Legends

Chapelle de la Madeleine

The Chapel of Saint Magdeleine

Around 900AD, on the seas around our coastline, a Viking chief named Vieul Aux Espaulles was caught in a storm. Rou's book recounts how Vieul "being in peril on the sea vowed that he would become a Christian if he escaped the storm" When he reached the shore Vieul remained true to his promise: he had a chapel constructed in honour of Saint "Magdeleine" and was baptised without delay. Nothing remains of the primitive chapel except the baptismal font which would have been the one, according to legend, from which Vieul Aux Espaulles was baptised. The chapel whch stands today was rebuilt in the 16th century as a thanksgiving by English sailors who had also miraculously escaped a shipwreck.


The Miracle of Le Vey


The "Miracle of Le Vey" which took place at the construction of the Church of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont in the Middle Ages is recounted by Abbot Louis, priest of the parish in the 19th century. He was told the story by a local historian who himself had come across it in the annals of the Order of St Benoit (it was the monks of this order who had built the Church of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont) where Mabillon had committed it for safe-keeping in the 16th century. "Having arrived with carts loaded with stones hewn
from the quarries of Bessin and in order to reach their destination they had to cross a large sandy space swept by the tides each day . The heavily burdened carts advanced slowly, oftimes sinking into the sands. The rising tide threatened to engulf the convoy at which time the holy workers in danger of perishing invoked with ardent prayer the assistance of God and of their exalted patron saint, queen and star of the sea. Suddenly the breakers, once so menacing, rose to a peak ceasing their flux and when all were spared, men and chattels, these same waves fell again and instantly and ferociously swept the vast shore." Abbot Louis then noted that the older parts of the church were in fact built from Bessin stone and that this was brought by way of Le Vey.

Saint guérisseur

Healer saints are prayed to for their divine intervention to cure a particular ill "a saintly illness" which cannot be cured by traditional medicine. Each saint has his "speciality". Prayers are said to Saint-Méen at Sainte-Mère-Eglise where he is the second patron saint. Born at the end of the 6th century, of Welsh origin, this saint was forced to flee to Brittany where he took refuge from the Saxon invasion. According to legend Saint Méen visited the village of Saint-Marcouf and on the way became thirsty. He tapped the ground with his staff and a spring gushed forth at that very place. It has never run dry since.

Sometimes there is a phonetic similarity between the name of the saint and the disease he can cure. Saint-Méen heals scabies on the hands ( "les mains"), in fact he is said to cure all skin diseases. Custom dictates that the person afflicted takes away a little of the" miracle water" to continue the treatment at home.

Saint-Eutrope is honoured at Brucheville. "Saint-Ytrope" disease is otherwise known as "l'hydropisie" (dropsy)

Also in the church at Brucheville there is a painting representing Saint-Giles overpowering a monster. It is advised to bring children here who are suffering from nightmares. They have to "touch the Saint-Gilles beast" and attend a mass celebrated in honour of the saint so that their night terrors disappear.

The Fountain of Saint-Ouen in Carquebut is said to have the power to cure eye infections.