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ST HYMNEMUND, ABBOT OF ST MAURICE - 3 JANUARY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JANUARY

Saints celebrated on the 3rd of January

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SAINT HYMNEMUND, ABBOT OF ST MAURICE (ST MORITZ)


Saint Hymnemund is also known as Hymnemondus, Hymnemodus, French Hynnemond. According to the Bollandists (February II, 545), he was the first abbot of St Moritz (Agaunum)[St Maurice] in the [Swiss] Canton of Valais, after this monastery had been refounded by Saint King Sigismund of Burgundy around the year 515 or 516.
The Bollandists* mention him in connection with 
 Saint Abbot Severinus and refer to him as Hynmemodus. 

The monastery in which Saint Hymnemund had previously resided was called Grave (monasterium Gravense, Grevencense), according to Burgener* also Boigin and Grigni (Griniacense), and was located in the city of Vienne. 

When Saint King Sigismund took Abbot Hymnemund with him to St Moritz at the time of the Council of St Moritz, the latter wished that Achivus would become his successor as abbot of Grigni. But when he refused, he took him, along with several other brothers, including Saint Ambrose, to St Moritz. Once there, Saint Hymnemund immediately became the first abbot. Saint Ambrose later succeeded him, and eventually Saint Achivus took over as the third abbot of St Moritz. According to the Bollandists* (February II, 546), Saint Hymnemund received a rule concerning the order of the choir and way of life from the bishops who had gone there to found the monastery. The information in Burgener* (I. 330) generally agrees with this; however, the following should be added: The monastery of Grave, or Grigni, had a widely celebrated reputation. The bishops of that time selected men of this famous abbey to place them at the head of other monasteries, for their example in sanctity to shine like living candlesticks. 

Among these men, the ancient documents particularly mention Saint Hymnemund. Nothing is recorded of his birth, youth, or homeland; Burgundy was probably his fatherland. He entered the monastery of Grigni, where he dedicated many years to sanctification and inspired his fellow monks to virtue and holiness. The bishops in Gaul looked upon him favourably, admiring his humility, modesty, and competence in business. 

This prompted them to summon Hymnemund, along with other men, to St Moritz at the time of the Council and to present their request to King Sigismund that he confirm him as abbot of the numerous community, which the king did without hesitation. Five hundred monks, whom the Council had divided into five choirs, were entrusted to his leadership. The saint, although by then an old man, submitted and immediately took over the entire household. However, the monks were not to enjoy this excellent abbot for long; he passed away after only a few months in the year 516, soon after the death of Saint Theodore II, Bishop of Martigny. 

The Benedictines of St Moritz formerly celebrated the memory of Saint Hymnemund, but the later canons did not continue this practice. In the necrology of St Moritz, his name is listed on January 3; presumably, he died on that day. Regarding his name, the old Codex of Agaun states: "He led the abbey for seven months and was known as Hymnemundus because he praised his God in hymns." According to Migne*, he is also venerated at Salins in the Franche-Comté. He is not mentioned in the Elenchus* of the Neo-Bollandists. Saint Achivus is called Achidus by Burgener*, who states that he succeeded Saint Ambrose, the second abbot of St Moritz, in 526 and thereafter led the monastery for 4 years and 11 months. Achivus' death occurred on March 29 (see: S. Achida [French: St-Achide] in Volume I. (Burg. I. 330).

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 2, Augsburg, 1861, pp. 817-18)

*A hagiography source used by the authors 

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Hymnemund 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

























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