Today, Tuesday, September 25, 2007 is the feast day of Blessed Herman (1013-1054). He was born with many medical problems: cleft palate, cerebral palsy, and spina bifida. During his lifetime he was known as Blessed Herman the Cripple. Father Robert F. McNamara on his website, Saints Alive, calls him Blessed Herman the Disabled.
He was a remarkable man. Despite his daunting physical limitations he studied and wrote on astronomy, theology, math, history, poetry, Arabic, Greek, and Latin. He also built musical and astronomical equipment. He was considered a genius in his time. He wrote prayers and hymns – the most notable being the Salve Regina (Hail Holy Queen).
Father McNamara in his article on Blessed Herman the Disabled comments on the great meaning of Herman’s life with this closing insight:
“In his own day, the heroic cripple who achieved learning and holiness was called ‘The Wonder of His Age’.
In our day, many voices say that people with disabilities should be phased out of existence. Which were the Dark Ages, then or now!”
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UNBORN WORD of the day 
[…] Another pro-life saint: good! We need Him […]
Pingback by My Child, My Gift: A Positive Response to Serious Prenatal Diagnosis « UNBORN WORD of the day September 26, 2007 @ 10:03 pmBlessed Herman was and is a great inspiration; and in Father Groeschel’s older book, “Stumbling Blocks or Stepping Stones”, he prints an incredibly moving poem called ‘Herman the Cripple’, by Dr. William Barton Hurlbut. I would strongly recommend reading this poem to anyone who has a loved one dealing with ongoing suffering. It may be obtainable on the Web.
And just from my own perspective, one might wish to keep a Kleenex handy the first time that they read it.
Thanks Julian, I’ll look for it. It sounds like a great poem!
Comment by julian October 2, 2007 @ 2:19 pmMichele
[…] Another pro-life saint: good! We need Him […]
Pingback by Blessed Herman - A Poem « UNBORN WORD of the day October 2, 2007 @ 11:00 pm[…] See also http://catholicexchange.com/2009/09/25/97066/ & http://www.irondequoitcatholic.org/index.php/Bl/HermannTheDisabled & https://unbornwordoftheday.com/2007/09/24/another-pro-life-saint-good-we-need-him/ […]
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