Saint Meinrad of Einsiedeln

Biography

Saint Meinrad of Einsiedeln, also known as Meinrad of Reichenau, was born in Solgen, Swabia (Sülichgau near Wurtemberg), in Germany. Although there is no certain evidence, it is believed that he may have been a member of the noble Hohenzollern family. He received a thorough education and was eventually professed as a Benedictine monk at the abbey on the island of Reichenau, located in Lake Constance in Switzerland. After being ordained, Saint Meinrad served as a teacher in Zurich, Switzerland. However, around the year 829, he made the decision to withdraw from society and devote himself to a life of prayer and solitude as a hermit. He settled in the Black Forest, where he lived in deep communion with God. As news of his holiness and wisdom spread, many people sought him out for guidance and spiritual direction. In 836, Saint Meinrad decided to retreat to an even more secluded location near Einsiedeln, which means hermitage. He spent the remainder of his life in this hermitage, continuing to deepen his relationship with God and offering hospitality to those who sought his counsel. Tragically, on January 21, 861, two rough-looking travelers arrived at Saint Meinrad's hermitage. These men were actually thieves, hoping to find valuables to steal. However, when they discovered that Meinrad possessed nothing worth taking, they became enraged and resorted to violence. The holy hermit was beaten to death by his assailants. According to legend, as the murderers attacked Saint Meinrad, ravens swooped down to protect him, attacking the aggressors and driving them away. This miraculous intervention led to his eventual recognition as a martyr, even though there is no evidence to suggest that he died defending the faith. Following Saint Meinrad's death, a series of hermits, including the Blessed Benno, occupied his hermitage. In 934, a Benedictine monastery was established at the site, which still stands today. The Einsiedeln Abbey serves as both a monastery and retreat center, attracting pilgrims who seek spiritual renewal. It is believed that the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary found within the abbey's grand church may have belonged to Saint Meinrad himself. This cherished relic serves as a reminder of the saint's holy life and sacrificial death. Saint Meinrad of Einsiedeln is typically depicted in art as a dead monk, accompanied by two ravens representing the birds that protected him during his martyrdom. Other representations may show the saint being beaten to death with clubs by two men, eating fish with a widow, holding a club and ciborium, walking into the wilderness with a tau staff, or with Saint Benedict. Saint Meinrad's feast day is celebrated on January 21. Although he was never officially canonized in the traditional sense, he is venerated as a saint in the pre-congregation era. He is considered the patron saint of Einsiedeln, Switzerland, as well as hospitality and the region of Swabia in Germany. His relics are enshrined in the abbey church at Einsiedeln, where his memory is honored and his intercession sought by pilgrims and devotees.