1st December is the saint’s day of Eligius, a 7th-century
French goldsmith who became a bishop.
Eligius was the son of a goldsmith. He followed in his
father’s trade and was apprenticed to the mint at Limoges before going to
Paris, where he believed that his talents would be better appreciated. He came
to the notice of the king’s treasurer and was given the post of treasurer at
Marseilles, where, in time, he acquired considerable wealth.
However, what set him apart from other wealthy businessmen
was that he used his wealth to help the poor whenever he could. He also became
deeply religious.
He was offered land at Solignac (near Limoges) which he used
for the joint purpose of founding a monastery and setting up a factory to
produce Limoges enamels.
In 642 Eligius was made Bishop of Noyon and Tournai, a vast
area covering north-east France and Flanders, a post which he held until his
death on 1st December 660. He was very successful in making
converts, and he also used a number of ex-slaves, whom he bought and then
freed, as his assistants in his missionary work.
Not surprisingly, various legends grew up about this man who
was greatly venerated during his lifetime and after his death. One of these is
that he shod an unmanageable horse by cutting off its foreleg and then
reattaching it after the hoof was shod. For this reason he is recognised as a
patron saint of horses as well as goldsmiths and coin collectors.
© John Welford
© John Welford
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