These two saints of France were, as we are told in the Roman Martyrology, twin brothers. They were born on the same day, consecrated bishops on the same day, and on the same day they died. Saint Medard was Bishop of Noyon. Saint Gildard was Bishop of Rouen. Their memories are most loving ones in northern France. Saint Medard began the custom of crowning each year as the Rose Queen the most virtuous and holy young Catholic girl of his diocese. If it rains on the feast of Saint Medard, the loving Catholic peasants of northern France take it as a sign that it will rain for forty days more. This same custom prevails in England with regard to Saint Swithin, whose feast day is July 2 and the feast of the translation of whose body is July 15, which day, for weather reasons, is called Saint Swithin’s Day.
Saints Medard and Gildard
