St. Irmengard (crown + heart)
€76.98
Statue of Blessed Irmengard of Chiemsee, Bavarian princess and Benedictine abbess devoted to prayer and the poor. Symbol of charity, humility, monastic life and Christian devotion.
Blessed Irmengard of Chiemsee
Blessed Irmengard of Chiemsee was a Bavarian princess and one of the most beloved religious figures of medieval Bavaria. She was the daughter of King Louis the German and of Blessed Emma, and was born around 832 A.D., probably in Regensburg.
From an early age, Irmengard showed a deep inclination toward spiritual life. Together with her sisters Hildegard, Gisela and Bertha, she decided to dedicate her life to God by taking the monastic veil.
When she entered religious life, her father entrusted her with the Augustinian Convent of Buchau am Federsee, where she served as abbess until 857. Later she became abbess of the famous Benedictine Monastery of Frauenwörth, located on the island of Frauenchiemsee in Bavaria.
As the daughter of a king, Irmengard received a noble and refined education, typical of women of high aristocratic rank at that time. Nevertheless, from childhood she showed a profound detachment from the luxurious life of the royal court and preferred to dedicate herself entirely to the service of the Lord.
Blessed Irmengard was known and loved for her great charity toward the poor, the sick and the needy in the Chiemsee region. She lived a simple and austere life characterized by penance, prayer and renunciation of material wealth.
According to tradition, she ate very little and spent much of her time helping the poor and spiritually supporting the local population.
Irmengard died on July 16, 866 A.D. at the age of only thirty-three in the monastery of Frauenwörth, where her tomb is still located today.
After thorough examinations of her relics, it was confirmed that her grave is preserved in the Church of the Monastery of Frauenchiemsee.
Her reputation for holiness spread rapidly over the centuries. In 1928, Pope Pius XI officially proclaimed her beatification. In some regions of Germany, especially in Upper Swabia, Irmengard is venerated as a saint.
The figure of Blessed Irmengard still represents today an example of humility, service to others, monastic devotion and Christian love.
Iconography: Blessed Irmengard is depicted as an abbess with a crown, abbess’ staff, Bible, burning heart or together with her father.
Feast day: July 16.
Patronage: Patroness of Chiemgau and invoked for numerous offspring.
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Statue of Blessed Irmengard of Chiemsee, Bavarian princess and Benedictine abbess devoted to prayer and the poor. Symbol of charity, humility, monastic life and Christian devotion.