Lambert of Maastricht

The holy hieromartyr Lambert was bishop of Maastricht from about 670 until his death, around 705, killed at Liège. He is venerated chiefly in the West. He is commemorated on 17 September.

His life

Little is known of his life. According to a late chronicler, he was the son of nobles of Maastricht, was baptized by Bishop Remaclus, his godfather, and studied at the noble school at Wintershoven. He was related to the family of the mayors of the palace of Austrasia. Early biographers describe him as a wise young man, courteous in speech and manner, pure, humble and fond of reading. He had as protector his uncle Theodard, bishop of Maastricht, and when Theodard was murdered, around 669, the counsellors of King Childeric II made him bishop. After the death of Childeric, in 675, the party of Ebroin drove him from his see and he spent seven years in exile at the monastery of Stavelot. When Pepin of Herstal became mayor of the palace, he was allowed to return.

The mission

With Willibrord, who came from England in 691, Lambert preached the Gospel on the lower Meuse and in the lands to the north. With Landrada he founded a convent at Munsterbilzen. He was also spiritual father of the young noble Hubert, who was to be his successor in the see.

His death

It is said that Lambert reproved Pepin’s liaison with Alpaida, the mother of Charles Martel, which aroused the enmity of either Pepin or Alpaida. He was killed at Liège by the men of Dodo, manager of Pepin’s estates, father or brother of Alpaida. The year of his death is given between 705 and 709. Lambert was venerated as a martyr for defending marital fidelity. Two of his nephews, Peter and Audolet, also died defending him, and are regarded as saints. Some historians doubt the link between Alpaida and Dodo.

Relics and veneration

He was buried at Maastricht, but his successor, Hubert, moved his relics to Liège and built a basilica there, which became the cathedral of Saint Lambert; the cathedral was torn down from 1794, and his tomb was moved to the cathedral of Liège. His head has been kept since 1190 at Freiburg im Breisgau. He is the patron of the cities of Liège and Freiburg, and in Münster his feast, the Lambertusfest, has long been a popular festival, with children singing around pyramids of branches decorated with lanterns.