San Virgilio di Salisburgo, Monumento a Virgilio nel duomo di Salisburgo
San Virgilio di Salisburgo, Monumento a
Virgilio nel duomo di Salisburgo
Saint Virgile
Abbé et évêque de
Salzbourg (+ 784)
ou Fergal.
Il était originaire
d'Irlande, passa deux ans en France sous le règne de Pépin le Bref, avant
d'être élevé au rang d'évêque de Salzbourg dans la Carinthie autrichienne. Il
eut quelques démêlés avec saint
Boniface, l'apôtre de la Germanie, qui l'accusait d'avoir affirmé
qu'il existait des étoiles habitées. Le Pape Zacharie par son silence calma
cette "grave affaire".
À Salzbourg en Bavière,
l’an 784, saint Virgile (ou Fergal), abbé et évêque. Homme de grand savoir,
d’origine irlandaise, mis à la tête de l’Église de Salzbourg grâce à la faveur
du roi Pépin, il construisit son église cathédrale en l’honneur de saint Rupert
et travailla avec bonheur à semer la foi parmi les Slaves de Carinthie.
Martyrologe romain
SOURCE : http://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/138/Saint-Virgile.html
Bienerstraße,
Rattenberg; Kath. Pfarrkirche hl. Virgil, Hauptaltar
Also
known as
Fergal
Feargal
Fearghal
Ferghil
Vergil
Virgiel
Virgil
Apostle of Carinthia
Apostle of Croatia
Apostle of Slovenia
Apostle of Yugoslavia
Profile
Benedictine monk. Pilgrim to
the Holy Land in 743,
and on the way home he stopped in Bavaria –
and stayed. Worked with Saint Rupert
of Salzburg. Abbot of
Saint Peter’s monastery in Salzburg, Austria;
one of his monks was Saint Modestus. Bishop of Salzburg in 765,
ordained by Duke Odilo. Saint Boniface twice
accused him of heresy because
of his scientific ideas (including a round earth), but this reflected some
friction between the style and people of Roman and Celtic origins, and
Virgilius was always cleared of the charges. He rebuilt the cathedral of Salzburg.
Sent missionary priests to Carinthia, Austria.
Born
784 at Salzburg, Austria of
natural causes
relics in
the altar of
the cathdral of Salzburg, Austria
10 June 1233 by Pope Gregory
IX
Additional
Information
Book
of Saints, by the Monks of
Ramsgate
Lives
of the Saints, by Father Alban
Butler
Lives
of the Saints, by Father Francis
Xavier Weninger
Saints
of the Day, by Katherine Rabenstein
books
Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
Oxford Dictionary of Saints, by David Hugh Farmer
Saints
and Their Attributes, by Helen Roeder
other
sites in english
video
webseiten
auf deutsch
sitios
en español
Martirologio Romano, 2001 edición
fonti
in italiano
websites
in nederlandse
nettsteder
i norsk
MLA
Citation
“Saint Virgilius of
Salzburg“. CatholicSaints.Info. 25 April 2024. Web. 22 June 2024.
<https://catholicsaints.info/saint-virgilius-of-salzburg/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-virgilius-of-salzburg/
Raphael
Sadeler, San Virgilio, obispo de Salzburgo, exorciza a un endemoniado,
1632
Virgil of Salzburg, OSB B
(RM)
(also known as Feargal, Fearghal, Fergal, Virgilius)
Born in Ireland; died in Salzburg, Austria, November 27, c. 781-784; canonized
1233 by Pope Gregory IX.
Virgil was an Irish monk,
possibly of Aghaboe, who went abroad about 740 intending to visit Palestine.
With him were Dobdagrec, later abbot of a monastery at Chiemsee, and Sidonius,
afterwards bishop of Passau. His learning and ability attracted the attention
of Blessed Pepin the Short, who kept him at the Merovingian court for two
years. About 743, Pepin sent Virgil with letters of recommendation to his
brother-in- law, Duke Odilo of Bavaria, who, c. 745, appointed Virgil abbot of
Saint Peter's Monastery at Salzburg, with jurisdiction over the local
Christians, while Dobdagrec served its episcopal functions.
Instead of visiting
Palestine he remained in Bavaria to help Saint Rupert, the apostle of Austria.
For 40 years he labored to convert Teutons and Slavs, founded monasteries,
churches, and schools. (In 774, the council of Bavaria issued its first
pronouncement on the establishment of schools.)
Virgil appears to have
been a somewhat difficult character and he incurred the strong disapproval of
Saint Boniface, who seems to have detested him. (Perhaps because of differences
in the interpretations of Roman observance or jurisdiction, or because Virgil
succeeded John whom Boniface had as abbot of Saint Peter's, or just personal
differences.) Boniface twice delated him to Rome. On the first occasion Pope
Saint Zachary decided in Virgil's favor. Through carelessness or ignorance, a
priest had used incorrect Latin wording during a baptism. Virgil and Sidonius
ruled that the baptism was valid and need not be repeated; Boniface of Mainz
disagreed. Zachary was surprised that Boniface should have questioned it and
issued a statement to that effect.
The other case concerned
Virgil's cosmological speculations and their implications, which, as reported
to Zachary by Boniface, the pope found very shocking. In 748, the pope directed
Boniface to convene a council to investigate the questionable views, but the
council was never convened. The incident has been the subject of much
discussion and has been used and exaggerated for polemical purposes, but in
fact it is far from clear what Virgil's ideas really were. It appears that
Virgil postulated that the world was round and that people might be living in
what would now be called the Antipodes. He was both a man of learning and a
successful missionary, and even after his cosmological views were called into
question, he was consecrated bishop of the see of Salzburg (c. 766), whose
cathedral he rebuilt.
Saint Virgil brought
relics and the veneration of Saints Brigid and Samthann of Clonbroney to the
areas he evangelized. In fact, Saint Samthann, who may have provided Virgil
with his early education, is better known in Austria than in her homeland.
Among his other good
works, Virgil sent fourteen missionary monks headed by Saint Modestus into the
province of Carinthia, of which he is venerated as the evangelizer. He baptized
two successive dukes of Carinthia at Salzburg (Chetimar and Vetune). His
influence is revealed by the issuance during the time of duke Chetimar of a
Carinthian coin, an old Salzburg rubentaler, with the images of Saint Rupert,
who built Saint Peter's monastery, and Virgil. He fell ill and died soon after
making a visitation in Carinthia, going as far as the place where the Dravo
River meets the Danube.
His feast is kept
throughout Ireland, although he is buried at St. Peter's in Salzburg. Virgil is
widely venerated in southern Germany, Austria, Yugoslavia, and northern Italy
(Attwater, Attwater 2, Benedictines, Coulson, D'Arcy, Encyclopedia, Farmer,
Fitzpatrick, Gougaud, Healy, Husenbeth, Kenney, Montague).
Sometimes he is paired
with Saint Rupertus in artwork (Roeder). Virgil is the patron of Salzburg,
Austria (Farmer).
SOURCE : http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/1127.shtml
Saint
Adolari church (Tyrol). Church gallery (1688) - Saint Virgilius of Salzburg
with a drawing of Salzburg cathedral.
Filialkirche
St. Adolari (Tirol). Empore (1688) - St. Virgil von Salzburg. Abbild des
Salzburger Doms.
St. Vergilius of Salzburg
Irish missionary
and astronomer,
of the eighth century. Vergilius (or Virgilius, in Irish Fergal,
Ferghil, or Feirghil) is said to have been a descendant
of Niall of the Nine Hostages. In the "Annals of the
Four Masters" and the "Annals of Ulster" he is mentioned
as Abbot of Aghaboe,
in Queen's County. About 745 he left Ireland, intending to
visit the Holy land, but, like many of his countrymen, who seemed to
have adopted this practice as a work of piety,
he settled down in France,
where he was received with great favour by Pepin, then mayor of the Palace
under Childeric III. After spending two years at Cressy, near Compiegne,
he went to Bavaria,
at the invitation of Duke Otilo, and within a year or two was made Abbot of St.
Peter's at Salzburg.
Out of humility,
he "concealed his orders", and had a bishop named
Dobdagrecus, a fellow countryman, appointed to perform
his episcopal functions for him. It was while Abbot of St.
Peter's that he came into collision with St.
Boniface. A priest having,
through ignorance,
conferred the Sacrament
of Baptism using, in place of the correct formula, the
words Baptizo te in nomine patria et filia et spiritu sancta",
Vergilius held that the sacrament had been validly conferred. Boniface complained
to Pope
Zachary. The latter, however, decided in favour of Vergilius. Later
on, St.
Boniface accused Vergilius of teaching a doctrine in
regard to the rotundity of the earth, which was "contrary to
the Scriptures". Pope Zachary's decision in this case was
that "if it be proved that
he held the said doctrine,
a council be held, and Vergilius expelled from the Church and
deprived of his priestly dignity"
(Jaffe, "Biblioth. rerum germ.", III, 191). Unfortunately we no
longer possess the treatise in which Vergilius expounded his doctrine.
Two things, however, are certain: first, that there was involved the
problem of original
sin and the universality of redemption;
secondly, that Vergilius succeeded in freeing himself from the charge of
teaching a doctrine contrary
to Scripture. It is likely that Boniface misunderstood
him, taking it for granted, perhaps, that if there are antipodes, the
"other race of men" are not descendants of Adam and
were not redeemed by Christ.
Vergilius, no doubt, had little difficulty in showing that his doctrine did
not involve consequences of that kind. (See ANTIPODES.)
After the martyrdom of St.
Boniface, Vergilius was made Bishop of Salzburg (766
or 767) and laboured successfully for the upbuilding of his diocese as
well as for the spread of the Faith in neighbouring heathen countries,
especially in Carinthia. He died at Salzburg,
27 November, 789. In 1233 he was canonized by Gregory
IX. His doctrine that
the earth is a sphere was derived from the teaching of
ancient geographers, and his belief in
the existence of the antipodes was probably influenced by
the accounts which the ancient Irish voyagers
gave of their journeys. This, at least, is the opinion
of Rettberg ("Kirchengesch. Deutschlands", II, 236).
Sources
Dict. of Christian Biog.,
s.v. Vergilius; OLDEN in Dict. of National Biography, s.v. Fergil;
KRETSCHMER, Die physiche Erdkunde (Vienna, 1889).
Turner, William.
"St. Vergilius of Salzburg." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 15. New
York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 28 Nov. 2016
<http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15353d.htm>.
Transcription. This
article was transcribed for New Advent by Thomas M. Barrett. Dedicated to St.
Vergilius.
Ecclesiastical
approbation. Nihil Obstat. October 1, 1912. Remy Lafort, S.T.D.,
Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York.
Copyright © 2020 by Kevin
Knight. Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
SOURCE : http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15353d.htm
Sägmühlkapelle, Marienaltar, Seitenfiguren links hl. Virgil mit der Attribut Kirchengebäude und rechts hl. Rupert mit dem Attribut Salzfass
St. Virgilius of Salzburg
Feastday: November 27
Birth: 700
Death: 784
Benedictine bishop, also
called Vergilius, Virgil, Ferghil, and Feargal. A native of Ireland, he entered
a monastery and probably served as abbot of
Aghaboe before setting out on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He then spent two
years in France, later going to Bavaria, Germany, where he assisted St. Rupert,
the Apostle of
Austria. He was elected abbot of
the Benedictine abbey of St. Peter at Salzburg and bishop of
the city about 765. A noted intellectual, he believed that the earth was a
sphere, which brought him into conflict with St. Boniface of Mainz who
twice denounced him to Rome. Both times Virgilius was exonerated, and his
reputation as an Apostle of
Carinthia (modern southern Austria), where he conducted missionary labors, was
unblemished. Besides rebuilding the cathedral of
Salzburg, he encouraged a vast missionary venture into Carinthia. Virgilius
died after returning from one such mission on November 27, in Salzbwg. He was
canonized in 1232.
SOURCE : https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=2018
Kath.
Pfarrkirche St. Andrä
(Vergilius) (Saint) Bishop (November
27) (8th
century) An Irish Saint of
noble birth who took a prominent part in the Apostolate of Germany.
He was aided in his holy work by King Pepin
and by the latter’s famous son, the Emperor Charlemagne.
Consecrated Bishop of
Salzburg, Saint Virgil
earned for himself the title of “Father of his people.” He died November
27, A.D. 784.
MLA
Citation
Monks of Ramsgate.
“Virgilius”. Book of Saints, 1921. CatholicSaints.Info.
10 November 2016. Web. 22 June 2024. <https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-virgilius/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-virgilius/
Heiliger Virgil von Salzburg in der Pfarrkirche St. Cyriak in Pfarrwerfen,
Land Salzburg, Österreich. Unbekannter Meister, 2. Hälfte des 15. Jahrhunderts.
Saint Vergilius of Salzburg at the parish
church St. Cyriak in Pfarrwerfen, federal state of Salzburg, Austria.
Anonymous master, 2nd half of 15th century.
Weninger’s
Lives of the Saints – Saint Virgil, Bishop of Saltzburg
The Roman Martyrology
also commemorates today Saint Virgil, Bishop of Saltzburg, who was born in
Ireland, of illustrious parents. He made so much progress in learning, by his
unwearied industry, that he was accounted one of the best scholars of his time.
Going to France, he was most graciously received by King Pepin, who kept him at
Court for some time, and showed him great favor; but afterwards sent him to the
Duke of Bavaria, who intended to honor him with the bishopric of Saltzburg, in
order to keep so wise and holy a man in his dominions. But Virgil, not less
humble than learned, opposed the design of the duke with the greatest energy,
until he was compelled by the prelates of the Church and the people to consent.
No sooner, however, had he taken possession of the Episcopal chair than all his
thoughts and cares were directed towards showing his flock, by his example, the
way that leads to heaven. Hence he preached almost daily to them, and
admonished them with a father’s love and solicitude, to conduct themselves
according to the precepts of the Gospel; but, at the same time, endeavored to
do himself all that he demanded of those whom he exhorted.
To further the honor of
God and of the Saints, he built a magnificent church in memory of Saint Rupert,
the first apostle of Bavaria, and placed in it the relics of that Saint. The
Duke of Carinthia, having heard of the apostolic zeal of our holy bishop, sent
an embassy to request him most earnestly to come into his State, not only to
convert the heathens, but also to animate the faithful to constancy and true
devotion. Virgil first sent him some priests and deacons, and shortly after
went to Carinthia himself, and did all that could be expected of a true
apostle, so that he won the glorious name of Apostle of Carinthia. Having
labored incessantly for twenty years, he returned to Saltzburg; and had no
sooner arrived there than he became sick. Though his malady did not seem to be
at all dangerous, yet he looked upon it as a messenger of death, and prepared
himself most carefully for his last hour. He desired and received the holy
sacraments with great devotion, and spent his last hours in the most fervent exercises
of piety. His death took place in 785. At his shrine the blind recovered their
sight, the deaf their hearing, and many sick persons were restored to their
former health. A deacon, who doubted and despised the miracles that were
wrought there, was immediately possessed by the Evil One, and long tormented,
until going for refuge to the shrine of the Saint, he humbly prayed to be
forgiven for his unbelief.
Practical Considerations
Saint Virgil showed his
flock the road to heaven, both by precepts and by example. Parents, masters,
magistrates, preachers, pastors and confessors, are obliged to show the way to
heaven to their children, domestics, and all those over whom they are placed or
who look to them for instruction. The same every Christian owes, in a certain
manner, to his neighbor. If this be done in words only, it will have little or
no effect. The example must give strength to the words. We must practise
ourselves the good to which we exhort others, and avoid that from which we
endeavor to restrain them. We must walk ourselves in that way to heaven which
we point out to others. In this manner, we can do much more good than by
continual admonitions; “for,” as Saint Leo says, “examples are much more
powerful than precepts.” The lesson which we inculcate by good works goes
deeper, and is of greater benefit, than that which we impart by words only.
“Therefore,” says Saint Gregory, “I know of no better advice than that you
endeavor to teach your brother by your example, the good you desire him to
learn.” Among other good examples, by which Saint Virgil showed others the road
to heaven, was that, in his sickness, he himself asked to receive the
Sacraments of penance, the Holy Eucharist and Extreme Unction. Elsewhere I have
already told you that, when you are sick, you should not delay to receive the
first two of these Sacraments. I will here make only a few remarks about the
third. Extreme Unction is a Sacrament which the Saviour instituted for the
salvation, comfort and strength of the sick. Those who receive it worthily,
obtain, besides other graces, pardon for those sins, which they have,
unknowingly, still on their conscience. They receive also particular grace to
bear their pains patiently; they are strengthened against the temptations of
Satan; and they are even restored to health, should this be conducive to their
salvation. Should God visit you with a severe sickness, do not neglect to ask
for so salutary a Sacrament, and receive it with great devotion. There are
persons who fear to receive it, because they imagine that, after it, they will
surely die; hence they will not receive it so long as they are conscious. How
senseless, how absurd is this idea! It is nothing but a deceit of the devil! Do
we not daily see that people recover after receiving Extreme Unction? This holy
Sacrament has not been instituted to cause us to die sooner, but, on the
contrary, one of the ends for which it has been instituted is to restore man to
health, if his salvation requires it. Some ignorant people again imagine, that
if God restores their health after Extreme Unction, they are no longer allowed
to dance, or to put their bare feet on the ground; and hence they defer the
Sacrament to the very last moment. Although it would doubtless be very
beneficial for those who recover after receiving Extreme Unction, if they were
no longer allowed to dance, yet it is not more forbidden to them, for that
reason, than it is to those who have not been anointed; while to touch the
ground barefoot is not forbidden at all. Satan is the author of such thoughts,
to prevent men from receiving this holy Sacrament; because he knows how
beneficial its effects are. Lend not your ear to Satan, but hesitate not, in
any dangerous sickness, to ask, not only for the holy Communion, but also for
Extreme Unction; because when you receive it with devotion, while still in
possession of all your mental faculties, you will derive much greater benefit
from it. Should you have care of a sick person, see that he receive this
Sacrament in time, and, if necessary, instruct him that one who is about to be
anointed, must not, knowingly, have any mortal sin on his conscience, and that
if he is burdened with any such sin, he must confess it, if he is still able to
do so. On the observance of this instruction, depends more than many imagine;
for, it may happen that a man, by not receiving the graces which Extreme
Unction imparts, may go to eternal ruin, although the omission of Extreme
Unction is in itself not a mortal sin. “Is any man sick among you? let him
bring in the priests of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him
with oil, in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick
man, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he be in sins, they shall be
forgiven him.” (James 5)
MLA
Citation
Father Francis Xavier
Weninger, DD, SJ. “Saint Virgil, Bishop of Saltzburg”. Lives
of the Saints, 1876. CatholicSaints.Info.
31 May 2018. Web. 22 June 2024.
<https://catholicsaints.info/weningers-lives-of-the-saints-saint-virgil-bishop-of-saltzburg/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/weningers-lives-of-the-saints-saint-virgil-bishop-of-saltzburg/
Rattenberg
(Tyrol). Lane in the old town ( Pfarrgasse ) - Bay window: Relief of Saint
Virgilius of Salzburg.
Rattenberg
(Tirol ). Altstadtgasse ( Pfarrgasse ) - Erker: Relief des heiligen Virgilius
von Salzburg.
Nov 27 – St Feargal of
Salzburg (700-784) monk, missionary, bishop
27 November, 2012
Born in Ireland, Feargal
of Virgil (Latin "Virgilius") is said to have been a descendant of
Niall of the Nine Hostages.
St Feargal (Virgilius) of
Salzburg – born about 700 in Ireland; died 784 November 27 in Salzburg,
was an early astronomer. He lived first in France and then in
Bavaria, where he founded the monastery of Chiemsee. He was appointed bishop of
Salzburg around 754
Many Irish monks set out
from Ireland as pilgrims for Christ (peregrini pro Christo). They journeyed
widely through Europe and some founded important churches. Among them is St
Feargal who was a missionary bishop in Salzburg, Austria. Patrick
Duffy records some of the traditions about him.
Monk of Aghaboe
Born in Ireland, Feargal of Virgil (Latin “Virgilius”) is said to have been a
descendant of Niall of the Nine Hostages. He become a monk and probably abbot
in the monastery of Aghaboe (Annals of the Four Masters and the Annals
of Ulster).
On pilgrimage for Christ
In 743 he is said to have left Ireland to go to the Holy Land. He stopped first
of all at the court of King Pepin the Short, father of Charlemagne. After
spending two years at Cressy, near Compiègne, he went to Bavaria, at the
invitation of Duke Odilo, where he founded the monastery of Chiemsee, and
within a year or two was made Abbot of St. Peter’s at Salzburg. Out of
humility, he at first “concealed his orders”, and had a bishop named
Dobdagrecus, a fellow countryman, appointed to perform his episcopal functions
for him.
Controversies with St
Boniface
In his first days at
Salzburg, Feargal was involved in controversies with St. Boniface. A
priest through ignorance conferred the Sacrament of Baptism using the words
“Baptizo te in nomine patria et filia et spiritu sancta”. Feargal held that the
sacrament had been validly conferred, but Boniface complained to Pope Zachary.
The Pope decided in favour of Feargal.
An astronomer
Feargal also expressed a number of opinions on astronomy, geography, and
anthropology, which to Boniface smacked of novelty, if not heresy. He reported
these views to Rome, and the Pope demanded an investigation of the bishop of
Salzburg. Feargal was able to defend his views and nothing came of the
complaint. He held the view that the earth was round which Boniface said was
contrary to Scripture.
Cathedral at Salzburg
Feargal is said to have built a cathedral at Salzburg. St Rupert had built one
there before him and the present cathedral has both of them as patrons; it
is the site of Mozart’s baptism. Feargal baptized the Slavic dukes of
Carinthia, and sent missionaries into Hungary.
Death and canonisation
Returning from a preaching mission to a distant part of his diocese, he fell
sick and died on 27th November 784. When the Salzburg cathedral was
destroyed by a fire in 1181, the grave of Feargal was discovered and this led
to his canonisation by Pope Gregory IX in 1233. His feast is celebrated in
Ireland and Austria.
Basilika
Seckau, Kreuzaltar, Heiliger Virgil (1517); die Statue befindet sich derzeit in
der Dauerausstellung "Die Welt der Mönche" in der Abtei Seckau.
Saint Vergilius of
Salzburg
Century: 8th Century
Patronage:
Feast Day: November
27th
St. Vergilius was from a
noble family in Ireland, and was educated in the Iona Monastery. He is
said to have been a descendant of “Nail of the Nine Hostages”. In the
“Annals of Four Masters” he is mentioned as Abbot of Aghaboe. In 745 he
left Ireland, to visit the Holy Land, but seemed to have adopted the practice
as a work of piety, and settled in France. After spending two years at
Cressy, he went to Bavaria, at the invitation of Duke Odilo. There he
founded the Monastery of Chiemsee, and within a year was made Abbot of St.
Peter’s at Salzburg. Out of humility he “concealed his orders” and had a
bishop named Dobdagrecus, a fellow countryman, appointed to perform his
Episcopal functions for him.
While attending as Abbot
of St. Peter’s, he came into a collision with St. Boniface. A Priest,
having through ignorance, conferred the Sacrament of Baptism using in place of
the correct formula, the word “Absolutus” meaning “Authorized”. St.
Vergilius held that the sacrament had been validly conferred, but St. Boniface
complained to Pope Zachary. The Pope decided in favor of St.
Vergilius. Later on, St. Boniface accused Vergilius of spreading discord
between himself and the Duke of Bavaria, and for teaching a doctrine in regard
to the “rotundity of the earth”, which was contrary to Scriptures. Pope
Zachary’s decision in this case was that “if it shall be clearly established
that he professes belief in another world and other people existing beneath the
earth, or in another sun or moon there, thou art to hold a council, and deprive
him of his sacerdotal rank, and expel him from the Church”.
We no longer possess the
papers in which St. Vergilius expounded his doctrine, however, two things are
certain. First, that there was involved, the problem of “origianl sin”,
and the universality of redemption. Secondly, St. Vergilius succceeded in
freeing himself from the charge of teaching a doctrine contrary to
Scripture. Most likely St. Boniface was already biased against St.
Vergilius because of his theory of “original sin”, misunderstanding him, taking
it for granted, that if there are antipodes, the “other race of men” are not
descendants of Adam were not redeemed by Christ. This is not was
Vergilius taught.
After the martyrdom of
St. Boniface, St. Vergilius was made Bishop of Salzburg in 766. He
labored successfully for the upbuilding of his diocese as well as for the
spread of Christianity, especially in neighboring countries like
Carinthia. He died at Salzburg on November 27, 784. He left a
reputation for learning and holiness. In 1233, he was canonized by Pope
Gregory IX. His doctrine that the earth is a sphere was derived from the
teachings of ancient geographers. His belief in anitpodes was probably
influenced by the accounts of those Irish voyagers as they gave count of their
journeys.
Practical Take Away
St. Vergilius was from Ireland, and was a holy man. He went on to become
the Bishop of Salzburg, and did much to spread Christianity, not only in his
area, but also in the neighboring country of Carinthia. He was noted for
both his holiness, as well as his learning. He believed and preached that
the earth was a sphere, something that brought a lot of controversy in his
time, especially with his colleague, St. Boniface.
SOURCE : http://www.newmanconnection.com/faith/saint/saint-vergilius-of-salzburg
Hl.
Virgil, Statue von Joseph Haid am Altar der Pfarrkirche Kirchdorf in Tirol
November 27
St. Virgil of Ireland,
Bishop of Saltzburg, Confessor
ST. VIRGIL was born in
Ireland, and distinguished at home for his learning and virtue. Travelling into
France in the reign of King Pepin, he was courteously received by that prince,
who kept him two years near his person, till the see of Juvave, since called
Saltzburg, falling vacant, he recommended him to that bishopric, and wrote in
his favour to Odilo, Duke of Bavaria, his friend and brother-in-law. Virgil
trembled at the prospect, and, for two years, commissioned Dobda, a bishop whom
he had brought with him from Ireland, to perform the Episcopal functions,
reserving to himself only the office of preaching and instructing, till he was
compelled by his colleagues to receive the episcopal consecration in 766. He
rebuilt magnificently the abbey of St. Peter at Saltzburg, of which he had been
himself for some time abbot, and he translated thither the body of St. Rupert
founder of that see. This church became afterwards the cathedral. St. Virgil
baptized at Saltsburg two successive dukes of Carinthia, Chetmar, and Vetune,
and sent thither fourteen preachers under the conduct of Modestus, a bishop who
planted the faith in that country. Having settled the affairs of his own
church, he made a visitation of that of Carinthia, as far as the borders of the
Huns, where the Drave falls into the Danube. Soon after his return home he was
taken ill of a slow fever, and, after a fervent preparation, cheerfully
departed to our Lord on the 27th of November, 784. Among the many saints who
governed the see of Saltzburg, whose lives Canisius has collected, there is
none to whom that church and its temporal principality are more indebted than
to St. Virgil. See his life in Canisius, Lect. Ant. and in Mabillon, Act. Ben.
t. 4. p. 310. Also Ware’s Writers of Ireland; Colgan, &c.
Rev. Alban Butler (1711–73). Volume XI: November. The Lives of the Saints. 1866
SOURCE : http://www.bartleby.com/210/11/274.html
Pfarrkirche
hl. Veit, Modriach, Steiermark - Statue hl. Virgil
ST. VIRGILIUS
Feast: November 27
Virgilius was a scientist
before his time, and in his monastery of Aghaboe in Ireland he was known as
"the Geometer" because of his knowledge of geography. In 743, he left
Ireland for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land but got no farther than the court of
Pepin, the father of Charlemagne. In 745, Pepin defeated Odilo, duke of
Bavaria, and sent St. Virgilius to be abbot of the monastery of Sankt Peter and
in charge of the diocese of Salzburg.
In accordance with the
Irish custom, the bishop was subject to the abbot, who was the real head of the
diocese. This was contrary to continental custom, and so Virgilius consented to
be consecrated bishop. His most notable accomplishment was the conversion of
the Alpine Slavs; moreover, he sent missionaries into Hungary.
In his first days at
Salzburg, he was involved in controversies with St. Boniface, one over the form
of baptism, which the pope decided in Virgilius's favor. Virgilius also
expressed a number of opinions on astronomy, geography, and anthropology, which
to Boniface smacked of novelty, if not heresy. He reported these views to Rome,
and the pope demanded an investigation of the bishop of Salzburg. Nothing came
of this and apparently Virgilius was able to defend his views.
Virgilius built a grand
cathedral at Salzburg, baptized the Slavic dukes of Carinthia, and sent
missionaries into lands where no missionary had yet gone. Returning from a
preaching mission to a distant part of his diocese, he fell sick and died on
November 27, 784. When the Salzburg cathedral was destroyed by a fire in 1181,
the grave of Virgilius was discovered and this led to his canonization by Pope
Gregory IX in 1233.
His feast is kept
throughout Ireland and in the diocese of Salzburg.
Thought for the Day: St.
Virgilius was not content to keep his faith to himself, but like many Irish
monks at the time he wanted to share it with others. He looked for a ripe
harvest and found it in Germany, where he labored for over forty years. If we
look around, we can always find some way to share our faith with others.
From 'The Catholic One
Year Bible': . . . We have not been telling you fairy tales when we explained
to you the power of our Lord Jesus Christ and his coming again. My own eyes
have seen his splendor and his glory: I was there on the holy mountain when he
shone out with honor given him by God his Father, . . . - 2 Peter 1:16-18
Taken from "The One
Year Book of Saints" by Rev. Clifford Stevens published by Our Sunday
Visitor Publishing Division, Our Sunday Visitor, Inc., Huntington, IN 46750.
Provided Courtesy of:
Eternal Word Television
Network
5817 Old Leeds Road
Irondale, AL 35210
www.ewtn.com
SOURCE : http://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/VIRGILIU.HTM
San Virgilio (Vigilio?)
di Salisburgo Vescovo
Irlanda, inizio VIII
secolo - Salisburgo, 27 novembre 784
Fu monaco ed in seguito
divenne abate del monastero Achadh-bo-Cainningh, poi si recò in Gallia a
Kiersy. Fu quindi mandato da Pipino il Breve a reggere la diocesi di
Baviera, ma non fu consacrato vescovo per ragioni politiche in seguito alla
morte di San Bonifacio. A lui si deve la prima organizzazione della diocesi di
Salisburgo e l’evangelizzazione delle regioni slave della Carinzia, della
Stiria e della Pannonia.
Etimologia: Virgilio =
verdeggiante, dal latino
Emblema: Bastone
pastorale
Martirologio Romano: A
Salisburgo in Baviera, nell’odierna Austria, san Virgilio, vescovo, uomo di
grande cultura, che, di origine irlandese, con il favore del re Pipino, fu
posto alla guida della Chiesa di Salisburgo, dove costruì la cattedrale in
onore di san Ruperto e si prodigò per diffondere la fede tra gli abitanti della
Carinzia.
Onorato da vivo e da
morto, ma poi dimenticato, questo santo è stato riscoperto nella sua diocesi
quasi cinque secoli dopo, e canonizzato. Poi, per altri cinque secoli, rieccolo
ancora “precario”, prima di essere infine registrato nel Martirologio romano.
Virgilio (Vergilius) è la trasposizione latina di Fergal, il suo nome d’origine
nella lingua celtica dell’Irlanda, l’isola,che non è stata mai soggetta
all’Impero romano e che è diventata cristiana con la predicazione di san
Patrizio (morto nel 461). Qui ha preso vita una Chiesa non strutturata su
diocesi e parrocchie, bensì sui monasteri e i loro abati, guide spirituali dei
monaci e delle popolazioni. Anche Virgilio percorre questo cammino, monaco e
poi abate, legato alle regole che nel monachesimo irlandese sono molto dure;
come del resto è dura la vita della gente.
Numerosi monaci d’Irlanda
hanno poi continuato l’opera di Patrizio in direzione opposta: dall’Irlanda
raggiungevano la Scozia e l’Inghilterra, o sbarcavano in Europa, nelle regioni
non ancora stabilmente cristianizzate: in Francia, in Germania e in Italia,
dove il monaco Colombano, morto nel 615, fonda il monastero di Bobbio
(Piacenza). La tradizione “continentale” dei monaci d’Irlanda continua con
l’abate Virgilio. Durante uno dei suoi viaggi-pellegrinaggi in Francia, si
ferma a studiare nel monastero di Quierzy-sur-Oise, presso Laon. E in
quest’occasione viene presentato al nuovo padrone della Francia: Pipino, detto
“il Breve” perché è piccoletto, il quale ha messo fine al potere dei sovrani
merovingi.
Pipino ha esteso la sua
sovranità anche alla Baviera e a parte dell’Austria, e vuole fare di Virgilio
il vescovo di Salisburgo. Lui accetta subito. Anzi, comincia a fare il vescovo
ancora prima di essere consacrato. Ma lì sul posto viene subito combattuto come
abusivo da chi non gradisce il suo dinamismo e il suo rigore. (Sembra che debba
poi correre a Roma per la consacrazione). Lavora a Salisburgo e nelle campagne
come in Irlanda, su due priorità: istruzione religiosa e soccorso ai poveri. E
usa le sue solite forze di prima linea: i monaci. Specialmente quelli di
Innichen (San Candido, AltoAdige) e del Kremsmünster, in diocesi di
Linz. L’efficacia del suo lavoro è documentata dal fatto più convincente:
lui, il forestiero accolto con diffidenza, ora è richiesto da tante parti;
città e paesi vogliono i suoi missionari. A Salisburgo fa costruire la
cattedrale, centro solenne e stabile di una comunità che va facendosi adulta. E
quando muore, viene sepolto lì, con grandi onoranze. Onorato e poi dimenticato.
Quattrocento anni circa
dopo la morte, un incendio distrugge la cattedrale: e, negli scavi per la
ricostruzione, ecco emergere la sua bara. È come se Virgilio fosse appena
morto: si diffondono voci di miracoli, si raduna gente in preghiera. La figura
del vescovo d’Irlanda riemerge dal silenzio: se ne richiede la canonizzazione.
Nel 1230 il processo canonico incomincia, si raccolgono le testimonianze da
mandare a Roma. Nel 1233, Gregorio IX proclama santo il vescovo Virgilio. Nel
1740 il suo nome sarà accolto nel Martirologio romano.
Autore: Domenico Agasso
SOURCE : http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/79450
Pfarrkirche
Reith bei Kitzbühel. Hochaltar. Hl. Virgil mit Dommodell
Parish
church Reith bei Kitzbühel. Main altar. Virgil of Salzburg. Made by Georg
Faistenberger, about 1715
Vergilius (ook Fergal, Fearghal of Ferghil) van
Salzburg osb, Oostenrijk; abt & bisschop; † 784.
Feest 24 september
(tezamen met Rupert van Salzburg op de wijdingsdag van de kathedraal) & 24
(in het bisdom Klagenfurt-Gurk: tegelijk met Modestus) & † 27 november.
Vergilius moet rond 700
ergens in Ierland geboren zijn. Waarschijnlijk had hij zijn opvoeding ontvangen
in het klooster Colbroney, waar Samthann († 739; feest 18 of 19 december) abdis
was. Als jonge Ierse monnik was hij in gezelschap van twee medebroeders,
Dobdagrec en Sidonius, op pelgrimstocht gegaan. Datt behoorde indertijd tot hun
spiritualiteit van het vreemdelingschap.
Twee jaar lang bracht
Vergilius door in een zogeheten Schottenklooster op
het vasteland. Schottenkloosters waren
pleisterplaatsen voor de rondtrekkende Ierse monniken. Ze dienden als
vormingscentra van wetenschap en studie. Ze hadden dan ook de warme steun van
de vorst, Pepijn de Korte, de vader van de latere Karel de Grote. Met
waarderende brieven van aanbeveling werd Vergilius door Pepijn in 743 naar
hertog Odilo van Beieren doorverwezen. Van Odilo kreeg hij de opdracht het werk
van de beroemde bisschop Rupert († 717; feest 27 maart) voort te zetten. Deze
had voortvarend de geloofsverkondiging in die streken op poten gezet. Tezamen
met Dobdagrec begon hij aan het karwei. Sidonius was intussen abt geworden van
klooster Chiemsee; later vinden we hem terug als bisschop van de Zuid-Duitse
stad Passau.
Vergilius gaf leiding aan
de verbreiding van het evangelie zonder zelf bisschop te zijn; hij was door
Odilo benoemd tot abt van het St-Petrusklooster in Salzburg. Hij stichtte
kloosters, kerken en scholen. Wijdingen en alle andere handelingen waarvoor een
bisschop vereist was, liet hij verrichten door een Ierse monnik uit zijn
kloostergemeenschap, die ooit de bisschopswijding had ontvangen. In Ierland was
het heel gewoon dat er bisschoppen waren onder de monniken van een klooster.
Ondanks hun hoge positie in de rangorde van de kerk, waren zij als monnik
gehoorzaamheid verschuldigd aan de abt.
De grote
geloofsverkondiger van Duitsland, Bonifatius († 754; feest 5 juni), had moeite
met deze constructie. Waarschijnlijk was het hem te Keltisch. Ook hij was
afkomstig van de overkant van het Kanaal: hij kwam uit Crediton in
Zuid-Engeland. Maar hij was in hart en nieren verbonden met Rome. Zo'n honderd
jaar eerder - in 664 - hadden de Keltische monnniken zich op de synode van
Whitby aangesloten bij de Romeinse gebruiken. Tot dan toe hadden de Keltische
monniken een afwijkende tonsuur en - wat veel erger was - een afwijkende
berekening voor de Paasdatum gehad. Met veel moeite waren de partijen tot
elkaar gekomen en hadden de Ieren zich gevoegd naar de Romeinse gebruiken. Maar
Bonifatius verdacht Vergilius ervan dat hij in zijn hart nog steeds een
aanhanger was van die Keltische afwijkingen. Bovendien had de grote apostel van
Duitsland in een dispuut over de geldigheid van de doop van de paus ongelijk gekregen.
Bonifatius had zich namelijk afgevraagd, of een doop wel geldig genoemd kon
worden als een priester uit gebrek aan eerbied of kennis de Latijnse tekst
hopeloos had verhaspeld. Vergilius en Sidonius waren van mening geweest dat het
hier alleen maar ging om een taalprobleem zonder dat het eigenlijke mysterie
geweld werd aangedaan. Bonifatius was het er niet mee eens geweest, en had de
kwestie voorgelegd aan paus Zacharias († 752; feest 22 maart). Deze had de
Ieren gelijk gegeven. Naast dit alles was Bonifatius waarschijnlijk geïrriteerd
door het feit dat hertog Odilo Vergilius' abtsbenoeming aan zich getrokken had,
waar hij, Bonifatius, nog diens voorganger Johannes had aangewezen.
De verwijdering werd nog
groter door het feit dat Vergilius, die in de toenmalige wetenschappelijke
kringen met bewondering 'De Geometer' werd genoemd, bleek te verkondigen dat
volgens hem de aarde de vorm van een ronde bol moest hebben. Hij schreef er
zelfs ongeruste brieven over naar de paus. Wat Vergilius nu precies leerde,
komen we alleen maar te weten uit de brieven van paus Zacharias. Die schreef
aan de abt van St-Peter te Salzburg dat hij zijn eigen en andermans zielenheil
in gevaar bracht, als hij niet ophield met zijn twijfelachtige, kosmologische
speculaties. Te oordelen naar Zacharias' weergave van Vergilius' gedachtegoed
scheen deze niet alleen te veronderstellen dat de aarde een bol was, maar ook
dat er beneden ons nog een andere wereld bestond met andere mensen, een andere
zon en een andere maan. Het is niet duidelijk of hij daarmee onze tegenvoeters
aan de andere kant van de wereldbol bedoelde, of dat hij een gekerstende versie
aanhing van de geheimzinnige Keltische sprookjes- en geestenwereld.
Toch kwam het niet tot
concrete maatregelen tegen Vergilius. Bij dit alles mogen we niet vergeten dat
Bonifatius nog aan de wieg had gestaan van het bisdom Salzburg; het ging hem
dus ter harte. In 739 - dus vier jaar voor Vergilius' aantreden - had hij
Beieren opgedeeld in de bisdommen Salzburg, Freising, Regensburg en Passau.
Bovendien had hij er zorg voor dat de nieuwe leer van Christus op de goede
manier onder de mensen zou worden gebracht. Er was in het verleden al genoeg
kwaad gedaan door afwijkende leerstellingen.
De situatie nam een
onverwachte wending door Bonifatius' gewelddadige dood bij het Friese Dokkum in
754. Een jaar erna liet Vergilius zich tot bisschop van Salzburg wijden. Toen
hertog Tassilo van Beieren ten gevolge van allerhande schermutselingen Karintië
(of Kärnten) bij zijn grondgebied had getrokken, begon Vergilius tezamen
met koorbisschop Modestus
(† ca 772; feest 3 december) aan de kerstening van dit gebied. Dat moet rond
750 geweest zijn. Hierdoor draagt hij ook de eretitel 'Apostel van Karintië'.
In 774 was er onder
Vergilius’ leiding in Beieren een bisschoppenconferentie. Bij die gelegenheid
werd voor het eerst met evenzoveel woorden onderstreept dat het stichten van
scholen een uitstekends middel was om de christelijke cultuur te verspreiden.
Daar zal Vergilius' invloed wel niet vreemd aan geweest zijn. Op 24 september
van datzelfde jaar wijdde hij de eerste kathedrale kerk van Salzburg in.
Tegelijkertijd werden de relieken van zijn voorganger Rupert en diens beide
gezellen Chuniald en Gislar met plechtig vertoon bijgezet. In de tijd erna liet
hij ook de relieken van beroemde overzeese heiligen naar Salzburg overbrengen
als Bridget van Ierland en zijn eigen abdis van vroeger Samthann.
Zijn leven lang heeft hij
in contact gestaan met zijn vaderland. Het klooster van St-Peter onderhield een
gebedsband met het beroemde klooster op het Schotse eilandje Iona.
Verering & Cultuur
Op 16 februari 1181 stootten werklieden tijdens de nieuwbouw van de kathedraal
op een kleine ommuurde, geheel vergeten crypte. De ruimte bevatte de kist met
het stoffelijk overschot van Vergilius. Op zijn sarcofaag trof men nog een
afbeelding in goud van de bisschop aan. Vergilius werd in 1232 door paus
Gregorius IX († 1241) heilig verklaard. Daarmee is hij een van de weinige
Keltische heiligen aan wie deze kerkelijke eer officieel te beurt valt. Tezamen
met Rupert rusten zijn relieken in het hoogaltaar van de kathedrale kerk.
Hij wordt afgebeeld als bisschop (mijter, tabberd, staf) met een kerkmodel in de hand; soms met geldbuidel of aardbol.
Hij is patroon van het bisdom Salzburg en van de kinderen; zijn voorspraak
wordt in geroepen bij een moeilijke geboorte. Een van de katholieke
studentenverenigingen van de Technische Universiteit te Delft koos hem als haar
patroon (Sint-Virgiel) vanwege zijn technische intelligentie die zich uitte in
het feit dat hij had berekend dat een aarde een bol moest zijn.
[000; 000»sys; 101a; 103:09.24; 111p:498; 115a; 118; 122; 126p:72; 132; 229p:497;
204p:63; 339p:42; Dries van den Akker s.j./2007.11.15]
© A. van den Akker
s.j. / A.W. Gerritsen
SOURCE : https://www.heiligen-3s.nl/heiligen/11/27/11-27-0784-vergilius.php
Rattenberg
(Tyrol). Saint Virgil parish church - Citizen church: Virgin Mary as Ecclesia,
flanked by Saint Virgil and Saint Catherine of Alexandria ( 1737 ) by Matthäus
Günther.
Rattenberg
(Tirol). Pfarrkirche St. Virgil - Bürgerkirche: Maria als Allegorie der Kirche,
flankiert vom heiligen Virgil und der heiligen Katherina von Alexandria ( 1737
) von Matthäus Günther.
Den hellige Virgilius av
Salzburg (~700-784)
Minnedag: 27.
november
Kärntens apostel;
skytshelgen for erkebispedømmet Salzburg og bispedømmet Graz-Seckau; for barn
og i barselsnød
Den hellige Virgilius
(Virgil, Vergil, Vergilius) ble født rundt 700 i Irland. Kanskje er hans navn
en latinisering av det irske Fergal (Feargal, Fergil, Ferghil, Feirghil,
Feirgil). Han kom fra en adelig familie, kanskje fra kongeslekten Loeghaire, og
ble muligens utdannet av den hellige abbedisse Samthann i
klosteret Colbroney. Ifølge Annals of the Four Masters og Annals
of Ulster var han identisk med abbed Feirgil i klosteret Aghaboe ved
Killarney i Queens County (nå Laois), men dette er omstridt. Han var svært
lærd, og på grunn av sin fremragende kjennskap til matematikk ble han
kalt Geometer («Landmåleren»).
Virgilius var en av de
irske munkene som på 700-tallet var så besatt av misjonstanken at de utbredte
Guds ord på kontinentet pro amore Christi, av kjærlighet til Kristus. Han
ønsket å reise som pilegrim til Palestina, og rundt 742 kom han til
franker-riket. Sammen med ham var Dub Dá Chrich (Dobdagrec, Dobdagrecus), som
skulle bli abbed for et kloster i Chiemsee og vandrebiskop, og Sidonius, senere
biskop av Passau. Virgilius ble snart en god venn av den frankiske
hushovmesteren (major domus) under kong Kilderik III (743-51), Pipin
den Lille (741-68; konge fra 751). Pipin beholdt ham ved det merovingiske
hoffet i Cressy nær Compiègne i to år.
I 743 sendte Pipin
Virgilius til Bayern for å slutte fred med sin svoger, hertug Odilo, som hadde
ledet et mislykket opprør. To år senere overlot hertug Odilo Virgilius ledelsen
av bispedømmet Salzburg, som da tilhørte Bayern og som hadde stått vakant siden
den hellige Ruperts
død i 720. Han var likevel først bare abbed i klosteret St. Peter, som biskop
Rupert hadde grunnlagt, fordi han nesten halsstarrig kjempet mot bispeverdigheten.
Først i 765 eller 767 mottok han bispevielsen. Før det hadde han i biskoppelige
funksjoner latt seg representere av den irske vandrebiskopen Dub Dá Chrich.
Det virker som om
Virgilius var av en noe vanskelig natur, og han vakte den hellige Bonifatius'
motvilje. Bonifatius hadde siden 732 vært erkebiskop og pavelig legat og hadde
utnevnt Johannes, Virgilius' forgjenger som abbed av St. Peter. Bonifatius
mistenkte Virgilius for å ha heterodokse meninger, som noen andre irske
misjonærer i området. To ganger klaget Bonifatius ham inn for den hellige
pave Zacharias (741-52),
og en tid ble han ansett som kjetter. Første gang var grunnen at Virgilius
hadde hevdet at det ikke gjorde noen forskjell for sakramentet selv om en prest
som var fullstendig ukyndig i latin, hadde uttalt dåpsordene feil: Baptizo
te in nomine patria et filia et spiritus sancti («Jeg døper deg i Fedrelandets,
Datterens og Den Hellige Ånds navn»). Han måtte dra til Roma og svare for seg
hos paven, men hans forklaringer var så overbevisende at paven frikjente ham.
Men andre gang handlet det om Virgilius' kosmologiske spekulasjoner og deres
implikasjoner, som slik de var rapportert til ham av Bonifatius, fant paven
svært sjokkerende og dømte mot Virgilius.
Hendelsen har vært
gjenstand for mye diskusjon og har blitt brukt og overdrevet av polemiske
grunner, men i virkeligheten er det langt fra klart hva Virgilius' ideer var.
Det eneste som er bevart er pave Zacharias' brev, som erklærte at Virgilius
kunne sette sin egen og andres frelse i fare dersom han fortsatte å lære at det
var en annen verden under denne med andre mennesker og med en annen sol og
måne. Det er klart at Virgilius lærte at jorden hadde form av en kule, og denne
erkjennelsen var den gang allerede utbredt. Men det er ikke helt klart om han
lærte at det på den andre siden av kulen levde mennesker som våre antipoder
eller, som Bonifatius mistenkte, at han ga sin tilslutning til eksistensen av
alveverdenen fra irsk folklore.
Paven valgte den linje at
hvis Virgilius på noen måte benektet enheten i den menneskelige rase og derfor
Frelsens universialitet, skulle det holdes en synode hvor han skulle fratas sin
prestelige rang og ekskommuniseres; ellers skulle man la ham være i fred.1 Ettersom
det ikke finnes bevis for at han ble prøvd, langt mindre fordømt for sine
meninger, er det mest trolig at gnisningene skyldtes de keltisk/romerske
kontroversene i England i disse århundrene. Først etter Bonifatius' død i 755
kunne Virgilius bli bispeviet i 765 eller 767, noe som ytterligere avkrefter
kjetterteorien.
Virgilius største
fortjeneste var misjoneringen i det nylig erobrede Kärnten (Karantania) og
Slovenia. Den slovenske hertug Chitomar var blitt kristen under sitt fangenskap
i Bayern, men folket var fortsatt hedninger, og de få prestene i landet kunne
ikke omvende hele folket. Derfor ba han Virgilius om hjelp. Han sendte den
hellige Modestus,
sin irske korbiskop (vandrebiskop uten eget bispedømme), Libellus og flere
prester for å omvende de hedenske slaverne i denne regionen, som han innlemmet
i bispedømmet Salzburg. Arbeidet ble ledet fra de tre misjonssentrene Maria
Saal, St. Peter i Holz og St. Johann ved Knittelfeld. Virgilius kalles
slovenernes og Kärntens apostel.
Virgilius brakte også
relikvier av de hellige Brigida og
Samthann til Salzburg, og Samthann, som kan ha gitt Virgilius hans første
utdannelse, er mer kjent i Østerrike enn i sitt hjemland. Han hadde også en
spesiell interesse for Iona. Virgilius går også inn i historien som den som
bygde den første domkirken i Salzburg, og den 24. september 774 overførte han
relikviene av biskop Rupert, Chuniald og Gislar til
det nye gudshuset. Virgil skrev flere skrifter, blant dem stridsskriftet Libellus
Virgilii og trolig den første utgaven av Ruperts biografi, Vita
Ruperti.
Virgilius ble ansett for
en av sin tids lærdeste personer, spesielt innen teologi, filosofi, historie,
astronomi og matematikk, men den praktiske og jordnære biskopen åpnet også de
legende kilder i det senere Bad Gastein. Han fikk også åpnet de gamle
malmgruvene, og den gjenopptatte malmgruvedriften skaffet landet gode
inntekter. Takket være sin handlekraft ble Salzburgs innflytelsesområde utvidet
helt til Ungarn og til Drau. Stiftelsen av Kremsmünster skjedde også på hans
initiativ. Hele tiden sto han i forbindelse med sitt irske hjemland.
Virgilius døde den 27.
november 784 i Salzburg, etter å ha kommet tilbake fra en visitasjonsreise. Han
fant også sitt siste hvilested i domkirken. Han var lenge glemt, først da
domkirken ble ødelagt av brann i 1167 og senere gjenoppbygd under biskop Konrad
av Wittelsbach, fant man hans grav. Innskriften viste at biskop Virgilius hadde
bygd kirken, og etter skrinleggingen av hans relikvier og overføring til et mer
verdig gravsted, ble han i 1233 helligkåret av pave Gregor IX (1227-41), som en
av de få irske munker. I 1288 ble det bygd et alter for ham i domkirken i Salzburg,
og der har han siden vært bisatt. Hans navn ble I 1740 satt inn i Martyrologium
Romanum.
Hans minnedag er 27.
november, og han feires i hele Irland, spesielt i det irske bispedømmet Ossory.
I det tyske språkområdet feires han sammen med sin forgjenger Rupert den 24.
september, eller sammen med sin korbiskop Modestus den 24. november
(bispedømmet Gurk-Klagenfurt).
Virgilius fremstilles som
biskop med en romansk domkirke med to tårn eller med en pengeskål, ofte også
med en jordklode. Han er skytshelgen ved barselsnød. Den mest pålitelige
informasjonskilde om Virgilius er et epitaf (gravskrift) av Alkuin. Det
eksisterer en biografi fra 1100-tallet, men den er mindre pålitelig, delvis på
grunn av sin senere dato.
1 Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Epistolae Selectae, 1:80, s 178-79
Kilder:
Attwater/John, Attwater/Cumming, Farmer, Butler (XI), Benedictines, Bunson,
Engelhart, Schnitzler, Schauber/Schindler, Melchers, Gorys, Dammer/Adam, KIR,
CE, CSO, Patron Saints SQPN, Infocatho, Bautz, Heiligenlexikon, santiebeati.it,
ewtn.com, en.wikipedia.org, de.wikipedia.org, erzbistum-muenchen.de,
kirchensite.de - Kompilasjon og oversettelse: p. Per Einar Odden -
Opprettet: 2001-12-27 19:26 - - Sist oppdatert: 2007-07-24 15:34
SOURCE : http://www.katolsk.no/biografier/historisk/virgil
_%E2%80%94_Mozartplatz_1_(Salzburg_Museum_%E2%80%94_N._Res._%E2%80%94_Dauerausstellung_%E2%80%94_10-facher_Dukat%2C_Hl._Rupert_mit_Salzfass_im_Gespr%C3%A4ch_mit_Hl._Virgin_vor_dem_Dom_zu_Salzburg%2C_Gold%2C_1687%2C_R%C3%BCckseite)_Mattes_2021.jpg)
10-facher
Dukat, Gold, Salzburg, 1687, Rückseite: Hl. Rupert mit Salzfass im Gespräch mit
Hl. Virgin vor dem Dom zu Salzburg, Dauerleihgabe des Salzburger Museumsverein,
Inv.-Nr. MÜ 16775. Museo di Salisburgo. AUT — Bundesland
Salzburg — Salzburg (Stadt) — Mozartplatz 1 (Salzburg Museum — N. Res. —
Dauerausstellung — 10-facher Dukat, Hl. Rupert mit Salzfass im Gespräch mit Hl.
Virgin vor dem Dom zu Salzburg, Gold, 1687, Rückseite) Mattes 2021
Band XII (1997)Spalten
1441-1442 Autor: Wolfgang Winhard
VIRGIL(IUS) von Salzburg,
Abt des Benediktinerstiftes St. Peter und Bischof von Salzburg, + 27.11. 784,
war zunächst Abt des Klosters Aghaboe (Queens county) in Irland (irisch: Fergal
- Fergil, das Kloster hieß ursprünglich Achad Bó). Um 742 verließ er als Pilger
die Insel und kam 743 nach Quercy an den Hof des Hausmeiers und späteren
fränkischen Königs Pippin. Dieser schickte ihn 745 zu seinem unter fränkischer
Oberhoheit gebrachten Schwager Herzog Odilo von Bayern, der ihn nach dem Tod
des Abtes und Bischofs Johannes zum Nachfolger in Salzburg bestimmte. Unter V.
blühten Stadt und Bistum Salzburg merklich auf. Er regierte zunächst nach dem
Vorbild der irischen Kirche sein Bistum als Abt des Klosters St. Peter, ohne
selbst geweihter Bischof zu sein. Die bischöflichen Weihefunktionen überließ er
seinem irischen Gefährten, dem Klosterbischof Dub Dá Chrich (Dobdagrecus). Die
kanonische Irregularität von Vs. Bestellung, sowie seine Lehre von der Kugelgestalt
der Erde und den Antipoden, besonders aber die Ablehnung der Wiedertaufe, falls
ein sprachunkundiger Priester mit der Formel »Baptizo te in nomine patria et
filia et spiritus sancti« getauft hatte, führten zu harten Auseinandersetzungen
mit dem zur Neuorganisation der bay. Bistümer beauftragten Bonifatius. Mehrmals
war Papst Zacharias mit diesen Kontroversen befaßt. - Nach heutiger
historischer Forschung wurde V. am 15.6.749 zum Bischof geweiht. Sein Wirken
fand in Salzburg große Anerkennung. Der Hauptgrund der Auseinandersetzungen mit
Bonifatius liegt sicher in der geistigen Überlegenheit des Iren. Der Gelehrte
von hohem Ruf, war nicht nur Theologe und Philosoph, er befaßte sich auch mit
Geschichtsschreibung, Astronomie, Geographie und Mathematik. V., der Geometer,
wie er genannt wurde, war als Vertreter des Quadriviums dem Grammatiker
Bonifatius als Vertreter des Triviums an geistiger Genialität überlegen.
Letztlich handelt es sich um den »Konflikt zweier Kulturen« (Pádraig P. Neill).
In seinem Bistum wirkte V. neben seiner Förderung der Wissenschaft erfolgreich
in den Bereichen Seelsorge, Missionierung und der geistlichen Verbindung zu
seiner irischen Heimat: das unter seiner Regierung begonnene Verbrüderungsbuch
von St. Peter bezeugt eine Gebetsverbrüderung mit Iona, aus Anlaß der
translatio sancti Hrodbehrti (des Diözesangründers Rupert) in dem von ihm
erbauten Dom (774), ließ er eine Vita des Heiligen schreiben. Den Aufstieg
Salzburgs kann man anhand umfangreicher und weitausgreifender Gütererwerbungen
und Klostergründungen nachweisen; u.a. Zell am See, Otting, Gars und Au am Inn,
für die Missionsaufgaben (Bekehrung der Slawen) in dem von Tassilo eroberten
Kärnten die ersten drei Kirchen der Salzburger Mission Maria Saal, St. Peter im
Holz und St. Johann bei Knittelfeld. Virgil von Salzburg starb am 27.11.784 und
wurde am 18.6.1233 heiliggesprochen. Er wird dargestellt als Bischof in
Pontifikalkleidung mit Kirchenmodell.
Lit.: H. Löwe, Ein
literarischer Widersacher des Bonifatius. Virgil von Salzburg und die
Kosmographie d. Aethicius Ister, in: Abh. d. Akad. Wiss. 11, Mainz 1951,
903-990; - H. Wolfram, Der Zeitpunkt der Bischofsweihe Virgils in Salzburg, in:
MIÖG 79 (1971) 297-315; - Ders., Die Zeit der Agilofinger. Rupert und Virgil,
in: Geschichte Salzburgs Stadt und Land, hrsg. v. H. Dopsch und H.
Spatzenegger, Bd. I 1. T. Salzburg 19832, 121-150; - F. Prinz, Salzburg
zwischen Antike und Mittelalter, in: Frühmittelalterl. Stud. 5 (1971) 1-36; -
Ders. Frühes Mönchtum im Frankenreich, Darmstadt 19882, (Reg.); - H. Koller,
Die Christianisierung des Ostalpenraumes, in: Religion u. Kirche in Österreich,
Wien 1972, 13-27; - Ders., Salzburg im 8. Jahrhundert, in: 1200 Jahre Dom zu
Salzburg 774-1974, Salzburg 1974, 15-25; - K. Forstner, War Virgil der Schreiber
des Verbrüderungsbuches?, in: ebd. 26-30; - F. Pagitz, Die mittelalterlichen
Dome in historischer Sicht, in: ebd. 31-72; - H. Vetters, Die mittelalterlichen
Dome in archäologischer Sicht, in: ebd. 73-82; - H. Dopsch, Virgil von Salzburg
(+ 784). Aus dem Leben und Wirken des Patrons der Rattenberger Pfarrkirche, in
FS z. Wiedereröffnung der Stadtpfarrkirche z. Hl. Virgil in Rattenberg,
Salzburg 1983, 41-44. Ders. und R. Juffinger (Hrsg.), Virgil von Salzburg
Missionar und Gelehrter, Salzburg 1985 (mit grundlegenden Beiträgen); - J. Maß,
Das Bistum Freising im Mittelalter, München 1986 (Reg.); - ADB 400, 11-14; -
LThK2 10. Bd. 806; - Lex. f. christl. Ikonogr. 8. Bd. 572 f.
Wolfgang Winhard
Biographisch-Bibliographisches
Kirchenlexikon, su bautz.de
SOURCE : https://web.archive.org/web/20090623122555/http://www.bautz.de/bbkl/v/virgilius_b_v_s.shtml
Pürgg.
St.John´s chapel: Saint Virgil ( or Saint Rupert )( 12th century )
Pürgg.
St.Johannes-Kapelle: St.Virgil ( oder St.Rupert )( 12.Jhdt )
Hl. Virgil
Bischof von Salzburg,
Glaubensbote - 24. September
Virgil kam aus Irland,
das er um das Jahr 742 als Missionar verlassen haben dürfte. Möglicherweise
stammte er aus dem königlichen Geschlecht von Loegaire. Im Jahr 743 ist er am
Hof des Frankenkönigs Pippin erstmals nachweisbar. Hier blieb Virgil etwa zwei Jahre.
Er war als Gelehrter, der aufgrund seiner erdkundlichen Kenntnisse den Beinamen
„Geometer“ trug, bei Hof hochgeschätzt. Pippin empfahl Virgil dann seinem
Schwager, dem Herzog Odilo von Bayern. Hier wirkte er zunächst als geistlicher
Berater, bevor Odilo ihm 746 oder 747 die Leitung der durch den Tod des
Bischofs Johannes frei gewordene Diözese Salzburg übertrug. Da Virgil zunächst
über keine bischöflichen Weihegewalten verfügte, wurden diese von einem seiner
Gefährten, dem irischen Klosterbischof Dub Dá Chrich (Dobdagrecus) ausgeübt.
Erst 749 wurde Virgil, der zugleich auch dem Kloster St, Peter in Salzburg als
Abt vorstand, selbst zum Bischof geweiht. Virgil galt als bedeutender und
genialer Gelehrter, nicht nur auf den Gebieten Theologie und Philosophie,
sondern auch in der Geschichtsschreibung, der Astronomie und der Mathematik.
In Salzburg kam es
schon bald zu Auseinandersetzungen mit dem päpstlichen Legaten Bonifatius.
Dieser war zum einen von Herzog Odilo bei der Ernennung Virgils übergangen worden,
zum anderen kamen nun theologische Streitigkeiten hinzu: Anlass war ein des
Lateinischen offenbar kaum kundiger Salzburger Priester, der reihenweise Taufen
mit der Formel „Baptizo te in nomine patria et filia et Spiritus sancti« Ich
taufe dich im Namen Vaterland, Tochter und des Heiligen Geistes) vorgenommen
hatte. Bonifatius Auffassung, in solchen Fällen müsse die Taufe wiederholt
werden, widersprach nach einer Intervention Virgils in Rom schließlich auch
Papst Zacharias - für seinen Legaten Bonifatius bedeutete dies eine Demütigung.
So ließ eine erneute Auseinandersetzung zwischen Virgil und Bonifatius nicht
lange auf sich warten. Diesmal klagte der Legat Virgil in Rom an, dieser würde
die irrige Meinung von der Kugelgestalt der Erde vertreten, vor allem aber die
Lehre von den Antipoden, also Menschen, die auf der gegenüberliegenden Seite
der Erdkugel leben würden. Eine solche Auffassung war aber häretisch, denn die
Antipoden konnten, da sie auf der gegenüberliegenden Seite der Welt, von dieser
- aus Sicht der Anhänger des Ptolemaios - durch einen undurchdringlichen
Feuerreifen getrennt waren, weder von Adam und Eva abstammen, noch durch
Christus erlöst sein. Damit aber war die christliche Vorstellung der Einheit
des Menschengeschlechts in Frage gestellt.
Der Konflikt zwischen Virgil und Bonifatius war vor allem auch eine
Auseinandersetzung zwischen Männern unterschiedlicher intellektueller Prägung
die aus sehr verschiedenen Kulturzusammenhängen stammten. Der weitere Verlauf
des Streites zwischen beiden bleibt im Dunkeln, Häufig wurde angenommen, der
»Aethicus Ister«, eine sehr eigenwillige Kosmographie und eine der
sonderbarsten Schriften des Frühmittelalters sei von Virgil als Reaktion
hierauf verfasst worden - dies blieb bislang jedoch nicht mehr als eine
interessante These. Sicher ist Virgils Autorschaft hingegen bei einigen anderen
Schriften, darunter die Streitschrift »Libellus Virgilii«, vielleicht auch die
Urfassung der Lebensbeschreibung des hl. Rupert, die »Via Ruperti«.Mit der
Gestalt Virgils ist auch die erste kulturelle Blüte Salzburgs seit dem
Ende der Römerzeit verbunden. Nicht nur, dass er den ersten, ungewöhnlich
großen Dom in seiner Bischofsstadt errichtete, das Kunsthandwerk durch Aufträge
förderte und die Gebeine seines Vorgängers Rupert von Worms nach Salzburg
bringen ließ. Auf seine Anregung gehen auch Schriften zurück, wie das berühmte
Salzburger Verbrüderungsbuch oder die Lebensbeschreibung des hl. Korbinian,
durch seinen Freund und Amtsbruder, den Freisinger Bischof Arbeo. Zugleich wird
auch der Ökonomische Aufstieg Salzburgs durch den Erwerb umfangreicher und weit
ausgreifender Güter in dieser Zeit deutlich. Zu den bedeutenden Aufgaben, derer
sich Virgil zudem annahm, gehörte die Slawenmission in Karantanien (in der
Gegend des heutigen Kärnten), die von den drei Missionszentren Maria Saal, St.
Peter in Holz und St Johann bei Knittelfeld ausging.
Nach fast vierzig Jahren im Bischofsamt starb Virgil am 27. November des
Jahres 784 in Salzburg, er wurde im dortigen Dom bestattet.
Brauchtum und Verehrung
Das Grab Virgils wurde erst beim Neubau des Salzbürger Doms unter Erzbischof
Konrad I. im Jahr 1181 wieder aufgefunden. Fünfzig Jahre später, am 18. Juni
1233, wurde er heilig gesprochen. Heute wird seiner besonders in den ehemals
salzburgischen Teilen der Erzdiözese München und Freising gedacht.
Darstellung, Attribute, Patronate
Virgil wird im Gewand eines Bischofs mit einem Kirchenmodell, meist einem doppeltürmigen romanischen Dom dargestellt, das an die Errichtung des ersten Salzburger Doms durch ihn erinnert, manchmal auch bei der Heilung eines Besessenen - ein Wunder, das erst lange nach seinem Tod geschehen sein soll. Er gilt als Patron in Geburtsnöten und für Kinder.
Thomas Forstner
Literatur:
* Herwig Wolfram, Die Zeit der Agilolfinger - Rupert und Virgil, in: Heinz Dopsch (Hg.), Geschichte Salzburgs. Stadt und Land I. Salzburg 31999. 121 - 156
* Bibliotheca Sanctorum XXII 1206-1208 (Niccolb Del Re]
Feierlicher Schlusssegen am Fest der Heiligen Rupert und Virgil
Gott, unser Vater, hat Rupert und Virgil gesandt,
unserem Land das Licht der Wahrheit zu bringen;
an ihrem Fest schenke er euch die Fülle seines Segens.
Nach dem Wort des Apostels
hat der eine den Glauben eingepflanzt,
der andere den Acker getränkt
Die Fürsprache beider erwirke das Reifen von Gott,
der allein das Wachstum gibt.
Auf ihrer Predigt ruht unser Bekenntnis zu Christus;
die Treue zu ihm präge euer irdisches Leben
und führe euch zur Herrlichkeit des Himmels.
Das gewährte euch der dreieinige Gott,
der Vater, der Sohn und der Heilige Geist.
Biografie
des Erzbistums München, su erzbistum-muenchen.de
SOURCE : https://web.archive.org/web/20070311101220/http://www.erzbistum-muenchen.de/EMF095/EMF009467.asp
Voir aussi ; http://www.heiligenlegenden.de/literatur/bavaria-sancta/zweiter-abschnitt/virgilius/home.html
