Saint of the Day – 13 December – Saint Aubertus of Cambrai-Arras (c600-c669) Bishop and Confessor, Monk and Hermit, Apostle of the poor, Founder of several Churches and Monateries in the region of what is now Belgium. Born in France in c600 and died there in c669 of natural causes. Patronages – of bakers and confectioners, merchants, Cambrai, France, Ghent, Belgium, Hainault, Belgium. Also known as – Aubert of Cambrai, Aubert of Cambrai-Arras, Aubert of Avranches , Albert…Audebertus…Authbert…Autbertus…Obrecht…
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Cambrai, in France, St Aubertus, Bishop and Confessor.”
Aubertus was the 8th Bishop of Cambrai, in France who lived around the middle of the 7th Century.
He was born around 600 in Haucourt en Cambrésis, belonging to the family of the Merovingian King Dagobert I. He became a Monk in the Abbey founded by Saint Columban in 590 in Luxeuil, during the years in which Saint Eustasius was the Abbot.
After this first experience, tradition tells us that he became a Hermit and chose to live in solitude in the mountains. In his solitude he made bread which he then, with the help of his donkey, went to sell and donate the proceeds to the poor.
Around 652, Autbertus became the Bishop of Cambrai, after Saint Adalbert. Serving as the Bishop for 36 years, Bishop Aubertus promoted religion and the study of holy texts in Hainaut and Flanders. Through his influence, many nobles were converted and King Dagobert became a major supporter of the Christian Church. St Landelin was entrusted to his care and was educated in learning and piety by Aubertus. The Bishop of Cambrai gave his benediction to St Ghislain and blessed his hermitage (now Saint-Ghislain). Aubertus bestowed the religious habit upon the Count of Hainaut, Vincent Madelgarius, his wife, Saint Waltrude and her sister, St Aldegundis, who was admitted to the vows of a Nun by our St Aubertus of Cambrai and St Amandus of Maestricht, before becoming the first Abbess of Maubeuge Abbey.
In c655, Aubertus alongside St Eligius, arrived 30 days after St Fursey’s death to exhume his body for his Canonisation. In 666, he solemnly performed the translation of the Relics of St Vedast at Arras.
He governed the Diocese until 669, the year of his death. Among his disciples we also find Saint Vindician, his successor.
Autbertus is the Patron Saint of bakers and in Belgium he is represented, with a donkey loaded with two baskets full of bread and carrying a bag around his neck.
Bishop Aubertus died around 669 in Cambrai, Francia. He was buried in St Peter Church and is celebrated today, 13 December. His Shrine is kept in a Cambrai Abbey of Canons Regular, established in 1066. This beautiful image below features our Saint Aubertus. Itis a double-sided Altarpiece wing depicts The Supper at Emmaus and Saint Aubert, Bishop of Cambrai-Arras on the right(?). The Artist was Ambrosius Francken the Elder (Herentals 1544/45–1618 Antwerp).
AnaStpaul 