St. Honoratus Day
May 16, 2025
Saint Honoratus of Amiens: Patron of Bakers and Keeper of Sacred Flame
On May 16, the Church honors Saint Honoratus of Amiens—a sixth-century bishop remembered not only for his miracles and deep devotion but also as the patron of bakers and pastry chefs. Born in Port-le-Grand, France, to a noble family, Honoratus (also known as Honoré or Honorius) lived a life marked by humility, piety, and grace.
Despite his reluctance, Honoratus was elected the seventh bishop of Amiens, a role he accepted with deep reverence. He was known for his charity, rigorous fasting, and sleepless vigils. It was during the celebration of the Mass that he once experienced a profound vision—while holding the Eucharistic Host at consecration, he saw the very hand of Christ holding the Host alongside him. This moment affirmed the sacred power of the sacrament and cemented his legacy as a holy intercessor.
During his bishopric, Honoratus also uncovered long-lost relics of saints Victoricus, Fuscian, and Gentian, which had been hidden for 300 years.
After his passing around 600 AD, reports of miracles attributed to his intercession quickly spread. One particularly event took place when his body was temporarily brought to a church for public veneration. As the relics were carried out, the corpus of the crucifix inside the church bowed toward the saint—a gesture witnessed by both clergy and laity.
The miraculous did not end there. Upon the announcement of his appointment as bishop, his childhood nursemaid scoffed at the news while baking bread, saying she would only believe it if the wooden peel she was using sprouted into a tree. According to legend, the peel took root and blossomed into a mulberry tree, bearing flowers and fruit.
By the 11th century, devotion to Saint Honoratus had become widespread. When his body was exhumed in 1060, numerous miraculous healings were reported. His relics were later paraded through the French countryside to raise funds for the construction of Amiens Cathedral, and a statue in his likeness now graces its southern portal.
In 1202, a baker named Renaud Cherins donated land in Paris to build a chapel in his honor. That chapel gave its name to the now-famous Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. By 1400, the Parisian bakers' guild had chosen him as their patron, and in 1659, King Louis XIV mandated that all bakers honor his feast day annually.
Today, Saint Honoratus is best known as the patron saint of bakers, pastry chefs, and all who work with bread and sweets. The classic St. Honoré Cake, made of choux pastry and caramel, is named after him. But beyond his connection to flour and ovens, Honoratus remains a symbol of sacred service, humility, and divine vision.
His life reminds us that even the most ordinary tasks, like baking bread, can become holy acts when done with devotion. But most chefs will tell you that the secret ingredient in all their food is love.