Saint Hermengild

Memorial: 13 April
Profile: Son of the Spanish Visigoth Arian king Levigild, and raised in Arianism. In 579 he married the Catholic princess Indgund, who, with Saint Leander, bishop of Seville, converted him back to orthodox Christianity. Immediately disinherited by his father.

Publicly renounced and fought against Arianism; he expected support from outside anti-Arian groups, but it never materialized, and he was defeated by his father's forces. King of Seville. At one point he reconciled with his father, but his step-mother, Goswintha, caused friction between them because of her staunch Arian views. Arrested, tortured, and martyred on orders of his father for refusing to denounce Catholicism and refusing to accept communion from a heretic bishop.
Died: tortured and axed to death 13 April 585
relics at Seville, Spain
Canonized: 1585
Patronage: against drought
against flood
against thunderstorms
converts
Representation: young prince in armor being borne to heaven while contemplating the crucifix while around him angels carry an axe, chains, royal regalia, a palm, and a rose wreath and heretical bishops and king stand below him
prince with an axe
Additional Information: Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
Catholic Encyclopedia
New Catholic Dictionary
Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints, by Matthew Bunson, Margaret Bunson, and Stephen Bunson
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