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SAINT HUGH, ARCHBISHOP OF ROUEN - 9 APRIL

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN APRIL

Saints celebrated on the 9th of April

SAINT HUGH, ARCHBISHOP OF ROUEN

Saint Hugh, a son of Count or Duke Drogo of Champagne and Burgundy and his wife Adeltrudis, grandson of Pipin von Heristall and nephew of Charles  Martell, was born around A.D. 680 and is therefore not to be confused with a much later Hugh (the son of Charlemagne, who, however, was never Archbishop of Rouen, although some erroneously list him as such). 

His education was taken care of by the godly matron Anfledis, wife of the Majordomo Warado (died around 684) and Hugh's maternal grandmother. Along with the sciences, the boy was instructed well in matters of piety. After he was ordained as a priest, he became primicerius at the cathedral chapter in Metz. According to a document from A.D. 715, which is still extant, Hugh donated the Villa Vigy (Vigiacum) to St Arnulph's Abbey. In general, he used his rich income and his entire patrimony for religious and ecclesiastical purposes. 

According to the Bollandists*, he was appointed Archbishop of Rouen (Rotomagus) by his uncle Charles Martell after 720; it is noted that as such he also governed the dioceses of Paris and Bayeux (Bajoca), as well as the abbeys of Fontenelle and Jumièges (Gemmeticum), in order, as is apologetically added, to prevent these positions being bestowed on lay people. 

Hugh, with the greatest zeal and complete unselfishness, took care of building, maintenance and expansion of churches and spiritual foundations. 

At Rouen he was the successor of Archbishop Radilandus (also Ranilandus and Reginaldus) and is referred to by some as the 23rd, according to others as the 25th or 26th Bishop of Rouen. At Paris, he was according to some the 35th, according to others the 37th bishop on the chair of St Denis (Dionysius). 

Since it is usually assumed that he became archbishop of Rouen in 722 and soon after received the leadership of the churches of Paris and Bayeux, he reigned as bishop for 8 years.

He died happily on April 9, 730 at the abbey of Jumièges. His body was transferred to Haspres (Hasprum), between Cambrai and Valence, in 841; the commemoration of this translation was observed on January 19. There are also relics of him in Rouen and Prague (near St Vitus). St Hugh is listed in the Roman Martyrology* on April 9. 

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 2, Augsburg, 1861)

*A hagiography source used by the authors 

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Hugh 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.

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