BL. VOLKER OF SEGEBERG - 7 MARCH

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MARCH

Saints celebrated on the 7th of March

Prayer to the Angels and the Saints

Heavenly Father, in praising Your Angels and Saints we praise Your glory, for by honouring them we honour You, their Creator. Their splendour shows us Your greatness, which infinitely surpasses that of all creation.

In Your loving providence, You saw fit to send Your Angels to watch over us. Grant that we may always be under their protection and one day enjoy their company in heaven.

Heavenly Father, You are glorified in Your Saints, for their glory is the crowning of Your gifts. You provide an example for us by their lives on earth, You give us their friendship by our communion with them, You grant us strength and protection through their prayer for the Church, and You spur us on to victory over evil and the prize of eternal glory by this great company of witnesses.

Grant that we who aspire to take part in their joy may be filled with the Spirit that blessed their lives, so that, after sharing their faith on earth, we may also experience their peace in heaven. Amen.

BL. VOLKER OF SEGEBERG, MARTYR - 7 MARCH

According to the 12th century records of Helmold of Bosau, Blessed Volker was a disciple of St Vicelin of Oldenburg. In 1134, Vicelin had Emperor Lothar II (1125-37) build the fortress Segeberg near Lübeck in northern Germany on the border between the Wends and the Germans to provide protection to the missionaries. A Christian settlement arose at the foot of the castle, and Vicelin founded a convent for canons there.

A NEW CONVENT FOR CANONS

Bl. Volker entered this monastery as a canon, and he was a pious and simple missionary in the area. When a pagan slavic tribe attacked Segeberg and looted the monastery, Bl. Volker was killed. It happened in 1132. He was buried in Neumünster, a place south of the city of Kiel.

HE IS HONOURED AS A MARTYR

Bl. Volker is honoured as a martyr in Segeberg (today Bad Segeberg in Schleswig-Holstein). He is often portrayed preaching, with a crucifix in his hand.

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of the blessed Volker 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.