Feast of St. Praetextatus (February 22)

Above:  Gaul in 561 C.E.

SAINT PRAETEXTATUS (DIED 586)

Roman Catholic Bishop of Rouen

St. Praetextatus , Bishop of Rouen from 549 to 586, became caught up in struggles among sons of Clotaire/Lothair I, King of Soissons from 511 to 558 and King of all Franks from 558 to 561.  Clotaire/Lothair I had four sons:

• Chilperic I, King of Soissons from 561 to 584
• Sigebert I, King of Austrasia from 561 to 575
• Charibert I, King of Paris from 561 to 567
• Guntram, King of Burgundy from 561 to 593.

Fredegunde, Chilperic I’s mistress then wife, caused the murder of Sigebert I and his sons, and probably of her husband as well, so that Clotaire/Lothair II, her son, the King of Neustria (from 584), could become King of all Franks, which he was from 613 to 629.  The bishop denounced her actions, so he had to go into exile.  The saint had, by his own admission, aided Chilperic I’s son, Meroveus, in an uprising.  Chilperic I died in 584, at which point Guntram, King of Burgundy, permitted St. Praetextatus to return.  Yet Fredegunde sent an assassin, who proved successful.

KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR

DECEMBER 8, 2011 COMMON ERA

THE FEAST OF MARTIN RINCKART, ARCHDEACON OF EILENBURG

THE FEAST OF RICHARD BAXTER, ANGLICAN THEOLOGIAN

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Gracious God,

in every age you have sent men and women

who have given their lives in witness to your love and truth.

Inspire us with the memory of Saint Praetextatus,

whose faithfulness led to the way of the cross,

and give us courage to bear full witness with our lives

to your Son’s victory over sin and death,

for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Ezekiel 20:40-42

Psalm 5

Revelation 6:9-11

Mark 8:34-38

–Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), page 59

Advertisement