Saint of the Day – 26 February – Blessed Ulrik of Obermarchtal O.Praem. (Died 1187) Priest

Saint of the Day – 26 February – Blessed Ulrik of Obermarchtal O.Praem. (Died 1187) Priest, Prior. Born in the early 12th Century Germany and died on 26 February 1187 in Swabia, Germany of natural causes. Also known as – Ulric, Ulrich.

Ulrik was born at the beginning of the 12th Century in Germany. He joined the Premonstratensians – the Norbertines. He became a Canon in their Monastery, Mönchsrot in Rot on the river Rot in Upper Swabia in Baden-Württemberg, modern Germany.

This Monastery was founded in 1126 by the Founder of the Order, St Norbert of Xanten, the later Bishop of Magdeburg, on land he had received from Hemma of Wildenburg. The Monastery’s first Prior or Provost was Saint Burchard (1126-1140). Burchard was succeeded by the Blessed Odino (1140-1182). At the same time, the Monastery was upgraded from a Priory to an Abbey and he became the Monastery’s first Abbot.

In 1171, our Blessed Ulrik was sent by Abbot Odino to the new foundation of Obermarchtal in Swabia (now in the state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany) where, in 1179, he succeeded the Blessed Eberhard (1171-1179) as pthe Prior. He was a good shepherd who was concerned with the spiritual life of his Monastery and who carefully followed the Rules of the Order. Under a picture where Ulrik is portrayed as blissful, it says:

“In virtute silentii ita emicuit, ut sese / supra se levarit; ita mortificatus vixit ut ne minimam offenseis ansam alicui / umquam videatur praebuisse; / Divino Angelorumque colloquio / intentus saepius.”

A very rough translation:
“In the power of silence he flashed, so that he lifted himself above himself. He lived in such a mortified way that he should not have given the slightest offence as a snare to anyone … The divine conversation of the Angels was often his to attend to.”

Ulrik died on 26 February 1187 and was buried in the same grave as his predecessor Eberhard. He is honoured as Blessed by the Premonstratensians with a memorial day on the day of his death, 26 February.