Saint Moderan

It was under the reign o f Chilper ic that he became Bishop of Rennes. After some time in the episcopate, he obtained permission from this prince to make a pilgrim age to Rome. Moderan directed his route so as to pass through the c ity o f Reims, and having lodged at the monastery of Saint-Remi, he obtained from Bernard, treasurer of the church, a portion of the stole, the hairshirt, and the mantle of the holy pontiff.

Charmed to have acquired these riches, he continued his journey with joy toward Italy. One night, while he was at Mount Bard on, which is part of the Apennines, he hung these relics on a holm oak. He rose the next morning and continued his journey without remembering the precious pledge he had left at the tree. Having only noticed his loss quite far from there, he immediately sent a cleric named Wulfade to retrieve these relics; but the latter could not manage to execute what he had been ordered to do. It was impossible for him to reach them, and the closer he approached, the more they seemed to rise. The bishop, having learned of this miracle, returned to the same place and pitched his tent there; but though he prayed for part of the night, he could obtain nothing. His treasure was only returned to him when, while sa ying Mass the next da y at the monastery of Berzetto—today a small town in the Parmesan region, which was nea r there and dedicated to Saint Abundius, martyr—he had promised to leave a portion of the relics in that monastery. Immediately they were returned to him; he fulfilled his vow and continued his journey.

Luitprand, who had reigned in Italy since the year 712, having been informed of this miracle, came to meet the bishop, and, for the love of Saint Remi, gave him the monastery of Berzetto with all the dependencies of the abbey. Moderan, after having satisfied his devotion in the capital of the Christian world, passed through Reims on his return from Rome, and visited the tomb of Saint Remi. He made to this blessed apostle of the French the same donation as that which he had received from Luitprand. Having then returned to Rennes, he had a successor ordained in his place, sold all his goods and distributed the price to the poor; then, having taken leave of his people, he returned to the monastery of Berzetto (720). His zeal made him the apostle of all the peoples in the vicinity of the abbey, to whom he announced the truths of the faith. It is asserted that God authorized his preachings through several miracles. After having spent ten years in the monastery he had chosen as the place of his retreat, he ended his days there holily in the exercises of religious life in October 730. This abbey still possessed the body of Saint Mod eran at the end of th e last century. There was in the city of Rennes, near the seas of the ancient city, a priory that bore the name of Saint-Moran. The church of Rennes celebrates the memory of this holy bishop on October 22, with an office of the minor double rite.

Excerpt from Les Saints de Bretagne, by Irma Lubi ncan.