ST. DIE, OR DEODATUS, BISHOP OF NEVERS, AND ABBOT OF JOINTURES

THIS saint was nobly born in the west of France, and endued with eminent gifts both of nature and grace. In 655, he was placed in the episcopal chair of Nevers. He fulfilled all the duties of the pastoral charge with great fear and trembling, till, in 664, he resigned his dignity, and having recommended to his clergy the choice of a successor, retired into the deserts, and there led an eremitical life. In 661, Hun, lord of the Val de Galilee, near Mount Vosge, bestowed on him that territory, and his donation was confirmed by Childeric II., king of Austrasia. Upon this spot St. Die founded the monastery of Jointures, which he put under the rule of St. Columban, though this was afterwards exchanged for that of St. Bennet. Dreading the charge of others, he continued still to live in a neighboring little cell, dedicated to St. Martin.*

St. Die gave up his soul to God in the arms of St. Hidulphus, on the 19th of June, in 679 or 680. A town called St. Diei rose about his monastery, and this abbey has been since converted into a collegiate church. See Mabillon, sæc. 3, Bened. and Bulteau,1. 3, c. 34.