Aibert
Saint Aibert of Crespin O.S.B. | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1060 Espein, Diocese of Tournai |
| Died | April 7, 1140 (aged 80) Catholicism |
| Feast | April 7 |
Aibert (or Aybert) of Crespin, (also Aibert of Tournai) was a
. His biography was written by a contemporary, Robert, Archdeacon of Oostrevand.Life
Aibert was born in 1060 in the village of Espain in the Diocese of Tournai, in present-day Belgium.[1] His father was a knight, Aldbald of Espen, near Tournai.[2] Aibert fasted frequently, eating only bread or an apple when working in the fields.[3]
Moved by a wandering minstrel singing a lament about Theobald of Provins, Aibert began to live a life of asceticism under the direction of a hermit named John who lived in a wood near Crespin Abbey. While Aibert and John shared a single cell, they survived primarily on uncooked herbs and, occasionally, bread.[3] "They chose to eat neither foods of animal origins, nor foods that had been cooked."[4]
Aibert joined the abbot on a pilgrimage to Rome, and upon his return in 1090, entered the monastery, becoming a Benedictine. He spent twenty-five years at Crespin Abbey, being selected as
In 1115, Aibert was allowed to return to the solitary life of a hermit. Aibert built a hermitage in the wilderness and was sought out by those seeking spiritual advice and healing.[4] Sometime after returning to the wilderness, Aibert was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Burchard of Cambrai.[6] Aibert is noted to have said two Masses each day, one for the living and one for the dead.[7]
He died in 1140
References
- ^ Butler, Alban. The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Other Principal Saints, v. 4, J. Duffy, 1866, p. 70
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b Baring-Gould, Sabine. The lives of the saints, London, John Hodges. 1873 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b Butler 1866, 71
- ^ a b Roberts, Holly. Vegetarian Christian Saints, Anjeli Press, 2004, p. 189
- ISBN 1-931709-75-0
- ^ Butler 1866, 72
- ^ a b Monks of Ramsgate. "Aibert". Book of Saints, 1921. CatholicSaints.Info. 13 May 2012 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
