Secondel

Who they were

The deacon Secondello joined the hermit Friardo on the island of Vinduneta near Nantes, where the two lived a rigorous life of prayer and penance inspired by the Desert Fathers, each in his own cell. Their story is told by Gregory of Tours, who valued miracles and wonders above historical precision.

Once, having left the island to preach and heal the sick, Secondello returned well pleased with the good he had done; Friardo gently warned him that the devil could use such satisfaction to plant pride in him. Soon after, the tempter appeared to Secondello even in the likeness of Christ, but the deacon drove him off simply by making the sign of the cross. Secondello died before Friardo, in the second half of the 6th century; the Roman Martyrology keeps their feast together on 1 August, though his own local feast at Nantes is 29 April.

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

Deacon and hermit who shared a rigorous ascetic life with St Friardo on the island of Vinduneta near Nantes; commemorated together with him on 1 August, with his own local feast on 29 April.

Connected on this site

• Gregory of Tours Saint
  “Their story is told by Gregory of Tours, who valued miracles and wonders above historical precision.” — this site's research