Caprasius of Lérins

Saint Caprasius of Lérins was born in the fourth century in Gaul, into a wealthy and distinguished family. Yet he renounced the promise of worldly honor to seek the hidden life of prayer as a hermit on the Îles de Lérins, off the southern coast of Gaul. There he was joined by the young Honoratus and Honoratus’ brother Venantius, companions eager to follow the way of solitude and holiness. Together they set out on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, longing to venerate the sacred places and learn from the great monastic communities of Syria and Egypt. When Venantius died at Methoni in Greece, Caprasius and Honoratus returned in sorrow to Gaul. They lived for a time near Fréjus, then returned to Lérins, where their desire to imitate the Desert Fathers drew others to them. Inspired by the rule of Pachomius, their simple hermit life helped give rise to the monastic community that became Lérins Abbey. Venerated for his renunciation and quiet fidelity, Caprasius is honored as patron of Aulla and a patron of pilgrims. His feast day is June 1.