St. Willibrord

St. Willibrord - Patron of Holland - November 7th

Willibrord was born in England and educated for many years at an Irish monastery. Yet most of his life and mission was among the lands which today are Germany, Holland, Luxemburg, and Denmark. He had long had a great desire to preach the Gospel to the pagans of these countries, and at last, his dream came true. With the encouragement of the Pope, who made him a bishop, and with the help of the Frankish King Pepin, St. Willibrord won many souls to Christianity.

There was one very stubborn pagan King, however, who made it hard for the Saint. This was Rodbod, King of Upper Friesland. At one time the missionary’s ship was driven onto an island which the pagans of Denmark and Friesland considered sacred to their god. No one was to kill any animal on it, to eat any vegetable or fruit that grew there, or to draw from its spring, unless in complete silence. To show them their god did not exist, St. Willibrord killed some game to provide food for his companions and baptized three persons in the spring. Hearing him pronounce the words, “I baptize thee…” loudly, the pagans felt sure he would drop dead, but of course, nothing happened. King Rodbod was told of this event and he ordered that one of the Christians should die to “calm the god’s anger.” So it was that one became a martyr.

After this King died, St. Willibrord eagerly went ahead converting many pagans. Although he was growing very old, nothing could stop this apostle. He was still a fine-looking man, cheerful, wise, devout and full of love for souls, right to the end of his life.

Let us be brave today! Let us do something which will help somebody to live closer to God.

St. Wenceslaus of Bohemia

St. Wenceslaus of Bohemia - Patron of Czechoslovakia - September 28th

As a boy, this prince was brought up by his saintly grandmother, Ludmila. When his father died, his mother took over the rule of Bohemia. She was an evil woman, who tried to destroy Christianity in the land. And she was jealous of the great love and respect her oldest son had for his holy grandmother, St. Ludmila. St. Wenceslaus was urged by his grandmother to take the throne away from his mother, to save the Christian Church in Bohemia. In great anger, Wenceslaus’ mother and her wicked friends had St. Ludmila killed. But the people were disgusted with the evil woman, and they made St. Wenceslaus their ruler.

Wenceslaus was a wise, kind ruler, who loved peace. Yet he was strong and just. He had a great devotion to Holy Mass. Once, because he stopped for Mass, he was the last prince to arrive at an important meeting of the German Emperor and other rulers. They were offended at being kept waiting, and decided to show it by not speaking to him when he arrived. But no sooner had Wenceslaus stepped into the hall than they all changed their minds and showed him great love and respect instead. They could not help but admire him for his great love of God.

St. Wenceslaus knew that his brother Boleslaus was jealous of his power. He had been warned that his life was in danger. Yet he accepted Boleslaus’ invitation to a banquet and treated his brother as kindly as ever. Early the next morning, he was on his way to Mass as usual when his brother came up to him and struck him. The two brothers struggled until wicked friends of Boleslaus ran up and killed Wenceslaus. His last words as he fell were, “Brother, may God forgive you!”

At once the people of Bohemia began to go in great crowds to the young prince’s grave, for they knew he was a Saint.

St. Wenceslaus was noted for his habit of prayer. Prayer gave him the strength he needed to perform his very difficult duties towards his country and to forgive his own brother.

St. William of Monte Vergine

St. William of Monte Vergine - June 25th

William was born in Northern Italy and was brought up by relatives because his parents died when he was a baby. When William grew up, he became a hermit, but when he worked a miracle and cured a blind man, he became famous. He was too humble to be pleased with the people’s admiration, so he went away to live alone on a very high, wild mountain.

Even there, however, men gathered around the Saint and he built a monastery for them dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. People gave the mountain a new name now-the Mountain of the Virgin-because of William’s monastery.

Later the Saint founded other great monasteries, helped by King Roger of Naples. His good influence on this king angered some evil men of the court, and they tried to show William was really an evil man hiding behind a holy habit. They sent a bad women to tempt him to sin. As soon as William what kind of women this visitor was, he worked a miracle and the evil women ran away frightened.

When we are tempted to commit a sin of impurity, we should remember that after that sin we might die and go to hell to suffer forever.

St. William of York

St. William of York - June 8th

William Fitzherbert was born in England and was the nephew of King Stephen. As a young man, he was rather easy-going and even a bit lazy. He was very popular with the people of his city of York, however, and years later, when their archbishop died, he was elected to take his place. In those times princes used to interfere in the election of the bishops. This is why many priests did not think William had been properly chosen, since it was his uncle, the King, who had appointed him. Even the great St. Bernard persuaded the Pope to make someone else Archbishop of York. Poor William! Sent away and humiliated, he went to live with his uncle, a bishop, and would not accept any of the comforts his uncle offered him. He was a very different man now.

The people of York were angry at what had happened and there were fights between them and those who did not want William. But the Saint kept praying for peace for six years, and his prayers were answered. When the other archbishop died, the Pope sent William back to York, to the immense happiness of all the people. But he was an old man by this time, and one month later, he died.

St. William silently suffered all the accusations made against him, even though he did not deserve them. This teaches us to take corrections well.

St. Waldetrudis

St. Waldetrudis - April 9th

Waldetrudis was born in Belgium. Her mother, her father and sister are all saint. She grew up to be a beautiful girl whose sweet ways, even when she was enjoying herself, filled everyone with good thoughts. Many great noblemen wanted to marry Waldetrudis. The one her holy parents chose for her was the Count Meldegario. They could not have picked a better man, because he, too, became a saint!

The holy couple had four boys. And all four of them also became saints. That makes nine saints in one family. Of course, Waldetrudis was very happy that God had given her such a good family. yet she had to suffer very much in her lifetime.

Jealous ladies spread terrible stories about her. They were not pure and kind as she was, and they did not want people to think she was better than they. So they said she only prayed and did good deeds to hide her secret sins. Of course it was all a lie, but the Saint did not defend herself. She thought of how Jesus suffered on the Cross and like Him, she forgave her enemies. This suffering made her realize how much better it would be to give herself entirely to God as a nun. her good husband had already gone to be a monk.

Waldetrudis became a holy, pious nun who did much penance and works of charity. For a while she had a great temptation to go back to her home in the world. She felt lonely and sad. But she kept praying and she refused to let the devil's temptation scare her. At last, the temptation left her, and her heart was full of joy again.

Only those who fight hard battles will succeed. If we want to be saints, we must pray and bravely battle against all temptation and difficulties.

St. William the Abbot

St. William the Abbot - April 6th

William was a young boy of Paris who was taught by his good uncle, the Abbot Hugo. When it was time for him to decide what he should become, William prayed to God to help him make the right choice. Then, on his uncle’s advice, he made up his mind to become a priest.

Although William wanted only to do good to everyone, there were some who became his enemies. They were living bad lives, and every time they saw how kind and pure and devout William was, it made them realize how sinful they were. Instead of changing and copying his good example, they tried to get rid of him. They even told the bishop lies so that he would not make William a priest. But the bishop knew what a holy man William really was and he paid no attention to the false accusations. Next his enemies tried to have the Saint sent away, but again God did not let their plan work out. In the end, it was these evil men who were sent away-and by the Pope himself!

St. William and three companions were asked to go to Denmark to convert sinners and pagans and make the Religious there more fervent. The Saint and his companions got a good start, but then everything began to go wrong. They could hardly stand the bitter cold weather and they were very, very poor. Besides that, they did not understand the language, and they had many enemies. Frightened, St. William’s three friends gave up and went home to France. But the Saint remained. To show how pleased He was with St. William’s trust in Him, Our Lord rewarded him with the conversion of all he had come to help. Then for thirty years the holy Abbot lived in peace and fervor with a great many good monks who imitated his virtues and love of god.

When things get hard, let us not be quitters. God always helps those who turn to Him for help.

St. Walburga

St. Walburga - February 25th

St. Walburga came from a family of Saints. Her father was St. Richard. Her brothers were St. Willibald and St. Winebald. She herself entered the convent after she had finished her education.

St. Walburga’s brother went with St. Boniface to the convert Germany.

Later Her brother founded a monastery with two houses, one for monks and the other for sisters. St. Walburga was asked to take care of the sisters while her brother took care of the monks. After his death, St. Walburga took care of both.

The pagan greatly admired these holy women who worked so hard on their convent farms. They listened to what the monks and nuns taught them about Christ, because they saw what holy lives they were living. Besides all her other duties, St. Walburga also took care of the pagans when they fell sick.

When she, too, went to Heaven, she was buried beside her brother.

Let us offer prayers and sacrifices so that everyone in our family may live as good Christians and save their souls.

St. William

St. William – January 10th

St. William came from a wealthy French family, but even as a young boy, he did not care to waste time fooling around or being idle. He spent much time praying. When he joined the Cistercian Order, he was such a good monk that the others were inspired just by looking at him. Yet he always considered himself the least among his brethren.

St. William had a great devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. He practiced penance, but he was always very happy. When he was made the Abbot of his community, he remained as humble as ever. At the death of the Archbishop of Bourges, William was chosen to take his place. But so humble was he that he cried on receiving this new honor. Yet he accepted it and did even more penance than before, to convert sinners. Although he loved to be alone with God, he traveled all over his diocese to preach, to visit the poor and the sick, to console them and bring them to Christ. When he died he was buried in ashes, as he had asked.

The more we read about the Saints, the more we find that they really became saints by praying, obeying and doing penance.