February 28 + Saint Romanus of Condat

Born in 390 AD, Romanus was just 35 years old when he dedicated his life to that of a hermit, living humbly in prayer in the Jura Mountains between Switzerland and France. At first, Romanus lived under the protection of a large tree which furnished him with wild fruit. Here he spent his time praying, reading, and laboring for his subsistence.

Before long, however, Romanus was joined by his brother Lupicinus, their sister and a number of other followers. Romanus and Lupicinus founded several monasteries. These included the Condat Abbey for their sister, which was the nucleus of the later town of Saint-Claude, Lauconne (later Saint-Lupicin, as Lupicinus was buried there), La Balme (later Saint-Romain-de-Roche where Romanus was buried), and Romainmotier (Romanum monasterium), now in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland.

Romanus visited the place of martyrdom of the Theban Legion, a band of 6,600 Catholic soldiers who were killed in 286 A.D. when they refused to assist in the eradication of Christianity. As he traveled, the holy monk came upon two lepers and miraculously cured them. News of this miracle spread, and Romanus became well-known as a man of God. Romanus died in 463 and was buried in the church of the convent where his sister governed.

He is the patron saint against insanity and mental illness.