Saint Ortaire of Landelle
Saint Ortaire was a 6th-century Norman abbot who entered religious life in childhood and was elected head of the monastery of Landelle at the age of fifty. Known for his extreme asceticism and charity, he fought against the remnants of paganism and died nearly a centenarian. He is particularly honored in the Diocese of Bayeux.
Contemporaries
Figures and markers around the normalized period for this entry.
Guided reading
4 reading sections
SAINT ORTAIRE, ABBOT OF LANDELLE (6th century).
Youth and abbatial election
Born of noble birth, Ortaire entered the monastery at twelve years old and became abbot of Landelle at the age of fifty, after initially attempting to flee this responsibility.
Born of noble parents, Saint Ortair e entered a monastery at the age of twelve. His assiduity in prayer, his abstinence, and his other virtues led his brothers to choose him as abbot of the monastery of La ndelle. He was raised to this dignity against his will; he had even fled to escape it; but a warning from heaven compelled him to yield to the desire of his brothers. He took over the government of his abbey around the fiftieth year of his age.
A rigorous asceticism
The saint leads a life of extreme deprivation, feeding exclusively on barley bread and water, while practicing manual labor and wearing a hair shirt.
His life was more admirable in holiness than ever before. He avoided the company of women with great care, judging it to be a seed of sin. He kneaded and baked the barley bread himself, which was his only food, eating only an ounce at each meal; he drank nothing but water, and his fasts sometimes extended until the third day. A rough hair shirt always tightened his body under his tunic.
Miracles and the struggle against paganism
Ortaire manifests his charity through miraculous healings and works to extirpate the last remnants of paganism in the countryside of the 6th century.
Along with this, he was filled with charity and compassion for the poor and the sick. He restored health to a young girl whose hand was withered, and to a woman afflicted with leprosy.
There were still, in his time, in the 6th century, remnants of paganism in the countryside; he worked successfully to make them disappear. He died at the age of ninety-eight, and was buried in a chapel dedicated by him to the Mother of God. He is invoked throughout Normandy not only at his tomb, but also at the altars and chapels raised in his honor.
Death and devotion in Normandy
Having died at ninety-eight years of age, he was buried in a chapel dedicated to the Virgin and became a patron saint invoked throughout Normandy.
Proper of Bayeux . — See, in a Supplement to this volume, a more complete life of the Saint, based on documents that have reached us since the printing of this Notice.
Iconography
Signs and attributes
Entities
Narrative network
The names, places, and concepts most present in the entry, weighted by centrality in the text.
The supernatural in their life
The miracles of Saint Ortaire of Landelle
Frequently asked questions about Saint Ortaire of Landelle
Who was Saint Ortaire of Landelle?
Saint Ortaire was a 6th-century Norman abbot who entered religious life in childhood and was elected head of the monastery of Landelle at the age of fifty. Known for his extreme asceticism and charity, he fought against the remnants of paganism and died nearly a centenarian. He is particularly honored in the Diocese of Bayeux.
What is Saint Ortaire of Landelle the patron saint of?
Patronage of Saint Ortaire of Landelle: Landelle Abbey.
What is Saint Ortaire of Landelle invoked for?
Saint Ortaire of Landelle is invoked for: hand diseases and leprosy.
How is Saint Ortaire of Landelle depicted in Christian art?
In iconography, Saint Ortaire of Landelle is recognizable by: monastic habit, barley bread and hairshirt.
What miracles are attributed to Saint Ortaire of Landelle?
2 miracles are attributed to this saint, notably: Healing.
Which saints were contemporaries of Saint Ortaire of Landelle?
Contemporaries include: Saint Remigius (Apostle of the Franks), Saint Antide of Besançon, Saint Eugene of Carthage and Saint Nicaise of Reims.
When did Saint Ortaire of Landelle die?
Saint Ortaire of Landelle died around 600.
Who are the relatives of Saint Ortaire of Landelle?
Relatives of Saint Ortaire of Landelle: Parents nobles (parents).
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Entered the monastery at the age of twelve
- Fled to avoid election as abbot
- Elected abbot of Landelle around the age of fifty
- Evangelization of the Norman countryside to eradicate paganism
- Died at the age of ninety-eight