BL. HUGH OF MONTAIGU, BISHOP OF AUXERRE- 10 AUGUST

BLESSED HUGH OF MONTAIGU, BISHOP

Bishop Hugh of Auxerre [of Montaigu] [Hugues de Montaigu] was born in the castle of Montaigu in Burgundy of the noble family of the Counts Semur. In order to give the boy a pious upbringing, his parents sent him to the famous Cluny Abbey nearby, where his uncle, St Hugh, was abbot, and where he also received the habit of the order.

The teachings and examples of his holy uncle made such a powerful impression on his mind that he became emulator of his holiness.

"HAIL MARY, FULL OF GRACE!"

Following the removal of abbot Guibertus of St Germain in Auxerre (not Paris) for misconduct, St Hugh was elected his successor in 1100. There he was the 31st abbot in the succession, and the fifth abbot by name.

In 1116 Pope Paschal II consecrated Hugh bishop in Rome. When, as was the custom for a long time with new bishops, the Holy Bible was opened at random in order to recognise a kind of prediction of the new bishop's effectiveness in the first line that met the eyes, the comforting words: "Hail Mary, full of grace!" were read.

HE TENDERLY ADORED THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Indeed, the saint was as eager an imitator of the Blessed Virgin as he tenderly adored her.

Under his administration, the Order of Citeaux was created in 1098, which he took under special protection. The abbey of Rigny (Rigniacum) was founded in 1128, followed by the Pontigny (Pontigniacum) monastery in 1114.

Even as a bishop he sought and loved seclusion, the quiet, contemplative life; he especially liked staying in the monastery la Charité (Caritas, donated in 1133), in which at that time the rule of Cluny was still observed.

HE REFUSED TO INDULGE IN LUXURY

Whenever he felt physical weakness, he thought seriously of death and, out of love for God, gave everything to the poor, so that apart from his clothes he had nothing movable. When he was once ill and had to take medicine (latwerge), they brought him the little box with the medicine and a silver spoon. Immediately he gave this little spoon back so that he would not have to indulge in luxury.

HE WAS BURIED IN THE CHAPTER OF ST GERMAIN

When he was dying, he said to the brothers around, "We will pay the Lord what we owe from the Liturgy of the Hours, and when it is over I will rest." It did come to pass. When the chant was finished, he gave up his ghost on August 10, 1136 or 1137.

According to his will, he was buried in the chapter of St Germain. Later his body came to the church, where it rests by the St Nicholas altar. He appears among the "saints" not only in the order of the Benedictines, but also in the martyrology of Auxerre.

Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints

➡️ Hugo, Bishop of Auxerre

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