Today, the Church remembers Saint Remigius (Remy or Remi), Bishop of Reims and called the Apostle of the Franks, (c. 437 – January 13, AD 533). On 25 December 496 he baptised Clovis I, King of the Franks. This baptism, leading to the conversion of the entire Frankish people to Christianity, was a momentous success for the Church and a seminal event in European history.
Ora pro nobis.
Remigius was born, traditionally, at Cerny-en-Laonnois, near Laon, Picardy, into the highest levels of Gallo-Roman society. He is said to have been son of Emilius, count of Laon (who is not otherwise attested) and of Celina, daughter of the Bishop of Soissons, which Clovis had conquered in 486. He studied at Reims and soon became was noted for his learning and sanctity, as well as his and his high status. He left France to go to the Holy Lands for a period of years to seek out the Desert Fathers, and to learn from them. While in monastic seclusion, news was sent to him that he was elected Archbishop of Reims in his 22nd year, though still a layman. At first he refused, but he had to consent, as heaven itself had confirmed the choice by a ray of light with which his head was surrounded in the presence of a multitude of people. It is well known that by God’s grace, through his prayers God gave sight to a blind man; cast the devil out of one possessed, extinguished a raging conflagration with the sign of the holy cross, and, after a short prayer, recalled a dead maiden to life.
He was able to develop friendly relations with Clovis, King of the Franks, on account of his high status and because of Clothilde, the Queen, who was a Christian. Even before he embraced Christianity, Clovis had showered benefits upon Remigius and the Christians of Reims.
On the eve of a fateful battle, Clothilde and Clovis struck an agreement, that if Clovis would pray to the Christian God and the battle was won, Clovis would be baptized and become a Christian. As a battle was to be fought, on the issue of which the welfare of the whole kingdom depended, she exhorted him to call on the God of the Christians for aid. Clovis won the decisive battle, but not without a miracle. Victory seemed for a long time to be on the side of the enemy, and Clovis thought that all was lost, when he suddenly remembered the admonition of his queen and exclaimed: “God of Clothildis! if thou art the true God, save me, and I will become a Christian and serve Thee faithfully.” No sooner had he pronounced these words, than the tide of battle turned in his favor, and the enemy was completely routed, most likely the Alamanni in the battle of Tolbiac (496 AD).
The king, not to delay the fulfilment of his promise, called St. Remigius immediately to be instructed in the Christian faith and be prepared for baptism. Clovis requested Remigius to baptize him at Reims Cathedral on Christmas 496 AD in the presence of a large company of Franks and Alamanni; according to Saint Gregory of Tours, 3,000 Frankish nobles and their families were baptized with Clovis. Before St. Remigius baptized the king, he addressed to him these memorable words: “Bow down thy head, O king, and submit to the mild yoke of Christ. Worship what thou hast hitherto burned; and burn what thou hast hitherto worshipped!”
King Clovis granted Remigius stretches of territory, in which Remigius established and endowed many churches. He established bishoprics at Tournai; Cambrai; Thérouanne, where he personally ordained the first bishop in 499; Arras, where he installed St. Vedast; and Laon, which he gave to his niece's husband Gunband. In 530 he consecrated Medardus, Bishop of Noyon. Remigius' brother Principius was Bishop of Soissons and also corresponded with Sidonius Apollinaris, whose letters give a sense of the highly cultivated courtly literary Gallo-Roman style all three men shared.
The chroniclers of "Gallia Christiana" record that numerous donations were made to Remigius by the Frankish nobles, which were presented to the cathedral at Reims.
Though Remigius never attended any of the church councils, in 517 he held a synod at Reims, at which after a heated discussion he converted a bishop of Arian views. Although St Remigius's influence over people and prelates was extraordinary, upon one occasion his condoning of the offences of one Claudius, a priest whom Remigius had consecrated, brought upon him the rebukes of his episcopal brethren, who deemed Claudius deserving of losing his status as a priest. The reply of Remigius, still extant, is able and convincing.Few authentic works of Remigius remain: his "Declamations" were elaborately admired by Sidonius Apollinaris, in a finely turned letter to Remigius, but are now lost. Four letters survive: one containing his defence in the matter of Claudius, two written to Clovis, and a fourth to Bishop Falco of Tongeren.
Remigius died in the 96th year of his age in 533 AD, of which 75 years had been spent in his episcopal functions.
St Remigius' relics were kept in the Cathedral of Reims, whence Hincmar had them translated to Épernay during the Viking invasions and thence, in 1099 to the Abbey of Saint-Rémy. His feast is celebrated on October 1.
O God, by the teaching of your faithful servant and bishop Remigius you turned the nation of the Franks from vain idolatry to the worship of you, the true and living God, in the fullness of the catholic faith: Grant that we who glory in the name of Christian may show forth our faith in worthy deeds; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
