Brother of Saint Ludger, Hildegrin was Bishop of Châlons before being sent by Charlemagne to evangelize Saxony. He occupied the sees of Salingestad and Halberstadt, transforming barbarian peoples through his preaching. He died in 827 and was buried at the Abbey of Werden.
Guided reading
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SAINT HILDEGRIN,
Origins and monastic formation
Coming from a noble Frisian family, Hildegrin was the brother of Saint Ludger. He was educated in Rome and at Monte Cassino during the Saxon persecutions.
Thiatgrin and Lisfburge, Frisians by origin, were distinguished by their nobility and even more by their virtue. They had as children Saint Ludger and Saint Hildegrin, and several daughters who were mothers of several other bishops.
Saint Hildegrin, during the persecution of Widukind, leader of the Saxons, against the Christians, around the year 784, accompanied Saint Ludger on his journey to Rome, and then during his stay at Monte Cassino, where he remained for three and a half years. He practiced all the austerities of that house. Subsequently, he assisted Saint Ludger either in bringing the Frisians and Saxons, of whom he was the apostle, to the faith of Jesus Christ, or in governing the monastery of Werden, which he founded in the County of Mark, or in administering the diocese of Münster, of which he was consecrated bishop in 802, until t Châlons Episcopal see occupied by Hildegrin in France. he year 807 when he was himself raised to the episcopate of Châlons.
Missions and early ministries
He assisted his brother Ludger in the evangelization of the Frisians and Saxons, participated in the founding of Werden, and became Bishop of Châlons in 807.
Only one feature of his episcopal life is reported: he revealed a profound piety. Saint Ausegise, the first regular abbot of the Abbey of Saint-Memmie, wished to dismiss the superior: Hildegrin made every effort to retain him, but, having been unable to obtain this favor, he resolved to spend some time with the monks of this monastery, in order to maintain the regularity that had just been established there. In the midst of these works of devotion, he experienced a great sorrow: on March 26, 809, he lost his brothe Ludger Brother of Saint Hildegrin, apostle of the Frisians and founder of the Abbey of Werden. r Ludger and buried him himself in his monastery of Werden.
The call of Charlemagne and the mission in Saxony
At the request of Charlemagne and with the agreement of the Pope, he left Châlons to evangelize Saxony, residing at Salingestad and then at Halberstadt.
How many years was Saint Hildegrin bishop of Châlons? This question is difficult to resolve. The Gallia christiana observes that he is called bishop of Châlons in all titles until the year 809. It was only after this period that he left this see. Charlemagne , marvellin Charlemagne Emperor of the Franks and uncle of Saint Folquin. g at his virtues, wished, with the approval of Pope Adrian , to entrus pape Adrien Pope who approved the mission of Hildegrin in Saxony. t him with a more important, infinitely more difficult mission; he tore him away from the love of the people of Châlons, and chose him to go and establish Christianity in Saxony. He first placed him at Salingestad; he was later tra nsferred to Halberstadt Episcopal see of Hildegrin in Germany. Halberstadt. The word of this holy bishop had more power than the invincible armies of the great monarch; it transformed these barbarian peoples and made them humble disciples of the Gospel.
It is thus that one can reasonably fix the years that Hildegrin spent in each see. Saint Ludger had been ordained the first bishop of Munster in 802, and Hildegrin was only bishop of Châlons in 807. One can only attribute to him twenty-seven years of episcopate, namely: five at Châlons, fifteen at Salingestad, and seven at Halberstadt.
End of life and burial
Hildegrin died during his missions and was buried at Werden Abbey, alongside his brother.
He died in the course of his missions among the infidels, and was buried at Werthin or Werden, in the diocese of Cologne, an abbey founded by Saint Ludger around the year 795.
Abridgment of the life given by the Abbé Boitel, in the *Bounties de l'Histoire de la Champagne*.
Commemorations of June 20
The text mentions other holy figures celebrated on the same day, notably Pope Silverius and various martyrs.
XX DAY OF JUNE
The birth into heaven of S aint SILVERIU saint SILVÈRE Pope and martyr commemorated on June 20. S, pope and martyr, who, having refused to restore the heretical bishop Anastasius, whom his predecessor Agapetus had deposed, was sent into exile by Belisarius, at the solicitation of the impious Empress Theodora, to the island of Pontia, where he died in misery for the Catholic faith. (538). — In Rome, the passing of Saint NOVATUS, son of the blessed senator Pudens, and brother of Saint Timothy, priest, and of the pious virgins of Jesus Christ Pudentiana and Praxedes, who were all instructed in the faith by the Apostles. Their house, converted into a church, is called the Church of the Pastor. (2nd c.). — In Tomis, in Pontus, the holy martyrs Paul and Cyriacus. — In Petra, in Palestine, Saint Macarius, bishop, who, after having suffered much at the hands of the Arians, was exiled to Africa, where he died in peace. (4th c.). — In Seville, in Spain, Saint Florence or Florentina, virgin, sister of the holy bishops Leander and Isidore. (630).
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Journey to Rome and stay at Monte Cassino (c. 784)
- Assisted Saint Ludger in the evangelization of the Frisians and Saxons
- Elevation to the episcopate of Châlons (807)
- Mission in Saxony entrusted by Charlemagne
- Establishment of Christianity in Salingestad and then Halberstadt
- Died on mission and buried in Werden (827)