LAMBERT OF MAASTRICHT, ST.

Bishop and martyr; d. Liège, Sept. 17, 705 or 706. Born of wealthy parents, Lambert grew up under the supervision of his uncle, Theodard of Maastricht, whom he succeeded as bishop in 672. Shortly afterward the incompetent Childeric II, king of Austrasia, was assassinated. In the upheaval that followed, Lambert fled to the monastery of stavelot while an intruder took his place as bishop. After seven years of exile, Lambert was restored to his see by the new mayor of the palace, Pepin II of Heristal. Later the bishop had to upbraid Pepin for an adulterous affair. In the conflict over the immunity of his church, Lambert was murdered by his adversary, Count Dodo. Popularly venerated as a martyr in France, Westphalia, and Holland, Lambert is honored as the patron of the city of Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany.

Feast: Sept. 17.

Bibliography: Acta Sanctorum September 5:518–617. j. l. baudot and l. chaussin, Vies des saints et des bienheueux selon l'ordre du calendrier avec l'historique des fêtes, ed. by The Benedictines of Paris, 12 v. (Paris 1935–56) 9:361–364. Bibliotheca hagiographica latina antiquae ct mediae aetatis, 2 v. (Brussels 1898–1901; suppl. 1911) 2:4677–94. a. butler, The Lives of the Saints, ed. h. thurston and d. attwater, 4 v. (New York 1956) 3:579–580. h. lerclercq, Dictionnaire d'archéologie chrétienne et de liturgie, ed. f. cabrol, h. leclercq and h. i. marrou, 15 v. (Paris 1907–53) 9.1:623–625; 10.1:955–963. a. m. zimmermann, Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche, ed. j. hofer and k. rahner, 10v. (2d, new ed. Freiburg 1957–65) 6:758. j. de borchgrave d'altena et al., eds., Trésors d'art Saint Remacle, Saint Lambert (Stavelot 1968).

[j. e. lynch]