BL. BURKHARD OF MURI, PRIEST - 18 MAY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY

Saints celebrated on the 18th of May

WELCOME!

BLESSED BURKHARD OF MURI, PRIEST  

According to general tradition, Burcardus (Burchardus [Burkhard]), pastor at Beinwil in Switzerland, was born in the area of ​​the Muri monastery on the Maierhose Langenmatt and lived, as it seems, in the 13th or 14th century. (Some sources say that he died in the year 1000.) 

MANY PILGRIMS VISIT HIS PLACE

As a keen pastor, he ministered to the parish of Beinwil, which is about half an hour from Muri on the so-called Lindenberg. No special features are known to us of his life; the more proven part is the history of his devotion in the parish in question, where many believers make pilgrimages. 

THE CRANE

In his portraits one usually sees a crane next to him. According to the legend Bl. Burkhard brought a crane back to life. This happened in the following manner:

The holy priest was going about his business and the devotions of the church. Meanwhile his servants at home indulged in debauchery of all kinds during his absence. 

Now Bl. Burkhard owned a crane whom he was fond of and with whom he talked a lot, and the clever bird wonderfully revealed everything that his servants were doing during his absence. Out of sheer anger, the servants killed the pet bird and threw him in a secret place. 

But this deed should not remain hidden; because when the blessed pastor called the bird, he feebly answered his master's call from the place where he had been hidden by the pastor's domestic staff. After being pulled out, the bird revealed everything that had happened to him. For this reason the Bl. Burkhard is represented with a crane, which incidentally has only one wing.

Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, 1858; here Bl. Burkhard's feast day is listed as 20th of August.