Riquier's vita was probably written at the end of the 7th century. Shortly after 800 it was revised by Alcuin at the request of Abbot Angilibert, who dedicated his work to Charlemagne.[1]
Richarius was born a pagan in the late 6th century in the county of Ponthieu near Amiens in Picardy in the north of Francia. According to the vita written by Alcuin, Richarius gave shelter to two Welshmissionaries,[2] Caidocus and Frechorius, who were treated with great hostility by the local people who blamed the strangers for crop failure. Because he "welcomed God in the persons of the travelers... this was why he was granted God's mercy."[3] Richarius converted to Christianity under their influence. After his conversion, he fasted on barley bread mixed with ashes, and drank only water.[4] He was ordained a priest, and traveled to England,[5] preaching the Gospel and curing the sick. Travelling by donkey rather than horse, he read the psalter as he rode.
In 638, after some years in England, Richarius founded a monastery in his hometown in Ponthieu that was named Centule (or Centula, alteration of Latin Centum Turres: hundred towers).[4] This monastery practised according to the Rule of Saint Columbanus of Luxeuil. A city developed around this monastery, also named Centule. In the Middle Ages it was renamed to Saint-Riquier. Nowadays it has some 1200 inhabitants, who still refer to themselves as Centulois. The Frankish kingDagobert I once came to visit the monastery, and Richarius offered the king advice. He was frank and clear in his speech to the king, speaking without fear or flattery, and the king thereafter became a benefactor of the monastery. Others also gave generously to Richarius's monastery, and he was able to use the money to help lepers and the poor and to ransom prisoners held by England.[2]
Richarius eventually founded a second monastery called Forest-Montier.[4] He made a shelter in the forest of Crécy, fifteen miles from his monastery. He lived there as a hermit with his disciple Sigobart. On April 26, 643, he bid farewell to Sigobart and died.[2]
Veneration
Relics of Saint Richarius, kept in the abbey church of St. Riquier
In monastério Céntula, in Gállia, sancti Richárii, Presbyteri et Confessóris. In the monastery of Centula in France, St. Richarius, priest and confessor.
His relics were first put in a coffin made of an oak trunk and then translated to the abbey of Centula. One hundred and fifty years later, Charlemagne built a golden shrine to enclose the relics and had the Saint-Riquier Gospels made for the shrine. In 950 Count Arnulf I transferred the bones to Montreuil, then to the Abbey of Saint Bertin in today's St-Omer; in 980 Hugo Capet returned them to St-Riquier. Above the tomb of Riquier, an abbey was built, which was later named after him, as was the city.[1]
Medieval monks compiled a catalogue of flowers for each day in the year, and dedicated each flower to a particular Saint, on account of it flowering about the time of the Saint's feast day. The flower Erysimum barbarea (yellow rocket or wintercress) is associated with Richarius, whose feast day in the Roman Catholic Church is April 26. A feast for the translation of his relics is celebrated on October 9.
References
^ abSchäfer, Joachim. "Richarius von Centula", Ökumenisches Heiligenlexikon
^ abcJones, Terry. "Saint Richarius of Celles". Patron Saints Index. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
^Michałowski, Roman. The Gniezno Summit: The Religious Premises of the Founding of the Archbishopric of Gniezno, BRILL, 2016, ISBN9789004317512, p. 165
^ abcButler, Alban (1866). The lives of the fathers, martyrs, and other principal saints. Vol. IV. Dublin: James Duffy. pp. 262–263.
^Monks of Ramsgate. "Richarius". Book of Saints, 1921. CatholicSaints.Info. 12 November 2017
^Confraternity of Ss. Peter & Paul. "April 26". The Roman Martyrology. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
External links
Saint Richarius of Celles
January 20, 2023
richarius, ricarius, saxon, king, richard, pilgrim, french, riquier, april, frankish, hermit, monk, founder, monasteries, venerated, saint, roman, catholic, church, eastern, orthodox, church, modern, stained, glass, image, ricarius, saint, riquier, church, sor. For St Ricarius the Saxon King see Richard the Pilgrim Richarius French Riquier c 560 April 26 645 was a Frankish hermit monk and the founder of two monasteries He is venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church RichariusModern stained glass image of Ricarius in Saint Riquier Church Sorrus Pas de CalaisMonastic founder and hermitBornc 560Ponthieu FranceDiedApril 26 645 aged 84 85 Crecy FranceVenerated inRoman Catholic Church Orthodox ChurchFeastApril 26 Contents 1 Life 2 Veneration 3 References 4 External linksLife EditRiquier s vita was probably written at the end of the 7th century Shortly after 800 it was revised by Alcuin at the request of Abbot Angilibert who dedicated his work to Charlemagne 1 Richarius was born a pagan in the late 6th century in the county of Ponthieu near Amiens in Picardy in the north of Francia According to the vita written by Alcuin Richarius gave shelter to two Welsh missionaries 2 Caidocus and Frechorius who were treated with great hostility by the local people who blamed the strangers for crop failure Because he welcomed God in the persons of the travelers this was why he was granted God s mercy 3 Richarius converted to Christianity under their influence After his conversion he fasted on barley bread mixed with ashes and drank only water 4 He was ordained a priest and traveled to England 5 preaching the Gospel and curing the sick Travelling by donkey rather than horse he read the psalter as he rode In 638 after some years in England Richarius founded a monastery in his hometown in Ponthieu that was named Centule or Centula alteration of Latin Centum Turres hundred towers 4 This monastery practised according to the Rule of Saint Columbanus of Luxeuil A city developed around this monastery also named Centule In the Middle Ages it was renamed to Saint Riquier Nowadays it has some 1200 inhabitants who still refer to themselves as Centulois The Frankish king Dagobert I once came to visit the monastery and Richarius offered the king advice He was frank and clear in his speech to the king speaking without fear or flattery and the king thereafter became a benefactor of the monastery Others also gave generously to Richarius s monastery and he was able to use the money to help lepers and the poor and to ransom prisoners held by England 2 Richarius eventually founded a second monastery called Forest Montier 4 He made a shelter in the forest of Crecy fifteen miles from his monastery He lived there as a hermit with his disciple Sigobart On April 26 643 he bid farewell to Sigobart and died 2 Veneration Edit Relics of Saint Richarius kept in the abbey church of St Riquier In monasterio Centula in Gallia sancti Richarii Presbyteri et Confessoris In the monastery of Centula in France St Richarius priest and confessor From the Roman Martyrology 6 His relics were first put in a coffin made of an oak trunk and then translated to the abbey of Centula One hundred and fifty years later Charlemagne built a golden shrine to enclose the relics and had the Saint Riquier Gospels made for the shrine In 950 Count Arnulf I transferred the bones to Montreuil then to the Abbey of Saint Bertin in today s St Omer in 980 Hugo Capet returned them to St Riquier Above the tomb of Riquier an abbey was built which was later named after him as was the city 1 Aside from Saint Riquier the villages of Saint Riquier en Riviere and Saint Riquier es Plains in Normandy bear his name Medieval monks compiled a catalogue of flowers for each day in the year and dedicated each flower to a particular Saint on account of it flowering about the time of the Saint s feast day The flower Erysimum barbarea yellow rocket or wintercress is associated with Richarius whose feast day in the Roman Catholic Church is April 26 A feast for the translation of his relics is celebrated on October 9 References Edit a b Schafer Joachim Richarius von Centula Okumenisches Heiligenlexikon a b c Jones Terry Saint Richarius of Celles Patron Saints Index Retrieved June 5 2010 Michalowski Roman The Gniezno Summit The Religious Premises of the Founding of the Archbishopric of Gniezno BRILL 2016 ISBN 9789004317512 p 165 a b c Butler Alban 1866 The lives of the fathers martyrs and other principal saints Vol IV Dublin James Duffy pp 262 263 Monks of Ramsgate Richarius Book of Saints 1921 CatholicSaints Info 12 November 2017 Confraternity of Ss Peter amp Paul April 26 The Roman Martyrology Retrieved June 5 2010 External links EditSaint Richarius of Celles Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Richarius amp oldid 1106579871, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
