Deodatus of Nevers

Saint Deodatus (Dié, Didier, Dieudonné) was bishop of Nevers from 655 and died around 679 at Saint-⁠Dié-⁠des-⁠Vosges, the town that grew up around the monastery he founded. He is commemorated on 19 June.

He is said to have been born about 590 into a distinguished family of western France; some sources think he may have been Irish by birth. In 655 he was appointed bishop of Nevers and in 657 he attended the council of Sens. In 664 he resigned his see, having recommended to his clergy the choice of a successor. He came to know Saints Arbogast and Florentius and walked the mountain paths as far as the forest of Haguenau, where he lived as a hermit, especially at the monastery of Ebersheim, founded by King Childeric II. He baptized, with the name Deodatus, the son of Saint Hunna (Una), who was also venerated as a saint and became a monk at Ebersheim.

Later he withdrew deeper into the Vosges. Hun, lord of the Val de Galilée, gave him a territory, and the gift was confirmed by King Childeric II. There he founded the monastery of Juncturae (Jointures), placed first under the Rule of Saint Columban and later under the Rule of Saint Benedict. According to tradition, he died in the arms of Saint Hidulphus, bishop of Trier.

The town of Saint-⁠Dié grew up around the monastery of Jointures, although some sources link the town's name with an earlier saint, Deodatus of Blois (died about 525). Saint Deodatus is invoked in time of rain and storm, against plague and against evil spirits. He is shown with his hand stretched toward storm clouds or driving an evil spirit out of a woman.