Saint Kilian

Distant missions attracted this ardent soul, for whom the mortifications of the cloister were not enough. Accompanied by the priest Colm an and Colman Irish priest and companion in martyrdom to Kilian. the deacon To tnan, Totnam Irish deacon and companion in martyrdom of Kilian. Kilian crossed the English Channel, traveled through the western and eastern provinces of Gaul, as Saint Columbanus had done before him, passed into Germania, and came to settle on the banks of the Main, in a small town then cal led Herbip Herbipolis City in Germany of which Burchard was the first bishop. olis, which has today become a great city under the name of Würzburg. The population was still pagan. Kilian and his companions soon learned the language: the descendant of Irish kings intended to evangelize these regions, but he did not wish to undertake it before having received the mission from the Sovereign Pontiff. He therefore left for Rome. "The Roman Church," say the acts, "was then presided over by Conon, a ven Conon Immediate predecessor of Sergius I. erable pontiff, deeply versed in divine and human letters, a vigilant administrator, a faithful dispenser of ecclesiastical functions. He welcomed the man of God with joy, and gave thanks to Providence, which raised up new missionaries and doctors in the remote islands of the Ocean. He conferred episcopal ordination upon Kilian and charged him to preach the faith of Jesus Christ to the Germanic peoples."

On his return, the missionary bishop passed through the city of M eaux, where saint Faron Bishop of Meaux and mentor to Saint Hildevert. Saint Faron spoke to him of the Irish Fiacre Irish hermit in France, companion of Saint Kilian. hermit Fiacre, the wonder-worker of the banks of the Marne; Kilian visited this compatriot, in whom he recognized one of his close relatives. The interview was touching, and revealed the hitherto unknown origin and birth of the pious hermit. Fiacre begged Kilian to stay a few days with him, says the hagiographer, so great was his joy to be able to speak of his homeland and his family, abandoned for so long. Kilian acceded to his desire. The two saints therefore spent delightful hours together, not only speaking of memories of their earthly homeland, but conversing about the joys of heaven. Finally, commending one another to the Lord, they gave each other the kiss of peace and parted, never to see each other again on this earth.

Kilian's first conquest in Herbipolis was that of the Duke of Franconia, Go zbert, Gozbert Duke of Franconia converted by Kilian. soon followed by the conversion of the entire tribe. But the pious missionaries were to pay for this victory with their blood. Gozbert, before his conversion, was married to his sister -in-l Geila Illegitimate wife of Gozbert and instigator of the murder of Kilian. aw Geila. When he was baptized, the bishop warned him of the irregularity of his union. The Duke, initially surprised by this requirement of Christian law, eventually found it to be what it truly is, that is to say, eminently preservative of the sanctity of the domestic hearth. He was therefore thinking of repudiating Geila, when this vindictive woman had Kilian and his two companions, the priest Colman and the deacon Totnan, slaughtered during the night (July 8, 689).

The executioners buried the bodies of the martyrs along with the belongings, books, and clothing that had belonged to them. Geila had given this order, intending to spread the rumor that the three foreigners had spontaneously fled and that their whereabouts were unknown. Such was indeed the official version they sought to prevail. But the crime had been witnessed by a pious Christian woman named Burganda, who had scrupulously not ed the p Burganda Christian witness to the burial place of the martyrs. lace where the martyrs were buried. Their relics were transferred in the following century by Bishop Burchard to the Cathedral of Würzburg. As for the murderers, one of them died in the thr Burchard Bishop of Würzburg who transferred the relics in the following century. oes of madness, confessing his crime; the other plunged his own sword into his chest. Geila went mad. She would go about repeating these words: 'Kilian! Kilian! Your name means chalice, but it is poison that you pour into my bowels!' Finally, Gozbert, dethroned by his own children, perished under the dagger of a slave.

Saint Kilian is represented: 1° with a sword in his hand, or his breast pierced by a dagger, to recall his martyrdom; 2° in a group, with his two companions, Colman and Totnan.

Acta Sanctorum, volume II of July, translation by Abbé Darras, in his Histoire de l'Église; — Cf. Godescard, Brussels edition.