The Venerable Richard

He was born into an illustrious family of the kingdom, and pursued brilliant studies in Reims, whose schools enjoyed a great reputation at that time. Richard acquired virtue and knowledge there, and made himself admired for the amiable qualities of his heart. The Archbishop of Reims, wishing to attach him to his church, named him canon and precentor of his metropolitan see; but Richard felt that God was calling him to another way of life and to a more complete retreat from the world. He was fully imbued with this idea when, one day, the noble Count Frederick, a relative of the Emperor Saint Henry, came to communicate to him the plan he had formed to leave the world and embrace the religious state. Richard saw in this encounter a warning from heaven. He in turn communicated to Frederick the sentiments with which his soul was filled, and both, with hearts fu ll of joy, went to the abbaye de Saint-Vannes Benedictine abbey located in Verdun, center of the reform of Richard. Abbey of Saint-Vannes, in Verdun.

Upon the death of the Irishman Finden, who governed this community, the Bishop of Verdun, Haimon, chose Richard to succeed him. The new abbot did not take long to win the respect and affection of the religious by the wisdom and firmness he displayed in his administration. There was in his manner an irresistible charm, which won over all hearts; thus many had given him the nickname Grace of God, to indicate this particular gift that heaven had bestowed upon him. The reputation of the humble abbot of Saint-Vannes became such that many princes, prelates, and noble lords entrusted to him the direction or the Reform of the monasteries that were subject to them, or that were located within their states. At the request of Baudri, Bishop of Liège, he undertook the Reform of the Abbey of Lobbes which, for temporal matters, depended on that diocese. Baldwin, Count of Flanders, also submitted to him, with the same intention, the monasteries of Saint-Amand, Saint-Bertin, Saint-Josse-sur-Mer, and several others. Gerard I, Bishop of Cambrai and Arras, who had a very particular affection for Richard, entrusted to him the Reform of that of Saint-Vaast d'Arras, where the ve nerable abbot had t Saint-Vaast d'Arras Monastery reformed by Richard and Frederick. o deploy all the resources of his zeal and his prudence.

This important work of restoring discipline sometimes aroused very lively opposition, which, without being general, nonetheless became an obstacle to the good. More than once, the lives of the holy reformers were not even safe in these asylums of religion, where, alongside pious, gentle, and peaceful souls, one also found ardent natures, inflexible characters, and often former men-at-arms, to whom violence was not yet entirely foreign. Richard encountered, at the monastery of Saint-Vaast of Arras, one of these religious whom passion drove to a horrible attempt and whom repentance later led to the heroism of virtue. Leduin, for that was his name, bore only with ill-concealed rese ntment Leduin A monk of Saint-Vaast who attempted to assassinate Richard before converting. the changes brought by the Blessed one to certain practices contrary to the prescriptions of Saint Benedict. This sentiment, nourished in his heart, stirred up one of those storms that become all the more terrible, as they arise in a soul that grace surrounds, so to speak, on all sides. One night, therefore, while the community was plunged in the deepest sleep, Leduin, accompanied by another religious to whom he had inspired his hatred, rose in silence, and, taking a sword that he hid under his robe, he went to Richard, who was resting on his bed. The wretch was about to strike, when suddenly his arm stiffened and refused to serve his vengeance. Despite the fury that transported him, Leduin understood that heaven itself was taking up the defense of its victim. This thought immediately made him look within himself and cast trouble and remorse into his soul. A few hours later, all the religious arrived at the choir to chant the office. Leduin, despite the violent fever that had seized him and the terrors with which his soul was filled, went to his usual place, in the midst of his brothers. He saw a few steps away from him the venerable abbot he had intended to assassinate, and his presence awakened in him the most poignant remorse. The memory of Jesus Christ, whose painful passion was being recalled that very day, further contributed to inspiring the soul of the culprit with sentiments of sadness and repentance. Suddenly, at the moment when the prayer was being chanted: 'Lord, have mercy on us,' Leduin, leaving his place, came to throw himself at the feet of the venerable Richard, and repeated these words with the most touching accent: 'Lord, have mercy on me.' The abbot raised him with kindness, and, as the office ended, he took him aside and asked him what was the meaning of this pain and these tears that he was shedding in abundance. Leduin, prostrated again against the earth which he struck with his forehead in sign of repentance, was suffocated by sobs and had all his limbs violently agitated. Making an effort upon himself, he finally spoke to answer Richard, who pressed him to tell him the subject of such pain. 'My father,' said Leduin, 'I have sinned against heaven and against you: I who no longer wished to be your son, I have made myself your persecutor.' Then drawing the sword that he held hidden under his clothes: 'Behold,' he continued, 'the sword that I raised this night over your head to strike you; but the Lord defended you. I drew the sword against you; but He to whom strength belongs stopped my arm; He delivered you from death and delivered me at the same time from the misfortune of committing a homicide. Forgive me then, for I am disposed to convert, to yield to your warnings, and to submit to the rules established by you: only forgive me the offense of which I have rendered myself guilty toward you and pray to God for me.' The venerable Richard received with kindness the penitent son whom grace brought back to his feet. He gave him all the testimonies of the most sincere affection and the assurance of pardon. From that day on, Leduin became the model of his brothers, and, subsequently, he was chosen to fulfill the functions of abbot under the venerable Richard himself, whom important affairs often called outside of his community.

After having worked for a long time and with great success in his mission, the Blessed one felt inspired by the desire to undertake the journey to Jerusalem. He went there with seven companions whom he edified by his spirit of penance and his tender piety. Upon his return to France, he went to preach the Truce of Trêve de Dieu Suspension of hostilities imposed by the Church. God in Normandy, by which one sought to put an end to the continuous wars that many lords were waging against each other. This last work accomplished, the worthy abbot returned to his monastery of Saint-Vannes, where, until the end of his life, he continued to give his spiritual children examples of religious perfection. He died in the arms of the Bishop of Verdun on June 14, 1046. He was buried in a vault under the high altar of his monastery's church, from where he has since been transferred to a marble tomb.

Abbé Destombes: L'abbé Destombes Author of the Life of the Saints of Cambrai and Arras. Lives of the Saints of the dioceses of Cambrai and Arras.