Subj : April 10th - St. Fulbert of Chartres To : All From : rich Date : Tue Apr 09 2019 08:49:27 From: rich 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). <><><><> "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) <><><> 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. --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .