Ansegisus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saint Ansegisus |
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|---|---|
| Born | c. 770 France |
| Died | 20 July 833 or 834 Fontenelle |
| Venerated in | Eastern Orthodox Church Roman Catholic Church |
| Feast | 20 July |
Saint Ansegisus (around 770 – July 20, 833 or 834) was an important religious leader. He was known for making monasteries better places. He lived during the time of the Franks, a powerful group in Europe.
Contents
Who Was Saint Ansegisus?
Ansegisus was a monastic reformer. This means he helped improve how monasteries were run. He made sure monks followed their rules strictly. He worked to make these religious communities stronger.
Early Life and Monastic Journey
Ansegisus was born around the year 770. His family was noble, meaning they had a high social rank. When he was about 18 years old, he joined a monastery. This monastery was called Fontenelle, also known as St. Wandrille. It was located in the area of Rouen, France.
Saint Girowald was the abbot, or head, of Fontenelle at that time. Girowald was also a relative of Ansegisus. He saw Ansegisus's potential.
Reforming Monasteries
Emperor Charlemagne was a very powerful ruler. On Girowald's advice, Charlemagne gave Ansegisus an important job. He asked Ansegisus to lead and reform two monasteries. These were St. Sixtus near Reims and St. Memmius in Châlons-sur-Marne. Ansegisus was very successful in improving both of these places.
Later, in 817, another emperor named Louis the Pious gave Ansegisus a new role. He made him abbot of the famous Luxeuil Abbey. This abbey was founded by Saint Columbanus way back in 590. Ansegisus also reformed Luxeuil, making it a better place.
In 823, Ansegisus returned to Fontenelle. This was the monastery where he first began his religious life. He became its abbot after the death of Einhard. He reformed Fontenelle just as successfully as the others.
Important Contributions
Ansegisus did more than just reform monasteries. He also helped put together a collection of laws. These laws were called capitularies. They included rules for both civil life and church matters.
He also asked for the first history of the Fontenelle Abbey to be written. This important book was called the Gesta abbatum Fontanellensium. It tells the story of the abbots of Fontenelle.
