BL. EVERMOD, BISHOP OF RATZEBURG - 17 FEBRUARY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN FEBRUARY

 Saints celebrated on the 17th of February

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BLESSED EVERMOD, BISHOP OF RATZEBURG

Blessed Evermodus is also known as Evermode or Evermot. As can be read in the Life of St Norbert, Evermod was originally from the area of today's Belgium.

HE WAS BLESSED TO GET TO KNOW ST NORBERT

Already as a young man he was blessed to get to know St Norbert when the latter preached the Gospel at Cambrai. From that time on, the zealous student never left the side of the holy teacher, followed him to Magdeburg, and when Norbert founded a Premonstratensian monastery there, he put his dear and pious Evermod in charge of it as abbot.

HE WAS PUT IN CHARGE

In 1160 Evermod was called to the bishopric of Ratzeburg (now a Mecklenburg-Strelitz principality). This bishopric had been recalled into existence under Emperor Heinrich IV by Archbishop Albrecht of Bremen. One of its greatest tasks at the time (around 1154) was to convert the unbelieving Wends. 

PEACE HAD BEEN RESTORED

After the death of St Aristus, who had become the first bishop of Ratzeburg in 1058, the whole bishopric had been destroyed by the barbarians, in which state it remained until Henry the Lion of Saxony secured order in the area. 

The zealous shepherd used all his strength to repair the damage done and to spread religion and the fear of God. Glorified by miracles during his lifetime, Bl. Evermod died on February 17, 1178. His relics were raised by his successor, Blessed Isfried. 

Since Evermod was a Premonstratensian abbot, he also transplanted this order to Ratzeburg, and then for 350 years the episcopal and canon positions were occupied by members of this order. 

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - 🎨 Bl. Evermod, centre, with St Ludolph and Bl. Isfrid.)