Richard de Montbaston et collaborateurs. Saint Brice et saint Martin : Saint Brice rentre en lui-même et demande à saint Martin, qu'il avait couvert de sarcasmes, de lui accorder sa bénédiction. Vies de saints. XIVe siècle
Saint Brice
Évêque de Tours (+ v.
444)
On dit qu'il fut
recueilli et protégé par saint Martin, mais que Brice quitta le monastère
"pour vivre avec de beaux chevaux dans ses écuries et de jolies esclaves
dans sa maison." A la mort de saint Martin, il
changea sa manière d'agir. Il lui succéda sur le siège épiscopal de Tours,
donnant toute sa vie à l'Église durant quarante ans. Calomnié, accusé d'avoir
rendu mère une de ses religieuses, il dut même aller se défendre devant le
pape. Mais ses ouailles reconnurent l'innocence de sa vertu et le firent
revenir pour qu'il soit à nouveau leur évêque. Ils le canonisèrent dès sa mort.
Liste des évêques
de Tours: Saint Brice 400-447.
A lire aussi: Saint
Brice, mort en 444, fut le successeur de saint Martin à l’évêché de Tours...
"Les saints guérisseurs de Picardie" (Orroir,
paroisse du Val de l'Escaut)
Un internaute nous
signale que les lieux portant le nom de Saint-Brisson font référence à saint
Brice.
À Tours, vers 444, saint
Brice, évêque. Disciple de saint Martin, il succéda à son maître pendant
quarante-sept ans, non sans subir de multiples travers et l’occupation de son
siège par deux évêques successifs.
Martyrologe romain
SOURCE : http://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/1/Saint-Brice.html
Statue
de Saint Brice, Église de Chaumont-en-Vexin
13 novembre. Saint Brice,
archevêque de Tours. 444.
Pape : Saint Léon
Ier le Grand.
Rois des Francs Saliens
: Clodion le Chevelu.
Empereur romain
d'Occident : Valentinien III.
" La variété des saints, aussi bien que leurs différents degrés, exaltent
dans le silence l'Ouvrier de tant de sainteté ; les petits augmentent la
grandeur des grands, et ils honorent tous ensemble la très-pure Marie, qui les
surpasse glorieusement par son incomparable sainteté, et au bonheur de laquelle
ils participent sous le rapport sous lequel ils l'ont imitée."
Vénérable Marie d'Agreda.
Dieu aime la variété. Il
ne fait évidemment pas ses saints dans le même creuset. Chaque saint est
unique, comme l'est le résultat de chaque nouvelle idée. Comme le dit la
Liturgie : " Non est inventus similis illis ", " il
n'en existe pas deux qui soient exactement semblables ". C'est notre
manque d'imagination qui peint la même auréole à tous les saints.
Dieu aime la variété. Parfois, Il semble prendre plaisir à faire cohabiter deux
saints dont les caractères sont si dissemblables qu'il nous semblerait
impossible de les voir vivre ensemble. Sans aucun doute, Dieu veut leur
apprendre l'humilité, en leur montrant que chacun d'entre eux ne représente
qu'une infîme partie du mystère de la sainteté ; probablement Dieu veut-il
aussi nous rassurer, en nous montrant qu'en matière de caractère il y a de très
nombreuses demeures dans le Ciel.
Et c'est ainsi qu'en
Touraine, dans la Gaule française du IVe siècle, Dieu suscita l'impeccable
saint Martin de Tours (11 novembre), et à ses côtés, le difficile saint Brice.
Contrairement à son maître, Brice était un clerc fier et d'un caractère bilieux
et colérique.
Brice entra étant encore fort jeune au monastère que Martin avait fondé à
Marmoutier, à la sortie de Tours. Au départ, il était un moine ordinaire
quoique turbulent. A 18 ans, il devint diacre, et eut bientôt ses propres
étables et esclaves.
Les ennemis de saint
Martin lui reprochaient ce qu'ils considéraient comme une excessive pauvreté.
Saint Martin était inquiet au sujet de la manière dont le jeune diacre se
comportait, et il le réprimandait paternellement.
Brice se hérissait, et répliquait à son évêque de manière sarcastique. Comment
un " barbare venu des sauvages plaines de Hongrie " lui apprendrait à
lui, qui était né sur les rives de la Loire, la manière de se tenir ? Etait-ce
à lui, qui avait reçu une bonne éducation, de recevoir des leçons d'un ancien
légionnaire mal éduqué ?
Cependant, contrairement
à la plupart des adultes, Martin écoutait calmement et répondait avec douceur.
Il prédit même à Brice qu'un jour il deviendrait évêque, mais que son épiscopat
ne serait pas pacifique. Les vicaires généraux et les chanoines de Tours, qui
ne pouvaient pas supporter l'idée qu'un jour ils auraient à être dirigés par ce
" soupe-au-lait ", pressaient Martin de l'admonester et de le
reprendre durement.
Mais saint Martin
répondit :
" Si le Christ a dû
supporter Judas, alors moi, pourquoi ne pourrais-je pas supporter Brice ?
"
Brice continua à mépriser Martin, mais malgré l'attitude de Brice, Martin le
supportait avec patience, et pour finir, Brice se repentit avec grands remords,
et supplia le pardon de Martin.
A la mort de saint Martin,
Brice lui succéda comme évêque de Tours. 30 ans durant, Brice enseigna,
baptisa, confirma, administra, et remplit toutes ses charges d'évêque.
Mais Brice n'oubliait pas que Martin lui avait prédit qu'il serait soumis aux
épreuves et que son gouvernement n'irait pas sans tribulation. Chaque jour, 30
ans durant, Brice attendit l'accomplissement de la prophétie. C'était peu
confortable, mais Dieu avait choisit cette voie pour affaiblir l'excessive
suffisance de la jeunesse.
Un jour une rumeur
courut à travers les rues de Tours, comme quoi une lingère occupée au palais
de l'évêque, avait eu un fils de lui. Quelle aubaine pour les commérages de la
ville !
L'accusation était fausse, mais comment le prouver ?
Saint Brice se fit amener
l'enfant, et d'une voix ferme, il dit :
" Je te somme, au
Nom de Jésus-Christ, de dire, en présence de tous, si je suis l'homme qui t'a
enfanté."
Ce à quoi le bébé
répondit :
" Tu n'es pas mon
père."
Une telle précocité
sembla suspecte aux gens présents, et ils pensèrent qu'il devait y avoir malice
(tout cela est rapporté par saint Grégoire de Tours). En tout cas, les fidèles
de Brice étaient à ce point convaincus de l'adultère qu'ils expulsèrent leur
évêque par la force.
Brice ne résista pas, mais il réalisa que la prophétie de Martin venait de
s'accomplir. Vers 430, étant libre, il en profita pour faire un pèlerinage à
Rome, ce qui dura sept ans. Durant son exil, Brice eut l'occasion de se
repentir de ses manières, et de changer complètement son style de vie. Sur son
chemin de retour, il fonda plusieurs centres Chrétiens.
Les sept ans étant passés, Brice revint à Tours. A peine était-il en vue de la
ville de Tours, une fièvre tua l'évêque qui avait été élu comme son successeur.
Ne voulant pas manquer de politesse, Brice hâta son pas, et arriva à temps pour
accomplir les rites funéraires. Puis il reprit son épiscopat pour le restant de
sa vie et dirigea dans l'humilité, la sainteté et l'habilité.
A sa mort, il fut tenu
pour saint, avec raison, vu son changement si radical de vie. Il fut enterré
dans la même église que Saint Martin, car à présent que tous 2 étaient tenus
pour saints, il n'y avait pas de raison qu'ils ne reposent point côte à côte.
Dieu avait voulu que tous deux soient ensemble et servent comme fondations de
l'Église de Tours. En additionnant la sérénité de Martin à la vigueur de Brice,
l'harmonie fut assurée à cette ville où la Loire et le Vouvray se rencontrent.
Dans l'art, on représente saint Brice qui porte des charbons ardents dans ses
vêtements. Parfois on le dépeint :
1. portant du feu dans sa
main ;
2. avec un enfant dans
ses bras ou près de lui ;
3. avec Saint Martin de
Tours.
Sv.
Brikcij, circa 1780, 99 x 81, National Museum of Slovenia, Ljubljana
SAINT BRICE *
Brice, diacre de saint
Martin, était jaloux de lui et souvent il l’accablait d'outrages. Un pauvre en
effet étant venu demander Martin, Brice lui dit : « Si tu cherches ce radoteur,
lève la tête, c'est celui qui regarde le ciel comme un insensé. » Le pauvre
ayant reçu ce qu'il demandait de saint Martin, le saint homme appela
Brice et lui dit : « Je te semble donc un radoteur, Brice ? » Or, comme il
avait honte d'avoir ainsi parlé et qu'il le niait, Martin lui dit : « Est-ce
que mes oreilles n'étaient pas près de ta bouche quand tu disais cela tout
haut? Je te dis en vérité que j'ai obtenu du Seigneur de t'avoir pour
successeur dans l’épiscopat; mais sache que tu éprouveras alors bien des
adversités. » En entendant cela, Brice se moquait en disant : « N'ai-je
pas dit vrai, que c'était un radoteur? » Après la mort de Martin, Brice fut élu
évêque, et depuis ce moment il se livra à la prière, et quoique encore
orgueilleux, il était. toutefois chaste de corps. Or, la trentième année de son
épiscopat, une femme qui portait l’habit d'une religieuse, et qui lavait ses
vêtements, conçut et mit au monde un fils. Alors tout le peuple se rassembla
avec des pierres, à la porte de Brice, en disant : « Par égard pour saint
Martin, nous avons caché ta luxure; mais nous ne pouvons plus désormais baiser
des mains polluées. » Brice nia vigoureusement le crime qu'on lui imputait. «
Amenez-moi l’enfant », dit-il. Quand on lui eut amené cet enfant qui n'avait
que trente jours, Brice lui dit : « Je t'adjure, par le fils de Dieu, de déclarer,
en présence de tout le monde, si c'est moi qui t'ai engendré. » L'enfant
répondit : «Ce n'est pas toi qui es mon père. » Le peuple pressa alors l’évêque
de lui demander le nom de son père, et il répondit : « Ceci n'est pas mon
affaire; j'ai fait ce qui m’intéressai. » Alors le peuple attribua
tout cela à la magie en disant : « Tu n'exerceras plus désormais sur nous le
pouvoir sous le nom mensonger de pasteur. » Alors Brice, pour se justifier,
porta, sous les yeux de tous, des charbons ardents jusqu'au tombeau de saint
Martin, et quand il les eut jetés, il ne parut pas que son vêtement en eût été
atteint, et il dit : « De même que ce vêtement, qui est le mien, -est resté
intact, de même mon corps est pur de tout contact avec une femme.» Le peuple, qui
n'était point encore convaincu, accabla saint Brice d'outrages et d'injures, et
lui enleva sa dignité, afin que la parole de saint Martin s'accomplit. Brice
vint alors en pleurant auprès du Pape, y resta sept ans, et effaça par sa
pénitence toutes ses fautes envers saint Martin.
Le peuple mit Justinien à
sa place, et l’envoya à Rome pour soutenir contre Brice ses droits à
l’épiscopat. Mais il mourut en route, dans la ville de Verceil : alors tout, le
peuple établit Arménius à sa place ! Sept ans après, Brice revint par
l’autorité du pape, et reçut l’hospitalité à six milles de la ville. Or, cette
nuit-là même, Arminius rendit l’âme. Brice, qui l’apprit par révélation, dit à
ses gens de se lever pour aller en toute hâte avec lui inhumer l’évêque de Tours.
Or, comme Brice entrait dans la ville par une porte, par l’autre on portait en
terre, le corps d'Arminius. Quand il eut été enseveli, Brice prit son siège
qu'il gouverna sept ans avec une conduite digne d'éloge. Il s'endormit en paix
la 48° année de son épiscopat.
* Toute cette légende est
prise de saint Grégoire de Tours, passim.
La Légende dorée de
Jacques de Voragine nouvellement traduite en français avec introduction,
notices, notes et recherches sur les sources par l'abbé J.-B. M. Roze, chanoine
honoraire de la Cathédrale d'Amiens, Édouard Rouveyre, éditeur, 76, rue de
Seine, 76, Paris mdcccci
SOURCE : http://www.abbaye-saint-benoit.ch/voragine/tome03/168.htm
_%C3%89glise_11.JPG)
Bannière
de la paroisse de Saint-Brice-en-Coglès
Saint Brice
Saint Brice, mort en 444,
fur le successeur de saint Martin à l’évêché de Tours.
Brice, diacre de saint
Martin, était jaloux de lui et souvent il l’accablait d’outrages. Un pauvre en
effet étant venu demander Martin, Brice lui dit : « Si tu cherches ce
radoteur, lève la tête, c’est celui qui regarde le ciel comme un insensé ».
Le pauvre ayant reçu ce qu’il demandait de saint Martin, le saint homme appela
Brice et lui dit : « Je te semble donc un radoteur,
Brice ? ». Or, comme il avait honte d’avoir ainsi parlé et qu’il le
niait, Martin lui dit : « Est-ce que mes oreilles n’étaient pas près
de ta bouche quand tu disais cela tout haut ? Je te dis en vérité que j’ai
obtenu du Seigneur de t’avoir pour successeur dans l’épiscopat ; mais
sache que tu éprouveras alors bien des adversités. » En entendant cela,
Brice se moquait en disant : « N’ai-je pas dit vrai, que c’était un
radoteur ? ».
Après la mort de Martin,
Brice fut élu évêque, et depuis ce moment, il se livra à la prière, et quoique
encore orgueilleux, il était toutefois chaste de corps. Or, la trentième année
de son épiscopat, une femme qui portait l’habit d’une religieuse, et qui lavait
ses vêtements, conçut et mit au monde un fils. Alors tout le peuple se
rassembla avec des pierres, à la porte de Brice, en disant : « Par
égard pour saint Martin, nous avons caché ta luxure ; mais nous ne pouvons
plus désormais baiser des mains polluées. » Brice nia vigoureusement le
crime qu’on lui imputait. « Amenez-moi l’enfant », dit-il. Quand on
lui eut amené cet enfant qui n’avait que trente jours, Brice lui dit :
« Je t’adjure, par le fils de Dieu, de déclarer, en présence de tout le
monde, si c’est moi qui t’ai engendré. » L’enfant répondit :
« Ce n’est pas toi qui es mon père ». Le peuple pressa alors l’évêque
de lui demander le nom de son père, et il répondit : « Ceci n’est pas
mon affaire ; j’ai fait ce qui m’intéressait ». Alors le peuple
attribua tout cela à la magie en disant : « Tu n’exerceras plus
désormais sur nous le pouvoir sous le nom mensonger de pasteur ». Alors
Brice, pour se justifier, porta, sous les yeux de tous, des charbons ardents
jusqu’au tombeau de saint Martin, et quand il les eut jetés, il ne parut pas
que son vêtement en eût été atteint, et il dit : « De même que ce
vêtement, qui est le mien, est resté intact, de même mon corps est pur de tout
contact avec une femme. » Le peuple, qui n’était point encore convaincu,
accabla saint Brice d’outrages et d’injures, et lui enleva sa dignité, afin que
la parole de saint Martin s’accomplît. Brice vint alors en pleurant auprès du
Pape, y resta sept ans, et effaça par sa pénitence toutes ses fautes envers
saint Martin.
Le peuple mit Justinien à
sa place, et l’envoya à Rome pour soutenir contre Brice ses droits à
l’épiscopat. Mais il mourut en route, dans la ville de Verceil : alors
tout le peuple établit Arménius à sa place ! Sept ans après, Brice revint
par l’autorité du pape, et reçut l’hospitalité à six milles de la ville. Or,
cette nuit-là même, Arminius rendit l’âme. Brice, qui l’apprit par révélation,
dit à ses gens de se lever pour aller en toute hâte avec lui inhumer l’évêque
de Tours. Or, comme Brice entrait dans la ville par une porte, par l’autre on
portait en terre le corps d’Arminius. Quand il eut été enseveli, Brice prit son
siège qu’il gouverna sept ans avec une conduite digne d’éloges. Il s’endormit
en paix la 48° année de son épiscopat.
Brice fut canonisé à sa
mort et enterré auprès de son bienfaiteur. Mais, en 580, Grégoire de Tours fit
transférer ses reliques à Clermont, en Auvergne.
Il est le patron des
juges.
Saint Brice est fêté le
13 novembre.
ou encore, d’après JL
Dubar :
BRICE
13 novembre
Ve siècle (mort en 444)
Motifs
d’invocation :
maux de ventre ou pour
calmer un chien furieux. Pour les blessures qui ne se referment pas.
Biographie :
Disciple de saint Martin
de Tours et devenu prêtre, Brice (Briscio) quitta assez vite le monastère pour
vivre de façon luxueuse et licencieuse. Il fut accusé d’avoir rendu mère une
religieuse, mais il succéda pourtant à saint Martin et occupa l’évêché de Tours
pendant une trentaine d’années (397-428). A Rome, où il séjourna durant sept
ans, il convainquit le pape de son innocence et revint, pardonné, occuper son
siège. Il avait tellement changé que, juste après sa mort, le peuple le
proclama saint ! En 580, Grégoire de Tours transféra ses reliques à
Clermont-Ferrand, en Auvergne.
Quelques lieux
d’invocation :
Une église lui est dédiée
à Tournai mais aussi à Ville-Pommeroeul, où le saint a une statue en chêne
datant de la fin du XVème s, et où une scène de sa vie est représentée par un
artiste du XVIIIème (tableau restauré en 1848). Eglise de Wez (tableau dans le
jubé).
Prière :
Saint Brice est invoqué
particulièrement pour les blessures qui ne se ferment pas.
Saint Brice est aussi
appelé Bris. En récompense de sa vie humble et toute dévouée aux pauvres, Dieu
le destina à exercer la haute fonction d’évêque de Tours.
Invocation
En mémoire de vos
souffrances, Seigneur, et de vos peines, aidez-moi à supporter plus vaillamment
mes propres souffrances. Je sais que mes blessures ne sont rien auprès de
celles que vous endurâtes sur la croix ; mais je vous en supplie, par les
mérites de saint Brice, faites que ces plaies se ferment, faites que la chair
redevienne saine. Ainsi soit-il.
Saint Brice, qui avez
reçu de Dieu le pouvoir de guérir les blessures rebelles, soulagez-nous, priez
pour nous.
Oraison
Bon Jésus, chargé de
votre croix, et conduit au lieu de votre supplice, comme un agneau à la
boucherie, ayez pitié de moi, Seigneur, ayez pitié de moi. Ainsi soit-il.
Extrait de :
"Les saints guérisseurs de Picardie", Jean-Luc Dubart, AB Editions,
avec l’aimable autorisation de l’auteur.
SOURCE : http://www.paroisse-val-escaut.be/spip.php?article261
Fragment
de vitrail du XVe siècle dans l'église Saint-Brice de
Beuzeville-au-Plain
Surviving
panel of a 15th-century stained glass window mounted at the west-most window in
the north wall of the choir, depicting Saint
Brice. (See Martine Callias Bey et al, Les vitraux de Basse-Normandie,
p. 172–173; and Palissy.)
Saint Brice de Tours, du
scandale à la sainteté
Par LECOEUR
Xavier, le 10/11/2012 à 0h00
Disciple indocile de
saint Martin de Tours, saint Brice (mort en 444) multiplia les incartades avant
de devenir un saint homme. Cet évêque de Tours est fêté le 13 novembre.
Certains saints
reviennent de loin ! Saint Brice de Tours, dont l'attitude et les propos
restèrent longtemps fort éloignés des exigences évangéliques les plus
élémentaires, en est un parfait exemple.
Abandonné dans son
enfance, le jeune Brice avait été recueilli par saint Martin de Tours, qui
l'avait nourri et éduqué au monastère de Marmoutier. Toutefois, malgré la bonté
de son protecteur, le jeune homme se montrait méprisant, orgueilleux et
indocile. Ces traits de caractère empirèrent avec les années. Devenu adulte,
Brice, dominé par son esprit de jouissance, préféra renoncer à l'austérité
monastique pour vivre dans le luxe. Ses écuries étaient pleines de chevaux et,
dans sa vaste demeure, il se faisait servir par de nombreux esclaves des deux
sexes.
Porté non seulement à la
licence, mais aussi à l'ingratitude, le jeune diacre n'hésitait pas à agonir
d'injures son ancien bienfaiteur : il le traitait de « vieux
fou » en public et raillait ses « vaines superstitions, ses visions
imaginaires et ses divagations ridicules » ! Saint Martin, bien que
peiné et irrité, parvenait à contenir sa colère et lui pardonnait ses
excès : « Si le Christ a supporté Judas, je puis bien, moi, supporter
Brice », expliquait-il à ceux qui s'étonnaient de sa patience. Refusant de
désespérer de son disciple rétif, persuadé que Dieu ramènerait au bercail la
brebis égarée, l'évêque Martin espérait même que Brice lui succéderait sur le
siège épiscopal de Tours.
Ce qui arriva
effectivement en 397, à la mort de saint Martin. On suppose qu'à partir de ce
moment Brice changea sa manière d'être et d'agir. Toutefois, quelques années
plus tard, le scandale refit surface. On accusa Brice d'avoir rendu mère une
religieuse qui s'occupait de sa lingerie ! Malgré ses dénégations,
l'évêque fut déposé et chassé par ses fidèles. Il prit alors le chemin de Rome
pour aller plaider sa cause auprès du pape. Brice fut déclaré innocent, mais il
resta cependant absent de son diocèse durant sept années. Sans doute
profita-t-il de cette longue période pour expier sa conduite passée…
Toujours est-il que,
rentré à Tours et ayant repris possession de son évêché, il sut enfin se
montrer à la hauteur des espoirs que saint Martin avait placés en lui. Il
s'amenda tant et si bien qu'à sa mort il était considéré comme un saint homme.
Comme quoi, nul n'est jamais perdu pour la sainteté !
Aller à sa rencontre
Un livre. Histoire
des Francs, par Grégoire de Tours (Les Belles Lettres, 2005).
LECOEUR Xavier
Baie
02 de l'église Saint-Brice de Saint-Brice-en-Coglès (35). Saint-Brice. Détail.
Krachmer et Chauvel, maîtres verriers à Rennes.
Baie
02 de l'église Saint-Brice de Saint-Brice-en-Coglès (35). Saint-Brice. Détail.
Krachmer et Chauvel, maîtres verriers à Rennes.
Also
known as
Briccius
Brictius
Britius
Brixius
Brizio
Brizo
Profile
An orphan rescued
by Saint Martin
of Tours, and raised by Martin‘s clerics.
Though ostensibly a spiritual student of Saint Martin,
Brice became so wild, wicked, proud, ungrateful, and disorderly that some
thought him possessed by
a demon! He became a priest,
but was a vain, ambitious one with contempt for Martin.
Many advised Martin to
kick him out, but Saint Martin said
that if Jesus could deal with Judas, he could deal with Brice.
On Martin‘s death in 397,
Brice was designated to succeed him as bishop of Tours, France.
However, the people of the diocese revolted,
substituted a priest named
Justinian, and Brice left town to avoid a stoning.
Justinan held the see for
over 30 years, during which Brice came to his senses, and began to lead a pious
and admirable life. Formal ecclesiastical investigations cleared him of wrong
doing, and he had the support of Pope Saint Zosimus.
When Justinian died c.430,
Brice returned to Tours to
claim his seat. The locals, however, remembered him and his past, and ran him
out of town again, taking a priest names
Armentius as bishop.
When Armentius died in 437,
Brice returned to Tours again
to claim his proper place, this time preceded by the news of having led a
better life during his 40 years of exile.
He was allowed to stay, governed his diocese until
his death,
and his conversion had
been so true and obvious that even his parishioners immediately proclaimed him
a saint.
444 at Tours, France of
natural causes
in Italy
Additional
Information
Book
of Saints, by the Monks of
Ramsgate
Lives
of the Saints, by Father Alban
Butler
Lives
of the Saints, by Father Francis
Xavier Weninger
Roman
Martyrology, 1914 edition
Saints
and Their Symbols, by E A Greene
Saints
of the Day, by Katherine Rabenstein
books
Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
Saints
and Their Attributes, by Helen Roeder
other
sites in english
images
sitios
en español
Martirologio Romano, 2001 edición
sites
en français
fonti
in italiano
MLA
Citation
“Saint Brice of
Tours“. CatholicSaints.Info. 7 March 2024. Web. 22 June 2026.
<https://catholicsaints.info/saint-brice-of-tours/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-brice-of-tours/
Hürth-Stotzheim,
St, Brictius Verehrung an der Kirchenfrontseite
Article
(BRITIUS, BRICCIUS,
BRICE) (November 13) (Saint) Bishop (5th century) A native of Tours and
disciple of the great Saint Martin, in the monastery of Marmoutiers. He himself
was raised to the Archbishopric on the death of his master. Owing to calumny he
suffered exile; but was restored to his See by the authority of the Pope, who
was convinced of his innocence. He died seven years after his return, A.D. 447.
His body was translated to Clermont in Auvergne by Saint Gregory of Tours (A.D.
580).
MLA
Citation
Monks of Ramsgate.
“Brixius”. Book of Saints, 1921. CatholicSaints.Info. 7
September 2012.
Web. 22 June 2026. <http://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-brixius/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-brixius/
Élément
d'une niche retrouvée dans le mur du chœur de l'Église de Peyriat. (Ain,
France) lors de la restauration intérieure de l'édifice en 1969. Visage de St
Brice faisant face à celui de St Martin.
St. Brice
Feastday: November 13
Birth: 370
Death: 444
St. Brice was raised by
St. Martin of Tours at
Marmoutier and also known as Britius. He became a vain, overly ambitious
cleric, holding Martin in
great contempt. Despite Brice's attitude, Martin was
most patient with him, and in time, in great remorse, he asked Martin's
forgiveness for his attitude toward him. He succeeded Martin as Bishop of Tours in
397 but reverted to his old ways, neglected his duties, was several times
accused of lackness and immorality. Though cleared of the latter charge, he was
exiled from his See. He went to Rome and
in the seven years of his exile there, repented and completely changed
his life style.
When the administrator of
his See, in his absence died, he returned and ruled with such humility,
holiness, and ability, he was venerated as a saint by the time of
his death. His feast day is
November 13th.
SOURCE : https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=335
braz
św. Brykcjusza w ołtarzu bocznym kościoła odpustowego w Gościęcinie-Bryksach.
Namalowany w 1899 roku przez Jana Böcka.
Brice of Tours B (RM)
(also known as Brictio,
Britius, Brixius)
Died 444. God loves
variety. He doesn't mass-produce his saints. Every saint is unique, for each is
the result of a new idea. As the liturgy says: Non est inventus similis
illis--there are no two exactly alike. It is we with our lack of imagination,
who paint the same haloes on all the saints.
God loves variety. And He
has a remarkable sense of humor. Sometimes He seemingly takes mischievous
pleasure in placing side by side two saints whose characters should make it
impossible for them to get along together. No doubt God wants to teach them
humility, by showing them that each represents only a small part of the mystery
of saintliness; and perhaps God also wants to reassure us, by telling us that
if there are many mansions in heaven, there are also many roads leading there.
And so it was in the 4th
century in Touraine, France. God set the impeccable Saint Martin of Tours side-
by-side with the insufferable Saint Brice. Unlike his master, Brice was a
proud, ambitious, and, perhaps, even licentious cleric.
When still very young,
Brice entered the monastery that Martin had founded at Marmoûtier, just outside
Tours. At first he was just an ordinary, boisterous young monk, but soon he
grew up. By the time he was 18, he had become a deacon and had his own stables
and slaves.
Martin, whose enemies
reproached him for his excessive poverty and for what Gaston Boissier has
called his 'rather democratic' outlook, was worried about the way the young
deacon was behaving and remonstrated him like a father.
Brice bristled and
answered the bishop with biting sarcasm. How could a barbarian from the wilds
of Hungary tell him, who had been born on the banks of the Loire, how to
behave? Was he, who had been educated properly, to take instruction from an
improperly educated old legionary? Anyone who has ever dealt with teenagers can
imagine the encounter.
Unlike most adults,
however, Martin listened calmly and replied gently. He even predicted that
Brice would one day become bishop, but that his episcopate would not be a
peaceful one. The vicars- general and the canons of Tours, who didn't relish
the idea of one day being ruled by this spitfire, urged Martin to send him
packing. But Martin replied, "If Christ put up with Judas, then surely I
can put up with Brice."
Brice continued to hold
Martin in contempt, but despite Brice's attitude Martin dealt patiently with
him, and eventually Brice repented with great remorse and begged Martin's
forgiveness.
When Martin died, Brice
succeeded him in 397 as bishop of Tours-- not by tricks or intrigue but by the
regular open vote of the people. For 30 years Brice taught, baptized,
confirmed, administered, and fulfilled all his duties as bishop. Several times
Brice was accused of laxness but nothing really extraordinary happened, none of
those miracles or scandals that were as dear to the hearts of the chroniclers
then as they are to journalists today.
Nevertheless, Brice slept
badly; he couldn't forget that Martin had predicted that he would be put to the
test, and with a man like Martin there wasn't the slightest hope that the
prediction would prove false. It might be late coming, but come it would. And
every day for 30 years Brice waited for the fulfillment of the prophecy. It was
uncomfortable but God had chosen it as a way of deflating the excessive conceit
of youth.
Then it happened. One
morning the rumor ran through the streets of Tours that a seamstress belonging
to the bishop's palace had borne him a son. What a windfall for the town's
gossips!
The accusation was false,
but how to prove it? Since blood tests for paternity hadn't been discovered,
Brice had to find another way. He had the infant brought to him, and, in his
most episcopal voice, said, "I admonish you in the name of Jesus Christ to
say, in the presence of everybody, if I am the man who fathered you." To
which the baby replied, "You are not my father."
Such precociousness
seemed suspicious to those present, and they thought that there must be some
trick (unless it is we who have been tricked by Saint Gregory of Tours, who
recorded the story). At any rate Brice's people were so far from being
convinced that they expelled their bishop by physical force.
Brice didn't resist, for
he realized that Martin's prophecy was now being fulfilled. About 430, he used
his free time to make a journey ad limina, which took him seven years. During
his 'exile' Brice had an opportunity to repent of his ways and completely
changed his lifestyle. On his way back home he founded several new Christian
centers.
When the seven years had
passed, Brice returned to Tours. Just as he was coming into sight of the town,
a providential fever killed the bishop who had been elected his successor. Not
wanting to be lacking in politeness, Brice quickened his step and arrived in
time to perform the funeral rites for this most tactful of bishops. He then
resumed the episcopate himself for the remaining years of his life and ruled
with humility, holiness, and ability.
At his death he was held
to be a saint, and rightly so, such was the change of his manners after his
conversion in Rome. He was buried in the same church as Saint Martin, for now
that they were both saints there was no reason why they shouldn't sleep
side-by- side. God had destined them to be together and to serve as foundations
for the church of Tours. By joining the serenity of Martin to the vigor of
Brice, harmony was ensured for a town where the Loire and Vouvray meet
(Attwater, Benedictines, Delaney, Encyclopedia).
In art Saint Brice
carries hot coals in his vestments. Sometimes he is pictured as (1) carrying
fire in his hand; (2) with a child in his arms or near him; or (3) with Saint
Martin of Tours (because he was a disciple of Saint Martin) (Roeder).
Dear Lord, grant us a
spirit that is not bound by our own ideas and preferences. Grant that we may be
able to appreciate in others what we lack in ourselves. O Lord, grant that we
may understand that every saint must be a unique praise of Your glory.
SOURCE : http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/1113.shtml
Duomo
di Orvieto - Statua di san Brizio
English: Orvieto
cathedral - Statue of saint Brice
November 13
St. Brice, Bishop and
Confessor
HE was a native of Tours,
and a monk under St. Martin, whose patience he exercised by his sloth and
pride. That saint foretold his remarkable conversion, and that he should be his
successor in the see of Tours, which accordingly happened in 339. Upon slanders
spread to his disadvantage he was expelled the city by the people, and lived
many years an exile at Rome. By holy patience he triumphed over malice; and
being restored to his see, governed it with great sanctity to his happy death,
in 444. His name was held in particular veneration in France and England, and
maintains its place in the Calendar of the English Protestants. See St. Gregory
of Tours, Hist. l. 10, c. 31. Fortunatus, Bede, Ado, and Usuard, on the 13th of
November.
Rev. Alban
Butler (1711–73). Volume XI: November. The Lives of the
Saints. 1866
SOURCE : http://www.bartleby.com/210/11/135.html
Kath.
Filialkirche hl. Briccius und Friedhof; Dorfstraße 59, Radfeld: Neugotische
Statue des hl. Briccius
Weninger’s
Lives of the Saints – Saint Britius, Bishop of Tours
Article
Saint Britius was, in his
childhood, placed under the charge of the holy bishop Martin. Guided by so
great a master, he made such rapid progress in virtue and learning, that Saint
Martin hesitated not to ordain him priest. Britius at first displayed an eminent
zeal in his sacred calling; but in the course of time he became neglectful of
his duties and unrestrained in his conduct and conversation. Saint Martin
omitted not to admonish him with fatherly kindness; but Britius heeded not the
admonitions, and went at last so far, that he not only publicly blamed the
actions of the bishop, but shamelessly derided and ridiculed him as an
imbecile, and incited others against him. Saint Martin treated him,
nevertheless, with great gentleness, and offered many prayers to the Almighty
for his conversion. One day, when Britius was standing in the street, a sick
stranger came to him, and asked where he could find Saint Martin. Britius,
pointing to the holy man at some distance, said: “Are you looking for that
fool? There he stands! See how he keeps his eyes fixed on heaven, as if he had
lost his senses.” Saint Martin, who had heard him, said: “So, dear Britius, you
speak of me as a fool to other people?” Britius was about to deny his own
words, but Saint Martin added: “I heard all you said. And yet I assure you,
that God has heard my prayers. You will be my successor. Prepare yourself,
however, in time; for the crosses you will have to bear will be very heavy.”
Britius, laughing immoderately at this, said: “Have I not spoken the truth in
saying that you are a fool? What ridiculous ideas! I will now believe more than
ever that your brain is disordered, and that you are filled with delusions.”
But notwithstanding the derision of Britius, the prophecy of the holy bishop
was fulfilled. No sooner had Saint Martin expired, than Britius, by especial
Providence, was unanimously elected to succeed him. It was then that his eyes
were suddenly opened; and weeping bitterly over his faults, and particularly
over the wrong he had done to Saint Martin, he tore himself away from all
vanity and worldly pleasures, which until now had enchained him, chastised his
body with penances, and occupied a great part of his time in prayer and devout
reading; in one word, changed his entire life not only into that of a real
Christian, but into that of a Saint.
For thirty-three years,
he was left in peace; but then, the second part of Saint Martin’s prophecy was
fulfilled. Trials and persecutions began to assail Britius. He was suspected
and accused of the most wicked immorality, and his own subjects so far forgot
themselves, as not only to insult him to his face, but even threatened to stone
him to death. Britius, amazed at their accusations, testified to his innocence
with an oath, and then left his justification in the hands of God. His
confidence in the divine protection was rewarded by a miracle: a child, not one
month old, publicly declared, in plain words, that the Bishop was innocent. The
people were struck with awe at this miracle, and began to think better of their
bishop. Being urged to discover the guilty, he said: “In so far as I am
concerned, I am satisfied with what you have heard from the child’s mouth; if
you desire to know more, you must seek it yourself.” The restless and
embittered minds of the people were not yet satisfied, and ascribing the
miracle to witchcraft, they intended to drive the bishop out of the city.
Britius endeavored to prove his innocence by another miracle. He gathered live
coals in his cloak, and carried them to the tomb of Saint Martin. There
depositing them, he said: “As truly as this garment has remained uninjured by
the fire, so truly is my soul unstained by the crime of which I am accused.”
But neither could this miracle calm the rage of the people; the innocent bishop
was banished and another elected in his place.
In this emergency,
Britius, not knowing what to do, went to Rome. He related to the Pope the
injustice done to him, but confessed, at the same time, that he regarded it as
a just punishment for the wrong he had done to the holy bishop, Saint Martin.
The Pope ordered the Bishops of France to assemble in council and investigate
the matter thoroughly. If they found Britius innocent, they were to restore him
to his See. The holy Father’s command was obeyed, and Britius was sent back to
his flock, which he governed for seven years more. During this period, not one
word of complaint for the wrong he had suffered ever passed his lips. He showed
not the slightest hatred or dislike toward those who had so shamefully ill-treated
him, as he looked upon what had occurred as a just retribution for his former
sins. This conduct caused his flock to love and revere him again as in former
times: nay, they even received his instructions with great- er willingness,
followed his directions more obediently than ever, and thus gave great
consolation to the holy man. On his part, he became more and more deeply
interested in the welfare and salvation of his flock, and continued to have a
father’s care for them until his death, which took place in the 47th year of
his episcopate. He repented continually of the faults which he had committed in
his younger years, and endeavored to atone for them by penances and by patience
in trials and persecutions. He often begged pardon of Saint Martin for the
dishonor with which he had treated him, invoked his intercession with great
confidence, and always ascribed his conversion to the prayers of his holy
teacher. Saint Britius ended his penitent and holy life calmly, after having
received the holy Sacraments.
Practical Considerations
• Britius did very wrong
in putting evil constructions upon the manners of Saint Martin, and in
despising and deriding him as a fool and a hypocrite. This fault he afterwards
regretted; and therefore suffered patiently the calumny and persecution with which
God visited him, as a just retribution for his sins. You do very wrong in
putting evil constructions on your neighbor’s actions, and perhaps despising
him in consequence; for, I ask you firstly, in the words of the Apostle: “Who
art thou that judges another man’s servant?” (Romans 14) Do you not know that
such judgment belongs to the Almighty? “But thou, why judgest thou thy brother?
or thou, why dost thou despise thy brother?” (Romans 14) Secondly: Are you
quite sure that you know your neighbor’s intention, or the motive that prompted
him to act as he did? “The heart is unsearchable,” says God the Lord; “who can
know it?” “I am the Lord,” adds He, “that search the heart and prove the
reins.” (Jeremiah 17) You may easily be misled, by interpreting the actions of
others after your own ideas. “But,” you say, “what is to be done, if the
actions are evidently evil?” Saint Bernard says: “Excuse the motives, if you
cannot excuse the deed; think that it is done out of ignorance, haste or
inadvertence.” All these give you no reason to despise your fallen brother; he
may rise again tomorrow: while you, standing today so high in your own
estimation, may then be down as low as he. “If you saw your brother commit a
wrong yesterday, you cannot be sure that today he is still a sinner, as you do
not know whether he has not already reconciled the Lord by true penance,”
writes Saint Ephrem. Saint Bernardin says: “He whose wickedness made us almost
despair of his salvation, suddenly becomes converted, while another, whom we believe
pious and good, becomes wicked.” Take this lesson to heart, and never interpret
your neighbor’s actions in an evil manner; do not judge him rashly; do not
despise him on account of his faults. Repent after the example of Saint
Britius, if you have sinned in this respect. Learn also of this Saint, that you
must regard everything that you have to suffer on earth as a punishment for
sin; and hence, bear it patiently. Some persons imagine that when they have
confessed their sins, they need trouble themselves no further: and when God
visits them with suffering, they think that they are unjustly treated, or have
too much to bear. They ought rather to think of their sins, and regard their
trials as a punishment. The true faith teaches that although by confession, our
sins are forgiven so far as their guilt and eternal punishment are concerned,
yet there generally re mains a temporal punishment which we have to undergo.
Therefore those who have formerly sinned and who now suffer, should humbly
think that this suffering is a part of their punishment; and they ought to bear
it patiently, in the spirit of penance, and offer it to the Almighty.
• After Saint Britius had
been restored to his See, he never complained of the wrong that had been done
him; he showed no hatred or dislike towards those who had treated him so
unkindly, but rather evinced, by his indefatigable zeal for the salvation of
their souls, a spirit of true Christian charity and forgiveness. How far are
you from this manner of acting! It is true that you say: “I pardon my enemy; I
will not revenge myself on him; I will neither hurt nor hate him?” But do you
show that you bear no hatred or dislike towards him? Do you not frequently
relate, without sufficient reason, what you have suffered from him? Are you not
frequently unkind towards him and give him to understand that you do not forget
the injury he has done you? Ah, that cannot be called pardoning from your
heart; that is not loving your enemies as Christ has commanded. You desire that
God should not remember your sins and misdeeds, and that He should be as
merciful as if you had never committed any; why, then, do you not act in the
same manner towards your enemies? “If you only abstain from hurting him who has
hurt you, but turn from him and do not like to look at him; the wound without
doubt remains in your heart. And this being the case, the command of Christ is
not fulfilled. Do you desire that the Almighty should do the same? that He
should not hurt you, but only turn from you?” Thus speaks Saint Chrysostom.
MLA
Citation
Father Francis Xavier
Weninger, DD, SJ. “Saint Britius, Bishop of Tours”. Lives
of the Saints, 1876. CatholicSaints.Info.
25 May 2018. Web. 22 June 2026.
<https://catholicsaints.info/weningers-lives-of-the-saints-saint-britius-bishop-of-tours/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/weningers-lives-of-the-saints-saint-britius-bishop-of-tours/
Satue
de Saint Brice à Schöppingen, Allemagne.
St.
Brictius is a church in Schöppingen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Brictius-Statue,
St. Brictius, Schöppingen. St. Brictius ist die Pfarrkirche
der Gemeinde Schöppingen im Münsterland,
Nordrhein-Westfalen, Deutschland.
Article
Here followeth the Life
of Saint Brice, and first of hls name.
Brice is said of breos,
that is to say in Greek as measure, and of scio, scis, that is, to know. And
thus the exposition of this name Brictius or Brice is as much to say as knowing
measure. For at the beginning of his infancy when he was young he was full of
many sottises and follies, but he could well after the measure of himself
demand and counsel and govern well other, and to excuse him self by measure.
Of Saint Brice.
Brice was Archdeacon of
Saint Martin, and was much grievous to him, and said of him many things
unreasonable. And on a time a poor man came to Brice and demanded of him where
the bishop was, and how he should know him. And he bade him go into the church,
and him that thou shalt see there looking upward to heaven as a mad man or one
from himself, that same is Martin. And the poor man went and found Saint
Martin, and when he had received that he asked, Saint Martin called Saint
Brice, and said to him: Brice, seemeth it to thee that I am a fool or frantic?
And he forsook it and denied it for shame, and said he had not said so. And
Saint Martin said: I have heard it, for mine ears were at thy mouth when thou
saidst it to the poor man openly. I tell and say to thee forsooth that I have
obtained and have grant of God that thou shalt succeed me in this bishopric,
but know thou for certain that thou shalt suffer therein many adversities. And
when Brice heard him say so, he scorned him, saying: Said I not true when I
said he was a fool? And after the death of Saint Martin, Brice was elected and
made bishop of Tours, which from thence forthon he entended all to prayer, and
howbeit that he had been proud, yet he was always chaste. And in the thirtieth
year of his bishopric, a woman which was religiously clad, which was his
lavender and had washen his clothes, had conceived and borne a child which all
the people said that the bishop had gotten, and they assembled at his gates
with stones, and said: We have long suffered thy lechery for the love of Saint
Martin and for his pity, but now we will no more kiss thy hands which be
accursed. But he denied the fait and deed manly, and said: Bring to me the
child. And when he was brought he was but thirty days old. And Saint Brice said
to him: I conjure thee by the Son of God that thou say to me tofore all this
people if I have engendered thee. And the child said: Thou art not my father.
And the people, yet not content, bade him to demand the child who was his
father. And he said: That appertaineth not to me to do. I have done that which
appertaineth to me for mine excuse. And the people said that this was done by
the art of enchantment, and said plainly: He should not seigniory over us thus
falsely under the shadow of a pastor. And then yet for to purge him he bare, in
his lap or his vestment, coals all burning unto the tomb of Saint Martin, and
his vestments never burned, ne had none harm, and then he said: Like as my
vestment is unhurt and not burnt of these coals, but is whole and not corrupt
of the fire, in like wise is my body clean of touching any woman. And yet the
people believed him not, but beat him and did to him many injuries, and put him
out of the bishopric, because the word of Saint Martin should be accomplished.
And then S Brice went his way weeping, and came to the pope, and abode there
seven years, and purged him of that he had trespassed to Saint Martin. And the
people made a new bishop named Justinian and sent him to Rome for to defend the
cause against Brice. And as he went thitherward he died is the city of
Vercellence. Then the people made one Armenius bishop in his stead, and in the
seventh year Brice returned with authority of the pope, and took his lodging
six miles without the city. And that same night Armenius the bishop died. And
Brice knew it by divine revelation, and said to his people that they should
arise an haste them for to go and bury the bishop of Tour which was dead. And
as Brice entered at on gate, the dead bishop was brought in at another gate;
and when he was buried Saint Brice took his see or siege, and was bishop after
that seven year and led a holy and laudable life. And in the seven and fortieth
year of his bishopric he passe unto our Lord, to whom be given laud and glory.
Amen.
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/golden-legend-saint-brice/
Saint
Brice, Église Saint-Médard, Boersch, Haut-Rhin
The
Feast of St Brice, St Martin’s Bad Disciple
Gregory DiPippo
St Martin, whose
feast we kept two days ago, was succeeded in the see of Tours, as he had
predicted, by a monk named Brice, a singularly unpromising candidate to come
after such a holy bishop. Martin spent as much time as his episcopal duties
permitted among a monastic community at Marmoutier near Tours, into which he
himself had taken the orphaned Brice. St Gregory of Tours describes Brice as
“proud and vain”, and Martin’s biographer Sulpicius Severus tells the story in
his Dialogues (3.15) that Brice was led by devils to “vomit up a thousand
reproaches against Martin,” even daring to assert that he himself was much
holier for being raised from childhood in a monastery, while Martin was raised
in a military camp. Although Brice repented of this (as Sulpicius believed,
because of Martin’s prayers), and asked for the Saint’s forgiveness, he
continued to be a very difficult character. Martin refused to remove him from
the priesthood, lest he seem to do so as an act of vengeance, but expressed his
tolerance in less-than-complimentary terms: “If Christ could put up with Judas,
why should I not put up with Brice?”
Martin had predicted not only that Brice would
succeed him as bishop, but that he would suffer much in the episcopacy, words
which Brice dismissed as “ravings.” Both predictions were fulfilled in the
following manner. Although Brice was vain and proud, he was “chaste in body”,
and yet he was accused of fathering a child. The revised Butler’s Lives of
the Saints says, with characteristic (and characteristically irritating)
reticence, that he vindicated himself by “a very astonishing miracle”, without
saying what the miracle was. Gregory of Tours tells us that Brice called
together the people, and before them ordered the month-old infant to say
whether or not he was the father, at which the child did indeed say, “You are
not my father.” The people ask Brice to make the infant say who its father was,
but Brice replied (pride still unconquered), “That is not my job. I have taken
care of the part of this business that pertains to me; if you can, ask for
yourselves.”
This was attributed, perhaps understandably,
to the use of magic, rather than holiness, and so Brice attempted to vindicate
himself by carrying hot coals in his cloak to the tomb of St Martin; when he
arrived his cloak was not burnt. But this sign was also not accepted, and so he
was driven from his see, “that the words of the Saint might be fulfilled, ‘Know
that in the episcopate, you will suffer many adversities.’ … Then Brice sought
out the Pope of Rome, weeping and mourning, and saying ‘Rightly do I suffer
these things, because I sinned against God’s Saint, and often called him crazy
and deluded; and seeing his virtues, I did not believe.’ ” After staying
in Rome for seven years, and purging his sins by the celebration of many
Masses, he was restored to his see, which he governed for seven years further
as a man “of magnificent sanctity,” according to Gregory, very much changed for
the better by the experience. His popularity in the medieval period was very
great, and his feast is found on most calendars, although not that of Rome.
This is due in part to his association with St Martin, but perhaps more as an
example of something that the medievals understood very well and loved to dwell
on, that it is never too late for God’s grace to bring us away from sin
to sanctity.
The see of Tours also celebrates within the octave of St Martin another of its
holy bishops, the historian and hagiographer St Gregory, whom we have cited
above, whose feast is kept on November 17. A very charming story is told that
he was unusually small, which must have been very small indeed to be noted in
an age when people were generally much shorter than we are today. When he came
into the presence of Pope St Gregory the Great during a visit to Rome, the
Pope’s expression clearly evinced surprise at his stature, at which he quoted
the words of Psalm 99, “He (i.e. God) made us, and not we ourselves.”
SOURCE : https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2021/11/the-feast-of-st-brice-st-martins-bad.html
Statua
di San Brizio, Calimera, province of Lecce, Apulia, Italy
San Brizio di Tours Vescovo
m. 444
Nativo della Turenna,
Brizio fu affidato a san Martino che lo portò con sé nel monastero di
Marmoutier dove, completata l'educazione, emise i voti religiosi. Il suo
carattere ribelle lo portò ad avversare il suo stesso maestro. Tuttavia nel 397
si trovò a succedergli sulla cattedra di Tours. Dopo trentatré anni di
episcopato, uno scandalo ravvivò antichi malumori nei suoi confronti.
Destituito, partì per Roma, lasciando il posto a Giustiniano e poi ad Armenzio,
con la speranza di essere riabilitato dal papa. Rimase a Roma per sette anni e,
riconosciuto finalmente innocente, tornò a Tours dove guidò la comunità locale
ancora per sette anni. Edificò una modesta chiesa in onore di san Martino,
nella quale depose il suo corpo, e cinque parrocchie nei villaggi di Clion,
Brèches, Ruan, Rédoré, Chinon. Morì nel 444. (Avvenire)
Patronato: Calimera (LE)
Emblema: Bastone
pastorale
Martirologio Romano: A
Tours nella Gallia lugdunense, ora in Francia, san Brizio, vescovo, che,
discepolo di san Martino, succedette al maestro e per quarantasette anni fece
più volte fronte a varie avversità.
La Vita di Brizio fu scritta da s. Gregorio di Tours e reca ineorporato in aleuni manoscritti un capitolo dei Dialoghi di Sulpicio Severo nel quale B. viene chiamato col nome di Brictio, Brissone. Nativo della Turenna, Brizio fu affidato a s. Martino che lo portò con sé nel monastero di Marmoutier dove, completata l'educazione, pronunziò i voti. Ribelle per natura, pretendeva di mantenere schiavi e scuderia, finché, sdegnato per la muta disapprovazione dei monaci, tentò di vendicarsi osservando s. Martino per cercare di coglierlo in fallo. Ma la vita di questi era irreprensibile e Brizio, non potendo far nulla, io derideva pubblicamente. I monaci chiesero spesso a s. Martino di punirlo, ma il santo replicava ogni volta: "Se Cristo ha sopportato Giuda, non debbo io sopportare Brizio?". Secondo Gregorio di Tours, lo stesso Martino gli predisse l'episcopato. Brizio, infatti, gli succedette sulla cattedra di Tours nel 397 non senza opposizione da parte degli antichi con fratelli. Due lettere del pontefice Zosimo del settembre 417 attestano che Lazzaro, futuro vescovo di Aix, accusò Brizio in numerosi concili fino a quello di Torino del 401 nel quale, però, le accuse furono dimostrate faziose.
Dopo trentatré anni di episcopato, uno scandalo ravvivò gli antichi malumori. L'accusa era grave: trattava di un figlio che Brizio avrebbe avuto da una religiosa incaricata di governare il suo guardaroba. Il vescovo fu allora minacciato di lapidazione e, malgrado l'intervento di alcuni difensori, destituito. Partì per Roma, lasciando il posto a Giustiniano e poi ad Armenzio, con la speranza di essere riabilitato dal pontefice. Rimase a Roma per sette anni e, riconosciuto finalmente innocente, tornò a Tours dove governò un egual numero di anni.
Edificò una modesta chiesa in onore di s. Martino nella quale depose il suo corpo, e cinque parrocchie nei villaggi di Clion, Brèches, Ruan, Rédoré, Chinon.
Morì nel 444 e fu sepolto nella chiesa di S. Martino. Il suo culto era fiorente a Tours già pochi anni dopo la morte. La festa si celebra il 13 novembre giorno anniversario della depositio. In tale data è ricordato nel Martirologio Geronimiano e nel Romano.
Autore: Gilbert Bataille
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