Saint Vaast or Waast or Gaston

celebrated on February 6

From the Latin Vedastus Atrebatnsis - variations: Vedast, Vât, Waast,

Gast (Gaston, in the objective case)

In English: Vedast, Foster

In German : Vedastus

In the north of France, the V of Vedastus has tended to become a W giving Vaast, while in the south it has undergone a morphological mutation towards G similar to how Vitus has become Guy or Valantin was transformed into Galantin and Galantine. In a similar way, Guillaume has become William.

Vedastus was transformed into Gast or Wast and then into Gaston.

Saint Gaston or Vaast or Waast appears to have been born to a wealthy family in Villac near Terrasson in Périgrod, former province of France. The parish church is dedicated to him and a fountain is named in his honour.

After leaving his parents he withdrew to Toul where he lived alone. But his reputation grew and the bishop of Toul brought him into his fold. At this time, Clovis the First fought against Germanic tribesmen who were undoubtedly attempting to undermine the nascent French monarchy. Returning from battle, Colvis came by Toul where he met Vaast who had the reputation of being a fervent believer. Clovis asked him for instruction in matters relating to God. Vaast accepted and followed him. He thus became the catechist of Clovis. During the journey, while passing through the village of Rilly-aux-oies (near Attigny, on the river Aisen, east of Rethel), Vaast restored the sight of a blind man who happened to be near the king. The king was very impressed. Not long afterwards he was baptised by St. Rémi who, while pouring water over him said, “Bend your neck, O Sicambre, under the yoke of Jesus Christ, adore what you have burned and burn what you have adored!” Three thousand Frank nobles were baptised after him. This took place on December 25, 496.

While leaving Reims, Clovis recommended Vaast to Saint Rémi, who sent him to instruct the local villagers. Then Rémi consecrated him as Bishop of Arras in Artois. But Arras had suffered greatly because of the invasions of the Vandals and the Alains, followed by the destruction inflicted on it by Attila in 450.

On entering Arras, Vaast cured a blind man and then a lame man who asked him for alms. In this way he gained the confidence of the Arrageois (or Artisans). But all the places constructed for worship were in ruins, covered with brambles and providing refuge for wild animals. Vaast began to cry and he prayed. At that moment, a bear emerged from the ruins (the Legende Doré speaks of a wolf) but Vaast was not alarmed. He implored the bear to not harm anyone. It became docile and followed him, becoming his faithful companion. Some say that it was a she-bear. Vaast began in earnest to reconstruct the religious buildings and to convert the habitants of the surrounding region.

Clovis’s son, Clotarie the First, along with his court, took up Roman habits. While in their bellicose mood, they spent much time in banquets and orgies. Beer (cervoise) flowed freely and the participants always ended up staggering drunk.

One day, a notable named Ocine, (or Hozinus) invited Vaast to a feast he was giving for the king. Vaast accepted, intending to put an end to what he considered scandalous behaviour. As he entered the room he made the sign of the cross and all the vases filled with beer broke. Vaast explained that the devil was hiding in these vases and had fled while the beer spilt out over the ground. Everyone was aghast in the face of this wonder. Many were converted.

Saint Rémi then gave Vaast the charge of governor of the diocese of Cambrai. (In 510) Arras and Cambrai were united administratively and this lasted until the eleventh century.

Then Vaast turned his attention to de Beauvaisis, where he rebuilt many churches  and where he performed numerous miracles.

He had become old and ailing. On a cold winter’s night, his house in Arras went up in an immense blaze that rose to the heavens. It lasted for two hours. Someone came to warn Vaast, who had understood that his time had come to leave this earth. He died on February 6, 540.

Some time after his death a fire erupted in Arras. It threatened the whole town. A woman by the name of Abite invoked Saint Vaast. She saw him appear. He put down the flames. The saint’s house was saved.

In the ninth century, many of the Abbeys in Artois sent sailors out to sea to catch fish. Those of the St. Vaast Abby were required to pay two pennies for the right to cast their nets. They refused and prayed to their patron saint. The boats sailed from the port and had great difficulty getting back to dry land.  Only those of Saint Vaast were able to bring back enormous quantities of fish without any effort. In memory of this miracle the sailors of Artois still pay two pennies each year to the monks of the Abby of Saint Vaast.

In the manuscripts that related the life of Saint Vaast, he is portrayed as being followed by a bear.

The English venerate Saint Vaast under the name of Foster (as in "foster parent"). This is where the name, Foster, comes from.

Vaast wished to be buried in the small chapel that he had built by the side of the Crinchon River. But the site was not considered very pretty and he was brought to the famous Notre Dame cathedral.

Many of the churches in the region are named after Saint Vaast and possess numerous artefacts. His bones are spread over Bailleul, Annezin, Wrugles, Vergies, Fouquières-les-Lens, Lattre-Saint-Quentin, the home for the elderly of Aire, Moreuil, (Amiens) Notre Dame de Saint Omer, Le Pas, Bienvillers au bois, the Arras seminary, Laventie, Gonnehem, Fruges, Saint Vaast-la-Hougues, (Coutances) les Bénédictines du Saint Sacrement d’Arras, Armentières, Saint Nicolas d’Arras, Saint Pol.

In Saint Pol sur Ternoise, (62) there is a bas relief with a bishop and a bear at his feet.

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