Baring-Gould’s sources: Saussaye’s Gallican Martyrology. But at Saint-Flour the festival of this saint is celebrated on June 1. Authority: — An untrustworthy Life from MSS. published by Joannes de Plantavit de la Pause, Bishop of Lodfcve, in his u Chronologia pnesulum Ludovensium,” 1634.] After the received fashion in France, the founders of the several churches are thrust back into Apostolic times. VOL. xiil 5 Accordingly S. Florus, first bishop of Lodfeve in Auvergne, is said to have been one of the seventy-two disciples of our Lord, and to have been baptized by Christ Himself, and therefore to have become His special spiritual child. Aftei the Ascension and the descent of the Holy Ghost, he attached himself to S. Peter, and followed him to Rome. The holy apostle sent Florus into Aquitain, and he settled at Lodfeve, where he laboured to bring the idolatrous Volcse to the religion of Christ. His preaching had such success that his converts cut down the trees they had previously venerated. From Lodfeve he went among the Arvemi, taking with him Gennadius, a priest, and Justus, a deacon. When near Bolesmes his companions were so oppressed with the heat and with thirst, that the saint had compassion on them, and driving his staff into the earth, produced for their relief a fountain of refreshing water. This spring, now covered with a little building, and surmounted by a cross, in the midst of a little wood, bears the name of “ La Fontaine de Saint-Flour,” and is now-a-days regarded as miraculous.

Thence Florus and his companions pursued their way by the roots of Mont Cantal, through the ravine of Planese, and ascending a little basaltic hill called Mons Indidacus, he planted on it a little chapel which he dedicated to S. Peter, and made this the centre of his mission. This became the origin of the church and town of Saint Flour. How long he lived there, and when he died, is not known. A grotto is shown at the base of the hill to which he is said to have retired for prayer.

Such is the legendary Life. But as the successor of S. Florus, named Matemus, sat in 506, we are probably not wrong in placing Florus in the fifth century. *S. Gwenal.