Remigio (+530)

Biography

He became famous for his wisdom, his admirable holiness and his many miracles. He lasted as bishop for 70 years and became famous throughout the Church. Queen Clotilde prayed a lot for her husband Clovis, who was a pagan and fierce warrior. The way he managed to convert him was by telling him that when he was in full battle with the powerful German army that had attacked them, he should invoke the God of the Christians to obtain victory. The king did so and won the battle. When he returned he said to his wife: “Clovis defeated the Germans and you defeated Clovis.” But she responded, “Those two victories are the work of one: Our Lord Jesus Christ.” Clotilde called Bishop Remigius, who had a reputation as a saint and wise man, and asked him to teach Clovis Christian doctrine. Clovis feared that his people would rebel because he wanted to take away the religion of their ancient gods, but the army and the crowd, upon learning that their king, so brave and esteemed, was going to become Christian, shouted in unison: "From today we separate ourselves from the mortal gods, and we declare ourselves followers of the immortal God of which Remigius speaks to us." After baptizing the king and his two sisters, Saint Remigius and several priests baptized more than three thousand soldiers with their women and children. The rest of his life was spent by Saint Remigio in instructing the people and helping those in need.