HE was born of a considerable family in the territory of Thoulouse, and
passed his first years at the court of two successive kings, Childeric
II. and Theodoric III. Every thing was ready for his marriage, when,
powerfully touched by divine grace, he renounced all worldly prospects,
and retired from court. His thoughts were now bent upon Jesus Christ
alone, and he longed for nothing so much as to enjoy silence and
solitude. After several devout penitential pilgrimages to Jerusalem and
other places, he took orders at Rome, and was consecrated bishop, some
say of Thoulouse, others of Terouenne. But his name is not found in any
ancient register of either of those churches, and it is now agreed,
among the most judicious critics, that he was ordained a regionary
bishop to preach the gospel to infidels. His zeal carried him into the
north of France, and he spent most of his time in the diocese of
Terouenne, which was then full of Pagans, and Christians but one remove
from them. He was indefatigable in preaching to them the great truths
and essential obligations of our holy faith, and taught them to despise
and renounce the pleasures of this life, by appearing on all occasions a
strong lesson of self-denial and mortification. Instructing them thus,
both by words and actions, he gathered a large harvest in a wild and
uncultivated field. After many years thus spent, he died at Auchy, in
the county of Artois, on the 15th of February, in 718. He is
commemorated in Usuard, the Belgic and Roman Martyrologies, on the 17th,
which was the day of his burial: but at Auchy on the 15th. The greatest
part of his relics is now at St. Bertin's, at St. Omers, whither they
were carried in 951, for fear of the Normans. Usuard is the first who
styles St. Silvin bishop of Terouenne. Some think he was born, not at
Thoulouse, but at Thosa, or Doest, near Bruges; or rather at another
Thosa, now Doesbury, in Brabant; for in his life it is said that he
travelled westward to preach the gospel. His original life, which was
ascribed to Antenor, a disciple of the saint, is lost: that which we
have was compiled in the ninth century. See Bolland. t. 3, Feb. p. 29,
Mabillon, Act. Bened. Saec. 3, par. 1, p. 298. Chatelain's Notes, p. 659.