St. Altman

Bishop and apostolic delegate, born in Westphalia, Germany about 1020. He studied in Paris, was ordained, and then became the ranking priest at the Paderborn Cathedral School. From there he went to Aachen and became the royal chaplain of Emperor Henry II. In 1064, Altman went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and was captured by the Muslim Saracens in Palestine. He was released and journeyed home in 1065 facing renewed dangers. Upon his arrival home, Altman was named the bishop of Passati because of the patronage of Empress Agnes. Altman founded the Augustinian abbey at Gottweig, Austria, and generally reformed the religious institutions of the region. He then became involved in Pope Gregory VII's efforts to halt simony and clergy marriages. Altman was driven out of his diocese because of this controversy. He went to Rome and was appointed apostolic delegate to Germany. In 1081, he returned to Passau but was driven out again. Altman spent the remaining years of his life in the abbey at Gottweig, Austria.