St Britius of Tours - Feast Day - November 13

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St Britius of Tours

This information supplements the paragraphs in our Church Guide

Extract from St Gregory's Journal, November 2000 (Vol. V Issue 10):

St. Britius of Tours ~ Feast Day - November 13
In reading Holy Scripture and the lives of the saints, we are reminded of how often God takes sinful, fallen men whose lives have been anything but exemplary and, through his merciful kindness, brings them to repentance and change of heart so that others may revere them and look to them for help toward sanctification. The thief on the cross, through his penitent cry to our Lord Jesus Christ, “Remember me in your kingdom” was forgiven by God, admitted to Paradise, and is known to us as St. Dismas. The militant enemy of the Church, Saul of Tarsus, was so converted by a vision of the risen Christ that he became St. Paul, the great missionary and teacher. For some, such as St. Britius of Tours, this transformation of life came gradually through many years, and sometimes through suffering great penance.

As a young man, Britius was sent to the monks of the monastery at Marmoutier, near Tours, for his education, and there he stayed to become a monk also. But this young monk lacked humility and respect for others. The abbot of the monastery was St. Martin, who was also Bishop of Tours and who was loved and revered as a saintly man while still in this life. But arrogant Britius was critical of the saint, calling him “crazy” on some occasions and at other times accusing him of falling into superstition. After each of these instances of slander, Britius asked the saint’s forgiveness, but his tongue was not long bridled.

Despite this sinful behaviour, Britius progressed well in other ways. His studies were completed successfully and he was ordained a deacon by Bishop Martin. He was respected by his fellow monks and by the people of the surrounding area as a capable leader. So it was not surprising when the aged Bishop Martin predicted that Britius would succeed him as the shepherd of the people of Tours and as the abbot of the monks of Marmoutier. This happened upon the repose of St. Martin in the year 397.

Bishop Britius’ penance had just begun. Although he was a good and loving leader of his people, his sharp tongue and irascible demeanour was hurtful to some people and they struck back at the bishop with false accusations. Just as he had inflicted this pain upon St. Martin, Britius now had to endure the verbal attacks of others. Remembering the admonition in St. James’ Epistle, “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless” [James 1:26], Britius began to soften his manner and to be more gentle in his dealings with others.

But his worst penance was yet to come. One of the ways in which Britius was completely above reproach was in purity of body. He had taken the vow of chastity as a young monk and had never violated that vow. But when he had been bishop for 33 years, a woman who did laundry for the monastery accused him of fornication, and the people rose up against him.

In an attempt to clear his name, Britius appealed to the Patriarch in Rome and as he was travelling there, the people of Tours elected a new bishop. Although the pope eventually exonerated the him, Britius had been deposed from his bishopric and remained in exile, lamenting his earlier sins. Finally, after seven years, he returned to Tours and his episcopacy on the death of the bishop who had replaced him.

God granted Britius seven more years in this life and, with great energy and zeal, the bishop served him faithfully and humbly. The much chastened and repentant saint fell asleep in the Lord in the year 444.

Through all the centuries since then, St. Britius has been remembered - not for his capable leadership, sound teaching, or missionary endeavours - but for his repentance. May St. Britius pray for us that we may also be repentant and amend our lives to conform to God’s will.

[Sources: Oxford Dictionary of Saints, David Farmer; Vita Patrum: The Life of the Fathers, by St. Gregory of Tours, tr. Fr. Seraphim Rose.]


Extract from Catholic Online Saints:

St. Brice was raised by St. Martin of Tours at Marmoutier and also known as Britius. He became a vain, overly ambitious cleric, holding Martin in great contempt. Despite Brice's attitude, Martin was most patient with him, and in time, in great remorse, he asked Martin's forgiveness for his attitude toward him. He succeeded Martin as Bishop of Tours in 397 but reverted to his old ways, neglected his duties, was several times accused of lackness and immorality. Though cleared of the latter charge, he was exiled from his See. He went to Rome and in the seven years of his exile there, repented and completely changed his life style. When the administrator of his See, in his absence died, he returned and ruled with such humility, holiness, and ability, he was venerated as a saint by the time of his death. His feast day is November 13th.


An article in "Limited Edition" discussing patron saints and the churches of Oxfordshire describes St Britius as follows:

Brice or Britius, of Brize Norton, was a fourth-century bishop of Tours.  He became so disliked because of his pride and ambition that false accusations were made against him, and to prove his innocence, Brice carried red-hot coals to the tomb of a former bishop, St Martin. This is the only English dedication to St Brice.


There is a reference to St Britius, Bishop of Spoleto, in the second century in an item on the Dioceses of Valva and Sulmona in Italy. 


Extract from an item of Festivals with a reference to the Danes in England.

Britius, Bishop ("St. Brice"), pupil of St. Martin of Tours, and bishop as his successor (A.D. 397-414). He was in early life a gross sinner, converted by St. Martin; afterwards a victim of slander, and driven for seven years from his see, but restored from 407 till his death. On St. Brice's day (A.D. 1002) was perpetuated the treacherous massacre of the Danes in England, by command of Ethelred, so signally avenged by Swayn and Canute. -- November 13th


Item about St Britius as depicted in art:

In art Saint Brice carries hot coals in his vestments. Sometimes he is pictured as (1) carrying fire in his hand; (2) with a child in his arms or near him; or (3) with Saint Martin of Tours (because he was a disciple of Saint Martin) (Roeder).

The only church dedicated to Saint Brice in the UK is Saint Britius in Brize Norton, Oxfordshire

The item is accompanied by a picture of the church.


Extract from an item witten by someone with Brice as his family name:

Origin of the name Brice:

Brice
(brïce), n. Celtic surname originating in Morayshire and Normandy during the 11th century. From the latin Britius. Made popular by St. Brice, successor to Martin of Tours.

Quotation:

"An orphan rescued by Saint Martin of Tours, and raised by Martin's clerics.
Became so wild, wicked, proud, ungrateful, and disorderly that some thought
him possessed! He became a priest, but was a vain, ambitious one with contempt
for Martin. Many advised Martin to kick him out, but Saint Martin said that if
Jesus could deal with Judas, he could deal with Brice. On Martin's death in 397,
Brice was designated to succeed him as bishop. However, the people of the
diocese revolted, substituted a priest named Justinian, and Brice left town to
avoid a stoning. Justinan held the see for over 30 years, during which Brice came
to his senses, and began to lead a pious and admirable life. Formal ecclesiastical
investigations cleared him of wrong doing, and he had the support of Pope Zosimus.
When Justinian died c.430, Brice returned to Tours to claim his seat. The locals,
however, remembered him and his past, and ran him out of town again, taking
a priest names Armentius as bishop. When Armentius died in 437, Brice returned
to Tours again to claim his proper place, and this time, preceded by the news of
having led a better life during his 40 years of exile, he stayed and governed his
diocese until his death. Died 444.  ....."


Item in The Patron Saints Index

BRICE

Also known as
Britius 
Memorial
13 November
Profile
An orphan rescued by Saint Martin of Tours, and raised by Martin's clerics. Became so wild, wicked, proud, ungrateful, and disorderly that some thought him possessed by a demon! He became a priest, but was a vain, ambitious one with contempt for Martin. Many advised Martin to kick him out, but Saint Martin said that if Jesus could deal with Judas, he could deal with Brice.

On Martin's death in 397, Brice was designated to succeed him as bishop. However, the people of the diocese revolted, substituted a priest named Justinian, and Brice left town to avoid a stoning.

Justinan held the see for over 30 years, during which Brice came to his senses, and began to lead a pious and admirable life. Formal ecclesiastical investigations cleared him of wrong doing, and he had the support of Pope Zosimus. When Justinian died c.430, Brice returned to Tours to claim his seat. The locals, however, remembered him and his past, and ran him out of town again, taking a priest names Armentius as bishop.

When Armentius died in 437, Brice returned to Tours again to claim his proper place, and this time, preceded by the news of having led a better life during his 40 years of exile, he stayed and governed his diocese until his death. 
Died
444 at Tours of natural causes 
Canonized
Pre-Congregation 
Patronage
stomach diseases 

 


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© Phil Holmes  Updated on Tuesday, 10 March 2003