Froilán, St.

views updated

FROILÁN, ST.

Patron and bishop of León; b. Lugo, Spain, 832; d. León, 905. With St. attilanus he combined the life of a hermit in the mountains of Galicia with that of a preacher. In Viseu, at popular request, he founded a flourishing monastery of 300 confessors. Alfonso III of Oviedo authorized him to build large monasteries on his southern frontier to further repopulation. Two such monasteries were founded by 900, when Froilán, against his will, was made bishop of León. In his last years he had the gift of prophecy. His religious practices resemble somewhat those of the Mozarabs at this time. He was included in the Roman martyrology in 1724.

Feast: Oct. 3.

Bibliography: h. flÓrez, España sagrada, 54 v. (Madrid 17471957) 34:422425. a. lambert, Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques, ed. a. baudrillart (Paris 1912) 5:169170. j. gonzÁlez, San Froilán de León (León 1946).

[e. p. colbert]