LAKE JAMES

NORTH CAROLINA

Saint Hugh of Lincoln

Hugh was born into a noble family at Avalon in Burgundy (France). He became a priest and canon regular at Villard-Benoit near Grenoble. About 1160 he joined the Carthusians, the strictest contemplative religious order of the Church at their major house. the Grande Chartreuse. Later, with reluctance, he accepted the invitation of King Henry II to come to England as prior of a new Carthusian monastery in Somerset. In 1186, with even greater reluctance, he accepted the king’s appointment to be Bishop of Lincoln.

As a bishop, Hugh continued to live as much as possible under the strict discipline of his order. His humility and tact, his total lack of self-regard, and his cheerful disposition made it difficult to oppose him in matters of Christian principle. His people loved him for his constant championship of the poor, the oppressed, and outcasts, especially Jews and lepers. He was never afraid to reprove anyone, even his king, for wrongs, and firmly refused to raise money for King Richard’s foreign wars. Yet Richard said of him, “If all bishops were like my Lord of Lincoln, not a prince among us could lift his head against them.”

Saint Hugh died in London on November 16^th, 1200 and is buried in Lincoln Cathedral, of which he had laid the foundation.

Collect for the Feast of St. Hugh

O holy God, you endowed your servant and bishop Hugh of Lincoln with wise and cheerful boldness, and taught him to commend the discipline of holy life to kings and princes: Grant that we also, rejoicing in the Good News of your mercy, and fearing nothing but the loss of you, may be bold to speak the truth in love, in the name of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

This material comes from “Lesser Feasts and Fasts” published by the Church Hymnal Corp.

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To learn more about St. Hugh of Lincoln from the Catholic Encyclopedia, click here.

This page last modified on Friday, April 11, 2008 09:39 PM