San Giustiniano

Who they were

According to a legend recorded in a manuscript held in the National Library of Paris, Justinian was the child born to Anianus and Justa, a pagan couple without children whom Bishop Martial of Limoges had converted, baptised, and promised a child. The promise was fulfilled, and on the road between Angoulême and Limoges, as the parents were travelling to bring the news to the bishop, the baby was born. Martial baptised him and gave him the name Justinian; on the return journey the child died in the very same place, aged only four days.

His sainthood was never formally recognised by a canonisation process but arose from local devotion after miracles were reported through his intercession. He came to be venerated especially at Limoges, with his feast fixed at 16 July, and his relics were later given to the abbey of Belvès in the Dordogne.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.

Why that counted as sanctity

Child saint venerated at Limoges since the legendary account of his birth and death at four days old; feast 16 July.