Feastday: March 26
Patron: of Aragon
Birth: 590
Death: 651
ST BRAULIO, BISHOP OF SARAGOSSA (A.D. 651) At the college founded in Seville by St Isidore, one of the more promising of the alumni was a boy of noble birth called Braulio, who grew up to be so eminent a scholar that Isidore regarded him as a friend and disciple rather than a pupil, and used to send him his own writings to correct and revise. Braulio prepared for the priesthood and was ordained, and when in 631 the see of Saragossa became vacant at the death of his brother Bishop John, the neighbouring prelates assembled to elect a successor and their choice fell upon Braulio. As a pastor, St Braulio laboured zealously to teach and encourage his people, and at the same time to extirpate the Arian heresy which continued to flourish even after the conversion of King Reccared. He kept in close touch with St Isidore, whom he assisted in his task of restoring church order and regularizing ecclesiastical discipline: a small portion of the correspondence between the two saints has survived. He took part in the fourth Council of Toledo, which was presided over by his friend and master St Isidore, and also in the fifth and sixth. The last-named assembly charged him to write an answer to Pope Honorius I, who had accused the Spanish bishops of negligence in the fulfilment of their duties. His defence was dignified and convincing. The good bishop s duties did not prevent his constant ministrations in his cathedral church and in that of our Lady ‘del Pilar , where he spent many hours of the day and night in prayer. Luxury of all kinds he abhorred: his garments were rough and plain, his food simple and his life austere. An eloquent preacher and a keen controversialist, he could carry conviction by his telling arguments and absolute sincerity. His liberality to the poor was only matched by his tender care of all his flock. The close of his life was saddened by failing eyesight—a heavy trial to anyone, but especially to a scholar. As his end drew near, he realized that he was dying, and the last day of his life was spent in the recitation of psalms. His feast day is the March 26.
Shop Catholic - FREE Ship $60+
Face Masks Home Blessings Rosaries Bibles Medals Prayer/Holy Cards Pets Bracelets Pillow Cases Crucifixes Books Rosary Cases Wall Crosses Keychains Plaques Statues Rings Visor Clips Church GoodsBraulio or Braulius (Latin: Braulius Caesaraugustanus; 585 – 651 AD) was bishop of Zaragoza and a learned cleric living in the Kingdom of the Visigoths.
Life
Braulio was born of a noble Hispano-Roman family. His father was Bishop of Osma. In 610 Braulio became a monk, and later studied under Isidore at Seville. Archbishop Isidore used education to counteract increasingly influential Gothic barbarism in his jurisdiction. Braulio was ordained by Isadore in 624. In 625 Braulio returned to Zaragoza where his brother John was then bishop, and served as his archdeacon. Upon his brother's death in 631, Braulio succeeded him as bishop. Known for almsgiving and preaching, he was an advisor and confidante of several Visigoth kings, including Chindasuinth, whose son Recceswinth he recommended be installed as associate king.
Braulio worked with Isidore to convert the Visigoths from Arianism. He is reported to have encouraged Isidore of Seville in his encyclopaedic ambitions, and to have had a hand in the revision of his works. Bishop Braulio, to whom Isidore dedicated it and sent it for correction, divided it into its twenty books. Braulio called it quaecunque fere sciri debentur, "practically everything that it is necessary to know"
He was present at the councils of Toledo in 633, 636, and 638 and he responded on behalf of the Iberian clergy to Pope Honorius I's charge that they were neglectful of their duties. He wrote a life of San Millan. Towards the end of his life, he lost his eyesight. He was buried in what is now the church of Nuestra Señora del Pilar in Zaragoza. He was succeeded as bishop of Zaragoza by Taius (Taio), who had been his pupil.
He is buried in La Seo Cathedral, Zaragoza, and is the patron saint of Aragon.
