(d.c.556-c.575, sources vary) Saint Hervé, often Anglicized as Harvey, was a blind minstrel and miracle worker, and was said to have a special ministry of healing animals, even supposedly domesticating a wolf through a sermon. His father, who was a bard, died when Hervé was an infant. When he was around seven, his mother became an anchoress, someone who has renounced the world and chosen to live in prayer and penance. She left Hervé in the care of his uncles and a holy hermit in Brittany, France. He studied at a monastic school before becoming a teacher, bard, and minstrel.

Though physically blind, Saint Hervé possessed spiritual sight. Working through the Steps with a sponsor is intended to result in a “spiritual awakening,” after which we attempt “to carry this message to [others], and to practice these principles in all our affairs” (Step 12). Saint Hervé used what gifts he had to share what he had been given.

“‘Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.’… Jesus said to him in reply, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man replied to him, ‘Master, I want to see’” (Mark 10:47, 51; Luke 18:28, cf.41).

Reflection by Brad Farmer