Brewing Miracles: The Life and Legacy of St. Arnold of Soissons

4 June 2025

In a world long before the discovery of germs and antibiotics, one man’s wisdom and faith turned an everyday beverage into a life-saving solution. That man was St. Arnold of Soissons, an 11th-century Catholic bishop whose legacy lives on not just in the Church, but also in breweries across Europe.

Early Life: Monk, Brewer, and Servant of God

Arnold was born around 1040 in Tiegem, a village in what is now Belgium. From an early age, he displayed a deep devotion to God. He spent the initial years of his youth serving as a career soldier before deciding to become a monk. He joined the Abbey of St. Medard in Soissons, France, seeking a life of prayer and service.

As a monk, Arnold took on the practical duties of monastic life — and one of those included brewing beer. In the medieval world, beer was often safer to drink than water, thanks to the boiling process involved in its making. Arnold embraced this craft not just as a necessity but as a way to serve his community.

Reluctant Bishop, Devoted Shepherd

Arnold was later ordained as a priest. As years passed by, the reputation of his holiness and wisdom spread. In 1080, despite his reluctance, he was appointed Bishop of Soissons. This appointment thrust the humble monk into a world of politics, disease, and public responsibility. However, despite all of this, Bishop Arnold brought with him the same simplicity and care that had marked his monastic life.

During Bishop Arnold's time in Soissons, a deadly plague swept through the town. The local water supply was contaminated, and people were dying. Seeing the severity of the crisis, Bishop Arnold urged the townspeople to stop drinking the water and instead drink beer brewed at his monastery.

This wasn’t frivolous advice. Arnold understood that boiled water, used in the brewing of beer, was far safer than untreated water. His guidance saved countless lives and earned him deep respect and affection from his flock.

Later Years

Despite his effectiveness as a bishop, Arnold longed for the peace of the monastic life. When his see was occupied by another bishop, rather than fighting, he took the opportunity to retire from public life and founded the Abbey of St. Peter in Oudenburg. There, he continued to brew beer, teach the monks, and live out his days in prayer.

Bishop Arnold died around 1087. After his death, people carried his body in a procession through villages suffering from the plague. Legend has it that as his body passed, the plague stopped; this incident is believed by many as a sign of St. Arnold’s sanctity.

Legacy: Patron Saint of Brewers

Recognising the many miracles attributed to Bishop Arnold, Pope Callixtus II canonised him in 1120. St. Arnold of Soissons is known as the patron saint of brewers and hop-pickers. His feast day falls on August 14. Breweries in Belgium and around the world have named several beers after him in his honour.

But beyond the humorous headline — the saint who told people to drink beer — lies the story of a man of deep compassion and practical wisdom. In a time of fear and disease, St Arnold of Soissons offered not just prayers but real-world solutions. His life reminds us that faith and reason can go hand in hand — even in a glass of beer.

Source: Wikipedia