|
THE LEGEND OF SAINT ARNOLD,
PATRON SAINT OF BREWERS
Saint Arnold was born to a prominent Austrian family in 580 in the Chateau
of Lay-Saint-Christophe in the old French diocese of Toul, north of Nancy.
He married Doda with whom he had many sons, two of whom were to become famous:
Clodulphe, later called Saint Cloud, and Ansegis who married Begga, daughter
of Pépin de Landen. Ansegis and Begga are the great-great-grandparents of
Charlemagne, and as such, Saint Arnold is the oldest known ancestor of the
Carolingian dynasty.
Saint Arnold was acclaimed bishop of Metz, France, in 612 and spent his holy
life warning peasants about the dangers of drinking water. Beer was safe,
and "from man's sweat and God's love, beer came into the world." The people
revered Arnold. In 627, Saint Arnold retired to a monastery near Remiremont,
France, where he died on August 16, 640.
In 641, the citizens of Metz requested that Saint Arnold's body be exhumed
and ceremoniously carried to Metz for reburial in their Church of the Holy
Apostles. During this voyage a miracle came to pass in the town of
Champignuelles. The tired porters and followers stopped for a rest and walked
into a tavern for a drink of their favorite beverage. Regretfully, there was
only one mug of beer to be shared, but that mug never ran dry and all of the
thirsty pilgrims were satisfied.
Saint Arnold is recognized by the Catholic Church as the Patron Saint of Brewers.
-----------!------------ .
|
|
