A monk at the Abbey of Saint-Martin d'Autun and disciple of Saint Merry, Frodulfe accompanied his master on a pilgrimage to Paris before returning to Burgundy. After possibly leading his monastery, he fled during the Saracen invasion of 825 to end his days as a hermit at Barjon. His feast day is September 16.
Guided reading
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SAINT FRODULFE OR FROU, MONK AT AUTUN,
The Oblation at Saint-Martin of Autun
Frodulfe is offered from his childhood by his father to the abbey of Saint-Martin of Autun during a solemn liturgical ceremony of adoption by the Church.
Born in the Autun region towards the end of the 8th century, and a godson of Saint M Frodulfe Monk of the Abbey of Saint-Martin d'Autun and disciple of Saint Merry. erry, Frodulfe had bee n offered to the abbey of Sain abbaye de Saint-Martin d'Autun Benedictine monastery where Frodulf was an oblate and later abbot. t-Martin of Autun from his earliest childhood. One day, after the Gospel of the conventual Mass, adorned with flowers and carrying in his hands a host and a chalice, he approached the altar, led by his father; the monks spread the altar cloth of the sacrifice over his head, as a sign of adoption by the Church, and when the celebrating priest had received the host and the chalice, as offerings to the Lord, his father, kneeling, said in a loud voice: "I offer you my son, whose oblation and hands I have myself wrapped in the altar cloth. I offer him in the name of the Saints whose relics are here, I present him before witnesses, so that he may live according to the Rule and reside in this monastery." The abbot and the elder monks ratified this commitment, and the oblate, thus affiliated, was introduced into the abbey and clothed in the monastic habit.
Pilgrimage and eremitic life in Paris
Accompanying his mentor Saint Merry to Paris to honor Saint Germain, Frodulfe leads a life of prayer and assists his master until his passing.
Under the guidance of his spiritual father, he rose to a high level of perfection and drew from their intimacy, along with a love for penance and prayer, the need for solitud e. Mede Médéric Godfather and spiritual father of Frodulf, abbot of Autun. ric, desiring to make a pilgrimage to the tomb of Saint Germain, set out with Frodulfe toward the city o f Par Paris Place of birth, ministry, and death of the saint. is. Free from the duties of communal life, the master and the disciple abandoned themselves to all the inspirations of their fervor: they prayed in silence, recited the hours of the Divine Office, encouraged one another in the conquest of heaven, and then fell silent to converse with God. Upon arriving in Paris, they went to kneel at the tomb of Saint Germain, and they then sought a place of refuge to live unknown. There was at that time, near the church of Saint-Pierre, outside the city, a kind of oratory open day and night to the prayers of passersby; they made it their dwelling, and Saint Merry, after having served the Lord there for two years and nine months, left his body there, overcome by death. Frodulfe closed his eyes and returned to Autun to recount to his brothers the virtues, the passing, and the glory of their master.
Governance and flight from the Saracens
Having become abbot of Saint-Martin d'Autun, he had to flee the city during the sack by the Saracens in 825 to retire into the solitude of Barjon.
The monks welcomed him with joy and conferred upon him the government of Saint-Martin, if one is to believe the insignia of abbatial dignity with which the statue placed on his tomb was adorned. When the Saracens sacked Autun on August 22, 825, Frodu lfe esca Frodulfe Monk of the Abbey of Saint-Martin d'Autun and disciple of Saint Merry. ped from their hands, like a bird from the fowler's snare, fled towards Langres, and stopped in the solitude of Barjon (Côte-d' Or), w Barjon Final place of retreat and burial of Saint Frodulf. here he ended his days.
Passing and posterity of the relics
Died at Barjon, his body is venerated there while his relics are shared between Paris, Grancey-le-Château, and his eponymous church.
He was buried in his hermitage and an oratory or crypt was placed over his tomb. A portion of his relics was given to the church of Saint-Merry in Paris, and his head to Gran cey-le-Château (Cô Grancey-le-Château Place where the saint's head (relic) is preserved. te-d'Or); the other portion enriched the church of Barjon, raised under his patronage.
Excerpt from the Saints of Dijon, by M. Labbé Dupius.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Offered as an oblate to the Abbey of Saint-Martin d'Autun from childhood
- Pilgrimage to Paris with Saint Merry to the tomb of Saint Germain
- Two-year and nine-month stay in an oratory in Paris
- Return to Autun and possible election as abbot of Saint-Martin
- Fled Autun during the Saracen sack on August 22, 825
- Retirement and death in the solitude of Barjon
Quotes
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I offer you my son, whose oblation and hands I have myself wrapped in the altar cloth.
Words of Frodulfe's father at the time of his oblation