(A.D. 855.)
[Gallican Martyrology. Ancient Life in Baluze: Miscel. iii.]
S. Aldric was born about the year 800. When aged fourteen his father
sent him to the court of Louis the Pious. One day, as he was praying in
church at Aix-la-Chapelle, he felt called by God to leave a life in the
world, and dedicate himself to the service of the altar. With difficulty
he persuaded the King to let him depart, and he was sent to the Bishop
of Metz. There he remained some years, received the tonsure, and was
ordained priest.
Louis the Pious, hearing of the wisdom and sanctity of Aldric, appointed
him to be his chaplain and confessor. Aldric was afterwards elected
Bishop of Mans, and was consecrated on the 22nd December, 832. When
raised to the episcopal throne, he kept a stricter guard over himself,
and treated his body with great rigour, but to others he was gentle and
lenient. All his income was spent in works of mercy. He redeemed
captives, relieved the poor, built churches, and founded monasteries. In
the civil wars which divided the French monarchy, his fidelity to his
prince and to Charles the Bald, his successor, involved him in trouble,
and he was expelled for about a twelvemonth from his see. On his return,
he laboured more indefatigably than ever to perfect the discipline of
his diocese, for which purpose he collected the canons of Councils and
decrees of the Popes into what he called a Capitulary. Some fragments
have reached us of the regulations which he made for the celebration of
divine service; in which he orders ten wax candles, and ninety lamps, to
be lighted in his Cathedral on all great festivals.