Walerich

ON ST. VALERIC, OR WALERIC, HERMIT IN GAUL.

Sixth Century

Valeric or Waleric, Belgian, hermit in Gaul (S.)

[1] Philippus Ferrarius records on this day Valeric, or Waleric, a hermit (different from Waleric the monk of Luxeuil, of whom we shall treat on April 1), with these words: "At Limoges, St. Valeric, Abbot." In his Notes he says that from a wealthy citizen, after leaving everything and going to the tomb of St. Martial, The feast of St. Waleric he became the father of many monks. The Gallo-Belgian Martyrology states: "On the same day there departed in the territory of Limoges, St. Waleric the hermit, born of noble family in Belgium, but far nobler in the excellence of his virtues."

[2] From the Readings of the Church of Limoges, John Molanus writes the following in the Feast Days of the Saints of Belgium: Homeland "In the territory of Limoges, of St. Waleric, hermit and Confessor. Beloved of God and men, he was born in the province of Gaul called Lower Germany, of the blood of illustrious men, to Christian parents. Afterwards, with Christ as his guide, having entered Aquitaine His withdrawal and seeking a secluded place, he received from the clergy of the Church of St. Martial at Limoges, who treated him with the highest reverence, a place of solitude. There they built for him a cell and a church in honor of the Martyr Julian. Many flocked to him on account of his discipline. He was also becoming renowned, by God's providence, through the display of miracles. Adorned in the meantime with all virtues, His death weighed down by old age but growing young in holiness, having received the viaticum of the Lord's Body, he joyfully gave back his soul to God amid the words of prayer, on the fifth day after Epiphany." We shall treat of St. Martial, the Apostle of Limoges, mentioned here, on June 30.

[3] The age in which St. Waleric flourished is shown by Andreas Saussay in this somewhat longer encomium from the Gallican Martyrology: His age "In the territory of Limoges, St. Waleric, Confessor and hermit, who in Lower Belgium, under King Clovis the Great, born of noble parents, since he was wonderfully formed by the innate excellence of his nature for every habit of virtue, was devoted to religion from his earliest years and applied himself to the sacred eloquence of the divine Scriptures. Kindled by the desires of heavenly life through his study of these, he demonstrated the cultivation of all the virtues, and especially of humility, in his actions. So much so that when he was also divinely adorned with the grace of miracles, Miracles by whose shining radiance the fame of his holiness was spreading everywhere, he conceived of a retreat remote from his native land, where he might live known to God alone, His pilgrimage in order to avoid the breezes of human praise. Setting out therefore for Aquitaine, having heard of the fame of the miracles that shone ever more brightly at the tomb of St. Martial, he came to Limoges, earnestly beseeching through vigils and prayers the aid of that most blessed intercessor with God, so that a plan of happy success might shine upon him as he contemplated the solitary life. His solitary life Illuminated therefore by the divine light, he withdrew to a mountain, rough with rocks and shaded with foliage, near that town (which afterwards received its name from the memory of the holy stranger), designated for him by the clergy of the Church of Blessed Martial; and there he built a cell, in which, having begun a heavenly warfare, he set about rendering the service of pure devotion to God, constant in vigils, fasts, and prayers. He never moved his foot from his station except on the more solemn feasts, when he would visit the nearby church of the Blessed Martyr Julian or sometimes the tomb of St. Martial with great religious devotion.

[4] But the magnificence of divine power, which surrounded him, unwillingly disclosed the man who desired to hide. For from the deeds of his wondrous manner of life, when the splendor from his solitude had shone upon the neighboring inhabitants, Very many miracles crowds of the sick began to flock to him, earnestly imploring his help; and he would restore them with prayers poured out and the sign of the cross impressed upon them. He freed the possessed from the torment of demons, restoring a calm mind to the lunatic, sight to the blind, and the ability to walk to the lame. When the holy man had long been famous for signs as well as virtues, His burial worn out by old age, having received the sacred mysteries with incredible piety of devotion, he laid down the burden of his earthly prison and departed to the eternal tabernacles. Buried in the church of the Blessed Martyr Julian, His veneration whom he had honored above other saints in heaven, he displayed more glorious tokens of his merits in death than in life, which consecrated his name and relics to eternal veneration among posterity." We have not found more about him.