Turibius

Saint Turibius, hierarch, is, according to the legend, a saint of the third century, who died at the beginning of the fourth, the second presumed bishop of Le Mans from 299 to 305. He should not be confused with Turibius II, bishop of the same diocese about a century later. He was a companion and successor of Saint Julian of Le Mans and continued his work, working especially in the territory of the Diablintes. He founded Christian communities at Marcillé-⁠la-⁠Ville, Placé, Évron, and at Saint-⁠Pierre-⁠des-⁠Landes and Saint-⁠Hilaire-⁠des-⁠Landes. He also established a Christian community at Changé, and the first meeting place of the converts may have been at Pritz, the primitive church of Laval.

Tradition says that one day, in his travels, he stopped in the village of Aciacus (Assé-⁠le-⁠Bérenger). The inhabitants, who had heard of him, asked him to help them, for they had no more water. Turibius is said to have prayed and a spring gushed forth, the fountain of Saint-⁠Thuribe, which was also thought to heal diseased eyes. The sources about this saint are very late, from the Actus pontificum Cenomannis of the ninth century, and are to be used with caution. He is venerated in the Catholic Church.