Raoul (founder of Vaucelles Abbey)
English Benedictine, disciple of St. Bernard and founder of Vaucelles monastery in the Diocese of Cambrai, France.
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The basics
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| Intro | English Benedictine, disciple of St. Bernard and founder of Vaucelles monastery in the Diocese of Cambrai, France. | |
| A.K.A. | Radulphe Blessed Raoul Raoul of Vaucelles | |
| A.K.A. | Radulphe Blessed Raoul Raoul of Vaucelles | |
| Places | United Kingdom Great Britain England | |
| is | Monk | |
| Work field | Religion | |
| Gender |
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| Religion: | Catholic church | |
| Birth | England, United Kingdom | |
| Death | 1152Cambrai, canton of Cambrai-Est, arrondissement of Cambrai, Nord |
The details
Biography
Raoul, founder of Vaucelles Abbey or Saint Raoul (a/k/a San Raul, St. Radolph or Dom Rodulphe) (+1152) is a saint of the Catholic Church who founded the famous monastery of Vaucelles in France. Raoul was an English Benedictine monk who became a follower of St. Bernard of Clairvaux (who founded the Cistercian order).
St. Bernard sent Raoul, a "fervent monk", in 1132 to found a monastery at Vaucelles, located in the northwest of France, near Cambrai. By 1145, Raoul had succeeded in building the Abbaye de Vaucelles, which over the years grew to hold several hundred monks and became the largest Cistercian abbey of Europe. The restored cloister remains today. Raoul served as abbot for twenty years until his death in 1152. With his monks he dedicated himself to prayer, reading of the sacred books and to teaching agriculture.
As part of his devotions, Saint Raoul said the following prayers daily: (1) Miserere: Have mercy on me, Lord, I am a sinner, (2) the Alleluia and (3) the Te Deum or Thanks be to God. Blessed be God.
Canonized for his rectitude and austerity in 1179, St. Raoul can be celebrated liturgically on December 30.