- Robert of Molesme
Infobox Saint
name=Saint Robert of Molesme
birth_date=1028
death_date=death date|1111|4|17|mf=y
feast_day=April 29
venerated_in=Roman Catholic Church
imagesize=200px
caption=A painting of the founders of Citeaux, showing saints Robert, Alberic, andStephen Harding venerating theBlessed Virgin Mary
birth_place=Champagne
death_place=
titles=
beatified_date=
beatified_place=
beatified_by=
canonized_date=1222
canonized_place=
canonized_by=Pope Honorius III
attributes=
patronage=
major_shrine=
suppressed_date=
issues=
prayer=
prayer_attrib=Saint Robert of Molesme (c. 1028 – 1111) was a Christian
saint andabbot , one of the founders of theCistercian Order inFrance .Life
Robert was a member of the nobility in Champagne, a younger son, who entered the abbey of
Montier-la-Celle , nearTroyes , at age fifteen and later rose to the status of a prior. He was made the abbot of Saint Michel-de-Tonnerre at some point after the year 1060, but he was unable to reform the abbey, which had become known for its laxity, and so he returned to Montier-la-Celle. He was later a prior of Saint-Aiyoul.Some
hermit s living in the forest ofColan sought Robert out there and asked to be put together under his direction in a newmonastery . He obtained the permission ofPope Gregory VII to found a monastery atMolesme inBurgundy in 1075. Initially, the establishment consisted of only huts made of branches surrounding a chapel dedicated to theHoly Trinity in the forest of Molesme. The house quickly became known for its piety and sanctity, and Robert's reputation as a saintly man grew. When the house grew increasingly wealthy, new, unsuitable monks came to the area and divided the brothers, challenging Robert's severity.Robert died on
April 17 ,1111 .Pope Honorius III canonized him in 1220. Hisfeast day in theRoman Catholic Church was fixed at first onApril 17 , but later it was transferred toApril 29 cite web |url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13097d.htm |title= St. Robert of Molesme, Catholic Encyclopedia |author=F.M. Gildas |work= |quote= ] .References
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