St. Severinus was a fifth century abbot who was widely respected for his preaching, and for living in such a way that made his words believable.

Scholars deduce he was Roman because his Latin was flawless. He also took great pains to conceal his origins, so we might assume that he was from a family of great status. He gave all of this status away to seek holiness in a life of solitude in the desert.

At some point, he felt a call to encourage the faith in others, so he left the desert to spread the good news in what is now Austria. He found the people there to be stubborn and unwilling to convert, and so he foretold their punishment. Shortly afterwards, the Huns invaded and destroyed the region, so the people came to a certain measure of respect and reverence for his words.

Miracles accompanied Severinus’ gifts of prophecy. His prayers cured the sick and, on one occasion, relieved the land of swarms of locusts. During one winter, a city was suffering from a famine and asked for his help. His preaching there convinced one rich woman who had hoarded resources to open up her stores to the poor and hungry. Shortly after his visit, the ice blocking the river melted and barges were able to restore food to the city.

Though he foretold the Hun assault, he responded to the devastation left by the invaders. He established a number of hospices and refugee centers for those displaced by the fighting, and he founded monasteries to preserve culture and learning, and to reestablish spirituality among the people.

Several cities clamored for him to serve as their bishop, but he always refused. He continued to dedicate much of his life to contemplative prayer and disciplined himself with fasting. He always walked barefoot, even in winter, and lived in a small cell in which he could not even stand up straight.

Severinus died around the year 480, and his relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica. He is patron saint of prisoners because of his many efforts to free captives.

St. Severinus, you were the humble preacher whose words earned the respect of the faithful, pray for us!