Saint Corbinian (Latin: Corbinianus; French: Corbinien; German: Korbinian; c. 670 – 8 September c. 730 AD) was a Frankishbishop. After living as a hermit near Chartres for fourteen years, he made a pilgrimage to Rome. Pope Gregory II sent him to Bavaria. His opposition to the marriage of Duke Grimoald to his brother's widow, Biltrudis, caused Corbinian to go into exile for a time. His feast day is 8 September. The commemoration of the translation of his relics is 20 November.[1]
Saint Corbinian
Saint Corbinian depicted in The Miracle of the Bear (1489) by Jan Polack. Diocesan Museum in Freising, Germany.
Bear; bishop making a bear carry his luggage because it has eaten his mule; bishop with a bear and mule in the background; bishop with Duke Grimoald at his feet[1]
Corbinian was born and baptized as Waldegiso at Châtres, near Melun, in Frankish territory. He was named after his father, who may have died when Corbinian was an infant. Soon after his father's death, his mother Corbiniana[2] renamed Waldegiso to "Corbinian", after herself.[3] Nothing else is known of his childhood. The early source for Corbinian's life is the Vita Corbiniani of Bishop Arbeo of Freising.[4]
He lived in Châtres on the road to Orléans as a hermit for fourteen years, near a church dedicated to Saint Germain. His reputation attracted students to him, which distracted him from his hermitage. His devotion to Saint Peter the Apostle prompted a decision to make a journey to Rome, accompanied by some of the disciples. While in Rome, Pope Gregory II admonished him to use his talents to evangelizeBavaria. Corbinian, who may already have been a bishop or who was so consecrated by Gregory, was sent to minister to Grimoald, the Frankish Duke of Bavaria.[5] Corbinian probably arrived in Bavaria in 724.[6]
On a mountain near Freising, where there was already a sanctuary, the saint erected a Benedictinemonastery and a school, which came to be governed by his brother Erembert, after his death. In 738, when Saint Boniface regulated the ecclesial structure in the Duchy of Bavaria by creating four dioceses to be governed by the archbishop of Mainz, Erembert was chosen first Bishop of Freising.[7]
Saint Corbinian of Freising and the Bear, by Cosmas Damian Asam, c. 1725
Soon after settling, Corbinian denounced Grimoald's marriage to his brother's widow, Biltrudis, though Grimoald had already repented of his incest. This incited his anger and the chagrin of his wife, who excoriated Corbinian, labeling him a foreign interloper. Finally, she arranged to have him murdered. Corbinian fled Freising until Grimoald was killed and Biltrudis carried off by invaders in 725.[3] Corbinian returned on the invitation of Grimoald's successor, Huebert,[8] and continued his apostolic labors at Freising until his own death in 730.
Corbinian's body, buried at Merano, was translated to Freising in 769 by the aforementioned Bishop Arbeo, author of Corbinian's vita, and is now entombed in Freising Cathedral.
Corbinian's bear
Corbinian's symbol is the saddled bear. According to his hagiography, a bear killed Corbinian's pack horse on the way to Rome and so the saint commanded it to carry his load. Once he arrived in Rome, however, he let the bear go, and it lumbered back to its native forest.[9] Both the heraldic element and the legend itself carry significant symbolism. One interpretation is that the bear tamed by God's grace is the Bishop of Freising himself and the pack saddle is the burden of his episcopate.[10] The bear's submission and retreat can also be interpreted as Christianity's "taming" and "domestication" of the ferocity of paganism and, consequentially, the laying of a "[foundation] for a great civilization in the Duchy of Bavaria."[9]
In Catholic iconography
Papal Arms of Pope Benedict XVI
Corbinian's Bear is used as the symbol of Freising in both civic and ecclesiastical heraldry. It appeared on the arms of Pope Benedict XVI, who first adopted the symbol when, still known as Joseph Ratzinger, he was appointed Archbishop of Freising-Munich in March 1977.[11] He retained the bear in his revised coat of arms when he was elevated to Cardinal in June of the same year, and again on his papal coat of arms when he was elected in 2005.
The scallop shell is a traditional reference to pilgrimage. For Pope Benedict XVI, it also reminded him of the legend according to which one day St. Augustine, pondering the mystery of the Trinity, saw a child at the seashore playing with a shell, trying to put the water of the ocean into a little hole. Then he heard the words: This hole can no more contain the waters of the ocean than your intellect can comprehend the mystery of God. The crowned Moor is a regional motif in heraldry often seen in Bavaria, Benedict's German homeland. Benedict has been quoted saying that, in addition to the obvious reference back to Saint Corbinian, the founder of the diocese where Benedict would become bishop in 1977, the bear represents Benedict himself being "tamed by God" to bear the spiritual burdens of Benedict's own ministries first as bishop, then as cardinal, and now as pope.[12]
S. Corbinianus adolescens - Castri vitam solitariam agit - Saint Corbinian as a young man decides upon a life of holy solitude
St. Corbinianus Romam venit et episcopus creatur - Saint Corbinian travels to Rome and is created a bishop
St. Corbinianus Adalbertum a supplicio liberat - Saint Corbinian frees Adalbert at his humble entreaty
Sanctus Corbinianus urso sarcinas imponit - Saint Corbinian commands the bear to carry his luggage
S. Corbinianus a Grimoaldo honorifice excipitur - Saint Corbinian respectfully received by Grimoald
Sanctus Corbinian' Frisingae populum docet - Saint Corbinian teaches the people of Freising
Sanct' Corbinian' spiritum sanctissime reddit - Saint Corbinian solemnly gives up his spirit
S. Corbiniani reliquiae Frisingam transferuntur - The relics of Saint Corbinian are transferred to Freising
Further reading
Vogel, Lothar (June 2000). Vom Werden eines Heiligen: Eine Untersuchung der Vita Corbiniani des Bischofs Arbeo von Freising. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN3-11-016696-8.
Notes
^ abcJones, Terry. . Patron Saints Index. Archived from the original on 2007-02-17. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
^See Helmut Zenz: Heiliger Korbinian im Internet 2013-10-19 at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved on 2007-01-06), in which Corbinian's mother is referred to as "Corbiniana". (German - Nach dem Tod seiner Mutter Corbiniana lebte er als Eremit bei der Kirche von Saint-Germain bei Châtres.English - "After the death of his mother Corbiniana he lived as a hermit in the church of Saint Germain in Châtres")
^ abStaley, Tony (2004-09-03). "From recluse to missionary". The Compass. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
^Published in Scriptores rerum Germanicarum13, Monumenta Germaniae Historica. The writings of Arbeo are of broader significance, as all but the only examples of the Latin used in Bavaria before the Carolingian literary reforms. The modern study is Lothar Vogel, 2000. Vom Werden Eines Heiligen: Eine Untersuchung Der Vita Corbiniani Des Bischofs Arbeo Von Freising (series "Arbeiten Zur Kirchengeschichte". Walter De Gruyter).
^Rabenstein, Katherine. . Saint o' the Day (8 September). Archived from the original on December 5, 2006. Retrieved 2012-02-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ ab"The bear and the scallop-shell - a unique papal coat of arms". Catholic World News. 2005-04-27. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
^. Vatican. Archived from the original on 2007-01-10. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
^"L'Osservatore Romano publishes new Papal coat of arms". Catholic News Agency. 2005-04-28. Retrieved 2007-01-05.
^Ratzinger, Joseph. Milestones: Memoirs 1927-1977. Ignatius Press (1998) Autobiography written during his pre-papal years. English translation ISBN0-7394-5626-1 (hardcover); 0898707021 (paperback).
(in German) includes a gallery of images, a timeline of Corbinian's life, and sources in many languages for further reading
(in Norwegian) Den hellige Korbinian av Freising
(in French) includes hagiography for Corbinian and pictures of tapestries depicting the story of his life
Butler, Alban. "St. Corbinian, Bishop of Frisingen, Confessor", Lives of the Saints, Vol. IX, (1866)
January 23, 2023
corbinian, saint, latin, french, corbinien, german, korbinian, september, frankish, bishop, after, living, hermit, near, chartres, fourteen, years, made, pilgrimage, rome, pope, gregory, sent, bavaria, opposition, marriage, duke, grimoald, brother, widow, bilt. Saint Corbinian Latin Corbinianus French Corbinien German Korbinian c 670 8 September c 730 AD was a Frankish bishop After living as a hermit near Chartres for fourteen years he made a pilgrimage to Rome Pope Gregory II sent him to Bavaria His opposition to the marriage of Duke Grimoald to his brother s widow Biltrudis caused Corbinian to go into exile for a time His feast day is 8 September The commemoration of the translation of his relics is 20 November 1 Saint CorbinianSaint Corbinian depicted in The Miracle of the Bear 1489 by Jan Polack Diocesan Museum in Freising Germany BishopBornc 670Chatres Neustria now France Died8 September c 730Freising Kingdom of the Franks now Germany Venerated inRoman Catholic ChurchEastern Orthodox ChurchFeast8 September and 20 NovemberAttributesBear bishop making a bear carry his luggage because it has eaten his mule bishop with a bear and mule in the background bishop with Duke Grimoald at his feet 1 PatronageFreising Germany archdiocese of Munich and Freising Germany 1 Contents 1 Life 2 Corbinian s bear 2 1 In Catholic iconography 3 Gallery 4 Further reading 5 Notes 6 External linksLife EditCorbinian was born and baptized as Waldegiso at Chatres near Melun in Frankish territory He was named after his father who may have died when Corbinian was an infant Soon after his father s death his mother Corbiniana 2 renamed Waldegiso to Corbinian after herself 3 Nothing else is known of his childhood The early source for Corbinian s life is the Vita Corbiniani of Bishop Arbeo of Freising 4 He lived in Chatres on the road to Orleans as a hermit for fourteen years near a church dedicated to Saint Germain His reputation attracted students to him which distracted him from his hermitage His devotion to Saint Peter the Apostle prompted a decision to make a journey to Rome accompanied by some of the disciples While in Rome Pope Gregory II admonished him to use his talents to evangelize Bavaria Corbinian who may already have been a bishop or who was so consecrated by Gregory was sent to minister to Grimoald the Frankish Duke of Bavaria 5 Corbinian probably arrived in Bavaria in 724 6 On a mountain near Freising where there was already a sanctuary the saint erected a Benedictine monastery and a school which came to be governed by his brother Erembert after his death In 738 when Saint Boniface regulated the ecclesial structure in the Duchy of Bavaria by creating four dioceses to be governed by the archbishop of Mainz Erembert was chosen first Bishop of Freising 7 Saint Corbinian of Freising and the Bear by Cosmas Damian Asam c 1725 Soon after settling Corbinian denounced Grimoald s marriage to his brother s widow Biltrudis though Grimoald had already repented of his incest This incited his anger and the chagrin of his wife who excoriated Corbinian labeling him a foreign interloper Finally she arranged to have him murdered Corbinian fled Freising until Grimoald was killed and Biltrudis carried off by invaders in 725 3 Corbinian returned on the invitation of Grimoald s successor Huebert 8 and continued his apostolic labors at Freising until his own death in 730 Corbinian s body buried at Merano was translated to Freising in 769 by the aforementioned Bishop Arbeo author of Corbinian s vita and is now entombed in Freising Cathedral Corbinian s bear EditCorbinian s symbol is the saddled bear According to his hagiography a bear killed Corbinian s pack horse on the way to Rome and so the saint commanded it to carry his load Once he arrived in Rome however he let the bear go and it lumbered back to its native forest 9 Both the heraldic element and the legend itself carry significant symbolism One interpretation is that the bear tamed by God s grace is the Bishop of Freising himself and the pack saddle is the burden of his episcopate 10 The bear s submission and retreat can also be interpreted as Christianity s taming and domestication of the ferocity of paganism and consequentially the laying of a foundation for a great civilization in the Duchy of Bavaria 9 In Catholic iconography Edit Papal Arms of Pope Benedict XVI Corbinian s Bear is used as the symbol of Freising in both civic and ecclesiastical heraldry It appeared on the arms of Pope Benedict XVI who first adopted the symbol when still known as Joseph Ratzinger he was appointed Archbishop of Freising Munich in March 1977 11 He retained the bear in his revised coat of arms when he was elevated to Cardinal in June of the same year and again on his papal coat of arms when he was elected in 2005 The scallop shell is a traditional reference to pilgrimage For Pope Benedict XVI it also reminded him of the legend according to which one day St Augustine pondering the mystery of the Trinity saw a child at the seashore playing with a shell trying to put the water of the ocean into a little hole Then he heard the words This hole can no more contain the waters of the ocean than your intellect can comprehend the mystery of God The crowned Moor is a regional motif in heraldry often seen in Bavaria Benedict s German homeland Benedict has been quoted saying that in addition to the obvious reference back to Saint Corbinian the founder of the diocese where Benedict would become bishop in 1977 the bear represents Benedict himself being tamed by God to bear the spiritual burdens of Benedict s own ministries first as bishop then as cardinal and now as pope 12 Gallery EditScenes from the life of Saint Corbinian from a panel in the crypt of Freising Cathedral S Corbinianus adolescens Castri vitam solitariam agit Saint Corbinian as a young man decides upon a life of holy solitude St Corbinianus Romam venit et episcopus creatur Saint Corbinian travels to Rome and is created a bishop St Corbinianus Adalbertum a supplicio liberat Saint Corbinian frees Adalbert at his humble entreaty Sanctus Corbinianus urso sarcinas imponit Saint Corbinian commands the bear to carry his luggage S Corbinianus a Grimoaldo honorifice excipitur Saint Corbinian respectfully received by Grimoald Sanctus Corbinian Frisingae populum docet Saint Corbinian teaches the people of Freising Sanct Corbinian spiritum sanctissime reddit Saint Corbinian solemnly gives up his spirit S Corbiniani reliquiae Frisingam transferuntur The relics of Saint Corbinian are transferred to FreisingFurther reading EditVogel Lothar June 2000 Vom Werden eines Heiligen Eine Untersuchung der Vita Corbiniani des Bischofs Arbeo von Freising Walter de Gruyter ISBN 3 11 016696 8 Notes Edit a b c Jones Terry Saint Corbinian Patron Saints Index Archived from the original on 2007 02 17 Retrieved 2007 01 04 See Helmut Zenz Heiliger Korbinian im Internet Archived 2013 10 19 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2007 01 06 in which Corbinian s mother is referred to as Corbiniana German Nach dem Tod seiner Mutter Corbiniana lebte er als Eremit bei der Kirche von Saint Germain bei Chatres English After the death of his mother Corbiniana he lived as a hermit in the church of Saint Germain in Chatres a b Staley Tony 2004 09 03 From recluse to missionary The Compass Retrieved 2007 01 04 Published in Scriptores rerum Germanicarum 13 Monumenta Germaniae Historica The writings of Arbeo are of broader significance as all but the only examples of the Latin used in Bavaria before the Carolingian literary reforms The modern study is Lothar Vogel 2000 Vom Werden Eines Heiligen Eine Untersuchung Der Vita Corbiniani Des Bischofs Arbeo Von Freising series Arbeiten Zur Kirchengeschichte Walter De Gruyter Rabenstein Katherine Corbinian of Freising Saint o the Day 8 September Archived from the original on December 5 2006 Retrieved 2012 02 23 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint unfit URL link Freising Encyclopaedia Britannica 2007 Retrieved 2007 01 04 Munich Freising Catholic Encyclopedia Vol 10 Robert Appleton Company 1911 Retrieved 2007 01 04 St Corbinian Catholic Encyclopedia Vol 4 Robert Appleton Company 1908 Retrieved 2007 01 04 a b The bear and the scallop shell a unique papal coat of arms Catholic World News 2005 04 27 Retrieved 2007 01 05 The Coat of Arms of His Holiness Benedict XVI Vatican Archived from the original on 2007 01 10 Retrieved 2007 01 05 L Osservatore Romano publishes new Papal coat of arms Catholic News Agency 2005 04 28 Retrieved 2007 01 05 Ratzinger Joseph Milestones Memoirs 1927 1977 Ignatius Press 1998 Autobiography written during his pre papal years English translation ISBN 0 7394 5626 1 hardcover 0898707021 paperback External links EditMunich Freising at Catholic Encyclopedia in German Helmut Zenz Heiliger Korbinian im Internet includes a gallery of images a timeline of Corbinian s life and sources in many languages for further reading in Norwegian Den hellige Korbinian av Freising in French Saint Corbinien Eveque fondateur de l eglise en Baviere includes hagiography for Corbinian and pictures of tapestries depicting the story of his life Butler Alban St Corbinian Bishop of Frisingen Confessor Lives of the Saints Vol IX 1866 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Corbinian amp oldid 1108401884, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
