Amator, St

Amator, St.

was born of a noble family in Auxerre, in the time of the emperor Constantius. His parents affianced him, without his consent, to Martha, a rich young lady; but when he and his bride went to church to receive the nuptial benediction from the bishop, St. Valerian, he, by mistake, or, as some think, by a special interposition of Providence, pronounced over them the office of consecration to the service of God, instead of the marriage prayer. Upon this they both embraced the monastic state, and Amator succeeded St. Helladius in the bishopric of Auxerre, about A.D. 388. In spite of his holy and self-denying life, he was persecuted by slanders and calumny; but his innocence was fully proved, and he died in 418, having appointed St. Germanus his successor, although he had at one time had some difference with him. He is said to have been distinguished by the gift of miracles, both before and after his death. The ancient breviaries of Auxerre commemorate him on May 1, and the Latin martyrologies on Nov. 26.