(A.D. 826.)
[Named in many later Western Martyrologies, but not enrolled in the
Roman Kalendar. He is variously called Adelhard, Adalarch, Alard,
and Adelhardt. His life was written by S. Paschasius Radbertus, his
disciple, and this was epitomized by S. Gerard, of Sauve-Majeur, in
the 11th century. Paschasius says that the reason of his writing
the life, was "to recall him whom almost the whole world regards as
holy and admirable; whom we have seen, and whose love we enjoyed."]
Adalhardt was of royal race, having been the son of Bernhardt, son of
Charles Martel, the brother of King Pepin; so that Adalhardt was
cousin-german to Charlemagne, by whom he was called to court in his
youth, and created Count of the Palace. But when the king put away his
wife, the daughter of Desiderius, King of Italy, to marry another,
Adalhardt left the court, disgusted with its lawlessness and vice, and
became a monk at Corbie, at the age of twenty, in the year 773. He was
made gardener, and, as his historian says, "With Mary he sought Jesus in
the garden." At Corbie, he was so frequently visited by his relations,
his friends, and acquaintances, that he had not sufficient solitude for
the labour of turning his soul from earth to heaven; therefore he left
Corbie and betook himself to Monte Cassino; but by order of the Emperor
Charles, he was brought back again to Corbie, where he was shortly after
elected abbot. He was compelled at last, by Charlemagne, to quit the
monastery, and take upon him the charge of prime minister to his son
Pepin, to whom he had intrusted the government of Italy.
On the death of Charlemagne, Louis the Pious succeeded to the throne,
and dismissed all the old ministers and officers of his father. Bernard,
son of Pepin, the elder brother of Louis, who was dead, having asserted
his right to the throne, King Louis suspected the abbot of Corbie of
having been privy to this attempt, and he exiled him to the island of
Heri, or Herimoutier, and his brothers and sisters were sent into
monasteries. His brother Walla was forced to become a monk at Corbie;
Bernharius was sent to Lerins; his sister Gundrada was given to the
charge of S. Radegund, at Poictiers, and only Theodradra was left
unmolested at Soissons.
Adalhardt spent seven years in banishment at Herimoutier, and then the
king, having recognized his error, recalled him, to the great grief of
the monks of Heri, to whom his meekness and charity had made him dear,
and to the joy of those of Corbie, to whom he returned. He was not,
however, allowed to remain at peace in his abbey at the head of his
monks, but was recalled to court, where the king, whose disposition was
much changed, followed his advice in all his undertakings, and Adalhardt
was of great use to him, in suggesting improvement in the laws. At
length, in 823, he obtained leave to return to Corbie, which he governed
till his death. He had an admirable memory, so that he never forgot the
face, or name, or disposition of one of his monks; and he was careful to
speak with each of them once a week.
During the banishment of the Saint, another Adalhardt, who governed the
monastery by his appointment, began the foundation of another Corbie, in
the diocese of Paderborn, in Westphalia, that it might be a nursery of
missionaries for the conversion of the northern nations. S. Adalhardt
often journeyed from one Corbie to the other, that he might provide for
the welfare, and look to the discipline of both houses. Finding himself
attacked with fever, and knowing that he should not recover, he used
every effort to reach the mother house before Christmas. This he
achieved, and there he calmly prepared for his passage, communicating
daily. Hearing of his sickness, Hildemann, Bishop of Beauvais, who had
been a monk under him, hurried to his side, and administered to him the
Sacrament of extreme unction, and scarcely left him. One day, however,
the bishop left the room for a moment, and, on his return, saw the sick
man in great transport. The Abbot exclaimed, "Hither speedily, Bishop, I
urge you, and kiss the feet of Jesus, my Lord, for He is at my side."
Then the Bishop of Beauvais trembled with awe, and stood still, not
knowing what to say or do. But Adalhardt said no more. On the Octave of
the Nativity, he called together the brethren, and having received the
Body and Blood of Christ, he said to the assembled monks, "O my sons,
the fruit of my old age in the Lord! I have finished the number of my
days, and to-day I shall depart, and go the way of all flesh, and appear
in the presence of my Redeemer. I have finished the course of my
struggle, and what reward I shall receive, I know not. But help me, I
pray, that I in you, and you in me, may rejoice in the Lord." Thus
saying, he surrendered his pure soul to Him who made it. He was buried
at the foot of the chancel steps in the Church of S. Peter, at Corbie;
but in the year 1040 the body was taken up and enshrined.