Although his name may suggest otherwise, Saint Sturmius, or Sturmi, was known as a quiet, peaceful man who patiently spent 9 long years looking in the German jungle for a suitable place to found a monastery for his teacher Boniface. He eventually found a place near the Fulda River, where he became abbot of the monastery he founded there. Although he was temporarily exiled by the Frankish ruler after the battle for the bones of Boniface with his archrival Saint Lullus, he later became an important spiritual warrior of Charlemagne. His nephew Egil wrote a hagiography about him called Vita Sturmi.
- Sturmi
- Sturmi meets Boniface
- Vita Sturmi a holy life
- Enclave in Hersfeld
- Search for a monastery location
- River Fulda
- Sturmi finds the ideal spot
- Boniface goes to the court of the Frankish king
- Death of Boniface
- Reconciliation with King Pippin
- Death of Saint Sturmius in Fulda
Sturmi
Cutting down the sacred oak / Source: Bernhard Rode, Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
He was born in what we now know as Austria in the town of Lorch approximately in 705 AD. His official name is Saint Sturmius, but he is called Sturmi or Storm in many writings.
Sturmi meets Boniface
An important figure in his life was Boniface. He met Boniface when he was busy with the reorganization of the Austrian and Bavarian churches. Sturmi joined him and received his education at the Fritzlar monastery. That was the monastery founded by Boniface on the spot where he had cut down an oak sacred to the pagans.
The name Fritzlaar has its origins invredeslaar. A laar is a place in the forest and peace probably refers to Boniface, his own original name which means peaceful friend.
Vita Sturmi a holy life
Eigil, a relative of Sturmi, has written a hagiographie, Vita Sturmi, about him. Although this is a story that is of course inspired by sacred motifs and depicts faith and Sturmi in a very romantic way, it can tell us something about Sturmi’s life. Not only does it tell something about Sturmi’s life, but also about Boniface and Saint Lullis. It is important to keep in mind that in this saint’s life it is important that Sturmi as a person appears holy and infallible. His arch-rival Lullus is portrayed as evil.
Enclave in Hersfeld
For example, Eigil describes in detail how Sturmi looked for the most suitable place to found a monastery. For example, Eigil tells us that after working as a priest for three years, Sturmi was inspired by God to live as a hermit. One day he told his wish to Boniface and he sent Sturmi with two companions to see where there were suitable places to build houses of God. They set off and ended up in a place now called Hersfeld. They made a number of huts there where they lived. Sturmi’s arch-rival, named Lullus, would be buried there after his death. The Lullus Festival is still celebrated every year in Hersfeld in honor of Saint Lullus.
Search for a monastery location
After living there for a while, Sturmi went to Boniface to inform him about the place he had found. After a careful evaluation, Boniface instructed Sturmi to look for a place elsewhere because he was concerned about the safety of Sturmi and his companions. There were Saxons living nearby at that place.
River Fulda
The three men then went looking for a new place with fresh courage, they did this while sailing on the Fulda river. After many wanderings and much prayer, Sturmi returned to Boniface. They agreed that God had not yet revealed the right place, but Boniface was convinced that the place would be revealed and so Sturmi set out again. He returned to Hersfeld to inform his comrades about his conversation with Boniface. He left them to continue their search alone.
Sturmi finds the ideal spot
Praying and singing psalms, he only stopped at places when he had to spend the night because darkness fell. Wherever he spent the night he cut down some trees to build some kind of shelter for his donkey. He himself made a cross on his forehead and fell asleep confidently and without fear. Finally he came to what he thought would be a suitable spot and reported it to Boniface.
Boniface goes to the court of the Frankish king
Boniface, convinced that the place had been revealed by God, went to the court of the Frankish king. He asked him to grant him the rights to the land. The place called Eiloh was given to God with all the land that lay to the north, south, east and west within a circumference of 4 miles.
Death of Boniface
Relic Boniface / Source: Broederhugo at Dutch Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA-3.0)
After Boniface died in Friesland in 754, Sturmi rushed to Mainz to ensure that the remains of his teacher ended up in Fulda. Lullus the Bishop of Mainz, one of Boniface’s closest associates, did not believe Sturmi’s story that Boniface wanted to be buried in Fulda. Fulda was still in the middle of the wilderness and had only existed for 10 years. Ultimately, Lullus drew the short straw and had to let go of the bones. He ensured that Sturmi was exiled by King Pepin.
Reconciliation with King Pippin
The exile lasted only 2 years, then King Pepin regretted it and allowed Sturmi to return as abbot of Fulda. After Pepin’s death, Sturmi also had a good relationship with his successor Charlemagne. He used Sturmi as a mediator and spiritual warrior.
Death of Saint Sturmius in Fulda
Charlemagne wanted to use Sturmi’s services even more, but Sturmi was old and ill. The king sent the royal doctor to him, who gave him medicine to make him feel better. It didn’t help anymore and the patient died on December 17, 779. Before he breathed his last, he asked for forgiveness and forgave everyone who had wronged him, including Lullus.