Saint Benno of Meissen

Biography

Saint Benno of Meissen, also known as Benedict or Bennone, was born in 1010 in Hildesheim, Germany, into a noble Saxon family. His mother was the Blessed Bezela of Goda, and from an early age, Benno displayed an affinity for the Church. He received his education at the abbey of Saint Michael in Hildesheim. As an adult, Benno became deeply involved in the power politics of his time. He served as a priest and later became a canon at the imperial chapel in Gozlar, Hanover. Emperor Henry III recognized his dedication and appointed him as his chaplain. In 1066, Benno was consecrated as the Bishop of Meissen. Benno actively participated in the Synod of Forcheim in 1078, which addressed crucial issues such as lay investiture and the control of the Church by the State. His support for the nobility and Pope Saint Gregory VII against Emperor Henry IV led to his imprisonment for a year. Despite facing political adversity, Benno remained committed to his calling as a diocesan bishop. During a trip to Rome, Italy, Benno instructed the canons of his cathedral to lock the doors in his absence, anticipating an attempt by Emperor Henry to occupy the church. True to his foresight, Henry did seize the cathedral and contemptuously threw the keys into the river as a symbol of his supremacy. Legend tells us that when Benno returned, he miraculously found the key in the possession of a fish in the river. Following the death of Pope Gregory VII, Benno initially pledged his allegiance to the anti-pope Guibert. However, in 1097, he reestablished his support for the lawful Pope Urban II. Despite the political turmoil of the time, Benno persevered in his pastoral duties. He visited parishes, preached, celebrated Mass, and ensured discipline among his clergy. Benno also fiercely fought against simony in any form. In addition to his ecclesiastical responsibilities, Benno was an accomplished musician who supported the use of music and chant in churches and monasteries. He displayed significant theological knowledge and authored writings on the Gospels. Later in his life, Benno served as a missionary to the Wends, a Slavic people in the region. Even after his death on June 16, 1106, Saint Benno remained a figure of controversy and involved in politics. His biographer, Jerome Emser, integrated many Church versus State elements into his book. Martin Luther, the Protestant Reformer, vehemently opposed Benno's canonization. Saint Benno is often depicted in religious art as a bishop holding a fish with keys in its mouth or as a bishop with a book on which lays a fish and two keys. The fish and keys symbolize the miraculous event of finding the keys to the locked cathedral in the possession of a fish in the river. Saint Benno's feast day is celebrated on June 16th, though it was formerly observed on August 3rd. He was initially buried in the cathedral of Meissen, Germany. When the cathedral was rebuilt in 1285, his relics were moved to the new structure, accompanied by numerous miraculous cures. However, when Saxony became Protestant, the relics were transferred to the bishop's castle at Stolp. Later, in 1580, the relics were relocated to Munich, Germany. Saint Benno was canonized by Pope Adrian VI in 1523. He is honored as a patron saint of anglers, fishermen, weavers, and those in the dioceses of Bavaria, Dresden-Meissen, and Munich, Germany. His life serves as a testament to his unwavering faith and steadfast commitment to his pastoral duties in the face of political challenges.