SAINT WILLIAM, BISHOP - 29 JULY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JULY

Saints celebrated on the 29th of July 

WELCOME!

SAINT WILLIAM, BISHOP OF S. BRIEUC IN BRITTANY, CONFESSOR 

Saint William Pinchon, of an illustrious family in Brittany, was, by the innocence of his manners, his admirable meekness, humility, chastity, mortification, charity and devotion, an accomplished model of all virtues. 

HE RECEIVED THE TONSURE

He received the tonsure, and some years after the holy orders of deacon and priest, at the hands of Josselin, bishop of S. Brieuc; served that church under his two successors, Peter and Sylvester, and succeeded the latter in the episcopal dignity about the year 1220. 

THE POOR WERE HIS TREASURERS

The poor were his treasurers, and not content to exhaust on them whatever he possessed, he often borrowed great stores of corn and other necessary provisions for their relief. 

HE SLEPT ON BARE BOARDS

The bare boards were usually his bed; for his domestics discovered that he never made use of the soft bed which they prepared for him. The assiduous application to all the functions of his charge, was no hindrance to his nourishing within himself the spirit of recollection and holy prayer. 

HIS BODY WAS FOUND INCORRUPT

He died about the year 1234, on July 29, on which his name occurs in the Roman Martyrology. His body was deposited in his cathedral, and taken up incorrupt in 1284. He was canonised by Innocent IV in 1253, according to Baronius. 

From Fr Butler's Lives of the Saints - 📷 S. Brieuc

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint William 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.