HUGH, ABBOT OF PRÉMONTRÉ

HUGH, ABBOT OF PRÉMONTRÉ - 10 FEBRUARY

HUGH, ABBOT OF PRÉMONTRÉ

Hugo (Hugh; French: Hugues), the first disciple of Saint Norbert and first Abbot of Prémontré, was, according to Migne* (II. 1460), born towards the end of the 11th century at Fosses (Fossae) near Liège, of a noble family and educated in the monastery of Fosses. After becoming a priest, he was chaplain to Bishop Burkard of Cambrai (Burchard of Cambrai) and a member of the chapter of the cathedral. When Saint Norbert once visited the bishop, Hugh felt such respect for the saint that he soon joined him. Thus he became the first disciple of Saint Norbert, who founded his order in 1120. When the latter was elevated to the position of Archbishop of Magdeburg in 1126, he appointed Hugues Abbot of Prémontré (Pratum monstratum, Praemonstratum) and General of the order.

Hugh was present at the assembly of Chartres, which King Louis the Younger had called in 1145 because of the Crusades. He declined the bishopric of that city, which the king offered him. He died in 1161 according to Migne*; other writers document that he passed in 1164. He was buried in the church at Prémonté. When his remains were transferred to the newly built church of the order in 1279, they are said to have emitted a most pleasant fragrance. In 1660, at the General Chapter of the order, his body was solemnly raised, and his canonization was also discussed. The project was never completed, although it was not altogether abandoned, either.

Hugh left behind some writings, including the statutes of the order, which were confirmed by several popes, a Life (biography) of Saint Norbert and an Order Ceremonial. For 35 years, he had led the order with zeal and prudence. Some hagiographers list him as "Saint Hugh," others (including Migne*) as "blessed," but most sources refer to him as "pious." The Bollandists* mention Abbot Hugh among the praetermissi on February 10 (II. 378).

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 2, Augsburg, 1861, pp. 789-90)

*A hagiography source used by the authors

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

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

WELCOME

Please pick your saints: January - Saints by date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 February - Saints by date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 ...

ST JOHN BERCHMANS, RELIGIOUS - 13 AUGUST

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN AUGUST Saints celebrated on the 13th of August WELCOME! SAINT JOHN BERCHMANS, RELIGIOUS (Patron Saint of Altar Servers.) The eldest boy of a poor cordwainer, in a small Belgian town, John was ever a dutiful, prayerful, and studious child. Our Lord called him when but young to leave his father and his father’s house, to serve Him in the Society of Jesus. And because he was so good a son, it cost his father much to give him up to God; but he was too good a Christian to refuse outright. HE WAS SENT TO ROME John had hardly taken his religious vows when he was sent to the centre of Christendom, the holy city of Rome. His modesty, his purity, shone out as great virtue always does; and the young laymen who attended the lectures would come to gaze upon his beautiful and holy face, and go away the better for the sight. GREAT VIRTUE Three short years, and his last sickness found him sighing for heaven, and three days before the great feast of Mar...

ST LAURA OF CORDOBA, WIDOW AND MARTYR - 19 OCTOBER

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN OCTOBER Saints celebrated on the 19th of October WELCOME! SAINT LAURA OF CORDOBA, WIDOW AND MARTYR Laura, a widow and martyr of Cordoba in Spain, is mentioned in the Spanish martyrology of Tamajode Salazar, who refers to Luitprand, where it says the following: St Laura is said to have been of a noble family, and according to the wishes of her parents she married an equally noble man and gave birth to two daughters. After the death of her husband and her daughters, she went to the monastery of St Aurea, named St-Maria de Cuteclara, and after her martyrdom led the same for nine years as her successor. After she had made wonderful progress in all virtues, she was finally summoned to renounce the faith before a Saracen judge. But since she remained steadfast, she was first beaten very cruelly and then thrown into a bath of boiling pitch, where she remained in praise of God for three hours and then flew to heaven on October...

SAINT FEAST DAY FOR EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR

Search This Blog