Prayers for Papa Felice, the little known Blessed Herman the Cripple
Plus congratulations to pass along for recent Nuptials...
Please keep in your prayers the Patriarch of the Felice family of Felice’s Italian Pork Store and Deli in Clearwater, FL. Felice’s has wonderfully catered our past two San Gennaro celebrations including our most recent one last Thursday.
Today we celebrate the Feast Day of Blessed Herman the Cripple who lived a remarkable life and should be an inspiration and less for this current age.
Blessed Herman the Cripple, born around 1013 in Swabia, Germany, experienced significant physical challenges from birth. He was afflicted with a condition that left him paralyzed and unable to walk. Despite these severe disabilities, Herman’s life was marked by exceptional intellectual and spiritual achievements.
Herman’s parents placed him in the care of the Benedictine monks at the Monastery of Reichenau, where he received an education. His extraordinary intellect became evident as he mastered various disciplines, including mathematics, astronomy, and theology. He composed hymns, wrote theological treatises, and contributed to the scientific knowledge of his time.
Herman’s physical limitations did not deter him from dedicating his life to God. He used his talents to serve the Church and to help others understand the faith and the natural world. He passed away in 1054, leaving behind a legacy of profound faith and scholarly work.1
Blessed Herman was born with many medical problems: cleft palate, cerebral palsy, and spina bifida. During his lifetime he was known as Blessed Herman the Cripple. Father Robert F. McNamara on his website, Saints Alive, calls him Blessed Herman the Disabled.
He was a remarkable man. Despite his daunting physical limitations he studied and wrote on astronomy, theology, math, history, poetry, Arabic, Greek, and Latin. He also built musical and astronomical equipment. He was considered a genius in his time. He wrote prayers and hymns – the most notable being the Salve Regina (Hail Holy Queen).
Father McNamara in his article on Blessed Herman the Disabled comments on the great meaning of Herman’s life with this closing insight:
“In his own day, the heroic cripple who achieved learning and holiness was called ‘The Wonder of His Age’.
In our day, many voices say that people with disabilities should be phased out of existence. Which were the Dark Ages, then or now!”
Let us pray with Blessed Herman, and ask him to help us to receive the graces for the virtues we lack…humility, patience, kindness, and all the others which allow the love of Christ to shine in the world through us.2
Although he was barely able to move without assistance, he was a polymath and a genius, well-versed in theology, music, astronomy, mathematics, Latin, Greek and Arabic. Students came to learn from him from many parts of Europe, and his intellectual achievements were such that he was known as the wonder of his age. Among his works are the earliest surviving medieval chronicle of the whole of human history, and a treatise on mathematics and astronomy; he was also able somehow to build both musical and astronomical instruments. Above all, however, his name will live in blessed remembrance as that of the composer of the Marian antiphons Alma Redemptoris Mater and Salve Regina. His cultus was officially approved by the Holy See in 1863. Beate Hermanne, ora pro nobis!3
We would also like to pass along congratulations to the Kwasniewski Family on the recent Nuptials of Julian and his beautiful bride. Dr. Peter Kwasniewski visited us earlier this year for our celebration of Lundi Gras. The Mass was celebrated by our dear friend, Bishop Athanasius Schneider.
Finally, check out these two tremendous videos from Cor Jesu Press which sum up some of the great inspirations for our humble apostolate.
https://catholicexchange.com/blessed-herman-the-cripple/
https://www.discerninghearts.com/catholic-podcasts/blessed-herman-the-cripple-one-of-my-favorite-saints-author-of-my-favorite-prayer/
https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2021/09/blessed-hermann-cripple.html