St. Engelbert of Cologne

Saint Engelbert of Cologne

Bishop & Martyr

Engelbert was born to a noble German family around the year of Our Lord 1185. A worldly and ambitious young cleric, Engelbert was excommunicated when he sided with his cousin, the Archbishop Adolf, in a violent conflict. Engelbert did penance by crusading against the Albigensian heretics, and he was eventually made archbishop-elector of Cologne. Though still ambitious, Engelbert was devoted to restoring order in his troubled diocese. He supported clerical and monastic life, and strictly disciplined local nobles, even his own relatives, when necessary. These efforts and his great charity endeared him to his flock, and the Holy Roman Emperor was impressed enough to appoint Engelbert guardian of his son Henry. In the year of Our Lord 1225, the emperor and the pope tasked Engelbert with preventing Engelbert’s cousin, Count Frederick, from continuing to oppress a local convent. Knowing he had already made many noble enemies, Engelbert made a general confession and prepared for the worst. On his way to consecrate a church, Engelbert was ambushed by his cousin’s men and stabbed forty-seven times. Just a year after his murder Engelbert was declared a martyr by a papal legate, since the archbishop died for defending the nuns.

Traditional Roman Martyrology for November 7th

AT Padua, the demise of St. Prosdocimus, first bishop of that city, who was ordained bishop by the blessed apostle Peter, and sent thither to preach the word of God, where, celebrated for many virtues and prodigies, he happily ended his life.

At Perugia, St. Herculanus, bishop and martyr.

The same day, St. Amaranthus, martyr, who was buried in the city of Albi, after the termination of combats faithfully sustained, but lives in eternal glory.

At Melitine, in Armenia, the martyrdom of the Saints Hieron, Meander, Hesychius, and thirty others, who were crowned in the persecution of Diocletian, under the governor Lysias.

At Amphipolis, in Macedonia, the holy martyrs Auctus, Taurio and Thessalonica.

At Ancyra, the passion of the Saints Melasippus, Anthony and Carina, under Julian the Apostate.

At Cologne, St. Engelbertus, bishop, who did not hesitate to suffer martyrdom in defence of ecclesiastical liberties, and for obedience to the Roman Church.

At Alexandria, blessed Achillas, a bishop renowned for erudition, faith and purity of life.

In Friesland, the decease of St. Willibrord, bishop of Utrecht, who was consecrated bishop by the blessed pope Sergius, and preached the Gospel in Friesland and Denmark.

At Metz, St. Rufus, bishop and confessor.

At Strasburg, St. Florentius, bishop.

℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.

℟. Thanks be to God.