Saint Pelade of Embrun

Summary

Archbishop of Embrun in the 5th century, Pelade was trained by Saint Catalin and distinguished himself by his charity toward the poor and his struggle against Arianism. Gifted with prophetic and thaumaturgical powers, he built five basilicas before dying on January 6th. His relics, transported to Catalonia and then partially returned to Montgardin, are the object of great devotion.

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SAINT PELADE, ARCHBISHOP OF EMBRUN (5th century).

Life 01 / 06

Youth and exile in Vienne

Born in Embrun to a noble family, Pelade was trained by Archbishop Catalin, whom he followed into exile in Vienne to flee Arian persecutions.

Pelade, Archbishop of Embru n, was born in Embrun to noble and Catholic parents, at a time when the Arian heresy was wreaking great havoc in that city and throughout Burgundy. While st ill a child, he was trained in virtue by Cata lin, archbishop of that city: from an early age, his thoughts and affections turned toward virtue. Catalin, driven from his see by the heretics, having taken refuge in Vienne with the b lessed Avitu s, Pelade accomp anied him in his flight and sought to imitate him through his good works. Catalin died in his exile and was replaced by Gallican, the fir st of that name. After a very short pontificate, he rested in Christ through a premature and pious death, and then the unanimous voice of the clergy and the people called Pelade to come and serve as a pillar for the church of Embrun, which was threatening to collapse. He used his wealth to relieve the indigence of the poor and the abandonment of widows and orphans. Assiduous in prayer, applied incessantly to the reading of sacred texts, diligent in visiting his diocese, subduing his body through maceration, holding the praises of men in horror, he led a truly heavenly life.

Life 02 / 06

Episcopate and virtues

After the death of Catalin and Gallican, Pelade was elected Archbishop of Embrun by acclamation, distinguishing himself by his charity and asceticism.

From the angels, his constant companions, he received knowledge of things to come and hidden things: he pre dicted to Sigismund, King o f Burgundy, his death and the ruin of his kingdom. With a sign of the cross, he often thwarted the rage of demons and their vain terrors; once, among other times, he warded off in this way the enormous mass of a rock that was falling upon him. The only son of a widow was afflicted with paralysis: he restored his health through holy anointing. In the space of five years that he was bishop, he built five basilicas. Finally, illustrious for his virtues and miracles, and having announced the day of his death, he departed to the Lord on January 6. His relics, long preserved in Embrun, then taken away by a monk of the family of Sain t Benedic t to Catalonia, were depos ited in the monastery of Saint-Pierre-d e-Champrodon, of the same Order.

Miracle 03 / 06

Miracles and end of life

Endowed with prophetic and thaumaturgical gifts, he predicted the fall of King Sigismund and built five basilicas before dying on a January 6th.

This deposit had been there for a long time, enclosed in a silver reliquary adorned with gold carvings representing the principal miracles of the Saint, when, at the end of the 15th century, Catalonia having been conquered by French arms, the monastery was delivered to the victors to be pillaged, and the reliquary of Saint Pelade was taken. But God, who is admirable in His Saints, had willed that in the French army there should be Je an Richier, bailiff of Montgardin, a religious man, who redeemed the reliquary at his own expense and returned it to the monastery, asking as the price of such a great good deed only a portion of the holy relics. A considerable fragment of the forearm bone was indeed ceded at his request, with the authentic attestation of what had occurred. Deposited, from that time on, at Montgardin, this precious memento was examin ed in 1764 by Bernardin François, Archb ishop of Embrun, and provided all the marks of an incontestable authenticity. The successor of the pious Richier donated half of his treasure to the church of Embrun, where this sacred pledge is still honored today.

Cult 04 / 06

Translation of relics to Catalonia

His remains were transferred by a Benedictine monk to the monastery of Saint-Pierre-de-Champrodon in Catalonia, where they remained for several centuries.

In Spain, Saint Pelade was invoked for eye ailments and headaches.

Cult 05 / 06

The rescue of Jean Richier

During the conquest of Catalonia in the 15th century, Jean Richier purchased the saint's reliquary and obtained a relic for the church of Montgardin.

Prappe of Gap .

Cult 06 / 06

Authentication and devotions

The relics were authenticated in 1764 by Archbishop Bernardin François; the saint is invoked in Spain for headaches and eye ailments.

This deposit had been there for a long time, enclosed in a silver reliquary adorned with gold carvings representing the principal miracles of the Saint, when, at the end of the 15th century, Catalonia having been conquered by French arms, the monastery was given over to the victors to be pillaged, and the reliquary of Saint Pélade was taken. But God, who is admirable in His Saints, had willed that in the French army there should be Jean Richier, bailiff of Montgardin, a religious man, who redeemed the reliquary at his own expense and returned it to the monastery, asking as the price for such a great benefaction only a portion of the holy relics. A considerable fragment of the forearm bone was indeed ceded at his request, with the authentic attestation of what had occurred. Deposited, from that time on, at Montgardin, this precious memento was examined in 1764 by Bernardin François, Archbishop of Embrun, and provided all the marks of incontestable authenticity. The successor of the pious Richier donated half of his treasure to the church of Embrun, where this sacred pledge is still honored today.

In Spain, Saint Pélade was invoked for eye ailments and headaches.

Prappe of Gap.