Description

Oil Dedicated to St Herve (Patron for Sick Horses)

St Herve was the son of a traveling bard, a member of the court of one of the Frankish kings. Herve was born blind in the early sixth century. Even though he lacked sight. Herve lived with great joy. He took after his father and began to sing like a bard and troubadour. He lived near the French city of Plouvien as a hermit with his disciple and companion, Guiharan.

Herve became famous for his power to cure animals—wild and tame—and he tamed a wolf that was prowling the surrounding countryside. Herve is often shown with his wolf, as legend has it the beast accompanied him everywhere.

Once, Herve’s wolf devoured the ox that Herve kept as a draft animal. The pious Herve began to eloquently preach a sermon, begging the wolf to aid him in caring for the crops. From that day forward, the wolf took over for the ox in pulling the plow for Herve. Herve’s community of disciples grew, and a peaceful community of poet-hermits tended their land outside Plouvien until Herve died in 556 AD.

Welsh bard who was is a popular patron in Brittany, France. Herve, sometimes called Harvey or Hervues, was the son of the bard Hyvarnion and was born blind. Raised by his uncles because his mother was a hermitess, he was taken to Brittany.