ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN AUGUST
Saints celebrated on the 2nd of August
SAINT GUNZO, BISHOP OF EICHSTÄTT
Gundechar II, the 18th bishop of Eichstätt in Bavaria [South Germany], also known as Gunzo, Gundekar, Gundecar, Gundakar, Gundacker, Gundecard, Guntacar, French: Gondechar, was born - according to his own statement on the feast of St Lawrence (August 10) in the year 1019, in the very year of the death of Gundekar I., the 13th bishop of Eichstätt.
HIS BACKGROUND
Since Gunzo, who in his humility only describes himself as a "sinner", does not give any details about his origins, we do not know anything about his family but that his father was called Reginher, his mother Irmingart, and his sister Tuta; for in his pontificale their names are given with their days of death on July 7, October 21 and November 21. However, as he spent some time at the court of Emperor Henry (Heinrich III) and enjoyed his unlimited trust, and moreover was the court chaplain and counselor of his imperial wife Agnes; he seems to have been of higher descent, at least to have received an excellent education.
After being called to the clerical state, he had soon been included in the ranks of the canons of Eichstätt. In 1045, his relative Engilbert was made bishop of Passau, and Gunzo had became court chaplain to Empress Agnes, the mother of Emperor Henry IV.
Emperor Henry IV invested him Bishop of Eichstätt on August 20, 1057.
HIS CONSECRATION
On October 17 he was enthroned in Eichstätt and on December 27 at Pölte (near Herzberg). He was consecrated by Archbishop Luitpold of Mainz as his metropolitan. In addition to three archbishops and nine bishops, the cardinal legate Hildebrand, the later Pope Gregory VII, was also present at the consecration. King Henry IV also attended the splendid celebration with his mother Agnes, who paid for the costs, as if it were to them a matter of honouring a beloved son.
HIS EPISCOPATE
St Gunzo, once he sat on the episcopal chair, regarded the creation of a fixed liturgy one of his first priorities. With this aim in view, he had a pontifical made, based on the Ordo Romanus. The same is not just a mere ritual, but a very important historical source, in that he included the order of his ancestors with their portraits, as well as the most important official acts during his administration. Among these, his varied travels in all parts of Germany occupy a prominent place. On these journeys he consecrated 126 churches not only in his diocese but also outside it. The splendour of the house of God, its temples and altars preoccupied him almost continuously during the 18 years of his episcopate.
A VERY KIND FATHER
His entire wealth belonged to the Church: to the priests, to the poor. According to a document written shortly after his death, he and his 48 canons did not regard St Gunzo like their superior, but like their very kind father.
HIS HOLY DEATH
St Gunzo died on August 2, 1075, eight days before the 56th anniversary of his birth. at the time when the great struggle between Pope Gregory VII and Emperor Henry IV was about to break out.
HIS CULT
Gunzo enjoyed almost uninterrupted veneration in the diocese of Eichstätt, although he was never formally canonised or beatified. This may also be the reason why his festival is not found in the proper of Eichstätt.
THE OIL
His mortal remains were raised by Bishop Philip on September 14, 1309. The body was lifted out of the ground and placed in a stone monument. This elevation initially revealed a wonderful oil flow, similar to the tomb of St Walburga at Eichstätt.
THE TOMB
When the Swedes plundered Eichstätt and set it on fire in 1634, they also broke the lid of Bl. Gunzo's coffin in the hope of finding treasures there. Finding none, they left the relics untouched. The St John chapel was turned into a sacristy later. A panel was therefore erected around Gunzo's tomb monument, which stood in the middle of the chapel. It was precisely because of this that the grave fell into oblivion and was only accidentally rediscovered in 1697. The Bollandists treat St Gunzo on August 2nd with a very detailed biography.
Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints
Comments
Post a Comment