De sancto Lupo
The Shepherd of Sens
Saint Lupus serves his flock with charity and integrity, enduring exile and returning to his city through the king's repentance.
Lupus, born of royal lineage near Orléans, was elected Archbishop of Sens while he was shining with every virtue. Since he gave away almost everything to the poor and had invited many to a feast one day, he found himself without enough wine and replied to his servant, "I believe that God, who feeds the birds, will provide for our charity." Immediately, a messenger arrived and announced that a hundred measures of wine were waiting at the door. When everyone at court was speaking harshly against him because he loved a certain virgin—a servant of God and the daughter of his predecessor—with such excessive affection, he took the virgin by the hand in front of his detractors and kissed her, saying, "The words of others do no harm to one whose own conscience does not stain him." Because he knew she loved God ardently, he cherished her with the purest of hearts. When the Frankish king Lothair entered Burgundy and sent his steward against Sens to besiege the city, Saint Lupus entered the church of Saint Stephen and began to ring the bell; the enemy heard it and were struck with such terror that they thought they would surely die if they didn't flee. Eventually, after the kingdom of Burgundy was won, the king sent another steward to Sens. When Saint Lupus didn't meet him with gifts, the steward was deeply offended and slandered him to the king, causing the king to send Saint Lupus into exile, where he shone brightly through his teaching and miracles. Meanwhile, the people of Sens killed the bishop who had usurped Saint Lupus's place and petitioned the king to let Saint Lupus return from exile. When the king saw him, he was moved to repentance. He was so changed by divine grace that he prostrated himself before him to ask for forgiveness, and after bestowing many gifts upon him, he restored him to his city.
Signs and Spiritual Warfare
Through miraculous signs and discernment, Saint Lupus protects his people and overcomes the temptations of the enemy.
As he was returning through Paris, a large crowd of prisoners met him, their chains having been loosened and the doors opened. One Sunday, while he was celebrating Mass, a jewel fell from heaven into his holy chalice, which the king placed among his own relics. King Clotaire, hearing that the bell of Saint Stephen had a wondrously sweet tone, sent for it to be brought to Paris so he could hear it more often. But since this displeased Saint Lupus, as soon as it was taken from the city of Sens, it lost the sweetness of its tone; hearing this, the king immediately ordered it to be returned, and once the sound was restored, it rang out at the seventh milestone from the city. So Saint Lupus went to meet it and received with honor what he had sorrowfully lost. One night, while he was praying, he was struck by a sudden, intense thirst through the devil's influence and ordered cold water to be brought to him. But understanding the enemy's tricks, he placed his pillow over the vessel and trapped the devil inside, who began to howl and scream all night long. When morning came, the one who had come secretly to tempt him left in confusion. Another time, while he was making his usual rounds of the city's churches, he returned home and heard his clerics arguing. because they wanted to commit fornication with women. He entered the church and prayed for them, and soon every urge of temptation left them; they came before him and asked for forgiveness. Finally, famous for many virtues, he rested in peace. He flourished around the year of our Lord 610, in the time of Heraclius.
Read the original Latin
Lupus apud Aurelianum ex genere regali ortus, dum cunctis virtutibus eniteret, Senonensis archiepiscopus est electus. Qui cum omnia fere pauperibus erogaret et quadam die plurimos ad convivium invitasset, cum vinum ad medium non haberet, sic respondit ministro: credo, quod Deus, qui volatilia pascit, nostram perficiet caritatem, et statim nuntius affuit, qui centum vini modios adesse prae foribus nuntiavit Cum omnes de curia sibi vehementer detraherent, quia virginem Dei famulam et filiam praedecessoris sui nimis immoderate amaret, coram detrahentibus ipsam virginem apprehendens osculatus est eam dicens: nihil nocent hominum verba aliena, quem propria non maculat conscientia. Quia enim ipsam Deum amare ardenter cognoverat, eam mente purissima diligebat. Cum rex Francorum Lotharius Burgundiam intrans senescallum suum contra Senones direxisset et civitatem obsideret, sanctus Lupus ecclesiam sancti Stephani ingressus campanam pulsare coepit, quam hostes audientes tantus terror invasit, nt, nisi fugerent, mortem se evadere non putarent. Tandem obtento regno Burgundiae cum rex alium senescallum Senonum misisset et beatus Lupus ei cum muneribus non occurrisset, indignatus nimis eum apud regem infamavit, ut rex beatum Lupum in exsilium destinaret, qui ibi doctrina ac miraculis valde emicuit. Interea Senonici quendam episcopum, qui locum sancti Lupi invaserat, occidentes, ut sanctus Lupus de exsilio rediret, a rege impetraverunt. Quem rex videns exsilio !) tabefactum ita divinitus est mutatus, ut coram illo prostratus veniam peteret, multisque auctum muneribus suae restituit civitati.
Qui dum per Parisios remearet, ei multa incarceratorum turba apertis ostiis solutisque vinculis obviavit. Quadam die dominica, dum missam celebraret, lapsa est coelitus gemma in ejus sancto calice, quam rex inter snas reliquias collocavit. Rex Clotarius audiens, quod campana sancti Stephani in sono miram haberet dulcedinem, misit, ut Parisios deferretur, ut ab ipso saepius audiretur. Sed cum hoc sancto Lupo displicnisset, mox nt de urbe 1 Senonica delata est, soni sni dulcedinem perdidit, Quod rex audiens statim restitui eam jussit statimque sono reddito insonuit septimo ab urbe milliario, Itaque sanctus Lupus obviam perrexit et quod dolens perdiderat, cum honore recepit. Nocte quadam cum oraret, instinctu dyaboli vehementer sitiens jussit sibi aquam frigidam deportari. Dolos autem intelligens inimici pulvinar sunm super vas posuit et ibi dyabolum inclusit, qui tota nocte vociferando ululare coepit. Facto autem mane, qui clam tentare venerat, in die confusus abscessit, Quadam autem vice, dum more solito civitatis ecclesias circumiisset, rediens domum audit clericos suos rixantes. eo quod cum mulieribus fornicari vellent.
Qui ecclesiam intrans pro iis oravit et mox ab iis omnis stimulus tentationis abscessit venientesque ante illum veuiam postulaverunt. Tandem multis clarus virlutibus in pace quievit. Claruit circa aunos domini DCX,tempore Eraclii,
The Golden Legend (Legenda Aurea) companion
Continue through all 240 chapters, one saint a day
Chosen Portion serves the Golden Legend as a daily portion on iOS, free, alongside the full Sub Rosa archive
The Legenda Aurea was organized for day-by-day use across the liturgical year, and Chosen Portion restores that original one-feast-per-day reading rhythm
- A complete saint's life or feast reading most days in 5-10 minutes
- 240 chapters - enough daily readings to cover a full liturgical year and beyond
- Daily reminders so the plan survives busy weeks