Engraving of Saint Mamertus from an 1878 book, “Little Pictorial Lives Of The Saints”, published by Benziger Brothers.
This File: 3 June 2010.
User: Alekjds
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Statue of Saint Mamertus of Vienne,
Cathedral of Saint Maurice of Vienne, Isère, France.
Statue de saint Mamert de Vienne
dans la cathédrale Saint-Maurice de Vienne, en Isère.
Photo: 6 August 2020.
Source: Own work.
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Author: Sebleouf
(Wikimedia Commons)
unless stated otherwise.
Saint Mamertus (☩ 475 A.D.) was the Bishop of Vienne, Gaul, and Venerated as a Saint.
Saint Mamertus (☩ 475 A.D.) was the Bishop of Vienne, Gaul, and Venerated as a Saint.
His primary contribution to ecclesiastical practice was the introduction of Litanies, prior to Ascension Day, as an intercession against earthquakes and other disasters, leading to “Rogation Days”.
His Feast Day, 11 May, is the first such Feast of the Ice Saints.
Prior to his elevation to the See of Vienne, little has been recorded about Mamertus’ life. The fact that his brother, Claudianus Mamertus, the theological writer, received in
his youth a sound training in rhetoric, and enjoyed the personal acquaintance of Bishop Eucherius of Lyons (434 A.D. - 450 A.D.), suggests that the brothers belonged to a wealthy Gallic family from the neighbourhood of Lyons.
In 463 A.D., Mamertus was engaged in a dispute with Pope Hilarius on the question of the privileges of the Bishop of Arles.
In connection with these intercessory Processions, Mamertus summoned a Synod at Vienne between 471 A.D. and 475 A.D.
About 475 A.D., he attended a Synod at Arles, which dealt with the Predestination teaching of Lucidus, a Gallic Priest.
William of Auxerre says that Mamertus instituted the Litanies after “a plague of wolves”. For just as is told in the Gospel, that demons, by God’s permission and on account of the sins of men, entered pigs, similarly, they entered wolves in order to hurt and kill people, not only in Villages but even in Cities.”[8]
After his death, he was Venerated as a Saint.
Saint Mamertus’ name stands in the Martyrologium Hieronymianum and in the Martyrologium of Florus of Lyons, under 11 May, on which day his Liturgical Feast Day is still Celebrated (Henri Quentin, Les Martyrologes Historiques, 348) in the Roman Catholic Church.[1]
Like his brother, Saint Mamertus was distinguished for his Secular learning, as well as Theology, and, before his elevation to the Episcopate, appears to have been married.[1]
His Election and Consecration took place shortly before
His Election and Consecration took place shortly before
462 A.D.
As Bishop, he enlisted the services of his brother, who had withdrawn to a Cloister, and Ordained him Priest of Vienne.
The activity of the brothers is described in one Letter of Sidonius Apollinaris, (Sidonius, Epist., IV, xi) while another is addressed to Bishop Mamertus.[2]
In 463 A.D., Mamertus was engaged in a dispute with Pope Hilarius on the question of the privileges of the Bishop of Arles.
Pope Leo I had regulated the boundaries of the Ecclesiastical Provinces of Arles and Vienne: Under Vienne, he left the Dioceses of Valence, Tarentaise, Geneva, and Grenoble, but all the other Dioceses in this District were made subordinate to Arles.
Regardless of this decision, and infringing on the rights of his fellow Bishop of Arles, Mamertus Consecrated in 463 A.D. a Bishop for the City of Die (Dea), a man named Marcel.
King Gundioc of the Burgundians complained to Pope Hilarius of this action, whereupon the Pope wrote to Bishop Leontius of Arles on 10 October 463 A.D., bidding him summon a Synod of Bishops from the different Provinces to enquire into the matter.
In a subsequent Letter to the Bishops of the Roman Provinces of Lyons, Vienne, Narbonnensis I and II, and Alpina, he also refers to the matter, and directs them to obey Leontius’s summons to a regularly constituted Synod.[3]
A Letter from Hilarius, dated 25 February 464 A.D., describes the Synod’s decision against Mamertus.[4]
A Letter from Hilarius, dated 25 February 464 A.D., describes the Synod’s decision against Mamertus.[4]
In this Letter, Pope Hilarius declared that Mamertus, and the Bishop unlawfully Consecrated by him, should really be deposed, but that he would offer clemency.
Hilarius therefore commissioned Veranus of Vence to inform Mamertus that, if he did not recognise and submit to the regulations of Pope Leo I, he would be deprived also of the four Suffragan Dioceses, still subject to Vienne.
The Bishop invalidly installed by Mamertus, was to be confirmed in his Office by Leontius, after which he might retain the Bishopric.[1]
During his Episcopate, the remains of Saint Ferreolus were discovered, and were Translated by Mamertus to a Church in Vienne, built in honour of that Martyr.[5]
According to Sidonius Apollinaris, (Sidonius, Epist., V, xiv; VII, i) and Mamertus’ second successor, Avitus, (“Homilia de Rogat”. in P. L., LIX, 289-294) Bishop Mamertus was the Founder of the Minor Rogations Processions, held on Monday to Wednesday preceding Ascension Thursday.[6]
The Minor Rogations were Traditionally observed with Processional Litanies and Fasting as a petition for good weather for the crops and deliverance from pestilence and famine.[7]
During his Episcopate, the remains of Saint Ferreolus were discovered, and were Translated by Mamertus to a Church in Vienne, built in honour of that Martyr.[5]
According to Sidonius Apollinaris, (Sidonius, Epist., V, xiv; VII, i) and Mamertus’ second successor, Avitus, (“Homilia de Rogat”. in P. L., LIX, 289-294) Bishop Mamertus was the Founder of the Minor Rogations Processions, held on Monday to Wednesday preceding Ascension Thursday.[6]
The Minor Rogations were Traditionally observed with Processional Litanies and Fasting as a petition for good weather for the crops and deliverance from pestilence and famine.[7]
In connection with these intercessory Processions, Mamertus summoned a Synod at Vienne between 471 A.D. and 475 A.D.
About 475 A.D., he attended a Synod at Arles, which dealt with the Predestination teaching of Lucidus, a Gallic Priest.
William of Auxerre says that Mamertus instituted the Litanies after “a plague of wolves”. For just as is told in the Gospel, that demons, by God’s permission and on account of the sins of men, entered pigs, similarly, they entered wolves in order to hurt and kill people, not only in Villages but even in Cities.”[8]
After his death, he was Venerated as a Saint.
Saint Mamertus’ name stands in the Martyrologium Hieronymianum and in the Martyrologium of Florus of Lyons, under 11 May, on which day his Liturgical Feast Day is still Celebrated (Henri Quentin, Les Martyrologes Historiques, 348) in the Roman Catholic Church.[1]
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