St. Adjutor

Feastday: April 30
Patron: of swimmers, boaters, drowning victims, Vernon
Death: 1131

A Norman lord, master of Vernonsur-Seine, who distinguished himself in the First Crusade. He was captured by the Muslims during the campaign but managed to escape from slavery. He returned to France and entered the abbey of Tiron. There he became a recluse, remaining recollected until his death of April 30.

12th-century French Catholic saint

Adjutor (died April 30, 1131) is venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church. He was born in Vernon, France, where he was made a knight in the First Crusade. He is credited to be the patron saint of swimmers, boaters, and drowning victims, and the patron saint of Vernon, France. The stories given for his patronage of boaters vary. Some state that he was captured by Muslims in The Crusade, who tried to force him to abandon his faith, and when refusing, he escaped persecution by swimming. He swam back to France and entered the Abbey of Trion. There he became a recluse until his death of April 30.

Additional legends state that it was angels who freed Adjutor from his captors, and his association with the seas came when he calmed a whirlpool by throwing Holy water, and the chains of his captivity into it, and signing the cross. In his later life he became a hermit.