Saint Ulrich of Zell

Ulrich of Zell, also known as Wulderic, sometimes of Cluny or of Regensburg (c. 1029 – 1093), was a Cluniac reformer of Germany, abbot, founder and saint. Ulrich was born at Regensburg in Bavaria (formerly also known as Ratisbon) in early 1029. His father Bernhold was from Bavaria; his mother Bucca from Swabia, a niece of Bishop Gebhard II of Regensburg and also related to Ulrich of Augsburg. Pious and wealthy, they were childless for many years and made a pilgrimage to Magnus of Füssen, vowing to dedicate a son to the religious life. Ulrich was probably educated at the school of St. Emmeram's Abbey, along with William of Hirsau, with whom he remained friends throughout his life, but in 1043 he was called to the court of his godfather, Henry III, King of the Germans where he acted as page to Queen Agnes, who was of the ducal house of Aquitaine, patrons of the reforming Abbey of Cluny. Ulrich later had to leave the court because his father had been accused of collaborating with enemies from Hungary and had been executed. Ordained deacon by his uncle Nidger, Bishop of Freising, he was made archdeacon and provost of the cathedral there, but was deeply moved by the spirit of reform that was sweeping from Cluny through the 11th century church. On his return from a journey to Rome he distributed his possessions to the poor, made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and, after another short visit to Rome, returned to Regensburg, where he founded a religious community, and then entered the Abbey of Cluny in 1061. Here he soon became personal secretary to Abbot Hugo. Here he was ordained priest and Hugo commissioned Ulrich to spread the Cluny reforms. He was appointed confessor to the convent at Mareigny in the diocese of Autun, and prior of the community of men in the same place. He also lost an eye and was obliged to return to Cluny. Om 1082 Ulrich was named prior at Peterlingen (now Payerne) in the Diocese of Lausanne.