Landelin and Landoald

Landelin And Landoald two saints of the Roman Catholic Church, are said to have flourished as preachers of the Gospel in Belgium in the 7th century. We have no trustworthy information as to their lives and proceedings. Among the aids which St. Amandus procured from Rome in 651 to help him in his missionary labors is mentioned the presbyter Landoald, probably an Anglo- Saxon. According to the history of Landoald, written in the 10th century by abbot Heriger von Lobbes, Landoald was especially supported in his missions by king Childeric II, who furnished him with all the necessary means. He is also said to have had Lambert of Maestricht for a pupil, and to have been nine years bishop as successor of St. Amandus. This latter assertion, however, is contradicted by the fact that Remaclus was the successor of Amandus; and it appears also a matter of doubt whether Lambert of Maestricht was indeed a pupil of Landoald.

Concerning Landelin, the Bollandists give, under date of June 15, an old biography, according to which he had been a pupil of Andebert, bishop of Cambray and Arras, had fled from his tutor, and supported himself for a while by highway robbery. The sudden death of one of his band, and a dream, in which he saw his former companion carried to hell by the devil, caused his conversion, and he subjected himself to strict penance in a convent, and made a pilgrimage to Rome. Subsequently consecrated deacon and presbyter, he made two more journeys to Rome, the last time accompanied by his pupils Adelenus and Domitianus. He is said to have founded the two convents of Lobbes and Crepin. According to the same account, Landelin died in 686, continuing his penances to the last. — Dorle, Landelin, Apostel d. Deutschen (Augsb. 1838); Wetzer und Welte, Kirchen-Lexikon, 6:335; Herzog, Real-Encyklopädie, 8:187. (J.N.P.)