Today is the feast of St. Engelbert (d. 1225). If there's hope for this guy, there's hope for us all. After all, he was excommunicated! He lived a dissolute life -- even while enjoying the income of four churches (St. Mary's at Aachen, St. George's, St. Severinus', and the cathedral of Cologne) -- all while he was still a boy and adolescent! He was excommunicated, not for drinking and debauching, but for taking arms against the "Holy Roman Emperor" Otto IV, who was supported by the pope. But he kind of sent mixed messages to Rome, because he also fought the Albigensians. (No one seems to consider the possibility that he may have disagreed with BOTH the emperor and the heretics!) By playing one side against the other, he managed to secure the bishopric of Cologne, a choice see. But he did take his ordination to the office seriously, exercising it with judgment and prudence. His excommunication lifted, he lived his personal life blamelessly. The people loved him for his generosity, despite his firmness. He encouraged peace and discouraged war. He welcomed the establishment of the Franciscans and Dominicans in his see. He supported the rightful king, and even ran the empire (Hohenstaufen) during the minority of King Henry when his father, Emperor Frederick II was away.
Meanwhile, Englebert's cousin, Count Frederick, was raiding the treasury of the convent in Essen. Englebert called him to repentance and restitution, and Frederick didn't take it well. He threatened revenge, and on November 7, 1225, he got it. Englebert was set upon while traveling and left with 47 stab wounds on his body. Cowardly Frederick had attacked him with 50 soldiers. Englebert was declared a martyr by the papal legate, Cardinal von Urach. He was never formally canonized. St. Englebert, pray for us.
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