Fructuosus of Braga

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For the martyr-saint of Tarragona, see Fructuosus.

Saint Fructuosus of Braga was the bishop of Dumio and archbishop of Braga, a great founder of monasteries, who died 16 April, c.665.^[1] He was the son of a Visigothic dux in the region of Bierzo and he accompanied his father at a young age on certain official trips over his estates. Fructuosus was a disciple of Bishop Conantius of Palencia.

Fructuosus' relationship with the kings of his time was not always happy. In 652, he wrote what was apparently a second letter to king Reccesuinth asking for the release of political prisoners from the reign of Chintila, some of whom languished in prison until the reign of Erwig. In 656, he undertook to plan a voyage to the Levant, however, it was illegal according to the new laws of Chindasuinth to leave the land without royal permission. One of the few disciples privy to his plans gave him up to authorities and he was arrested and imprisoned. He was later present at the Eighth Council of Toledo in 653, where he raised the issue of political prisoners again.

After the eighth council, which Bishop Riccimer of Dumio could not personally attend on account of old age, Riccimer died and Fructuosus replaced him in that see. At the subsequent Tenth Council of Toledo (656), the clergy of Dumio complained that Riccimer's will, which dispensed church rents to the poor and freed the episcopate's slaves, had impoverished the see. The council agreed that, by no providing compensation, Riccimer had obviated his duty and the acts of his will were invalid. They gave the job of correcting the problem to Fructuosus and commanded him to take moderation in the case of the slaves. At the same council, Potamius of Braga was put in a monastery for carnality and his archdiocese was given to Fructuosus.

Fructuosus was a true medieval saint in every way. He dressed so shabbily as to be mistaken for a slave and receive a beating from a peasant, from which he was only saved by a miracle (according to the monkish chroniclers). He founded his greatest monastery at Nono and attracted such a number of monks that the local duke complained to the king that he had lost too much of his military levy. His Vita is one of the chief sources for writing the history of his age. His relics were transferred to Santiago de Compostela.