January 27 - Feast of Sainte Devote in Monaco

Posted on January 27, 2020

There is a sad story connected to many a saint, and Sainte Devote is no exception. At age 19, the story goes, Devote lived a life dedicated to Christianity in Corsica (an island between France and Italy). This was back in the 300s, and the Roman Empire had not yet embraced Christianity; the Roman Emperor Diocletian ordered Devote to be arrested and even killed.

Christians were able to get Devote's body and wanted to ship it to Africa for burial, but a huge storm kicked up in the Mediterranean Sea. The boat carrying Devote's body wound up on the shores of what is now the principality of Monaco, and so she is buried there instead.

Devote became a Catholic saint, and a chapel was built in Monaco to house her remains.

Apparently someone tried to steal her remains a looooooong time ago, but believers were able to stop the thief and - as punishment - burned his boat.

That boat burning, centuries ago, is the reason that every year, on January 27 (the Feast Day of Sainte Devote), there is a boat-burning ceremony in front of Devote's chapel.