January 2
Saint Adelard was born in France. For most of his life, he lived in the region of Picardy. He later became the abbot of the Abbey of Corbie.
Saint Adelard’s grandfather was Charles Martel, who had united the Frankish empire. Adelard was also the first cousin of the Emperor Charlemagne, who was also a grandson of Charles Martel. Thus, he grew up within the royal family and was educated at the Court of Charlemagne. He studied under Saint Alcuin, a famous monk and scholar. Adelard could have continued a luxurious way of life, but at the age of 20, he entered the monastery at Corbie. His first assignment in the monastery was gardening. His desire for solitude led him to the famous Benedictine Abbey of Monte Cassino, in Italy. But his cousin, the Emperor Charlemagne, ordered him to return to his home monastery, where he was then made Abbot.
Charlemagne named him prime minister to his son, Pepin, King of Italy. This meant that Adelard was obliged to leave the monastery and to sit in on various governmental discussions. Lord Pepin died, and his son Bernadin, who was only 12 at the time, was named his heir. Adelard was named his tutor. Seven years later, Bernadin prepared to take the throne. However, he had a rival: Emperor Louis the Pious, the son of Emperor Charlemagne.
Because Emperor Louis suspected that Adelard was allied with Bernardin, Emperor Louis had Adelard banished to an island off the coast of France. Adelard was in exile for five years. Eventually Emperor Louis realized he had made a mistake and had Adelard brought back to Corbie.
Adelard went on to found several hospitals, and then with his brother, Wala, cofounded Corvey Abbey in Westphalia (Germany). After Adelard’s death, miraculous healings of the sick, the blind, and the deaf were attributed to his intercession and the honoring of his relics. These relics were transported to an unknown location in 1026, the year he was canonized.
Saint Adelard was known for his deep reverence for nature and gardens. Farmers and others who worked the land often sought his blessings on their crops to ensure their livelihoods.