Died 1184 Name Bénézet Bénézet | Feast April 14 | |
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Attributes portrayed as a boy carrying a large stone on his shoulder Patronage Avignon; bachelors; bridge-builders | ||
Venerated in Roman Catholic Church | ||
Ch teau saint b n zet le domaine
Saint Bénézet (Benedict, Benezet, Benet, Benoît, the Bridge-Builder), (ca. 1163–1184) is a saint of the Catholic Church, considered the founder of the Bridge-Building Brotherhood. Christian tradition states that he was a shepherd boy who saw a vision during an eclipse in 1177. This told him to build a bridge over the Rhône River at Avignon.
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He was told that angels would watch over his flocks in his absence. He built the bridge single-handedly; ecclesiastical and civil authorities refused to help him. Bénézet, it is said, lifted a huge stone into place, and announced it would be the start of the foundation. This would become the Pont Saint-Bénézet.
According to the legend, there were shouts of "Miracle! Miracle!" when Bénézet had laid the first stone. Eighteen miracles occurred in total: the blind had their vision restored, the deaf could hear again, cripples could walk; and hunchbacks had their backs straightened.
Bénézet thus won support for his project from wealthy sponsors who formed themselves into a Bridge Brotherhood to fund its construction.
Le pont saint b n zet
Veneration
After his death, Bénézet was interred on the bridge itself, in a small chapel dedicated to Saint Nicholas, patron saint of mariners, standing on one of the bridge's surviving piers on the Avignon side. His relics were enshrined there until 1669, when a flood washed away part of the bridge. His coffin, recovered, was opened and the body of Bénézet was found to be incorrupt. The relics were translated to Avignon cathedral and thence to the Celestine church of Saint Didier. The remains of the bridge still remain a pilgrimage site.