ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN OCTOBER
Saints celebrated on the 31st of October
SAINT WOLFGANG, BISHOP OF REGENSBURG
Saint Wolfgang was a native of Swabia, and at seven years of age was put into the hands of a neighbouring virtuous ecclesiastic; but some time after removed to the abbey of Reichenau (in Latin Augia), founded by Charles Martel in 724, near Constance, united in 1536 to the bishopric of Constance.
HE WAS VERY EDUCATED
Here he came in contact with a young nobleman called Henry, brother to Poppo, bishop of Würzburg, who had set up a great school in that city, and engaged an Italian professor, called Stephen. Henry, who was charmed with his virtue prevailed upon him to bear him company to this new school at Würzburg. Once when a difficult passage in an author raised a contest among the scholars about the sense, Wolfgang explained it with so much perspicuity and evidence, that in all perplexing difficulties the rest had recourse to him, rather than to the master.
This raised in him a jealousy against the saint, and made him many ways persecute him. Wolfgang, by silence, patience, and meekness, made his advantage of all the contradictions and humiliations he met with, thinking no happiness greater than the means and opportunities of subduing his passions, and gaining a complete victory over himself.
MINDFUL OF HUMAN WEAKNESS
In the apprehension of his own weakness, he was desirous of finding a holy monastery of mortified religious men, sincerely dead to the world and themselves, whose example might be a spur to him in the necessary duty of dying to himself without dangerous temptations or trials.
But such a society is not to be found in this life; it is even necessary that our patience, meekness, and humility be exercised by others here, that they may be made perfect. Nor is there any company of saints in which trials fail.
HE YEARNED FOR SECLUSION
This is the very condition of our hire in the divine service, and of our apprenticeship to heaven. We can never be like the angels and saints.
Henry perceived this inclination of Wolfgang for a monastic life, and engaged him to serve his neighbour; and being himself chosen archbishop of Triers in 956, he pressed the saint to accompany him thither.
Wolfgang could not be prevailed upon to take upon him any other charge than that of a school for children; and afterwards that of a community of ecclesiastics, with the title of dean; in both which posts he succeeded to a miracle, and to the edification of the whole country, in planting the spirit of Christ in those that were committed to his care.
Ulric, Bishop of Augsburg, in whose diocese this abbey stood, ordained Saint Wolfgang priest, in spite of all the opposition his humility could form. With his ordination the holy man received an apostolical spirit, and having obtained his abbot’s leave, in 972, went with a select number of monks to preach the faith to the Hungarians.
EXTRAORDINARY HUMILITY
To put a cheat upon the saint’s humility, the emperor ordered him to repair to Ratisbon [Regensburg], as if it had been for some other affairs. When he arrived there, the Archbishop of Salzburg, and several bishops of the province were ready to receive him, and to see the election duly performed by the clergy and people.
He was then put into safe hands, and conducted to the emperor at Frankfurt, who gave him the investiture of the temporalities, though the saint entreated him on his knees to allow him to return to his monastery.
EPISCOPATE
Being sent back to Ratisbon he was consecrated and enthroned. He never quitted the monastic habit, and practised all the austerities of a religious life when in possession of the episcopal dignity.
The first thing he did in it, after an excellent regulation of his own conduct and household, was to settle a thorough reformation among all his clergy, and in all the monasteries of his diocese, especially the nunneries of Obermünster and Niedermünster; disorders in the sanctuary being of all others the most pernicious, and of the most fatal influence.
He was indefatigable in preaching, and, being a man of prayer, possessed powerfully the art of touching the hearts of his hearers.
A GENEROUS HEART TOWARDS THE POOR
Every other duty of his station he discharged with extraordinary vigilance and fidelity during twenty-two years’ administration. The poor had always the greatest share in his table and revenues, though in his profuse charities, he seemed to conceal from his own left hand what his right hand gave.
The time which was not taken up in business, he consecrated entirely to the strictest silence and retirement; and he employed a considerable part of the nights in devout prayer. Not content with this, he sometimes retired into some remote cell for a time, and once lay a long time concealed in a wilderness, that by heavenly contemplation he might repair and nourish his own soul.
A HOLY PRELATE
We ought to pray that Christ send us such holy prelates, and we shall see the primitive splendour of the church restored.
He was taken ill in a journey of charity, and died at Pupping, in Austria, on October 31, 994. His body was brought to Ratisbon, and deposited in Saint Emmeram’s Church. His name was enrolled among the saints by Pope Leo IX in 1052, upon the testimony of many miracles, and his relics enshrined by order of the same pope.
Excerpts from Fr Butler's Lives of the Saints
PRAYER:
Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Wolfgang may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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