Feast of St. Odo of Beauvais

 

Oh sure, it would have been easier to talk about St. Thomas Aquinas (who shares the Feast of St. Odo), but since I am trying to help the youth of my PSR class to find a good confirmation name I have chosen St. Odo instead.

St. Odo was a Benedictine monk at the Corbie Benedictine Monastery (above). He tutored the sons of Charles "The Hammer" Martel, who whupped the Muslims in the Battle of Tours in 732 A.D.. Odo eventually became Bishop of Beauvais and became famous for making chums of Pope Nicholas I and Archbishop Hincmar of Reims after Hincmar's deposition of Bishop Rathadius of Soisson.

Bonus facts:

1) A deposition in this sense is a penalty inflicted on a cleric, who is deprived of his office and may not exercise the functions of his order. It is (for the most part) irrevocable.

2) Charles Martel's father was known as Pippin the Middle.

3) The Abby at Corbie seen above was ordered built by St. Balthild, wife of Clovis II, the King of Burgandy.

4) St. Balthild was canonized by Pope Nicholas I (see Odo).

5) St. Balthild's feast day is January 30!