Isfrid of Ratzeburg was a

Premonstratensian The Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré (), also known as the Premonstratensians, the Norbertines and, in Britain and Ireland, as the White Canons (from the colour of their habit), is a religious order of canons regular of the Catholic Church ...

Religious life

Isfrid was a professed canon of the Cappenberg monastery in

Westphalia Westphalia (; german: Westfalen ; nds, Westfalen ) is a region of northwestern Germany and one of the three historic parts of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It has an area of and 7.9 million inhabitants. The territory of the regio ...

. In 1159, Isfrid was appointed the Provost of

Jerichow Jerichow () is a town on the east side of the river Elbe, in the District of Jerichower Land, of the state of Saxony-Anhalt in Germany. With about , the municipality of Jerichow is one of the largest municipalities in area size in Germany. Geog ...

. There he finished construction of the Romanesque collegiate church of St. Mary and St. Nicholas.Odden, Per Einar. "Den hellige Isfrid av Ratzeburg (~1115-1204)", Den katolske kirke, March 22, 2009
/ref> In 1179, he succeeded

Evermode of Ratzeburg Evermode, or Evermod (c. 1100 – 17 February 1178), was one of the first Premonstratensian canons regular, and became the lifelong companion of Norbert of Xanten, who founded the order in France in 1120. Evermode was born in Belgium. After ...

as third

bishop of Ratzeburg The Diocese of Ratzeburg (german: Bistum Ratzeburg, la, Dioecesis Ratzeburgensis) is a former diocese of the Catholic Church. It was erected from the Diocese of Oldenburg c. 1050 and was suppressed in 1554. The diocese was originally a suffragan ...

.Saints and Beati of the Order
St. Philip's Priory Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré He was known for his organizational skills and created many parishes. He was responsible for the restoration of the monastery of Floreffe, near Namur, which had been destroyed by fire. According to

Arnold of Lübeck Arnold of Lübeck (died 1211–1214) was a Benedictine abbot, a chronicler, the author of the ''Chronica Slavorum'' and advocate of the papal cause in the Hohenstaufen conflict. He was a monk at St. Ägidien monastery in Braunschweig, then from 117 ...

, he succeeded in recalling all the canons that had been scattered in all directions over the past year and a half. He then consecrated the collegiate church of

Postel Postel is a surname, and may refer to: * Guillaume Postel (1510–1581), French linguist, astronomer, Cabbalist, diplomat, and religious universalist * Christian Heinrich Postel (1658–1705), German jurist, epic poet and opera librettist * Geor ...

in Belgium, then under the jurisdiction of Floreffe. The ancient annals of Stederburg present him as a man exalted for Christian wisdom, humility and fortitude." Sant' Isfrido di Ratzeburg Vescovo", Santi e Beati, May 26, 2008
/ref> Many miracles are associated with Isfrid's life. He died on 15 June 1204, the day on which his memory is celebrated. In the diocese of Osnabruck he enjoyed an ancient cult, confirmed in 1725 by

Pope Benedict XIII Pope Benedict XIII ( la, Benedictus XIII; it, Benedetto XIII; 2 February 1649 – 21 February 1730), born Pietro Francesco Orsini and later called Vincenzo Maria Orsini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 29 May ...

to the Order of Premonstratensians. He is depicted as a bishop, with water that turned into wine and with a blind man that he healed.

References

, - German Roman Catholic saints 13th-century Christian saints 1204 deaths 13th-century German Roman Catholic bishops Premonstratensians Roman Catholic Prince-Bishops of Ratzeburg Year of birth unknown 12th-century German Roman Catholic bishops Beatifications by Pope Benedict XIII {{Germany-RC-bishop-stub