ST FULRAD, ABBOT OF SAINT-DENIS

ST FULRAD, ABBOT OF SAINT-DENIS - 16 JULY

SAINT FULRAD, ABBOT OF SAINT-DENIS

Saint Fulrad, Abbot, commemorated on July 16, alternatively February 17, was born in Alsace, where his parents - the nobles Riculf and Ermengarda - held significant estates that later enabled him to found several monasteries. He achieved great renown through his piety, his superior intellect, and the positions of honour and office entrusted to him by popes and kings.

According to historical records, he was the fourteenth Abbot of Saint-Denis (Dionysius) in France, an advisor to King Pepin, a palace chaplain, and archpriest of the kingdoms of Austrasia, Neustria, and Burgundy; he also served as arch-chaplain (or Grand Almoner) of France, a role he retained under Carloman and Charlemagne. In 744, he requested from Pope Zachary the pallium for the Archbishop of Reims; in 749, he was sent to Rome alongside Bishop Burchard of Würzburg to consult with the Holy Father regarding the French crown. Around 753, he began using the title of Abbot for the monasteries he had founded in the Diocese of Strasbourg - Leberau and Saint-Hippolyte - as well as the Priory of Salona in the Diocese of Metz; in his will of 777, he later placed these houses under the authority of the Abbey of Saint-Denis. Pope Zachary granted him the privilege allowing Saint-Denis and its dependent monasteries to elect their own bishop from among their monastic brethren - a bishop who would be subject directly to Rome. When Pope Stephen arrived in France toward the end of 753 for the King's coronation, Abbot Fulrad went out to meet him, accompanied him to the King, and, after the festivities had concluded, returned with him to Rome. In the year 755, he helped humble the Lombard King Aistulf and subsequently, in the king's name, gifted the Exarchate and the Pentapolis to the Pope. He received from Rome the relics of Saints Vitus, Alexander, and Hippolytus; these, along with the relics of Saint Veranus and Saint Cucufas (the latter obtained from Barcelona), he distributed among the churches and monasteries he had founded.

Abbot Fulrad died on July 16, 784, and was laid to rest in the church of Saint-Denis; however, his remains were later transferred to the monastery of Leberau - possibly on February 17, which is why his feast day was celebrated on that date for a considerable time. In the Buc. Suppl.*, he is also listed on February 17. Some sources have regarded our saint as an uncle of Charlemagne, but in doing so, they confused him with the Abbot Fulrad of Saint-Quentin in Vermandois, who lived about fifty years later.

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 2, Augsburg, 1861, p. 332)

*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 Fulrad 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

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 ...

FATIMA APPARITION - 13 AUGUST

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN AUGUST Saints celebrated on the 13th of August Marian Feast Days WELCOME! FATIMA APPARITION - AUGUST 13 The Fatima Children “BUT IN THE END MY IMMACULATE HEART WILL TRIUMPH.” But in the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me; it will be converted, and a certain period of peace will be granted to the world. THE AUGUST 13 EVENTS On August 13, the children were in jail at Ourem. The civil administrator threatened to boil them in oil if they did not tell the Lady’s secret. Though badly frightened, they could not think of disobeying our Lady. In disgust, the administrator finally freed them. A large number of people, not knowing that the children had been kidnapped, went to the Cova for the scheduled appearance of the Lady. At noon, there was a loud clap of thunder. Then, according to an eyewitness: “Right after the thunder came a flash, and immediately we all noticed a little cloud, very white, beautiful and bright,...

BL. LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR 16th century houses, painted by Auguste Mayer He was born in the bishopric of Durham, according to Raissius ; others say at Richmond, in Yorkshire. He was master of arts in one of our universities; but going abroad to Douay, in Flanders, was received into the English college there, 1576, and made priest in 1577; and the year following sent upon the mission. Where he had not been long before he again went abroad, and travelled to Rome, partly for devotion, and partly for further improvement in learning. Here he remained in the English college till 1580, when he returned into England, and was not long after apprehended: for I find by a printed diary of things transacted in the Tower of London from 1580 till 1585, that on the 5th of December, 1580, Luke Kirby, Thomas Cottam , and other priests, were brought to the Tower from other prisons; and that these two, on the 10th...

SAINT FEAST DAY FOR EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR

Search This Blog