Saint Mathurin

detail statue of Saint Mathurin at the church of Tessy-sur-Vire, France; sculptor unknown; photo taken on 18 January 2008 by Theoliane; swiped from Wikimedia Commons Also known as

Maturinus

Memorial

1 November

Profile

Raised a pagan; his father was even commissioned to persecute Christians by emperor Maximian. Mathurin converted at age 12. Priest at age 20, ordained by Saint Polycarp. Zealous evangelist in his region, even converting his parents. Noted exorcist, even healing Theodora, the daughter of the emperor; his ministry of dealing with the possessed led to his tradition of patronage of the mentally ill.

Born

Larchant, France

Died

Rome, Italy of natural causes
buried in Rome, he climbed out of the grave to return to his old home at Larchant, France
in 1004 the canons of Notre-Dame de Paris divided his relics between Larchant, some in Paris, France
Paris relics enshrined in a church dedicated to him in 1153; it became a place of pilgrimage and healing for centuries
his shrine in Larchant was burned by Huguenots in 1568