CRODEGANDO (CRODEGANDO) of METZ, saint. - Born at the beginning of the 8th century into a noble family of Brabant. In 742 Pipino appointed him bishop of Metz, but did not permit him to leave the court, where he distinguished himself by his learning, piety, and benefactions. In 753 he went to Rome to fetch Pope Stefano II, who was to meet Pipino at Ponthion (6 Jan. 754). He carried out the mission with such resolution and skill that Stefano II granted him the pallium and, after the death of Bonifacio (754), also the title of archbishop, although his see did not thereby become metropolitan.
He founded the monasteries of Gorze near Magonza (748), of S. Pietro on the Mosella, and of Lorsch in the diocese of Worms (764). He promoted the spread of the liturgy and Gregorian chant. Following the example of other bishops, he brought all the clergy of his cathedral into common life, and in 755 composed a Regula canonicorum which deservedly made him famous (v. REGOLARI). The name of C. appears at the head of the list of signatories to the “funerary pact,” the first known, concluded among the 44 participants in the Synod of Attigny (between 760 and 762). This pact stipulated that each member was to celebrate 100 Masses—30 if a bishop—and recite 100 psalters upon the death of each individual member. He died on 6 March 766 and was buried at Gorze.