Saint of the Day – 22 September – St Emmeramus of Regensburg (also historically known as Ratisbon) (Died c690) Bishop Martyr, Missionary Born in Poitiers, France and died on 22 September c652 in Feldkirchen near Munich in Bavaria by being murdered. Patronages – of Poitiers in France and of the City and Diocese of Regensburg in Germany. Also known as – Emmeran, Emmeranus, Emmerano, Emeran, Heimrammi, Haimeran, Haimhramm,or Heimeran.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Ratisbon, in Bavaria, St Emmeramus, Bishop and Martyr, who, to deliver others, endured patiently a most cruel death, for the sake of Our Lord.”
Emmeramus was a Monk and Bishop of Poitiers, left the Kingdom of the Franks at the end of the 7th Century to evangelise in Regensburg, Bavaria, where he was received with benevolence by Duke Theodo. The latter wanted to keep him as the Bishop of his territory or, at least, as the Abbot of a Monastery there.
It is not known how long Emmeramus exercised his pastoral ministry at the Duke’s Court or whether he founded a Monastery near the church of St George.
When leaving for Rome, Emmeramus was unjustly accused of having kidnapped Uta, the Duke’s daughter. To avenge this dishonour, Lambert, the girl’s brother, pursued Emmeramus with an armed troop and caught up with him at Klein-helfendorf, near Aibling (Diocese of Freising). Wishing to protect the real culprit, Emmeramus did not defend himself and received numerous wounds. The Clerics who accompanied him carried him to Ascheim where death put an end to his cruel sufferings. His tortures had involved a ladder, different tortures being applied for each rung thereon. At his death, a heavenly ladder was seen being extended to the Martyr for his final climb to his his great Lord.
The body of the Saint was brought back to Regensburg and buried in the Church of St George. The famous Monastery which takes his name, was built on his tomb and his cult eclipsed that of Everard, the oldest Bishop of the City. Bishop Gaubald (739-761) attended to the solemn elevation of the Relics and built a new Church in his honour. In the same way, Bishop Erembert of Freising (739-747) had a Church built on the site of his torture, in Klein-helfendorf.
In 1898, in the Monastery of St Emmeramus a tomb was discovered containing a skeleton that immediately crumbled to dust and some believed that they were in the presence of the ancient Martyr; another tomb had in fact been erected in the upper Church around 1340.
The oldest evidence of veneration is found in the Waldendorff fragment of a Regensburg Sacramentary from the time of St Boniface. Emmeramus’ Feast is celebrated on 22 September the date on which he is mentioned in the oldest Martyrologies. A monastic Office of his own was composed by Arnold of Vohrburg.
Emmeramus’ life and suffering was written around 772 by Arbeo of Freising. According to recent research, Emmeramus fell victim to a massive court intrigue against Duke Theodo. The date of his Martyrdom is also given as either 685, 692 and around 715.
AnaStpaul 