Fulcran

Infobox Saint
name=Fulcran
birth_date=unknown
death_date=13 February 1006
feast_day=13 February
venerated_in=Roman Catholic Church


imagesize=265px
caption="The Miracle of Saint Fulcran", by François Matet (1805)
birth_place=
death_place=
titles=Bishop of Lodève
beatified_date=
beatified_place=
beatified_by=
canonized_date=
canonized_place=
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patronage=Diocese of Lodève
major_shrine=
suppressed_date=
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Saint Fulcran (died 13 February 1006) is a French saint. He was bishop of Lodève. According to the biography by Bernard Guidonis, himself bishop of Lodève (died 1331), Fulcran came of a distinguished family, consecrated himself at an early age to the service of the Church, became a priest, and from his youth led a pure and holy life.

When in 949 Theoderich, Bishop of Lodève, died, Fulcran, notwithstanding his unwillingness, was chosen as his successor and was consecrated by the Archbishop of Narbonne on 4 February of the same year.

He was untiring in his efforts to conserve the moral life within his diocese, especially among the clergy and the religious orders; he rebuilt many churches and convents, among them the cathedral dedicated to St. Genesius and the church of the Holy Redeemer with the Benedictine monastery attached to it.

The poor and the sick were the objects of his special care; for their support he founded hospitals and endowed others already existing.

Veneration

After his death he was buried in the cathedral of Lodève and honoured as a saint. His body, which had been preserved intact, was burned by the Huguenots in 1572, and only a few particles of his remains were saved. He is the second patron of the Diocese of Lodève, and his feast falls on 13 February.

Lodève celebrates the "Fête de St. Fulcran", every year for a week in May. For a week there is a carnival and other events.

External links

* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06313a.htm Fulcran] at the Catholic Encyclopedia
* [http://www.catholic-forum.com/saintS/saintf3y.htm Catholic Forum: Fulcran]