Saint Ulrich of Augsburg
Magyar horsemen flood the fields beyond Augsburg—a storm of fear and steel. While many fled in terror, Saint Ulrich stood firm in faith.
Saint Ulrich of Augsburg – Patronage & Symbols
Born: c. 890, Kyburg
Died: 4 July 973, Augsburg
Traditional Feast Day: 4 July—Honored for steadfast faith during the Magyar invasions.
Modern Roman Calendar Feast Day: 4 July
Canonized: AD 993 by Pope John XV—the first saint formally canonized by a pope.
Patron Of: Vertigo sufferers, pregnant women in distress, fishermen, weavers, and those defending their homes.
Symbols in Art: Fish (charity and Christ), crozier (shepherd of the flock), goose leg (charity to the poor).
Invoked For: Courage in the midst of trouble, relief from vertigo and fever, safety at sea,, happy death, blessings for weavers and fishermen, protection against rodents
Saint Ulrich of Augsburg (c. 890–973) served as bishop during one of the darkest hours of 10th-century Christendom, when Magyar raids devastated Christian lands. Amid panic and flight, Ulrich remained with his people. He prayed, fasted, and prepared his city not only for defense—but for grace.
When Augsburg came under siege in 955, Ulrich’s calm leadership and unwavering faith strengthened the city’s defenders until the Magyar forces were defeated at the Battle of Lechfeld.
A man of discipline and compassion, Ulrich was known to feed the poor with his own hands. A fish—symbol of charity and of Christ—became his attribute in sacred art, recalling the mercy he showed even under threat.
He was the first saint formally canonized by a pope (John XV in 993). His feast is kept on July 4.