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Catholic Saints

A medieval scene unfolds with Saint Julian the Hospitaller discovering two sleeping women in a bedroom, while another woman waits outside.

Saint Julian the Hospitaller

Feast Day 02/12/2013

Patronage – Boatmen, Carnival Workers, Childless People, Circus Workers, Clowns, Fiddle Players, Hotel Keepers, Hunters, Innkeepers, Jugglers, Knights, Murderers, Pilgrims, Shepherds, Travelers, Wandering Musicians

St. Julian was born in Le Mans, France.  The night Julian was born, his father, a man of noble blood saw pagan witches secretly jinx his son into killing both of his parents.  He father wanted to get rid the child at an early age, but his mother would not allow it.   As the boy grew into a handsome young man, his mother was mostly sad, knowing the sin her son was destined to commit.  When he finally was told of this reason, he was quick to say he would never commit such a sin.  He was full of faith in Christ as he went off to conquer the world, in an effort to get as far away from his parents as he could to avoid this ever happening.  

He walked for fifty days until he reached Galicia, where he met a wealthy widow and good woman, and they got married.  Twenty years later, his parents decided to go look for their now thirty-year-old son.  When they arrived they visited the altar of St. James, and as soon as they came out of the Church they met a woman sitting on a chair outside.  She would greet them with Jesus’ love and see if they needed a host to put them up for the night.  They did need a place to stay, so she put them up, telling them that her husband Julian was out hunting.  The mother and father were overjoyed that they had found their son, through his wife.  She took good care of them, and had them rest in Julian’s bed.  The evil one filled him with the thought that his wife was embracing another man, while he was out hunting.  

Julian felt deep sadness and decided to ride back home to check on his wife.  He found a man and a woman sleeping in his bed, and drew his sword and killed them both.  His plan was to take off and never set foot on that land again, but as he was leaving he saw his wife sitting around with the other women.  His wife told him that his mother and father are resting in his room.  He felt extreme shame, and told her it would have been better if he had never been born.  His wife comforted him with the love of God, and told him to have faith in Christ Almighty, as He had a stream of life and mercy.  They had a lot of gold and silver, but no children.   

Julian went to Rome seeking redemption, and built seven hospitals and twenty-five houses in reparation.  The poor started flowing to him, to receive “Jesus’ Almighty love”.  He was forgiven for his crime, and legend says that God sent an Angel, as a leper to test him.  Julian did take in a leper and gave up his own bed to him.  He took that as a sign that he was forgiven for his horrible crime, and spent the rest of his life helping the poor, and especially travelers.  

Practical Take Away

St. Julian was born into a noble family, and was cursed by pagan witches upon his birth.  They told his father upon his birth, that he would end up killing both of his parents.  When he grew old enough he moved away to ensure that would never happen.  When he was thirty, his parents set out to look for him, and encountered his wife after attending Mass.  She invited them in to her and her husbands place, since her husband Julian, was out hunting.  He came home, found two people in his bed and killed them.  Filled with remorse that he had killed his parents, he went to Rome seeking forgiveness.  He spent the rest of his life building Hospitals and houses for the poor, to make reparation for his sin.  His life sets an example of how we can be contrite; seek forgiveness, and the mercy of our Lord.  

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