JUNE 30: ST. THEOBALD

(1017 – 1066)

Theobald was born into a noble family in Provins, France. His father was Arnout, the Count of Champagne.

Raised in the military tradition of his family, he abandoned that life without the knowledge of his parent to live the life of a hermit, first in France and later in Luxemburg.

He and his friend Walter made pilgrimages to Compostella in Spain and later to Rome. They had intentions of continuing to the Holy Land via Venice but on the way, Walter fell to ill health near Vicenza, Italy, The two stayed there for two years before Walter died.

Theobald developed a holy reputation and attracted many followers even though he withdrew more and more from ordinary life. The bishop of that area decided to make him a priest to take advantage of his popularity for the church.

When his background became known, his parents came to visit him. His mother decided to stay with her son, not wanting to be away from him again and thereafter followed a religious life under the direction of her son.

Many miracles were attributed to Theobald while alive and after his death. Shortly before his death he entered the Camaldolese Order. He was canonized in 1073 by Pope Alexander II. His image is one of the statues on the colonnade of St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.

Adapted by A.J. Valentini from Löffler, K. (1912). St. Theobald. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved from New Advent www.newadvent.org/cathen/14567b.htm