Icon of St. Arnold (Arnulf), Bishop of Metz 
The Icon is from a workshop in Pskov, Russia.

Feast: July 18

St. Arnold was father of Pepin and grandfather of Charlemagne. He held a duchy in Lorraine but put this worldly prize, and riches, and married life,
behind him to pursue the life of a desert-dweller. He died to the world and was alive unto God. 
It so happened the Bishop of Metz reposed and St. Arnold, who was known for his holiness, was chosen as the next Bishop. The holy Bishop maintained during his episcopate the same eremitic asceticism he had learnt in solitude. He fasted 3 days in a row, then would eat a little barley bread and have a little water. Under the robes of a prelate he wore the haircloth of an ascetic.
  
The Saint distributed to the poor so generously of his own possessions that poor folk came to Metz from countries and cities afar, to receive alms and holy counsel. His hospitality towards pious folk, pilgrims, and monastics was legendary. He washed their feet himself, gave them new clothing, and a little silver for the journey, and this he did not of a season, but incessantly. All his time, he spent in vigils, fasting, and devout prayers and talks. 
One day, when he was in a 3-day fast, he was making a procession. Many beasts joined in the procession and prayed to God devoutly with the Saint. And as the procession went along, a woman vexed by the Devil began to cry out loudly. The Saint but made the sign of the Cross of Christ over her, and she was entirely set free from the evil one. Behold how easily the great Saints cast out the evil one, since they had not the least trace of his wickedness remaining in them. 
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During the reign of Dagobert, a leper came to the king's palace and began to cry out for the holy man, to receive food and clothes. The Saint asked him if he were baptised, for the man was a heathen. The leper replied he had not found one who would impart this gift to him, whereat the Saint baptized him. Immediately he was baptised, the leper was cleansed of his sickness entirely, having become whole both in soul and in body. 
Once a fire was consuming the king's palace and everything round about it. The fire threatening a little hut the Saint had built for prayer, and wherein he was praying at the time, one named Romancius bade the Saint leave his cell. Instead, the Saint had himself led to the fire. There the Saint commanded all to fall upon their faces in prayer with him. Then, raising himself up, he lifted up his hands to heaven, and made the sign of the Cross, and the fire was quenched. One of the brethren saw that night a fiery cross in the sky, and a voice was heard: "By this hath Bishop Arnold delivered the city from fire." 

Thereafter St. Arnold left the Frankish court behind, and made a little house in the wilderness, where dwelt a few monks. He lived in contemplation and the praises of God, and continued in that place to receive the poor and pilgrims. He would cook for them himself, so he was both a Bishop and a cook. Food there was scarce, but many a time did he suffer terrible hunger and thirst, only so that the  brethren might not. 

When the time had come for the Saint's repose, after he breathed his soul forth unto his Creator, his successor, Bishop Goericus, assembled a great procession and came to the place where lay the body of Arnold. There vigils were celebrated very solemnly, and then the body was borne into the city. As they were so processing, those carrying the back part of the bier fell into a ditch. But Angels of God sustained the body in the air, and soon the men who had fallen caught up and resumed their places. Next, during the same procession to the city, they would have passed through land belonging to a lecher, whom the Saint had reproved for his sin but who would not repent. On the edge of this man's land, the body of Arnold became immovable. No strength of men could force the body to cross over the lecher's land. So a wealthy man named Noddo invited the whole company to spend the night at his estate, and there goodly provisions and good beer were imparted to all. The next morning with great joy the body was borne into the city. All the people greeted their reposed archpastor, whose body was buried in the church of the Apostles. 

A woman long blind, named Julia, came to the tomb of St. Arnold often to pray. She received her sight. Another woman was punished by God because she had worked on Sunday. Her hands became instantly crippled. Then came she to the tomb and begged the Saint to help her, weeping and praying sincerely. Quickly she recovered the use of her hands. 

The memory of this glorious Saint is kept on the 17th of the kalends of August (July 18) to the honour of God, Who liveth and reigneth without end, unto ages of ages. Amen. [adapted from the Golden Legend]

Saint Arnold - Patron Saint of Brewers

"From man's sweat and God's love, beer came into the world" - St. Arnold of Metz.

Saint Arnold was born to a prominent Austrian family in the year 580. Even back in those days the Austrians were famous for their love of beer, and admired for their brewing prowess. Beer was a proud Austrian tradition that was not wasted on young Arnold.
As a young man, Arnold entered the priesthood and began moving his way up that earliest of all career ladders. At the age of 32, he was given the title Bishop, and in 612 was named "Arnold, Bishop of Metz." (Metz is in France.)
He is said to have spent his life warning peasants about the health hazards of drinking water. Water was not necessarily safe to drink during the dark ages, especially around towns and villages. Nasty stuff. Arnold always had the well-being of his followers close at heart.
Beer, on the other hand, was quite safe. Arnold frequently pointed this out to his congregation. He is credited with having once said, "From man's sweat and God's love, beer came into the world." It goes without saying that the people loved and revered Arnold.
In 627, Saint Arnold retired to a monastery near Remiremont, France, where he died and was buried in 640.
In 641, the citizens of Metz requested that Saint Arnold's body be exhumed and carried from the monastery to the town of Metz for reburial in their local church - The church where Arnold had so frequently preached the virtues of beer. Their request was granted.
It was a long and thirsty journey, especially since they were carrying a dead bishop. As the ceremonial procession passed through the town of Champignuelles, the tired processionals stopped for a rest and went into a tavern for a drink of their favorite beverage - Beer. Much to their dismay, they were informed that there was only one mug of beer left, and that they would have to share it. That mug never ran dry and the thirsty crowd was satisfied.
Every Saint needs a miracle. That's how the Church decides you are a Saint. The story of the miracle mug of beer spread and eventually Arnold was canonized by the Catholic Church for it.
Saint Arnold is recognized by the Catholic Church as the Patron Saint of Brewers. He is recognized by Beer Church as a top-notch, supernatural beer stud.

General Notes: St Arnoald – parent of arnulf
There is a lot of confusion about Saint Arnold (St. Arnulf)'s parents. I have included two possible ones thus giving him two sets of parents until we can get things better straitened out.

A good source for Bodegisel II of France is: 'Royalty for Commoners', Roderick W. Stuart, 1993, p 129. 'Pedigrees of Some of the Emperor Charlemagne's Descendants', Langston & Buck, 1986, p cv.

There seems to be more agreement on Ode (Dode) being his mother than any other.


Bishop and member of the court of the Frankish king Theodebert II of Austrasia, sometimes called Arnuiph or Arnulf of Metz. A noble, Arnulf married Doda, and their son was Ansegisel. Ansegisel married Beggia, the daughter of Pepin of Landen, starting the Carolingian dynasty of France. Doda became a nun, and Arnulf made plans to enter a monastery but was named the of Nletz around 616. He continued his court services, making Clotaire of Neustria the king of Austrasia. He also served as counselor to Dagobert, King Clotaire's son. In 626, Arnulf retired to a hermitage at Remiremont, France.


Arnulf's wife (and mother of Duke Ansgise) was Dode (Clothilde); she became a nun at Treves in 612, the same year
that Arnulf became Bishop of Metz. Arnulf and Dode were married about 596.{-Arnulf's ancestry is from Frederick L.
Weis, "Ancestral Roots..."(1950); there are several alternate ancestries known (see notes, Chart 297H)} Arnulf was
buried at Hadendum an der Mozel, and later at St. Arnulf's Church at Metz. He died at Horenberg Monastery,
Wasenwald. The birth date shown here is approximate. [See also ID2589!] Arnulf was Mayor of the Palace and tutor of
Dagobert, hence a courtier of high standing in the Austrasian palace. He decided to become a monk at Lerins; his wife
took the vow and he was about to retire to the monastery when he wa made bishop, about 616. A few years before his
death he resigned and retired to the monastery. His feast-day is July 18.

His feast day is July 18.

He was formerly thought to belong to the
family of Ansbertus, a Gallo-Roman Senator, but according to Kelley
this has been disproved. It was apparently his wife who belonged to
that family.

http://gatekeepkey.org/ArnulfSaint_599.htm

Saint Arnulf de Heristal, Bishop of Metz
Of the Holy Roman Catholic Church
(The July Saint -His Holiness, The Patron Saint of Suds)

Arnulf, The Beer Brewer's Bud

Born c. 580/82 in Austrasia, Arnulf was Descended from a noble Frankish family. St. Arnulf of Metz was also the great-great grandfather of Charlemagne. Arnulf was a courtier in the service of Theodebert II of Austrasia (595-612). Considered to have been a good warrior and diplomat, Arnulf wished to become a monk at Lérins; his wife, Doda, had become a nun at Treves. [below: Austrasia in the Middle Ages]
           

The Miracles of Saint Arnulf
Following are the miracles associated with Saint Arnuf:
           
            Starting off as a wealthy noble, Arnulf was known to endulge himself in luxuries of the time, including all manor of drink, women, and other decadent passtimes of the day. When he determined to shed his venial shortcomings and dedicate himself to the church as a monk, a man who doubted his veracity publically denounced his reformation as mere show. Later that evening while he slept, his pants spontaneously caught fire, which was later attributed to his having 'lied' about Arnulf's aleged behavior. Today, the childhood taunt of, "liar, liar, pants on fire," echoes back to this incident and seeks to remind us not to bear false witness against our neighbors.
            When he first resigned his see as Bishop of Metz, he threw his Episcopal ring into the sea. The next day he was brought a fish to eat and, inside the fish, he found his ring. He took it as an indication that God meant him to be Bishop of Metz.
            He believed that the polluted water caused illness, while the boiled and processed water used for beer was a safer alternative. According to legend he ended a plague when he submerged his crucifix into a brew kettle and persuaded people to drink only beer from that "blessed" kettle. He is reported to have said, "From man's sweat and God's love, beer came into the world."
            St. Arnulf's main claim to beer fame is that he successfully appealed to God for cold beer for the soldiers to drink during a battle in Flanders in the 11th century. Certainly a person we would want on our side. He also is said to have been able to multiply beer into vast quantities through blessing and prayer. Following the collapse of the roof of an abbey brewery in Flanders, the good Saint Arnold of Soissons asked God to multiply the stores of beer which were left for the monk's consumption. When Arnold's prayer was answered in abundance, the monks and townspeople were prepared to canonize him on the spot.
            In 641, after his death, the citizens of Metz requested that Saint Arnulf's body be exhumed and carried from the monastery to the town of Metz for reburial in their local church -the church where Arnulf had so frequently preached the virtues of beer. Their request was granted. It was a long and thirsty journey, especially since they were carrying a dead bishop. As the ceremonial procession passed through the town of Champignuelles, the tired processionals stopped for a rest and went into a tavern for a drink of their favorite beverage - Beer. Much to their dismay, they were informed that there was only one mug of beer left, and that they would have to share it. That mug never ran dry and the thirsty crowd was satisfied.

"Don't drink the water, drink beer" warned Saint Arnold of Metz

How did important religious personages become the patron saints of suds? The bishops of brewers? The apostles of ale? Both universal and local Saints have reportedly performed miracles, either during their lives or afterwards, that involved the working class people and beer. Other saints were designated because they represent beer producing and consuming regions.

Centuries ago beer was the daily drink of the people, both because plain water was often polluted and due to beer's inexpensive, nourishing qualities. Monks brewed beer for themselves as a safe source of hearty sustenance. Monk's meals were frugal at best, particularly during fast periods. However, consumption of liquids did not break the fast.
         

Monasteries in the middle age served as inn's for travelers who shared the monk's provisions, especially their robust, sustaining beers. Eventually, the monk's were able to also sell their beers at pubs called klosterschenken, and a flourishing trade developed. To build brand loyalty, the names of the monastery's patron saint was used. To this day many beers bear the names of a saints.

Arnulf is said to have spent his life warning peasants about the health hazards of drinking water. Water was not necessarily safe to drink during the dark ages, especially around towns and villages. Nasty stuff. Arnulf always had the well-being of his followers close at heart. Beer, on the other hand, was quite safe. Arnulf frequently pointed this out to his congregation. He is credited with having once said, "From man's sweat and God's love, beer came into the world." It goes without saying that the people loved and revered Arnulf. In 627, Saint Arnulf retired to a monastery near Remiremont, France, where he died and was buried in 640.

But Seriously Folks...
While Arnulf is best known for his miraculous provision of beer, for those of you who are literally screaming "hogwash!" at this point, he is also credited with a most practical improvement upon the brewing process. While weaving bee skeps for the abbey's apiary, the abbot realized that the straw cones could be used as a filter to further clarify the brother's beer. In remembrance of this contribution to the brewer's art, the good saint is often portrayed -as on the certificates of the Belgian Brewers Confederation- in the company of bees with one hand resting upon a bee skep. In fact, the left hand of the statue of Saint Arnulf above is shown resting on a bee skep.

Saint Arnulf of Metz
Born: 599
Married: Unknown
Died: August 16, 641

Married: Princess Clothilde of Metz
Born: 581
Died: 654

Father: Prince Bodegeisel of Koln
Born: 556
Married: Unknown
Died: 602

Mother: Oda Suevian
Born: 561
Died: 614