Hermann Cohen

Who they were

Hermann Cohen was born in Hamburg on 10 November 1820 into a distinguished Jewish family. A gifted child pianist, he studied under Franz Liszt and became a celebrated performer in Paris. In May 1847, during Eucharistic adoration, he was converted; he was baptised on 28 August 1847 and in December 1848 began nocturnal adoration for men at Notre-Dame des Victoires.

On 30 September 1849 he entered the Discalced Carmelite novitiate at Le Broussey, taking the name Augustin-Marie of the Most Holy Sacrament, and was ordained priest on 19 April 1851. He helped found several Carmelite houses and composed sacred music. Ministering to French prisoners of war at Spandau during the Franco-Prussian War, he caught smallpox and died on 19 January 1871. His cause is open and he is called Servant of God.

The miracles

The Church has not yet approved a miracle in this cause.

Why that counted as sanctity

A famous Jewish-born pianist who became a Carmelite priest and apostle of Eucharistic adoration.