From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
April 10th - St. Fulbert of Chartres B (AC)
Born in Italy c. 952-960; died in Chartres, France, on April 10, 1029.
"Ye choirs of new Jerusalem,
Your sweetest notes employ,
The Paschal victory to hymn
In strains of holy joy."
--Saint Fulbert of Chartres
The glory of his century was born into a humble Italian family.
Because of Fulbert's promise as a student he was sent to study at a
Benedictine abbey at Rheims, France. He was one of their finest, for
when the celebrated Gerbert, who taught him mathematics and
philosophy, became Pope Sylvester II, he called Fulbert to Rome.=C2 When
the next pope succeeded Gerbert in 1003, Fulbert returned to France,
and Bishop Odo of Chartres gave him a canonry and appointed him
chancellor of the cathedral, thus, charging Fulbert with the
government of the cathedral schools. Fulbert made them into the
greatest educational center in France, attracting students from all
over Europe.
Fulbert himself was a true poet and scholar, with a great range of
learning, including all the sciences then taught. He was chosen to
succeed Bishop Roger when he died. Fulbert's influence had now become impressive, for he acted as a counselor to the spiritual and temporal
leaders of France. He became a respected statesman, and was consulted
by the duke of Aquitaine and the king of France.
Yet he called himself 'the very tiny bishop of a very great church,'
and continued to preach regularly and see to the instruction of the
territories under his jurisdiction. He rebuilt the Chartres Cathedral
when it burned down almost immediately after his consecration. It was
built with great magnificence. All kinds of people gave him
assistance, including Canute, king of England. Although much of the
current cathedral is of a later date, Fulbert's Romanesque steeple
still dominates the city.
Having a great devotion to the Virgin Mary, in whose honor he composed
several hymns, he arranged that when the new cathedral opened, the
newly introduced feast of her birthday be celebrated there, and that
it be observed through the diocese.
He vigorously opposed simony and the bestowal of ecclesiastical
endowments upon laymen. After ruling for 22 years, he died. He is the
author of "Ye Choirs of New Jerusalem" and sermons, hymns, and
letters; several of his treatises survive.
Fulbert's pupils loved him. Shortly after his death a pupil from Li=C3=A9ge named Adelman (who later became bishop of Brescia) wrote: "With what
dignity of spiritual interpretation, with what weight of literal
sense, with what sweetness of speech did he expound the deep secrets
of philosophy" (Benedictines, Bentley, Delaney, Encyclopedia, Gill,
Walsh, White).
In art, Saint Fulbert is a bishop receiving milk from the Virgin as he
lies ill in bed (Roeder).
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"One 'Thanks be to God,' or one 'Blessed be God,' in adversity, is
worth more than a thousand thanksgivings in prosperity"
--Father M. d' Avila
When St. Francis was suffering much bodily pain in illness, one of his
monks told him that he would pray to God to grant him some relief. The
Saint reproved him, and bowing his head to the ground, said: "O Lord,
I give Thee thanks for this pain which I am suffering, and I pray Thee
to be pleased to increase it. What can or should be more acceptable to
me than this, that Thou shouldst afflict me without mercy, for this is
the very thing that I desire above all."
("A Year with the Saints".=C2 April - Patience)
Bible Quote:
Love not the world, nor the things which are in the world. If any man
Love the world, the charity of the Father is not in him. (1 John 2:15)
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Prayer:
Lord Jesus, we pray that St. Fulbert will intercede for our clergy
when they need strengthening to make the right decisions. May they
always stay true to Church teachings and to You, we pray. Amen.
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* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)