ST MEGINGAUD, BISHOP OF WÜRZBURG - 16 MARCH

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MARCH

Saints celebrated on the 16th of March

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SAINT MEGINGAUD, BISHOP OF WÜRZBURG

Megingaud (Megingaudus), Bishop of Würzburg [Franconia, Germany], is also known as Maingut, Megingoz and Megingodus. He is to be distinguished from the Abbot of Buraburg (Fritzlar) with the same name and who was his contemporary. 

COUNT OF ROTHENBURG

Megingaud of Würzburg is referred to as Count of Rothenburg o/T (Tuberus). He probably came from a Frankish family. 

St Boniface called him to Fritzlar for him to educate the young religious and missionaries. He received the priestly ordination prior to A.D. 754.

THE OLD RECORDS

St Burchard, Bishop of Würzburg, designated him (between 754 and 757) as his successor. In 758 he is documented to have met St Wunibald during the latter's visit to Würzburg. A year earlier Megingaud took part in a meeting of bishops at Compiegne, as, again, can be read in the old documents. He also translated the body of St Burchard to Würzburg. He participated in the Synod of Attigny in 765. Finally, he was present at the inauguration of the Lorsch monastery in 774 by St Lullus of Mainz. 

HE PARTICULARLY PROMOTED THEOLOGICAL STUDIES

As bishop he particularly promoted theological studies with lively zeal. Charlemagne thought highly of him. Megingaud educated missionaries for Saxony. 

MONASTIC SOLITUDE

Driven by an irresistible desire for monastic solitude, he withdrew to the monastery of Rorlach (Rorinlach). He still built a larger monastery there. He died in 794 or 795. His sarcophagus was discovered in 1711. In the inscription he is called zealous in the holy office, pure and without blemish, for which reason he now enjoys the rewards in Christo (pio promtus in officio, castus sine crimine vates, mortuus in Christo praemia carpit ovans). 

Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints

PRAYER:

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