Saint of the Day – 3 March – St Frederick (c1121-1175) O.Praem of Hallum Priest and Regular Canon, the Founder and 1st Abbot of Mariengaarde Abbey in Friesland in the Netherlands. Born in Münster, Germany in 1121 and died in Hallum in Holland in 1175, Patronages – against Rheumatism and Paralysis. Also known as – Frederick Feikone, Frederick of Mariengaarde, Friederich, Federico.
Frederick was a Premonstratensian Priest and Abbot who, thanks to his piety, charity and attention to the poor and sick, was prominent as an example of Christian virtue.
He was the son of a nobleman and received a religious education and was Ordained a Priest. After serving for several years as Parish Priest in the Town of Hallum, he was elected as the Abbot of the Premonstratensian Monastery of Mariengaarde, where he fervently devoted himself to the spiritual care of the Monks and the evangelisation of the Faith.
His charity was boundless and he did his utmost to help the poor and needy, donating money and his time to alleviate their suffering. He was also a man of great piety and spent long hours in prayer and meditation.
In 1175, Frederick visited the Monastery of Bethlehem, where he was struck by a serious illness. He returned to Hallum, where he died on 3 March of the same year. He was buried in a Chapel he had built himself. So many miracles were reported at his Tomb that it became a site of pilgrimage and he was soon venerated as a Saint. In 1938 his Relics were transferred to Leffe, Dinant, Belgium.
He was Canonised on 8 March 1728 by Pope Benedict XIII. and St Frederick is invoked against rheumatics and paralytics.
AnaStpaul 