Erkembodo

ON SAINT ERKEMBODO,

Bishop of Thérouanne and Abbot of Saint-Bertin in Belgium.

IN THE YEAR 742

Erkenbodo, Bishop of Thérouanne and Abbot of Saint-Bertin, in Belgium (St.)

G. H.

[1] Thérouanne, formerly the illustrious city of the Morini, had many Bishops famous for sanctity of life. Of these we have celebrated Blessed John on January 27, and Saint Humfrid on March 8; in whose Acts we said various things about the city of Thérouanne and the antiquity of the Morini, not to be repeated here. Erkembodo is handed down to have been made Bishop of that See in the year 721 or 720, and to have migrated to heaven in the year 742, Time of the See, on this April 12. He had previously been established Abbot of the monastery of Saint-Bertin, in the city of Saint-Omer, built by Saint Bertin. Some Life of him was written, A Life written, when from his death four hundred years and more had passed. The author calls himself "John, a humble minister of the monastery of Saint-Bertin": whom we think to be John of Ypres, afterwards created Abbot of the said monastery of Saint-Bertin, namely in the year 1187, by whom we have a Chronicle of Saint-Bertin written, not yet published in print; in which several notable monuments of this Saint Erkembodo are described. We give the Life from the manuscript Ordinary of the church of Saint-Omer, Ecclesiastical office, distributed into nine Lessons, of which also the earlier part, with the prologue taken away, was printed in the year 1518 in the Breviary "according to the custom, use, and practice of the collegiate Church of Saint-Omer." That Church was afterwards raised to a Cathedral, and the Roman Breviary accepted, with the feast of Saint Erkembodo preserved, in which now under the rite of a double office all things are read from the Common of a Pontiff Confessor. At the first Vespers only the Commemoration of Saint Leo the Pope is made, and in the Mass the Credo is prescribed. His sacred memory is celebrated on this day in the manuscript Florarium Sanctorum, in the Additions of Greven and Molanus to Usuard, in the monastic Martyrologies of Wion, Dorgain, Menard, and Bucelinus, memory in Martyrologies. in the Gallican Martyrology of Saussay, the German of Canisius, the Belgian ones of Miraeus, Molanus, Willotius, and others: from these we add this elogium of Molanus reported in the Nativities of the Saints of Belgium.

[2] "At the monastery of Sithiu, the deposition of Saint Erkembodo, Bishop of the Morini and Abbot of Saint-Bertin: who in monastic and regular discipline from an early age fought under the most holy Bertin up to a fitting age: then, a man conspicuous in all goodness, as the fourth began the rule of the Abbey in Sithiu, in the year 710: for which he also acquired four charters or privileges. But after six years he was elevated to be Bishop of Thérouanne: in which and in the Abbey at the same time he resided for twenty-six years. He is buried with great reverence in the monastery of Saint-Omer, or in the basilica of Saint Mary, which Saint Audomar had previously dedicated: in which now the Cathedral Canons of Saint-Omer reside; The body at the altar, who show the sepulchre in their aforesaid Church; they preserve the body on the high altar, and the head placed in a particular vessel. They celebrate the feast of his translation on the 6th day before the Ides of September. Feast of the translation. Thus Molanus. The feast of the said Translation is still celebrated under the rite of a semi-double office. The above-mentioned Saints are venerated in the month of September; Bertin on the 5th day, Audomar on the 9th. Jacobus Malebrancus, in volume 1 of the Morini, Book 4, chapter 55, treats of Saint Erkembodo, and says that he read in parchments whether he came from Ireland? that he was the same as the one who was added as a companion to Kings Luglius and Luglianus from Ireland; and he adds that he believes him to have been then a Priest, and perhaps the Archdeacon of Archprelate Luglius. These Saints are venerated on October 23: in whose Acts, both printed and manuscript, no mention is made of Saint Erkembodo, nor does any other sign appear on account of which it should be said that he had come from Ireland: who bore a manifestly Teutonic name, which we should now explain and pronounce "Erghen-bode," that is, "a diligent and careful minister." Perhaps Malbrancus only meant that, for the sake of studies, as many others then did, he went to Ireland, and thence returned with the said Bishops already a cleric: but neither ought this to be said without a witness.

LIFE

By John, monk of Saint-Bertin.

From a manuscript Ordinary and Breviary of the church of Saint-Omer.

Erkenbodo, Bishop of Thérouanne and Abbot of Saint-Bertin, in Belgium (St.)

BHL Number: 2599

BY JOHN, FROM MANUSCRIPTS.

[1] To the venerable Brothers and friends, dwelling in the church of Saint-Omer under canonical profession, Brother John, by God's patience the humble minister of the monastery of Saint-Bertin, aspires to canonical dignity more by work and honest morals than by name and temporal advantages. When we were frequently holding familiar conversations with some clerics of our church about the reverend acts of our glorious common Patrons The author laments that no Life was earlier written, Audomar and Bertin, a question and sometimes a complaint arose concerning Saint Erkembodo: that there was rare and almost no memory of his deeds committed to writing. Nor did any doubt concerning his sanctity move us, especially since the authority of the holy Church has received him in the canon of the Saints, and that through him the Lord did many miracles (though no writings are found) is yet not without reason believed and preached by the faithful people, who piously give credence to the relation of their ancestors. He publishes it collected from ancient monuments, We therefore, because we remember that we have found certain things written about this Saint in our ancient charters and annals, have proposed to write something about him: which, would that by God's grace it may yield him glory, his Saint veneration, the readers edification, and the writer profit toward the reward of eternal merit. And lest anyone perhaps say: "You do not yet have fifty years, and you are writing about Saint Erkembodo, who was four hundred years ago?"—let whoever reads these things know that we are going to write nothing of the novelty of our own invention: but what we have found scattered and confusedly in old writings, according to our modest means we shall gather and arrange, able by God's grace to defend and prove by authority and reason alike, if necessary, whatever we shall have written.

[2] Blessed Erkembodo therefore, instructed by divine providence in monastic and regular disciplines through the most holy Confessor of Christ Bertin in the monastery of Sithiu, Instructed by Saint Bertin from earliest youth trained, and the most diligent imitator of the virtues of that same devout Father—which must be believed truly, on account of the merit of his life and the holy opinion of his prudence—counted in the Catalogue of the Abbots, with Rigobert, in the fourth place after Blessed Bertin, took over the monastery of Sithiu to rule. But since it is known that Bertin established Rigobert as Abbot under him, and after not much time, having removed him, substituted in his place a venerable man Etlefrid, whom even after his own death he left as his successor, the immediate predecessor of Saint Erkembodo; if we investigate the truth of the matter more subtly, we can by a probable reason demonstrate that Blessed Erkembodo was the third Abbot of Sithiu after Blessed Bertin. For just as Saints Linus and Cletus, Etlefrid the Abbot having died, he succeeds, though ordained Bishops by Blessed Peter, are read to have presided over the Roman Church, yet because during the lifetime of the one who ordained them, through the crown of martyrdom, they passed from this life to eternity, Saint Clement is declared to be the successor of the same Blessed Peter: so, although Rigobert and Etlefrid were established as Abbots by Blessed Bertin, yet he can truly be said to be his successor, who is known to have remained surviving after this life.

[3] Saint Erkembodo therefore, in the year of the Incarnate Word 717, ^b and after the death of Blessed Bertin in the 19th year, ^c promoted to the government of the monastery of Sithiu, created Abbot in the year 717. girds himself wholly to preserving the cult of religion, to enlarging the external possessions, and to defending them against the injury of invaders: knowing that he had taken up a burden rather than an honor, and wishing, according to the rule of Blessed Benedict, not so much to be called Abbot as to be so, and to fulfill in deeds the name of superior. That this is true, and without any ambiguity to be believed without doubt, if anyone wishes to know, is shown probable by evident argument from the ancient charters of the Frankish kings, which this holy man is known to have acquired with much labor for the liberty of his monastery. For from King Chilperic ^d (against whose Duke by name Ragenfrid, Charles Major of the Palace, surnamed Martel, is read to have engaged in battle at Vincy and to have defeated him) and from Theoderic ^e the younger, He obtains privileges for the monastery. ^f the cousin of the same Chilperic and his successor, he obtained privileges concerning the immunity of his place: in which, among other things perpetually granted to him and his successors, it is found written "that no public judge should enter the monastery of Sithiu or its places at any time to hear causes, or to exact ^g freta (fines), or to take sureties, nor to make dwellings or ^h paratae (hospitality allowances); nor to constrain the men of that monastery, as well free as serving, who dwell upon their lands; nor to seek or exact any payments." ⁱ

[4] When Ravenger, Bishop of the Morini, died—successor of Bainus, who was himself the successor of Drantius, the successor of the Blessed Prelate Audomar—Saint Erkembodo was elevated, in the year of the Lord's Incarnation ^k 720, to the Episcopate of the Church of Thérouanne: and at the same time with the Episcopate administering with energy the government of the monastery, so he panted in both for the embraces of the beautiful Rachel, He is created Bishop in the year 720. that from the fecundity of Leah he did not cease to bring forth multiple offspring. For he sighed for the beauty of the contemplative life, in such a way as not to neglect the fruitful work of the active life: so in the care taken up of both the monastery and the Episcopate he was mindful of the things that are of God, yet expended diligent effort for the advancement of the outward things committed to him. For that he might have whence to distribute to one suffering need, he bought from a certain man, Rigobert by name, He exercises both the active and contemplative life at once. villas, as is found in the old charters, called by these names: ^l Sechiacus on the river Agniona, ^m Kelmias, Strato, with their adjacencies; and within Mempiscum the Leodreding ⁿ dwellings; and ^o Belrinium, situated on the river Quantia, in the district of Thérouanne, with their adjacencies, which are in the district of Ponthieu, he buys various possessions. in the place called Mons on the river Altea. [p] Of these possessions the monastery of Sithiu still holds some, which is now known to be divided into two. For one part, with the ancient name and order kept, is called the monastery of Blessed Bertin; the other part, with the name and order changed, is called the church of Saint-Omer. Whether the other possessions, which the aforesaid churches are known not to have, into the power

of the Church of Thérouanne they have passed, or where they have gone, we rashly do not dare to define: he joins the part of Mary with the parts of Martha: since we have not yet found any certainty thereof in charters or writings. Let it suffice at present to have said this to you, so that we may show, through these things and other things of this sort, in which the holy man is believed to have sweated for the usefulness of his subjects, that he performed the office of Martha in such a way as to strive to attain that one thing which, by the voice of the Lord, is "needful," namely the best part of Mary.

[5] Although however, which is accustomed to commend the authority of most Saints, we find it written that he did almost no miracles: yet we are not permitted to doubt his sanctity; especially since the ancient authority of the holy Church proclaims him a Saint, and canonized in the number of the Saints, reverently venerates and adores him. His miracles, if he did any, are hidden. Nor should we think it credible that he did no miracles at all: rather, by the negligence of writers, if he did any, they were not committed to memory. Or certainly (because Saints, if they do anything good, do not seek glory outwardly), if he did anything miraculous, he wished it hidden from the windy notice of men: because thereby he preferred to please God rather than men, and loved more the eternal reward than the transitory praise of mortals. After therefore the faithful and prudent servant had well dispensed the money of his Lord in his own time, and having been hired to cultivate the vineyard of the heavenly householder, had perseveringly labored in it; now with the evening of his life approaching, he is called by the Lord to receive the penny of the supernal wage, and by a happy exchange to exchange earthly things for heavenly, he dies in the year 742. perishing things for eternal. Therefore paying the debt of the human condition, he was gathered to his Fathers, in the year of the Lord's Incarnation 742 [q], on the day before the Ides of April, and was buried by the people in the church of Blessed Audomar, before the high altar of holy Mary, Mother of God: in whose honor the same church in the beginning, by the same holy Prelate Audomar, had been built and dedicated.

[6] There is still a famous report, drawing authority from the ancient tradition of the elders, that at the tomb of Saint Erkembodo such and so great miracles were formerly wrought, that from the offerings of the faithful which were there offered on account of them, From the offerings it is said the church of Saint-Omer was built. the church of Blessed Audomar is said to have been rebuilt from the ground, and sumptuously, as appears at present, completed. But if anyone should ask why there are no certain monuments extant thereof, we believe this came about through the negligence of writers; and we hold that faith should be given to the authority of the elders (even though we do not know the manner and order of the miracles performed). But why do we make such a great inquiry about miracles? Since authentic Scripture testifies that signs are not given to the faithful but to the unbelieving: We therefore, because by God's grace we are of the number of the faithful, let us imitate the virtues of the Saints rather than miracles. 1 Cor. 14:22 For virtues are much more excellent than miracles, since the operations of miracles shall cease, but the rewards of virtues shall be preserved for the just forever. For in the future judgment, to many who shall say to the Lord God, "Did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name do many mighty works?", it shall terribly be declared: Matt. 7:22 "Go, you cursed, into the eternal fire, because I know you not." And on the contrary, to his poor, who are seen to have done no miracles, Christ will say with sweet voice: "Come, blessed of my Father, take possession of the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

[7] Therefore, since the expectation of the just is joy; but the hope of many who have done or do miracles shall perish; let us emulate in the Saints the better gifts; and for that from which a greater reward is promised us, His virtues to be imitated let us pant with a more inclined zeal and fervent desire. We know that this Saint pleased God in his days, and was found just: that the Lord knew him with his blessings, and preserved to him his mercy, and found grace in the sight of the Lord; and that the Lord magnified him in the presence of Kings, and gave him a crown of glory. And we therefore, by the example of this Saint pursuing justice, let us strive to please God, that we may merit to obtain from him the heavenly blessing. And since, amid the innumerable errors of the present life, we are entangled in various snares of temptations and sins; let us humbly implore the mercy of Christ, to acquire his grace; that in the future, in the sight of the same King, we may be magnified, his patronage to be implored. and be able to obtain the crown of eternal glory. Which may the King of Kings, the head and crown of all the Saints, deign to grant us by the prayers of Saint Erkembodo his Confessor, Jesus Christ the Lord: who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns as God, for ever and ever. Amen.

NOTES