BL. RICHARD OF VAUCELLES, ABBOT - 28 JANUARY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JANUARY

Saints celebrated on the 28th of January

Prayer to the Angels and the Saints

Heavenly Father, in praising Your Angels and Saints we praise Your glory, for by honouring them we honour You, their Creator. Their splendour shows us Your greatness, which infinitely surpasses that of all creation.

In Your loving providence, You saw fit to send Your Angels to watch over us. Grant that we may always be under their protection and one day enjoy their company in heaven.

Heavenly Father, You are glorified in Your Saints, for their glory is the crowning of Your gifts. You provide an example for us by their lives on earth, You give us their friendship by our communion with them, You grant us strength and protection through their prayer for the Church, and You spur us on to victory over evil and the prize of eternal glory by this great company of witnesses.

Grant that we who aspire to take part in their joy may be filled with the Spirit that blessed their lives, so that, after sharing their faith on earth, we may also experience their peace in heaven. Amen.

BL. RICHARD OF VAUCELLES, ABBOT 

A native of England, Richard became a Cistercian monk under Saint Bernard (+ 1153) in Clairvaux, France. Bernard later chose Richard to succeed another Englishman, Blessed Radulf, as abbot of the monastery of Vaucelles, near Cambrai, France.

Bernard was so impressed by this thriving religious community that in admiration he exclaimed, “Blessed be God! A short while ago, indeed, in the beginning, I brought a small number of men to this place; but now, seeing that little flock to have grown into so great a multitude, I rejoice and exult, and give thanks to almighty God.”

Richard served as abbot of Vaucelles for sixteen years, and died with a reputation of holiness.

There appear to have been miracles attributed to Richard’s intercession following his death, for according to one account so many “signs of sanctity” regarding him and his predecessor Radulf came to light that they drew the attention of the Third Lateran Council in 1179. The bodies of both abbots were thereupon exhumed for the veneration of the faithful, and were transferred to a place of honour adjoining their monastery’s new chapel.

“The days of old have blessed us

with gifts beyond all praise:

our Father, make us faithful

to serve the coming days.”