Pastoral work Nicetius came from a
Gallo-Roman family; he was a native of
Aquitaine. From his youth he devoted himself to religious life and entered a
monastery.
Theuderic I (511-34) had encouraged clerics from Acquitaine to work in the Rhineland. The king came to esteem Nicetius despite his often remonstrating with him on his wrongdoing without, however, any loss of favour. After the death of Bishop
Aprunculus of Trier, an embassy of the clergy and citizens of Trier came to the royal court to elect a new bishop. They desired
Saint Gallus, but the king refused his consent. It was through Theuderic's patronage that Nicetius was confirmed as bishop. About 527 Nicetius set out as the new bishop for Trier, accompanied by an escort sent by the king, and while on the journey had opportunity to make known his firmness in the administration of his office. The general interests of the Church did not escape his watchful care. He wrote an urgent letter to Emperor
Justinian of
Constantinople in regard to the emperor's position in the controversies arising from
Monophysitism. Another letter that has been preserved is to
Chlodoswinda, wife of the
Lombard King
Alboin, in which he exhorts this princess to do everything possible to bring her husband over to the Catholic faith. In his personal life Nicetius was very ascetic and self-mortifying; he fasted frequently, and while the priests and clerics who lived with him were at their evening meal he would go, concealed by a hooded cloak, to pray in the churches of the city. He founded a school of his own for the training of the clergy. The best known of his pupils is the later Abbot of Limoges,
Aredius, who was the authority of Gregory of Tours for the latter's biographical account of Nicetius.
Gregory of Tours, wrote the oldest Nicetius
Vita, and praised the fearless advocacy of the Bishop. ==Veneration==