Saint Brice

Also known as: Britius
Memorial: 13 November
Profile: An orphan rescued by Saint Martin of Tours, and raised by Martin's clerics. Became so wild, wicked, proud, ungrateful, and disorderly that some thought him possessed by a demon! He became a priest, but was a vain, ambitious one with contempt for Martin. Many advised Martin to kick him out, but Saint Martin said that if Jesus could deal with Judas, he could deal with Brice.

On Martin's death in 397, Brice was designated to succeed him as bishop. However, the people of the diocese revolted, substituted a priest named Justinian, and Brice left town to avoid a stoning.

Justinan held the see for over 30 years, during which Brice came to his senses, and began to lead a pious and admirable life. Formal ecclesiastical investigations cleared him of wrong doing, and he had the support of Pope Zosimus. When Justinian died c.430, Brice returned to Tours to claim his seat. The locals, however, remembered him and his past, and ran him out of town again, taking a priest names Armentius as bishop.

When Armentius died in 437, Brice returned to Tours again to claim his proper place, and this time, preceded by the news of having led a better life during his 40 years of exile, he stayed and governed his diocese until his death.
Died: 444 at Tours of natural causes
Canonized: Pre-Congregation
Patronage: stomach diseases
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