Episode 1799: St Meinrad

St. Meinrad, also known as Meinrad of Einsiedeln, was a hermit and monk who lived during the 9th century. Here is a brief biography:

St. Meinrad was born in what is now Switzerland around the year 797. He entered the Benedictine Abbey of Reichenau, where he received his education and monastic training. However, seeking a more solitary and contemplative life, he eventually became a hermit.

Meinrad chose a remote location in the Swiss Alps near Lake Zurich to live in seclusion. He built a hermitage in the wilderness, devoting himself to a life of prayer, meditation, and asceticism. Over time, he gained a reputation for holiness and wisdom.

Legend has it that two robbers came across Meinrad in his hermitage and, thinking he possessed valuable treasures, killed him in an attempt to steal from him. Meinrad's body was found, and the perpetrators were eventually apprehended and brought to justice.

After his death, Meinrad's hermitage became a site of pilgrimage, and a Benedictine monastery, Einsiedeln Abbey, was established on the same spot. The monastery became a significant center of religious life, and a shrine was dedicated to St. Meinrad.

St. Meinrad is venerated as a martyr and a patron saint of hospitality. His feast day is celebrated on January 21st. The Einsiedeln Abbey, dedicated to Our Lady of the Hermits, continues to be a place of pilgrimage and spiritual significance.