A noble leude of the land of the Morini in the 7th century, Walbert was a zealous protector of religion alongside Saint Bertin and Saint Omer. Husband of Regentrude, he dedicated his life and family to the Church, with his son becoming a religious at the Abbey of Sithiu.
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SAINT WALBERT OR WALBERT, RELIGIOUS OF SITHIU,
Historical Distinction
The text clarifies from the outset that Walbert, a leude and close associate of Saint Bertin, should not be confused with the abbot of Luxeuil of the same name.
Some authors have assumed that the noble le ude Wal Walbert Frankish nobleman, warrior, and confessor of the 7th century. bert, who is spoken of in the life of Saint Ber saint Bertin Saint whose relics were protected by Folquin. tin, and who had such intimate relations with him as well as his son Bertin, is the same person of that name who was, at that time, abbot of the m onastery of Luxeuil. monastère de Luxeuil Abbey founded by Saint Columbanus and blessed by Saint Nicetius. This is an error that the Bollandists Bollandistes A society of Jesuit scholars who publish the Acta Sanctorum. refute very well in the article they added to their work on the holy abbot of Sithiu.
Conversion and family piety
Although his life is poorly documented, Walbert is described as a powerful nobleman who supported evangelization alongside Saint Bertin and Saint Omer.
Almost nothing is known of the life of Saint Walbert. It would be difficult to say whether he was already converted when Saint Bertin arrived in the land of the Morini, or if it was the instructions and examples of this worthy collaborator of Saint Omer that brought him to the faith along with his entire family.
Be that as it may, he is counted among those powerful and religious men who, in that time, rendered great services to religion through their personal virtues and the assistance they provided in the holy work of the propagation of the Gospel. His wife Regentrude rivaled him in fervor and piety, and a son whom heaven gave them, and who was baptized by Sai nt Bertin hi saint Bertin Saint whose relics were protected by Folquin. mself, has been numbered among the holy religious of the Abbey of Sithiu.
End of life and descendants
The author rejects the idea of a monastic retirement for Walbert, while highlighting the holiness of his son, a monk at Sithiu, whose relics were honored at Saint-Omer.
Some authors believe that Walbert also retired to this community towards the end of his life; but this opinion, which nothing confirms, should be rejected, it seems, as should the one that has him move subsequently from this monastery to that of Luxeuil. This is all that can be said about this venerable pers onage. His son, to whom Saint Bertin gave Son fils, à qui saint Bertin donna son nom Son of Walbert, a monk at the Abbey of Sithiu. his name, lived holily and died in the abbey of Sithiu. His relics were long preserved, along with those of several other saints, under the high altar of th e church of Saint-Omer l'église de Saint-Omer City where the church of Notre-Dame and the saint's tomb are located. .
Source
Reference to the work of Abbé Destombes on the saints of Cambrai and Arras.
*Lives of the Saints of Cambrai and Arras, by Abbé Destombes.*
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Key Events
- Conversion to the Christian faith (possibly by Saint Bertin)
- Support for the spread of the Gospel in the land of the Morini
- Possible retirement at the Abbey of Sithiu towards the end of his life