Saint Adalbert of Prague (b. ca. 939–956–d. 997)

Saint Adalbert of Prague (b. ca. 939–956–d. 997)

Archbishop and missionary to Poland

Also known as: Apostle of the Prussians; Adelbert; Voitech, Voytiekh, Voytech, Wojtech; Apostle of Bohemia Christened Wojtech, Adalbert was born in Libice, Bohemia, to a princely family.

The dates of his birth are placed anywhere from 939 to 956. He studied under archbishop St. Adalbert of Magdeburg and took his mentor’s name when the archbishop died in 981. Adalbert became the second bishop of Prague in 983, but his righteous efforts to convert the Bohemian pagans made an enemy of Duke Boleslaus II of Bohemia, and Adalbert left for Rome in 990.

Released from his responsibilities by Pope John XV (r. 985–996), Adalbert joined the Benedictine monastery of SS. Boniface and Alexius. But two years later, Duke Boleslaus agreed to accept Adalbert’s authority, and Pope John XV sent Adalbert back to Prague.

Saint Adalbald of Ostrevant (d. ca. 650–652)

Saint Adalbald of Ostrevant (d. ca. 650–652)

Also known as: Adalbald d’Ostrevant Adalbald of Ostrevant was born in Flanders to a noble family

His mother or grandmother (sources differ) was St. Gertrude, founder of the monastery at Hamage.

Adalbert served at the Merovingian court of King Dagobert I, great-great-grandson of Clovis I and St. Clotilde of the Franks, and Dagobert’s successor, Clovis II. While in Dagobert’s service against the rebellious Gascons, Adalbert fell in love with Rictrude (later sainted herself), the daughter of a Gascon noble family. Her relatives forbade the union, but Rictrude married Adalbert anyway. They had four children: St. Maurontius, St. Clotsindis, St. Eusebia and St. Adalsindis. Rictrude’s kin never accepted Adalbald, reportedly jealous of his reputation and political position.