St. Theobald was a Camaldolese hermit and monk. He was born in Provins, Brie, France, the son of Count Arnoul of Champagne and was raised as a soldier. From the age of eighteen, however, he abandoned the martial career of the males of the family and, with his father’s permission, became a pilgrim and then a hermit at Pettingen, Luxembourg, with a companion named Walter. After several years, he settled at Salanigo, near Vicenza, Italy, where he was ordained a priest. Other hermits gathered around him, and his fame reached his own family. His parents eventually visited him, and his mother, Gisela, became a hermitess near his place of retreat. Before his death, Theobald became a member of the Camaldolese order. He was canonized in 1073 by Pope Alexander II (r. 1061-1073).
St. Theobald is the patron of Provins, farmers, winegrowers, shoemakers, beltmakers, charcoal-burners, bachelors, invoked against fever, afflictions associated with the eyes, dry cough, infertility, and panic attacks.
St. Theobald of Provins, pray for us.