July 22 Saint Wandrille of Fontenelle (Vandregisilo, Vandrille, Wandregisel, Wandregisilus) Abbot
July 22 Saint Wandrille of Fontenelle (Vandregisilo, Vandrille, Wandregisel, Wandregisilus) Abbot
600 - 668
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Born near Verdun about 600, France; died 668. Saint Wandrille was born into a noble family related to Blessed Pepin of Landen and raised at the Austrasian court. He was a courtier of King Dagobert of Austrasia, where he had among his fellows seven or eight future saints. In spite of his desire for the monastic life, Wandrille was appointed count of the palace and married out of deference to his parents. About 628, by mutual agreement, he separated from his wife. She became a nun and he became a monk at the Benedictine abbey of Montfauçon in Champagne under Saint Balderic (Baudry).
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A few months later he left to become a hermit at Saint-Ursanne in the Jura Mountains, where lived in a log hut for about five years. Then Wandrille went to Bobbio. After a pilgrimage to Rome, in 637, he entered Romain-Moûtier Abbey on the Isere, where he spent the next decade and where he was ordained by Saint Ouen of Rouen.
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He left Romain-Moûtier to found the famous abbey of Fontenelle in Normandy, which he developed into a missionary and spiritual center, including a school of arts and crafts. He became involved in helping and preaching to the inhabitants of the surrounding area. The abbey- church, which came to be called Saint-Wandrille, was consecrated in 657. Soon Fontenelle had a community of over 300 monks, which adopted the Rule of Saint Benedict after his death.
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Wandrille’s relics were moved during the Viking invasion to Étaples, Chartres, Boulogne, and Mont-Blandin (Ghent). His feast spread from Ghent and was celebrated in southern England before the Norman Conquest. His abbey had at least three cells in England – the most important at Ecclesfield in South Yorkshire and Upavon (Wiltshire). From these cells, his cultus spread to other English monasteries, including York and Hereford. A fine, 11th- century illustrated Life of Wandrille survives at Saint-Omer. At least some of his relics were recovered by his abbey, where his feast is still celebrated (Benedictines, Delaney, Encyclopedia, Farmer).
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Eternal Father, I wish to honor St. Wandrille of Fontenelle, and I give Thee thanks for all the graces Thou hast bestowed upon him. I ask Thee to please increase grace in my soul through the merits of this saint, and I commit the end of my life to him by this special prayer, so that by virtue of Thy goodness and promise, St. Wandrille of Fontenelle might be my advocate and provide whatever is needed at that hour. Amen.