Corbinian
8th-century Frankish missionary bishop, Catholic saint, founder and first bishop of Freising
Feast: 8 September (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Who they were
Corbinian, born about 680 at Chatres near Melun, lived as a hermit by the church there after his mother's death. In Rome he was consecrated bishop and sent to preach, which he did with great success.
On his way home from a second Roman journey he was persuaded to settle at Freising in Bavaria. He left for a time over Duke Grimoald's incestuous marriage, then returned and continued his apostolic work until his death on 8 September 730. A man of zeal and strong feeling, he had great influence on all he met.
The miracles
There was never a formal cause: he has been honoured as a saint since before the Church's formal processes began.
Why that counted as sanctity
A hermit-bishop who founded the Church at Freising and would not bless a sinful marriage.
Connected on this site
- Gregory II Saint“Pope Gregory II sent him to Bavaria.” — Wikipedia
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - St. Corbinian
- Wikidata Q560646 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Corbinian (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.