ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MARCH
Saints celebrated on the 25th of March
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SAINT ALFWOLD, BISHOP OF SHERBURN
The name Alfwold has Old German roots and is derived from Alf, meaning "helper," and walt (wold), meaning "mighty" - thus, "mighty helper."
Saint Alfwold (Alfwoldus) was Bishop of Sherborne (Schireburnia) in England and, prior to his elevation to this episcopal see, a monk at Winchester. He is said to have been a great devotee of Saints Swithun and Cuthbert (whose tomb he opened so that he might express his sentiments even more fervently). At a time when luxury and extravagance in banqueting were rife, Alfwold lived in great poverty; he ate only from a wooden bowl and drank very weak beer - so much so that a certain unnamed priest could not speak of his virtues without shedding tears. The Bollandists* date his death to the year 1050.
(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, Volume 1, Augsburg, 1858, p. 141)
*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 Saint Alfwold 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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