Idesbald

"Saint Idesbald" redirects here. For the hamlet, see Saint-Idesbald.
Saint Idesbald

Chapel at the back of the Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-ter-Duinenkerk. Ostend, Belgium. Stained glass representations of Saint Godelieve and Saint Idesbald.
Abbot
Venerated in Roman Catholic Church
Beatified 1894
Major shrine Bruges
Feast April 18

Saint[note 1] Idesbald (Idesbaldus) (ca. 1100-1167) was a Cistercian monk and abbot of the Ten Duinen abbey. He was a courtier and page to the Count of Flanders. It is believed that he was related to or proceeded from the noble family of Van der Gracht, lords of Moorsel.[1]

He became a canon priest at Veurne in 1135. In 1150, he became a Cistercian at the abbey of Our Lady of the Dunes (Abbey of Ten Duinen), and abbot of this foundation from 1155 to 1167. This was located in the present-day municipality of Koksijde, located on the sand hills between Dunkirk and Nieuwpoort.

Veneration

Idesbald was buried in the abbey in a coffin of lead. In 1577, the Geuzen plundered the abbey, and the monks transported Idesbald's relics to a farm at Bogaerde.[1] In 1623, official recognition of his relics was carried out in which his coffin was opened before many witnesses; the body was reported to be incorruptible. For days, the body was shown to visitors.[1]

His relics were translated again to Bruges in 1796 to avoid having them destroyed by Revolutionary troops.[1] In 1830, his relics were placed in a chapel associated with the abbey of Our Lady of the Potteries.[1] His cult was officially approved in 1894 by decree issued by the Diocese of Bruges.[1]

The hamlet of Saint-Idesbald, which gained fame as an artists' quarter, takes its name from him.

Notes

  1. ↑ Some sources refer to him as blessed or Beatus rather than Saint. See saints.sqpn.com and santiebeati.it

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Beato Idesbaldo delle Dune". santiebeati.it. Retrieved 16 May 2013.

External links

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