Saint Dalmas of Rodez

On the episcopal see of Rodez, Dalmas displayed the qualities and fulfilled all the grave and holy obligations of a good and true pastor. He was a man of prayer; he fasted habitually; he took only a short rest during the night. His charity, in coming to the aid of the poor and the unfortunate, was so lively and so generous that he was not content to relieve them with a simple pecuniary alms: he provided them with help that was often even more precious, sometimes good counsel, sometimes the moral support of his influence, sometimes very active personal efforts to do them good. The prudence of his conduct, the wisdom of his administration, the regularity of his entire life, filled Gaul with admiration; and, from all sides, such a holy bishop was praised and blessed. Amalaric himself, that king of the Visi goths, s o ardent in persecuting Catholic bishops and priests, felt animated with esteem and benevolence for him, despite his extreme attachment to Arianism, to the point of welcoming him with favor and listening, without showing himself offended, to the just complaints that Saint Dalmas believed it his episcopal duty to present to him on behalf of God.

At that time, Amalaric reigned in Narbonne, and he was the witness of a striking miracle that Saint Dalmas performed during one of those visits that the interests of his flock had led him to make. Touched by the profound misery in which the unfortunate prisoners whom Amalaric had taken in his warlike expeditions were plunged at the bottom of their dungeons, Saint Dalmas did not fear to reproach the Arian king f or his ha rshness, and he even begged him to restore their freedom. His request was not heeded at all. Then Saint Dalmas began to pray before God; and, an admirable thing: behold, immediately the bonds that held the prisoners broke..., the doors of the prisons opened, and all these poor unfortunates were able to escape.

Saint Dalmas was favored with a marvelous power over demons. It sufficed for him to address his prayer to God so that, from afar as well as near, the possessed would immediately feel the happy effect and be healed. Returning from Orléans, where he had gone to attend the fourth cou ncil held in that city, having stopped at Brioude, in Auve rgne, h e recalled to life, through his prayers, an unfortunate man who had been attached to the gallows for several hours.

King Theodebert s ought to celebrate the virtues of Saint Dalmas, and the report of his miracles reached his court. We immediately see the King of the Franks showering the holy bishop of Rodez with testimonies of the most sincere esteem and a particular friendship. The wars and troubles that marked these difficult times had stripped the church of Rodez of its goods. King Theodebert restored them to it, in consideration of its holy bishop.

After having holily governed the church of Rodez for sixty-five years, and having reached, with a vigorous old age, a very advanced age, Saint Dalmas ended his long career and an episcopate that recalled the great wonders of that of Saint Amans, with a holy death, on November 13, 581. His body was honorably buried in the church dedicated to Saint Amans, in the city of Rodez.

T oday, his vene rable head is exposed on the high altar with those of Saint Amans and Saint Naamas.

We owe this notice to th e kindness of Father Bousquet, canon of Rodez.