Saint Benedict of Aniane

Life story

Witiza was the son of Aigulf, a Visigothic count of Maguelonne, according to his biographer Ardo. He was raised at the court of Pippin the Younger and served as a page under Charlemagne. After nearly drowning in the Ticino during the Italian campaign of 773, he resolved to live as a monk and entered the abbey of Saint-Seine. He was elected abbot there but left when the monks would not accept his strict way of life.

Back in Languedoc, in 779 he founded a monastic settlement at Aniane on his own land; it grew into a great monastery that became a model for reform in France. Benedict became the chief adviser of Louis the Pious on monastic reform, and when Louis became emperor he entrusted him with coordinating monastic practice across the empire. The Catholic Encyclopedia adds that he took the orthodox side against the Adoptionism of Felix of Urgel.

Louis had a monastery founded on the Inde river near Aachen, later known as Kornelimünster, so that Benedict could live close by. He was a leading figure at the synods of abbots at Aachen in 816 and 817, which produced common regulations, and compiled the Concordia regularum, comparing the Benedictine Rule with other rules. These codes fell out of use soon after the deaths of Benedict and Louis, but left lasting effects. He died at Kornelimünster on 11 February 821; his feast is kept on 12 February.

Works and witness

• Left Charlemagne's court after nearly drowning in the Ticino in 773
• Founded the monastery at Aniane in 779
• Entrusted by Louis the Pious with unifying monastic life in the empire
• Led the Aachen synods of 816 and 817; Kornelimünster was founded near Aachen for him
• Compiled the Concordia regularum comparing monastic rules

Saints from the same country

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Saint Louis IX of France, Saint Joan of Arc, Saint Francis de Sales

References

• Catholic Encyclopedia (New Advent), 'St. Benedict of Aniane', 1907
• Catholic Encyclopedia (New Advent), 'Ardo Smaragdus' (on the Vita)

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.