Adalbert (mystic)

Adalbert was a French preacher who lived in the 8th century.

Adalbert appeared in the district of Soissons sometime in the 8th century and practised and preached a life of Apostolic poverty. He was banned by the local bishop from preaching in churches, and preached in the countryside, in the open air and later in churches that his followers had built for him.

Adalbert claimed that an angel had conferred miraculous powers on him at his birth and that another had brought him relics of great sanctity from all parts of the earth. He also claimed to be able to see the future and read people's thoughts, telling those who came to him that they had no need to confess, since he knew what they had done, and that their sins were forgiven. He also invoked demons using mystical prayers he had composed. His "miracles" gained him the awe of the people and he began to give away parings from his nails and locks of his hair as powerful amulets. Adalbert also claimed to have a letter from Christ.

Adalbert gained many followers and in 744 a synod in Soissons led by Boniface decided to take him into custody. However he escaped and continued to preach. A synod the following year, presided by Boniface and King Carloman, excommunicated him.

Pope Zachary held another council in 745 to deal with Adalbert. Before the council was both Boniface's account and biography personally approved by Adalbert. The Council thought him to be a lunatic and gave him a chance to repent. He was still active in 746, though apparently was imprisoned for blasphemy in the monastery of Fulda. [Shepard, 1:6-7] , and died in jail. He wrote an account of his own life, but only a fragment survives.

Footnotes

References

*Lewis Spence, "The Encyclopedia of the Occult", reprinted 1988.
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07698b.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: Imposters] , from the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia
*Norman Cohn, The Pursuit of the Millennium, 1957