Mayeul

Saint Mayeul

Also known as
· Maiolus

memorial
· 11 May

Profile

Mayuel was the head Deacon In Charge (HDIC) of Macon, France. More literary types call this the Archdeacon, an office we really don’t have in the western church anymore.

He was so effective, well liked and popular he was the front-runner to become the new bishop. Deacons were often chosen to be Bishops and sometimes even the Pope back in the good old days. The slow decline of the Order of Deacons beginning in the year 500 had as a big component what the Vatican calls, "Corporatism." Specifically, priests were circling the wagons in deference to their own interests at the expense of the Order of Deacons.

In 1998 no less than the CONGREGATION FOR CATHOLIC EDUCATION, CONGREGATION FOR THE CLERGY published a document which said: The local Ordinary should foster a “spirit of communion” among deacons and priests ministering in his diocese and avoid any form of “corporatism” which was a factor in the decline and eventual extinction of the permanent Diaconate in earlier centuries.

You see, many Bishops (including the Bishop of Rome) were chosen from the Order of Deacons due to their popularity and success with the general population, being ministers of service. This bothered a lot of the order of Presbyters who saw Deacons as competition in a secular career rather than all servants of the Lord. I would like to say this doesn’t continue today…..That’s what I would like to say.

Unfortunately many in the educated and even ordained Catholic community still do not realize the depth of the diaconal Vocation, yet. The president of the Cofraternity of Catholic Clergy, Fr. John Trugilio, has said:

There is no such thing as a 'lay' deacon. That is an oxymoron. All deacons, priests and bishops are clergy. Some deacons are transitional, some permanent. Permanent deacons may be married but only prior to being ordained. That being said, it makes sense to have clergy wear clerical attire of some sort when doing ecclesiastical work or when engaged in the apostolate. Some deacons are accused of being clerical, however, simply because they want to witness to their vocation as ordained ministers. When working in their secular occupations or when off duty with their family and friends, it makes sense that these men dress appropriately but all the more so when they are doing the work of Church.

When a prisoner or a hospital patient ask to see the chaplain, if they see a man in shirt and tie, they do not recognize an ordained cleric. Seeing a deacon in some form of collar, be it black or gray, assures them this man is a CATHOLIC CLERIC. And if the person requests confession or anointing, guess what? The deacon then calls for the priest. My priesthood is not threatened nor encroached by the diaconate. …Clericalism tries to clericalize the laity and laicize the clergy. It is a caricature and a distortion of what should and ought to be.

Anyway when our saint got wind of this move to make him bishop he felt himself unworthy so he became a monk at Cluny Abbey. He was chosen assistant abbot in 954, and then abbot in 965 much against his will.

Mayeul was devoted to learning, and led his brothers by good example. He became counselor to Holy Roman Emperors Emperor Otto I and Emperor Otto II. Otto II wanted to put Our Saint as a candidate for Pope, but Mayeul would have none of it.

Born
c.906 at Avignon, France

Died
994 at Souvigny, France en route to Paris