Saint Medard

Medard was born around 456 at Salency in Picardy, in northern France, to a Frankish father and a Gallo-Roman mother. Even as a child he was known for giving away his clothes and food to the poor. He was ordained a priest at thirty-three and around 530 became bishop of Vermand. Because of raids in the region he moved his see to the safer town of Noyon, and he also took charge of the diocese of Tournai.

Medard was a tireless preacher and friend of the poor. He gave the religious veil to Queen Radegund when she left the Frankish court to consecrate her life to God. He died around 545 and was buried at Soissons, where King Clotaire I built an abbey in his honor that became one of the great monasteries of France.

A legend says an eagle once spread its wings over young Medard to shelter him from the rain, so he became the patron of good weather. French and Belgian farmers say that if it rains on Saint Medard's day, it will rain for forty days.

At Salency he is credited with starting the Rosière, an annual festival that crowned the most virtuous young woman of the village with roses.