Arnold of Soissons
Encyclopedia
Arnold of Soissons or Arnold or Arnulf of Oudenburg (ca 1040–1087) is a saint of the Roman Catholic Church
, the patron saint
of hop-pickers
and Belgian brewers
.
Arnold, born in Brabant
, the son of a certain Fulbertus was first a career soldier before settling at the Benedictine
St. Medard's Abbey, Soissons
, France
. He spent his first three years as a hermit
, but later rose to be abbot
of the monastery. His hagiography
states that he tried to refuse this honor and flee—a standard literary trope
(compare Jiménez de Cisneros)— but was forced by a wolf to return. He then became a priest
and in 1080, bishop of Soissons, another honor that he sought to avoid. When his see
was occupied by another bishop, rather than fighting, he took the opportunity to retire from public life, founding the Abbey of St. Peter in Oudenburg
.
At the abbey, he began to brew beer
, as essential in medieval life as water. He encouraged local peasants to drink beer, instead of water, due to its "gift of health." During the process of brewing, the water was boiled and thus, unknown to all, freed of pathogens. This same story is also told of Arnulf or Arnold of Metz
, another patron of brewers. There are many depictions of St. Arnold with a mashing rake
in his hand, to identify him. He is honored in July with a parade in Brussels on the "Day of Beer."
Miracle
s that were reported at his tomb were investigated and approved by a council at Beauvais
in 1121; Arnold's relics were translated to the church of Saint Peter, Aldenburg in 1131. St. Arnold's feast day is 8 July.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, the patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of hop-pickers
Hops
Hops are the female flower clusters , of a hop species, Humulus lupulus. They are used primarily as a flavoring and stability agent in beer, to which they impart a bitter, tangy flavor, though hops are also used for various purposes in other beverages and herbal medicine...
and Belgian brewers
Brewing
Brewing is the production of beer through steeping a starch source in water and then fermenting with yeast. Brewing has taken place since around the 6th millennium BCE, and archeological evidence suggests that this technique was used in ancient Egypt...
.
Arnold, born in Brabant
Brabant (landgraviat)
The Landgraviat of Brabant must be distinguished from the Duchy of Brabant. The Duchy of Brabant was initially a feudal elevation of the landgraviat, but its name was applied to the entire country under the control of the Dukes of Brabant, from the 13th century on.This imperial fief was assigned to...
, the son of a certain Fulbertus was first a career soldier before settling at the Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
St. Medard's Abbey, Soissons
St. Medard's Abbey, Soissons
The Abbey of St. Medard, Soissons, was a Benedictine monastery, at one time held to be the greatest in France.-History:The abbey was founded in 557 by Clotaire I on his manor of Crouy, near the villa of Syagrius, just outside the then boundaries of Soissons to house the remains of Saint Medard, the...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He spent his first three years as a hermit
Hermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
, but later rose to be abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
of the monastery. His hagiography
Hagiography
Hagiography is the study of saints.From the Greek and , it refers literally to writings on the subject of such holy people, and specifically to the biographies of saints and ecclesiastical leaders. The term hagiology, the study of hagiography, is also current in English, though less common...
states that he tried to refuse this honor and flee—a standard literary trope
Trope (literature)
A literary trope is the usage of figurative language in literature, or a figure of speech in which words are used in a sense different from their literal meaning...
(compare Jiménez de Cisneros)— but was forced by a wolf to return. He then became a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and in 1080, bishop of Soissons, another honor that he sought to avoid. When his see
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
was occupied by another bishop, rather than fighting, he took the opportunity to retire from public life, founding the Abbey of St. Peter in Oudenburg
Oudenburg
Oudenburg Latin: Aldenburgensis is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Oudenburg itself and the towns of Ettelgem, Roksem and Westkerke. On January 1, 2006 Oudenburg had a total population of 8,929...
.
At the abbey, he began to brew beer
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
, as essential in medieval life as water. He encouraged local peasants to drink beer, instead of water, due to its "gift of health." During the process of brewing, the water was boiled and thus, unknown to all, freed of pathogens. This same story is also told of Arnulf or Arnold of Metz
Arnulf of Metz
Saint Arnulf of Metz was a Frankish bishop of Metz and advisor to the Merovingian court of Austrasia, who retired to the Abbey of Remiremont....
, another patron of brewers. There are many depictions of St. Arnold with a mashing rake
Mashing
In brewing and distilling, mashing is the process of combining a mix of milled grain , known as the "grain bill", and water, known as "liquor", and heating this mixture...
in his hand, to identify him. He is honored in July with a parade in Brussels on the "Day of Beer."
Miracle
Miracle
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that a god may work with the laws...
s that were reported at his tomb were investigated and approved by a council at Beauvais
Beauvais
Beauvais is a city approximately by highway north of central Paris, in the northern French region of Picardie. It currently has a population of over 60,000 inhabitants.- History :...
in 1121; Arnold's relics were translated to the church of Saint Peter, Aldenburg in 1131. St. Arnold's feast day is 8 July.
See also
- Saint AmandSaint AmandSaint Amand or Amandus was a French Christian saint, one of the great Christian Saints of Flanders.-Biography:...
- patron saint of wine makers, brewers and bartenders - Arnulf of MetzArnulf of MetzSaint Arnulf of Metz was a Frankish bishop of Metz and advisor to the Merovingian court of Austrasia, who retired to the Abbey of Remiremont....
- another patron saint of brewers
External links
- "St. Arnoul, or Arnulphus, Bishop of Soissons, Confessor", Butler's Lives of the Saints
- Arnold and other patron saints of beer