ST LIBENTIUS, ARCHBISHOP OF HAMBURG-BREMEN - 4 JANUARY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JANUARY

Saints celebrated on the 4th of January

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SAINT LIBENTIUS, ARCHBISHOP OF HAMBURG-BREMEN

Also known as Liavizo Lubentius, Libentio, Liavinzo, Liawizo, Luizo, Liebitzo, French: Liévizon, Saint Libentius, Archbishop of Bremen-Hamburg, was born in the mid-10th century in Italy. He became acquainted with Archbishop Adaldag, who had met up with Emperor Otto the Great discussing matters relating to the empire, and ended up accompanying him on his return journey to Hamburg. 

Libentius was of great learning and excellent piety, which is why Adaldag accepted him among his clergy and appointed him as his successor, thereby favouring him over the accepted candidate for this position - his sister's son, the virtuous Magdeburg canon Otto. 

After the archbishop's death on April 28 or 29, 988, Libentius was indeed elevated to the archiepiscopal see of Hamburg and confirmed by the emperor on November 8. Pope John XV gave him the pallium and at the same time granted all papal freedoms and privileges to the archiepiscopal See. 

Libentius was very holy; he lived so chastely that he next to never interacted with people of the opposite sex; so abstinent that his cheeks were quite pale and sunken; so loving and humble that he did not want to be treated any differently than the last brother in the monastery. When the Askomanni [bellingerent Vikings who travelled by boats made of ash wood] invaded Saxony in 999, causing great devastation, Bremen was fortified with a strong city wall. Libentius ensured that the cathedral treasure and church decorations brought to safety to Bucken Abbey (Buckum). From there he also officially pronounced the ban over those pirates. 

Libentius consecrated several bishops for the mission to the pagans, whose names are not handed down to us; we do know, however, that he ordained Folquard [Folcard] and Reginbert for the mission among the Slavic peoples. When the former was expelled from Slavonia, Libentius sent him to Sueonia [Svealand] (or perhaps Normannia), where he won many souls for Christ. After a virtuous life, Saint Libentius went to his eternal reward on January 4, 1013 and was buried in the middle of the choir near the high altar. 

🖍️Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 3, Augsburg, 1869, p. 804 - 

📷 Seal of the city of Bremen as used from 1230 to 1365. The subject, Charlemagne and bishop Wilhad with the cathedral between them, is thought to be the oldest depiction of Bremen Cathedral.

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Libentius may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Sources of these articles (in the original German): books.google.co.uk, de-academic.com, zeno.org, openlibrary.org