Saint of the Day –19 April – St Ursmar (644-713) Bishop and Abbot of Lobbes in Belgium, Ascetic and Penitent, renowned Preacher which led him to be appointed as an itinerant missionary Bishop In France, Belfgum and Germany. Born in 644 in Belgium and died there at his See on 18 April 713. Patronages – Binche, Lobbes and Luxembourg.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At the Monastery of Lobbes, St Ursmar, Bishop.”
St Ursmarwas born near Avesne, in Haynault (in the Fremch-speaking region of Belgium) and grew up from his cradle, a model of all virtues, in which he made continual progress by a life of humility, patience and penance and by an assiduous application to prayer, in which he usually shed abundance of tears.
What he most earnestly asked of God was the gift of an ardent charity, in order that all his thoughts and actions, and those of all men, might, with the most pure and fervent intention and in the most perfect manner, be directed in all things, to fulfil His Holy and adorable Will.
In his conversation it was his earnest desire to induce persons of a secular life to fix their thoughts, as much as the condition of their state would allow, on heavenly things. Also, to accompany even their worldly business with such aspirations and thoughts and to study to withdraw their hearts from all attachment to creatures.
St Landelin had then lately founded the Abbey of Lobes, on the Sambre, in a territory which is now subject to the Prince of Liege, although in the diocese of Cambray. Ursmar here put on the monastic habit. When, in 686, St Landelin retired into a closer solitude, where he soon after built the Monastery of Crespin, he left Ursmar as the Abbot of Lobes.
Our Saint redoubled his fervour in all the exercises of penance in this dignity. He never tasted any flesh-meat or fish and for 10 years never once touched bread, not even in a dangerous illness.
He finished the building of his Abbey and Church and founded several other Monasteries. He often left his dear cell to preach the Faith to idolaters and sinners. He became the apostle of several districts in Cambrai, Arras, Tournay, Noyon, Terouanne, Laon, Metz, Triers, Cologne and Maestricht.
By virtue of a commission from the Holy See, he exercised the functions of a Bisho,: his predecessor, St Landelin and his 2 successors, Sts Ermin and Theodulph, were invested with the same character.
In his old age he resigned his Abbacy to St Ermin and died in retirement in 713, being almost sixty-nine years old, on the 18th day of April, on which he is honoured as principal Patron at Binche, Lobbes and Luxembourg but is named today, on the 19th which was the day of his burial, in the Roman and several other Martyrologies.
His Relics are venerated at Binche, 4 leagues from Mons. See his original life by a disciple, with the notes of Henschenius, also in 981, Folcuin, Abbot of Lobbes, in his accurate history of The Gests of the Abbots of Lobbes.
AnaStpaul 
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