Valerius Herberger

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Valerius Herberger (born April 21, 1562 in Fraustadt , Polish Wschowa ; † May 18, 1627 ibid) was a German Lutheran theologian, edification writer and hymn poet in Poland .

Live and act

Former Evangelical Church Kripplein Christi

Valerius Herberger was born as the son of the furrier and member of the Mastersingers Guild , Martin Herberger († 1571 ) and Anna Hoffmann († January 5, 1608 ). After the early death of his father, he lived with his aunt, Barbara Wende, and was supported and trained by his godfather, Pastor Martin Arnold. He attended the then known Latin school in Fraustadt, 1579–1582 that in Freystadt in neighboring Silesia. 1572–1584 he studied theology in Frankfurt an der Oder and Leipzig .

In 1584 the Fraustadt magistrate appointed him preacher and teacher at the Latin school. On March 21, 1590 he was appointed deacon of the Fraustadt parish church of St. Marien. In the same year he married the councilor's daughter Anna Rüdinger (1568–1629). After the death of the pastor Leonhard Krentzheim he was elected first preacher of Fraustadt on December 30th, 1598.

In 1604, as part of the Counter Reformation measures, the parish had to return the parish church to the Catholic Church. Herberger then acquired two houses at the Polish Gate, which were expanded into a house of prayer, which he named "Kripplein Christi".

Herberger was celebrated throughout the Protestant world as "little Luther". In addition to his theological writings, he was known for the hymn " Valet I want to give you ". During the devastating plague of 1613 he did not leave the side of the sick and dying and buried each person personally, singing this song, which established his fame as the plague pastor of Fraustadt. His official brother, the deacon Johann Timaeus, was always at his side. He did not get any fame because Timaeus himself died of the plague. Herberger's song was set to music by the Fraustadt cantor Melchior Teschner (1584-1635) in 1614.

After the plague of 1613, Herberger's health was compromised. His son Zacharias Herberger (1591–1631), who had also studied theology and was appointed deacon of Fraustadt by the magistrate, was a great support to him.

Herberger suffered a stroke in 1623, the second in February 1627, from the consequences of which he died in May. The city's greatest son was buried in the new cemetery outside of what was then the city, with great sympathy from the population.

He was succeeded in his office by his son Zacharias, who did not survive his father long. The grandson of the same name, Valerius Herberger Jr., died during his studies in Königsberg (1641) and the family died out with him. He left part of his grandfather's property as a scholarship to the city of Fraustadt. He also handed over the large library of the Fraustadt church "Kripplein Christi".

Fonts

Herberger published:

  • three sermon books: "Evangelical Heart Postille", "Epistolische Herzpostille" and "Spiritual Stubble Postille"
  • “Magnalia Dei s. de Jesu Scripturae nucleo et medulla, edifying reflections on the Old Testament books of Moses, Joshua, Judges, Ruth "
  • "Passion pointer"
  • "Mourning bandages ie funeral sermons in 7 parts"
  • "Explanation of the Book of Sirach in 95 Sermons"
  • “Psalter paradise, explanation of Psalms 1–23”, continued by his son Zacharias Herberger

Remembrance day

May 17th in the Evangelical Name Calendar .

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ cf. EG 523
  2. ↑ Valerius Herberger in the ecumenical dictionary of saints

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Herberger, Valerius
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German Lutheran theologian, writer of edification and hymn poet in Poland
DATE OF BIRTH April 21, 1562
PLACE OF BIRTH Woman city
DATE OF DEATH May 18, 1627
Place of death Woman city