St. Eligius was
born in Limousin. He started life as a goldsmith, and thanks to his talent
was taken to the court of Clotar II, Merovingian King, eventually he became
the king's treasurer. Dagobert, who succeeded Clotar II in 629, took
Eligius into service as his chief counselor and entrusted him with many
missions. At Dogobert’s death, in 639, Eligius became a priest, then bishop
of Nayon. He spent the last 20 years of his life administering his parish,
one of the largest in the Kingdom, devoting himself to the poor and freeing
slaves.
St. Eligius is the patron saint
of goldsmiths and blacksmiths; saint protector of horse and patron
of all equestrian crafts. In fine arts he is depicted as a bishop with
mitre and crosier; as a goldsmith, with a chalice or a piece of gold work;
as a blacksmith with pincers, hammer, anvil or horseshoe.
See: Botticelli Coronation
of the Virgin with the Saints John the Evangelist, Augustine, Jerome and
Eligius. (San Marco altarpiece).
Petrus Christus St.
Eligius, as a Goldsmith, Hands the Wedding Couple a Ring.
Recommended reading:
Lives
of the Saints: From Mary and Francis of Assisi to John XXIII and Mother
Teresa by Richard McBrien (Author). Harper SanFrancisco, 2001.