Desideratus became Secretary of State for King Clotaire and had a telling effect on him for the good. Though surrounded by the worldly splendors of the royal court, the holy man of God lives a life of mortification and prayer. He also strove to eliminate heresy and simony. He often voiced a desire to retire to a monastery but was always reminded by the King to put the people’s welfare before his own.
In 541, Desiseratus was appointed Bishop of Bourges and held the post for nine years; during that time his fame spread far and wide as a peacemaker and wondermaker. He took part in the Fifth Council of Orleans and the Second Council of Auvergne, which dealt with the errors of Nestorius and Eutyches. He died on May 8, 550.