Aldric of Le Mans

Saint Aldric was Bishop of Le Mans in the time of Louis the Pious, born c. 800; died at Le Mans, 7 January, 856. As a youth he lived in the court of Charlemagne, at Aix la Chapelle, as well as in that of his son and successor Louis.

By both monarchs he was highly esteemed, but when only twenty-one, he withdrew to Metz and became a priest, only to be recalled to court by Louis, who took him as the guide of his conscience. Nine years after his ordination he was made Bishop of Le Mans, and, besides being conspicuous for the most exalted virtue, was distinguished by his civic spirit in constructing aqueducts, as well as for building churches, restoring monasteries, ransoming captives, etc.

In the civil wars that followed the death of Louis, his fidelity to Charles the Bald resulted in his expulsion from his see, and he withdrew to Rome. Gregory IV reinstated him. With the Bishop of Paris, Erchenrad, he, as a deputy of the Council of Aix la Chapelle, visited Pepin I, who was then King of Aquitaine, and persuaded him to cause all the possessions of the Church which had been seized by those of his party to be restored. During his lifetime taking part in the Councils of Paris and Tours. His episcopate lasted twenty-four years.

Relevant works

• Actus Pontificum Cenomannis (in urbe degentium) , compiled during Aldric's episcopate.
  • ed. Margarete Weidemann, Geschichte des Bistums Le Mans von der Spätantike bis zur Karolingerzeit: Actus Pontificum Cenomannis in urbe degentium und Gesta Aldrici. 3 vols. Mainz, 2000.
• Gesta (Domni) Aldrici, which relates how Aldric translated the bodies of the saints and former bishops of Le Mans: Julianus, Turibius, Pavatius, Romanus, Liborius and Hadoindus to his cathedral.
  • ed. Margarete Weidemann, Geschichte des Bistums Le Mans von der Spätantike bis zur Karolingerzeit: Actus Pontificum Cenomannis in urbe degentium und Gesta Aldrici. 3 vols. Mainz, 2000.
  • ed. Migne, Patrologa Latina 115. Html transcript, Documenta Catholica Omnia.

Further reading

• Goffart, Walter A. The Le Mans forgeries: a chapter from the history of church property in the ninth century. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard UP, 1966. Contents.

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.