a ST. LANDRY PARISH article

Cultures of Acadiana
a look at the French, Cajun, Creole, and Native American cultures of south Louisiana
(a project of Carencro High School (721 West Butcher Switch Road, Lafayette, LA 70507)

Lafayette (LA) Daily Advertiser, September 30, 1997

Parish was named for early Bishop of Paris

by Jim Bradshaw

St. Landry, for whom the parish is named, was Bishop of Paris from 650 to 656. He distinguished himself by his charity, particularly during a widespread famine in 651. His feast day is June 10.

According to "Butler's Lives of the Saints," St. Landry "was a very earnest and devout man, distinguished especially by his great love of the poor; to relieve them, during a time of famine, he sold not only his personal possessions, but also some of the vessels and furniture of the church."

He was the founder of the Hôtel-Dieu du Paris, which continues in operation today. "Before his day, the only facilities for the care of the sick poor of Paris were provided by a few little hostels ...dependent for their up keep from day to day on casual alms." According to "Lives of the Saints," St. Landry founded "the first hospital near Notre Dame and dedicated under the name of St. Christopher."

It subsequently developed into the great institution which was famous in later ages as the "Hôtel-Dieu." There is another St. Landry who was abbot of monasteries in Belgium and France and was a missionary in the Brussels area. He died about 730. His feast day is April 17.

This article is copyrighted © by the Lafayette (LA) Daily Advertiser and is used with permission. This web site was originated through a grant awarded to Carencro High School (Joel Hilbun/Bobbi Marino, Grant Administrators) by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education from the Louisiana Quality Education Support Fund - 8(g).