Fraimbault de Lassay, also known as the Auvergnat, was a 6th-century hermit and evangelist born in Auvergne. After being raised in a senatorial family, he renounced court life to pursue a contemplative existence. He spent time as an ascetic in a cave near the Seine before joining the abbey of Micy. He later became a priest and traveled to the Maine region, where he established several monasteries and served as an influential missionary, earning a reputation as an apostle of the area.
Life and work
Following his early years of meditation, Fraimbault moved to the Maine region to assist the Bishop of Mans. Alongside Constantien of Javron, he founded monastic cells that served as foundations for future disciples. He eventually settled near the Mayenne river, where his preaching and teaching, including instruction on agriculture, drew many followers. He spent his final years visiting his various monastic foundations before passing away in 570.
Veneration and relics
The saint is commemorated on August 16. His remains were reportedly moved to Senlis to protect them from Viking raids, where they were housed in a royal collegiate church. Other relics are preserved in Ivry-sur-Seine and Lassay. His tomb in Lassay became a site of pilgrimage, and he is traditionally associated with the protection of land and crops.