Saint Hunger
Encyclopedia
Hunger also known as Hungerus Frisus, was Bishop of Utrecht from 854 to 866. He is a Saint
of the Catholic Church
After the death of his predecessor Luidger of Utrecht
, Luidger's nephew Craft was offered the seat. However, Craft, a very wealthy person, refused because he was afraid that he would attract Viking
raids. Instead the Canon
Hunger was appointed. At first his relations with the Vikings were peaceful, but eventually Utrecht was threatened by the vikings, at which the bishop and the entire clergy of Utrecht fled to Saint-Odiliënberg, near Roermond
. In 858 king Lothair II made a monastery available for them. Later the bishop settled in Prüm
and then in Deventer
Hunger seems to have been a godly man who, unlike his predecessors, did not engage in nepotism
. In the case of the childless marriage between king Lotharius and his wife Teutberga, he defended the sanctity of their marriage on biblical and theological grounds, but to secure his succession, Lothair repudiated his wife and married Waldrada, with whom he had a son.
Hunger died in Prüm
in Germany. His feast day is 22 December.
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
of the Catholic Church
After the death of his predecessor Luidger of Utrecht
Luidger of Utrecht
Liudger or Ludger was Bishop of Utrecht from around 848 to ca. 854.Ludger was probably related to several other bishops of Utrecht from the ninth and tenth centuries, including his predecessor Alberik II...
, Luidger's nephew Craft was offered the seat. However, Craft, a very wealthy person, refused because he was afraid that he would attract Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
raids. Instead the Canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
Hunger was appointed. At first his relations with the Vikings were peaceful, but eventually Utrecht was threatened by the vikings, at which the bishop and the entire clergy of Utrecht fled to Saint-Odiliënberg, near Roermond
Roermond
Roermond is a city, a municipality, and a diocese in the southeastern part of the Netherlands.The city of Roermond is a historically important town, on the lower Roer at the east bank of the Meuse river. It received city rights in 1231...
. In 858 king Lothair II made a monastery available for them. Later the bishop settled in Prüm
Prüm
Prüm is a town in the Westeifel , Germany. Formerly a district capital, today it is the administrative seat of the Verbandsgemeinde Prüm.-Geography:...
and then in Deventer
Deventer
Deventer is a municipality and city in the Salland region of the Dutch province of Overijssel. Deventer is largely situated on the east bank of the river IJssel, but also has a small part of its territory on the west bank. In 2005 the municipality of Bathmen Deventer is a municipality and city in...
Hunger seems to have been a godly man who, unlike his predecessors, did not engage in nepotism
Nepotism
Nepotism is favoritism granted to relatives regardless of merit. The word nepotism is from the Latin word nepos, nepotis , from which modern Romanian nepot and Italian nipote, "nephew" or "grandchild" are also descended....
. In the case of the childless marriage between king Lotharius and his wife Teutberga, he defended the sanctity of their marriage on biblical and theological grounds, but to secure his succession, Lothair repudiated his wife and married Waldrada, with whom he had a son.
Hunger died in Prüm
Prüm
Prüm is a town in the Westeifel , Germany. Formerly a district capital, today it is the administrative seat of the Verbandsgemeinde Prüm.-Geography:...
in Germany. His feast day is 22 December.