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Arnold of Soissons

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Feast
  
August 14


Name
  
Arnold Soissons

Died
  
1087, Oudenburg, Belgium

Arnold of Soissons httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommons22

Attributes
  
As a bishop, with a mash rake

Patronage
  
hop-pickers, beer brewing

Venerated in
  

Arnold (Arnoul) of Soissons or Arnold or Arnulf of Oudenburg (ca 1040–1087) is a saint of the Roman Catholic Church, the patron saint of hop-pickers and Belgian brewers.

Contents

Arnold of Soissons Thirsty Thursday Saint Arnold of Soissons

Biography

Arnold of Soissons Saint Arnold Patron Saint of Beers Belgian Cheers

Arnold, born in Brabant, the son of a certain Fulbertus was first a career soldier before settling at the Benedictine St. Medard's Abbey, Soissons, France. He spent his first three years as a hermit, but later rose to be abbot of the monastery. His hagiography states that he tried to refuse this honor and flee—a standard literary trope (compare Jiménez de Cisneros)— but was forced by a wolf to return. He then became a priest and in 1080, bishop of Soissons, another honor that he sought to avoid. When his see was occupied by another bishop, rather than fighting, he took the opportunity to retire from public life, founding the Abbey of St. Peter in Oudenburg.

Arnold of Soissons Patron Saints of Beer About Beer Belgium Beer Tourism

As abbot in Oudenburg, Arnold brewed beer, as essential in medieval life as water. He encouraged local peasants to drink beer, instead of water, due to its "gift of health." During the process of brewing, the water was boiled and thus, unknown to all, freed of pathogens, making the beer safer to drink. The beer normally consumed at breakfast and during the day at this time in Europe was called small beer, having a very low alcohol content, and containing spent yeast. It is likely that people in the local area normally consumed small beer from the monastery, or made their own small beer at the instructions of Arnold and his fellow monks. During one outbreak of sickness, Arnold advised the local people to avoid consuming water, in favor of beer, which advice effectively saved lives.

Arnold of Soissons Beer saints day Arnold of Soissons

One miracle tale says, at the time of an epidemic, rather than stand by while the local people fell in from drinking water, Arnold had them consume his monastery brews. Because of this, many people in his church survived the plague. This same story is also told of Arnulf or Arnold of Metz, another patron of brewers. There are many depictions of St. Arnold with a mashing rake in his hand, to identify him. He is honoured in July with a parade in Brussels on the "Day of Beer."

Arnold of Soissons Patron Saints of Beer About Beer Belgium Beer Tourism

Miracles that were reported at his tomb were investigated and approved by a council at Beauvais in 1121; Arnold's relics were translated to the church of Saint Peter, Aldenburg in 1131. St. Arnold's feast day is 14 August.

Editions

Arnold of Soissons Saint Arnold of Soissons Antique Plaster Statue 18 Antiques Heaven

  • R.I.A. Nip (ed.), Lisiardus, Hariulfus. Vitae, Miracula, Translatio et alia Hagiographica sancti Arnulphi episcopi Suessionensis (= Corpus Christianorum. Continuatio Mediaevalis 285), Turnhout: Brepols Publishers, 2015 (ISBN 978-2-503-05301-1)

  • Arnold of Soissons Faith Beer and Public Health the Story of Arnold of Soissons

    Arnold of Soissons St Arnold and Beer Miracles Mendocino Brewing

    References

    Arnold of Soissons Wikipedia