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| Saint Benezet the Bridge Builder, Pray for us ! |
⛪ Saint of the Day : April 14
⛪ Other Names :
• Benezet of Hermillon • Benedict • Bennet • Benet • Benoit
⛪ Born :
• c.1163 at Hermillon, Savoy, France
⛪ Died :
• 1184 • Body found incorrupt in 1669
⛪ Patronage :
• Avignon, France • Bachelors • Bridge Builders
⛪ Symbols :
• Boy carrying a large stone on his shoulder
Saint Bรฉnรฉzet (Benedict, Benezet, Benet, Benoรฎt, 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 Rhรดne River at Avignon.
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. Bรฉnรฉzet, 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-Bรฉnรฉzet.
According to the legend, there were shouts of "Miracle! Miracle!" when Bรฉnรฉzet 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.
Bรฉnรฉzet thus won support for his project from wealthy sponsors who formed themselves into a Bridge Brotherhood to fund its construction.
After his death, Bรฉnรฉzet 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 Bรฉnรฉzet 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.