St. Abbon
(Or ABBO.)
Born near Orleans c. 945; died at Fleury, 13
November, 1004, a monk of the Benedictine monastery of Fleury sur Loire (Fleuret),
conspicuous both for learning and sanctity, and one
of the great lights of the Church in the stormy times of Hugh Capet
of France and of the three Otto of Germany. He devoted himself to
philosophy, mathematics, and astronomy. In early life he was called
to England to direct the school of the newly founded monastery of
Ramsey, in the County of Huntingdon, after which he returned to
Fleury. On the death of the Abbot Oilbold, Abbon was selected to
succeed him, but one of the monks who had secured the support of the
King and his son Robert, the Bishop of Orleans, contested the
choice, and the matter assumed national importance in the political
forces it brought into play. It was finally settled by the famous
Gerbert (later Pope Sylvester II) in favour of Abbon. He was
present at the Synod of St. Basolus (St. Basle), near Reims, at
which Archbishop Arnolf was tried for treason and deposed, to make
way for Gerbert. When the question arose about the marriage of
Robert the Pious and Bertha, Abbon was commissioned to arrange it
with the Pope. On the way to Rome he met Pope Gregory V, who was a
fugitive from the city from which the Antipope John XVII had
expelled him. Between the Pontiff and the Abbot the greatest esteem
and affection existed. The royal petition for a dispensation was
rejected. Abbon succeeded in bringing about the restoration of
Arnulf to the see of Reims. His influence contributed largely to
calm the excitement about the fear of the end of the world which is
said to have been general in Europe in 1000. His glourious life had
a sad ending. In 1004 he attemped to restore discipline in the
monastery of La Reole, in Gascony, by transferring some of the monks
of Fleury into that community. But the trouble increased; fighting
began between the two parties and when St. Abbon endeavoured to
separate them he was pieced in the side by a lance. He concealed
the wound and reached his cell, where he died in the arms of his
faithful disciple Aimoin, who has left an account of his labours and
virtues. The miracles wrought at his tomb soon caused him to be
regarded in the Church of Gaul as a saint and martyr. His feast is
kept 13 November.
Cochard, Les Saints de l'église d'Orléans (1879), 362-383; The Month
(1874), XX, 163; XXI, 28-42; Sackur, Die Cluniacenser (1892), I, 270,
297; Pardiac, Hist. de St. Abbon de Fleury (Paris, 1872).
T.J. CAMPBELL
Transcribed by Hilary Ho Sang
The 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia