Baldomerus, patron saint of locksmiths

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8 years ago

The Baldomeric Oath – The Locksmith

Saint Baldomerus is the patron of locksmiths. He worked as a locksmith in Lyon, France and died c. 650 A.D. This oath, or code of ethics, is patterned after the Hippocratic Oath of the medical profession.

I do solemnly vow, to that which I value and hold most dear:
That I will honor the Profession of Locksmithing, be just and generous to its members, and help sustain them in their service to humanity;
That just as I have learned from those who preceded me, I will instruct those
who follow me in the science and the art of Locksmithing;
That I will recognize the limits of my knowledge and pursue lifelong learning to
better protect people and secure their property;
That I will seek the counsel of others when they are more expert so as to fulfill my
obligation to those who entrust me with their safety and security;
That I will not withdraw from my customers in their time of need;
That I will lead my life and practice my art with integrity and honor, using my
knowledge and ability wisely;
That whatsoever I shall see or hear of the lives of my customers that is not fitting to be spoken, I will keep in confidence;
That I will disclose, to all whom I serve, what they must know to maintain their security, and the means necessary to maintain that security;
That into whatever home or business I shall enter, it shall be for the safety and protection of the people and property therein;
That I will maintain this sacred trust, holding myself far aloof from wrong, from corruption, from the tempting of others to vice;
That above all else I will serve the highest interests of my customers through the
practice of my science and my art;
That I will be an advocate for people in need and strive for equality in their security;
That while I apply my craft for the benefit of my customers in particular, I will always apply discretion in preserving the security of each and every member of the public in general.
I now turn to my calling, promising to preserve its finest traditions, with the reward of a long experience in the joy of providing protection, safety, and security.

I make this vow freely and upon my honor.

“DO EVERYTHING FOR THE LOVE OF GOD AND HIS GLORY”

A MANUAL WORKER

“[On 27th February] one of the saints remembered by the Church is St Baldomerus. He lived in Lyons, France, in the 7th century. St Baldomerus was a simple man, very devout and frugal in his lifestyle. He worked with his hands as a locksmith. St Baldomerus was always aware of the needs of others and he gave away most of what he had to those less fortunate than himself. The Abbot of the nearby monastery of Saint-Just was so impressed with St Baldomerus that he made available to him one of the monastic cells so that he could spend time there in prayer. He died about the year 660, having gained a reputation for himself of simple piety and goodness.

“GIVING GOD GLORY THROUGH DAILY WORK

“St Baldomerus sets us a good example to follow. He was a simple tradesman who lived by working with his hands, not a priest or a religious. He did not seek fortune and fame but did the will of God through his work, sharing his wages and possessions with the needy. His goodness must have been extraordinary. Are we famed for goodness?

“[When working with one’s hands one] should give glory to God through their work. As St Elizabeth Ann Seton wrote, ‘There is no greater error than to imagine that the very employments which God Himself gives us shall force us to forget Him while we are engaged in them.’ This, of course, applies to all of us. St Pio also tells us to ‘Do everything for the love of God and His glory without looking at the outcome of the undertaking. Work is judged, not by its result, but by its intention.’ May we undertake our work, whatever we do, with the good intention of honouring God and helping others.”
— From: “Spiritual Thought from Fr Chris”, February 2011

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