STEPHEN OF DIE, ST.

Also known as Stephen of Châtillon, Carthusian bishop; b. Châtillon-lez-Dombes, France, Diocese of Lyons, c. 1150; d. Sept. 7, 1208. Born of a famous family of Châtillon, Stephen very early in life gave signs of his religious vocation by his fasting and penances. When he was 26 he became a carthusian at Portes. After 25 years as an exemplary monk he was elected prior of his charter-house. In 1207 when the See of Die became vacant, the people and canons acclaimed Stephen their new bishop, but he refused to accept until enjoined to do so by Pope Innocent III and the general of the Carthusians. He devoted his short episcopate to a reform of the diocese. He was credited with several miracles during his lifetime and with so many more after his death that in 1231 Pope Gregory IX was asked to proclaim him blessed. His beatification in the 13th century remains doubtful, but in 1852 Pius IX authorized his cult in the diocese of Die and in 1857 extended it to the Carthusians.

Feast: Sept. 7.

Bibliography: v. leclerc, Histoire littéraire de la France (Paris): v. 1–12, ed. Maurists (1733–68); v. 13–38, ed. Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres (1814–1941); v.1–29 (repr. 1865–) 21:575. Acta Sanctorum (Antwerp 1643–) Sept. 3:175–201. j. l. baudot and l. chaussin, Vies des saints et des bienheureux selon l'ordre du calendrier avec l'historique des fêtes, ed. by the Benedictines of Paris, 12 v. (Paris 1935–56); v. 13, suppl. and table générale (1959) 9:156. a. m. sochay, Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques, ed. a. baudrillart et al. (Paris 1912–) 15: 1220–22.

[j. a. corbett]