was, saying: "My body rests beneath the roots of these vines."

Upon waking, the abbot recounted his vision to the bis hop, who made little of it and did not even take the trouble to inquire.

In the meantime, the blessed Saint Germanus, Bishop of Paris, came to Bourges and was received in the episcopal palace. After supper, as he had retired to sleep, Saint Ursinus appeared to h im as well as to the abbot, and led them both to his sepulcher, where he begged them to remove him from that place. Rising for Matins, they met in the church of Saint-Symphorien, then, the office finished, the bishop shared his vision with the abbot who, in turn, confided to him that he had had a similar one. Consequently, the following night, accompanied by a single cleric who carried a candle, they went to the indicated place, dug deep into the ground, and found the coffin. Having removed the lid, they saw the body of the Saint in the attitude of a sleeping man, and bearing no trace of corruption. Filled with admiration, they replaced the lid, and, when day came, told the bishop what they had witnessed. Then, having summoned the abbots and all the clergy, they proceeded in great ceremony, amidst chants, to the removal of the body. It was buried very close to the altar, where his presence has since been manifested by numerous graces. Augustus died shortly after, on October 7, around the year 568.

Excerpt from the Pious Legends o f Ber ry, by M. Veilla t.