LAMBERT, Saint. — Bishop of Maastricht, born there between 633 and 638, died at Liège on 17 Sept. of a year before 706. Of a wealthy family, he was educated by Bishop Theodard of Maastricht. After the assassination of his protector, he was elected to succeed him, with the assent of King Childeric II (670). When Childeric was also assassinated, Lambert had to leave the diocese because he was a personal friend of the king. He lived in exile for seven years in the monastery of Stablo. When Pippin of Herstal came to power, he returned to his diocese (682).
His apostolic zeal led him also to preach the Gospel to the pagans in Brabant, where he met several times with St Willibrord. He was assassinated in his house at Liège, it is not known whether for blood vengeance, according to the oldest tradition, or, according to Ado of Vienne, because he had reproached Pippin for his adulterous relationship with Alpais. Part of his relics is kept in the cathedral of Liège, his head since 1190 in the cathedral of Freiburg in Br. His feast is celebrated on 17 Sept., that of his translation on 31 May.
Lucchesio Spätling
LAMBERTINI FAMILY — Statue of St Mark the Evangelist, work by Niccolò L. — Florence, Duomo.