BL. BONIFACE, BISHOP OF LAUSANNE - 19 FEBRUARY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN FEBRUARY

Saints celebrated on the 19th of February

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BL. BONIFACE, BISHOP OF LAUSANNE

Blessed Boniface (Bonifacius), commemorated on February 19 or December 25, was bishop of Lausanne in Switzerland. 

Born in Brussels in 1188, he was sent to Paris at the age of 17 to receive scientific training at the university there. Appointed public teacher at this institute, he served as such for seven years. As a result of certain disagreements he went to Cologne in 1237, where he continued teaching. 

In 1239 he was appointed bishop of Lausanne (Lausonium). In his new position he had to endure nothing but tribulation and persecution, which ultimately led him to resign his bishopric in 1247. 

Boniface immediately left the area for Paris and from there proceeded to the Netherlands. This move took place in 1249. From then onwards he lived in complete seclusion in the women's monastery at Cambre (Camera S. Mariæ, Mary's chambers) and, if not by vow, at least by dress he spent the rest of his days as a disciple of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux.

In 1266, Boniface went to his eternal reward. Although the monastery in question was destroyed in 1581 along with the church and the tomb of the blessed, the house in which he had lived remained intact because it was some distance away. In 1600, his relics were rediscovered and, as miracles occurred,  the bishop of Mechelen, after careful investigation, permitted Boniface's veneration. The faithful flocked to his former house, which was subsequently converted into a chapel. Bucelin* lists his memorial as December 25.

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints) 

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Blessed Boniface 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.

Sources of these articles (in the original German): books.google.co.uk, de-academic.com, zeno.org, openlibrary.org