Fraimbault of Lassay

Saint Fraimbault of Lassay, called "the Auvergnat", was born around 500 in the Auvergne into a senatorial family and reposed on 15 August 570 at Saint-⁠Fraimbault. He was a hermit, preacher and founder of monasteries in the region of Maine. He is remembered on 16 August in the Western calendar.

At fifteen his father placed him at the court of King Childebert I, but he chose early the path of renunciation. Around 517 he withdrew to a cave on the bank of the Seine. When his father tried to dissuade him, tradition says the waters rose until they turned the surroundings of the cave into a lake. In 518 he entered the monastery of Micy near Orléans, learned there to preach, and was ordained priest.

At the call of Bishop Innocent of Le Mans he went to Maine. In 532 he followed the Roman road with Saint Constantian of Javron and built at Saint-⁠Georges-⁠de-⁠la-⁠Couée cells that became the beginning of a monastery under a rule he wrote. He then retired to a cave on the Mayenne, in the forest of Nuz, and at the bishop's request preached in the region and founded a monastery on the plateau of Lassay. He was regarded as the apostle of that land. He died during one of his preaching journeys and was buried in his monastery at Lassay.

Many miracles are told at his tomb. His body was later taken to Senlis, to the collegiate church of Saint-⁠Frambourg, while his head remained at Lassay. At Lassay the saint is celebrated on Whit Monday with a procession of the relics.