Former Dean of Cambrai, Hugues de Villa retired to the monastery of Vaucelles in the 13th century to lead a life of humility. Known for his simplicity and love of birds, he released his favorite vulture upon entering religious life. He died peacefully in 1236, leaving the image of an exemplary monk.
Guided reading
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BLESSED HUGUES DE VAUCELLES (1236).
Renunciation of honors
Hugues de Villa, Dean of Cambrai, chose to retire to the monastery of Vaucelles to flee the prospect of an episcopal nomination.
One of the most fervent and exemplary religious men encountered at the monastery of Vaucelles at the beginning of the 13th century was Hugues de V illa, formerly Hugues de Villa Former dean of Cambrai who became a Cistercian monk at Vaucelles. Dean of the church of Cambrai. He was as Cambrai Principal episcopal see of Saint Aubert. distinguished by the nobility of his birth and his talents as he was by his eminent virtues. The fear of being called to some episcopal see determined him to go and bury himself in the monastery of Vaucelles, where the regularity of the first children of Saint B ernard was fa saint Bernard Founder of Clairvaux, contemporary of Callixtus II. ithfully preserved.
The sacrifice of the vulture
Upon entering the monastery, Hugh releases his pet vulture, thus marking his definitive detachment from the pleasures of the world.
When the pious dean's plan became known, many people of quality came to beg him to cede to them a magnificent vulture that he possessed. The Blessed one refused and concealed his intention until the moment of his entry into religious life. He arrived at the gates of the abbey with this bird, which had been for him in the world an innocent distraction and of which he wished to make a generous sacrifice. Breaking, in fact, at that moment, the cord that held the bird captive, he restored its freedom while addressing to it, with the most touching naivety, these words: "Bird, here I leave you, untie you, and send you to enjoy your freedom in peace."
The episode of the birds
During his novitiate, Hugh manifested such simplicity that birds would come to eat from his hand, before he sent them away out of obedience.
It was also recounted of this venerable Religious, and, says Thomas of Cantimpré, I heard it myself from the mouths of several who had been witnesses to it, that, during his novitiate, birds would sometimes come to alight familiarly upon his hands and eat crumbs of bread that he held there. The master of novices, no doubt to test the virtue of his new disciple, by thwarting this innocent pleasure, made a slight reproach to the blessed Hugh. The worthy Religio bienheureux Hugues Former dean of Cambrai who became a Cistercian monk at Vaucelles. us immediately drove away these birds that were fluttering around him, saying with that simplicity which was found in all his conduct: "Bird, withdraw, and do not be astonished that I force you to leave: age and condition require that you obey me and not that I obey you."
Death and posterity
Hugh died in 1236 in great spiritual joy after having edified his community through his virtues.
This humble servant of God long edified the community of Vaucelles by his admirable examples. At the moment of his death, he was filled with a joy so vivid and so palpable that his brethren who surrounded him believed that God was favoring him with a revelation. He peacefully surrendered his soul to the Lord in the month of March of the year 1236.
Sources
The account is based on testimonies collected by Thomas of Cantimpré and the works of Abbé Destombes.
Lives of the Saints of Cambrai and Ar Vies des Saints de Cambrai et d'Arras Reference hagiographical work for the region. ras, by Abbé Destombes.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Dean of the church of Cambrai
- Entered the monastery of Vaucelles to flee the episcopate
- Release of his vulture at the abbey gates
- Novitiate marked by familiarity with birds
- Peaceful death in 1236
Miracles
- Birds coming to eat from his hand during his novitiate
Quotes
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Bird, here I leave you, untie you, and send you to enjoy your freedom in peace
Source text -
Bird, withdraw, and do not be surprised that I force you to leave: age and station require that you obey me, not that I obey you.
Source text