Born of a considerable family in the territory of Toulouse, St. Silvin passed his first years at the court of two successive kings, Childeric II and Theodoric III. Everything was ready for his marriage when powerfully touched by divine grace he renounced all worldly prospects and retired from court. After several devout penitential pilgrimages to Jerusalem and other places he took orders at Rome and was ordained a regionary bishop to preach the gospel to infidels. His zeal carried him into the north of France and he spent most of his time in the diocese of Terouenne which was then full of Pagans. He was indefatigable in preaching to them the great truths and essential obligations of our holy faith and taught them to despise and renounce the pleasures of this life, by appearing on all occasions a strong lesson of self-denial and mortification. He died at Auchy in 718.