Alberic was the nephew of Saint Gregory of Utrecht. Little is known of Alberic before he joined the Order of Saint Benedict.[1] It is known that he served as prior of the Monastery of Saint Martin in Utrecht. When Gregory died in 775, Alberic succeeded his uncle in administering the diocese of Utrecht.[a] He later traveled to Cologne where he was consecrated Bishop of Utrecht.
Alberic strove to deepen the faith of his faithful who still preserved many pagan traditions.[2]
His bishopric was noted for the success of its mission among the pagan Teutons,[3] as well as the reorganization of the school of Utrecht. In addition, Alberic directed the mission of Ludger in Ostergau.
Alberic was a good friend of Alcuin, a teacher and poet from York, England, preeminent among the scholars of that era. This relationship likely speaks to Alberic's own intelligence,[3] as the saint has been noted for his "encyclopedic knowledge of the faith."
^ Although sources state that Alberic succeeded his uncle to the see of Utrecht, Gregory was not a bishop, but in fact an "administrator," an abbot.[1][4] It is, however, certain that Alberic was a bishop, since he was consecrated at Cologne in 777.[5]
References
^ ab"St. Alberic". Saints and Angels. Catholic Online. Archived from the original on 31 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-14.
