Serious chronological difficulties are presented by the traditional story of his early life (printed in Patrologia Latina 204, coll. 1005–1072), which runs as follows: Stephen in his twelfth year accompanied his father, the Viscount of Thiers, to Italy, where he was left to be educated by Milo, Archbishop of Benevento; after passing twelve years in this prelate's household, he became acquainted with hermits in Calabria, but never joined their way of life. He then returned to France to bid farewell to his parents, having formed the design of entering religion, but, finding them dead, returned to Italy.[1]
His patron Milo having also died, he established himself at Rome, where he studied the rules of the religious houses of the city. After a four years' sojourn he obtained a Bull from Gregory VII authorizing him to found an institute resembling that of the solitaries he had frequented in Calabria, and returned to France. He is said to have settled at Muret in 1076[1] and died at Muret on 8 February 1124. At Muret, he established the Order of Grandmont, a religious order of "extreme austerity and poverty."[2]
This story is impossible; his father visited Italy in order to make a pilgrimage to St. Nicholas at Bari; but Nicholas's relics were not placed there till some years later; Milo was not Archbishop of Benevento for twelve years; the Gregory VII's bull is a forgery.[3] The exact truth as to St. Stephen's life cannot now be established. However, the connexions with Milo, whose short episcopate (1074–75) would argue against any later invention by a biographer; the connexion, too, with Benevento, which held particular interest for reforming popes; and the lack of miracles during his life, would all argue for at least some details being historically sound. [4] The Life would seem to have been originally written in the mid-twelfth century and to have been revised in the last decade of that century.[5]
The quarrel as to what great order could claim Grandmont as its offspring, with the consequent forgeries, has done much to involve the founder's life in obscurity. Though Stephen was certainly the founder of the Order of Grandmont, he did little for his disciples except offer them the example of his holy life, and it was not till after his death that the order was firmly established.[1]
Venerationedit
Two miniatures from the 13th Speculum Grandimontis, Clement III canonizes Stephen of Muret and the translation of his remains respectively
His head is preserved in the parish Church of St. Sylvestre, Canton of Laurière (in the Haute Vienne département).
^ abcdDouglas Raymund Webster (1913). "St. Stephen of Muret" . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
^David Knowles and Dimitri Obolensky, The Christian Centuries: The Middle Ages (Vol. 2). Paulist Press (1983). Grosmont, p.186. ISBN023235605X.
^Douglas Raymund Webster (1913). "Abbey and Order of Grandmont" . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
^J. Becquet, 'Saint Etienne de Muretet l'archevêque de Bénévent, Milon', Bulletin de la Société Archéologique et Historique du Limousin, 112e année, vol. 86, pp. 403-409
^J. Becquet, 'Les premiers écrivains de l'Ordre de Grandmont', Revue Mabillon, 43 (1953), 121-137.
Sourcesedit
His works (not authentic) may be found in Migne, P. L. CCIV, 997–1162.
October 31, 2023
stephen, muret, french, Étienne, muret, 1045, february, 1124, founder, abbey, grandmont, mother, house, order, grandmont, saintst, hugh, lacerta, plaque, from, high, altar, abbey, grandmont, 12th, century, musée, cluny, born1045thiers, auvergne, francedied8, f. Stephen of Muret French Etienne de Muret 1045 8 February 1124 was the founder of the Abbey of Grandmont the mother house and the Order of Grandmont SaintStephen of MuretSt Stephen of Muret and Hugh of Lacerta plaque from the high altar of the Abbey of Grandmont 12th century Musee de Cluny Born1045Thiers Auvergne FranceDied8 February 1124 1124 02 08 aged 78 79 Venerated inCatholic ChurchCanonized1189 by Pope Clement IIIMajor shrineparish Church of St Sylvestre Lauriere France Feast8 February Contents 1 Hagiography 2 Veneration 3 See also 4 References 5 SourcesHagiography editSerious chronological difficulties are presented by the traditional story of his early life printed in Patrologia Latina 204 coll 1005 1072 which runs as follows Stephen in his twelfth year accompanied his father the Viscount of Thiers to Italy where he was left to be educated by Milo Archbishop of Benevento after passing twelve years in this prelate s household he became acquainted with hermits in Calabria but never joined their way of life He then returned to France to bid farewell to his parents having formed the design of entering religion but finding them dead returned to Italy 1 His patron Milo having also died he established himself at Rome where he studied the rules of the religious houses of the city After a four years sojourn he obtained a Bull from Gregory VII authorizing him to found an institute resembling that of the solitaries he had frequented in Calabria and returned to France He is said to have settled at Muret in 1076 1 and died at Muret on 8 February 1124 At Muret he established the Order of Grandmont a religious order of extreme austerity and poverty 2 This story is impossible his father visited Italy in order to make a pilgrimage to St Nicholas at Bari but Nicholas s relics were not placed there till some years later Milo was not Archbishop of Benevento for twelve years the Gregory VII s bull is a forgery 3 The exact truth as to St Stephen s life cannot now be established However the connexions with Milo whose short episcopate 1074 75 would argue against any later invention by a biographer the connexion too with Benevento which held particular interest for reforming popes and the lack of miracles during his life would all argue for at least some details being historically sound 4 The Life would seem to have been originally written in the mid twelfth century and to have been revised in the last decade of that century 5 The quarrel as to what great order could claim Grandmont as its offspring with the consequent forgeries has done much to involve the founder s life in obscurity Though Stephen was certainly the founder of the Order of Grandmont he did little for his disciples except offer them the example of his holy life and it was not till after his death that the order was firmly established 1 Veneration edit nbsp Two miniatures from the 13th Speculum Grandimontis Clement III canonizes Stephen of Muret and the translation of his remains respectivelyHis head is preserved in the parish Church of St Sylvestre Canton of Lauriere in the Haute Vienne departement He was canonized by Bishop Gerald II of Limoges in 1167 and by Pope Clement III in 1189 His liturgical feast occurs on 8 February 1 See also editChronological list of saints and blesseds in the 12th century GrandmontinesPortals nbsp Biography nbsp Catholicism nbsp Saints nbsp FranceReferences edit a b c d Douglas Raymund Webster 1913 St Stephen of Muret In Herbermann Charles ed Catholic Encyclopedia New York Robert Appleton Company David Knowles and Dimitri Obolensky The Christian Centuries The Middle Ages Vol 2 Paulist Press 1983 Grosmont p 186 ISBN 023235605X Douglas Raymund Webster 1913 Abbey and Order of Grandmont In Herbermann Charles ed Catholic Encyclopedia New York Robert Appleton Company J Becquet Saint Etienne de Muretet l archeveque de Benevent Milon Bulletin de la Societe Archeologique et Historique du Limousin 112e annee vol 86 pp 403 409 J Becquet Les premiers ecrivains de l Ordre de Grandmont Revue Mabillon 43 1953 121 137 Sources editHis works not authentic may be found in Migne P L CCIV 997 1162 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Stephen of Muret amp oldid 1143285556, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
