Venerable William of Champeaux

The Bishop of Paris and Hildebert, Bishop of Le Mans, having urged him to resume his lessons, William yielded to the advice of such wise and enlightened friends, and soon students were seen flocking from all parts to his school, which became the most renowned in Christendom for both ecclesiastical sciences and religious virtues. But it was soon judged that it was not fitting for such a brilliant torch to remain as if hidden under a bushel; it was desired to place it on the lampstand. The Bishop of Châl Châlons Territory where the Irish siblings settled. ons, Hugh, having died, William was proclaimed by a unanimous voice to succeed him. He was frightened by the formidable burden imposed upon him; but he could not resist the voice of God which manifested itself through such a unanimous agreement. Having been consecrated by Raoul, Archbishop of Reims, the first act of his administration was the reformation of the canons of his cathedral. He had brought with him several of his disciples, in order to re-establish regularity among the canons of th e Cathedral o Saint-Étienne Cathedral where William officiated and which he embellished. f Saint-Étienne. He even lived in common and as a brother with them. What was even more admirable is that he himself gave public lessons to his clergy. He took extreme care to instruct them and explained the Holy Scripture and the works of the Fathers with an eloquence that was enchanting.

William modified the diocesan administration with great wisdom. He brought the rural archdeacons to the city and near to himself. He placed them as cornerstones for the support of the spiritual edifice of the Church, at the four extremities of the canonical seats. This is the place they still occupied both in the choir and in processions before the revolution of 1792. They walked immediately before the bishop and served as his deacons and subdeacons when he officiated pontifically. After having thus regulated the rank and dignities of the archdeacons, and established the regular life in all its perfection among his canons, he applied himself either to building monasteries or to reforming those that already existed in his diocese. Among the former, one counts the foundation of the priory of Courtisols and that of Louvemont. William devoted all his affection to the Abbey of Saint-Pierre. At the beginning of the year 1114, he confirmed all the donations that had been made to it. In the same year, in the month of December, he attended the council held at Beauvais, presided over by Conon, Bishop of Palestrina, cardinal and legate of Pope Pasch pape Pascal II Pope reigning during the episcopate of Geoffrey. al II. The following year, in the month of March, he was present at a synod in Reims, held by the same legate against Emperor Henry V. On July 12, 1115, he held a synod in his episcopal city; finally, in 1117, he attended a council in Rome held by Pope Paschal II in the Lateran Church.

Aided by the good coun sel of Saint saint Bernard Abbot of Clairvaux and spiritual master of Raoul. Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, to whom he was bound by a close friendship, the pious bishop, whose zeal for the salvation of souls became ever more ardent, formed a fervent community within Châlons itself. He gathered all the hermits scattered in different places of his diocese, made them into a community which he placed at the cemetery of Saint-Georges, known as the community of Sainte-Marthe, composed of thirty-six religious, and placed an archpriest over them to govern them. They were called the Augustinians of Châlons. William was not content to work for the salvation of his diocesans; he also gave all his care to his own sanctification. He went to Clairvaux as frequently as his duties allowed him to meditate on eternal truths, to purify himself of the slightest stains one contracts in the midst of a corrupt world, to revive his fervor, and to ask God for new graces. When the pious bishop allowed himself to indulge too much in the charms of solitude, Saint Bernard would say to him: "That is enough, you are a pastor; return to your flock, for fear that during your absence ravenous wolves might scatter and devour it. Take care to lead it into rich pastures and to feed it with words and examples." Upon leaving this pious asylum, William would return to his episcopal city ablaze with a new zeal for the salvation of souls and clothed with greater strength to fight the battles of the Lord. Indeed, this renewal of fervor and courage became extremely necessary for him in the struggles he had to sustain against Emperor Henry V regarding invest itures. Henri V Holy Roman Emperor, opponent in the Investiture Controversy. Charged by the Sovereign Pontiff to go to Strasbourg, to the court of this emperor, to treat of this matter, he could not succeed in his mission because of the bad faith of this prince, who was solemnly excommunicated in the council held at Reims in 1119. The following year, 1120, in a council held at Beauvais, he was praised as being the pillar of doctors, *columna doctorum*. In the same council, he gave the eulogy for Saint Arnulf, Bishop of Soissons, whose body h saint Arnould Bishop of Soissons, praised by William at the Council of Beauvais. ad been buried at the monastery of Oudenburg, in the diocese of Tournai, and concluded with all the bishops that his body should be raised from the earth and that his feast should be celebrated; he also gave there a great proof of wisdom by restricting the privileges of the canons of Cheminon and restoring them to his good graces.

The pious bishop gave the Hôtel-Dieu an increase in property, and nine altars to the community of the canons of Saint-Étienne. Wishing to leave his cathedral a testimony of his affection, he had the south tower built at his own expense, where the ogival style of the 12th century flourishes in all its splendor. To preserve forever the memory of the author of this magnificent monument, it has been given the name of the Champeaux tower.

This venerable pontiff, eight days before his death, wished to set a great example of humility by having himself clothed in the religious habit and laid upon a wretched bed. It was in this manner that he rendered his soul to God in the year 1121, on the 8th of the Kalends of February. His body was laid to rest, according to his desire, in the splendid Clairvaux Cistercian abbey where Raoul embraced religious life. chapel he had built at Clairvaux.

William of Champeaux left behind a Treatise on Communion under both kinds, and Traité de la Communion sous les deux espèces Theological work written by Guillaume. another on the Origin of the soul. In addition to these two works, his manuscript philosophical works were found in the library of Troyes.

We have extracted this biography from the *Bountés de l'Histoire de la Champagne*, by M. l'abbé Boitel.