St. Godhard, bishop

Holy

Holiday: May 5th

* 960 Reichersdorf, Bavaria
† 1038 Hildesheim, Lower Saxony

Meaning of the name: strong with God’s help

Attribute: bishop’s crozier

Gotthard was born in 960 as the son of a servant of Ratmund in Reichersdorf in the Bishopric of Passau. His father originally served in a wealthy monastery, which, however, became very impoverished during the wars with the Hungarians. Since Gotthard received a gift, Archbishop Frederick of Salzburg himself provided him with an education in the humanities and theological sciences. After returning from Salzburg in 990, Gotthard entered the monastery in Niederaltaich. Three years later, he was ordained a priest, and in 996, he became abbot.

He worked conscientiously to restore the monastery, and soon, under his leadership, it became one of the most important in the bishopric. The economic situation improved; the buildings were rebuilt. Emperor Henry II also noticed his skill, and at his request in 1005, Gotthard moved to the Thuringian abbey in Hersfeld and Tegersee. Despite the monks’ resistance to the reforms, Gotthard patiently reformed these monasteries. In 1013, he returned to his monastery in Niederaltaich. He continued to devote himself to the management of the monasteries.

In 1022, he became bishop of Hildesheim (south of Hanover). However, his personal life hardly changed. He remained faithful to a simple and unpretentious life. He avoided the political gatherings of the princes and was more interested in the common people. He cared for the poor and sick and heard confessions. At the same time, he took care of the people’s worldly needs. He had a hospital and a house for pilgrims built. Approximately thirty churches were built in the diocese at his initiative. South of Hildesheim, he built a Benedictine monastery, where he often retreated to meditate and pray. In 1038, he felt that his strength was weakening. He was taken to the monastery of St. Maurice in Hildesheim and died there on May 5, 1038. In 1131, Pope Innocent II declared him a saint. He is the first Bavarian to be canonized.