Adam Meyer

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Adam Meyer OSB (also Mayer ; Latinized Adamus Villicus ) (* around 1410 in Exweiler near St. Wendel ; † February 17, 1499 in Cologne ) was abbot of the Groß St. Martin monastery in Cologne and was also important as a monastery reformer.

Life

Meyer joined the Benedictine Abbey of St. Matthias in Trier around 1430 . There is no information about his work there. In any case, he received a sound education there and was strongly influenced by the reform abbot Johannes Rode . With other monks he came to Cologne in 1448 in the monastery Groß St. Martin. Their task there was to reform the decayed monastic life. Nothing is known about Meyer's duties in the first years in the Cologne monastery.

In 1454 he was elected abbot there. In 1455 he ensured the connection to the Bursfeld congregation and an economic recovery. The monastery's debts were so high that after deducting the interest, the community could only earn a living. Meyer succeeded in stabilizing the monastery's economic situation. So he also introduced feudal rights instead of hereditary rights for urban property . This reduced the risk of alienation from the monastic property. Overall, he tried to preserve the monastery property inside and outside the city. A court court was also introduced. Since then, the monastery's income, possessions and debts have also been systematically recorded. At that time the entire economic responsibility for the monastery rested exclusively with the abbot. The convent and the other holders of monastic offices played no role. Incidentally, he enforced the now dilapidated ban on private property of the monks.

This material basis provided the basis for the expansion of the library and the establishment of a scriptorium and ultimately for an upswing in intellectual life.

He played an important role in the provincial chapter of the Benedictine monasteries. In this he was one of the presidents. Its ability to influence was strengthened by the appointment of procurators to enforce the resolutions. Meyer also held such an office. Abbots who did not carry out the resolutions or who stayed away from the chapter meetings faced penalties.

His work was supported by the popes, the Cologne archbishops and some secular princes. In 1474 alone he visited the monasteries Werden , Grafschaft , Egmond , Prüm and monasteries in the diocese of Liège . He also played an important role in the Bursfeld congregation. He attended most of the chapter meetings, served six times as presidents, and served on various commissions. He also carried out visitations for the congregation. He was undoubtedly one of the leading figures of the congregation in his day.

In addition to his monastery, Meyer was involved in the reform of other monasteries in the Rhenish-Westphalian region as far as the Netherlands. If necessary, he sent monks from St. Martin there to reform monastic life. The monasteries he reformed included Liesborn , Brauweiler , Laach , Werden, Egmond and other Dutch monasteries. He also renewed the Seligenstadt Abbey . Between 1474 and 1478 he was also the administrator of the Werden monastery.

His reforms also extended to women's convents. He incorporated the St. Agatha monastery, which had previously belonged to the Augustinian hermits, into the Benedictine order. He also reformed the monasteries Hagenbusch , Neuwerk , Rolandswerth , Rupertsberg and Weerselo . In addition, there was the attempt at reform in the Rijnsburg monastery .

He even reformed monasteries outside the Benedictine order, or at least tried to do so. These include the Cistercian Abbey of Marienstatt and the Premonstratensian Monastery of Bedburg . The Begin houses in Cologne has it regulates.

Incorrectly has Oliver Legipont attributed to various works in the 18th century Meyer. The ascetic tract actually originates from him . This book was addressed to young monks and taught them about morality and mysticism.

literature

personal data
SURNAME Meyer, Adam
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Adamus Villicus
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Abbot of Great St. Martin
DATE OF BIRTH around 1410
PLACE OF BIRTH Exweiler near St. Wendel
DATE OF DEATH February 17, 1499
Place of death Cologne