Adalgott

{{Short description|Two medieval abbots of Disentis Abbey venerated as saints}} {{About|the two saints named Adalgott|the abbey|Disentis Abbey}}

There were two abbots of Disentis Abbey named '''Adalgott''', both venerated as Catholic saints. They are sometimes confused in later historical writing, despite living approximately 130 years apart.<ref name="NCE">Grassi, J.L., "Adalgott, Ss.", in ''New Catholic Encyclopedia'', via Encyclopedia.com, {{URL|https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/adalgott-ss}} </ref>

==Adalgott I==

{{Infobox saint |honorific_prefix = Saint |name = Adalgott I of Disentis |death_date = 1 November 1031 |feast_day = 26 October |titles = Abbot of Disentis Abbey |canonized_by = Pre-Congregation |major_shrine = Disentis Abbey, Switzerland }}

'''Adalgott I''' (died 1 November 1031) was a Benedictine monk from Einsiedeln Abbey who became abbot of Disentis Abbey in 1012 or 1016.<ref name="NCE"/><ref name="CatholicSaintsEinsiedeln">"Saint Adalgott of Einsiedeln", CatholicSaints.Info, 15 July 2012, {{URL|http://catholicsaints.info/saint-adalgott-of-einsiedeln/}} </ref> He was deeply committed to monastic reform and the elaboration of the liturgy.<ref name="NCE"/> According to the Einsiedeln chronicler, who preserved a verse epitaph in his honour, Adalgott I was acclaimed as a saint immediately after his death.<ref name="NCE"/> In 1672, his relics, along with those of Adalgott II, were enshrined in a newly built church at the abbey.<ref name="NCE"/>

His feast day is celebrated on '''26 October'''.

==Adalgott II ==

{{Infobox saint |honorific_prefix = Saint |name = Adalgott II of Disentis |birth_date = c. 12th century |death_date = 3 October 1160 or 1165 |feast_day = 3 October |image = Adalgott.jpg |caption = ''Saint Adalgott as a Contemplative'' |titles = Abbot of Disentis Abbey and Bishop of Chur |canonized_by = Pre-Congregation |major_shrine = Disentis Abbey, Switzerland }}

'''Adalgott II''' (died 3 October 1160 or 1165) was a twelfth-century Cistercian monk, abbot, and Bishop of Chur, venerated as a Roman Catholic saint.<ref name="Watkins">{{cite book |last=Watkins |first=Basil |title=The Book of Saints: A Comprehensive Biographical Dictionary |date=2015 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-0-567-66415-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yzqOCgAAQBAJ&q=Adalgott+bishop+of+chur&pg=PT19}} </ref>

===Early life and monastic formation=== Little is known about Adalgott II's origins or birthplace. He entered Clairvaux Abbey, where he came under the spiritual direction of Bernard of Clairvaux.<ref name="CatholicOnline">{{cite web |title=St. Adalgott |url=https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=1116

|website=Catholic Online |access-date=30 April 2026 }}</ref>Under Bernard's guidance, he received a thorough formation in Cistercian spirituality, theology, and the Rule of Saint Benedict.<ref name="saintforaminute">{{cite web |title=Saint Adalgott of Chur |url=https://www.saintforaminute.com/saints/saint_adalgott_of_chur |access-date=2026-04-30}}</ref>

===Abbot of Disentis=== Adalgott was subsequently appointed abbot of Disentis Abbey in Switzerland, situated on the Lukmanier Pass.<ref name="NCE"/> As abbot, he became widely known for his care of the sick and poor.<ref name="CatholicOnline"/>

===Bishop of Chur=== Adalgott was later named Bishop of Chur, the oldest diocese in Switzerland.<ref name="saintforaminute"/> In 1150 he founded a hospital, one of his most enduring practical legacies.<ref name="Watkins"/><ref name="CatholicSaintsChur">"Saint Adalgott of Chur", CatholicSaints.Info, 15 December 2012, {{URL|http://catholicsaints.info/saint-adalgott/}} </ref> He used his position and title to advocate on behalf of the suffering and disadvantaged throughout his tenure.<ref name="CatholicSaintsChur"/> He was a figure of some importance in the political affairs of the time, being associated with Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, the prince-bishop of Constance, and Pope Stephen III, whose fellow student he had reportedly been.<ref name="NCE"/> He also appears to have been a benefactor of other religious houses, including those at Münster and Schännis, where his memory was later commemorated.<ref name="NCE"/>

He died on 3 October, variously reported as 1160 or 1165, at or near Disentis Abbey. He was buried at Chur, though the exact location of his grave, likely within the cathedral whose reconstruction he had promoted, is unknown.<ref name="NCE"/> Since 1646, the Diocese of Chur has venerated him liturgically as a saint; his name also appears in the Cistercian calendar of saints.<ref name="NCE"/>

His feast day is celebrated on '''3 October'''.

==Confusion between the two Adalgatts== The two abbots have frequently been confused in later historical writing, partly because both were associated with Disentis Abbey and both were venerated as saints. A German-language account notes that the confusion persists despite roughly 130 years separating the two men.<ref>{{cite web |title=Adalgott von Disentis und Adalgott von Chur |url=https://download.e-bookshelf.de/download/0003/0805/78/L-X-0003080578-0030666211.XHTML/index.xhtml |access-date=2026-04-30}}</ref> Their relics were enshrined together in the abbey church at Disentis in 1672.<ref name="NCE"/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Further reading==

Müller, I., ''Disentiser Klostergeschichte'' (Einsiedeln, 1942), pp. 75, 81, 236, 268 Mayer, J.G., ''Geschichte des Bisthums Chur'' (Stans, 1907), pp. 206–212 Burgener, L., ''Helvetia sancta'', 2 vols. (New York, 1860), vol. 1, pp. 7–9 Zimmermann, A.M., ''Kalendarium Benedictinum'' (Metten, 1933–38), vol. 3, pp. 133, 135, 222, 224 ''Acta Sanctorum'', Nov. 1:385

{{Subject bar |portal1=Saints |portal2=Biography |portal3=Catholicism |portal4=Switzerland}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Adalgott}}

Category:German Roman Catholic saints Category:Swiss Roman Catholic saints Category:1031 deaths Category:1165 deaths Category:11th-century Christian saints Category:12th-century Christian saints Category:Year of birth unknown Category:Bishops of Chur