Desprat Saint-Verny
Saint Verny, also known as Saint Vernier or Saint Werner, was a 13th-century character unfortunate enough to be the victim of murder, his body found near the town of Bacharach, on the Rhine. The accused were apparently Jewish assassins, although looking back at the crime eight hundred years later there seems to be no real evidence for this, and indeed it was widely doubted at the time. Nevertheless some clearly bought into the idea, and it sparked a wave of killing across Europe.
After Werner’s body was buried, on April 30th 1287, there were several alleged miracles reported in the vicinity. Locals began to venerate Werner as a martyr, and a local chapel was expanded and renamed in his memory. He was subsequently canonised by Pope Benoît XIV in 1429, and thereafter the cult of Saint Verny spread westwards to France. It first appeared in Franche-Comté during the 17th century, before then creeping into central France. In these very agricultural regions Saint Verny, along with the more widely appreciated Saint Vincent, was soon adopted as a patron saint by vignerons.
Please log in to continue reading: