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Godfrey was born to a pious noble French family in the year of Our Lord 1066. His father, after the death of Godfrey’s mother, entered a monastery, and Godfrey himself was educated in a monastery under the guidance of a holy abbot who was related to the great crusader kings of Jerusalem, Godfrey and Baldwin. The younger Godfrey was ordained a priest at age twenty-five, and soon appointed abbot of a nearly ruined and abandoned abbey in Champagne. In both cases Godfrey believed himself totally unworthy of the office, but fulfilled his duties with great piety and zeal, transforming the abbey into a center of holiness. Godfrey refused to be appointed abbot of a famous abbey at Rheims, but was compelled to accept his appointment as bishop of Amiens. He continued to practice strict mortifications, and tended to the poor in person each day. He never hesitated to condemn public sinners, no matter how lofty their position, and firmly enforced clerical discipline. He refused to grant an audience to anyone, even great princes, who were effeminate or ostentatious in their dress. Godfrey died of a fever while traveling in the year of Our Lord 1118.
THE Octave of All Saints.
At Rome, on the Lavican road, three miles from the city, the martyrdom of the Saints Claudius, Nicostratus, Symphorian, Castorius and Simplicius, who were first sent to prison, then scourged with whips set with metal, and as they could not be made to forsake the faith of Christ, Diocletian ordered them to be thrown into the river.
Also, on the Lavican way, the birthday of the saintly brothers, Severus, Severian, Carpophorus and Victorinus, called the Four Crowned, who were scourged to death with leaded whips, during the reign of the same emperor. As their names, known some years afterwards by revelation, could not then be ascertained, it was ordered that their anniversary should be commemorated with the preceding five, under the name of the Four Saints Crowned. This appellation was retained by the Church, even after their names had been revealed.
At Rome, St. Deusdedit, pope, whose merit was so great that he cured a leper by kissing him.
At Bremen, St. Willehad, first bishop of that city, who, in conjunction with St. Boniface, whose disciple he was, spread the Gospel in Friesland and Saxony.
At Soissons, in France, St. Godfrey, bishop of Amiens, a man of great holiness.
At Verdun, St. Maurus, bishop and confessor.
At Tours, St. Clarus, priest, whose epitaph was written by St. Paulinus.
℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
℟. Thanks be to God.