Count of Mons in the 13th century, Évrard renounced his titles after the War of Brabant to atone for a sin. After pilgrimages, he lived anonymously as a swineherd at the Abbey of Morimond before being recognized and becoming a monk. He ended his life as a founder of abbeys in Germany.
Guided reading
4 reading sections
BLESSED ÉVRARD, COUNT OF MONS (13th century).
BLESSED EVANGELIST AND PEREGRINUS,
Repentance and pilgrimage
Count Evrard of Mons, tormented by a fault committed during the Brabant War, secretly leaves his homeland to perform pilgrimages to Jerusalem and Compostela.
The blessed Evrard, Count of Mons, h Le bienheureux Évrard, comte de Mons Count of Mons who became a Cistercian monk after a life of penance. aving taken part in the Brabant War, bit guerre de Brabant Region evangelized by Saint Gaugericus. terly reproached himself for a fault he had committed on that occasion. He secretly left his homeland, dressed in poor clothes so as not to be recognized by anyone, and made the pilgrimag e to Jeru Jérusalem Holy city where the Cross was lost and subsequently recovered. salem a nd Composte Compostelle A major pilgrimage site visited by the saint. la.
The hidden life at Morimond
Upon returning from his pilgrimages, he anonymously hired himself out as a swineherd at the Abbey of Morimond before being recognized by a former comrade-in-arms.
Upon his return, he hired himself out as a swineherd at the Abbey of Mo abbaye de Morimond Cistercian abbey where Evrard lived in hiding and later as a monk. rimond. A few years later, the servant of an officer who had served under the orders of Count Evrard came to the farm where he lived to ask for directions, and recognized him by his voice and the features of his face.
Surprised by such an encounter, he ran to inform his master, who, having in turn recognized the Count beneath his disguise, embraced him while weeping with joy and showed him great surprise mingled with respect.
Entering the religious life
After confessing his identity and his faults to the Abbot of Morimond, Evrard agrees to take the religious habit to continue his penance.
The Abbot of Morimond, informed of the fact, went to the farm and questioned the holy penitent, who confessed the truth to him and admitted his former fault while shedding a torrent of tears. The Abbot consoled him, encouraged him, and advised him to come and take the religious habit in the abbey, in order to continue his penance there in another form.
Foundations and posterity
Having become a monk, he founded two abbeys in Germany and was included in the menology of the Cistercian Order after his death.
Evrard obeyed with humility. Later, he founded the abbeys of E inberg Einberg Abbey founded by Evrard in Germany. and Mou nt Saint George in Mont-Saint-Georges Abbey founded by Évrard in Germany. Germany. He died after the 13th century. His name is read in the Cister cian menology under ménologe de Cîteaux Liturgical collection mentioning the saints of the Cistercian Order. March 29, the day on which the Cistercians honor him.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Participation in the War of Brabant
- Pilgrimage to Jerusalem and Compostela in the habit of a poor man
- Became a swineherd at the Abbey of Morimond
- Chance recognition by a former subordinate
- Took the religious habit at Morimond
- Foundation of the abbeys of Einberg and Mont-Saint-Georges