Beatus of Lungern
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Beatus of Lungern | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Monk and Hermit "Apostle of Switzerland" |
|
| Born | unknown, Ireland or Scotland |
| Died | c. 112, Mount Beatenberg, Switzerland |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Feast | 9 May |
| Attributes | As an old man reading in a mountain cave; a monk fighting a dragon |
 Saints Portal |
|
Beatus of Lungern, known also by the honorific Apostle of Switzerland or as Beatus of Beatenberg or of Thun, was a probably legendary monk and hermit of early Christianity, and is revered as a saint. Though his legend states that he died in the second century, it is likely that his story has been conflated with other saints of the same name, especially Beatus of Vendôme, and an Abbot Beatus who received a charter in 810 from Charlemagne to confirm that Honau Abbey would be administered by Irish monks.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Life
While legend claims that he was the son of a Scottish king,[1] other legends place his birth in Ireland. Beatus was a convert, baptized in England by Saint Barnabas. He was allegedly ordained a priest in Rome by Saint Peter the Apostle,[2] whereupon he was sent with a companion named Achates to evangelize the tribe of the Helvetii. The two set up a camp in Argovia near the Jura Mountains, where they converted many of the locals.[3]
Beatus then ventured south to the mountains above Lake Thun, taking up a hermitage in a cave, where he spent the rest of his life. Tradition states that this cave is where he fought a dragon. He died at an old age in 112.[2]
[edit] Veneration
Beatus is primarily remembered as the first apostle to Switzerland. The cultus of Beatus was widespread in the Middle Ages and survived even the hostility of the Reformation period when pilgrims were driven back from his cave at spear-point by Zwinglian Protestants.[3] After this period of turmoil, Beatus' relics, and the focus of his cultus, were transferred to the chapel at Lungern, Obwalden.[2] The mountain where he resided until his death is still a place of pilgrimage, and bears his name: Beatenberg.[3]
[edit] Historicity
The earliest recorded accounts of St. Beatus' life date no earlier than the 10th and mid-11th centuries and have not been historically authenticated. So, some would hesitate to endorse the tradition that calls St. Beatus the "Apostle of Switzerland". Indeed, Saint Gall probably more justly deserves this honor.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Rabenstein, Katherine (August 1999). Beatus of Beatenberg (RM). Saints O' the Day for July 16. Retrieved on 2007-05-07.
- ^ a b c Jones, Terry. Beatus of Lungern. Patron Saints Index. Retrieved on 2007-05-07.
- ^ a b c d Lopez-Ginisty, Claude. Saint Beatus. Orthodoxy’s Western Heritage - Mission in the Alps. Orthodox America. Retrieved on 2007-05-07.
