Hrabanus Maurus
(776 - February 4, 856) Germany
Abbot of Tours
Hrabanus Maurus, who was born in Mainz, and grew up in the abbey of Fulda. Disciple of Saint Alcuin of Tours and Saint Eigil. Benedictine monk. Headmaster of the abbey school. Deacon. Priest. Abbot of Tours. Bishop of Mainz. Noted for his charity, feeding up to 300 poor at his house each day. Promoted the education of the clergy. Wrote bible commentaries, homilies, poetry, including one that praised and preserved the memory of Saint Frederick of Utrecht. He died at Winkel.
Hrabanus Maurus was a prolific writer; he wrote to Grimold, abbot of St Gall:
Earth's self shall go and the swift wheel of heaven
Perish and pass, before our love shall cease.
Grimold was also the friend of Walafrid Strabo, a pupil whom he sent to the bitterly cold abbey of Fulda to study under his friend Hrabanus. But Walafrid, displeased, wrote back to Grimold:
Fool that I was, a scholar I would be,
For learning's sake I left my country,
No luck have I and no man cares for me.
Even in the house it is cold as snow,
My frozen bed's no pleasure to me now,
I'm never warm enough in it to go
To quiet sleep.
(translation - Waddell)
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