(END OF 7TH CENT.)
[Commemorated as a double in the diocese of Basle. Not noticed in
any other Kalendar. Authority:--A Life by a contemporary, Bobolen,
Priest, at the request of the Monks of Münsterthal, who asked him to
put in record what had taken place under their eyes.]
S. German was a native of Trèves, son of a man of senatorial rank,
named Optardus. His brother Opthomar became a favourite courtier of
king Dagobert, and afterwards with the saintly Sigebert, King of
Austrasia, (February 1st.) When German was quite young he was given to
S. Modoald, bishop of Trèves,[61] that he might be educated in all the
knowledge of the times. At the age of seventeen the boy longed to
devote himself wholly to God, in the monastic life, and as his parents
were dead, he asked permission of his preceptor, but Modoald answered
that he dare not give him the requisite permission, without the
consent of the king. The boy then evidenced his sincerity by at once
disposing of all his possessions. With three other boys similarly
disposed, he went to the blessed Arnulf, a holy bishop living as a
hermit at Herenberg, and grew to man's estate, disciplining himself
after the example, and by the advice, of his new preceptor. Then he
sent two of his companions to Trèves to bring to him his little
brother, Numerian, who was still quite a child;[62] and migrated first
to Remiremont, and thence, followed by numerous monks who had placed
themselves under his direction, to the famous abbey of Luxeuil, which
was then ruled by S. Waldebert, (May 2nd), who had him ordained
priest, and sent him to found a house in the valley of Münsterthal, or
Val Moutier, in the Jura, which was given to him by a nobleman of
great piety named Gundoin, the father of S. Salaberga, (September
22nd.) The Münsterthal is a grand and romantic defile, traversed by
the Birs. The huge cleft through which the stream passes testifies to
the mighty convulsion which has forced the horizontal strata to assume
their present almost perpendicular position, resembling gigantic walls
on either side of the old Roman road which passed through it, and
served as the line of communication between Aventiacum (Avenches), the
most important town of Helvetia, and Augusta Rauracorum (Rheinfelden.)
German found the old road blocked up with fallen rocks, so as to be
impassable. He cleared these away, and enlarged the entrance to the
gorge, and settled with his monks at the present Moutier. On the death
of his protector Gundoin, Duke Boniface Kattemund succeeded to the
government of the land, and crushed the poor people with his taxes. He
also traversed the country exacting large sums from all who could pay,
and wasting the lands of those who refused. On his appearance in the
valley, the abbot German and the prior Randoald went to meet him, to
implore him to deal less harshly with the people; but Kattemund
repulsed them with insolence, and allowed some ruffians of his suite
to fall on the helpless monks, strike off the head of the prior, and
transfix the abbot with a lance, whilst they were kneeling in prayer
in the church of S. Maurice.