St.Lambert.

St. Lambert was born around 635 in Maastricht (present-day Holland) to noble and wealthy parents characterized by great generosity to their fellow man. His parents were Aper and Herisplendis. Both were convinced that the fear of God is the greatest treasure for a person, so they entrusted their son to St. Landoald to raise him.

When Lambert grew up and basic knowledge in the parental home under the management of St. adopted a man, he entered the higher schools, which, under the supervision of St. Theodard, a bishop in the diocese of Tongern-Maastricht, flourished. The virtuous young man was distinguished among his disciples for his piety and extraordinary progress in the higher sciences.

Bishop Theodard liked the young man very much. When he noticed his affinity for the spiritual state, he advised him to continue studying St. scripture, to practice self-denial and the sciences necessary for a priest and especially for bishops, so that they can be helpful even in the royal court. In a short time, the bishop ordained the pious, learned Lambert as a priest, and called him to help him in the office. Together with Bishop Lambert, he visited King Childerich II several times. in the city of Metz (hist. Méty) and drew the Frankish king’s attention to himself with his learning and virtues.

When, in 669, the violent nobles attacked the peaceful inhabitants and took their property, and also took away more of the estates of the bishop of Maastricht, St. bishop Theodard, to the king to present his complaint to him. On the road near the city of Trier, he was ambushed by the men-at-arms of these bloodthirsty magnates and murdered. When St. Lambert heard about this terrible deed, they immediately rushed to the place of martyrdom, took with him the body of St. Theodard, and buried him ceremoniously in the city of Liège (today’s Belgium, hist. Liège).

King Childerich, the priesthood and the faithful then chose St. Lambert as bishop to Maastricht. And the humble servant of God with fear, assumed a high dignity, begged God for strength and enlightenment, and began to shepherd his spiritual flock with holy zeal. After Childerich’s death, Theodoric III, King of Burgundy, began to rule his country. His court was managed as the supreme majordomo, the domineering Ebroin, a great enemy of orthodox Christianity. He caused the king to persecute zealous bishops. Angry Ebroin also deprived St. Lambert of the episcopal office and appointed the unworthy Faramund.

St. Lambert then retreated to a monastery in Stavelot (southeast of Liège), where he kept the rules of the strict order as the youngest of the brothers. He forgot his episcopal dignity, obeyed the abbot’s orders in humility and self-denial, and gladly did even the most menial jobs. There was a cross near the monastery, to which the abbot sent offenders, and they had to pray there for a long time and repent of their actions. St. Lambert often got up at night to pray. Once, a clog, a shoe worn by monks, fell from his foot and caused a noise. When the abbot heard this, he did not ask who had disturbed the peace of the night but ordered the culprit to go to the cross and pray by it until dawn.

St. Lambert obeyed, and in his rough underclothes, barefoot and without a head covering, he went to the cross and prayed until morning. Monks gathered in the room to warm up after the timely St. mass, and the abbot called the one he had sent to the cross at night. He was frightened then, and everyone was present when St. Lambert entered the room covered in snow and quite stiff from the cold. The abbot and monks fell St. Lambert at his feet and begged his forgiveness. However, the saint humbly said, « Save you, Lord God, because you are innocent. I deserved this fine if that is what St. teaches us. Paul with his life, so that we may serve God in the winter and naked. »

In the meantime, the cruel Ebroin was murdered by one wronged yeoman, and the highest majordomo, ruling the empire as king, Pippin II. Medium tried to correct what his predecessor, St. He, caused the Church. St. Lambert returned to his episcopal chair, where the faithful welcomed him joyfully. And St. the man began to work with renewed vigor in the neglected vineyard of the Lord. He fought tirelessly against heretics and patiently bore the reproaches and curses of godless people who opposed his holy zeal. Many Christians followed his pious life and devoted themselves to the service of God.