Philibert of Jumièges
Encyclopedia
Saint Philibert of Jumièges (c. 608–684) was an abbot
and monastic
founder, particularly associated with Jumièges Abbey
.
He was born in Gascony
as the only son of a Vic or Vic-Jour (now Vic-Fezensac
) based courtier of Dagobert I
and was educated by Saint Ouen
. He later entered the monastery of Rebais
as a monk, and was promoted to abbot, but his inexperience was too great for the position. He left and spent some time travelling round monasteries studying their Rules and constitutions.
In 654, Philibert received a gift of land from Clovis II
on which he founded Jumièges Abbey. He drew up a Rule based on his studies for this and for his later foundations, drawing on several earlier Rules, including those of Benedict
, Columbanus
, Macarius
and Basil the Great.
For a time Philibert lost the favour of Ouen and the royal family, and was exiled. He withdrew to Poitiers
and near Heriou founded the monastery of Noirmoutier, whereupon Ansoald, bishop of Poitiers, put his own foundation of Luçon Abbey under Philibert's charge as well. When he regained the favour of his patrons, he founded other houses, including the monastery of Cunaut and the nunnery at Pavilly
.
Philibert died and was buried at Heriou, but in 836 the monks of Noirmoutier abandoned their home in the face of the Viking
attacks to seek refuge on the mainland, in 875 finally settling with the relics of Philibert in the abbey at Tournus
named in his honour, where the great church of St Philibert at Tournus
still stands. His feast day is 20 August. The filbert, or hazelnut, is said to have been named for him, since it ripens about August 20 in England.
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
and monastic
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
founder, particularly associated with Jumièges Abbey
Jumièges Abbey
Jumièges Abbey was a Benedictine monastery, situated in the commune of Jumièges in the Seine-Maritime département, in Normandy, France.-History:...
.
He was born in Gascony
Gascony
Gascony is an area of southwest France that was part of the "Province of Guyenne and Gascony" prior to the French Revolution. The region is vaguely defined and the distinction between Guyenne and Gascony is unclear; sometimes they are considered to overlap, and sometimes Gascony is considered a...
as the only son of a Vic or Vic-Jour (now Vic-Fezensac
Vic-Fezensac
Vic-Fezensac is commune in the Gers department in southwestern France.-Geography:The Auzoue flows north through the western part of the commune and forms most of its north-western border....
) based courtier of Dagobert I
Dagobert I
Dagobert I was the king of Austrasia , king of all the Franks , and king of Neustria and Burgundy . He was the last Merovingian dynast to wield any real royal power...
and was educated by Saint Ouen
Ouen
Audoin, Audoen or Ouen, and Dado to his contemporaries, , was a Frankish bishop, courtier, chronicler, and Catholic saint....
. He later entered the monastery of Rebais
Rebais
Rebais is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.-External links:* * *...
as a monk, and was promoted to abbot, but his inexperience was too great for the position. He left and spent some time travelling round monasteries studying their Rules and constitutions.
In 654, Philibert received a gift of land from Clovis II
Clovis II
Clovis II succeeded his father Dagobert I in 639 as King of Neustria and Burgundy. His brother Sigebert III had been King of Austrasia since 634. He was initially under the regency of his mother Nanthild until her death in her early thirties in 642...
on which he founded Jumièges Abbey. He drew up a Rule based on his studies for this and for his later foundations, drawing on several earlier Rules, including those of Benedict
Benedict of Nursia
Saint Benedict of Nursia is a Christian saint, honored by the Roman Catholic Church as the patron saint of Europe and students.Benedict founded twelve communities for monks at Subiaco, about to the east of Rome, before moving to Monte Cassino in the mountains of southern Italy. There is no...
, Columbanus
Columbanus
Columbanus was an Irish missionary notable for founding a number of monasteries on the European continent from around 590 in the Frankish and Lombard kingdoms, most notably Luxeuil and Bobbio , and stands as an exemplar of Irish missionary activity in early medieval Europe.He spread among the...
, Macarius
Macarius of Alexandria
Saint Macarius of Alexandria was a monk in the Nitrian Desert. He was a slightly younger contemporary of Macarius of Egypt, and is thus also known as Macarius the Younger. He was also known as ho politikos. He was an extreme ascetic, and numerous miracles were ascribed to him...
and Basil the Great.
For a time Philibert lost the favour of Ouen and the royal family, and was exiled. He withdrew to Poitiers
Poitiers
Poitiers is a city on the Clain river in west central France. It is a commune and the capital of the Vienne department and of the Poitou-Charentes region. The centre is picturesque and its streets are interesting for predominant remains of historical architecture, especially from the Romanesque...
and near Heriou founded the monastery of Noirmoutier, whereupon Ansoald, bishop of Poitiers, put his own foundation of Luçon Abbey under Philibert's charge as well. When he regained the favour of his patrons, he founded other houses, including the monastery of Cunaut and the nunnery at Pavilly
Pavilly
Pavilly is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Geography:A town of farming and light industry situated by the banks of the Austreberthe River in the Pays de Caux, some northwest of Rouen at the junction of the D4, D142, D22 and the D67...
.
Philibert died and was buried at Heriou, but in 836 the monks of Noirmoutier abandoned their home in the face of the Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
attacks to seek refuge on the mainland, in 875 finally settling with the relics of Philibert in the abbey at Tournus
Tournus
Tournus is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France.-Geography:Tournus is located on the right bank of the Saône, 20 km. northeast of Mâcon on the Paris-Lyon railway.-Sights:...
named in his honour, where the great church of St Philibert at Tournus
St Philibert at Tournus
St Philibert's Church in Tournus, France, is the church of the former Benedictine abbey established here in c. 950.The building is a structure of the early First Romanesque style of Burgundy, which is beginning to use further Romanesque and early Gothic styles during the beginning of the 11th...
still stands. His feast day is 20 August. The filbert, or hazelnut, is said to have been named for him, since it ripens about August 20 in England.