Saint Prosper of Aquitaine

His life

+ Prosper was born in Aquitaine (in modern-day France) and was an enthusiastic student.

+ Known for his love of the writings of Saint Augustine, as well as for his personal holiness, he moved from Aquitaine to Marseilles, to work against the heresies that were undermining the work of the Church there. He was a staunch defender of orthodoxy in a time great theological debate.

+ A layman throughout this life, he wanted to engage people’s understanding to help them grow in their knowledge of the Faith. He went so far as to organize pilgrimages to Rome so that pilgrims could hear directly from the pope.

+ After serving as secretary to Pope Saint Leo the Great, Prosper died in Rome.

+ Saint Prosper’s numerous writings influenced many authors throughout the Middles Ages, most especially Peter Lombard.

For reflection

“The Church's faith precedes the faith of the believer who is invited to adhere to it. When the Church celebrates the sacraments, she confesses the faith received from the apostles – whence the ancient saying: lex orandi, lex credendi, or legem credendi lex statuat supplicandi (the law of praying establishes the law of believing) according to Prosper of Aquitaine. The law of prayer is the law of faith: the Church believes as she prays. Liturgy is a constitutive element of the holy and living Tradition.”—Catechism of the Catholic Church

Prayer

O God, who in your Saints have given an example and brought us protection in our weakness to help us tread the path of salvation, mercifully grant that we, who honor the heavenly birthday of blessed Prosper, may, through his example, make our way to you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal: Common of Holy Men and Women—For One Saint)

Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.