Position: |
Priest, religious, and mystic OPraem |
Deaths: |
1241 or 1252 |
Patron: |
Mothers, children, and watchmakers |
Attributes: |
Boy, apple, baby Jesus with Mother, inkwell, chalice, key, Premonstratensian, writing utensils, rose. |
BIOGRAPHY
He was born in the 12th century in Cologne and was subject to mystical visions from childhood. He was initially supposed to be a watchmaker, but then he joined the Premonstratensian order, where he became a priest. The abbot entrusted him with taking care of the diet of his confrères, during which he proved himself with patience and obedience. He is said to have achieved a mystical marriage in his spiritual life. Ultimately, he was a sacristan, composing hymns and interpretations for the Song of Solomon.
BIOGRAPHY FOR MEDITATION
REWARDED TRUST
He came from a poor family in Cologne. From the age of seven, he went to school and then rushed to church, where he stayed for hours in front of the statue of the Mother of God with the baby Jesus on his lap. He talked intimately with them as if it were not a statue, but actual beings. He told me what was on his mind and that he liked to share. Legend has it that he once handed Santa an apple and reached out and took it. This reminds us that what we can think honestly, a loving God truly accepts and rewards the goodness of the heart.
He called the Virgin Mary his mother and rose. He often remembered Jesus’ poverty on earth and his disgraces and sufferings. Then he was also happy with his poverty and especially with the possible persecution. The world seemed like a sea of temptation to him, and at the age of 12, he decided to enter the Premonstratensian monastery in Steinfeld. Perhaps precisely because St. Norbert entrusted the order to the protection of the Mother of God, and a flame of love burned in Herman’s heart towards her. About that time or later, he trained as a watchmaker.
After accepting the order’s white religious robes, he was sent to the monastery in Frisk for further education. There, he learned exemplary, but he did not like the writings of pagan speakers. They say they smelled like mold. On the other hand, he felt a sweet pleasure at the writings of the church fathers. After his studies, he returned, took religious vows, and received priestly ordination.
His dreams of remaining in contemplative prayers faded when he was charged with caring for his diet. He willingly and humbly secured it and served it at the table. He himself preferred to fast on bread and water, and when P. To Mary, that he could not remain in prayer for long, she calmed him down: when he performs the duties imposed by serving his brothers as if he were serving Christ and God, he makes the sweetest sacrifice.
After some time, he was given the office of Sacristan to care for the temple, sacred vessels, and religious vestments. Thus, his desire to devote more time to contemplation was granted. Sometimes he spent the whole night in front of the altar. Perhaps because he excelled in purity, love,e and respect for the Mother of God, the brothers began to call him Joseph. His humility and modesty resisted taking the name of his fiancé P. Mary, until she is said to have appeared to him with an angel who informed him that the most holy Virgin would be engaged to him, as she had been betrothed to Joseph, and that she wished him to take his name.
Frequent mystical experiences with P. By Mary and especially by the exaggerated ascetic life, Herman Josef became physically weak and then fell seriously ill. Here, he blamed himself for not being able to serve his brothers. And the Virgin Mary led him out of his despondency by begging him for health. One biographer wrote that he was ground like a grain of wheat by two gins, both pleasures and sufferings.
He also belonged to the worshipers of holy friends in heaven. In honor of St. Vorsila and her companions composed a hymn, including a tune to it according to the singing of the virgins during a mystical experience. At that time, their remains were found at the same time, and Herman Josef begged the skull of St. Gertrude.
Among his outstanding virtues was touching humility. He positioned himself as the smallest and most unworthy, contented with an older patched religious robe, and was perfectly obedient to his superiors. He also managed the clocks in the monastery and exuded a special charm. Later in life, he wrote an exposition of the Old Testament Song of Solomon. Because P. encouraged him to do so, Maria’s work had the best qualities. While working on his writing, he experienced pleasure and moved away from everything earthly.
In recent years, he has been preparing for the death he predicted, as well as the grave. He lived in Haven near Zulpich, a monastery where Cistercian nuns called him to perform Easter ceremonies. When they welcomed him there, he pointed his staff to the place where they would bury him. After some time, his body was transferred to Steinfeld with great fame. Miracles were happening on his grave. Two dates of indistinguishable credibility have been preserved about the year of his death. He was canonized in 1960.
RESOLUTION, PRAYER
