Statue of Saint Cloud in St. Cloud Hospital, Minnesota
Saint Chlodulf (Clodulphe or Clodould) or more commonly Saint Cloud (605 – June 8, 696 or June 8, 697, others say May 8, 697) was bishop of Metz approximately from 657 to 697.
Chlodulf was the son of Arnulf, bishop of Metz, and the younger brother of Ansegisel, mayor of the palace of Austrasia.
Before his ordination Chlodulf had married an unknown woman and had begotten a son called Aunulf.
St. Cloud renounced all claims to the throne, and lived as a hermit and disciple of Saint Severinus of Noricum.
In 657, he became bishop of Metz, the third successor of his father, and held that office for 40 years. During this time he richly decorated the cathedral of St. Stephen. He also was in close contact with his sister-in-law Saint Gertrude of Nivelles.
He died in Metz and was buried in the church of St. Arnulf. In Nivelles he was locally venerated as Saint Clou, especially because of his connection to Saint Gertrude.
His Feast Day is June 8.
Nobility.org Editorial comment: —
Prof. Plinio Correa de Oliveira was of the opinion that Catholic bishops should be selected from individuals who have every qualification to be highly successful in temporal society.
St. Cloud, certainly, was an example of this. Hailing from the highest Frankish nobility, he could have shone in the king’s court, on the battlefield, or in many other lofty responsibilities of the Frankish nobility. He turned his back on all temporal splendor and entered the clerical state, becoming eventually Bishop of Metz and a great French saint.
