Career
Saint Vedast or Vedastus, also known as Saint Vaast (in Flemish, Norman, and Picard) or Saint Waast (also in Picard and Walloon) and Saint Gaston in French, (died c 540) was an early bishop in the Frankish realm. At the beginning of the sixth century Saint Remigius, bishop of Reims, profited by the good will of the Frankish monarchy to organize the Catholic hierarchy in the north of Gaul. Vedast, when a young man, left his own country (which seems to have been in the west of France), and led a holy life concealed from the world in the diocese of Toul.
The bishop, taking notice of him, ordained him to the priesthood.
Vedast was assigned to accompany the king. The traditional account says that while on the road to Rheims, they encountered a blind beggar at the bridge over the river Aisne.
The man besought Vedast"s assistance. The priest was inspired to pray and blessed the beggar, at which point the man immediately recovered his sight.
The miracle convinced the king to adopt his wife"s religion.
Vedast became an advisor to King Clovis. Remigius named him the first bishop of Arras, France (499) and later Bishop of Cambrai (510). He died on February 6, 539 at Arras.
On the night he died, the locals saw a luminous cloud ascend from his house, apparently carrying away Vedast’s soul.
The Abbey of Saint Vaast was later founded in his honour in Arras. His feast is on 6 February.
Vedast was venerated throughout Belgium as well as England (from the 10th century), where he was known as Saint Foster. Three ancient churches in England (in London (Street Vedast Foster Lane), Norwich, and Tathwell) were dedicated to him.
Patronage
He is a patron saint invoked against eye trouble.
