Remaclus (Remaculus, Remacle, Rimagilus, also called Remaclus von Stablo; died 673) was a

Benedictine The Benedictines, officially the Order of Saint Benedict (, abbreviated as O.S.B. or OSB), are a mainly contemplative monastic order of the Catholic Church for men and for women who follow the Rule of Saint Benedict. Initiated in 529, th ...

missionary bishop who is venerated as a

saint In Christianity, Christian belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of sanctification in Christianity, holiness, imitation of God, likeness, or closeness to God in Christianity, God. However, the use of the ...

. For his life, see Vita Remacli Episcopi at Abbatis, in: Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Scriptores rerum Merovingicarum, 5

Life

Remaclus grew up at the Aquitanian ducal court and studied under

Sulpitius the Pious Sulpicius II. the Pious (; died 17 January 646) was a 7th-century bishop of Bourges and saint. Life According to his ''Vita'', Sulpicius was born at Vatan ( Diocese of Bourges), of noble parents, before the end of the sixth century. From h ...

, bishop of Bourges. In 625 he became a Benedictine monk at

Luxeuil Abbey Luxeuil Abbey (), the ''Abbaye Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul'', was one of the oldest and best-known monasteries in Franche-Comté, located in what is now the département of Haute-Saône in Franche-Comté, France. History Columbanus The abbey was f ...

and was later ordained a priest. Around 631 Eligius founded Solignac Abbey and sent for monks from Luxeil, among them Remaclus, who became the first abbot.Schäfer, Joachim. "Remaclus von Stablo", ''Ökumenischen Heiligenlexikon''
/ref> The abbey followed the rule as at Luxeil.

Audoin Alduin (Langobardic: ''Aldwin'' or ''Hildwin'', ; also called Auduin or Audoin) was List of kings of the Lombards, king of the Lombards from 547 to 560. Life Audoin was of the Gausian dynasty, Gausi, a prominent Lombard ruling clan, and accordin ...

wrote that Solignac quickly gained importance. It became particularly known for its silversmith's workshop. Remaclus was then given charge as well of the abbey of Cougnon, in the duchy of Luxemburg. He served as an advisor to

Sigebert III Sigebert III ( 630–656) was the Merovingian dynasty, Merovingian king of Austrasia from 633 to his death around 656. He was described as the first Merovingian ''roi fainéant'', or "do-nothing king", with the mayor of the palace in fact ruling ...

Austrasia Austrasia was the northeastern kingdom within the core of the Francia, Frankish Empire during the Early Middle Ages, centring on the Meuse, Middle Rhine and the Moselle rivers. It included the original Frankish-ruled territories within what had ...

and persuaded him to establish the double-monastery of Malmedy in 648 and Stavelot in 650. Remaclus served as abbot of the

Princely Abbey of Stavelot-Malmedy The Princely Abbey of Stavelot-Malmedy, also Principality of Stavelot-Malmedy, sometimes known with its German name Stablo, was an Hochstift, ecclesiastical principality of the Holy Roman Empire. Princely power was exercised by the Order of Sai ...

In 650 Amandus, the Bishop of Maastricht, resigned his see to resume missionary work.Butler, Alban. "St. Amandus, Bishop and Confessor", ''The Lives of the Saints'', Vol. III, 1866
/ref> Remaclus was appointed instead of him. He brought with him Hadelin, the abbot of Visé. His student Theodard succeeded him as abbot of the double monastery of Stavelot-Malmedy. Inhabitants of this troubled diocese had murdered some of his predecessors. However, Remaclus successfully spread monasticism in the region. He served as the spiritual teacher to Ss. Trudo, Babolen, Theodard, and Lambert. Remaclus served as bishop for twelve years before resigning in favor of Theodard, and retiring to Stavelot around 662. He died at Stavelot in 664.Monks of Ramsgate. "Remaclus". ''Book of Saints''
1921. CatholicSaints.Info. 2 September 2016 His relics lie in St. Sebastian Church in

Stavelot Stavelot (; ; ) is a town and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Liège, Belgium. The municipality consists of the following districts: Francorchamps and Stavelot. It is best known as the home of Spa-Francorchamps Circuit a ...

. His feast day is September 3. It is commonly held that if it rains on this day, it is a good sign, because then as much grain sprouts from the earth as raindrops fall on the field. Popular legends speak of him being accompanied by a wolf, able to drive away the devil who wanted to destroy the newly built churches. With his staff, the saint is said to have discovered springs that were considered healing waters. File:0 Saint Remacle - Malmedy 050818 (6).jpg, Saint Remacle - Malmedy File:20180228 Liège, Cathédrale St-Paul22 (St Remacle).jpg, St Remacle, Liège Cathédrale File:St. Remaclus Waldorf (2019-07-14 Sp).JPG, St. Remaclus, Waldorf File:St. Hilarius (Maspelt) 06.jpg, St. Hilarius, Maspelt There are a number of churches dedicated to his patronage, located mainly in the Eifel and Moselle regions of Germany, as well as in the Belgian, Luxembourg and French Ardennes. There is a St. Remaclus Parish Church in Cochem, Germany. The abbeys of Stavelot-Malmedy ceased to exist at the time of the French Revolution. In 1950 St. Remaclus' Priory, Wavreumont was established between Stavelot and Malmedy.

References

{{Authority control 670s deaths 7th-century Frankish bishops Dutch Roman Catholic saints Dutch Benedictines 7th-century Frankish saints Year of birth unknown Abbots of Stavelot Colombanian saints 7th-century Christian abbots