Saint LAMBERT (LANDEBERTUS) de MAESTRICHT, évêque et martyr

Buste-reliquaire de saint Lambert dans le Trésor de la cathédrale de Liège.

Saint Lambert de Tongres

Évêque de Tongres et martyr (+ 708)

Il naquit à Maestricht en Hollande. Après avoir brillé sur les champs de bataille, il fut évêque de Maestricht de 668 à sa mort, sauf un intermède où l'hostilité d'Ebroïn, maire du palais, le força de se retirer à l'abbaye de Stavelot en Belgique où il vécut sept ans, aussi humble et fervent qu'un novice. On raconte cet épisode: une nuit d'hiver, alors que les religieux priaient dans le chœur, notre évêque renversa un banc, dont la chute dérangea la communauté. Dans l'obscurité, l'abbé ordonna au coupable d'aller prier, nu-pieds, dehors, devant la croix du parvis. Les moines chantèrent les longues matines, puis se rendirent au chauffoir avant de regagner leur lit. On remarqua l'absence de l'évêque. L'abbé l'envoya chercher et l'on vit entrer Lambert, couvert de neige, qui avait prié deux heures durant, agenouillé dehors. L'abbé s'excusa: 'C'est à moi de vous remercier, lui dit saint Lambert d'un air joyeux. Vous m'avez permis, comme le veut saint Paul, de servir Dieu dans la nudité et la froidure.' (2 Corinthiens 11. 27) Saint Lambert regagna Maestricht à la mort d'Ebroïn et il connut une fin tragique, assassiné par des amateurs de biens d'Église, empêchant son escorte de répandre le sang pour le défendre. Son tombeau devint un lieu de pèlerinage et le hameau grandit jusqu'à devenir la ville de Liège. 140 églises portent son nom en Belgique.

À Liège, vers 705, la passion de saint Lambert, évêque de Maëstricht et martyr. Obligé de s'exiler, il trouva refuge au monastère de Stavelot, où il suivit l'observance monastique. Quant il retrouva son siège épiscopal, il fut un pasteur remarquable et un ardent évangélisateur de la Campine et du Brabant, et périt, innocent, frappé par des criminels.

(Au Luxembourg sa mémoire est célébrée le lendemain.)

Martyrologe romain

'J'ai connu la fatigue et la peine, souvent le manque de sommeil la faim et la soif, souvent le manque de nourriture, le froid et le manque de vêtements,'

2éme lettre de Saint Paul aux Corinthiens

SOURCE : https://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/1866/Saint-Lambert-de-Tongres.html

Statue en bois polychrome de saint Lambert exposée musée Grand Curtius à Liège (Belgique).

Saint Lambert

Évêque de Maëstricht et Martyr

(† 696)

Saint Lambert, né à Maëstricht, d'une famille princière, eut une enfance toute privilégiée. Jeune homme, il opéra des miracles, fit jaillir une source pour étancher la soif des ouvriers constructeurs d'une église, et porta des charbons ardents dans les plis de son manteau sans l'endommager. Ses vertus extraordinaires l'élevèrent, à l'âge de vingt et un ans, sur le siège épiscopal de Maëstricht.

Après avoir administré saintement son diocèse pendant plusieurs années, il en fut chassé par une révolution et se retira dans un monastère voisin, où il se mêla aux simples religieux, dont il ne se distinguait que par une grande ferveur. On raconte à ce sujet une histoire fort édifiante. Une nuit d'hiver, en se levant pour prier, il laissa tomber une de ses sandales. L'abbé, sans connaître celui qui avait fait le bruit, le condamna à aller prier au pied de la croix qui était devant l'église. Lambert obéit sans réplique et demeura trois à quatre heures à genoux, transi de froid et couvert de neige, jusqu'à ce qu'on se fût aperçu de la méprise. L'abbé et les religieux se jetèrent à ses pieds pour lui demander pardon: "Que Dieu, dit-il, vous pardonne la pensée de vous juger coupables pour cette action. Saint Paul ne m'enseigne-t-il pas que je dois servir Dieu dans le froid et la nudité?"

Il habitait depuis sept ans cette sainte maison et y goûtait les délices de la vie religieuse, quand il fut rappelé sur son siège épiscopal, à la grande joie d'un troupeau qui l'avait tant pleuré. Le soin de Lambert pour l'accomplissement des devoirs de sa charge pastorale fut plus assidu que jamais; il était le père de tous, surtout des pauvres. Sa maison ressemblait presque à un monastère; ses vêtements, très simples, recouvraient un cilice, qu'il portait sur sa chair nue. Il visitait son diocèse avec zèle, sans en excepter les parties les plus éloignées. Son amour des âmes le porta même à entreprendre la conversion des peuples païens qui n'appartenaient pas à son diocèse.

Malgré les menaces de mort, son zèle ne se rebuta point, et il eut la consolation de si bien montrer à ces populations grossières les vérités de notre sainte religion, qu'il changea leur coeur et les amena en masse dans le sein de l'Église. Il mourut enfin martyr de son zèle.

Abbé L. Jaud, Vie des Saints pour tous les jours de l'année, Tours, Mame, 1950

SOURCE : http://magnificat.ca/cal/fr/saints/saint_lambert.html

Antoon Sallaert  (1594–1650). St Lambert Trampling his Murderers, Surrounded by the Four Church Fathers, between 1615 and 1650, oil on paper en brunaille, 23,7 X 15,5, Metropolitan Museum of Art

Saint Lambert, patron de Liège

16 septembre 2013 par Redaction

Le 17 septembre, les Liégeois fêtent le saint patron de leur diocèse, Saint Lambert, celui qui fit de Liège une grande cité européenne.

L’attentat du 17 septembre sur la personne de l’évêque Lambert marque un tournant décisif dans la destinée de ce qui n’est alors qu’un village, Liège. D’abord enseveli à Maastricht, le corps de Lambert est ramené en grande pompe vers 715 à Liège, à l’initiative de son successeur, le futur saint Hubert. C’est le début d’un développement extraordinaire pour la future cité ardente.

Qui était saint Lambert ?

Saint Lambert est issu d’une famille aristocratique installée à Maastricht. Il succède à l’évêque Théodard, assassiné en 670. En ce début de Moyen Âge, les assassinats sont fréquents; l’évêque Lambert sera lui-même assassiné le 17 septembre d’une année qui n’est pas connue précisément, mais qui se situe aux alentours des années 700. La mort violente d’un évêque constitue un événement tragique majeur qui frappe l’opinion et entraine souvent l’éclosion du culte du saint martyr. Pendant tout l’Ancien Régime, dans la principauté épiscopale de Liège, Lambert est devenu LA référence hagiographique. Plus de 800 endroits de culte sont recensés, de la dédicace d’églises à l’iconographie en passant par les mentions liturgiques multiples. Autour du corps ramené à Liège, la foule révère tout ce qui a appartenu à Lambert. Les miracles se multiplient. L’endroit sacré devient pèlerinage. La fortune, l’expansion, la renommée de Liège sont assurées.

De la première cathédrale à l’Archéoforum

Pour promouvoir le culte du saint évêque assassiné et accueillir ses reliques, son successeur, Hubert, fait édifier, vers 714, sur le lieu du martyre, une basilique. Vers l’an 800, Liège devient le siège du diocèse Tongres-Maastricht. Cet événement capital pour la nouvelle cité engendre une modification importante du site. L’église martyriale fait place à la première cathédrale qui perdurera jusqu’aux alentours de l’an mille. Les cathédrales vont se succéder au fil du temps.

Aujourd’hui, c’est en vous rendant à l’Archéoforum que vous pourrez voir, ou du moins imaginer, ces multiples transformations. Ce lieu d’exposition permet notamment de visiter les fondations des églises successives dans une scénographie intéressante rendant la lecture et la compréhension du site accessibles au plus grand nombre.

Depuis des siècles, Lambert est un saint intrinsèque au Pays de Liège. Grâce à lui, une petite bourgade est devenue une métropole. Le 17 septembre, Liège fête son saint fondateur avec toute l’ardeur qu’on lui connaît.

SB

Le nouvel évêque de Liège, Mgr Delville, a tenu à lancer sa propre invitation à venir fêter Saint Lambert ce 17 septembre: « Depuis Rome, où je participe à la formation des nouveaux évêques et accomplis le pèlerinage sur les tombes de Pierre et de Paul, j’invite chaque chrétien du diocèse de Liège à fêter saint Lambert le mardi 17 septembre, à 18h, à la Cathédrale. La célébration sera présidée par le vicaire général, l’abbé Alphonse Borras. Ce sera l’occasion de lancer l’année pastorale et de prier aux intentions du diocèse, en ce début de mon ministère d’évêque. Que cette nouvelle année de travail puisse voir chacun d’entre nous engagé au service de ses frères! Portons spécialement dans la prière les personnes qui souffrent dans leur corps ou dans leur âme. Prions aussi pour la Syrie, comme nous l’a recommandé le pape François, pour que le pays sorte de la violence et retrouve la paix. Je m’unis à votre prière et, sur les tombes des apôtres Pierre et Paul, je porte devant le Seigneur toutes vos intentions et celles de tous les habitants de notre diocèse. »

SOURCE : https://www.cathobel.be/2013/09/saint-lambert-patron-de-liege/

Jan Miel  (1599–1663). The Veneration of St. Lambert, circa 1648, 79 X 52,7, Fitzwilliam Museum

HISTOIRE – Qui est Saint Lambert ?

Cette page donne quelques indications biographiques du saint patron de la paroisse et du village.

Il y a plusieurs Saint Lambert dans la mémoire chrétienne, avec parfois le risque de confusions entre les personnes et les histoires.

Celui dont nous parlons ici est né aux environs de l’an 640, dans la ville de Maastricht, célèbre pour son traité européen depuis lors.

Landebert est le fils présumé de Evre (ou Apre) son père, et de Hérisplende, sa mère, tous deux issus de familles aux ascendants royaux. Evre était seigneur du pays de Liège. L’enfant fut baptisé par l’évêque du lieu, Rémacle qui fut aussi son parrain, et éduqué par Landoald, archiprêtre de la ville, puis de Théodart, successeur de Rémacle sur le siège épiscopal de la ville.Il semble bien que Lambert fréquenta la cour mérovingienne et qu’il devint un conseiller écouté du roi en place, Childéric II.

Théodart ayant été tué, c’est Landebert (le futur saint Lambert) qui est élu à sa place. Suivant les sources, on évoque l’âge de 21 ou de 32 ans pour cette étape de sa vie.  Lorsque CHildéric II, roi d’Austrasie fut assassiné en 673, Lambert doit se retirer au monastère de Stavelot, sur les limites de son diocèse. Pendant sept ans, Pharamond s’appropria son siège épiscopal. Sur l’injonction de Pépin, il accepta de revenir ensuite prendre sa charge. Evangélisateur du diocèse de Tongres-Maastricht, on le reconnait notamment comme celui qui convertit les Taxandres, du pays de Midelbourg. Dans ces pays celtes, les cultes anciens sont encore souvent résurgents, comme en témoignent aussi les récits d’une autre figure de sainteté, qui succéda à Lambert, saint Hubert. Et de nombreuses personnes issues de la noblesse changèrent de vie, au contact de sa prédication. Des monastères furent aussi fondées sous son impulsion, dont celui dirigé par Landrada, à Munsterbilzen.

Lambert mourut assassiné, dans la période trouble politiquement du fait du changement de dynastie en cours, entre mérovingiens et carolingiens. Or Maastricht fait partie de l’Austrasie, une province mérovingienne de l’empire franc. Lié au roi Childéric II et à son successeur effectif, Pépin de Herstal (Pépin II), Lambert fut sans doute victime d’un conflits d’influence entre des clans familiaux. Certains récits hagiographiques attribuent à Pépin II la cause du meurtre, Lambert ayant dénoncé auparavant sa vie adultérine avec Alpaïde (relation dont naîtra Charles Martel), ce qui ne lui aurait pas été pardonné.

Plus sûrement, le prélat tomba sans doute sous les coups des hommes de troupes de Dodon, le domesticus (haut fonctionnaire chargé de la gestion des domaines de l’État) de Pépin II, le 17 septembre 696 (ou 708-709 selon d’autres sources). Le corps de saint Lambert fut ensuite mené en cachette à Maastricht, puis ramené à Liège, où une cathédrale fut construite sur le lieu même de son martyre. C’est aussi à partir de cette période que cette ville connut une profonde transformation et une reconnaissance de plus en plus grande dans la région.

La figure de Saint Lambert est souvent représentée soit avec une béquille, pour rappeler qu’il fut guéri, enfant, d’un état chétif, mais aussi la fontaine qu’il avait fait naître pour soulager les ouvriers et les malades. Soit avec une lance, rappelant son martyre.

Les sources historiques de ce texte sont issus :

-d’un article ancien extrait de la collection « Les petits Bollandistes. Vie des Saints », vol. XI, pp. 172-179

– d’un article plus actualisé de Wikipedia, http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambert_de_Maastricht

SOURCE : http://www.prieuresaintbenoit.fr/un-peu-dhistoire-2/saint-lambert/

Théodore Schaepkens (1810-1883). Saint Lambert, évêque de Maastricht, 1847, Trésor de la Basilique de Notre Dame, Maastricht

Lambert

Maastricht c. 636, Liège c. 705

Issu d’une riche famille aristocratique de Maastricht, Lambert fait ses études sous l’autorité de Théodard, évêque de Maastricht, cette cité ayant définitivement supplanté Tongres comme siège épiscopal. Le jeune homme est introduit à la cour mérovingienne du Regnum Francorum et évolue dans l’entourage du roi ; Lambert occupe un rang élevé au sein du clergé de la ville. Il est nommé évêque avant l’âge de trente ans, semble-t-il, suite à l’assassinat de Théodard, et devient l’un des conseillers du roi Childéric II, un ancien maire du palais. L’époque est cependant riche en intrigues politiques et, suite à l’assassinat de Childéric, en 673, Ebroïn, devenu maire du palais de Neustrie, poursuit les partisans du défunt roi. Contraint d’abandonner ses fonctions épiscopales, Lambert est remplacé par Pharamond et, pendant les sept années que dure son exil, il se retire au monastère de Stavelot, vivant dans la méditation et l’accomplissement des devoirs monastiques.

Vers 681, quand Pharamond est déposé à son tour, Lambert retrouve ses fonctions d’évêque de Maastricht et contribue, à l’instar de nombreux missionnaires de cette époque, à l’approfondissement de la christianisation auprès des populations rurales. L’évêque rayonne dans le diocèse en utilisant quelques résidences secondaires établies dans les bourgades mosanes de Huy, Namur et Dinant. La Meuse s’impose comme l’axe principal de ce diocèse. Par son œuvre d’évangélisation, il contribue aussi à servir les intérêts de Pépin II dans les régions situées aux confins du royaume. Il soutient la création de nouveaux monastères, dont celui de Munsterbilzen. Cette implication dans les affaires de l’État semble être l’une des hypothèses avancées pour expliquer son assassinat en 705.

Selon cette version, Lambert aurait reproché à Pépin de Herstal sa relation adultère avec Alpaïde, la sœur de Dodon, et lui aurait demandé de la chasser. Par réaction, la concubine aurait commandité le massacre de l’évêque par son frère. Une autre version explique que deux frères, Gall et Riold, des pillards, seraient tombés sous les coups des hommes armés de l’évêque. Leur parent Dodon, domesticus, aurait assassiné l’évêque, lors d’un séjour à Liège, toujours par vengeance. Quoi qu’il en soit, le corps de Lambert est enterré à Maastricht, dans l’église Saint-Pierre aujourd’hui démolie. Son successeur, Hubert (peut-être un parent) fera transférer ses reliques à Liège, et édifiera une chapelle à l’endroit où il a été assassiné. Très vite, le culte qui est rendu à Lambert prend de l’importance et contribue au développement du village. Pas moins de cinq Vitae ont été consacrées, du VIIIe au XIIe siècles, à celui qui est devenu à la fois un martyr et le saint protecteur d’un vaste diocèse. Au XIIe siècle, l’imposante cathédrale de ce qui est devenu le siège d’une principauté ecclésiastique sera construite à l’emplacement de la chapelle du VIIIe siècle, confirmant Lambert comme saint patron de la cité mosane.

Jean-Louis KUPPER, Liège et l’Église impériale aux XIe-XIIe siècles, Genève, éd. Droz, coll. Bibliothèque de la Faculté de philosophie et lettres de l’Université de Liège, 1981

Alain COLIGNON, Dictionnaire des saints et des cultes de Wallonie. Histoire et folklore, Liège, éd. du Musée de la Vie wallonne, 2003

Godefroid KURTH, Lambert, dans Biographie nationale, t. XI, col. 143-148

Histoire de la Wallonie (L. GENICOT dir.), Toulouse, 1973, p. 98

La Wallonie. Le Pays et les Hommes. Lettres - arts - culture, t. I, p. 57

Jacques STIENNON, dans Freddy JORIS, Natalie ARCHAMBEAU (dir.), Wallonie. Atouts et références d’une région, Namur, 2005

 Marie Dewez, septembre 2012

SOURCE : http://connaitrelawallonie.wallonie.be/fr/wallons-marquants/dictionnaire/lambert

Le martyre de saint Lambert représenté sur un panneau peint, 1489-1492. Musée d'art religieux et d'art mosan, Lìege

Deel van het zogenaamde Palude-diptiek, een tweeluik uit de late 15e eeuw, toegeschreven aan Jan van Brussel, in het museum Grand Curtius in Luik. Hier: De moord op Sint-Lambertus op de binnenkant van het rechterpaneel.

Saint LAMBERT (LANDEBERTUS).

Martyr, Bishop of Maestricht, b. at Maestricht between 633 and 638; d. at Liège, between 698 and 701. Hisparents, who belonged to the nobility, gave him a very religious education, and chose as his preceptor St. Landoaldus, priest of the cathedral church at Maestricht. Later, Lambert received instruction from St. Theodardus(668 or 669), whom he succeeded in 670 as Bishop of Maestricht. During the calamitous days of Ebroin, Mayor of the Palace, Lambert, having defended the interests of King Childeric, was forced to flee from Maestricht. While Pharamundus administered his see, Lambert spent seven years (674-681) in the well-known Abbey of Stavelot, where he edified the monks by his saintly life. In 681 Ebroin received his well-earned retribution, and Pepin of Heristal became mayor of the palace, at first of Austrasia, but in 687 of the whole domain of the Franks. Pepin, who liked Lambert, permitted him to return to Maestricht and resume the administration of his see. Some timelater we find Lambert as a missionary in Toxandria, the Kempenland and Brabant of today. In order to spread theGospel, he descended the River Meuse as far as Tiel and laboured along its banks in company with St. Willibrord, who had come from England in 691. It is very probable that Lambert came in contact with Sts. Wiro, Plechelmus, and Otger, who had built a church and monastery on the Pietersburg, later called the Odilienberg, nearRoermond. St. Landrada aided Lambert in founding the Abbey of Munsterbilsen. For several centuries a controversy has been carried on concerning the manner of the saint's death. According to tradition, Lambertbecame a martyr to his defence of marital fidelity. The Bollandists, Mabillon, Valois, Lecointe, Pagi and others held, however, that the saint was killed by Frankish nobles in revenge for the failure of a plundering expedition.Kurth in 1876 critically examined the centuries-old tradition and, documents in hand, proved beyond furtherdoubt that Lambert was martyred because of his defence of the marriage tie. Pepin of Heristal lived for many years in irreproachable wedlock with the pious Plectrude, who bore him two sons. Later he entered into unlawfulrelations with Alpais, who became the mother of Charles Martel. When no one had the courage to remonstrate with Pepin, Lambert went to his court like another John the Baptist. Alpais, fearing that Pepin might heed theadmonitions of the saint, appealed to her brother Dodo. The latter sought revenge and caused Lambert to beassassinated in the chapel of Sts. Cosmas and Damian, built by St. Monulphus at Liège. His heart was pierced by a javelin while he was at the altar. The servants of the martyr placed his remains in a vessel, descended the Meuse to Maestricht, and buried them in the cemetery of St. Peter, in the vault of his parents, Aper and Herisplindis, beneath the walls of Maestricht. Between 714 and 723, St. Hubert exhumed the remains and had them translated to Liège, whither he had transferred, presumably as early as 723, his episcopal see. The saint'sfeast is celebrated on 17 Sept. A large number of churches have St. Lambert as their patron.

Sources

Acta SS., Sept., V; STEPHANUS, Vita S. Lamberti in MIGNE, P.L., CXXXII, 643; DEMARTEAU, Vie de S. Lambert écrite en vers par Hucbald de St-Amand, et documents du Xme siècle (Liège, 1878); ALBERS, De H. Lambertus, XXe bisschop van Maastricht in Jaarboekje van Alberdingk Thym (Amsterdam, 1896); KURTH, Etude critique sur St. Lambert et son premier biographe in Annales de l'Académie d'Archélogie de Belgique, XIII, 3rd series, III.

Albers, Petrus Henricus. "St. Lambert." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 8. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 15 Jul. 2015 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08757a.htm>.

Transcription. This article was transcribed for New Advent by Robert H. Sarkissian.

Ecclesiastical approbation. Nihil Obstat. October 1, 1910. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York.

Copyright © 2020 by Kevin Knight. Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

SOURCE : http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08757a.htm

St. Lambertus, um 1400, Kloster St. Lambrecht (Pfalz)

Saint Lambert of Maastricht

Also known as

• Lambert of Liege
• Lamberto…
• Lambertus…
• Landebertus…

Memorial

• 17 September

Profile

Born to the nobility, the son of Aper and Herisplindis, he received a good, religious oriented education. Student of Saint Landoaldus and Saint Theodardus. Priest. Bishop of Maastricht, Netherlands in 670. Forced for political reasons into exile from Maastricht from 674 to 681. Missionary in Toxandria (modern Brabant) with Saint Willibrord of Echternach in the late 7th century. Apparently worked with Saint Wito, Saint Plechelm of Guelderland, and Saint Otger of Utrecht. With Saint Landrada, he founded the abbey of Munsterbilsen. Murdered for defending the sanctity of marriage, which was very politically inconvenient for several powerful people of the day. Martyr.

Born

• c.635 at Maastricht, Netherlands

Died

• stabbed through the heart by a javelin c.700 at the chapel of Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian, Liège, Belgium while celebrating Mass
• buried in his family’s vault in the cemetery of Saint Peter, Maastricht, Netherlands
• remains exhumed and translated to Liège c.720 by Saint Hubert of Liege

Canonized

• Pre-Congregation

Patronage

• in Belgium
• Liège, diocese of
• Émines
• Montegnée
• Middelaar, Netherlands

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-lambert-of-maastricht/

Peter Paul Rubens  (1577–1640). Saint Lambert, vers 1625-1630, Black chalk, pen and brown ink and brown wash

September 17

St. Lambert, Bishop and Martyr

From his life, written by Godescalc, deacon of Liege, in Mabillon, sæc. 3, Ben. and in Canisius Lect. Antiq. t. 2, part. 1, l. 142, with the animadversions of Basnage. This work was compiled, with candour and sincerity, (not in 773, as Le Cointe and some others mistook, but about 729,) from the relation of those who attended the saint, as Dom. Rivet demonstrates, Hist. Littér. de la France, t. 4, p. 58. Stephen, bishop of Liege, Anselm, and Nicholas, canons of the same church, Rainer, monk of St. Laurence’s, near that town, Giles of Orval, and Sigebert have also written lives of St. Lambert: that published by Godescalc is the foundation of all the rest; but that compiled by Stephen is the most elegant and methodical. See also Miræus, Annul. Belgic. ad annos 656, 676, 692, 696. Suysken the Bollandist, t. 5, p. 518. Gall. Chr. Nov. t. 3, p. 827, Martenne, &c.

A.D. 709.

[Bishop of Maestricht, and Patron of Liege.]  ST. LANDEBERT, called in latter ages Lambert, was a native of Maestricht, and born of a noble and wealthy family, who had been Christians for many descents. His father caused him to be instructed from his infancy in sacred learning, and afterwards recommended him to St. Theodard to perfect his education. This holy bishop had succeeded St. Remaclus, first, in the government of his two great abbeys of Malmedi and Stavelo, and, ten years after, when the former retired to Stavelo, in the episcopal see of Maestricht. He had such an esteem for this illustrious and holy pupil, that he spared no attention in instructing and training him up to the most perfect practice of Christian virtue. St. Theodard, in 669, resolved to go to King Childeric II., who resided in Austrasia, to obtain an order of that prince for the restitution of the possessions of his church, which had been usurped by certain powerful persons; but was assassinated upon the road by those who withheld his possessions, and torn limb from limb, in the forest of Benalt, near Nemere, since called Spire. He is honoured as a martyr on the 10th of September. St. Lambert was chosen to succeed him, with the consent of King Childeric and the applause of his whole court, where the saint was in great repute. Lambert regarded the episcopal charge as a burden too heavy for his shoulders, as saints have always done, and, trembling under its grievous obligations, set himself earnestly to discharge them without human respect or fear, imploring light and strength from above by assiduous humble prayer. Childeric II. reigned first in Austrasia, Vulfoade being at that time mayor of his palace, whilst Theodoric III. succeeded his brother, Clotaire III., in Neustria and Burgundy, under whom Ebroin tyrannically usurped the dignity of mayor of the palace. So detestable did the cruelty of this minister render the reign of the prince, that his subjects deposed him, so that Childeric became king of all France, Theodoric and Ebroin being shorn monks, the former at St. Denis, the latter at Luxeu; to which condition they both consented, that their lives might be spared. King Childeric II., a debauched and cruel prince, was slain by a conspiracy of noblemen in the year 673, the eleventh of his reign; and Theodoric, his brother, leaving the monastery of St. Denis, was again acknowledged king in Neustria, and Dagobert II, the son of King Sigebert, in Austrasia

This revolution affected St. Lambert, merely because he had been heretofore greatly favoured by Childeric. He was expelled from his see, in which was placed one Faramond. Our saint retired to the monastery of Stavelo, with only two of his domestics; and, during the seven years that he continued there, he obeyed the rule as strictly as the youngest novice could have done. One instance will suffice to show with how perfect a sacrifice of himself he devoted his heart to serve God according to the perfection of his state. As he was rising one night in winter to his private devotions, he happened to let fall his wooden sandal or slipper, so that it made a noise. This the abbot heard, and, looking upon it as a breach of the silence then to be observed in the community, he ordered him that had given occasion to that noise, to go and pray before the cross. This was a great cross which stood in the open air before the church door. Lambert, without making any answer, or discovering who he was, laid down the upper garment he was going to put on, and went out as he was, barefoot, and covered only with his hair shirt; and in this condition he prayed, kneeling before the cross, three or four hours. Whilst the monks were warming themselves after matins, the abbot inquired if all were there. Answer was made, that he had sent one to the cross, who was not yet come in. The abbot ordered that he should be called; and was strangely surprised to find that the person was the holy bishop, who made his appearance quite covered with snow, and almost frozen with cold. At the sight of him the abbot and the monks fell on the ground, and asked his pardon. “God forgive you,” said he, “for thinking you stand in need of pardon for this action. As for myself, is it not in cold and nakedness, that, according to St. Paul, I am to tame my flesh, and to serve God?”

Whilst St. Lambert enjoyed the tranquillity of holy retirement, he wept to see the greater part of the churches of France laid waste. When Theodoric reascended the throne, he appointed Leudisius, son of Erchinoald, mayor of his palace. Ebroin at the same time left the monastery of Luxeu, and sacrilegiously broke the sacred engagements of his vows. He had already made the whole kingdom of Theodoric feel the effects of his power and tyrannical dispositions, when, in 677, he became mayor of the palace to that prince, and absolute master in Neustria and Burgundy, and soon after also in Austrasia, when, upon the death of Dagobert II. (who was murdered by a conspiracy of his nobles, through the contrivance of Ebroin), Theodoric was acknowledged king of the whole French monarchy. Dagobert II. had filled his dominions with religious foundations, and, after his death, was honoured at Stenay, where he was buried, as a martyr. Ebroin, who had in this prince’s life-time extended his violences to several churches subject to him, especially that of Maestricht, after the death of this king oppressed them with greater fury, and persecuted our holy bishop without control. He was, however, overtaken by the divine vengeance; for, three years after the martyrdom of St. Leodegarius, he was himself slain in 681. A nobleman, called Hermenfred, whose estate he had seized, and whom he had threatened with death, watched him one Sunday before it was light, as he came out of his house to matins, and killed him with a blow which he gave him on his head with a sword. From this and other instances we see, as Fleury remarks, that at that time even those noblemen and princes, who were most employed, and who had the least sense of religion and piety, did not exempt themselves from attending at the divine office even in the night.

Pepin of Herstal (grandson of St. Pepin of Landen, by St. Bega and Ansegesil), being made mayor of the palace, set himself to repair the evils done by Ebroin, expelled the usurping wicked bishops whom he had intruded into many sees, and, among many other exiled prelates, restored St. Lambert to the see of Maestricht. The holy pastor, from the exercise of the most heroic virtues, to which he had devoted the time of his exile and retirement, returned to his flock animated with redoubled fervour, preaching and discharging his other functions with wonderful zeal and fruit. Finding there still remained many pagans in Taxandria, a province about Diest, in Brabant, he applied himself to convert them to the faith, softened their barbarous temper by his patience, regenerated them in the holy water of baptism, and destroyed many temples and idols. He frequently visited and conferred with St. Willibrord, the apostle of Friesland. Under the weak reigns of the slothful kings, the greatest disorders prevailed in France, and every bold and powerful man set himself above the laws, and put himself at the head of a seditious faction. Of this the death of St. Lambert furnishes us with a flagrant example. Pepin, who resided at his castle of Herstal, near Liege, on the Maes or Meuse, lived for some years in a scandalous adultery with a concubine named Alpais, by whom he had Charles Martel. St. Lambert reproved the parties with so much earnestness, that some say certain friends of the lady thence took occasion to conspire against his life. Others assign the following occasion of his death: Two brothers, by their violences and plunders of the church of Maestricht, were become insupportable, and could not be restrained by the laws. At this, certain relations of St. Lambert were so exasperated, that, finding themselves driven to the last extremity, they slew the two brothers. Dodo, a kinsman of the two young men who were slain, a rich and powerful officer under Pepin, and related to Alpais, resolved to revenge their death upon the innocent and holy bishop, and attacked him with a considerable body of armed men, at Leodium, then a small village, now the city of Liege. St. Lambert had retired to sleep after matins, when Dodo with his troop broke into his house. The bishop would not suffer his two nephews nor any of his domestics to take arms to defend him, saying: “If you love me truly, love Jesus Christ, and confess your sins unto him. As for me, it is time that I go to live with him.” Then prostrating himself on the ground, with his hands extended in form of a cross, he prayed, shedding many tears. The troop of enemies, entering the house, put to the sword all they met, and one of them, throwing a dart at the holy bishop, slew him. This unjust death, suffered with so great patience and meekness, joined with the eminent sanctity of the life of this holy bishop, has been looked upon as a degree of martyrdom. It happened on the 17th of September, 709, St. Lambert having held the episcopal dignity forty years from the time he succeeded St. Theodard. His body was conveyed in a bark to Maestricht, where it was interred in St. Peter’s church. Several miracles which ensued excited the people to build a church on the spot where the house stood in which he was slain. His successor, St. Hubert, translated thither his relics in 721. At the same time he removed to the same place the episcopal see, as it had been formerly transferred from Tongres to Maestricht, by St. Servatius.

Fortitude, which appears most heroical and most conspicuous in martyrdom, is a cardinal virtue, and the mother of many glorious virtues, as courage, greatness of soul, tranquillity of mind under all dangers, patience, longanimity, constancy, and perseverance. It is the band and support of all other virtues. As the root of a tree bears the trunk, branches, flowers, and fruit, so fortitude sustains, and is the strength of the whole system of moral and Christian virtues, which sink at the first shock without it. This, therefore, is an ingredient of every perfect virtue, by which a man is ready to suffer any hardships or death, to expose himself to any dangers, and to forego all temporal advantages rather than swerve from the path of justice. By confounding rashness, inconsiderate hardiness, and fury with courage, many form a false idea of fortitude, which is defined, “a considerate alacrity in bearing hardships and undergoing dangers.” It moderates in us the two opposite extremes of fear and confidence, it teaches us reasonably to fear dangers and death, and to decline and avoid them, when nothing obliges us to expose ourselves to them; for to be fool-hardy and needlessly to precipitate ourselves upon danger, is the height of folly and vice, and the strongest mark of a corrupt and abandoned heart. But it is true fortitude to undertake and encounter all dangers, when duty or the cause of virtue requires it. How noble and heroical is this virtue of fortitude! how necessary in every Christian, especially in a pastor of souls, that neither worldly views nor fears may ever in the least warp his integrity, or blind his judgment!

Rev. Alban Butler (1711–73).  Volume IX: September. The Lives of the Saints.  1866.

SOURCE : http://www.bartleby.com/210/9/171.html

Theodoor van Loon, The Martyrdom of Saint Lambert, ca. 1616-1617, Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage of Belgium

Pictorial Lives of the Saints – Saint Lambert, Bishop, Martyr

Saint Lambert was a native of Maestricht. His father entrusted his education to the holy Bishop Saint Theodard, and on that good man being assassinated, Lambert was chosen his successor. A revolution breaking out which overturned the kingdom of Austrasia, our Saint was banished from his see on account of his devotion to his sovereign. He retired to the monastery of Stavelo, and there obeyed the rule as strictly as the youngest novice could have done. One instance will suffice to show with how perfect a sacrifice of himself he devoted his heart to serve God. As he was rising one night in winter to his private devotions, he happened to let fall his wooden sandal or slipper. The abbot, without asking who had caused the noise, gave orders that the offender should go and pray before the cross, which stood before the church door. Lambert, without making any answer, went out as he was, barefoot, and covered only with his hair shirt; and in this condition he prayed, kneeling before the cross, where he was found some hours after. At the sight of the holy bishop the abbot and the monks fell on the ground and asked his pardon. “God forgive you,” said he, “for thinking you stand in need of pardon for this action. As for myself, is it not in cold and nakedness that, according to Saint Paul, I am to tame my flesh and to serve God?” While Saint Lambert enjoyed the quiet of holy retirement, he wept to see the greatest part of the churches of France laid waste. In the mean time the political clouds began to break away, and Lambert was restored to his see, but his zeal in suppressing the many and notorious disorders which existed in his diocese led to his assassination on the 17th of September, 709.

Reflection – How noble and heroic is this virtue of fortitude, how necessary for every Christian, especially for a pastor of souls, that neither worldly views nor fears may ever in the least warp his integrity or blind his judgment!

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/pictorial-lives-of-the-saints-saint-lambert-bishop-martyr/

La chiesa di San Lamberto a Immerath (Erkelenz).

Book of Saints – Lambert of Maestricht

Article

(Saint) Bishop, Martyr (September 17) (7th century) A disciple of Saint Theodardus, Bishop of Maestricht, whom he succeeded in A.D. 669. In the political troubles of the time, he was, five years later, driven from his See, and retired to the monastery of Stavelot, where for seven years he led the humble life of a simple monk. Recalled to his See by Pepin of Heristal, he set about his work with renewed zeal, and energetically promoted the missionary efforts of Saint Willebrord and others in the neighbouring Pagan districts. For his energy in repressing vice he paid with his life, being slain by a troop of lawless nobles (A.D. 709) in the then village of Liege, whither his relics were transported from Maestricht, A.D. 720; and which, having become shortly afterwards an Episcopal city, honours Saint Lambert as its chief Patron.

MLA Citation

• Monks of Ramsgate. “Lambert of Maestricht”. Book of Saints, 1921. CatholicSaints.Info. 23 August 2016. Web. 21 December 2020. <https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-lambert-of-maestricht/>

SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-lambert-of-maestricht/

Reliquary bust of Saint Lambert, holy bishop of Maastricht, in the chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Basilica of Saint Servatius in Maastricht, Netherlands.

LAMBERT OF MAASTRICHT, ST.

Bishop and martyr; d. Liège, Sept. 17, 705 or 706. Born of wealthy parents, Lambert grew up under the supervision of his uncle, Theodard of Maastricht, whom he succeeded as bishop in 672. Shortly afterward the incompetent Childeric II, king of Austrasia, was assassinated. In the upheaval that followed, Lambert fled to the monastery of stavelot while an intruder took his place as bishop. After seven years of exile, Lambert was restored to his see by the new mayor of the palace, Pepin II of Heristal. Later the bishop had to upbraid Pepin for an adulterous affair. In the conflict over the immunity of his church, Lambert was murdered by his adversary, Count Dodo. Popularly venerated as a martyr in France, Westphalia, and Holland, Lambert is honored as the patron of the city of Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.

Feast: Sept. 17.

Bibliography: Acta Sanctorum September 5:518–617. J. L. Baudot and L. Chaussin, Vies des saints et des bienheueux selon l'ordre du calendrier avec l'historique des fêtes, ed. by The Benedictines of Paris, 12 v. (Paris 1935–56) 9:361–364. Bibliotheca hagiographica latina antiquae ct mediae aetatis, 2 v. (Brussels 1898–1901; suppl. 1911) 2:4677–94. A. Butler, The Lives of the Saints, ed. H. Thurston and D. Attwater, 4 v. (New York 1956) 3:579–580. H. Lerclercq, Dictionnaire d'archéologie chrétienne et de liturgie, ed. F. Cabrol, H. Leclercq and H. I. Marrou, 15 v. (Paris 1907–53) 9.1:623–625; 10.1:955–963. A. M. Zimmermann, Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche, ed. J. Hofer and K. Rahner, 10v. (2d, new ed. Freiburg 1957–65) 6:758. J. de Borchgrave d'Altena et al., eds., Trésors d'art Saint Remacle, Saint Lambert (Stavelot 1968).

[J. E. Lynch]

SOURCE : https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/lambert-maastricht-st

St. Lambertus, Statue in Mingolsheim, mit dem Schwert als ikonographischem Zeichen für die Art seines Martyriums

San Lamberto di Maastricht Vescovo e martire

17 settembre

633/638 – 17 settembre 705 circa

Martirologio Romano: A Liegi in Austrasia, nell’odierno Belgio, passione di san Lamberto, vescovo di Maastricht e martire, che, mandato in esilio, si ritirò nel monastero di Stavelot; riavuta poi la sede, svolse degnamente il suo ministero pastorale, prima di divenire innocente vittima di uomini a lui ostili.

San Landeberto, il cui nome successivamente fu mutato in Lamberto, nacque tra il 633 ed il 638 da una nobile e ricca famiglia di Maastricht, nella diocesi belga di Liegi. Nonostante il paganesimo imperasse ancora nella zona, la sua famiglia era cristiana ed egli ricevette la sua istruzione a corte dal vescovo San Teodardo. Intraprese poi la carriera ecclesiastica e divenne sacerdote. Un suo biografo descrisse così tale periodo della sua vita: “Un giovane prudente e di bell’aspetto, cortese e con un bel modo di parlare e di comportarsi; di buona costituzione, forte un buon lottatore, dalla mente chiara, affezzionato, puro e umile, e appassionato di lettura”. Quando Teodardo fu assassinato verso il 670, Lamberto gli succedette sulla cattedra episcopale di Tongres-Maastricht.

Dopo cinque anni fu coinvolto nel tumulto politico seguito alla morte di Childerico II di Neustria e Borgogna. Lamberto fu allora esiliato dalla sua sede da Ebroino, precedente sindaco del palazzo di Neustria. Il re San Dagoberto II d’Austrasia, che lo ospitò inizialmente, chiese ai monaci di Stavelot-Màlmedy di accoglierlo provvisoriamente per assicurare la sua sicurezza e lo sostituì alla sede episcpale di Liegi con un certo Paramondo. Fu così che per ben sette anni Lamberto visse da semplice monaco, contraddistinguendosi per la sua umiltà e la sua laboriosità.

Nel 680 fu assassinato Ebroino e gli succedette Pipino di Héristal. Questi, al fine di consolidare la sua precaria posizione, immediatamente reintegrò tutti gli ecclesiastici nelle loro legittime sedi ed anche Lamberto poté dunque fare ritorno a Maastricht, pieno di zelo ed energia. Oltre ad espletare i suoi doveri di vescovo nei confronti del gregge affidato alle sue cure pastorali, intraprese un’opera di conversione dei pagani ancora presenti nel Campine e nel Brabante. Con la collaborazione di Santa Landrada fondò un monastero femminile presso Munsterblizen.

Le numerose leggende sorte sul suo conto tramandano due possibili versioni sulle vicende che portarono al martirio del santo vescovo. Secondo quella più tarda, risalente al IX secolo, sarebbe stato ucciso nella chiesa dei Santi Cosma e Damiano in Liegi in vendetta per le sue interferenze nella adulterina relazione tra Pipino e sua cognata Alpais, sorella della moglie Santa Plectrude. I primi biografi di Lamberto sostenevano invece che l’omicidio fosse stato causato da questioni economiche, riguardanti la tassazione della chiesa di Maastricht dedicata alla Madonna. Il vescovo, seppur rinchiuso a chiave nella propria camera, fu raggiunto da una freccia lanciatagli da una finestra e morì: era il 17 settembre di un anno imprecisato non oltre il 705.

La morte violenta, unita alla santità della sua vita, spinse immediatamente il popolo a venerare San Lamberto quale martire ed il suo corpo fu poi traslato nella casa dove era deceduto, trasformata appositamente in chiesa. Attorno ad essa crebbe la città di Liegi, ove venne anche trasferita la sede episcopale e San Lamberto è ancora oggi venerato come patrono. Il culto del santo si espanse ele vicine regioni francesi e tedesche.

A livello popolare San Lamberto fu invocato contro le malattie degli animali domestici, nonchè contro l’ernia, i calcoli biliari e l’epilessia. E’ infine patrono dei gallinacei.

Autore: Fabio Arduino

SOURCE : http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/92911

Jan van Brussel, ca. 1475-1476. Diptyque Palude, Nativité et Martyre de Saint Lambert, Jugement de Salomon et Jésus et la femme adultère, 1489-1492, Museum Curtius

Paul Bruyère. « Le Martyre de saint Lambert du « diptyque Palude » et les cérémonies de 1489 à la cathédrale de Liège »,Le Moyen Âge 2012/2 (Tome CXVIII), pages 329 à 368 : https://www.cairn.info/revue-le-moyen-age-2012-2-page-329.htm

Saint Lambert of Liège: The Iconography : https://www.christianiconography.info/lambertLiege.html

Les biographes de Saint Lambert [archive]. : http://perso.infonie.be/liege06/02deux01.htm#1

Voir aussi : https://www.heiligenlexikon.de/BiographienL/Lambert_von_Maastricht.html