Blessed Manasses I

The administration of some of his predecessors had been saddened by new incursions of the Normans. These barbarians had left such great misery in their wake that the canons of Troyes themselves had been forced, in order to live, to resort to trade or manual labor: thus, a relaxation of the ancient discipline had been introduced among them. Manasses, deeply afflicted by such a state of affairs, surrounded himself with men as pious as they were learned, whose counsel he sought. These were Adso, abbot of Montier-en -Der, Adson Abbot of Montier-en-Der and collaborator of Manasses. Hadric, treasurer of the cathedral, and Saint Aderald, canon and l ater archdeac saint Adérald Canon and archdeacon of Troyes, collaborator in the reform. on. He explained his plan for reform to them and found in these zealous priests tireless collaborators. He first encountered immense difficulties; but the selflessness he displayed by generously abandoning for his Church the considerable goods he possessed moved the hearts to which he appealed so much that they embraced the common life with joy, following the Rule of the Council of Aachen.

But if the blessed bishop was greatly consoled to see discipline restored, he experienced no less happiness at the conversion of his brother Hilduin. V ery dif Hilduin Brother of Manasses, converted after a dissolute life. ferent from the Bishop of Troyes, "the Count of Arcis was," says Des Guerrois, "a bad boy, who led a military, predatory, voluptuous, and desperate life." Manasses had long been making the most ardent vows, addressing to heaven the most fervent prayers for the return to virtue of a brother whom he cherished tenderly. Hilduin felt the religious sentiments that had nourished his childhood reawaken in his heart. Soon he took pleasure in the company of the Abbot of Montier-en-Der, who paid him frequent visits; he listened willingly to his advice; he even accepted his remonstrances with good grace. Finally, Abbot Adson gained such an ascendancy over the count's mind that he determined him to think seriously about his soul. Hilduin bowed his proud head under the hand of God; he converted sincerely, and became as gentle and pious as he had been brutal and dissolute. He even made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem and went to flood with the tears of his penance the sacred places where the Savior's blood had flowed for the expiation of his faults.

Manasses had reached a great age. Before dying, he wished to leave a monument of his devotion to the Mother of God. Already, the pious Hersendis had built a church under the invocation of Our Lady in her castle of Ramerupt. Manasses, following her example, had a priory bu ilt i Arcis Principal site of the saint's ministry and martyrdom. n Arcis, his hometown, which he dedicated to the Virgin Mary; he annexed the parish to it and bestowed great generosity upon it. This priory subsequently de pended on the abbey o abbaye de Narmoutiers Abbey near Tours upon which the priory of Arcis depended. f Narmoutiers, near Tours.

Finally, full of days and good works, Manasses died on June 11, 993, after an eight-year episcopate.

Abbé Defer, *Vies des Saints du diocèse de Troyes*.