Joseph of Freising
Encyclopedia
Joseph of Freising also known as Joseph of Verona, was Bishop of Freising from 747 or 748 until his death.
in Italy, whence his alternative name, but it is equally possible that he was from Bavaria
or northern Austria
, or perhaps the Tyrol
.
He is presumed to have been a monk in Saint Corbinian's new foundation, Freising Abbey, before in 747 or 748 he was appointed bishop of Freising
, the third to hold the office. He had the reputation of a zealous and energetic promoter of the interests of the church, to have had a keen grasp of the importance for the church of acquiring large possessions, and to have been highly effective in attracting donations, especially of land.
He was also active as a founder of churches and religious houses. In particular he founded Isen Abbey
in 752, and dedicated it to Saint Zeno of Verona. He was also closely involved, after 760, with the respective lay founders in the establishment of Schäftlarn
and Scharnitz Abbey
s. At Schäftlarn the founders gave him the power of supervision of the monastery and the right to appoint the abbots: his first appointment was Aribo, Joseph's successor as bishop. At Scharnitz he appointed Atto, Aribo's successor as bishop of Freising, also to be highly successful in the acquisition of estates for the diocese.
of Bavaria in 1802-03 and is still in service as St. Zeno's, the parish church of Isen
.
Joseph is venerated locally as the Blessed Joseph, although he was never formally beatified. His feastday is 17 January.
Life
There is no direct evidence of Joseph's place of origin. It is sometimes claimed that he was a native of VeronaVerona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
in Italy, whence his alternative name, but it is equally possible that he was from Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
or northern Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, or perhaps the Tyrol
County of Tyrol
The County of Tyrol, Princely County from 1504, was a State of the Holy Roman Empire, from 1814 a province of the Austrian Empire and from 1867 a Cisleithanian crown land of Austria-Hungary...
.
He is presumed to have been a monk in Saint Corbinian's new foundation, Freising Abbey, before in 747 or 748 he was appointed bishop of Freising
Freising
Freising is a town in Bavaria, Germany, and capital of the district Freising. Total population 48,500.The city is located north of Munich at the Isar river, near the Munich International Airport...
, the third to hold the office. He had the reputation of a zealous and energetic promoter of the interests of the church, to have had a keen grasp of the importance for the church of acquiring large possessions, and to have been highly effective in attracting donations, especially of land.
He was also active as a founder of churches and religious houses. In particular he founded Isen Abbey
Isen Abbey
Isen Abbey was a Benedictine abbey, later a collegiate foundation, at Isen in Bavaria, Germany.-History:Dedicated to Saint Zeno of Verona, the abbey was founded by members of the Fagana family, an indigenous Bavarian noble clan, and by Bishop Joseph of Freising in the 8th century, about 752...
in 752, and dedicated it to Saint Zeno of Verona. He was also closely involved, after 760, with the respective lay founders in the establishment of Schäftlarn
Schäftlarn Abbey
Schäftlarn Abbey is a Benedictine monastery on the Isar in Schäftlarn, south of Munich in Bavaria, Germany.-History:The monastery was founded in 762 by Waltrich, a Benedictine monk of noble family, on his own land...
and Scharnitz Abbey
Scharnitz Abbey
Scharnitz Abbey was a Benedictine monastery in Mittenwald in Bavaria, Germany.The monastery, dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, was founded before 763 by Reginperht and Irminfried, believed to be members of the Bavarian noble family of the Huosi. Arbeo of Freising, a member of the same family,...
s. At Schäftlarn the founders gave him the power of supervision of the monastery and the right to appoint the abbots: his first appointment was Aribo, Joseph's successor as bishop. At Scharnitz he appointed Atto, Aribo's successor as bishop of Freising, also to be highly successful in the acquisition of estates for the diocese.
Tomb and cult
After his death on 17 January 764 Joseph was buried in the church of Isen Abbey, founded by himself, where his tomb was restored in 1743. The church survived the secularisationGerman Mediatisation
The German Mediatisation was the series of mediatisations and secularisations that occurred in Germany between 1795 and 1814, during the latter part of the era of the French Revolution and then the Napoleonic Era....
of Bavaria in 1802-03 and is still in service as St. Zeno's, the parish church of Isen
Isen, Bavaria
Isen is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany.Isen has once been home to a Benedictine abbey. The abbey was dissolved however during the secularisation in 1802 so only the St. Zeno Church remains today....
.
Joseph is venerated locally as the Blessed Joseph, although he was never formally beatified. His feastday is 17 January.