Saint Hugh of Grenoble
Today's saint is St. Hugh of Grenoble. Hugh was born at Châteauneuf-d'Isère, near Valence in the Dauphiné, France in the year 1052. Little is known of his early life except that his military father, Odilo, had been married twice and died at the age of 100 after receiving Viaticum from his son, Bishop Hugh. Hugh was well educated at Valence and at foreign schools. At a very young age he was appointed canon at the Cathedral of Valence even though still a layman. His brilliance, as well as his modesty, courtesy and kindliness so impressed Bishop Hugh of Die, that the bishop took him into his household. Young Canon Hugh proved to be a very able negotiator and in 1080 was invited to attend the synod at Lyon with the Bishop of Die. Many of the Synod members saw in Hugh a man capable of dealing with the disorders present in the diocese of Grenoble which had been without a bishop. He was unanimously elected and reluctantly accepted ordination to the priesthood. At twenty seven he was c...