Osbert of Clare facts for kids
Osbert of Clare was an important monk and writer who lived a long time ago, in the 1100s. He was chosen to be the head of a big monastery called Westminster Abbey for a short time. Osbert wrote many letters and also wrote life stories of important saints.
Osbert's Early Life and Monastic Journey
Osbert was born around the late 1000s in a place called Clare, Suffolk in England. He became a Benedictine monk, which is a type of religious person who lives in a community and follows special rules. He joined a small monastery, or priory, located inside Clare Castle.
In 1090, a powerful person named Gilbert Fitz Richard gave the church in the castle to a famous monastery in France called the Abbey of Our Lady of Bec. This made the priory at Clare a "dependency," meaning it was controlled by the French abbey.
Later, in 1124, Gilbert's son, Richard Fitz Gilbert de Clare, moved the monks to a new location about two miles away, at Stoke-by-Clare Priory. This new monastery became very rich and important because it was supported by the powerful de Clare family.
Life at Westminster Abbey
Osbert was later chosen to be the prior, or leader, of St Peter's Abbey in Westminster. This was a very important position. In the 1130s, he wrote special prayers and songs for a religious celebration called the feast of Saint Anne for Worcester Cathedral.
Osbert also played a big role in bringing back a special celebration called the Feast of the Conception of Mary. This celebration honored Mary, the mother of Jesus. It had been removed from the church calendar by an earlier leader. Many monks at Westminster Abbey didn't like this idea because it hadn't been officially approved by the Pope in Rome.
So, the matter was discussed at a big meeting called the Council of London in 1129. The council decided that the feast was a good idea. After this, Bishop Gilbert of London adopted it for his area, and the celebration slowly spread across England.
Osbert was good friends with Anselm of Canterbury, who was a very famous religious leader. Osbert really admired the old Anglo-Saxon saints and their spiritual ideas. He wrote a biography, or life story, of Eadburh of Winchester. She was the daughter of an old English king, Edward the Elder, and became a nun at St Mary's Abbey, Winchester.
Osbert's Writings
Osbert was a very active writer. He updated an important book about King Edward, called the vita Ædwardi regis, by 1138. He also wrote new life stories for other saints.
- He wrote a Life of St Eadburh of Winchester for Pershore Abbey.
- He also wrote a Life of St Æthelberht of East Anglia. He dedicated this book to Gilbert Foliot sometime after 1148.
- Osbert wrote many letters, which have been collected and studied by historians.
- He also helped create important documents called charters for Westminster Abbey.
