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Saint Bertulf of Bobbio
Abbot of Bobbio
SaintResearchedFrancePre-congregation
Feast: 19 August (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Born
501
Died
640
verified
Beatified
—
not needed: before formal processes
Canonised
By tradition
recognised before formal processes began
Who they were
Bertulf, son of a pagan Austrasian noble, became a Christian through the example of his kinsman St Arnulf of Metz and entered Luxeuil in 620. He joined St Attala at Bobbio and succeeded him as abbot in 627.
He kept St Columbanus's austere rule and preached fearlessly against Arianism; Pope Honorius freed Bobbio from outside control at his request. He died in 639 or 640.
The miracles
There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.
Why that counted as sanctity
A convert who became a faithful abbot of Bobbio.
Sources
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - St. Bertulf
- Wikidata Q1108795 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Bertulf of Bobbio (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.