Saint Pirmin

Pirmin (; before 700 – November 3, 753), was a Merovingian-era monk and missionary who founded or restored numerous monasteries in Alemannia. He is regarded as a saint in the Catholic Church.

Biography Pirmin was probably from the area of Narbonne, possibly of Visigothic origin. Many Visigoths fled to Francia after the Arab conquest of Spain at the beginning of the 8th century.

From 718 onwards, he was abbot of the monastery Quortolodora in Antwerp (Austrasia) and, together with its pupils, served the church inside the broch, Het Steen. (In the 12th century, this church was dedicated to Saint Walpurga.) According to legend, Pirmin blessed a spring that wells up near Kaundorf. The spring’s water is said to have healing properties. A chapel on the site is dedicated to him.

After a while Pirmin was invited by count Rohingus to stay at his villa in Thommen, near Sankt Vith in the Ardennes. Pirmin gained the favour of Charles Martel, mayor of the palace of Francia. He was sent to help rebuild Disentis Abbey in what is today Switzerland. In 724, he was appointed abbot of Mittelzell Abbey on Reichenau Island, which had earlier founded. The book collects quotations from Church Fathers and scriptures, presumably for use by missionaries,