Arnoul of Mouzon

Arnoul of Mouzon (Arnulf) is, according to tradition, an obscure pilgrim of the 8th century, killed by brigands, buried and forgotten. The miracles at his tomb and relics convinced the Church of his holiness. He is venerated in the Western Church.

He was born between the Moselle and the Rhine, in Lotharingia. As a pilgrim he was attacked by brigands in the forest of Froidmont, between Gruyères and Thin-⁠le-⁠Moutier. He managed to reach the village of Gruyères but died there of his wounds, and the villagers buried him on the spot. Decades passed, perhaps a century or two, and his death had been forgotten when miracles occurred. The inhabitants wished to build a church and move his remains, but could not move the heavy coffin and gave up.

At the end of the 960s a count named Otto bought the relics to protect the fortress he was building at Warcq. Adalbero, archbishop of Reims, besieged the castle. A heifer showed the attackers a ford by which they could cross the river. The besieged took refuge in the keep, the church was about to burn, but the fire suddenly calmed and drew back; the local people attributed the wonder to Arnoul. The archbishop, intrigued by this unknown saint, asked for the relics. As soon as they were taken out of the church, until then miraculously preserved, the building caught fire. He placed them on a boat to take them to the collegiate church of Saint-⁠Vivent at Braux, but an eagle perched at the stern, and the boat went up the current, without oars or sail, as far as Mouzon. Adalbero saw in this a sign and moved the relics to the abbey there on 24 July 971, reforming it with monks from Thin-⁠le-⁠Moutier. The abbey church of Notre-⁠Dame at Mouzon is the place of his cult. His life is known only from legend.