TODAY'S SAINT (Bernward)

BERNWARD

Bishop of Hildesheim

A Saxon by bith and an orphan at an early age, St. Bernward was brought up under the care of his uncle, Bishop Volkmar of Utrecht. Sent first to the Cathedral school of Heidlburg, he completed his studies a Mainz and was ordained a priest. After the death of his grandfather in 987, St. Bernward became an imperial chaplain and tutor of the child-emperor Otto III.

In 1003, he was elected Bishop of Hildesheim and remained in that position for thirty years. He built the church and monastery dedicated to St. Michael and administered his diocese with the utmost wisdom and understanding. He also dabbled in ecclesiastical art and he is especially remembered in connection with metal-work of every kind, He himself spent much time exercising the arts of painting and metal-working and several very beautiful pieces of work at Hildeshheim are attributed directly to him.

In an ecclesiastical dispute with St. Willigis, Archbishop of Mainz, Bernward conducted himself in a manner beyond reproach and lived to see his opponent publicly submit to the Holy See's decision in favor of the Bishop of Hildesheim. He died on November 20, 1193.

PRAYER

God, Light and Sheppherd of souls, You established

St. Berenward as Bishop in Your Church to feed Your

flock by his word and form it by his example. Help us

through his iinterecession to keep the Faith he taught

by his word and follow the way he showed by his

example. Amen.

Feast: November 20