St. Gatianus of Tours

St. Gatianus was the first bishop of Tours in Gaul and one of the seven bishops whom, according to the historian Gregory of Tours, the Church of Rome sent into Gaul around the middle of the third century to preach the Gospel to a still largely pagan people. Arriving in a region hostile to the faith, he gathered a small flock and ministered to them with great patience and courage through some fifty years.

Because of the fierce opposition of the pagans, he was often compelled to celebrate the sacred mysteries in secret, in caves and hidden places, encouraging the little community of believers and never wavering in his zeal despite meager fruit in his own lifetime. He died in peace around the beginning of the fourth century and was buried in the Christian cemetery of Tours, where his tomb was venerated; the see he founded would later be made illustrious by his great successor St. Martin. Gatianus is commemorated on 18 December.