SAINT WILLIBRORD

Saint Willibrord
Saint Willibrord

Here are Basic facts, Early life, Missionary work, Legacy, Feast day, and significance of Saint Willibrord.

Basic Facts of Saint Willibrord

Saint Willibrord (also spelled Wilbrord, Wilibrordus). Born in 658 in Northumbria, England. Died on 7 November 739, Abbey of Echternach, Luxembourg. Saint Willibrord was a Bishop of Utrecht; “Apostle to the Frisians”. Patronage in Netherlands, Luxembourg, epileptics, convulsions.

Early Life and Formation of Saint Willibrord

Willibrord was born around 658 in Northumbria, England. His father, Wilgis, became a hermit, and Willibrord was placed as a youth in the monastery at Ripon under the direction of Saint Wilfrid of York (Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913). Around age 20, he traveled to Ireland and stayed roughly 12 years at the Abbey of Rath Melsigi under Saint Egbert, where he deepened his monastic formation (Catholic.com, n.d.).

Missionary Work of Saint Willibrord in the Low Countries

Around 690, Willibrord set out with 11 companions to evangelize the Frisians (modern Netherlands and parts of Germany). In 695, he went to Rome and was consecrated bishop by Pope Sergius I, becoming Archbishop of the Frisians (Catholic.com, n.d.).

He established his see at Utrecht and founded the Abbey of Echternach in 698 (Britannica, 2023). Despite opposition from Frisian pagan rulers, Willibrord continued his missionary work, establishing churches and monasteries and strengthening Christian communities (Catholicity, n.d.).

Later Life and Death of Saint Willibrord

After decades of missionary toil, Willibrord retired to the Abbey of Echternach, where he died on 7 November 739. His tomb became a place of pilgrimage (Britannica, 2023).

Legacy and Veneration of  Saint Willibrord

Willibrord helped establish Christianity in the Low Countries and strengthened ecclesiastical structures in the region (All Saint Stories, n.d.).

The Abbey of Echternach remains a center of veneration, and the “Dancing Procession” is held there after Pentecost, commemorating his relics (Kandle, 2017).

He is invoked for convulsions, epilepsy, and nervous disorders (Catholic Tradition, n.d.).

Feast day of Saint Willibrord

His feast is observed on 7 November, particularly in the Netherlands and Luxembourg (Catholic.lu, 2015).

Significance of Saint Willibrord

Saint Willibrord exemplifies missionary zeal in the early medieval Church, illustrating the interplay of monastic formation, cooperation with Rome, engagement with political rulers, and perseverance amid opposition. His work led to the Christianization of a large area and left enduring cultural and religious traditions.

References

All Saint Stories. (n.d.). St. Willibrord. https://allsaintstories.com/saints/st-willibrord

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia. (2023). Saint Willibrord. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Willibrord

Catholic.com. (n.d.). Saint Willibrord. https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/willibrord-saint

Catholic Encyclopedia. (1913). Willibrord, Saint. New York: Robert Appleton Company. https://www.catholicity.com/encyclopedia/w/willibrord%2Csaint.html

Catholic Tradition. (n.d.). Saint Willibrord. https://www.catholictradition.org/Saints/saints11-5b.htm

Catholic.lu. (2015, November 7). Feast of St. Willibrord. https://catholic.lu/2015/11/07/feast-of-st-willibrord/

Kandle. (2017). St. Willibrord. https://www.kandle.ie/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/St-Willibrord.pdf

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

FAITH OF ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

Image
Image of Catholic Church at Vatican By Edward Matulanya Here are Meaning, believe, founder, sacraments, teaching source, Morals, source of faith, History and key teaching of Roman Catholic Church. 1. Meaning of Roman Catholic Church  The Roman Catholic Church means the universal Christian community under the leadership of the Bishop of Rome (the Pope). 2. Understand the Core Beliefs of the Roman Catholic Faith The Roman Catholic Church belief in one God in three persons ; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], 1997, §234; Matt. 28:19). Catholics hold that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, whose incarnation, death, and resurrection bring salvation to humanity (CCC, 1997, §§461–463; John 1:14). 2. Founder of Roman Catholic Church  The Church, founded by Christ on the apostles with the pope as Peter’s successor, is “the universal sacrament of salvation” (CCC, 1997, §774; Matt. 16:18–19). Salvation is a gift of grace received through faith ...
Read more

TWELVE APOSTLES OF JESUS

Image
  Jesus Christ with twelve apostles at last feast By Edward Matulanya Here are twelve apostles chosen by Jesus, celebration of Eucharist, their mission, their succession, their liturgical Celebration a summary of their lives.  The Catholic Church teaches that Jesus personally chose and appointed the Twelve to share in His mission and to lay the foundation of the Church. Twelve apostles chosen by Jesus  Jesus called his disciples, and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles (Luke 6:13, NABRE). They were to be with Him, to preach, and to have authority to drive out demons (Mark 3:13-19). Celebration of Eucharist At the Last Supper He conferred on them a share in His priesthood and the command to celebrate the Eucharist (Luke 22:19–20; Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], 1994/2019, §§859–860). Catholics hold that this apostolic ministry continues through apostolic succession, with bishops as the successors of the apostles (CCC §§861–862). The Role of Jesus’ Ap...
Read more

SAINT JOSEPH OF CUPERTINO

Image
Saint Joseph of Cupertino  By Edward Matulanya Early life of Saint Joseph of Cupertino St. Joseph of Cupertino was born June 17, 1603, in Cupertino, Apulia (southern Italy). Orphaned before birth and raised in poverty, he struggled with learning and was considered slow by his peers. After repeated rejections from religious communities, he was eventually accepted as a servant by the Conventual Franciscans and later admitted as a friar. Vocational life of Saint Joseph of Cupertino  Despite his lack of education, Joseph was ordained a priest in 1628 after a providentially simple examination. He became famous for extraordinary mystical phenomena, especially levitation during ecstatic prayer. These events attracted large crowds and even the attention of the Inquisition, though he was never condemned. Because the public excitement disrupted community life, Joseph spent much of his later years in seclusion, devoted to humility and prayer. He died on September 18, 1663, in Osimo, Ital...
Read more