ST GUMBERT OF REIMS, MARTYR

ST GUMBERT OF REIMS, MARTYR - 29 APRIL

ST GUMBERT OF REIMS, MARTYR

Gumbert (Gondebertus, Guntbertus, Gomberdus) was a biological brother of Bishop St Nivardus of Reims (Rheims). He flourished in the second half of the 7th century under King Childeric II of Austrasia, who is said to have been his brother-in-law. For a while, Gumbert seems to have been one of the first palatines of the empire.

His wife was St Bertha. Both had a great zeal for the exaltation of the kingdom of God both in themselves and in others. A source states that he had a nunnery built in Reims in honour of St Peter (St-Pierre-les-Nonnes). The monastery Avenay (Altivillarense monasterium) near Epernay (Sparnacum), where he found his resting place, was financed by Gumbert and his wife. Here his wife had decided to live in quiet tranquility, while he wanted to likewise leave the world for the silence of a monastery "at the seaside areas" (maritima loca, circa oras Altissalii), but was killed by pagans. Where this happened, whether in West Flanders or further north, in today's (Dutch) Zealand, is undecided.

Since he is often referred to as a “fighter of Christ,” he seems to have fallen during an expedition against the Normans. The following words in his biography also point to this: Maximam partem amplae possessionis sibi contingentis tradidit eidem loco (the same is not mentioned), ut exinde milites Christi alerentur, pauperes recrearentur, captivique pro temporum opportunitate redimerentur. (Vita No. 5).

He rests at the side of his (also murdered) wife Bertha. At their grave in Avenay, God deigned to perform many miracles.

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 4, Augsburg, 1875)

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

PRAYER:

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

Sources of these articles (in the original German): books.google.co.uk, de-academic.com, zeno.org, openlibrary.org

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