Guy of Anderlecht

Infobox Saint
name=Guy of Anderlecht
birth_date=c. 950
death_date=1012
feast_day=12 September
venerated_in=Roman Catholic Church


imagesize=175
caption=Saint Guy of Anderlecht depicted as a pilgrim in a Book of Hours, c. 1484-1529
birth_place=Anderlecht, Belgium
death_place=Anderlecht, Belgium
titles="The Poor Man of Anderlecht"
beatified_date=
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attributes=A peasant praying with an angel plowing a nearby field; a pilgrim with a book or with a hat, staff, rosary, and an ox at his feet
patronage=Anderlecht, Belgium; against mad dogs; against rabies; bachelors; epileptics; horned animals; laborers; protection of outbuildings, stables, and sheds; sacristans; work horses
major_shrine=
suppressed_date=
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Saint Guy of Anderlecht (also, Guido, Guidon, Wye of Láken) (ca. 950–1012) was a Belgian Christian saint. He was known as the "Poor Man of Anderlecht."

Life and legend

Born to poor parents, he lived a simple agricultural life until starting as a sacristan in the local church. He remained so until persuaded to invest in a trading venture. When the ship carrying the cargo in which he had invested sank in the harbour, Guy believed he was being punished for being greedy and went on a pilgrimage, first to Rome as penance, and then to Jerusalem where he worked as a guide to other pilgrims. He died on his way home.

Veneration

He is the patron saint of Anderlecht, animals with horns, bachelors, convulsive children, epileptics, laborers, protection of outbuildings, protection of sheds, protection of stables, sacristans, sextons, work horses; and is invoked against epilepsy, against rabies, against infantile convulsions, and against mad dogs. [ [http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintg39.htm Patron Saints Index: Saint Guy of Anderlecht ] ]

In iconography he is represented as a peasant praying with an angel plowing a nearby field or as a pilgrim with a book or with a hat, staff, rosary, and an ox at his feet.

His grave was said to have been found when a horse kicked it. Cabdrivers of Brabant led an annual pilgrimage to Anderlecht until the beginning of World War I in 1914. They and their horses headed the procession followed by farmers, grooms, and stable boys, all leading their animals to be blessed. The village fair that ended the religious procession was celebrated by various games, music, and feasting, followed by a competition to ride the carthorses bareback. The winner entered the church on bareback to receive a hat made of roses from the parish pastor.

References

External links

* [http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintg39.htm GUY of Anderlecht]
* [http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=473 St. Guy of Anderlecht]
* [http://www.jesus-passion.com/saint_guy.htm Saint Guy of Anderlecht]
*it icon [http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/70000 San Guido di Anderlecht]