Difference between revisions of "Saint Adalbert" - New World Encyclopedia
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[[Image:Socha_Svateho_Vojtecha_a_Radima.jpg|right|thumb|150px|St. Adalbert (Vojtech) and his brother Gaudentius (Radim) monument in Libice (Czech Republic)]] | [[Image:Socha_Svateho_Vojtecha_a_Radima.jpg|right|thumb|150px|St. Adalbert (Vojtech) and his brother Gaudentius (Radim) monument in Libice (Czech Republic)]] | ||
| − | A few years later Adalbert was [[canonization|canonized]] as '''Saint Adalbert of Prague | + | A few years later (in 999), Adalbert was [[canonization|canonized]] as '''Saint Adalbert of Prague''' by Pope Sylvester II. His life was extensively documented in various versions of the ''Vita Sancti Adalberti'', some of the earliest being written by [[Rome|Roman]] monk [[John Canaparius]] (ca. 1000) and Saint [[Bruno of Querfurt]] (ca. 1001-1004). |
Notably, Bohemian rulers (i.e., Přemyslids) initially refused to ransom Saint Adalbert's body from the Prussians who murdered him, so it was purchased by Poles. This fact may be explained by Saint Adalbert's belonging to the Slavniks family; it highlights the strength of the two clans' conflict. Thus Saint Adalbert's bones were stored in Gniezno and helped Boleslaus the Brave to improve Poland's position in Europe. | Notably, Bohemian rulers (i.e., Přemyslids) initially refused to ransom Saint Adalbert's body from the Prussians who murdered him, so it was purchased by Poles. This fact may be explained by Saint Adalbert's belonging to the Slavniks family; it highlights the strength of the two clans' conflict. Thus Saint Adalbert's bones were stored in Gniezno and helped Boleslaus the Brave to improve Poland's position in Europe. | ||
Revision as of 00:06, 22 September 2007
| Saint Adalbert of Prague | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Apostle of Prussia | |
| Born | c. 956 in Libice nad Cidlinou, Bohemia |
| Died | 997 in Truso (Elbląg) or Kaliningrad Oblast |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Canonized | 999
by Pope Sylvester II |
| Major shrine | Gniezno, Prague |
| Feast | April 23 |
| Patronage | Bohemia; Poland; Prussia |
Adalbert (born Vojtěch; c. 956–April 23, 997) was a high-born Czech who served his faith as a bishop of Prague and a Benedictine monk. In spite of his efforts, he was martyred during his mission to convert the Baltic Prussians—a mission that had been instigated by the king of Poland Bolesław I the Brave. For his service to the Catholic Church, he was was posthumously honored as the patron saint of Bohemia, Poland, Hungary, and Prussia. His feast day is celebrated on April 23.
Biography
Early Life
Vojtěch was born into the noble family of Prince Slavnik and his wife Střezislava in Libice nad Cidlinou, Bohemia.[1] As was common at the time, Radzim and Vojtěch, two of the prince's sons, were groomed for ecclesiastical careers.[2] Of the two, Vojtěch was an exceptionally well-educated man, having studied for about ten years (970-80) in Magdeburg under Saint Adalbert, who so impressed his young pupil that he chose to take his mentor's name at his confirmation. Gifted and industrious, though lacking in an overarching goal or vision, Adalbert Vojtěch completed his studies and took up the carefree life of a man of arms (ca. 980).[3]
Religious Career
Though Adalbert's future seemed both joyful and boundless, he was soon afflicted with a surfeit of personal tragedies. In 981, both the saint's father (Prince Slavnik) and his eponymous mentor died. Not long after, he was also witness to the agonizing demise of Bishop Thietmar of Prague, with whom he had developed a strong relationship. Despite his own feelings of unreadiness, he was named successor of Thietmar, a post that he accepted with utmost gravity.[4] Taking up his newfound responsibilities, Adalbert made it a personal goal to rectify the Christianity of his home diocese—a task that was made considerably more challenging due to the prevalence of pre-Christian ("pagan") beliefs in the area. Though he developed a certain notoriety for his impassioned preaching and his devotion to the poor, his attempts to encourage ecclesiastical reform (such as priestly celibacy) earned him many enemies (including many members of the Bohemian nobility).[5] Growing deeply discouraged at the seeming failure of his efforts, the young bishop eventually resigned from his office and left Prague (989), traveling to Rome and taking up residence in the Benedictine monastery of St. Alexis.[6]
Though the future saint would have been content to spend the remainder of his days in quiet study and contemplation, it was simply not to be. Four years later (993), Pope John XV, who was dissatisfied with the condition of the Christian faith in the Slavic world, forcefully reminded Adalbert about his commitment to the people of Bohemia. In the face of such an order, Adalbert resumed his ecclesiastical duties. This time, he founded a monastery in Břevnov, near Prague, the first one for men in the Czech lands. However, he continued to meet with the same kind of opposition to his ministry from the nobility that he had faced earlier. For this reason, high clerical office was a burden to Adalbert, and in 994 he offered it to Strachkvas (who was both a Přemyslid and Duke Boleslav's brother). In spite of the power and prestige attached to the position, Strachkvas refused.[7]
During this period, the bishop also incited the ire of many locals by offering sanctuary to a noblewoman accused of adultery. When the unruly mob broke into his home, absconded with the woman and murdered her, Adalbert publicly excommunicated them—an act that redoubled the ire of many noble families.[8]
In 995, Slavniks' former rivalry with the Přemyslids resulted in the storming of Libice and a cruel murder of four (or five) of Adalbert's brothers. All this was done by the will of Boleslav II of Bohemia, and the key executioners were his confederates from a powerful clan of Vršovci. Thus the Zličan princedom became part of the Přemyslids' estate. The episode involving the adulterous woman is often thought to have been the "tipping point" that initiated this massacre.[9]
After the tragedy (and fearing for his own safety), Adalbert could no longer remain in Bohemia. So, he escaped from Prague, ignoring the Pope's call for him to return to his episcopal see, and traveled to Hungary. While there, he baptized Géza of Hungary and his son Stephen in the city of Esztergom. He then continued on to Poland, where he was cordially welcomed by Bolesław I the Brave.[10]
Mission and Martyrdom in Prussia
Rethinking his religious mission, Adalbert Vojtěch of Prague began to entertain the notion of becoming a missionary in Prussia. After he had converted Hungary, he was sent by the Pope to convert the heathen Prussians.[11] Fortunately, the itinerant bishop had the support of Boleslaus the Brave, duke of Poland, who sent soldiers to accompany his missionary party. Sallying forth, the bishop and his followers - including his half-brother Radzim (Gaudentius) - entered Prussian territory near Gdańsk and ventured along the coast of the Baltic Sea.
Though his mission was initially successful, earning convert in Danzig and elsewhere, the ill-fated Adalbert eventually came to rouse the suspicion of the locals, who accused him of being a Polish spy. When he continued to preach among their people, ignoring their threats, he and his companions were summarily executed on April 23, 997, somewhere in the vicinity of Koenigsberg.[12]
Canonization and Legacy
A few years later (in 999), Adalbert was canonized as Saint Adalbert of Prague by Pope Sylvester II. His life was extensively documented in various versions of the Vita Sancti Adalberti, some of the earliest being written by Roman monk John Canaparius (ca. 1000) and Saint Bruno of Querfurt (ca. 1001-1004).
Notably, Bohemian rulers (i.e., Přemyslids) initially refused to ransom Saint Adalbert's body from the Prussians who murdered him, so it was purchased by Poles. This fact may be explained by Saint Adalbert's belonging to the Slavniks family; it highlights the strength of the two clans' conflict. Thus Saint Adalbert's bones were stored in Gniezno and helped Boleslaus the Brave to improve Poland's position in Europe.
It is said that in 1039 the Bohemian duke Bretislav I retrieved the bones of Saint Adalbert from Gniezno and moved them to Prague. According to another version, he took only part of the bones, while the rest of Saint Adalbert's relics (including the skull) were hidden by the Poles (according to Roczniki Polskie) and found in 1127. In 1928, one of the arms of Saint Adlbert, which Bolesław I had given to Otto III in the year 1000, was added to the bones preserved in Gniezno. Today Saint Adalbert has two graves, and which bones are authentic is still not clear. For example, the saint has two skulls - one in Prague, a second in Gniezno (stolen in 1923).
June 1997 was the thousandth anniversary of Saint Adalbert's martyrdom. It was commemorated in the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Russia and other countries. Representatives of Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Evangelical churches pilgrimaged to Gniezno, to the saint's tomb. John Paul II visited Gniezno and held a ceremonial divine service in which heads of seven European states and about a million believers took part. In Kaliningrad Oblast, near Beregovoe village (former Tenkitten), where Adalbert's death hypothetically took place, a ten-meter cross was established.
Notes
- ↑ The prince had no shortage of heirs, as Vojtěch had five full brothers: Soběbor (Slavnik's next-of-kin), Spytimir, Pobraslav, Porej, Caslav and a half-brother Radzim Gaudenty (from his father's liaison with another woman).
- ↑ The phenomenon of courtier-bishops is discussed at length in Jaeger's article, with specific mention of Adalbert on p. 300 (ff. 26).
- ↑ Baring-Gould, 311; Farmer, 3. A more complete account of his illustrious family's history can be found in the Chronica Boëmorum, accessible online (in the original Latin) at Monumenta Germaniae Historica.
- ↑ Baring-Gould notes that his youthful gaiety was abruptly silenced by the responsibilities of this new appointment (311). Likewise, Butler quotes from one of the Vitae of the saint to similar effect: "It is easy to wear a mitre and carry a crozier," Adalbert was heard to say, "but it is a terrible thing to have to give account of a bishopric to the Judge of the Living and the Dead" (152).
- ↑ Campbell (1910); Butler, 152).
- ↑ Baring-Gould, 312. While many accounts suggest that Adalbert left Bohemia of his own volition, Farmer opines that he was "exiled in 990 by nationalist opposition (3).
- ↑ Monumenta Germaniae Historica.
- ↑ Farmer, 4; Butler, 153.
- ↑ ibid.
- ↑ Butler, 153.
- ↑ The pope explicitly rescinded his previous order with the realization that "to go amongst [the Bohemians] against their will was only to provoke further bloodshed" (Butler, 153).
- ↑ Farmer, 4; Butler, 153. Campbell (1910) offers a less politicized view of the saint's death: "Success attended his efforts at first, but his imperious manner in commanding them to abandon paganism irritated them, and at the instigation of one of the pagan priests he was killed."
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Attwater, Donald and Catherine Rachel John. The Penguin Dictionary of Saints. 3rd edition. New York: Penguin Books, 1993. ISBN 0-140-51312-4.
- Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine). The Lives of the Saints. With introduction and additional Lives of English martyrs, Cornish, Scottish, and Welsh saints, and a full index to the entire work. Edinburgh: J. Grant, 1914.
- Butler, Alban. Lives of the Saints. Edited, revised, and supplemented by Herbert Thurston and Donald Attwater. Palm Publishers, 1956.
- Campbell, T. J. "Saint Adalbert" in The Catholic Encyclopedia. 1909.
- Farmer, David Hugh. The Oxford Dictionary of Saints. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. ISBN 0192800582.
- Jaeger, C. Stephen. "The Courtier Bishop in Vitae from the Tenth to the Twelfth Century." Speculum Vol. 58, No. 2 (April 1983). 291-325.
External links
- Map of Prussia from c 1660 with St. Albrecht location between Tenkitten and Fischhausen, west of Königsberg.
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