Rusticus of Narbonne

Saint Rusticus of Narbonne was born in Gaul, either at Marseille or at Narbonne, late in the fourth or early in the fifth century. He was the son of a bishop named Bonosus and, through his mother, the nephew of another bishop named Arator, who cared for his education. After completing his studies in Gaul he went to Rome, where he quickly won renown as a public speaker. Yet he longed for the contemplative life. He wrote to Saint Jerome, who about the year 411 answered him at length, urging him to continue his studies, to imitate the virtues of Exuperius of Toulouse, and to follow the counsel of Proculus, then bishop of Marseille. Heeding this advice, Rusticus entered the Abbey of Lérins, where he formed a lasting friendship with Venerius, later bishop of Marseille.

Ordained priest at Marseille, he was consecrated bishop of Narbonne on 3 October 427 or 430. In 431 he was present at the First Council of Ephesus. With all his zeal he could not halt the advance of Arianism among the Visigoths who occupied much of his province; an Arian rival bishop even appeared in Narbonne. The siege of the city by Theodoric I's Visigoths in 436 and bitter divisions among the Catholics so discouraged him that he wrote to Pope Leo I offering to renounce the see. Leo refused the resignation (Epistle CLXVII) and later answered nineteen disciplinary questions Rusticus had put to him, gently reproving the desire to abandon the episcopal charge.

Strengthened by the pope, Rusticus set himself to consolidate the Catholic faithful. After the cathedral dedicated to Saint Genesius of Arles burned in 441, he rebuilt it with the help of Marcellus, prefect of the Gauls: the first stone was laid on 18 November 444 and the new church was dedicated on 29 November 445. He was one of the twelve bishops who in 449 elected Ravennius bishop of Arles. In 451 he joined forty-four bishops of Gaul in approving Leo's letter to Flavian against Nestorianism. Between 449 and 461 he sat with thirteen bishops at a Council of Arles that settled a dispute between Theodore of Fréjus and the Abbey of Lérins. A letter of Ravennius to Rusticus attests the high esteem in which he was held.

Near the end of his life he named his archdeacon Hermes bishop of Béziers; when Hermes could not take possession of that see, Rusticus wished to designate him as his own successor. Leo refused the plan, yet after Rusticus's death Hermes did succeed him; Pope Hilary later confirmed Hermes at Narbonne while limiting his metropolitan powers. Rusticus died on 26 October, most probably in 461. Of his own letters only the youthful appeal to Jerome and two later letters to Leo survive. The Church has long venerated him as a saint of Gaul, keeping his memory on the day of his death.

Imitate today his perseverance under trial, remaining faithful to the charge God has given you even when the heart grows weary.