Saint Fridolin
Saint Fridolin of Säckingen (born c. 530 AD in Ireland; died c. 538 AD at Säckingen, Baden, Germany) was an Irish peregrinus (pilgrim-missionary) who founded the monastery on the Rhine island of Säckingen (now Bad Säckingen in Baden-Württemberg, Germany). He evangelized Alsace and the upper Rhine valley. He is patron of the Swiss canton of Glarus. His feast day is March 6.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Fridolin
| Saint Fridolin | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | March 06 |
| Profession | Irish peregrinus (pilgrim-monk); missionary; abbot; monastic founder |
| Rel. Affiliation | Irish monastic church; Benedictine tradition (later) |
| Patronage | Glarus (Switzerland); Bad Säckingen; Alsace; upper Rhine; Irish missionaries |
| Attributes | Abbot's staff; dead man rising from tomb (Urso miracle); Irish cross; Rhine river; green Glarus flag |
| Birthplace | Ireland |
| Death Place | Säckingen (Bad Säckingen), Baden, Germany |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes; died at his monastery on the Rhine island |
| Primary Shrine | Münster of St. Fridolin, Bad Säckingen, Baden-Württemberg — his tomb; the Romanesque basilica; a pilgrimage site on the Rhine |
| Liturgical Class | Not in universal Roman Calendar; feast March 6; observed in Diocese of Freiburg and in Glarus, Switzerland |
| Historic Class | Not included |
Biography
Fridolin was an Irish monk of the peregrinus tradition — the Irish spiritual ideal of leaving home permanently for love of God and mission. According to his Vita (written by the monk Balther around 900 AD), he was directed by a vision of Saint Hilary of Poitiers to travel to Poitiers, find Hilary's relics, and build a church in his honor. After doing so, he continued his missionary journey through Frankish Gaul, across Alsace, and eventually to the Rhine.
He founded churches at Poitiers and along his route. When he reached the upper Rhine, he was attracted to a wooded island (Säckingen) in the river, where he established a monastery. He also evangelized the Glarus valley in what is now Switzerland — his mission to this Alpine region earning him the status of patron saint of the Swiss canton of Glarus, where he appears on the cantonal coat of arms (one of the few saints depicted on a Swiss cantonal symbol).
The most remarkable legend of his life is the resurrection of Urso. A wealthy man named Urso had donated land to Fridolin's monastery. After Urso's death, his brother Landolf disputed the donation in court, challenging the monastery's title. Fridolin — with extraordinary confidence — went to the graveyard, called on Urso to rise, and the dead man walked to the law court, confirmed his donation, and returned to his tomb. The court upheld the monastery's claim.
Fridolin died around 538 AD at Säckingen. His feast is March 6.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Ireland
Death location: Säckingen (Bad Säckingen), Baden, Germany
Notable location: The Rhine island monastery he founded; the Münster of St. Fridolin in Bad Säckingen contains his tomb; the town bears his name and honors him as its patron (Bad Säckingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany)
Notable location: The canton of Glarus has Saint Fridolin as its patron saint and he appears on the Glarus cantonal coat of arms — one of the few saints depicted on a Swiss cantonal emblem; his mission extended to this area (Glarus, Switzerland)
Notable location: He evangelized Alsace on his journey south from Frankish territories; he founded a church at Strasbourg and a monastery at Coire (Chur) area (Alsace, France)
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Shrines
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Known shrines
- Münster of St. Fridolin, Bad Säckingen, Baden-Württemberg — his tomb; Romanesque basilica; pilgrimage site.
Feast day
March 6
Veneration
Saint Fridolin is venerated in the Archdiocese of Freiburg and the canton of Glarus, Switzerland, with a feast day on March 6.
Prayers
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