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- story -
- Life of St Thibaut of Provins -
Extract from Our Lady of Bermont's Exposition
Thibaut was born in Provins, about 1030. His father, Arnould, was related to the counts de Champagne and Blois. His mother was a descendant of the counts of Sens, Charlemagne and Pip. His godfather, Thibaut III, was the count of Blosiand of Champagne. His great uncle, Saint Thiebaud, archbishop of Vienne in Dauphne, from 970 to 1000, was the nephew of Thibaut-the-Cheater, who was count of Blois and lord of Provins.
He was raised surrounded by the family of the counts of Champagne. He was attracted to the hermit way of life at a young age. He often went to see the hermit, Burchard, who was living on an island in the Seine River, close to Balloy, about 20 Kilometers from Provins, at a place called Roselle. At the time there existed a chapel called Notre-Dame-en-l’Isle, or Notre-Dame-de-l’Ermitage, which was dependent on, as well as the priory of Balloy, the abbey of Saint-Paul de Sens, of the order of ’premontres.’
Accompanied by his loyal escort, Gauthier, Thibaut left Provins for Reims around 1054, and then taking the dress of the poor, he headed for Chiny forest (about 25 kms to the eeast of Sedan). The miraculous discovery of a ‘source (i.e. some springs/well) was attributed to him, and his reputation of leading an ascetic life began to attract crowds of people. Fleeing his popularity, he took refuge in Pettingen (about 16 kms to the north of Luxembourg), which at that time was part of the diocese of Trier. Thibaut and Gauthier shared the life led by peasants, and manufactured coal. It was for this reason that Saint Thibaut was taken for the owner of the coal workers, and by the Italian ‘carbonari’.
With his fame continuing to grow, Thibaut leaves to make a pilgrimage to Saint Jacques de Compostelle. Then he heads back to Lotharingie, close to Treves, where his father managed to join up with him. Next, he began a pilgrimage to Rome, planning to go after Rome to Jerusalem. However, the trip exhausts him, and he is unable to leave for Venice as he had planned, and in 1057 settles in the ‘desert of Salanique’, which is close to Sossano, in the diocese of Vicence, in order to lead the life of an ascetic. Gauthier died two years later. Thibaut, joined now by his mother, continues on with his existence as a hermit, doing miracles, and having visions. He is ordained priest by Sindecher, bishop of Vicence. His friend, Pierre, abbot of Notre-Dame de Vangacice, dresses him now, at the end of his life, with the clothes of the ‘camaldules’. This abbey, located close to Badia, about 25kms to the south of Sossano, became part of the order of Saint Benedict during its primitive beginnings.
Thibaut died on Friday, June 30, 1066, at Salanique. His body is buried in the neighboring cathedral of Vicence, then his relics are brought back to the abbey of Vangadice.
About 1073, he is canonized by the pope Alexandre II, and his festival day is fixed for July 1st.
From this time forward, Saint Thibaut’s cult begins in France. Around 1075, some of his religious relics from Italy are brought back to France by his brother, Arnoul (abbot of Saint Colombe de Sens and Saiant-Pierre de Lagny). The transfer of these relics of Thibaut is marked by the creation of some churches and chapels which are dedicated to him. These include : Joigny, Sens, Provins, Lagny, and Saint-Thibaut-des-Vignes.
Pilgrimages are organized around these areas, and Saint Thibaut’s cult spreads very quickly, especially in the north-east of France and Lorraine, beginning near the end of the 11th century up to the 13th.
Here is a list of some others that were added on at Joigny, Sens, Provins, Lagny, and Saint-Thibaut-des-Vignes :
-the priory Saint-Thibaut-les-Bazoches (Aisne), founded before 1080 by the Benedictine Abbey of Marmoutiers.
-the priory of Vaucouleurs (Meuse), founded in 1081 by the Benedictine Abbey of Molesme, at the request of the Lord de Joinville.
-the priory of Chateau-Porcien (the Ardennnes), founded in 1087 by the abbey of Saint-Hubert.
-the priory of Mereville (Meurthe et Moselle), founded in 1094 by the abbey Saint-Mansuy de Toul.
-the priory of Saint-Thibaut (Aube), founded before 1097 by the abbey of Molesme.
-the priory of Chambroncourt (Haute-Marne), founded before 1100 by the abbey of Molesme.
-the Hermitage of Roche-sur-Rognon (Haute-Marne), founded around 1100 by the abbey of Belval-en-Argonne.
-the priory of Clefmont (Haute-Marne), founded before 1115 by the abbey of Luxeuil.
-the priory of Vitry-en-Perthois (Marne), founded in 1119 by the abbey of Cluny.
-the priory of Flammerecourt (Haute-Marne), founded in 1125 by the abbey of Saint-Urbain.
-the priory of Saint-Satur (Cher), founded before 1144 by the abbey of the same place.
-the collegiale de Metz (Mozelle), founded in 1160 by the abbess of Sainte-Glossinde.
The Hermitage of Bermont (the Vosges) seems to have been founded in the 12th century by the benedicitne abbey of Bourgueil.
This abbey was founded around the year 1000 by Emma, the sister of Thibaut-le-Tricheur, first count of Blois and Champagne and lord of Provins.
The abbey of Molesme played an important role in the spreading of the cult of Saint Thibaut. Robert de Molesme had been the prior of Saint-Ayoul of Provins, which was the birthplace of Thibaut.
About 1240, the village of Fontaines (Bourgogne), close to Molesme, welcomed the relics of Saint Thibaut, and takes on the name of Saint-Thibaut-en-Auxois in 1249. A basilica is built from 1270 to 1290 and becomes the center of pilgrimage to Saint Thibaut, and among the most visited.
Thus were nearly 150 places such as these dedicated to Saint Thibaut up until the 14th century.
(FYI-Various translations of the Latin Theobaldus are found, including: Thibaut, Thibault, Thiebaut, Thiebaud, and Thibert)