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Also known as: Aubin
Profile
Born to a noble family of Brittany. Pious child. Monk from his mid-20's
into his 60's at Timcillac, which later renamed itself Saint Aubin's in
honor of him. Abbot for 25 years, beginning in 504. Bishop of Angers
c.529. His episcopacy was known for his charity to the poor, widows and
orphans, for his ransoming of slaves from their owners, his personal
holiness, and the miracles he worked.
Custom of the day permitted consanguinity marriage. Albinus decried this
as incest, and fought against it, making enemies in many powerful families
who practiced it. Called councils at Orleans in 538 and 541, which
condemned this and other morals offenses.
Legend says that when he visited Etheria, a woman imprisoned by King
Childebert for bad debts, the woman threw herself at Albinus' feet, and
pled for help. A guard made a move to strike her, but Albinus breathed in
the man's face, and he fell dead. Etheria was soon released.
Another time Albinus passed a prison tower in Angers, and heard the cries
and moans of badly treated prisoners. He pled with the local magistrate
for their release, but was refused. He returned to the tower and prayed in
front of it; after several hours, a landslide brought down part of the
tower, the prisoners escaped, followed Albinus to the church of Saint
Maurichies, reformed their ways, and became model citizens and Christians.
The abbey of Saint Aubin in Angers was erected in his memory.
Born: 469 at Vannes, Brittany, France
Died: 1 March 549 of natural causes; relics at the Cathedral of
Saint Germanus in Paris
Canonized: Pre-Congregation
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