Saint Hunger

Who was Saint Hunger?

Hunger, also known as Hungerus Frisus, was Bishop of Utrecht from 854 to 866. He is a Saint of the Catholic Church

After the death of his predecessor Luidger of Utrecht, Luidger's nephew Craft was offered the seat. However, Craft, a very wealthy person, refused because he was afraid that he would attract Viking raids. Instead the Canon Hunger was appointed. At first his relations with the Vikings were peaceful, but eventually Utrecht was threatened by the Vikings, at which the bishop and the entire clergy of Utrecht fled to Saint-Odiliënberg, near Roermond. In 858 king Lothair II made a monastery available for them. Later the bishop settled in Prüm and then in Deventer

Hunger seems to have been a godly man who, unlike his predecessors, did not engage in nepotism. In the case of the childless marriage between king Lotharius and his wife Teutberga, he defended the sanctity of their marriage on biblical and theological grounds, but to secure his succession, Lothair repudiated his wife and married Waldrada, with whom he had a son.

Hunger died in Prüm in Germany. His feast day is 22 December.