Blessed Gelduin

After Abbot Haymeric, who died in 1102, the religious of Anchin chose Gelduin, brother of Arnoul d, prov Gelduin Abbot of the Abbey of Anchin in the 12th century. ost of the castle of Hesdin (Pas-de-Calais), to lead them. Nothing is known regarding his early years. Initially a simple monk at the monastery of Saint-Vincent du Mont, in La on, Laon Location of Gelduin's first monastery. he was subsequently named abbot of Saint-Michel in Thiérache. However, his great humility and the keen and persistent attraction he felt for a life of prayer and contemplation led him to refuse this dignity. It was then that he requested and obtained permission to retire to the abbey of Anchin, where he became for all the religious an accomplished example of regularity and virtue.

His holy life and spirit of wisdom had made such a happy impression on all his brothers that, upon the death of Haymeric, they unanimously elected him to succeed him. The venerable religious refused for a long time, representing his incapacity and the extreme desire he had to continue this life of prayer and silence which constituted all his happiness. Obliged to yield and take up the government of the monastery, he discharged it with such great wisdom that all the hopes that had been conceived of him were fully realized. He obtained, whether from the bishops of the country gathered at Reims or from Pope Pascha l II, the conf pape Pascal II Pope reigning during the episcopate of Geoffrey. irmation of the pious donations made to his monastery, as well as full and complete freedom for the religious of Anchin to elect, upon the death of the abbot, one of their brothers or some religious taken from another monastery of their choice, to replace him.

It appears that the blessed Gelduin was in quite intimate relations with S aint Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, saint Anselme, archevêque de Cantorbéry Archbishop of Canterbury and friend of Gelduin. in England. One finds, among the letters of this illustrious prelate, a response to questions that had been proposed to him by the Abbot of Anchin concerning certain matters of spiritual or temporal administration of his community.

Amidst the multiplied cares and continuous occupations to which his office of abbot subjected him, the blessed Gelduin still found time to follow the pious attraction that drew him to meditation and recollection. Soon, he even felt compelled to resign his dignity, to resume the simple and austere life he had previously led at Laon. Despite all the entreaties that were made, he retired to the monastery of Saint-Bertin and began to practice religious observance there with the most scrupulous fidelity. The brothers of Anchin, who still lamented his departure, made new solicitations to recall him to the community he had directed with such wisdom; but nothing could ever shake the resolve of the humble Gelduin. Whether to avoid such entreaties, or for other reasons that remain unknown, he decided, shortly thereafter, to cross into England. There, by the counsel and support of his illustrious friend Saint Anselm, he retired to the priory of Saint-Magulphe or Machut, located in Wales, which depended on the abbey of Anchin. It was in this place, where h is pious soul pays de Galles Region where Gelduin ended his days. surrendered with delight to the contemplation and meditation of heavenly things, that the blessed Gelduin peacefully awaited the hour of his passage to eternity. His death occurred in the year 1123.

The religious of Anchin, having heard reports from men worthy of faith that a miracle had occurred near his tomb, obtained that a portion of his remains be transported to their community. They were deposited in the chapel of Saint-Michel, along with the remains of several other holy abbots.

We have borrowed the substance of this notice from the Lives of the Saints of the dioceses of Cambrai and Arras, by the Abbé Destembes.