The Gift : Part 1

In the town of Wormeldange, in the Moselle Valley, there stands a solitary shrine. Staring out across the Koeppchen, silently watching over the rich vineyards for which the region is most known.

In the town of Wormeldange, in the Moselle Valley, there stands a solitary shrine. Staring out across the Koeppchen, silently watching over the rich vineyards for which the region is most known. A humble chapel, dedicated to the memory of a man whose legacy lives on in the very soil itself. His name is Donatus, 'the Gift', and he is the Patron Saint of the vintners and winemakers of Wormeldange.

Although he was not native to the region, his role within the local culture could not be more significant. Here, Saint Donatus is seen as something of a guardian, protecting Wormeldange from the ravages of inclement weather ; lightning, ice and fire. Ensuring the miraculous conditions recquired for the growth of grapes, and the creation of fine wines. The gentle slopes, the fertile soil, the warm, life-giving light of the sun.

The man who would, one day, be known as Saint Donatus, was born far from the banks of the Moselle River, however, and very long ago. Almost two-thousand years ago, in ancient Greece, a frightened family fled from the city of Nicodemia. They were one of many hundreds of refugees, desperately attempting to escape religious persecution, and death. For many, the salvation they sought would not be found, but for a young Donatus and his family, the promise of peace and prosperity in Rome was worth the risk.

Here, in the capital of the Roman Empire, Donatus would be fortunate enough to recieve an education. He was taught by the Priest, Pymenius. It is here that he would meet, and grow close to, a fellow student of Pymonius, a boy named Julian, of the Constantinian Dynasty. The two would become fast friends. It is a friendship that sadly, would not last.

Julian would eventually go on to become the Emperor of Rome. In an attempt to consolidate his power, as well as undermine the influence of Christianity within the Empire, the Emperor Julian begen to put into the place social and religious reforms that would promote Paganism, while restricting the rights and supressing the beliefs of Christians. These would culminate in a series of individual persecutions, which would end claiming the life of Donatus' teacher, Pymonius, as well as his Mother and Father.

Donatus, then, was once more forced to flee from religious persecution. He travelled to the city of Arezzo, where he would become a preacher and a teacher. With time, his efforts were recognised, and he rose to the position of Deacon, and eventually, Bishop. It is in Arezzo that Donatus would purportedly perform some of his most renowned miracles ; returning sight to the blind, exorcising demons, and even raising the dead. Perhaps his most famed miracle, however, was the restoration of the glass chalice.

While giving communion, towards the end of Mass, a group of men came to accost Donatus and his followers. They pushed them to the ground, and in doing so, shattered the glass cup, filled with tine, that was being passed among the faithful. It shattered into a dozen pieces, and the wine was spilled across the stone floor. His followers were appalled to have lost such a cherished symbol of their faith, but Donatus simply gathered all the broken shards together, and began to pray.

He joined the fragments together, but one was missing. A large crack along the bottom of the chalice meant that it might never hold wine again, without spilling it out immediately. But Donatus held it aloft, and filled the glass up again, all the same. To the astonishment of his followers, the wine didn't spill. With this, they were able to complete their Mass, untroubled. Whilst it's not so fantastical a tale as some others told of Saint Donatus, it is perhaps the most significant, as it allows us to understand what was most important to Donatus in life ; charity, community, and perserverence in the face of hardship.