Died in Salzburg, Austria, on March 27, c. 710-720; feast day formerly
March 27; feast of the translation of his relics is kept
in Bavaria and Austria on September 25.
There have been varying opinions as to where Rupert was born and when
(with variations of 100 years). While more reliable sources make him a
Frankish nobleman, others, including Colgan insist he was an Irishman
with the Gaelic name Robertach. From his youth he was renowned for his
learning, extraordinary virtues, austerity, and charity that sought to
impoverish himself to enrich the poor. People came from remote provinces
to receive his advice. He would remove all their doubts and scruples,
comfort the afflicted, cure the sick, and heal the disorders of souls.
His virtuous life led to his being consecrated bishop of Worms, Germany,
from where he began his missionary work in southern Bavaria and Austria.
(One version says he was expelled by the pagans at Worms, others that he
was simply a zealous, evangelical Christian.)
Rupert travelled to Regensburg (Ratisbon) with a small company about
697, perhaps with credentials from the French King Childebert III, or
because Duke Theodo of Bavaria had heard of his reputation for miracles
and invited him. They went to Duke Theodo, whose permission they needed
to proceed. While Theodo was not a Christian, his sister, Bagintrude,
is said to have been one. He agreed to listen to their preaching and
was converted and baptized. Many of the leading men and women of the
land followed the duke's example and embraced Christianity, which had
been preached there 200 years earlier by
Saint Severinus of Noricum (f.d. January 8).
Instead of knocking down pagan temples, as many missionaries did, Rupert
preferred to consecrate them as Christian churches. For example, those
at Regensburg and Altoetting were soon altered for Christian services.
(It is said that the statue of the Blessed Mother at Altoetting was
brought there from Ireland by an Irishman named Rupert.) Where there
was no suitable temple to adapt churches were built, and Regensburg
became primarily Christian. God confirmed Rupert's preaching by many
miracles. Soon the missionary work met with such success that many more
helpers from Franconia were needed to meet the spiritual needs of
Rupert's converts.
The group continued down the Danube, converting still more. After
Ratisbon, the capital, the next seat of his labours was "Laureacum," now
called Lorch, where he healed several diseases by prayer, and won many
other souls to Christ. But in neither of these flourishing towns did
Rupert establish his bishopric. He made the old, fallen-down town of
Juvavum, given to him by the duke of Bavaria, his headquarters. The
town was restored and he named it Salzburg (Salt Fortress). There with
the help of his companions
Saints Virgilius (f.d. November 27),
Chuniald (f.d. September 24),
and
Gislar (f.d. September 24),
Rupert founded
Saint Peter's church and monastery with a school along the lines of the
Irish monasteries.
He made a trip home to gather twelve more recruits. His sister,
Saint Ermentrudis (f.d. June 30),
entered a convent he founded at Nonnberg
(setting for "The Sound of Music") and became its first abbess. He did
much to foster the operation of the salt mines. Rupert, the first
archbishop of Salzburg, is considered to be the Apostle of Bavaria and
Austria. He died on Easter Day. Thereafter, he became so renowned that
countries such as Ireland claimed him as a native son and celebrate his
memory liturgically. The Duchy of Salzburg cast his likeness with that
of the Saint Virgilius on the coin of the realm called a rubentaler
(
Attwater,
Attwater2,
Benedictines,
Bentley,
D'Arcy,
Encyclopaedia,
Farmer,
Gougaud,
Husenbeth,
Kenney,
Walsh,
White).
Rupert's emblem in art is a barrel of salt, because of his association
with the reopening of the salt mines. He may be shown
holding a basket of eggs; baptizing Duke Theodo(re) of Bavaria; or with
Saint Virgilius of Salzburg
(
Farmer,
Roeder,
White).