Romaric
Encyclopedia
Saint Romaric was a Frankish
nobleman who lived in Austrasia
from the late 6th century until the middle of the 7th century. He was a former Count Palatine
in the court of the Merovingian king, Theodebert II. His parents were killed by Queen Brunhilda
and because of the enmity of his family with this queen he wandered without a home.
St. Romaric was religiously devoted and became a follower of St. Columbanus in Luxeuil Abbey
, a priest and religious leader that preached the founding of monasteries throughout Francia. Influenced by the thought of St. Columbanus, and with the approval of St. Eustace
, Romaric and his friend St. Amatus founded a dual monastery
for men and women, later given the name of Remiremont
(Romarici Mons). This monastery and convent
was built on land belonging to St. Romaric, when he was a count palatine.
One of the earlier monks in Remiremont was St. Romaric's friend St. Arnulf
.
St. Romaric directed several members of his family who embraced the religious life there, his daughters, Azeltruda and Zeberga, his granddaughter Gebetruda, and his grandson Adelphus.
He died in 653.
Romaric is recognized as a saint
of the Roman Catholic Church
, with a feast day on December 10 or December 8
Franks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
nobleman who lived in Austrasia
Austrasia
Austrasia formed the northeastern portion of the Kingdom of the Merovingian Franks, comprising parts of the territory of present-day eastern France, western Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Metz served as its capital, although some Austrasian kings ruled from Rheims, Trier, and...
from the late 6th century until the middle of the 7th century. He was a former Count Palatine
Count palatine
Count palatine is a high noble title, used to render several comital styles, in some cases also shortened to Palatine, which can have other meanings as well.-Comes palatinus:...
in the court of the Merovingian king, Theodebert II. His parents were killed by Queen Brunhilda
Brunhilda of Austrasia
Brunhilda was a Visigothic princess, married to king Sigebert I of Austrasia who ruled the eastern kingdoms of Austrasia and Burgundy in the names of her sons and grandsons...
and because of the enmity of his family with this queen he wandered without a home.
St. Romaric was religiously devoted and became a follower of St. Columbanus in Luxeuil Abbey
Luxeuil Abbey
Luxeuil Abbey was one of the oldest and best-known monasteries in Burgundy, located in the "département" of Haute-Saône in Franche-Comté, France.-Columbanus:...
, a priest and religious leader that preached the founding of monasteries throughout Francia. Influenced by the thought of St. Columbanus, and with the approval of St. Eustace
Eustace of Luxeuil
Saint Eustace of Luxeuil , also known as Eustasius, was the second abbot of Luxeuil from 611. He succeeded his teacher Saint Columbanus, to whom he had been a favourite disciple and monk. He had been the head of the monastic school....
, Romaric and his friend St. Amatus founded a dual monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
for men and women, later given the name of Remiremont
Remiremont Abbey
Remiremont Abbey was a Benedictine abbey near Remiremont, Vosges, France.-History:It was founded about 620 by Romaric, a lord at the court of Chlothar II, who, having been converted by Saint Ame, a monk of Luxeuil, took the habit at Luxeuil...
(Romarici Mons). This monastery and convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
was built on land belonging to St. Romaric, when he was a count palatine.
One of the earlier monks in Remiremont was St. Romaric's friend St. Arnulf
Arnulf of Metz
Saint Arnulf of Metz was a Frankish bishop of Metz and advisor to the Merovingian court of Austrasia, who retired to the Abbey of Remiremont....
.
St. Romaric directed several members of his family who embraced the religious life there, his daughters, Azeltruda and Zeberga, his granddaughter Gebetruda, and his grandson Adelphus.
He died in 653.
Romaric is recognized as a saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, with a feast day on December 10 or December 8
Sources
- Alban ButlerAlban ButlerAlban Butler , English Roman Catholic priest and hagiographer, was born at Appletree, Northamptonshire.He was educated at the English College, Douai, where on his ordination to the priesthood in 1735 he held successively the chairs of philosophy and divinity...
's lives of the saints, edited, revised and supplemented by Thurston and Attwater. Christian Classics, Westminster, Maryland.