Saint Wiron

As much as possible, let us go back to the beginnings of Saint Wiron. He was b orn in Scotland in the early years of the 7th century. In his childhood, he received a very Christian education, and combined with great success the study of letters with the exercises of piety. The desire he had to advance in virtue led him to choose as his models Saint Patrick and Saint Cuthbert, bishops, and Saint Columba, abbot, three of the most famous Saints of the British Isles. He was subsequently raised to the episcopate, without being apparently attached to any particular church, according to a custom that had become very common in these islands, where one saw a great number of these regionary bishops.

Before allowing himself to be ordained, Saint Wiron undertook the journey to Rome, which he had long contemplated, and he did so accompanied by Saint Plechelmus, a priest, and Saint Otger, who was a deacon. The Pope, who according to some was Sai nt Sergius I, received them very well. He himself consecrated Saint Wiron and Saint Plechelmus as bishops, and all three returned to their country, where they each worked in their respective functions, relieving the bishops who had dioceses that were too vast. A few years later, all three returned to France, and Saint Wiron obtained for himself and his two companions the Mount of Saint Odile, a league from Roermond, through the generosity of Pepin, known as of Herstal, whom the mayoralty of the palace had made master of a considerable part of Gaul. They retired there with the resolution to lead a penitent life, entirely detached from

commerce of the world. They built there a small church under the invocation of the Blessed Virgin, and some cells were erected there; they laid the foundations of the monastery that was built there in the following century under the name of Saint Peter. It is c laimed that Pepin was so filled with esteem for the wisdom and holiness of Wiron that he wished to have him as the director of his soul in the ways of salvation, and even as the advisor for his designs in his principal undertakings.

This position did not prevent him from leading a life hidden from men in solitude, except for the time he devoted to the conversion of peoples. God finally withdrew him to Himself, to reward him for his fidelity and zeal. The exact year of his death is not known, nor is the day: it is thought to be around the year 700; it is only known that he was buried in the church of the Virgin on his mountain, towards the beginning of the mayoralty o f Charles Mart el. His companions, Saint Plechelmus and Saint Otger, having also happily completed their careers, were likewise buried there. Their bodies were preserved there in the monastery of Saint Peter, until in 1361 they were transported to Roermond, when the transmigration of the canons of the mountain of Saint Odilia took place. But long before, the canons of Utrecht had removed a considerable part of them during the incursions of the Norman s, which extended their cult to the depths of Holland and into Friesland. What had been transported to Roermond remained hidden for a long time under the high altar of the church, which later became a cathedral when the city was erected into a bishopric. This is what contributed to protecting them, in 1572, from the fury of the Calvinists. These relics were found in the year 1594, and raised from the earth with honor, and the feast of this translation is still celebrated every year, on the Tuesday after Trinity, under the title of their elevation. After the Peace of Nijmegen, the bishop of Roermond and the parish priest of Mount Saint Odilia, the former dwelling of Saint Wiron and his companions, undertook to rebuild his church, which had been ruined by the wars. The work was completed in the year 1686, and dedicated on May 10 under the name of Saint Wiron, as principal patron. But the feast of this dedication was moved to the first Sunday of September, so as not to be confused with that of the death of the Saint and his two companions, which is celebrated on May 10 in Roermond, although everywhere else it is held on the 8th, the day on which it is marked in the martyrologies, and in particular in the modern Roman one. T wo days after the consecration of this church, Bishop Reginald Cools transported there in great ceremony half of the relics of Saint Wiron, Saint Plechelmus, and Saint Otger, which were in the cathedral church of Roermond.

See a work entitled *Pépin de Landen*, by Thyll Lorrain, Baillet, and in the *Bollandists*, vol. II of May, the ancient Life of Saint Wiron.