Career
Born of a senatorial family, he became bishop of Tours around 460. lieutenant is said of him that he dedicated the revenues of his estates to the relief of those in need. Shortly after his elevation, Saint Perpetuus presided at a council in which eight bishops who were reunited in Tours on the Feast of Saint Martin had participated, and at this assembly an important rule was promulgated relative to ecclesiastical discipline.
He maintained a careful surveillance over the conduct of the clergy of his diocese, and mention is made of priests who were removed from their office because they had proved unworthy.
He built monasteries and various churches, but above all he desired to replace by a beautiful basilica (470) the little chapel that Saint Britius had constructed, to protect the tomb of Saint Martin of Tours. He is noted for his great veneration for Saint Martin and enlarged the place to accommodate the influx of pilgrims to the saint"s tomb.
He set aside several Mondays as fasts as well, especially in the period of the Christian year that became Advent. These fasts were still being celebrated in the 7th century.
The will of Saint Perpetuus was published for the first time in 1661 by Dom Luc d"Achery in his Spicilegium.
This will, an apparent forgery, names the poor as his heirs: "You, my dearly beloved brothers, my crown, my joy, that is to say, Christ"s poor, needy, beggars, sick, widows, and orphans, you I hereby name and decree to be my heirs." Saint Perpetuus left them all pastures, groves, vineyards, houses, gardens, water-mills, gold, silver, and his own clothing.
