At the end of an afternoon in the office, I cycled over to St German's to celebrate their feast of title with a Solemn Mass, followed by a social evening for neighbouring church members from St Saviour's Splott. Evening sun added its numinous touch the occasion. It was a great pleasure to perform, and it pushed me to research St Germanus of Auxerre. He came to Britain in the early fifth century on a mission to dispute with Pelagian heretics. I daresay he was something of an influence and inspiration to our local Celtic saints of the generation after him - David, Patrick, Illtud, Teilo, Dyrfig, Samson etc.
Two festivals honour his name. This one, relating to his death while visiting Ravenna on a peace mission from Gaul in 448, and then one in September celebrating the home-coming of his remains to Auxerre, where they remained undisturbed in the Benedictine Abbey there until his tomb was desecrated during the Huguenot revolt of 1567. What a violent traumatic upheaval the reformation must have been for many ordinary people across Europe! I wonder if our changing times will one day be perceived similarly.
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