June 8 + Saints Gildard and Medard

Gildard and Medard of France were twin brothers. They were born on the same day in the year 448 AD, consecrated bishops on the same day, and died on the same day in 525.

Medard was Bishop of Noyon. Gildard was Bishop of Rouen. Their memories are most loving ones in northern France. 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 Catholic peasants of northern France take it as a sign that it will rain for forty days more.