William of Aebelholt, St.

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WILLIAM OF AEBELHOLT, ST.

Danish abbot; b. Paris, c. 1127; d. Aebelholt, Denmark, April 6, 1203. He was born of a noble family and was educated in France, becoming a Canon Regular at sainte-geneviÈve-de-paris. He was called to Denmark by absalon of lund, at that time bishop of Roskilde, to reform the house of canons on Eskilsø. Later, as first abbot of Aebelholt (founded 1175), he had great influence as churchman, writer, and teacher, and was an important intermediary between French and Scandinavian culture. His political activities in connection with the unsuccessful marriage between King philip ii augustus and Ingeborg, a Danish princess, were a complete failure. His sanctity was revealed by numerous miracles shortly after his death, and he was canonized Jan. 21, 1224. His body was placed in the newly built church in Aebelholt in 1238.

Feast: April 6; June 16 (translation).

Bibliography: Vitae sanctorum Danorum, ed. m. c. gertz (Copenhagen 190812) 285386. h. olrik, Abbed Vilheim af Aebelholt (Copenhagen 1912). Dansk biografisk leksikon 25:592594.

[h. bekker-nielsen]

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