Feast day March 26
St. Isidore recognized the young nobleman Braulio as an outstanding graduate of his college at Seville in Spain and took him under his wing. He made Braulio his colleague, a peer to whom he submitted his books for editing. Isidore ordained him and appointed him bishop of Saragossa in 631.
St. Braulio maintained the pattern of life he had learned earlier as a monk. He lived simply, dressed in rough clothes, ate sparingly, and gave alms generously. He collaborated with Isidore in completing the conversion of the Visigoths from Arianism and in renewing church order in Spain.
Forty-four of Braulio’s letters that have survived give us a good picture of the saint and his ministry. He counseled priests on liturgical and pastoral questions. Sometimes he discussed complex theological matters like the resurrection of the body. Often, he consoled relatives and friends on the death of loved ones. In his most famous letter, he defended the Spanish bishops to Pope Honorius I, who had accused them of laxity. Braulio’s sense of humor bursts forth in letters requesting manuscripts, teasing friends who failed to visit, and lightly reprimanding an arrogant young priest who was to succeed him. Braulio is remembered as an eloquent preacher.
He prepared a list of the works of St. Isidore and reportedly completed some of his master’s unfinished works. St. Braulio went partially blind in 650 and died in the same year.
From: Loyola Press
