The feast day of Bl. Herman the Cripple is celebrated on September 25. He is the patron saint of the unborn child and the disabled.
Bl. Herman was the son of the Earl of Altshausen in southern Germany. He was born with a cleft palate, cerebral palsy and possibly spina bifida. The doctors told his parents he would not live past five years of age. He lived to be 41.
Herman had trouble with both moving and speaking. His parents cared for him until the age of seven. He was then given to the Abbey of Reichenau to be cared for. The monks raised him in the Benedictine monastery where he became interested in theology and the spiritual world. In spite of his disabilities, Bl. Herman was very intelligent. He studied math, astronomy, theology, history, poetry , Arabic, Greek and Latin. He built musical instruments and was known for his poetry. At the age of 20 Herman became a Benedictine monk.
Towards the end of his life Herman suffered from blindness. He began writing hymns. The most famous are the Salve Regina, Hail Holy Queen and Redemptoris Mater. Bl. Herman used prayer and music to grow closer to God.
Bl. Herman died at the age of 41 in 1054. Because so many children with disabilities die because of abortion, Bl. Herman is the saint of the unborn child. He is also the patron saint of the disabled.
Hail Holy Queen
Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy! Our life, our sweetness, and our hope!
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this, our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Prayer of Bl. Herman the Cripple
September is the Month of Our Lady of Sorrows