BL. WOLFELM OF BRAUWEILER, ABBOT

BL. WOLFELM OF BRAUWEILER, ABBOT - 22 APRIL

BLESSED WOLFELM OF BRAUWEILER, ABBOT

Blessed Wolfelm (Wolphelmus) was abbot of the Benedictine monastery of Saint Nicolaus in Brauweiler (near Cologne, Germany) which had been founded around 1024.

Descended from a noble family, Wolfelm was born around 1020. His father was called Frumoldus and his mother was Eveza. His education he received in the cathedral school (apud aedem B. Petri) in Cologne. As well as in the sciences, Wolfhelm also grew in piety, especially since his confirmation by Bishop Heribert. All the greatness of the world and all the splendour of the earth soon became repugnant to him; he secretly escaped to the monastery of St Maximin near Trier, where he took up the religious habit under Abbot Bernard.

A while later he was called to the monastery of St Pantaleon in Cologne, where his uncle Heinrich was abbot. Soon afterwards he was appointed to head the Gladbach monastery in the Jülich region, and from here he made a journey to Rome. Following his return he was appointed head of the Siegeberg institute, and afterwards became abbot of the Brauweiler monastery, where he stayed until his death.

He ensured close observation of the Rule and diligent reading of the Bible, which he insisted on being read through in its entirety every year. Although of mild and gentle disposition, Wolfhelm in no way overlooked the mistakes of his subordinates. He also defended the rights of his monastery, but endured the injustices inflicted on himself with patience and without complaint.

Tireless into his old age, he enriched the monastery church with wall paintings and encouraged other artistic works, which are still admired today. He also continued his austere lifestyle until the very end. After Abbot Herimann of St Pantaleon had given him the last rites, Wolfhelm died peacefully on April 22, 1091. Archbishop Herimann III (1089–1099) blessed his body for burial. Since God demonstrated Wolfhelm's virtues through various miracles, his name was included in several lists of saints. His relics were elevated; but of these, by the time Mabillon* published his biography, only Wolfhelm's head was left.

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints)

*A hagiography source used by the authors

Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations

PRAYER:

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

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