St. Fulbert of Chartres
Feast day: April 10
Born in Italy 952-960;
Died in Chartres, France, on April 10, 1029.
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.
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 Liége 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"
Feast day: April 10
Born in Italy 952-960;
Died in Chartres, France, on April 10, 1029.
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.
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 Liége 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"
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