Saint John of Valence

Some time later, John was placed at the head of the colony that Cîteaux sent to B onnevaux, near Vienne, in the Dauphiné (1117). It was he who had the joy of receiving into the arms of religion Saint Peter of Tarentaise, Sain t Amadeus of Hauterives, an d, with the latter, seventeen other gentlemen; and of founding the abbeys of Tamié, in the diocese of Tarentaise, of Léoncel, in the diocese of Valence, and of Mansiade, in the diocese of Viviers.

Now, at that time, the episcopal see of Valence was occupied by a prelate named Eustace, whose ostentation, foolish expenditures, and harshness toward the poor were not those of a bishop. In vain did Saint Bernard, who watched over everything in the Church of God, write him a severe letter; in vain did the Pope strike him with an interdict: six more years passed during which the prevaricating prelate maintained himself by force in Valence. In the end, the people revolted, seized the person of Eustace, and drove him forever from the city on the day after Easter (1141). Three days l ater , John, whom the bishops of the province of Vienne judged alone capable of healing so many evils, was torn from the arms of his religious brothers and carried in triumph to the episcopal see of Valence.

We shall not follow the good shepherd going through towns and hamlets, seeking the lost sheep, consoling the needy, rendering justice to each. It was desired to see the money in his alms purse multiply as he distributed it to the poor, and the stones of Livron were used by the pa rtisans of Eustace to stone him: but the Saint did not even seem to notice this affront: he continued on his way saying: "Lord, do not hold this sin against them."

— "The house where I speak to you," he said to his judicial officers who complained of his excessive indulgence, "has seen enough rigors and violence: it is time that we consider, you and I, that we are men, capable, consequently, of committing crimes as great as those we would wish to punish in others with such severity." It must not be forgotten that, in the Middle Ages, most bishops were temporal lords.

The historian of his life — an anonymous religious of Bonnevaux — summarized in three words the goal of the efforts of the holy bishop of Valence: the glory of God, the salvation of his soul, the care of his flock.

John rendered his soul to his Creator on a Thursday, April 26, in the year 1145. The tomb, where he was buried in the cathedral church, soon attracted an immense gathering of pilgrims. This tomb and the holy relics it contained were profaned in 1562 by the Protes tants. No t race of them remains today.

Cf. Propre de Valence, 1853, and Histoire hagiologique de ce diocèse, by M. Nadal.