A monk at Sithiù under Saint Bertin, Erkembode became abbot of the monastery and then bishop of Thérouanne in the 8th century. For twenty-six years, he developed the Church among the Morini and distinguished himself by his charity toward the poor. He died in 742, and his tomb in Saint-Omer became a pilgrimage site famous for its healings.
Guided reading
8 reading sections
SAINT ERKEMBODE, BISHOP OF THÉROUANNE (742).
Origins and legends
The origins of Erkembode are uncertain, oscillating between an Irish provenance alongside the martyrs Lugle and Luglien or a local origin in Morinia.
At the time when the venerable Bertin was ending his long and holy career in his monastery of Sithiù, there lived near him S aint Erkembode, saint Erkembode Bishop of Thérouanne and abbot of Sithiù in the 8th century. who was one day to replace him in his office, and even be raised to the see of Théro uanne. Not Thérouanne Episcopal see of Saint Folquin. hing certain is known regarding the first years of his life, his origin, and his family. Some authors believe that he was one of the companions of Saints Lugle and Lu glien Lugle Irish martyr, supposed companion of Erkembode. , th at he c Luglien Irish martyr, reputed companion of Erkembode. ame with them from Ireland and Gre Irlande Place of intellectual and spiritual formation for saints. at Britain, and that he was, like them, seized, stripped, struck, and left for dead in the place then called Scyrendal, near Ferfay, in the current canton of Norrent-Fontes. They assert that this Saint, having come to himself after the departure of the assassins, hastily covered the bloody bodies of the two Irish martyrs with brushwood, and went immediately to Thérouanne to report to Bishop Saint Bain everything that had happened. Others suppose, on the contrary, that Saint Erkembode was a native of Morinia, and that his piety Morinie Historical region corresponding to the former diocese of Thérouanne. and zeal for the service of God had led him to become, in a way, the guide and companion of Saints Lugle and Luglien in this region.
Monastic life at Sithiù
Under the guidance of Saint Bertin, Erkembode distinguished himself by his virtue at the monastery of Sithiù, of which he eventually became the abbot.
Whatever may be said of these early years of Saint Erkembode, and the questions related to them, biographers are unanimous in representing him as living in the monastery of Sithiù, under the guidance of Saint Bertin, and working with admirable zeal to follow in his footsteps in the practice of monastic virtues. He made such rapid progress there that all the votes of the brothers were cast in his favor when it came time to appoint a successor to this holy Abbot, who had just passed away before his eyes. Saint Erkembode therefore governed this important monastery after Eriefride and Rigebert, who had been, during the lifetime of Saint Bertin, tasked with replacing him in the duties that his advanced age no longer allowed him to fulfill entirely.
Saint Erkembode exercised with admirable fidelity all the duties imposed upon him by his new position. He maintained the exact discipline that had flourished until then in the monastery of Sithiù, he instilled a taste for virtue and perfection through his examples and his discourses, provided for the needs of his numerous community, and defended it with prudence and wisdom against the enterprises of violent men, who, especially at that time, often brought trouble into the peaceful retreat of the men of God.
Election to the See of Thérouanne
Upon the death of Ravenger, Erkembode was elected Bishop of Thérouanne by the clergy and the people, while retaining the leadership of his monastic community.
The Bishop of Thérouanne , Raveng Ravenger Bishop of Thérouanne, immediate predecessor of Erkembode. er, successor to Saint Bain, having died at that time, the clergy and the people elected Saint Erkembode to replace him. The Saint nevertheless retained the leadership of the community of Sithiù, whose religious members were all united to him by the bonds of the most touching and sincere affection.
Episcopate and Evangelization
The saint continues the work of Saint Omer, multiplying churches and monasteries in the land of the Morini and devoting himself to the poor.
The conduct of the new Pontiff answered the wishes of the inhabitants of Thérouanne, and the confidence that was placed in his virtue and prudence. He showed himself constantly to be the father of the poor and the unfortunate, the consoler of all those who were in suffering, and a true minister of Jesus Christ. The w ork of Sai saint Omer Famous predecessor of Folquin at Thérouanne. nt Omer was continued by him with success, and the land of the Morini was covered more and more with churches, where the people gathered to worship God, and with monasteries where many came to devote themselves forever to His service. The entire time of Saint Erkembode's episcopate was consecrated to this holy work. The fruits of salvation that it produced multiplied rapidly, and finished giving to this land, once uncultivated and wild, a thoroughly Christian appearance that it has faithfully preserved at all times. 'After, therefore, the good and prudent servant of God, Erkembode, had well managed during his life the money of his lord, and had worked with perseverance in the vineyard where the celestial father of the family had led him, the evening of his life approaching, he was called by the Lord to receive the penny of the supreme reward, and to exchange through a happy commerce earthly goods for celestial goods, perishable things for eternal ones.'
Death and burial
Erkembode died in 742 and was buried in the church of Notre-Dame in Saint-Omer, where his tomb became a place of miracles.
Erkembode died on April 12 in the year 742, after having governed his diocese for twenty-six years. His body was placed by the care of the people in the church of Notre-Dame, in Sai nt-Omer, b Saint-Omer City where the church of Notre-Dame and the saint's tomb are located. efore the main altar of the holy Mother of God. Numerous miracles occurred near this tomb, and the pious liberalities of the faithful towards their Patron multiplied to such an extent that they sufficed to repair this already ancient church, and even to build a second one.
Description of the tomb and devotion
The solid sandstone tomb, preserved in Saint-Omer, bears the traces of a centuries-old popular devotion consisting of rubbing the stone to obtain healing.
"One can still see today," reports the legendary of Morinie, "the tomb of Saint Erkembode, in t tombe de saint Erkembode Massive sandstone block located in the Notre-Dame church of Saint-Omer. he church of Notre-Dame de Saint-Omer. It is at the back of the transept on the gospel or north side, leaning against the choir, raised on two figures of lions. It has the shape of an oblong square, without ornaments, crudely carved from an enormous block of sandstone, and covered by another large stone."
"This venerated tomb bears the evident marks of the pious devotion of our ancestors; in several places, indeed, the sandstone, despite its extreme hardness, is found to be quite deeply worn, the result of the passage of a long succession of generations of the faithful who came to rub themselves with confidence against this stone to be delivered from their bodily ailments."
Recognition of the relics
Despite the revolutionary persecutions of 1793, the relics were preserved and authenticated by ecclesiastical authority in the 19th century.
The relics of this holy Bishop, which had escaped the persecutions of 1793, adds M. Parenty, canon of Arras, continue to be honored in the church of Notre-Dame. Mgr de la T our-d'Auvergne-Lauraguy recognized Mgr de la Tour-d'Auvergne-Lauraguy Bishop who recognized the authenticity of the relics. their authenticity.
Source
The text is taken from the work of Abbé Destembes on the saints of Cambrai and Arras.
This life is extracted from the Life of the Saints of Cambrai and Arras , by Abbé Destembes M. l'abbé Destembes Author of the Lives of the Saints of Cambrai and Arras. .
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Monk at the monastery of Sithiù under Saint Bertin
- Election as Abbot of Sithiù following Eriefride and Rigebert
- Election to the episcopal see of Thérouanne after Ravenger
- Governance of the diocese for twenty-six years
- Death and burial at the Notre-Dame church in Saint-Omer
Miracles
- Healing of physical ailments through contact with his tombstone