St Jos

Pilgrim badge, probably from the shrine of St Jos at Saint-Josse-sur-Mer, France. Born the son of a king of Brittany in the 7th century, Jos gave up his wealth and position to go on a pilgrimage to Rome. He then became a hermit in a monastery near Étaples, which was later named after him as Saint-Josse-sur-Mer. After he died his body was miraculously preserved and his beard continued to grow, which was thought to be a sign of his sanctity. His hermitage became a popular stopping point for English pilgrims after arriving in France on the way to more distant shrines. This badge is in the form of a bearded man wearing a full-length robe and a hooded cloak. His holds a rosary in his left hand and a staff with an animal’s head in his right.