Venerable Hemming of Turku

Blessed Hemming of Turku (1290–1366) was a Swedish Roman Catholic bishop who served as the bishop of Turku from 1338 until his death in 1366. He was born in Sweden though relocated to Finland following his appointment as bishop. He became a popular figure in the diocese for his staunch dedication to the educational and spiritual needs of the faithful. He was also a close friend of Saint Bridget of Sweden. During his studies he knew the future Pope Clement VI as one of his classmates. The cause of sainthood opened under Pope Alexander VI in 1497 which later resulted in his beatification by Pope Leo X in 1514. Pope Clement VII was to preside over his canonization as a saint in 1530 but the Reformation halted all plans to do so. Hemming was born in Uppsala in 1290 to middle-class parents who had connections to the nobles of Sweden. He studied in Uppsala and later relocated to France where he studied in the capital of Paris around the 1320s. One of his classmates at the time in France was in fact the future Pope Clement VI. He studied for a degree in the arts and later in both theological and legal studies. The completion of his studies allowed for him to be ordained to the priesthood and later appointed as the canon of the Turku Cathedral in Finland in 1329. Hemming was appointed as the Bishop of Turku – as the successor of Bengt – in November 1338 and would remain in that position until his death; Pope Benedict XII confirmed the appointment. Hemming received his episcopal consecration in Stockholm in November 1339. He improved the educational resources of the diocese and reformed the training and discipline of priests. He also improved the liturgical furnishings and diocesan finances. Hemming also dedicated himself to attending to the needs of seminaries and in providing theological resources to the priests and seminarians; he donated around 40 books to the cathedral and founded both a school and a hospital.