September 22nd - St. Emmeramus, bishop, martyr

September 22nd - St. Emmeramus, bishop, martyr

This holy missionary preached the gospel with indefatigable zeal around
Poitiers, of which city he is often stated to have been bishop; but his name
does not appear in the episcopal lists of that or any other see.

After having laboured thus several years, St Emmeramus was so touched with
compassion for the unhappy state of so many thousands of idolaters in
Germany and beyond the Danube that he went to preach the gospel in Bavaria.
Duke Theodo detained him at Regensburg, as he was later to try to detain St
Corbinian, to minister to his subjects. Emmeramus, after having preached
there three years and gained to God a number of infidels and sinners,
undertook a pilgrimage to Rome. He set out on his journey south but when he
had reached Kleinhelfendorf, between Munich and Tirol, he was overtaken by,
apparently, some representatives of Duke Theodo, who brutally mishandled
him. The saint managed to reach Feldkirchen, but there died of the injuries
he had received. His body was shortly afterwards translated to Regensburg.
It is not known that he was ever bishop of that city or founder of the
monastery there that bore his name.

The motive and circumstances of the murder of St Emmeramus are a mystery
(the Roman Martyrology says oracularly that he patiently suffered a most
cruel death for Christ's sake that he might set others free). Less than a
century after, his life was written by Aribo, Bishop of Freising, who gives
an account of it that is a characteristic example of hagiographical
invention, exaggeration, embroidery, or all three, for the sake of popular
edification. We are told that before St Emmeramus left for Italy the
daughter of Duke Theodo, Oda, confided to him that she was with child by a
nobleman of her father's court, and she feared the duke's anger both for
herself and her lover. Emmeramus authorized her to state that he himself was
the partner of her guilt. The pious Aribo expects the reader to admire the
magnanimity and self-sacrifice of Emmeramus, but, quite apart from the fact
that he was recommending a lie, and a lie that would cause great scandal, it
is difficult to see what would he gained by it except protection for the
guilty man. However, the lady Oda acted accordingly when her secret was
discovered, and her brother Lantbert and his men set off in pursuit of
Emmeramus. When they came up with him at Kleinhelfendorf they tied him to a
ladder, tore out his eyes and tongue, cut off his members, and left him to
die amid an outbreak of supernatural marvels. St Emmeramus was at once
acclaimed a martyr by the people.

Much has been written about St Emmeram (perhaps more correctly spelt
Haimbrammus). There are lives by Bishop Arbeo or Aribo (in two recensions),
another by Meginfrid of Magdeburg, and a third by Arnold, who belonged to
the monastery called by the name of the saint himself. In the critical
edition of Arbeo prepared for MGH., Scriptores Merov., vol. iv, pp. 452-520,
B. Krusch has shown that the text printed by the Bollandists (Acta
Sanctorum, September, vol. vi) represents substantially Arbeo's genuine work
and that it was written about the year 772. But even in its authentic form
the data provided by Arbeo's life are not trustworthy. See also A.
Bigelmair, Die Anfange des Christentums in Bayern.' in Festgabe A. Knopfler
(1907), and J. A. Endres in the Romische Quartalschrift for 1895 and 1903.
The genuine tomb of the saint is believed to have been discovered in 1894;
on this see especially J. A. Endres, Beitrage zur Geschichte des M. A.
Regenburgs (1924).


Saint Quote:
He who does not give up prayer cannot possibly continue to offend God
Habitually.
Either he will give up prayer, or he will stop sinning.
- St. Alphonsus Liguori

Bible Quote:
God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the strong. (I Cor.
1:27)


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The Little Office of the Holy Angels

At Compline (Night Prayer)

Ant. God has given His angels charge of you, that they keep thee in all thy
ways. Amen.

V. Convert us, O God, our Savior.
R. And avert Thy anger from us. O God, incline unto my aid.

Glory be to the Father, etc. Alleluia.

HYMN

AND Raphael of the glorious seven who stand
Before the throne of Him Who lives and reigns;
Angel of health I the Lord has filled thy hand
With balm from heaven to soothe or cure our pains
Heal or console the victim of disease,
And guide our steps when doubtful of our ways.

Ant. O holy angels, our guardians, defend us in the combat, that we perish
not in the dreadful judgment.

V. In sight of Thy angels I will sing to Thee, my God.
R. I will adore at Thy holy temple, and confess to Thy. name.

PRAYER

O God, Who, with unspeakable providence, has granted to appoint Thy holy
angels to be our guardians grant to Thy humble suppliants to be always
defended by their protection, and to enjoy their everlasting society through
Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You forever and
ever. Amen.

COMMENDATION

O Holy guardian at thy feet
This wreath of humble flowers I lay;
O that their odor were as sweet
As he desires, who sings the lay,
Protect me at death's awful hour,
Receive my soul to thy embrace,
Rich with the wonders of thy power,
To thank, to praise thee, face to face. Amen.

Antiphon to the Archangel Michael

HOLY archangel Michael
defend us in battle,
that we may not perish in the
tremendous judgment.





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