S. DRAUSINUS, B. OF SOISSONS.
(A.D. 675.)
[Venerated at Soissons. Mentioned in some of the additions to Usuardus, and later Martyrologies. Authority:—A Life by a native of Soissons shortly after his translation, four years after the death of the saint.]
Drausinus or Drausius was a native of Soissons, and was the son of pious parents of noble rank. He was educated by S. Anseric, bishop of Soissons, on whose death he was called to fill his place. His virtues and charity caused him to be venerated as a saint immediately after his death. S. Thomas-à-Becket had recourse to his intercession when he was in France, before returning to England.
His relics were dispersed at the French Revolution, but his tomb, a very interesting specimen of Gallo-Roman art, is preserved in the Louvre. The Society of Antiquaries at Soissons has made many attempts to recover it for the cathedral at Soissons, but hitherto in vain.
B. PETER OF CASTELNAU, MK. M.
(A.D. 1209.)
[Benedictine Martyrology, and Saussaye in his Gallican Martyrology. Authorities:—William of Puis-Laurent, and other contemporary historians of the Albigensian war, and the letters of Innocent III.]
The name of the Albigenses probably arose from the condemnation of these heretics at the council of Albi, under the presidence of Gerard, bishop of that diocese, in the year 1176.
Under the name was included that vast body of heretics which agreed on certain fundamental dogmas, but differed on minor particulars, as they borrowed more or less from Christianity. They inhabited the Duchy of Narbonne, the Marquisate of Toulouse, and the southern portion of the Duchy of Aquitaine, mixed with Catholics in some parts, in other parts comprising the entire population.