(ABOUT A.D. 749.)
[Roman, Benedictine, and Gallican Martyrologies. Authority:--A life
of the 9th cent.]
Saint Rigobert, a Benedictine monk, was ordained archbishop of Rheims in
the year 696. He consecrated Dagobert II., Chilperic II., and Theoderic
II., kings of the Franks. In his diocese he laboured to restore
discipline and sanctity of life. When Charles Martel and Ragenfried were
fighting for the mastery, the former came with his troops before Rheims,
and demanded to be admitted. The bishop refused to open the gates,
"Because," said he, "I know not whether you or Ragenfried will be given
the kingdom." Charles Martel went away in a fury, and vowed, if he
gained the day, he would make the cautious archbishop suffer for it.
When Charles Martel had subdued his rival, he returned to Rheims, and
drove S. Rigobert into exile, and gave the revenues of the see to
laymen, creatures of the court. Whilst at Rheims, S. Rigobert had lived
over the city gate, and kept the keys of the town. The window of his
chamber looked towards the Basilica of S. Remigius, and at it he was
wont to pray, like Daniel, with his face turned to Jerusalem. That he
might easily, and at will, descend into the church of S. Peter, which
was situated near the gateway, S. Rigobert had a hole knocked in a
turret of the church, so that by a ladder he could descend into the
church to prayer, and return by it to a little oratory, dedicated to S.
Michael, which he had built on the city wall. But this oratory did not
stand very long, for King Louis gave the monastery of S. Peter to his
daughter Alpaida; and her husband, Begus, having knocked his head
against the lintel of the door when entering the little chapel--he being
a very tall man--ordered it to be pulled down, pretending that it cut
off the light from the windows of the church. "Humility," says the
chronicler dryly, "never knocks its head against any thing."
S. Rigobert, when in exile, retired to Gascony, but was recalled by
Pepin, and returned to Rheims; but finding that, contrary to canon law,
Milo, an abbot, had been appointed to the see, he went away to
Gernicour, a village at no great distance. At Gernicour, he lived in
poverty, in great humility and prayer; sometimes he visited Rheims, that
he might celebrate on the altar of S. Mary, which had been conceded to
him by Milo. One day he was at Cormicy, and visited the church of S.
Cyriac, to pray for his poor diocese, a prey to ravening wolves; and his
prayer being ended, he conversed with Wibert, comptroller of Rheims, who
invited him to dine with him, as the table was ready. But S. Rigobert
answered, "I may not eat, as I have to celebrate mass this morning in
the church of S. Peter, at Gernicour." Whilst he was speaking, a poor
widow brought the deputy-governor a goose. "Here," said Wibert, "as you
will not dine with me, take this goose home with you, and cook it for
your own dinner." Then S. Rigobert gave it to his little serving boy to
carry before him; and he went on his way saying his office; when the
goose flew out of the boy's hands, and was gone. The boy was much
grieved, and was on the point of crying. The bishop, seeing the sad face
of the child, interrupted his psalm to console him, and to tell him
that the loss of this world's goods should not draw forth tears, but
that the heart should trust in God, who gives all things bountifully.
Then the bishop resumed his psalms, now reciting them to himself, and
then breaking forth into song. Presently the goose came fluttering down
before the feet of the old man, so the boy put it under his arm again,
and brought it safely to Gernicour. But it was not cooked for dinner.
Indeed, the bishop would not allow it to be killed, and the goose became
so tame, that it followed him about, and would even accompany him on his
walks to Rheims, and wait there for him when he said mass at the altar
of S. Mary.
Relics, in the church of S. Denis, at Rheims, and in the chapel of S.
Rigobert, in the Cathedral of Notre Dame, at Paris.
In art, he is represented with a goose.