Saint Heribert of Cologne

Heribert was born in Worms around 970, the son of Count Hugo. He studied at the cathedral school of Worms and at the Benedictine abbey of Gorze, in Lorraine, then returned to Worms as provost and was ordained a priest in 994. That same year Emperor Otto III appointed him chancellor for Italy, and four years later for Germany as well: two posts he held until the emperor’s death. He accompanied Otto to Rome in 996 and 997, and he was still in Italy when he was elected archbishop of Cologne. He received the investiture and the pallium from Pope Sylvester II at Benevento on July 9, 999, and was consecrated in Cologne on Christmas Day. On January 23, 1002, he was at the bedside of Otto III, at Castel Paterno, when the emperor died. While returning to Germany with the emperor’s remains and the imperial insignia, he was held prisoner for a time by Henry, duke of Bavaria — the future emperor Henry II — whose candidacy he had opposed. Afterward he served him faithfully, which says something about both of them. In 1003 he founded the abbey of Deutz, on the Rhine, at a spot that controlled the western approach to Cologne. He died on March 16, 1021, and was buried there. He was already venerated as a saint while he was alive. Pope Gregory VII canonized him around 1074. Among his miracles the best remembered is the end of a drought, and that’s why people call on him when rain is scarce. If your name is Herbert, today is your name day.