Saint Fulcran of Lodève

Therefore, Theodoric having died, in accordance with his desire and that of the entire city, the canons of the cathedral church elected the venerable Fulcran as bishop, and, leading him despite his reluctance to Narbonne, the metropolis of the province, they had him consecrated by archevêque Aimeric Archbishop of Narbonne who consecrated Fulcran. Archbishop Aimeric, in the basilica of Saint Paul, the first bishop of that city, on the 4th of February, in the year of our salvation 949. Upon his return to Lodève, he was received with great pomp and the applause of the people.

A story is told of the holy bishop that does honor to his firmness. Guillaume Taillefe Guillaume Taillefer Count of Toulouse reprimanded by Fulcran for his scandalous conduct. r, Count of Toulouse, had married, in 975, Arsinde of Anjo Arsinde d’Anjou Countess of Toulouse, abandoned wife of William Taillefer. u, sister of Fulk Nerra, Count of that latter province. This lady did not give him any children in the first years of their marriage; this is what determined Guillaume, against all the laws of nature and religion, to leave her to take another who was at that moment married. Saint Fulcran, Bishop of Lodève, whose holiness then shone with the brightest luster, knew the Count of Toulouse particularly well; no sooner had he learned of his conduct than he was deeply afflicted. One day, Guillaume, having met the holy bishop, hastened to embrace him. Fulcran pushed him away and even publicly reproached him for his scandalous life. As for the Countess Arsinde or Arsens, she had recourse to prayer in her misfortune, and went on a pilgrimage to the monastery of Conques in Rouergue, where the relics of Saint Faith of Agen rested. An anonymous author ha s preserved for u sainte Foi d’Agen Young virgin martyr of Agen, tortured on a gridiron. s the story of this pilgrimage, written in Gascon verse.

It is recounted that one evening, as the countess lay in her bed, Saint Faith appeared to her in a dream and said: "I wish for you to consecrate to me, upon the altar of Saint-Sauveur at my monastery of Conques, the rich sleeves that you wear." — "I will do so," said the countess, "but obtain for me a son." — "I will pray to the Lord," said the holy martyr; "but you, fulfill your promise." Saint Faith disappeared and the countess fell asleep. The next day, after hearing Mass, she set out on her journey. Saint Faith showed her the paths, for the ways that led to Conques at that time were difficult to travel. She made this journey with great honor and a numerous company; the lords of the land and all the notables of the place received her with extreme joy. Scarcely had she entered the monastery when she asked to be led to the altar of Saint-Sauveur. Guided by the lord of the place, she presented herself at this altar and deposited there the sleeves she had promised. These bracelet-sleeves were woven with gold, artistically crafted, and enriched with precious stones; they were attached to the altar table. Afterward, she was led before the reliquary of the Saint. She remained at Conques for Easter day, and then departed for Toulouse. Shortly thereafter, she gave birth to a son who was named Raymond at baptism, and then a second who was called Henri.

Fulcran had made it a habit, on the feasts of Our Lord and the Apostles and during Lent, to serve twelve poor people at table himself, to wash their feet, and to give them clothing. God manifested this great holiness of His servant through miracles; and notably, the water with which he had washed his hands opened the eyes of a blind man from Albi. He rebuilt the basilica of Saint-Geniez from its foundations, and having summoned Aimeric of Narbonne, Ricoin of Maguelonne, and Deus-Dedit of Rodez, he consecrated it with these bishops according to the ancient rite. He held the see for fifty-seven years. Seized by fever, he summoned Manfred, Bishop of Béziers, his devoted friend, and the canons of his church, and rendered his soul to God. His body was found intact one hundred years after his death. He received the pious homage of the faithful when the heretics, towards the end of the 16th century, tore it to pieces and scattered it. God had confirmed by miracles performed at his tomb the opinion held of his holiness. His body was raised from the earth in 1427. A few fragments of his relics escaped the Huguenots. They are kept in Huguenots Group that ransacked Die and destroyed the saint's relics in 1567. Lodève, of which he is the second patron. At the time of the Revolution, these precious remains were enclosed in a magnificent silver reliquary. Saved from revolutionary fury, they were identified in October 1805 by Mgr Rollot, Bishop of Montpellier, and replaced in the old cathedral, now a parish church.

Saint Fulcran is depicted causing the walls of the fortress of Gibret, in his d iocese, to fall thro forteresse de Gibret Fortress destroyed by the saint's prayers. ugh his prayers, which was occupied by brigands who from there infested the entire region.

Propre de Rodez and Hist. de l'Église de Toulouse, by M. Salvan.