Pascasius Radbert (†865)

Biography

The Abbess Theodrade, Charlemagne's first cousin, took him in and educated him as best she could. Saint Pascasius always spoke of her with gratitude and veneration, but he abandoned her to go on adventures. He was converted at the age of twenty-two and it was Adelard, brother of Theodrade, abbot of Corbie, who welcomed him among his monks. He became a renowned teacher who brought fame to the Corbie schools. He was elected abbot and seven years later a kind of revolution was organized among the brothers that forced him to take refuge in the Abbey of Saint-Riquer. He didn't feel upset about it. He was a born writer and had several works underway. “What happiness,” he said, “to be thrown into the arms of philosophy and wisdom and to be able to drink again in my autumn the milk of the Scriptures that have nourished my youth!” The monks of Corbie ended up calling him back, he returned and lived with them as a simple religious, edifying them with his example and continuing his writings.