Saint Firmin the Confessor

An assembly of bishops, which was held around the year 359, resolved to raise Firmin to the episcopal dignity. The new bishop of Amiens, persevering in perfection, maintained the same humility, the same charity, and the same constancy that had animated him before, and the elevation of rank only served to highlight his modesty more. Knowing how to punish and forgive, according to the circumstances; gentle towards all, even towards the proud whom his long-suffering eventually subdued; full of thoughtfulness for the poor and strangers; drawing from the fulfillment of his duties the strength to avoid the slightest faults, he offered in all things the accomplished model of the zealous and vigilant pastor. On certain days, he would receive twelve indigent people at his table, wash their hands, and serve them bread and wine himself.

It is claim ed t Rome Birthplace of Maximian. hat Firmin stayed in Rome for three years and that he subsequently traveled through many lands, teaching everywhere the manner in which one must honor the true God. It would be after these numerous apostolic labors that Firmin would have finally returned to his episcopal city, so long widowed of his presence.

Various miracles are attributed to the holy bishop. He is said to have cast demons out of the bodies of various possessed persons, healed several paralytics, and delivered the son of the patrician Calliste from fever.

The zeal of Saint Firmin was not confin ed to th Amiénois Episcopal see of Geoffrey. e limits of the Ami énois. Morinie Historical region corresponding to the former diocese of Thérouanne. He ev angelize Ponthieu Region where the saint settled. d the Mori Vimeu Region evangelized by Saint Berchon. nie, the Ponthieu, the Vimeu, the Caux Norman region evangelized by the saint. land of Talou, that of Caux, and the distant shores of the Ocean, where Christianity had not yet penetrated. He destroyed pagan temples, broke idols, struggled against the hostile dispositions of barbarian peoples, and patiently endured their ingratitude and outrages. His efforts finally succeeded in converting a portion of these crude populations who had initially shown themselves very indifferent to the future life.

The fame of Firmin soon spread throughout all of Gaul and even into neighboring lands. The glory of martyrdom was the only thing he lacked; but it was not for lack of having braved the death that, more than once, threatened his head. Feeling his end approaching, he gathered his disciples and addressed these touching words to them: "My beloved children, listen to the final advice that my tender affection can give you. Strive to fulfill the divine commandments; let your sighs rise unceasingly toward Jesus, and let his holy law remain deeply engraved in your spirit. If you truly love me, fear the terrible judgments of the Lord and meditate often on your last ends. In leaving you forever, I leave you as the very artisans of the salvation of your souls. O divine Redeemer of the world, you who have been my strength and my protection, I commit my spirit into your hands!"

The venerable Pontiff died on the first of September, Le vénérable Pontife Bishop of Amiens in the 4th century and confessor of the faith. at the age of sixty-seven; he was buried in the church of Notre-Dame which he ha d erected, and he église Notre-Dame Site of the saint's first burial. became the protector of the diocese he had governed so well.

## CULT AND RELICS. — MONUMENTS.

The cult of Saint Firmin probably dates back to the very time of his death. His name is found inscribed in the Carolingian litanies, in those of Amiens (12th century), and in the oldest catalogs of the bishops of that see.

Saint Salvius, B Saint Salve Possible predecessor of Berchon to the see of Amiens. ishop of Amiens, having built a church within the city which he dedicated to the apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul, transferred the body of Saint Firmin the Confessor there at the beginning of the 8th century. Another solemn translation of his relics took place on May 16, 1272, in the presence o f Philip the Bold Philippe le Hardi King of France present at the 1272 translation. , King of France, and Edward I, Édouard IV King of England present at the translation of 1272. King of England.

On January 10, 1097, while work was being done on the foundations of the high alta r in the church of Sai église de Saint-Acheul Site of the discovery of tombs that sparked a controversy. nt-Acheul, six stone tombs were discovered in a crypt, which soon became the subject of an ardent controversy. The religious of Saint-Acheul were convinced that they had discovered the body of Saint Firmin the Confessor in his supposed tomb, and consequently denied the authenticity of the relics kept at the cathedral. A multitude of pamphlets were published on this question, which captivated minds. To end these irritating debates, it was finally decided to open the reliquary of the cathedral. This ceremony took place on January 10, 1715, before a numerous assembly composed of the canons of the cathedral, those of Saint-Acheul, parish priests, superiors of monasteries, magistrates, and physicians. In the 13th-century reliquary, numerous bones were found with inscriptions and titles that could leave no doubt. Pierre de Sabatier published the minutes of this opening, sign Pierre de Sabatier Bishop of Amiens who authenticated the relics in 1715. ed by all the witnesses, following a mandate dated January 12. In it, he condemned the various works that had attacked the cathedral's possession and ordered that, in the future, the office of the Translation of the relics of Saint Firmin be celebrated on January 10 of each year throughout the diocese. This commemoration disappeared from the Amiens breviary with the introduction of the Roman liturgy.

In 1793, before the confiscation of the reliquary, the bones of Saint Firmin, twelve in number, were removed from it by Mr. François Derivery and entrusted to Mr. Lepeune, constitutional priest of the cathedral, who returned them in 1802. These relics were authenticated in 1816 and 1829. They are today gathered, along with many others, in the reliquary known as that of Saint Honoré.

In the garden of the Orphanage in Camon, the spot Camon Site of a tradition of the saint's preaching. is shown where, according to an ancient tradition, Saint Firmin the Confessor is said to have preached. An old juniper tree that stood in the garden of the Solitude de Greuset, at Le Pinceau (La Neuville), was considered to have been planted by our bishop. The layout of the railway necessitated the moving of this tree and led to its death.

The church of Saint-Firmin-le-Confesseur succeeded the basilica dedicated by Saint Salve to Saint Peter and Saint Paul, at the current location of the north transept of the Amiens Cathedral. It was destroyed around 1236 to execute the magnificent plans of Bishop Evrard, and it was rebuilt a little further away, on the grounds of the former Hôtel-Dieu. This church, both parochial and collegiate, upon which eight hundred houses depended, was enlarged in the 17th century and decommissioned around the year 1795. A street and a cul-de-sac have kept the name of the ancient parish.

Excerp t from the H abbé Corblet Author of the Hagiographie du diocèse d'Amiens. agiography of the Diocese of Amiens, by Abbé Corblet.