Saint Paschasius Radbertus

His life:

+ Paschasius was left abandoned on the steps of the convent of Notre-Dame de Soissons as an infant. He was raised by the nuns and, when he was old enough, he became a monk at Corbie, in Picardy, France.

+ A gifted theologian, he was also a dedicated monk and helped establish the abbey of New Corvey in Westphalia. He would be elected abbot of this community in 843. He resigned his office 10 years later and, after a period of living in voluntary exile, he eventually returned to the abbey of Corbie.

+ Among Paschasius’ theological writings, the most influential was his treatise on the Eucharist, De Corpore et Sanguine Domini (“Concerning the Body and Blood of the Lord”). This was the first extended treatise on the Eucharist in the Western Church and became a foundational document in Eucharistic and sacramental theology.

+ Saint Paschasius Radbertus died in 865 and was honored as a saint immediately following his death.

For prayer and reflection:

"The Lord brought out his people with joy,
his chosen ones with shouts of rejoicing, alleluia.”

—Entrance antiphon for Saturday in the Octave of Easter

Prayer

O God, who by the abundance of your grace
give increase to the peoples who believe in you,
look with favor on those you have chosen
and clothe with blessed immortality
those reborn through the Sacrament of Baptism.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal: Collect for Saturday in the Octave of Easter)

Saint profiles prepared by Father Silas Henderson, S.D.S.