- Vicelinus
Saint Vicelinus (also "Vicelin", _de. Vizelin; 1086 –
December 12 ,1154 ) was a Germanbishop of Oldenburg who was considered the ofHolstein .Orphan ed at an early age, Vicelinus received his primary education atHameln , his birthplace. He left secretly forPaderborn , where he enjoyed the home and instructions of Hartmann, and soon surpassed his companions and assisted in the management of the cathedral school.Vicelinus was called to
Bremen to act as teacher and principal of the school, and was offered acanonry by Archbishop Frederick. In 1122 he may have gone toLaon to complete his studies. On his return he was ordained priest by St.Norbert of Xanten . Archbishop Adalben sent him among thePolabian Slavs , and in the fall of 1126 Henry, Prince of theObotrites , gave him a church inLübeck . At the death of Henry (22 March ,1127 ) Vicelinus returned to Bremen, and was appointed pastor atWippenthorp . This gave him an opportunity to work among theWagrians and neighbouring Obotrites.Vicelinus's preaching gathered crowds of eager listeners, and many priests aided him in founding the monastery of
Neumünster , according to theRule of St. Augustine , which was liberally endowed by the archbishop. Wars among the tribes in 1137 caused the missionaries to abandon their labours for two years. Vicelinus sent two priests to Lübeck, but with little success. At his suggestion King Lothair intended to build afortress andmonastery at Segeberg, but death prevented him.Some years later Vicelinus established a house at
Hogersdorf . In 1149 he was made Bishop of Oldenburg, where he did much for the spiritual and temporal welfare of his diocese. In 1152 he was struck byparalysis and lingered amid much suffering for two years before dying in Neumünster. His body was transferred toBordesholm in 1332, and buried before the mainaltar . In 1874 the small Catholic parish at Hameln had his picture engraved on a new bell. He is usually represented with a church resting on his left arm; his feast is celebrated on12 December .External links
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15404a.htm Vicelinus] at the
Catholic Encyclopedia
* [http://www.katholische-kirche-schwerin.de/gemeinden/anna/kirchenfenster/st-vicelinus_8.htm St Vicelinus] (with image) de icon
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