Saint Werenfridus - Catholic Saint

Saint Werenfridus

Also known as: Verenfrido; Werenfrid; Werenfried

Saint

Pre-Congregation

Feast Day

14 August (Elst, Netherlands); 27 August (Emmerich, Netherlands); 8 November on some calendars; 28 August on some calendars

Born

8th century Northumbria, England

Died

C.780 in Westeroort, Netherlands of natural causes; his coffin was pushed out onto the waters of the river Rhine, and he was buried where it came ashore – in Elst, Netherlands; the incident is still commemorated on the Overbetuwe province coat of arms; at the site; a series of churches have stood on the grave site, the latest built in 1875; his tomb became the site of healing, especially of gout, and pilgrimages; most relics burned by Protestants in 1588; relics re-enshrined in the Jesuit church in Emmerich, Germany in 1664

Canonized

Pre-Congregation; Bishop Baldric of Utrecht, Netherlands included Saint Werenfridus in the litanies of the diocese in the 10th century

Biography

Saint Werenfridus, also known as Wer(e)nfred, was an 8th-century Benedictine monk hailing from Northumbria, England. As a devoted follower of Christ, he pursued a life of solitude and study as a hermit in Ireland. However, he was called to fulfill a higher purpose and became a missionary priest to the Frisian people in what is now modern-day Netherlands, as well as parts of northern France.