Saints and Blesseds

Saint Isfrid, Bishop

June 15

Nothing is known of the early years of Isfrid. In the year 1159 he was elected provost of the Abbey of Jerichow in the Archdiocese of Magdeburg. In the year 1180 he became the first successor of St. Evermode as bishop of Ratzeburg. The medieval chronicler describes him as "sanctus sancti successor" ("a saint succeeding a saint"). He was known for his organizational skills and worked tirelessly for the German colonization of the land of the Wends. Isfrid was the confessor and friend of Duke Henry of Saxony. Henry was a devout layman who supported Isfrid enthusiastically in his project of continuing the missionizing of the Wends, begun by Evermode. But Emperor Frederick Barbarossa unjustly deprived Duke Henry of his possessions, giving them to Bernard of Anhalt. Bernard persecuted all who disapproved of the emperor's policy against the pope or who sympathized with Duke Henry. Isfrid bore these persecutions with dignity and patience until Henry was at last reconciled with the emperor and recovered his duchy. In the ancient annals of Stederburg, Isfrid is called "a man excelling in Christian wisdom, humility and fortitude." In 1195 the canons of the chapter of Schwerin, composed of both Saxons and Wends, could not agree on the election of a bishop. Isfrid was asked by the pope to arbitrate, and the choice feel to Brunward, one of the first Wends to receive episcopal ordination. Isfrid was a man of great austerity. Once, on Good Friday, while fasting on bread and water, the water which he drew from an ordinary source was miraculously changed into wine. Isfrid lifted his eyes to heaven and said: "When your will, O wonderful Creator, transforms the things you have created, I cede to your command. Behold, on the day of the passion of your Son, I will take that which you give." Many miracles are associated with the life of Isfrid. One day, as he and his canons were processing around the church, a blind man approached isfrid, seeking to be cured. Isfrid had pity on him and spoke the words of Psalm 145: "The Lord enlightens the blind." At these words, the man recovered his sight. Isfrid died on June 15, 1204, and was buried in the Cathedral of Ratzeburg. He is pictured with the regalia of a bishop, with the cup of water turned to wine and with the blind man whom he cured.

PRAYER

Lord God, Shepherd of your people, you filled St. Isfrid with the zeal of an apostle. Make us true apostles of your love and instruments of your healing power, that the eyes of the blind may be opened through our preaching of the good news. We ask this through Christ our Lord, AMEN.

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Reprinted with permission of St. Michael's Abbey, Orange, California, U.S.A.