Saint Brice of Tours (370-4440 Feast Day 13th November

Saint Brice or Brictius (Latin) of Tours was a favourite of Saint Martin of Tours.

According to legend Saint Brice was an orphan who was rescued by Saint Martin and raised in the monastery in Marmoutier. He became a monk and later archdeacon to Saint Martin.

Apparently he was disliked by the other monks because of his rudeness and worldly ways. Saint Martin when asked to send the trouble maker away replied
’ If Jesus could come to terms with Judas, then I can certainly come to terms with Brice.’

When Saint Martin died in 397 he became bishop; he became a new man and ruled the monastery well.

In the thirteen year of his episcopate a nun, a washer woman, had a child. The rumour was that Saint Brice was the father. He submitted to ritual of carrying hot coals in his cloak, showing the unburned cloak as proof of his innocence. They still did not believe him. It was only after he had travelled to Rome and been absolved by the Pope did he return.

Having spent 7 years in voluntary exile Saint Brice return to find that those who had replaced him had died. He then served with such humility that on his death, 7 years later, he was venerated as a saint. He was buried beside Saint Martin.

In some pictures he is shown either with glowing coals in his robe or holding a baby in his arms as a result of the rumour.

Sources used
wikipedia

• The Church’s Year* by Charles Alexander