Saint Landry of Meaux

Indeed, at the moment when it seemed that a worldly career was about to open for him, he felt the desire arise in his soul to embrace the ecclesiastical state and to dedicate himself to the service of the altars: for some time he kept it a secret, limiting himself to praying to the Lord to manifest His will to him clearly. God answered the ardent wishes of this simple and upright soul, in which His grace found no obstacle to its operations; He increased more and more within him this pious attraction toward the priesthood.

One day, therefore, Landry communicated his feelings to his father and requested permission to follow the inner voice of grace that was calling him. Mauger was astonished and distressed upon hearing these words from his son, whom he loved tenderly; and with the tone of kindness and paternal authority, he replied to him: "My son, cease to entertain such a project; follow my advice instead, I shall know how to provide for your interests better than you would yourself. You must, my son, succeed me one day. Think, therefore, from this moment on, of contracting a noble marriage, worthy of your birth. I know well that the state of the clergy is holier, that it gives them a greater confidence of acquiring the kingdom of heaven; but, my son, there are also many laypeople who faithfully practice Christian virtues, and who will certainly attain the kingdom of God through their faith, or who have already attained it. I rejoice greatly to see that you wish to serve God; but you must do so by walking in the footsteps of your ancestors, and you must one day replace me in the office that belongs to our family."

Such a speech was well capable of shaking a nascent vocation, especially in the heart of a young man so devoted to the authors of his days, and who found, within his family, the purest and sweetest joys. However, Landry's resolution did not change: he accepted this refusal from his father as a trial that God was sending him, and postponed making a new request to another time. The opportunity soon presented itself, and he took advantage of it with all the delicacy and reserve that such a design required. Mauger was a father, but he was also a fervent and faithful Christian: he feared above all else to oppose the will of God, and to displease Him by an obstinate refusal. He therefore gathered some virtuous men, in whom he had complete confidence, made known to them his son's intentions, the answer he had first given him, and the new entreaties he was making to him. The young Landry was at the same time called and questioned by these advisors of his father. After having maturely considered all things before God, and probed his most secret dispositions, they recognized, beyond any doubt, that heaven was calling him to the priestly state, and declared that one must give to God the one whom God was asking for.

Mauger, silencing at that moment all the claims of nature, embraced Landry with tenderness and, watering him with his tears, then having called some holy priests, he entrusted his son to them, who received, shortly after, the clerical tonsure. From then on, the young Levite seemed to advance even more rapidly in the career of virtues; his sweetest occupation was to read and meditate on the Holy Scriptures, to offer fervent prayers to God, and to fulfill with fidelity all the functions of the priesthood. The authors do not say in what place, nor with which Pontiff he lived; but one may believe that it was in the diocese of Cambrai where his family resided. They also remain silent on everything that passed between his parents and him until the day when history shows him placed on one of the most illustrious sees of the Church of France.

Previously, Saint Landry was a witness to the abundant blessings that God poured upon his family, which filled his soul with the most ineffable consolations. His father, first of all, retired to a monastery that he had built at Hautmont, after having received the tonsure from the hands of Saint Aubert; his m other, Saint sainte Vaudru Mother of Saint Landry, who retired to Mons. Vaudru, followed his example shortly after and went to live in a tranquil solitude at Château-Lieu (Hons). Madelberte and Aldetrude, the two young sisters of Landry, accompanied almost immediately their venerable aunt Saint A ldegonde, who co sainte Aldegonde Aunt of Landry, founder of Maubeuge. nsecrated her virginity and her life to God, and built the monastery of Maubeuge on the banks of the Sambre.

While his family was thus devoted to the service of the Lord and gave to the astonished world this touching spectacle, Landry advanced more and more in the perfection of the holy state he had embraced. His brilliant virtue and his precocious wisdom made a great impression on all those who saw him or heard of him. It was therefore not surprising when, the see of Meaux having become vacant by the death of the bishop, the vote s of t évêque Subject of the biography, Bishop of Meaux and later a monk at Soignies. he clergy and the people fell upon him: the so virtuous and wise son of Lord Mauger must, moreover, have been perfectly known at court, where his parents occupied one of the highest ranks.

Raised to this dignity, the Pontiff continued with new fervor the works of religion he had practiced until then. All his riches and goods became the patrimony of the poor, who ceaselessly blessed the Lord for having given them such a charitable and holy pastor. Despite his labors and the fatigues of the episcopate, he further weakened his body through fasts, mortifications, and vigils, and devoted himself with ardor to the reading of sacred books, for his own edification and for the instruction of his flock.

Such were the occupations of Saint Landry when he received a message from the venerable Sa saint Vincent Father of Saint Landry, founder of the monastery of Hautmont. int Vincent, informing him of his illness and the keen desire he had to see him before he died. At this news, he hastened to the monastery of Soignies, where he re ndered t Soignies Place of retreat and death of Saint Landry and his father. o his father the most touching duties of filial and Christian piety, speaking to him of the goodness of God and the magnificent rewards He reserves for those who have sacrificed everything to please Him. He then drew him toward the delights of the heavenly homeland into which he was soon to enter: then, at his request, he promised his father that he would take care of the two communities of Hautmont and Soignies that he saw united. A few moments later, the venerable old man peacefully surrendered his soul to his Creator. Landry mourned him with all the tenderness of a good son and aided him with his prayers with all the fervor of a Saint; at the same time, he felt born in his heart the desire to embrace the silent and hidden life of the monastery, and to spend the rest of his days near the tomb where he had just laid his father. Circumstances soon allowed him to realize this design: he therefore settled in Soignies, and wisely governed this monastery and that of Hautmont until his death, which occurred on April 17 around the year 675. Numerous miracles immediately gave the people testimony of his holiness.

The proper of the church of Sainte-Vaudru, in Mons Site of John's first monastic retreat. Mons, contained the office of Saint Landry, under the title of confessor pontiff, with three specific lessons, examined and approved by the doctors of the University of Douai Université de Douai Institution that examined the office of Saint Landry. , and printed in 1625 with the permission of Monseigne ur Vander-B Vander-Burg Archbishop of Cambrai in the 17th century. urg, Archbishop of Cambrai: in that of the abbeys of Maroilles and Le Câteau, there were four: everywhere he is called Bishop of Meaux and not of Metz, as some authors have claimed.

Abbé Destembes.