Fulbert of Chartres

thumb|You, a child of poor parents, Christ took up to raise as his own; and undeserving as you were, he so nourished and blessed you that the world marvels at the gifts he bestowed. Fulbert of Chartres (French: Fulbert de Chartres; 952–970–10 April 1028) was the Bishop of Chartres from 1006 to 1028 and a teacher at the Cathedral school there. Fulbert may have been a pupil of Gerbert of Aurillac, who would later become Pope Sylvester II. He was responsible for the advancement of the Nativity of the Virgin's feast day on September 8 and for one of the many reconstructions of the Chartres Cathedral. Most of the information available about him comes from letters he wrote to secular and religious figures between 1004 and 1028. Quotes Te de pauperibus natum suscepit alendumChristus, et immeritum sic enutriuit et auxit,Vt collata tibi miretur munera mundus.Nam puero faciles prouidit adesse magistros,Et iuuenem perduxit ad hoc ut episcopus esses.Reges, pontifices, populi te magnificabant,Seruum prudentem censentes atque fidelemEsse pii Domini. Sed pro pudor ipse nefande.Nec prudens neo fidus eras ut res manifestat.Nam contra memorare pudet quam nequiter ipsumLaeseris et sanctos eius tua praua tuentes,Quae uix ulla satis possunt tormenta piare.Prestolatur adhuc Dominus tamen ille benignus,Et te uiuere perpetitur, si forte resciscensSegnitiem zelo perimas, meritoque reatum. You, a child of poor parents, Christ took up to raise as his own; and undeserving as you were, he so nourished and blessed you that the world marvels at the gifts he bestowed. For he saw to it that as a boy you had understanding masters; and while you were still in your prime, he raised you to the episcopate. Kings, bishops, and people have praised you, as a wise and faithful servant of the Lord, who rightly favoured you. But alas, that you have sinned by being unwise and unfaithful is plain to see. For it is shameful to remember how badly you have offended him and his saints, who have seen your wicked ways; and however harsh the penance you undertake, it is hardly enough to make amends. Yet the Lord still waits in his loving-kindness and lets you go on living, so that if you should come to your senses, you may atone for your negligence by zeal, your guilt by good works. Ad se ipsum de se ipso ("To himself, about himself"). Edited and translated by Frederick Behrends, The Letters and Poems of Fulbert of Chartres (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1976) pp. 242–245 Attributed thumb|Christ, Who spake the Dragon's doom,Rose, Victor-Lion, from the Tomb. Chorus novae Ierusalemnovam meli dulcedinempromat colens cum sobriispaschale festum gaudiis.Quo Christus, invictus leo,dracone surgens obruto,dum voce viva personat,a morte functos excitat. Ye Choirs of New Jerusalem!To sweet new strains attune your theme;The while we keep, from care releas'd,With sober joy our Paschal Feast:When Christ, Who spake the Dragon's doom,Rose, Victor-Lion, from the Tomb:That while with living voice He cries,The dead of other years might rise. Chorus novae Ierusalem ("Ye Choirs of New Jerusalem"), sts 1–2. Analecta Hymnica, vol. 1, no. 215, p. 285. Translated by John Mason Neale in Mediæval Hymns and Sequences (London: Joseph Masters, 1867) pp. 48–49. A different translation (elsewhere attributed to Robert Campbell) appears in Introits and Hymns (London: Joseph Masters, 1852) no. 75, pp. 92–93 External links Category:1020s deaths Category:Bishops Category:Clergy from France Category:Christian saints Category:Latin authors