Hierarch 7th century

Lupus of Sens

c. 573 – 623

Also known as Lupus, Bishop of Sens

A monk of Lerins who became Bishop of Sens in Gaul (d. 623)

Feast Day

September 1

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Commemorated as

Our Father among the Saints Lupus, Bishop of Sens

Life

Saint Lupus of Sens was a seventh-century bishop of the see of Sens in Gaul (modern France), remembered as a monastic-trained hierarch who held his office through a period of conflict among the rival Merovingian rulers of his day. Born of Burgundian nobility around 573, he became a monk before his elevation to the episcopate and is counted as the nineteenth bishop of Sens.

His episcopate was marked by a clash with royal authority that led to his exile and subsequent return, after which he governed his see until his death around 623. Venerated as a saint in both the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, he is commemorated on September 1.

Timeline 5 moments Read Hide

c. 573 Birth Born near Orleans in Gaul to a family of Burgundian nobility.
c. 609 Bishop of Sens Became the nineteenth bishop of the see of Sens in Burgundy.
c. 613–614 Exile and return Exiled following conflict with King Chlotar II; preached among the people of his place of banishment before being recalled to his see.
c. 623 Death Died and was buried at the basilica of Sainte-Colombe at Sens.
23 July 853 Translation of relics His relics were, by tradition, transferred to a new church.

Contributions & Legacy

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Origins and Monastic Formation

Lupus was born near Orleans in Gaul around the year 573, into a family of Burgundian nobility; he is described in the tradition as a member of the royal house of the Kingdom of Burgundy and, in one account, as the son of a count of Tonnerre. According to his vita he was the nephew of two bishops, Saint Austremius of Orleans and Saint Aunarius of Auxerre, who oversaw his education.

Before his episcopate he is said to have lived as a monk at Lerins and to have served as a priest. From an early age he was noted for his devotion to the Church, his love of music, and his generosity toward the poor. He became bishop of Sens, in the region of Burgundy, around the year 609.

Conflict, Exile, and Return

Lupus's tenure coincided with rivalry among the Merovingian princes, and the sources credit him with tact and firmness in dealing with them. According to his life, he came into conflict with King Chlotar (Clotaire) II, having hesitated to recognize the king's authority over Burgundy; on the strength of accusations brought against him, he was sent into exile.

Accounts differ on the place of his exile, naming either a largely pagan district or, in another tradition, Vimeu in the region of Picardy. The sources agree that during this banishment he preached among the local population and brought many to the faith, including, by tradition, the governor of the region.

His exile was not lasting. The man set in his place is said to have died in a disturbance, and the people called for Lupus's return; the king recalled him and, according to the tradition, dealt with those who had falsely accused him. Lupus then resumed the governance of his see.

Death, Relics, and Shrines

Lupus died around the year 623; one account places his repose at Brienon-sur-Armancon in the Yonne. He was buried at the basilica of Saint Columba (Sainte-Colombe) at Sens, a monastery with which his memory is closely linked. By tradition his relics were translated to a new church on 23 July 853.

In 1160/61 a relic of Saint Loup, brought from the abbey of Sainte-Colombe, was presented by Hugues de Toucy, Archbishop of Sens, to the priory at Saint-Loup-de-Naud near Provins in Champagne. The Romanesque church there, dedicated to the saint and noted for the sculpture of its great doorway, became a place of pilgrimage.

Sources: Roman Martyrology