Guy of Anderlecht

Born into a peasant family of Brabant, he worked the land and then obtained a place as sacristan at the church of Our Lady at Laeken, where he swept, rang the bells and gave to the poor the little he received. A Brussels merchant proposed that he invest in a shipping venture; he accepted, left his post, and the ship was wrecked on its first voyage. Ruined, and judging that he had betrayed his place for money, he set out on pilgrimage — Rome, then Jerusalem — and remained seven years on the roads, serving as guide to other pilgrims. He returned ill and died in the hospice of Anderlecht in 1012. His cult arose from the discovery of his tomb in the following century, and his collegiate church became a place of pilgrimage renowned for the healing of horses; until the twentieth century farmers brought their animals there to be blessed. He is patron of peasants and sacristans, and is commemorated on 12 September.