BL. HUMBALD, BISHOP OF AUXERRE

BL. HUMBALD, BISHOP OF AUXERRE - 20 OCTOBER

BLESSED HUMBALD, BISHOP OF AUXERRE

Coin, back and front,
Humbaud, 1095-1120, Berry (France)

Blessed Humbald (Humbaldus, French: Humbaud), was the first bishop of Auxerre of this name, although some sources erroneously list him as the second, mistakenly interpreting the old handwritten manuscript's entry regarding Vibald [Wibaldus (A.D. 879-887)] as Humbaldus.

In order of succession Humbald was the 53rd Bishop of Auxerre (Antissiodorum). He bore his father's name, Humbaldus, his mother was called Adela. The year of his birth is not explicitly stated. The Neo-Bollandist Victor de Buck* reckons that this holy bishop first saw the light of day between the years 1040 - 1050. In 1076 he was dean of the cathedral chapter. He received a good Christian education under the supervision of Bishop Heribertus (1040-1052). Afterwards, Humbald progressed through all the degrees of priesthood and canonicity.

When Bishop Robert died in 1094, many eyes turned to him as a potential successor; nevertheless, he could not be ordained without the Pope's approval. Urban II decided in his favour and consecrated him in Milan in the first half of 1095. His praise of of Auxerre's bishops on the occasion summarises that they had done many good deeds for this church - he was not just referring to the church building, the Cathedral of Saint Stephen - because beautiful churches and ornaments are not in themselves evidence of the virtue of a priest or bishop, but conversely, neglected churches are proof of their unsuitability or lukewarmness.

Right from the beginning of his episcopate Humbald demonstrated that the spirit of justice and love animated him throughout. He insisted that Count William II. of Nevers renounce the so-called right of spolia exercised by him and his ancestors over the episcopal property and income. Thereupon the count did indeed make this renunciation for himself and his descendants.

Humbald proceeded to expand the cathedral, decorating its choir and crypt with magnificent paintings, stained glass windows, carpets, candelabra and valuable utensils. He also brought system and order into his diocese's administration and sought to increase the episcopal income and that of the cathedral chapter through new acquisitions. However, records document that, for a long time, Humbald was too lenient with the monasteries, which at that time often neglected discipline, poverty and piety, and was therefore warned to be more vigilant by the Pope at the Council of Clermont.

In 1097 he took part in the inauguration of Saint Stephen's Monastery in Nevers. On the whole, since then, he began working diligently to renew church institutions and improve church discipline. Between the years 1100 and 1107 he reformed the canons regular at Saint Peter and Saint Eusebius, after having previously attended a council at Rome (1099) and probably also at Sens (1098), as well as the synods of Etampes (1098) and Anse (1100). Councils were also held in Troyes (Trecae) and Paris in 1104, at which he was also present. In 1106 he had Pope Paschal II. re-confirm his church's administration. The following year the same supreme pontiff undertook the consecration of the church and the Cistercian monastery la Charité on the Loire (Ecclesia S. Mariae de Caritate). Humbald also was present on the occasion.

The ancient records show that, in 1113, Humbald attended the introduction ceremony of the Canons Regular at Saint Victor in Paris. A particularly important event was the foundation of the Cistercian monastery of Pontigny in 1114, which came under his episcopate, where he appointed the first abbot Hugo. He became one of the most outstanding benefactors of the Fonteme or Fontemoi monastery (Fons humidus, Fontism). In general, his biographer presents a very positive picture of Bishop Humbald:

He was alert in spirit, careful in his speech, profound in his advice, gentle and patient, cheerful looking, pleasant in his appearance and gait, approachable to all, inwardly and externally dignified. He always attended prayer at the appropriate time, but also enjoyed social entertainment from time to time, took care of his and his diocese's income and liked the company of noble people, including men of war. Even happier, however, he was in the company of his clergy, whom he often invited to dinner and whom he provided with clothes and other necessities. He was often tempted by carnal desires; but he carefully suppressed them by deliberate moderation in food and drink. As bishop he never ate meat or fish, only vegetables; he drank very little wine. Never did he sit down at table without having the poor around him; during fasting times he took twelve of them a day and distributed money among them on Maundy Thursday and also clothes on Easter Sunday.

Finally, Humbald went on a pilgrimage to the holy land and visited the sacred places. On his return he was shipwrecked and drowned on October 20,1115. His successor was Saint Hugh.

The Bollandists* suggest that no ecclesiastical veneration was paid to him in Auxerre because there are no relics of him. It is indeed unusual that to this day he does not even have the title “venerabilis” in the Necrologium Autissiodorense. In the work “De gestis Pontificum Autissiodorensium” he is neither called “blessed” nor “saint”; only in the list of bishops' names there is he mentioned as "blessed." But an old wall painting in the cathedral of Auxerre contained his image with the title "Saint Humbald". On this fact the Neo- Bollandists* base their evidence of "immemorable veneration" and therefore call our Humbald "blessed." (VIII. 996–1007)

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 2, Augsburg, 1861, p. 795-96)

*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 Blessed Humbald 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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