AGRICOLA, MICHAEL. - Born around 1508 or 1512 at Torsby, in the parish of Perna or Pernaja, and died suddenly on 9 April 1557, near Viborg (Viipuri), in whose cathedral he was buried. "Agricola" is a surname Latinized from the German (Bauer), according to the customs of the time; Luther, by a mocking distortion, nicknamed him "Grickel" instead of "Agricola."
A., regarded as the reformer of Finland, is the founder of the Finnish language. Having completed his elementary studies at Abo, he was sent by Martin Skyte, the Lutheran bishop of that city, by imposition of King Gustav Vasa, to continue his formation at Wittenberg (1526-39), where he heard the lectures of Luther and Melanchthon and was won over to Protestantism. Having returned from Wittenberg, he was appointed rector of the school of the cathedral of Abo, then became coadjutor of Skyte (1548), after whose death he became administrator of the diocese, and finally (1554-57), the diocese having been divided into two parts, Abo and Viborg, he was elected bishop of Abo, then the capital of Finland.
Works. - During a decade of indefatigable labor, he published various writings: around 1542 a Primer; shortly afterward a Catechism of Luther; in 1544 there followed the printing of a book of prayers. In 1543 he published the translation of the New Testament which he had begun during the years of his studies; in 1549 the ritual of Baptism; in 1551 he continued the publication of the translation of other parts of the Bible, the Psalms and the Prophets. The preface to the Psalter carries a list of the pagan divinities of Finnish mythology. There followed, in 1552, the translations of Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi.
Since at that time the art of printing had not yet been introduced into Finland, which was incorporated into Sweden, his works were printed at Stockholm. Following the example of his master, he employed the popular language for the teaching of religion, the education of the clergy, the diffusion of the Bible, and thus became the founder of the Finnish literary language.
Bibliography2 works
Giulio Gnadig