St. Aubert of Avranches

St. Aubert was born in the late 7th century into a noble family in France. Known for wisdom and piety, he eventually became bishop of the Diocese of Avranches in northwest France. 

Legend says that round 708, Aubert had a vision in which St. Michael instructed him to build an oratory out on a tidal island nearby. He did not pay attention to the vision at first, doubting its authenticity. Michael appeared a second time, and again, Aubert hesitated to believe it a true vision. Michael appeared a third time, this time poking Aubert in the head, ordering him to build the oratory. Where Michael touched him, Aubert was left with a hole in his skull.

Aubert set to work building the oratory out on the rocky island. It would eventually become Mont Saint-Michel, now the most visited place in France outside of Paris. It was dedicated on Oct. 16, 709. It became, and still is, a popular pilgrim site. 

As a tidal island, Mont Saint-Michel is accessible during low tide but surrounded by water during high tides. It has been used as a monastery as well as a fort and prison over its long history. For most of the monastery’s history, it was run by Benedictines. Since 2001, a small community of monks and nuns of the Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem have been living there as tenants of the office for national monuments. 

Mont Saint-Michel is part of the “Sword of St. Michael,” a series of seen places in Europe dedicated to the archangel that create a straight line from Ireland to the Holy Land: Skellig Michael (Ireland), St Michael's Mount (England), Mont Saint-Michel (France), Sacra di San Michele (Italy), Monte Sant’Angelo (Italy), Santo Monasterio di Taxiarchi Michail (Greece), and Monastero Stella Maris del Monte Carmelo (Mount Carmel, Holy Land)

St. Aubert died in 720 and was initially buried at the oratory. His feast day is Sept. 10.