Saint of the Day: St. Cloud

Priest (d. 560)

His life

+ Clodoald (who is more commonly known as “Cloud”) was the son of a Frankish king.

+ Raised by his grandmother, Saint Clotilde, he narrowly escaped murder by an uncle who, having murdered Cloud’s two older brothers, sought to take the throne for himself.

+ After his escape, Cloud was ordained and eventually came to live as a hermit near Paris.

+ Known for his charity and hospitality, he died in 560 at the age of thirty-six.

+ Because of a pun on the French version of his name, Saint Cloud is honored as the patron of nail-makers. He is also celebrated as the patron saint of the Diocese of St. Cloud in Minnesota.

For prayer and reflection

“Do not glow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.”—Romans 12:11-12

Spiritual bonus

On September 7, we also remember Blessed Ludovicus Maki Soetsu. A Married Japanese layman and the father of Blessed Ioannes Maki Jizaemon, he allowed Blessed Thomas Tsuji to celebrate Mass in his home, for which he was arrested and killed. He was beatified in the same ceremony as Blessed Thomas and his son, Blessed Ioannes.

Prayer

O God, you raised up with the office of the priesthood
and the splendor of virtue Saint Cloud,
who for your sake was humbled in the world.
Grant that by his example we may be your worthy ministers,
and that through his intercession
we may always grow in grace and merit.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Proper Collect for the Feast of Saint Cloud for use in the Diocese of St. Cloud)

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