Forgotten: Saint Drogo

John-Paul Romano Discusses One of Our Lesser Known Saints, Who Can Help To Intercede for Something We Do Daily.

Laudetur Iesus Christus.

While taking part in research for my latest project, Italian Brothers (www.italianbrothers.com), a traditional ‘Bar’ themed Cafe in Canberra; I had to find a coffee supplier which both caught my love of black coffee, and who was also modern, innovative and at the same time classical.

One spring day, while in Sydney, I stumbled across a divine tasting Espresso, so I asked the owner of the deli what coffee he was using. He mentioned that it was a brand-new brand named, St. Dreux (www.saintdreux.com), and after a few other conversations, the partnership between Italian Brothers and St. Dreux had begun.

During one of my first encounters with Raf, St. Dreux’s owner, I asked how the brand got it's name, and he didn’t hesitate in saying that Saint Dreux was the patron saint of coffee and coffee shops. He also mentioned that the company's signature blend ‘The Shepard’ was named after the Saint’s profession. Both surprised and intrigued, I delved further into who Saint Dreux was, here is what I found...

Saint Drogo of Sebourg (14 March 1105 to 16 April 1186), also known as Saint Dreux, Saint Drugo, and Saint Druron, is a Flemish saint.

He was born in Epinoy, Flanders, and died in Sebourg, France.

His feast day is on 16 April.

He is the Patron Saint of; those whom others find repulsive, unattractive people, bodily ills, broken bones, cattle, coffee shop keepers, coffee shop owners, deaf people, deafness, dumbness, gall stones, hernias, illness, insanity, mental illness, mentally ill people, midwives, mute people, muteness, mutes, orphans, ruptures, sheep, shepherds, sick people, and sickness.

In the earliest edition of the Martyrologium Romanum approved by Pope Gregory XIII in 1584, as in every edition since, one finds a modest mention of “Saint Drogo, confessor” on 16 April. Behind this humble reference stands a largely forgotten story that offers not only a fascinating window but also a lesson in Christian spiritual discipline and charity that challenges our contemporary perspective.

Drogo was a child of Flemish nobility. His mother died when he was born, and he was orphaned as a teenager. Even as a boy he practised fasting, abstinence and other self-discipline, and devoted himself to works of charity in compensation of his faults. At age eighteen, he rid himself of all his property and became a penitential pilgrim, where he travelled to Rome about nine or ten times over his life.

Following Christ’s model, Drogo became a good shepherd. Indeed, he showed such natural talent that, despite his youth, he quickly acquired a reputation as a master of his occupation and would teach others.

Cherishing his simple life, Saint Drogo spent much of his time in prayerful contemplation and gave to the poor most of what he received in wages. His humility, gentleness and generosity quickly earned him the respect of the villagers.

Belief has it that, while Saint Drogo was out in the fields, tending his flock or deep in prayer, he could sometimes simultaneously be seen attending Mass in the village. This gave rise to a common saying that those who, if charged with several tasks, might object, “I’m not Saint Drogo; I can’t ring the church bell for Mass and be in the procession!”

During a pilgrimage, Saint Drogo was stricken with an unsightly physical disease. He became so deformed that he frightened other townspeople. Still in his twenties, a cell was built to protect the local citizens of the village from his ghastly appearance, concessions were made due to his holiness, and the cell was built attached to the local church.

Saint Drogo stayed in his cell without any human contact, except for a small window in which he received the Eucharist and obtained his food. He stayed there for the rest of his life, about forty years, surviving only on barley, water, and the Holy Eucharist.

One day the church caught fire, the alarm was sounded, and the villagers came running only to find that the disastrous blaze was beyond extinguishing and that Drogo’s neighbouring cell was in danger. As the fourteenth-century Franciscan monk Jacques de Guyse relates the episode, the villagers implored, “Drogo, man of God, come out lest you die, for your cell is engulfed in flames, and we cannot bring you aid!” Drogo called back, “I have made a vow to God, and I will fulfil it! If it pleases the Divine Goodness that I should escape the flames, His will be done!” Falling to his knees, Drogo remained in the fire and offered prayers of thanksgiving to the Almighty.

A short time later, the fire put itself out, having reduced most of the Church to ashes. The villagers found Drogo calmly at prayer amid the smouldering remains of his cell, completely unharmed. The people of Sebourg who witnessed this miracle recalled the Old Testament story of Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace, and exclaimed, “How great is the Savior’s mercy, to preserve a man from such a danger!” The villagers rebuilt the Church and a new house for Drogo on the same site.

The unusual circumstances of Drogo’s life led him to a spiritual condition of gratitude, penitence, and hope of salvation; adequately directed, these form the basis of Christian spiritual life in all ages. As you enjoy your daily coffee, remember St. Drogo of Sebourg and seek the path to your own peace in Christ.

John-Paul Romano KSC JP is a local businessman and Acolyte of St Christopher’s Cathedral Canberra. He is a Contributor of Vox Fidei.