Aibert of Crespin was a 12th-century Benedictine monk and hermit who lived in the Diocese of Tournai. Born in 1060 to a knight, he initially pursued a life of extreme asceticism under the guidance of a hermit named John. After traveling to Rome, he joined Crespin Abbey, where he served as both provost and cellarer for twenty-five years. Later in life, he returned to a solitary existence in the wilderness, where he served as a priest and provided spiritual guidance to those who sought him out.
Life and asceticism
Aibert practiced rigorous fasting, often consuming only bread or fruit while working. During his time living in a cell with John the hermit, the two men subsisted almost entirely on uncooked herbs. Following his years at the abbey, he moved to a remote hermitage. As a priest, he maintained a strict daily routine, celebrating two Masses every day, one dedicated to the living and another to the deceased.
Veneration
A devout follower of the Virgin Mary, Aibert was known for reciting the Hail Mary 150 times each day through various gestures of prayer. His reputation for holiness led many to seek his counsel and healing in the wilderness. He is commemorated as a saint in the Catholic tradition, with his feast day observed on April 7, marking the anniversary of his death in 1140.