Herluka of Bernried, Bl.
HERLUKA OF BERNRIED, BL.
Nun; b. Swabia, Germany, mid-12th century; d. convent of Bernried, near Augsburg, Germany, 1127. Although little is known about her life, she seems to have been a woman of education, knowledgeable about the affairs of her time and, in a small way, influential within her circle. She first entered the monastery of Epfach, where she lived many years and had william of hirsau as her spiritual director. During her stay at Epfach she carried on a vigorous correspondence, especially with Diemoth (d. c. 1130), a nun in a nearby convent. She was much concerned with the new spirit of reform in the Church and with the imperial-papal conflicts of the day (see gregorian reform). Her activities on behalf of the papal cause resulted in her expulsion, along with others, from the convent at Epfach. She went to the convent at Bernried and lived out her days there. Her correspondence, which would have provided a special insight into local history, unfortunately has been lost, as has the unfinished life of her by Paul of Bernried (d. c. 1146–50), who knew her well.
Feast: April 18.
Bibliography: Acta Sanctorum April 2:549–554. Analecta Bollandiana 17 (1898) 159. Bibliotheca hagiographica latina antiquae ct mediae aetatis, 2 v. (Brussels 1898–1901; suppl. 1911) 1:3835. l. rosenberger, Bavaria sancta (Munich 1948) 181.
[h. mackinnon]