The discipline and fervor of this vast community were only equalled by the heavenly charity which animated its members; and when Saint Achard lay upon his death bed about the year 687, he concluded his dying discourse to his monks with these beautiful words: "Vainly will you have borne the yoke of penitence and grown old in the austere practices of the cloister if you love not one another.

There flourished at Poitiers at that time two renowned seminaries of piety and learning; one was the episcopal palace, the other the monastery of Saint Hilary in the suburbs of the city (now a collegiate church, whereof the kings of France are abbots.)

In this latter Aicard had his education till he was sixteen years of age, when his father called him home in order to introduce him to court, and teach him to aspire to the highest military honours.

The devout mother trembled at the thought of the dangers of forgetting God, to which she apprehended he would be exposed in that state, and earnestly desired, that, as their ambition for their son’s advancement ought to have no other view than that he should become a saint; whatever choice was made, this end alone should be considered in it.

[5] Aicard, without further delay, repaired to the abbey of Saint Jouin in Poitou, near the borders of that province, a house then renowned for the severity of its discipline, and sanctity of its monks.

From the first day that he entered this monastery, to the end of his life, he exerted all his endeavours and strength to become every day more resigned, more patient, more humble, more exact in every observance of his rule, and more fervent in the practices of devotion and penance, and in the divine love: thus he never suffered anything to abate his ardour, or to deaden the strong desires of his soul in the pursuit of virtue, studying always to discover whatever defects impaired the perfection of his affections or actions, severely condemning himself, and daily saying with fresh vigour: I have said behold now I have begun.

The holy man desisted, and passed the day with his head half shaved; and in that condition grievously accused and condemned himself in full chapter with abundance of tears.

Those who truly consider the infinite sanctity of God, and the great purity of affections and fidelity in all duties which we owe to him, watch, like Job, with holy fear over their hearts in all they do, being well assured that no failures will escape the vigilance of their accusers, or the all-piercing eye and rigorous justice of their judge.

Saint Aicard, in his last moments, being laid on ashes and covered with sackcloth, said to the monks: “My dear children, never forget the last advice, and, as it were, the testament of your most tender father.

During the incursions of the Normans and Danes his relics were conveyed to Hapres, a priory between Cambray and Valenciennes, dependant on the great abbey of Saint Vaast, and have since remained at the disposal of this monastery.