7th century; they had four feast days at Centula: January 24, March 31,
April 1, and May 30. The Irishmen Caidoc and Fricor evangelized the
country of the Morini in Picardy, northern France, beginning about 622.
Among the souls they won for Christ was the nobleman
Riquier (Saint Ricarius; f.d. April 26),
who intervened when some locals took offence
to their preaching and took them into his home. Riquier became a
fervent Christian, who engaged in penitential austerities and eventually
was ordained. In 625, Riquier founded Centula based on the Rule of
Columbanus, another Irishman. Their relics are still venerated at the
parish church of Saint-Riquier in the diocese of Amiens, although they
rested in Centula until the 17th century. Saints Caidoc and Fricor
joined Riquier's community and remained there until they were buried in
Saint Riquier's church
(
Benedictines,
D'Arcy,
Fitzpatrick2,
McCarthy,
Montague,
O'Hanlon).