Blessed Liborius Wagner

Biography

Blessed Liborius Wagner, also known as Liborio, was born on 5 December 1593 in Mühlhausen, Unstrut-Hainich, Thuringia, Germany. Raised in a Protestant family, Liborius pursued his education in various cities including Mühlhausen, Leipzig, Gotha, and Strasbourg. In 1621, he relocated to Würzburg, Germany, where he began studying with the Jesuits and eventually converted to Catholicism.

Upon his ordination on 29 March 1625, Liborius served as a chaplain in Hardheim, Germany, and later became the parish priest of Altenmünster, a predominantly Protestant city. Despite the religious divide, Liborius dedicated himself to ministering to all the inhabitants of his parish, setting a profound example of faith that led many Protestants to reunite with the Catholic Church.

In 1631, during the turbulent times of the Thirty Years' War, the Protestant Swedes reached Altenmünster. Fearing for his safety and being unable to continue his ministry, Father Liborius was forced to flee the city. He sought refuge in Reichmannhausen, which was only a few miles away, with the intention of returning to his parishioners when circumstances allowed.

However, on 4 December 1631, Father Liborius was betrayed and captured by the Swedes. They bound him behind a horse and subjected him to a harrowing journey of several miles to the castle of Mainberg. Upon arrival, he endured several days of torture in an attempt to force him to renounce his Catholic faith. Despite the immense suffering, Father Liborius steadfastly refused to abandon his beliefs.

Ultimately, on 9 December 1631, he was beaten to death with swords and firearms on the banks of the River Main in Schonungen, Schweinfurt, Germany. In an attempt to hinder identification, his attackers stripped him of his priestly garments and callously discarded his body into the river. However, Liborius's body was recovered by local Catholics, and he was given a proper burial nearby.

With the end of Swedish rule in the region, his remains were reinterred in the chapel of the castle of Mainberg. Subsequently, on 15 December 1637, his body found its final resting place in the parish church of San Lorenzo in Heidenfeld, Germany.

Blessed Liborius Wagner's heroic faith and unwavering dedication to his flock led to his veneration as a martyr. His cause for beatification was recognized on 18 October 1973 by Pope Paul VI, who went on to officially declare him blessed on 24 March 1974. Liborius Wagner's feast day is celebrated on 9 December each year, in commemoration of his martyrdom. His story serves as an inspiration for Catholics and Christians alike, calling them to remain true to their beliefs even in the face of great adversity.