(A.D. 695.)
[Roman and other Martyrologies. Authority:--Life by Ansgrad, the
monk, dedicated to Abbot Hilbert, the successor of S. Ansbert. This
life has, however, suffered from interpolators.]
This saint was at one time chancellor to Clothaire III., and in the
midst of the temptations of a court, preserved his integrity and
purity. At length, quitting the court, he assumed the monastic habit
at Fontenelle, and on the election of the abbot Lantbert to the see of
Lyons, he succeeded him as abbot of that famous monastery. He was
confessor to Thierri III., and was, with his consent, chosen
archbishop of Rouen, on the death of S. Ouen, in 683. Pepin, mayor of
the palace, afterwards banished him, on a false accusation of treason,
to the monastery of Hautmont in Hainault, where he died on the 9th
February, 695. His body was transported to the abbey of Fontenelle,
and afterwards to Boulogne, but in 944, through fear of the Northmen,
it was translated to the convent of S. Peter in Ghent; but was dragged
from its resting-place by the furious Calvinists, under William of
Orange, in 1578; some portions of the sacred relics have, however, we
believe, been preserved.
S. Ansbert is often called S. Aubert.
[28] Dr. Lanigan's Eccles. Hist. of Ireland, Dublin, 1827; Vol. iii.,
p. 39, & i. p. 243.
[29] Rees: Essay on the Welsh Saints, pp, 245-6.
[30] In the original, the simplicity of this story is quite spoiled by
what is evidently added by the monkish author, unable to see the
beauty of the unadorned incident; for, it is said, this was a proof of
miraculous power in the saint, that he was able to see through a stone
wall the upsetting of a corn-cart.
[Illustration]
February 10.
SS. CHARALAMPIUS, _P. and Companions, MM. at Magnesia_, A.D. 202.
S. SOTERIS, _V. M. at Rome, 4th cent._
S. ZENO, _Monk at Antioch, in Syria; circ._ A.D. 419.
S. SCHOLASTICA, _V. at Monte Cassino_, A.D. 543.
S. PROTADIUS, _B. of Besancon_, A.D. 626.
S. TRUMWINE, _B. of the Picts, circ._ A.D. 700.
S. AUSTREBERTHA, _V. in French Flanders_, A.D. 704.
S. SURA OR ZUWARDA, _V. M. at Dortrecht_.
S. WILLIAM OF MALEVAL, _H. in Italy_, A.D. 1157.
B. JOHN WILLIAM OF THE OLIVE, _P. H. at Mariemont, in Belgium_,
A.D. 1241.
S. ARNALD OF CATANEA, _Ab. at Padua_, A.D. 1255.
S. CLARA OF RIMINI, _Matr._, A.D. 1346.