Saint Who?
Saints Who Were Writers
Saint Abbo of Fleury
Abbot and martyr († 1004)Feast: November 13
Abbo was born in France and became a Benedictine monk. He must have been a promising student as a young man because his order sent him to Paris, Rheims, and Orléans to complete his education. He served as the director of a Benedictine school in England for a few years, but he soon returned to the monastery of Fleury in France. Then his abbot died. Abbo was elected the new abbot, although the election was initially disputed.
During the next two decades, Abbo became known as one of the greatest scholars of his time. He wrote about many topics: astronomy, canon law, grammar, mathematics, philosophy, and theology. He also endeared himself to the English by writing a biography of the martyred king Saint Edmund.
But he was just as involved in less scholarly matters, such as protecting monks and monasteries from powerful leaders who coveted monastic property and revenue. Abbo was also a successful peacemaker and negotiated peace between the pope and the French king. In 1004, he was sent to establish greater discipline in a disordered monastery in Gascony. When a fight broke out among the monks, Abbo tried to intervene, was stabbed, and died. For this reason, he is generally considered a martyr.
God of Wisdom, help us to be wise in practical matters as well as scholarly ones.
