Bishop • Missionary • Patron of Freising
π Born: c. 670, ChΓ’tres, Neustria (now France)
⚰️ Died: 8 September c. 730, Freising, Kingdom of the Franks (now Germany)
π Venerated in: Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church
π Feast Day: 8 September
π¦ Attributes: Bear; bishop making a bear carry his luggage after it ate his mule; bishop with a bear and mule in the background; bishop with Duke Grimoald of Bavaria at his feet
π Patronage: Freising, Germany; Archdiocese of Munich and Freising
“Saint Corbinian, who tamed the bear with faith, pray for us.”
Saint Corbinian was born around 670 in ChΓ’tres (modern Arpajon), near Melun, France, in the Frankish kingdom of Neustria. Baptized Waldegiso after his father, who likely died during his infancy, he was renamed Corbinian by his mother, Corbiniana, after her own name. Little is known of his childhood, but the early source for his life, the Vita Corbiniani written by Bishop Arbeo of Freising around 760, paints a picture of a devout young man drawn to solitude and prayer.
Following his mother’s death, Corbinian embraced the life of a hermit at the age of about 20, settling near the church of Saint-Germain in ChΓ’tres, along the road to OrlΓ©ans. For fourteen years, he lived in a small cell, dedicating himself to prayer, fasting, and contemplation. His reputation for holiness attracted disciples, who sought his spiritual guidance, though their presence sometimes disrupted his solitude. Corbinian’s deep devotion to Saint Peter the Apostle inspired him to undertake a pilgrimage to Rome, a journey that would shape his destiny.
Around 709–716, Corbinian, accompanied by some disciples, traveled to Rome to visit the tomb of Saint Peter. His piety and wisdom caught the attention of Pope Gregory II, who recognized his potential as a missionary. The pope either consecrated him a bishop during this visit or affirmed an existing episcopal status, entrusting him with the mission to evangelize Bavaria, a region where Christianity was still taking root among Germanic tribes. This directive aligned with the Church’s broader efforts to organize and spread the faith in northern Europe, as later seen in the work of Saint Boniface.
Corbinian’s first Roman journey marked a shift from hermit to missionary. He returned to ChΓ’tres briefly, where he continued preaching with great success, but his heart remained set on fulfilling the pope’s commission. A second trip to Rome in 723 saw him consider resigning his episcopal duties, preferring the simplicity of his hermitage. Pope Gregory II, however, refused his request, urging him to continue his mission in Bavaria.
Corbinian arrived in Bavaria around 724, settling in Freising, a strategic location near a pre-existing sanctuary on a mountain. There, he established a Benedictine monastery and a school, dedicated initially to Saint Vitus and later to Saint Stephen, which evolved into the Weihenstephan Abbey by the 11th century. His work focused on evangelizing the local population, many of whom still adhered to pagan practices, and strengthening the Christian community under the patronage of Duke Theodo of Bavaria.
Corbinian’s ministry was fruitful, converting many souls and laying the foundation for the diocese of Freising. His brother, Erembert, later became the first official bishop of Freising in 738, after Saint Boniface restructured the Bavarian Church under the archbishopric of Mainz. Corbinian’s establishment of the monastery and school not only spread the Gospel but also fostered education and monastic discipline in the region.
Corbinian’s mission faced a significant challenge when he confronted Duke Grimoald of Bavaria, son of Duke Theodo, over his incestuous marriage to his brother’s widow, Biltrudis. Corbinian denounced the union as contrary to Church law, citing canon prohibitions against such marriages. His bold stance incited the wrath of Biltrudis, who labeled him a foreign interloper and conspired to have him killed. Grimoald, though initially repentant, relented under pressure from his wife, forcing Corbinian into exile around 725.
Corbinian sought refuge in Meran (modern Merano, Italy), in the Tyrol region, where he continued his missionary work in relative safety. After Grimoald’s death in battle and Biltrudis’s capture by the Franks, the threat subsided, and Corbinian was invited back to Freising by Grimoald’s successor, Duke Huebert, around 729. He resumed his apostolic labors, further solidifying the Church’s presence in Bavaria until his death.
One of the most enduring legends associated with Corbinian is the Miracle of the Bear, which became his iconic attribute. According to the Vita Corbiniani, while traveling to Rome, a bear attacked and killed Corbinian’s pack mule. Undaunted, Corbinian commanded the bear to take the mule’s place and carry his luggage. Miraculously, the bear obeyed, becoming docile and accompanying him to Rome. This story, depicted in artworks like Jan Polack’s The Miracle of the Bear (1489) and Cosmas Damian Asam’s fresco (c. 1725), symbolizes Corbinian’s spiritual authority over nature and his fearless faith.
The bear, often shown saddled with luggage or alongside a bishop with a mule, became Corbinian’s emblem and was later incorporated into the papal coat of arms of Pope Benedict XVI, who, as Archbishop of Munich and Freising (1977–1982), honored Corbinian’s legacy. The bear also appears in the heraldry of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising, underscoring its enduring significance.
Saint Corbinian died on September 8, 730, in Freising, of natural causes. His body was initially buried at Freising but was later transferred to Meran, where he had spent his exile. In 769, Bishop Arbeo of Freising, who authored the Vita Corbiniani, translated Corbinian’s relics back to Freising, where they are now entombed in the Freising Cathedral (Dom St. Maria und St. Korbinian). The translation is commemorated on November 20, adding a secondary feast day to his veneration.
Corbinian is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, with his primary feast day on September 8. He is the patron saint of Freising and the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising, invoked for protection and spiritual guidance. His cultus is particularly strong in Bavaria, where churches, sculptures, and artworks honor his legacy. Notable depictions include a 15th-century wooden statue in the Diocesan Museum of Freising and a portrait with the bear attribute, as described in Christian iconography sources.
Saint Corbinian’s contributions to the Church in Bavaria were profound, laying the groundwork for the diocese of Freising and influencing its development into a major ecclesiastical center. His missionary work among the Germanic tribes helped integrate Christianity into the region’s culture, and his monastery at Weihenstephan remains one of the oldest continuously operating breweries in the world, a testament to his enduring influence.
His life inspired later figures, notably Pope Benedict XVI, who saw the bear as a metaphor for his own reluctant yet faithful service to the Church. Corbinian’s story of perseverance, from hermit to bishop, and his miraculous encounter with the bear continue to captivate the faithful, making him a beloved figure in Bavarian spirituality.
.
%20Virgin%20and%20Martyr.jpeg)
No comments:
Post a Comment