Saint Otto- Caught Between Two Masters
By: nobility.org
Bishop of Bamberg, born about 1060; died 30 June, 1139. He belonged to
the noble, though not wealthy, family of Mistelbach in Swabia, not to
the Counts of Andechs. He was ordained priest, but where he was educated
is not known. While still young he joined the household of Duke
Wladislaw of Poland; in 1090 he entered the service of Emperor Henry IV,
and about 1101 was made chancellor. In 1102 the emperor appointed and
invested him as Bishop of Bamberg. In the conflict of investitures he
sided chiefly in political matters with Henry IV, although he avoided
taking sides openly. He refused to be consecrated by a schismatic
bishop. Through ambassadors he declared his loyalty to the Holy See.
In 1105 he joined the party of Henry V, went to Rome, and there on 13
May, 1106, was consecrated bishop. He never became a partisan. In
1110-11 he accompanied Henry on his journey to Rome, but, like other
noble characters, he disapproved of the disgraceful treatment of Pope
Paschal. This is clear from the fact that he received the pallium from
the pope on 15 April, 1111. When the war broke out again, he did not
desert Henry V, and in consequence was suspended by the papal party at
the Synod in Fritzlar in 1118. At the Congress of Würzburg in 1121 he
strove hard for peace, which was concluded in 1122 at Worms. Meanwhile
he had devoted himself entirely to his diocese and as bishop had led a
model, simple, and even a poor life. He increased the possessions of the
Church by new acquisitions, recovered alienated dependencies, completed
the cathedral, improved the cathedral school, built castles and
churches. In particular he favored the monks, and founded over twenty
monasteries in the Dioceses of Bamberg, Würzburg, Ratisbon, Passau,
Eichstatt, Halberstadt and Aquileia. He reformed other monasteries. Thus
he merited the name of “Father of the Monks”.
His greatest service was his missionary work among the Pomeranians. In
the Peace with Poland in 1120 the latter had engaged to adopt
Christianity. Attempts to convert them through Polish priests and
through an Italian Bishop, Bernard, proved futile. Duke Boleslaus III
then appealed to Otto, and it is due to Otto that the undertaking
partook of a German character. Through an understanding with the pope,
who appointed him legate, the emperor and the princes, he started in
May, 1124, and traveled through Prague, Breslau, Posen, and Gnesen in
East Pomerania, was received by the duke with great respect, and won
over the people through his quiet yet firm attitude, his magnificent
appearance, generous donations, and gentle, inspiring sermons. He
converted Pyritz, Kammin, Stettin, Julin, and in nine places established
eleven churches; 22,165 persons were baptized.
Cathedral Monastery of St. Michael in Bamberg
In 1125 he returned to Bamberg. As heathen customs began to assert
themselves again, he once more journeyed to Pomerania through Magdeburg
and Havelberg about the year 1128. In the Diet of Usedom he gained over
through his inspiring discourses all the nobles of the land to
Christendom. He then converted new communities, and led back those who
had fallen away. Even after his return (in the same year) he was in
constant communication with the Pomeranians and sent them priests from
Bamberg. His wish to consecrate a bishop for Pomerania was not fulfilled
as the Archbishops of Magdeburg and Gnesen claimed the metropolitan
rights. Only in 1140 was his former companion Adalbert confirmed as
Bishop of Julin. In 1188 the bishopric was removed to Hammin and made
directly subject to the Holy See. In Bamberg he once more gave himself
up to his duties as bishop and prince and performed them with great
zeal. He kept out of all political turmoil. In the papal schism of
1130-31 he tried to remain neutral. The active, pious, clever bishop was
greatly esteemed by the other princes and by Emperor Lothair. He was
buried in the monastery of St. Michael in Bamberg. Bishop Embrice of
Würzburg delivered the funeral oration and applied to Otto the words of
Jeremias: “The Lord called thy name, a plentiful olive tree, fair,
fruitful, and beautiful.” On his mission journey he is reported to have
worked many miracles. Many happened also at his tomb. In 1189 Otto was
canonized by Clement III.
When priesthood and throne cooperate harmoniously for the love of God
and the salvation of souls great things can be accomplished.
We see this in the fruitful life of St. Otto of Bamberg. His preaching and saintly example spread the faith eastward and northward to the Baltic Sea, contributing to Poland’s strong Catholic roots in the centuries to come. Faithful to the Popes during the Question of the Investitures, St. Otto labored in the Lord’s vineyard fully respecting the temporal sovereignty of the emperor and the dukes whose peoples he evangelized.
We see this in the fruitful life of St. Otto of Bamberg. His preaching and saintly example spread the faith eastward and northward to the Baltic Sea, contributing to Poland’s strong Catholic roots in the centuries to come. Faithful to the Popes during the Question of the Investitures, St. Otto labored in the Lord’s vineyard fully respecting the temporal sovereignty of the emperor and the dukes whose peoples he evangelized.
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