Their story
Adapted in modern English from the Catholic Encyclopedia (1913) · original text below
Disibod was an Irish bishop who went to the Continent about 653 and settled in the valley of the Nahe, near Bingen. The Catholic Encyclopedia notes that his Life was written in 1170 by St Hildegard, from her visions. It should be read as tradition, not record.
He lived as a hermit, but many followers gathered round him and built beehive cells in the Irish style on the eastern slopes of the mountain. Before he died a church was built there, served by monks following the Rule of St Columba, and he was chosen abbot-bishop. The place became Mount Disibod, later Disenberg, in the Diocese of Mainz.
Many miracles are recorded of him. Some writers think he actually died on 8 September, and that 8 July marks the moving of his relics in 754, with St Boniface present.
Early life
The book says little or nothing about early life. This is how the account begins.
Thin entry · the 1897 book gives only 239 words. We have not filled the gap with invented detail.
(Among the Ancient Martyrologists only Hrabanus Mauras, who puts him down on Sept 8th, without calling him a bishop. The monastic martyrologies of Wyon, Dorganius and Menard us, on July 8th, as also Saussaye. But Canisius, Ferrari us, the Bollandists, and the Irish Kalendars, on July 8th.
How they teach us to live
Drawn from themes in the original account
Build up the community you belong to. This life was lived with and for a community.
Stay faithful when it costs you. This account is about holding firm under pressure.
Share your faith, in words and by example. Preaching and conversion are central here.
Learn from the kind of life it was. A shepherd who stayed with his people through hard times.
From the Catholic Encyclopedia
1913 · 173 words
Irish bishop and patron of Disenberg (Disibodenberg), born c. 619; died 8 July, 700. His life was written in 1170 by St. Hildegarde, from her visions. St. Disibod journeyed to the Continent about the year 653, and settled in the valley of the Nahe, not far from Bingen. His labours continued during the latter half of the seventh century, and, though he led the life of an anchorite [a hermit, sometimes walled into a cell beside a church], he had a numerous community, who built bee-hive cells, in the Irish fashion, on the eastern slopes of the mountain. Before his death he had the happiness of seeing a church erected, served by a colony of monks following the Rule of St. Columba, and he was elected abbot-bishop, the monastery being named Mount Disibod, subsequently Disenberg, in the Diocese of Mainz. Numerous miracles are recorded of the saint. Some authors are of the opinion that his death really took place on 8 Sept., whilst the date 8 July is that of the translation [the solemn moving of a saint’s relics to a new shrine] of his relics [the bodily remains of a saint, or objects they used, kept with honor] in the year 754, St. Boniface being present.
