Saint Abbo of Fleury
Also known as
- Abbon
- Abbone
- Albo
Profile
Benedictine monk, taking the habit and coming of age at Saint Benoît-sur-Loire monastery, Fleury-sur-Loire, France. Studied at Paris, Rheims and Orleans in France. One of the great scholars of his age; we still have writings by him on astronomy, grammar, philosophy, mathematics, canon law, theology, biography, and other matters. Administered the abbey school and taught at Ramsey, Huntingdonshire, England from 985 to 987 at the request of Saint Oswald of Worcester, archbishop of York. Abbot at Fleury-sur-Loire, France in 988 where he instituted Cluniac observance; his election came into dispute, which was settled by the bishop who would later be Pope Sylvester II. Brought the abbey school to great renown. Fought for the rights of monks at the Synod of Saint Denis in 995. Ambassador to the Vatican where he became a close friend of Pope Gregory V. Peacemaker and negotiator between Pope Gregory V and King Robert the Pious of France. Worked to calm fears and reassure people who feared the end of the world or other problems with the millennial change to the year 1000. Murdered during a riot by monks he whose discipline he was trying to reform.
Born
- stabbed in the side with a lance on 13 November 1004 while trying to quell a monastic riot at Le Réole, Gascony, France
- considered a martyr as he died due to his work to restore proper discipline
- miracles reported at his tomb
MLA Citation
- “Saint Abbo of Fleury“. CatholicSaints.Info. 22 November 2023. Web. 25 April 2024. <>