Severus of Avranches

Severus of Avranches was born to a poor peasant family in France. According to historian Georges Goyau, Severus was a sixth century shepherd, "...who was perhaps Bishop of Avranches"^[1]

Saint Severus of Avranches
Bishop and Abbot
Born	Cotentin, Normandy, France
Died	c. 690
Venerated in	Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church
Canonized	Pre-Congregation
Major shrine	Rouen, France
Feast	1 February
Attributes	Bishop with a nearby horse
Patronage	against fever; against migraine; drapers; fever; hatmakers; hatters; migraine; milliners; silk workers; weavers; wool manufacturers; wool weavers

He was a shepherd in his youth. After joining the priesthood, he rose through the ranks of monk, priest and later abbot. He eventually became bishop of Avranches. It appears that he was dragged by the local clergy from his forest cell to undergo consecration.^[2] In his later years, he resigned his bishopric and returned to monastic life.