Robert of Arbrissel, Blessed

ROBERTO D'ARBRISSEL, blessed. — Born at Arbrissel about 1047, he came early to Paris, where he obtained a doctorate in theology; he died at Orsan on 25 February 1117.

In 1085 he obtained a canonry at Rennes, but preferred to devote himself to preaching and to the reform of clerical customs. After spending some months in solitude in the forest of Craon and founding the priory of La Roë (1096), he went from province to province preaching the Gospel. I

(photo Enc. Catt.)
ROBERTO DI COLLE TORTO - Incipit of the Impugnatio Henrici de Gandavo (12th cent.) - Vatican Library, cod. Vat. lat. 987, f. 1°.

The numerous proselytes whom he won to the cause of God were gathered into several double monasteries, of religious men and women, in which the monks were at the service of the nuns and subject to the abbess, thus to honour the Most Blessed Virgin. Thus arose (1101) FONTEVRAULT (FONS EBRALDI) (v.), from the place where the first foundation was made, under the auspices of the Virgin. He died at Orsan while visiting the houses he had founded.