Heriger of Lobbes


Heriger of Lobbes was an abbot of the abbey of Lobbes between 990-1007 and is remembered for his writings as theologian and historian.

Biography

After studying at the cathedral school of Liège, he became a Benedictine monk at the monastery of Lobbes, where he was scholasticus of the monastic school for many years.
In 990, when Folcwin died, the monks wrote a letter to Notger, bishop of Liège, and to Rothard, bishop of Cambrai, to have Heriger as the new Abbot of Lobbes. The request was honored and Heriger was consecrated on the feast of St. Thomas in 990.
He was an intimate friend of bishop Notger of Liège, whom he accompanied to Rome in 989, and at whose instance he wrote several important historical works. By long study of the Fathers of the Church and the writers of classical antiquity he amassed learning unusual in those times. On the whole, he wrote with more historical criticism than most of his contemporaries, though as a hagiographer he at times sinks to the level of an ascetical novelist.
Among his pupils we can mention Burchard, bishop of Worms, Adalbold, bishop of Utrecht, Olbert, abbot of Gembloux, Wazo of Liège and Hugo, later abbot of Lobbes.

Works

His chief work is a history of the bishops of Liège, Gesta episcoporum Leodiensium, which however reaches only to the death of St. Remaclus in 667. It was first published by Jean Chapeauville; a better edition was issued by Martène and Durand. Finally, it was published with a valuable historical disquisition on the writings of Heriger by Köpke whence it was reprinted by Migne. The history was continued to the year 1048 by Anselm of Liège.
Heriger's other writings are:
Most of these works are printed by Migne.
The "Life of the Virgin St. Berlendis" has long be assigned to Heriger, but only dates from mid 11th century. It certainly belongs to the hagiographic tradition introduced by Heriger and seems to be the work of one of his pupils, abbot Hugo of Lobbes.
A treatise on the Body and Blood of Christ, "De Corpore et Sanguine Domini" or "Exaggeratio plurimorum auctorum de Corpore et Sanguine Domini," mostly a compilation of excerpts from the Fathers, was formerly attributed to Heriger, but is now attributed to Paschasius Radbertus.
Heriger is also the author of an arithmetical work entitled Regulæ de numerorum abaci rationibus.
He is recorded as being 'skilled in the art of music' and a composer, although none of his musical works survive. Written records mention two of his antiphons, O Thomas Dydime and O Thomas apostole and hymns.