Clair du Dauphiné
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Saint-Clair-du-Rhône
Vienna, France
Clair du Dauphiné | |
|---|---|
.JPG) The statue of Saint Clair on the pediment of the church of Caluire. | |
| Abbot | |
| Born | Around 590. Saint-Clair-du-Rhône |
| Died | 1 January 660 Vienna, France |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church |
| Feast | 1 January |
Saint Clair of Dauphiné, also known as St. Clair of Vienne, was a Catholic abbot who "bequeathed to monasticism an example of religious excellence".[1] He was born about 590 in Saint-Clair-du-Rhône and died in 660 in Vienne, France. His liturgical memorial is celebrated on January 1 in the Roman Martyrology.
St. Clair was born around 590 in the village of Beauchamp[1] (later renamed Saint-Clair-du-Rhône in his memory).[2] He was raised first by his widowed mother and then by the monks of Saint-Ferréol when his mother decided to retire to the cloistered convent of Sainte-Blandine.
St. Clair decided to enter the monastery of Saint-Ferréol-Trente-Pas, one of the most important monasteries of the time (it had four hundred monks at that time), to dedicate himself to God.
He was considered outstanding, so much so that Bishop Caldéolde decided to appoint him abbot of the Saint-Marcel monastery (which had thirty monks at the time) and chaplain of the Saint-Blandine monastery (where his mother had retired).
According to Christian tradition, he was noted for his prophetic gifts and miraculous healing abilities.
He died around 660 and was buried in the church of Sainte-Blandine, next to the martyrs of Lyon.
Most of his relics were destroyed during the French Wars of Religion (1562–1598).