ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN FEBRUARY
Saints celebrated on the 23rd of February
SAINT WILLIGIS, ARCHBISHOP OF MAINZ
This holy prelate is known as Willigis (Willegisus), Willigus, Willegus, and Willigizus; he became Archbishop of Mainz on June 29, 975 and died after a glorious and meritorious life on February 23, 1011. The Mainz historian Falk claims Willigis to have been of aristocratic descent, but Thietmar and most other writers agree that this archbishop was of humble origins. In any case, he first saw the light of day in Schöningen, Braunschweig, in Germany. It is handed down to us that, when Willigis' mother was pregnant with him, she once saw the sun shining from her womb and illuminating the world with flaming rays - an omen that did come true.
The boy showed good talents, virtue and an inclination towards the clergy from an early age. As a young priest, he soon became a canon in Hildesheim and was so well recommended to Emperor Otto II that he employed him as archchaplain. Willigis displayed great skill in his sphere of action and gave examples of such extraordinary wisdom, loyalty and piety that in 975 Otto II entrusted him with two most important and prestigious positions, making him Archbishop of Mainz and Archchancellor of the Empire at the same time.
The emperor promoted Willigis against the opposition of quite a few influential people who objected the saint's lowly origins (according to Thietmar, see above). Pope Benedict VII gave him the pallium. Thanks to his efforts, Otto III received the imperial crown, which Willigis placed on his head in Aachen in 983. During his minority, he had led the government of the empire along with Empress Adelheid for three years (following the death of Empress Theophano). As imperial regent, Willigis made great contributions to the spread of Christianity in the north, especially in Schleswig, Holstein, Denmark and Sweden, as well as to the elevation of worthy and deserving men to the German bishoprics. He saw to it that the bishops observed their residential duties and managed church discipline well.
Among his official acts are the ceremonial inauguration of the new main church in Halberstadt in the presence of the king, the Empress Adelheid, the abbess Mathilde of Magdeburg and many spiritual and secular personages. In Mainz he started rebuilding the cathedral from scratch, because on the day of his inauguration as bishop it had caught fire and burned down to its very foundations. Willigis humbly accepted this trial, immediately setting to work on the new cathedral structure. Its completion was accomplished during his successor Blessed Bardo's reign. St Stephen's Church in Mainz also owes its existence to Willigis. He also enriched St Victor's Monastery with goods and income. He re-founded the Disibodenberg Abbey near Kreuznach in 976. Several bishops received consecration from him (Butler III. 185): St Adalbert, Bishop of Prague, Rathar, Bishop of Paderborn (in 983), Bernward of Hildesheim in 993, Burchard of Worms in 997, Eberhard, the first Bishop of Bamberg, in 1000, etc.
His greatest achievement, however, is that in the midst of imperial business and constant contact with the world, invested with prestigious worldly honours and powers (which could have been a severe temptation to an ambitious and worldly lifestyle), he maintained a childlike and heartfelt fear of God. It is most admirable that a politician in such elevated and influential circumstances remained humble throughout his entire life (Major erat humilitas sua, quam potentiae suae magnitudo magnifica). In his eyes, the prosperity and wellbeing of the German Empire was the most important thing, the Kingdom of God was everything, which is why he urged clergy and laypeople alike to discipline and good morals. A contemporary and eyewitness writes of him (Katholisch, 1869, 49th year, p. 224 ff.):
“His face always remained the same; but his spirit was even more constant. He said little, but the few words of his had far more credibility than the countless oaths of others. He carried out all his business with excellent time management and strove for the highest perfection in all tasks he undertook. The Divine Office he prayed in such a way that his obligatory prayers were completed by midday."
His days were filled with seeing to state affairs and necessary private affairs, to studying and especially - the sweetest occupation of all - to reading the Holy Scriptures. Every day, his charity ensured that 30 poor people were supplied with food and drink and an additional 13 others were allowed to enjoy the most delicious dishes at his own table; they also received a gift of money each from him.
He had early nights; soon after Compline he retired to rest. If he could not sleep, he would not engage in any conversation but instead reflected on the Scripture readings and prayers of the day.
The only stain that tarnishes his holy biography is the dispute he had with Bernward, Bishop of Hildesheim, about the right of supervision (jurisdiction) over the women's monastery and the church in Gandersheim, which was located on territory between their respective bishoprics. We cannot get into the details of the quarrel here. In any case, the argument ended to Willigis' disadvantage. Thereupon the humble archbishop publicly renounced all his claims, making amends for the annoyance that had undoubtedly been caused. In front of the assembled congregation he spoke to St Bernward: "My brother and fellow bishop, I renounce all claims to this church and hand over to you this crosier as a witness that neither I nor my successors will ever renew these claims." This word of his he kept from the moment it was pronounced. Even St Bernward's biographer stresses that Willigis "went to the Lord full in days and in good works."
It seems that Willigis was venerated as a saint immediately after his death. He was laid to rest in St Stephen's Church; later his relics were enclosed in a special shrine (capsa ossium). Two vestments of his are still in existence: one is kept at St Stephen in Mainz, the other in the castle chapel in Aschaffenburg. The so-called Willigis goblets, rather than having belonged to this holy bishop, were used in ancient times on his memorial day. In church art, his special symbol is a wheel. His feast is celebrated in the Diocese of Mainz as duplex minus [1882]. He is also commemorated on April 18.
(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 5, Augsburg, 1882, pp. 813-15)
Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints - Sources and Abbreviations
PRAYER:
Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Willigis 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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