#rosiere

St. Medard was born around 456 in Salency, France.

His father Nectard was a noble Frenchman, and his mother, Protogia, descended from a Roman family that settled in Gaul.

He was ordained at the age of 33. He did not wish to be made a bishop but reluctantly became the Bishop of Vermand in 530.

Medard or Medardus was one of the most honoured bishops of his time.

His memory has always been venerated in northern France. He soon became the hero of numerous legends.

On his memorial every year, the Rosiere is awarded to the young girl who has been judged the most virtuous and exemplary in the region of Salency, France.

She is escorted by 12 boys and 12 girls to the church, where she is crowned with roses and given a gift of money.

This is a continuation of a yearly stipend or “scholarship” he apparently instituted when bishop.

His younger sister was the first to be crowned the Rosiere.

Legend says that when he was a child, Medard was once sheltered from the rain by a hovering eagle.

This is his most common depiction in art, and it led to his patronage of good weather, against bad weather, for people who work the fields, etc.

Legend has it that if it rains on his feast day, the next 40 days will be wet; if the weather is good, the next 40 will be fine as well.

He was often depicted laughing, with his mouth wide open, therefore, he was invoked against toothache.

He is also invoked against bad weather (but also for rain), sterility and imprisonment.

St. Medard was born around 456 in Salency, France. His father was a noble Frenchman and his mother was from a Roman family that had settled in Gaul. 

At the age of 33, Medard was ordained a priest. He wanted to remain a priest but reluctantly became Bishop of Vermand in 530.

He was one of the most honored bishops of the time, and his memory has always been venerated in northern France.

Medard is also the hero of numerous local legends. 

According to one legend, when Medard was a child, he was sheltered from the rain by a hovering eagle.

He is commonly depicted this way in art. This led to his patronage of good weather, against bad weather, and for people who work in the fields. 

Legend has it that if it rains on Medard’s feast day, the next 40 days will be wet. But if the weather is good, the next 40 days will be fine as well. 

Medard is also depicted laughing aloud with his mouth open wide, which led to his patronage against toothache. 

Every year on his memorial, the Rosiere is awarded to a young girl who has been judged the most virtuous and exemplary in Salency, France.

The girl is escorted by 12 boys and 12 girls to the church, where she is crowned with roses and given a gift of money.

This practice is a continuation of a yearly stipend of “scholarship” that Medard instituted when he was bishop.

His younger sister was the first to be crowned the Rosiere.

Medard is a patron saint invoked for protection against weather and of toothaches, sterility, and imprisonment.

St. Medard was born around 456 in Salency, France.

His father Nectard was a noble Frenchman, and his mother Protogia descended from a Roman family that settled in Gaul.

He was ordained at the age of 33 and did not wish to be made a bishop, but reluctantly became the Bishop of Vermand in 530.

Medardus was one of the most honoured bishops of his time.

His memory has always been venerated in northern France, and he soon became the hero of numerous legends.

Each year on his memorial, the Rosiere is awarded to the young girl who has been judged the most virtuous and exemplary in the region of Salency, France.

She is escorted by 12 boys and 12 girls to the church, where she is crowned with roses and given a gift of money.

This is a continuation of a yearly stipend or “scholarship” he apparently instituted when bishop.

His younger sister was the first to be crowned the Rosiere.

Legend says that when he was a child, Medard was once sheltered from the rain by a hovering eagle.

This is his most common depiction in art, and it led to his patronage of good weather, against bad weather, for people who work the fields, etc.

Legend has it that if it rains on his feast day, the next 40 days will be wet. If the weather is good, the next 40 will be fine as well.

St. Medard was born around 456 in Salency, France.

His father, Nectard, was a noble Frenchman, and his mother, Protogia, descended from a Roman family that settled in Gaul.

He was ordained at the age of 33. He did not wish to be made a bishop but reluctantly became the Bishop of Vermand in 530.

Medardus was one of the most honoured bishops of his time. His memory has always been venerated in northern France, and he soon became the hero of numerous legends.

Each year on his memorial, the Rosiere is awarded to the young girl who has been judged the most virtuous and exemplary in the region of Salency, France.

She is escorted by 12 boys and 12 girls to the church, where she is crowned with roses and given a gift of money.

This is a continuation of a yearly stipend or “scholarship” he apparently instituted when bishop.

His younger sister was the first to be crowned the Rosiere.

Legend says that when he was a child, Medard was once sheltered from the rain by a hovering eagle.

This is his most common depiction in art. It led to his patronage of good weather, against bad weather, for people who work the fields, etc.

Legend also has it that if it rains on his feast day, the next 40 days will be wet; if the weather is good, the next 40 will be fine as well.