Saint Meinrad, known as the "Martyr of Hospitality," was a German-born Benedictine priest who spent 26 years as a monk and hermit in the Swiss Alps. Despite his life of prayer and solitude, he welcomed visitors seeking spiritual and physical assistance. He was well known for his gentle nature and his bond with two ravens. Following a premonition of his own death, Saint Meinrad was visited by two robbers. Although he was aware of their intentions, he graciously provided them with food and drink before they ultimately murdered him and fled. His two ravens followed the men and alerted the townspeople to the crime. Today, his former hermitage is the site of the Einsiedeln Abbey, which houses the "Black Madonna” statue in its Chapel of Grace.
