MARCH 16TH, FERIA OF LENT

Month in honor of Saint Joseph, most brave.

Saint Her(i)bert of Cologne

Herbert, or Heribert, was born around AD 970 at Worms, Germany, and was the son of the Duke Hugo of Worms, Germany. He was educated at the Cathedral school at Worms. Afterwards, he was chosen as Provost of the Cathedral and ordained a priest in 994. He was made chancellor for Italy under the Holy Roman Emperor Otto III. in 994, then Chancellor for Germany in 997. Latterly, he was made Archbishop of Cologne, Germany, on 9 July 999, attending in that capacity at the death-bed of King Otto at Paterno. Initially opposed the ascension of King Henry II., and was imprisoned by him. However, when Henry was elected king on 7 June 1002, Herbert immediately acknowledged him as king, and became one of his advisors. Later, he founded and endowed the Benedictine monastery and church of Deutz, Germany. He had the reputation of obtaining miracles by prayer, including the end of a drought and was honoured as a saint even during his lifetime. He died on 16 March 1021 at Cologne, Germany of natural causes, and was canonized in AD 1075 by Pope Saint Gregory VII.