25th February: Sant Roparzh

Roparzh (aka Robert d'Arbrissel) was born around 1045 at Arbrissel, near Retiers, Brittany, the son of Domalioch, a parish priest, and Orguende. Married clergy were not uncommon prior to the Gregorian reform (1050-1080). Roparzh studied under Anselm of Laon in Paris, returning home sometime before 1076.

In 1078, having supported Bishop Sylvester de la Guerche, who was deposed by Pope Gregory VII, he was compelled to leave the diocese (of Rennes), and returned to Paris, until recalled by the then re-instated Bishop Sylvester, to whom he served as 'arch-priest', involved in the administration of the diocese, attempting to introduce reforms, which are said to have provoked the antagonism of other Breton clergy.

After the Bishop's death around 1093, Roparzh moved to the Angers area, becoming a penitential hermit in the forest of Craon, noted for his piety, eloquence and asceticism. Attracting many followers, he founded the monastery of la Roe, becoming its first abbot, and being appointed by Pope Urban II as an apostolic missionary, authorised to preach anywhere.

Roparzh's popularity led to large numbers of people entering the Abbey of la Roe as postulants, but the canons there objected to both their numbers and their diversity. Roparzh resigned his abbacy and, in 1099, founded the monastery of Fontevrault, appointing Herlande of Champagne (related to the Duke of Brittany) as abbess and Petronilla, Baroness of Chemille, as her assistant.

The abbey followed the Rule of St. Benedict, and is said to have included 'meretrices' - former prostitutes. One of the houses of the abbey was dedicated to Mary Magdalene, wrongly believed at the time to have been a prostitute. Roparzh was also condemned by fellow clergy for his practice of 'syneisaktism' - the undertaking of 'spiritual marriage' in which a man and a woman who have both taken vows of chastity live together in a chaste and non-legalised partnership.

Roparzh continued his missionary journeys throughout western France until his death in 1116 at the priory of Fontevrault in Orsan. The only surviving writing of Roparzh is a letter of exhortation to Ermengarde of Brittany, a patron of Fontevraud Abbey.

A Prayer by Saint Benedict for Seekers of Faith

Gracious and Holy Father,

give us the wisdom to discover You,

the intelligence to understand You,

the diligence to seek after You,

the patience to wait for You,

eyes to behold You,

a heart to meditate upon You,

and a life to proclaim You,

through the power of the Spirit of Jesus, our Lord.

Amen.