Evermode of Ratzeburg

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St. Evermode of Ratzeburg, O.Praem.
Evermode.jpg
St. Evermode (centre), flanked by Sts. Ludolph and Isfrid
Religious, bishop, Light of the Saxons and Apostle of the Wends
Bornc. 1100
County of Hainaut,
Holy Roman Empire
Died17 February 1178
Ratzeburg, Prince-Bishopric of Ratzeburg, Holy Roman Empire
Venerated inRoman Catholic Church
(Norbertine Canons Regular; Ratzeburg)
Canonized1728 (cultus confirmed) by Pope Benedict XIII
Feast17 February

Evermode, O.Praem., or Evermod (c. 1100 – 17 February 1178), was one of the first Premonstratensian canons regular, and became the lifelong companion of St. Norbert of Xanten, who founded the order in France in 1120. He accompanied the founder to Antwerp and then, in 1126, to the half-pagan town of Magdeburg, where Norbert had been named as bishop. He attended to the bishop on his deathbed and ensured his burial in the church of the Norbertine Priory of Our Lady there, which Norbert had formed from the members of the cathedral chapter. In 1134 he was made acting provost of the Priory of Gottesgnaden.[1]

In 1138 Evermode was elected as the provost of the Priory of Our Lady in Magdeburg. In this post, he oversaw the foundations of new Premonstratensian communities in Havelberg, Jerichow, Quedlinburg and Pöhlde, serving in that post until 1154, when he was named the Bishop of Ratzeburg, the first since its destruction by the Wends in 1066. He formed the newly named cathedral chapter of the diocese into a Premonstratensian community. The evangelization of the Wendish population was a primary goal of his episcopacy, and he traveled around the diocese, preaching to the people in their native language.[1]

Worn out by his labors, Evermode died in 1178, and was buried in the cathedral he had built. He was succeeded by his fellow Norbertine, Isfrid. He is honored as a saint in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hamburg, which now covers that region, and in the Norbertine Order.

Evermode's feast day is celebrated on 17 February.

See also[]

  • Saint Evermode of Ratzeburg, patron saint archive

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Lives of Saints and Blesseds". Postulator General O.Praem.

External links[]

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
(died 1066)
Bishop of Ratzeburg
1154-1178
Vacant
Title next held by
Isfrid of Ratzeburg
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