BL. PEPIN OF LANDEN - 21 FEBRUARY

BLESSED PEPIN OF LANDEN

[Mayor of the Palace to the Kings Clotair II, Dagobert, and Sigebert.] Blessed Pepin was son of Carloman, the most powerful nobleman of Austrasia, who had been mayor to Clotaire I son of Clovis I. He was grandfather to Pepin of Herstal, the most powerful mayor, whose son was Charles Martell, and grandson Pepin the Short, king of France, in whom begun the Carlovingian race.

A LOVER OF PEACE

Pepin of Landen, upon the river Geete, in Brabant, was a lover of peace, the constant defender of truth and justice, a true friend to all servants of God, the terror of the wicked, the support of the weak, the father of his country, the zealous and humble defender of religion.

HE WAS LORD OF A GREAT PART OF BRABANT

He was lord of a great part of Brabant, and governor of Austrasia, when Theodebert II king of that country was defeated by Theodoric II king of Burgundy, and soon after assassinated in 612: and Theodoric dying the year following, Clotaire II king of Soissons, reunited Burgundy, Neustria, and Austrasia to his former dominions, and became sole monarch of France.

For the pacific possession of Austrasia he was much indebted to Pepin, whom he appointed mayor of the palace to his son Dagobert I when, in 622, he declared him king of Austrasia and Neustria.

THE DEATH OF CLOTAIRE II.

The death of Clotair II in 628, put him in possession of all France, except a small part of Aquitaine, with Toulouse, which was settled upon his younger brother, Charibert.

HIS FAITHFUL MINISTER BOLDLY REPROACHED HIM

When king Dagobert, forgetful of the maxims instilled into him in his youth, had given himself up to a shameful lust, this faithful minister boldly reproached him with his ingratitude to God, and ceased not till he saw him a sincere and perfect penitent.

PEPIN WAS APPOINTED TUTOR TO SIGEBERT

This great king died in 638, and was buried at St Denis. He had appointed Pepin tutor to his son Sigebert from his cradle, and mayor of his palace when he declared him king of Austrasia, in 633.

HE WENT TO METZ

After the death of Dagobert, Clovis II reigning in Burgundy and Neustria, (by whom Erchinoald was made mayor for the latter, and Flaochat for the former,) Pepin quitted the administration of those dominions, and resided at Metz, with Sigebert, who always considered him as his father, and under his discipline became himself a saint, and one of the most happy amongst all the French kings.

HIS FAMILY

Pepin was married to blessed Itta, of one of the first families in Aquitaine, by whom he had a son called Grimoald, and two daughters, St Gertrude, and St Begga. The latter, who was the elder, was married to Ansigisus, son of St Arnoul, to whom she bore Pepin of Herstal.

HIS HOLY DEATH

Blessed Pepin of Landen, died on February 21, 640, and was buried at Landen; but his body was afterwards removed to Nivelles, where it is now enshrined, as are those of the blessed Itta, and St Gertrude in the same place.

PUBLIC VENERATION

His name stands in the Belgic Martyrologies, though no other act of public veneration has been paid to his memory, than the enshrining of his relics, which are carried in processions. His name is found in a litany published by the authority of the archbishop of Mechlin.

From Fr Butler's Lives of the Saints

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Blessed Pepin may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

BL. RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR Richard Newport, alias Smith , was born in Northamptonshire and performed his studies abroad, partly in the college of Rheims (if he be the Richard Smith whom I find in the Douay diary sent to Rome in 1586) and partly in that of Rome, where he was made priest. From thence he was sent upon the English mission, and behaved himself in such a manner as justly to acquire the character of a laborious missionary; being withal remarkably successful in bringing home many strayed sheep to the fold of Christ, to which his apostolical way of living did not a little contribute. He was several times apprehended and cast into prison, and twice banished. His name occurs amongst those who were transported in 1606; at which time, we are told, he took that opportunity of making a pilgrimage to Rome, there to pour forth his prayers at the tombs of the apostles, in behalf of thi...

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