ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN NOVEMBER
Saints celebrated on the 7th of November
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SAINT WILLIBRORD, BISHOP AND CONFESSOR
Saint Willibrord was born in the kingdom of Northumberland, towards the year 658, and placed by his virtuous parents, before he was seven years old, in the monastery of Rippon, which was at that time governed by St Wilfrid, its founder.
Out of a desire for further improvement, in the twentieth year of his age, he went over into Ireland, with the consent of his abbot and brethren, where he joined St Egbert, and the blessed Wigbert.
HE FELT CALLED TO THE MISSIONS
He had long entertained an ardent desire of going to preach the gospel to the inhabitants of unhappy countries, in which barbarism and idolatry still reigned without control, and he had chiefly Friesland or Lower Germany in his eye.
St Willibrord, at about thirty-one years of age, having been ordained priest a year before, was joined by St Swidbert and ten other English monks in this mission.
THEY LANDED AT THE MOUTH OF THE RHINE
Alcuin expressly says, that these missionaries landed at the mouth of the Rhine, and travelled thence to Utrecht, a town built by the Romans at the great passage over the Rhine.
Pepin of Herstal, or the Big, who was at that time duke of the French, and mayor of the king’s palace, and had lately conquered part of Friesland, received courteously St Willibrord and his companions.
PREACHING THE GOSPEL
St Willibrord, with his ten other companions, under the protection of Pepin, preached the gospel with wonderful success, in that part of Friesland that had been conquered by the French; so that after six years, Pepin, by the advice of his bishops, sent the saint to Rome, with strong letters of recommendation, that he might be ordained bishop.
His humility made him endeavour that some other should be pitched upon for that dignity; but he was not heard. Pope Sergius, who still sat in St Peter’s chair, received him with great marks of honour, changed his name into that of Clement, with great solemnity ordained him archbishop of the Frisons in St Peter’s church, and gave him the pallium with authority to fix his see in what part of the country he should think most convenient.
HIS EPISCOPATE
The holy man staid only fourteen days in Rome, being impatient to return to his flock, and regretting an hour’s absence from them, more than was necessary to procure them greater advantages. He came back to Utrecht the same year, 696, and chose that city for his residence.
St Willibrord built at Utrecht the church of our Saviour, in which he fixed his metropolitical see.
THE ABBEY OF EPTERNAC
In the second year after his episcopal consecration, assisted by the liberality of Pepin, and the abbess Irmina, who is said to have been daughter of Dagobert II., he founded, in 698, the abbey of Epternac, in the diocese of Triers, and now in the duchy of Luxemburg, which he governed to his death.
Alcuin relates, that the nunnery of Horrea, of which Irmina was abbess, had been delivered from a pestilence by water, blessed by St Willibrord, and by his saying Mass in the church.
HE BAPTISED THE KING'S SON
Pepin of Herstal, before his death put away his concubine, Alpais, by whom he had Charles Martel, and was reconciled to his wife Plectrudis, and in his last will, which is signed by Plectrudis, he recommended to St Willibrord, his nephews, (without any mention of his natural son Charles,) and bestowed on our saint the village of Swestram, now Susteren, in the duchy of Juliers, near the Mews, with which the holy man endowed a nunnery which he built there.
Pepin of Herstal died in December, 714. A little before his death, Charles Martel’s son, Pepin the Short, afterwards king of France, was born, and baptised by St Willibrord, who on that occasion is related by Alcuin to have prophesied, that the child would surpass in glory all his ancestors.
HE PRONOUNCED THE WORDS ALOUD
Charles Martel in a short time became mayor of the palace, and approved himself equally the first general and statesman of his age.
Our Saint extended his labours into West-Friesland, which obeyed Radbod, prince or king of the Frisons, who continued an obstinate idolater; yet hindered not the saint’s preaching to his subjects, and he himself sometimes listened to him.
St Willibrord, to undeceive the inhabitants upon the famous pagan holy island called Fositeland, now Amelandt, on the coast of Friesland, killed some of the beasts for his companions to eat, and baptised three persons in the fountain, pronouncing the words aloud.
"WILLIBRORD, SURNAMED CLEMENT, IS STILL LIVING"
After the death of Radbod, which happened in 719, Willibrord was at full liberty to preach in every part of the country. He was joined in his apostolical labours, in 720, by St Boniface, who spent three years in Friesland: then went into Germany.
Bede says, when he wrote his history in 731, "Willibrord, surnamed Clement, is still living, venerable for his old age, having been bishop thirty-six years, and sighing after the rewards of the heavenly life, after many conflicts in the heavenly warfare."
ASSIDUOUS PRAYER AND SINGING OF PSALMS
He was, says Alcuin, of a becoming stature, venerable in his aspect, comely in his person, graceful and always cheerful in his speech and countenance, wise in his counsel, unwearied in preaching and all apostolic functions, amidst which he was careful to nourish the interior life of his soul by assiduous prayer, singing of psalms, watching, and fasting.
HE WAS CAUTIOUS ADMITTING PEOPLE TO HOLY ORDERS
By the tears, prayers, and zealous labours of this apostle and his colleagues, the faith was planted in most parts of Holland, Zealand, and all the remaining part of the Netherlands.
St Willibrord was exceedingly cautious in admitting persons to holy orders, fearing lest one unworthy or slothful minister should defeat by scandal, all the good which the divine mercy had begun for the salvation of many souls. It is also mentioned of him, that he was very strict and diligent in examining and preparing thoroughly those whom he admitted to baptism, dreading the condemnation which those incur, who, by sloth or facility, open a door to the profanation of our most tremendous mysteries.
HE PREPARED HIMSELF FOR ETERNITY
The schools which St Willibrord left at Utrecht, were very famous. Being at length quite broken with old age he resigned the administration of his diocese to a coadjutor whom he ordained bishop, and in retirement prepared himself for eternity.
Alcuin and Rabanus Maurus place his death on November 6, 738, but Roman and Benedictine Martyrologies commemorate him on the 7th. He was buried, as he had desired, at his monastery of Epternac, and his relics are there enshrined at this day.
From Fr Butler's Lives of the Saints
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