St. Philibert

Benedictine abbot and bishop. Born in Gascony, France, he was raised and educated in the court of King Dagobert I of the Franks where he fell under the influence of St. Quen and became a monk at Rebais Abbey. Subsequently elected abbot, he resigned the post after a disagreement with some of the monks, and he wandered to other monastic houses. He founded the monastery of Jumieges, in Neustria, near Fontenelle, France, in 654 and served as its abbot. After censuring Ebroin, mayor of the palace to the Frankish king, he was imprisoned and then exiled to Herio Island off the coast of Poitou. During this period, he founded the abbey of Noirmoutier, rebuilt Qincay Abbey, near Poitiers, and gave his wisdom to several other communities.