Ursmar, St.

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URSMAR, ST.

Missionary and abbot bishop of Lobbes; b. Floyon, near Avesnes, in northern France, c. 644; d. April 4, 713. He was appointed abbot of Lobbes by Pepin II of Heristal c. 690 to succeed St. landelin (d. 686), and was consecrated bishop in 691. Ursmar preached the gospel in northern France and Flanders, founded monasteries, and consecrated the church of SS. Peter and Paul at Lobbes, Aug. 26, 697. He resigned in 711 or 712; he died after nine years of illness. His relics were burned in 1794 during the course of the French Revolution.

Feast: April 19.

Bibliography: Vitae Ursmari , Monumenta Germaniae Historica: Scriptores rerum Merovingicarum 6:443461. j. warichez, L'Abbaye de Lobbes (Tournai 1909). É. de moreau, Histoire de l'Église en Belgique (2d ed. Brussels 1945-) v.1; Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche, (Freiburg 193038) 10:451. a. m. zimmermann, Kalendarium Benedictinum: Die Heiligen und Seligen des Benediktinerorderns und seiner Zweige (Metten 193338) 2:6871.

[p. blecker]