Saint Benignus of Flay
Abbot of Flay
Born into the Frankish nobility, Bénigne was abbot of Fontenelle and later Flay in the 8th century. Despite the political persecutions of Ragemfred that forced him into exile, he governed his monks with wisdom and eventually directed both monasteries simultaneously before his death in 723.
Guided reading
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SAINT BÉNIGNE, ABBOT OF FLAY (723).
Origins and monastic vocation
Born to Frankish parents, Benignus followed the example of his relatives by retiring to the Abbey of Fontenelle, where he succeeded Saint Bain as abbot.
Benignu Bénigne Abbot of Fontenelle and later of Flay in the 8th century. s, born to Mauri Maurions Father of Saint Benignus. ons an d In Inga Mother of Saint Benignus. ga, both of the Frankish race, imitated, though still young, the example of Ausbert Ausbert Relative and model of Saint Benignus. and the two brother s Benignus the El Bénigne, l'ancien Relative of Saint Benignus of Flay. der and Gennard, his relatives, who, offering a great spectacle to angels and men, had said farewell to the most brilliant secular positions to follow Jesus Christ, poor and crucified. Hidden with them in the retreat of Fon tenelle, h Fontenelle Norman monastery where the saint was a monk and later retired. e practiced all virtues, especially humility. He would have desired to remain all his life in the lower degree of the diaconate; but Saint Bain, having been called to the se saint Bain Bishop of Thérouanne and predecessor of Benignus at Fontenelle. e of Thérouanne, the esteem and admiratio Thérouanne Episcopal see of Saint Folquin. n that his brothers had for him led them to choose him as his successor.
Political conflicts and exile at Flay
Driven from Fontenelle by the mayor of the palace Ragemfred during conflicts between Neustrians and Austrasians, he took refuge at Flay, where he became the abbot.
The death of his parents having made him master of their immense fortune, he gave to the abbey of Fontenelle a third of his goods, which were located in the Vexin, Saintonge, and elsewhere. He decorated the basilica of the monastery with precious ornaments. However, the Neustrians, unable to resign themselves to being governed by the same mayor of the palace as the Austrasians, chose, after a terrible war, Ragemfred, who drove Bénigne from Fontenelle, even though he was very agreeable to the kings, sons of Saint Mathilde, and put the intruder Vandon in his place. Yielding to persecution, the blessed Abbot withdrew to F saint Gennard Cousin of Benignus and abbot of Flay. lay, near Saint Gennard. He gave such manifest proofs of wisdom and religion that his cousin having laid down the abbatial crosier, he was instituted as the fourth Abbot of this monastery, to the applause of everyone.
Government, restoration and posterity
He protected his monks from spoliation, recovered the abbey of Fontenelle, and died in 723, leaving behind a lasting cult.
The government of Benignus was fortunate for the religious of Flay. While war, surrounding their asylum, turned everything upside down, he maintained them in the peace that the world can neither give nor take away, and taught them to aspire only to those goods which do not change. He attended, in the midst of princes and bishops, an assembly presided over by the king, to free his religious from the unjust spoliations of which they were victims at the hands of men of the world. When Vandon was dismissed from Fontenelle, he recovered that abbey without, however, abandoning Flay. He did not delay in passing to a better homeland, in the year of our salvation 723, and was soon inscribed in the annals of holiness. His body, placed in a remarkable reliquary, was raised behind the high altar of the monastery, and it remained, for several centuries, in veneration among the faithful people.
Source
Mention of the origin of the text from the Proper of Beauvais.
Proper of Beauvais Beauvais City and diocese of the saint's origin. .
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Retreat at Fontenelle Abbey
- Ordination to the diaconate
- Succession of Saint Bain at Fontenelle
- Expulsion from Fontenelle by Ragemfred in favor of the intruder Vandon
- Exile in Flay with Saint Gennard
- Election as fourth abbot of Flay
- Participation in a royal assembly for the defense of monastic property
- Recovery of the Abbey of Fontenelle