Blessed Herman the Cripple (1013-1054): a 'hugot' monk' *

The original meaning of the Filipino word “hugot” is to draw or to pull out. Its use in social media as “#hugot” became popular and is usually associated with song lyrics, a quote, etc. that the person tweeting can relate to. "Hugot" connotes a potentially and personally deep sentimental or emotional undertones. Because feelings come from "deep within" so one may have pulled it out ("hugot") and actually blurt them out in an emotional, and sometimes creative, fashion, subconsciously or otherwise.

Bl. Hermann of Reichenau, or more popularly, Bl. Herman the Cripple, was an 11th-century Benedictine monk from southern Germany, a monk and a scholar, whose 'hugot' in life was translated into the prayers that he uttered, in the songs the composed, in the life that he lived. 

As a scholar, he composed works on history, music theory, mathematics, and astronomy, as well as many church hymns. He has traditionally been credited with the composition of "Salve Regina", "Veni Sancte Spiritus", and "Alma Redemptoris Mater", although these attributions are sometimes questioned by other writers. His ‘cultus’ and beatification were confirmed by the Roman Catholic Church in 1863.

Born deformed with a cleft palate (an opening or split in the roof of the mouth that occurs when the tissue doesn't fuse together during development in the womb), cerebral palsy (which is caused by abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain that affects a person’s ability to control one's muscles), and spina bifida (a birth defect that occurs when the spine and spinal cord don't form properly), Herman was cared for from age seven (7) by the Benedictine monks of the Reichenau abbey of Germany. Ang dami pala n'ya talagang paghuhugutan ng kanyang mga hinaing! His medical condition, and the way people might had treated him, might had been the cause of his groans and sighs!

Monastery and cloisters of Reichenau

Nevertheless, he persevered in his monastic vocation and professed as a monk at age twenty (20). Although he was bedridden and a speech impediment made him nearly impossible to be understood and understand, Bl. Herman was a genius who studied and wrote works on astronomy, theology, math, history, poetry, Arabic, Greek, and Latin. He also built astronomical equipment and musical instruments and was the most famous religious poet of his day. 

Now, we can understand and even feel his 'holy hugot' in his very composition, the "Salve Regina":

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve: to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus, O merciful, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Amen.

Relics of Hermann in Altshausen, Germany