Rasso of Grafrath was a tenth-century Bavarian count and military leader who lived approximately from 900 to 953. As the count of Dießen-Andechs, he led Bavarian forces against Magyar invaders. During his life, he traveled as a pilgrim to Rome and the Holy Land to gather holy relics. Following these journeys, he established a Benedictine monastery at Wörth, a site that eventually took his name. He is recognized as a saint and was a noted author during his lifetime.
Life and service
Beyond his military role defending his people, Rasso was an author and a dedicated pilgrim. After returning from his travels to the Holy Land and Rome, he founded a Benedictine abbey in Wörth. He was described as a man of significant physical stature. When his remains were uncovered in 1468, he was measured to be approximately two meters tall, though his grave was even larger.
Veneration and legacy
The pilgrimage church at Grafrath became a significant healing shrine, with thousands of miracle reports recorded between 1444 and 1728. To protect the sacred relics he had collected, they were moved to Andechs Abbey in 955 to avoid destruction by Magyar raids. He is commemorated in the Catholic tradition with a feast day on May 17.