St. Radbertus was born in France. No one knows who his parents were. They left their newborn infant on the doorstep of the Notre-Dame of Soissons convent. The nuns loved and cared for the baby. They named him Radbertus.

When he was old enough for school, Radbertus was sent to the monks of St. Peter nearby. The boy loved learning and especially enjoyed the Latin classics. When he grew up, he spent many years in quiet study.

Then he felt God calling him to become a monk. He joined a community led by two good and pious abbots, St. Adalhard and his brother, Abbot Wala. Radbertus tried hard to be a holy monk and often went with the two abbots on their journeys. After they died, he wrote stories about their life called biographies.

Radbertus became a Scripture scholar (a person who learns especially about the Word of God). He wrote a long explanation about the Gospel of St. Matthew. He wrote explanations on other parts of the Bible, too. But his most well-known work is called “The Body and Blood of Christ.”

He was a very good teacher and helped to make the monastery at Corbie one of the most famous places of learning in those days. He traveled all over Europe, speaking at councils, and acting as peacemaker in both political and religious disagreements.

Radbertus did not think he would make a suitable priest but he was made the head and abbot of the Corbie monastery for seven years. Although he did his best, his term as abbot was very difficult for him.

Then he insisted on returning to his life of prayer, meditation, study and writing. He spent the rest of his life as a hermit at the monastery at Saint Riquiet at Cenula. He wrote a lot about history, philosophy and religious studies.

Radbertus died in 860.