Saint Vitalis of Savigny
Encyclopedia
Saint Vitalis of Savigny (ca. 1060 – 16 September 1122) was the canonized founder of Savigny Abbey
and the Congregation of Savigny
(1112).
at Tierceville near Bayeux
about 1060-5. His parents were Rainfred le Vieux and Rohais. We know nothing of his early years; after ordination he became chaplain
to Duke William the Conqueror's brother, Robert of Mortain (died 1100). Vitalis gained the respect and confidence of Robert, who bestowed upon him a canonry in the abbey church of Saint Evroul at Mortain
, which he had founded in 1082.
But Vitalis felt within him a desire for a more perfect state of life. He gave up his canonry in 1095, settled at Dompierre
, 19 miles east of Mortain, and became one of the leaders of the hermit
colony of the forest of Craon
. Here for seventeen years he lived an ascetic life, and was called Vital le Vieux ("Vitalis the Old") taken from his father's name. At the same time he concerned himself, like his mentor Robert of Arbrissel
, with the salvation of the surrounding population, giving practical help to the outcasts who gathered round him.
He was a great preacher
, remarkable for zeal, insensible to fatigue, and fearlessly outspoken; he is said to have attempted to reconcile Henry I of England
with his brother, Robert Curthose. He seems to have visited England and a considerable part of western France, but Normandy was the chief scene of his labours. Between 1105-1120 he founded a monastery of nuns, Abbaye Blanche
, at Mortain, with his sister Adeline—later canonized—as abbess. He died at Savigny, on 16 September 1122.
Savigny Abbey
Savigny Abbey was a monastery near the village of Savigny-le-Vieux , in northern France. It was founded early in the 12th century. Initially it was the central house of the Congregation of Savigny, who were Benedictines; by 1150 it was Cistercian.-History:It was situated on the confines of...
and the Congregation of Savigny
Congregation of Savigny
The monastic Congregation of Savigny started in the abbey of Savigny, situated in northern France, on the confines of Normandy and Brittany, in the Diocese of Coutances. It originated in 1105 when Vitalis of Mortain established a hermitage in the forest at Savigny in France.-Founding:Vitalis was a...
(1112).
Life
He was born Vital de Mortain in NormandyNormandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
at Tierceville near Bayeux
Bayeux
Bayeux is a commune in the Calvados department in Normandy in northwestern France.Bayeux is the home of the Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England.-Administration:Bayeux is a sub-prefecture of Calvados...
about 1060-5. His parents were Rainfred le Vieux and Rohais. We know nothing of his early years; after ordination he became chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
to Duke William the Conqueror's brother, Robert of Mortain (died 1100). Vitalis gained the respect and confidence of Robert, who bestowed upon him a canonry in the abbey church of Saint Evroul at Mortain
Mortain
Mortain is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France.-Geography:Mortain is situated on a rocky hill rising above the gorge of the Cance, a tributary of the Sélune.-Administration:Mortain is the seat of a canton...
, which he had founded in 1082.
But Vitalis felt within him a desire for a more perfect state of life. He gave up his canonry in 1095, settled at Dompierre
Dompierre
Dompierre may refer to:*Dompierre is a Canadian-origin surname born from early French-Canadian settlers in the Quebec North Shore area.-France:*Dompierre, Oise*Dompierre, Orne*Dompierre, Vosges*Dompierre-aux-Bois, in the Meuse département...
, 19 miles east of Mortain, and became one of the leaders of the hermit
Hermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
colony of the forest of Craon
Craon
Craon is the name of several communes in France:* Craon, Mayenne, in the Mayenne department* Craon, former commune of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department, now part of Sionviller* Craon, Vienne, in the Vienne department...
. Here for seventeen years he lived an ascetic life, and was called Vital le Vieux ("Vitalis the Old") taken from his father's name. At the same time he concerned himself, like his mentor Robert of Arbrissel
Robert of Arbrissel
Robert of Arbrissel was an itinerant preacher, and founder of the abbey of Fontevrault. He was born at Arbrissel near Rhétiers, Brittany; and died at Orsan.-Biography:...
, with the salvation of the surrounding population, giving practical help to the outcasts who gathered round him.
He was a great preacher
Preacher
Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
, remarkable for zeal, insensible to fatigue, and fearlessly outspoken; he is said to have attempted to reconcile Henry I of England
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
with his brother, Robert Curthose. He seems to have visited England and a considerable part of western France, but Normandy was the chief scene of his labours. Between 1105-1120 he founded a monastery of nuns, Abbaye Blanche
Abbaye Blanche
The Abbaye Blanche , was a nunnery founded in 1112 in Mortain, France.Shortly after establishing an abbey for men called Holy Trinity of Savigny, Saint Vitalis, founder of the monastic order of Savigny, set up the Abbaye Blanche for women. The church is built on a Latin cross floorplan of a central...
, at Mortain, with his sister Adeline—later canonized—as abbess. He died at Savigny, on 16 September 1122.