The Story of San Lupo http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0729.shtml
Lupus (Leu, Loup) of Troyes B (RM)
Born at Toul, France, c. 383; died at Troyes, c. 478. The noble, eloquent, and erudite Saint Lupus had all the qualities needed to succeed in his chosen profession of law. He practiced for some time and earned a good reputation as a barrister. Lupus married Pimeniola, a sister of Saint Hilary of A
rles. Six years later (426) husband and wife took a mutual vow of perpetual continence and Lupus became a monk at Lérins with his wife's blessing. He sold much of his estate and gave it to the poor. For about a year he lived under obedience to Saint Honoratus until he was named bishop of Troyes and Honoratus, bishop of Arles. It is said that when Honoratus was named bishop, Lupus returned to Maçon in Burgundy to dispose of an estate. En route back to Lérins, he was met by deputies of the Church of Troyes, bringing news of the death of Saint Ursus and his own selection to the see. In his humility, he initially refused but finally compromised by receiving consecration at the hands of the prelates of Sens and continuing the practices of a monk. Even as bishop he wore only sackcloth and a single tunic, lay upon boards, prayed throughout every other night, often fasted completely for three days and then ate only barley bread. Throughout his episcopate, he labored with apostolic zeal despite his austerities. Lupus displayed such prudence and piety that Saint Sidonius Apollinaris calls him, "The father of fathers and bishop of bishops, the chief of the Gallican prelates, the rule of manners, the pillar of truth, the friend of God, and the intercessor to him for men." He spared no pains to save one lost sheep, and his work was often crowned with a success which seemed miraculous. For example, when a man named Gallus forsook his wife and withdrew to Clermont, Lupus wrote to him through Bishop Sidonius of Clermont. After Gallus read the prudent letter that was tempered with sweetness he immediately returned to his wife. Upon witnessing this, Sidonius cried out, "What is more wonderful than a single reprimand, which both affrights a sinner into compunction and makes him love his censor!"
This saint is commonly identified with the Lupus who accompanied Saint Germanus of Auxerre on his first visit to Britain to rid the country of Pelagianism. Near the end of the 4th century, the British monk Pelagius and the Scottish Celestius introduced their heresy into Africa, Italy, and the East. They denied the corruption of human nature by original sin, and the necessity of Divine grace. The British prelates asked those of Gaul for assistance in eradicating this evil, and, during the council of Arles in 429, Germanus and Lupus were deputed. They accepted the commission with zeal and ended the heresy through their prayers, preaching, and miracles. It was said that when Attila, calling himself 'the Scourge of God,' and his Huns overran Rheims, Cambray, Besançon, Auxerre, and Langres in 451, and was threatening Troyes, Lupus took a decisive part in saving his province from the invaders, but the story is almost certainly a fiction. It says that Lupus prostrated himself in prayer for many days, fasted, and wept that God might spare his people. Then he dressed in the full episcopal regalia and went to meet Attila. The story continues that Attila was moved by reverence at the sight of the bishop at the head of a procession of his clergy. After a conversation in which Lupus reminds Attila that he can do only what God allows, Attila spared the city. It goes on to say that when Attila was defeated by the Roman general Aetius at Chalons, Attila requested that Lupus accompany him in retreat as far as the Rhein because he believed that the presence of the prelate would protect him and his army. The Romans, believing that Lupus was helping the Huns to escape, forced the bishop to leave Troyes for two years during which time he lived as a hermit in the mountains. He died after having governed the see of Troyes for 52 years. At first he was buried in the Augustinian church of Saint Martin in Areis, then out of the walls of Troyes. The head of Saint Lupus is housed in one of the richest shrines in France. It is in the form of a bishop made of silver and adorned with jewels, including diamonds. The rest of his relics are in another silver shrine in the Augustinian abbey church of Saint Lupus. Many churches in England bear his name, as do the members of the family surnamed 'Sentlow,' which is derived from 'Saint Leu' (Attwater, Benedictines, Encyclopedia, Farmer, Husenbeth). In art, Saint Lupus is depicted with a diamond falling from heaven as he celebrates Mass. He may be shown (1) holding a chalice with a diamond in it or (2) at the altar, giving a diamond to a king (Roeder).
