Arnulph (St)

Arnulph (St.)

bishop OF SOISSONS, son of Fulbertus, a gentleman of Brabant, was born in the 11th century. After his father's death he entered the Monastery of St. Mddard at Soissons, where he lived three years in the practice of the greatest austerities. At the end of that time he was made abbot, and in 1080 bishop of Soissons. He did great good in his diocese-reforming abuses, exterminating superstitions, and reestablishing religion in its purity. Gregory VII sent him into Flanders to restore peace to that province, torn by the dissensions of the nobles. While there he founded the Monastery of Oudenbourg, near Ostend, where he retired after resigning the bishopric of Soissons, and where he died, Aug. 15, 1087. See Baillet, Aug. 15.