Saint Willibald of Eichstätt

Biography

Saint Willibald of Eichstätt, also known as Willebald, was born on 21 October 700 in Wessex, England. He came from a noble family and was the son of Saint Richard the King. He was also the brother of Saint Winnebald of Heidenheim and Saint Walburga, and was related to Saint Boniface, the great missionary and martyr. As an infant, Willibald fell seriously ill and was on the brink of death. In their distress, his parents fervently prayed for his life, vowing that if he survived, they would dedicate him to God. Miraculously, Willibald recovered, and his parents, true to their promise, sent him to the Abbey of Waltham in Hampshire, England, when he was just five years old. At the abbey, Willibald received his education under the guidance of a monk named Egwald. He embraced the monastic life and eventually became a Benedictine monk. In 722, he embarked on a pilgrimage to Rome, Italy, alongside his father, Saint Richard, and his brother, Saint Winnebald. Unfortunately, his father passed away during the journey, and Willibald himself suffered from malaria while in Rome. This pilgrimage set the tone for Willibald's future devotion and travel. In 724, he embarked on a pilgrimage to the Holy Lands, making him the first known Englishman to visit this sacred region. He reached Jerusalem on 11 November 725 and documented his experiences in a book called Hodoeporicon, which became the first known English travelogue. Willibald's journey did not stop there. He explored various holy sites throughout Europe, igniting a deep passion for pilgrimage. However, his travels were not always smooth sailing. At one point, he was wrongly accused of being a Christian spy and was arrested by Saracens at Emessa. He was subsequently imprisoned in Constantinople but eventually managed to secure his release. In the year 740, Pope Gregory III sent Willibald to aid Saint Boniface in evangelizing the region that is now modern-day Germany. Ordained as a priest on 22 July 741 by Saint Boniface himself, Willibald went on to be consecrated as a missionary bishop on 21 October 741. In his missionary endeavors, Willibald founded a missionary monastery in Eichstätt, Franconia (in modern Germany), and worked closely with Saint Sebaldus. He became the first bishop of the Diocese of Eichstätt and devoted himself to spreading the Christian faith in the area. Together with his brother, Saint Winnebald, Willibald also established a double monastery at Heidenheim in 752. Willibald was known for his tireless efforts in restoring the renowned monastery of Monte Cassino. For ten years, he worked alongside Saint Petronax, serving as sacristan, dean, and porter. His devotion to this endeavor exemplified his commitment to rebuilding and revitalizing the structures of the faith. Throughout his life, Willibald displayed unwavering faith and determination in the face of adversity. He remained dedicated to his calling, spreading the Gospel and building churches. His representations vary, depicting him as a baby dedicated by his parents at the foot of a cross, a bishop holding two arrows, a bishop overseeing the construction of a church, or a bishop with a broken glass. In other representations, he is seen as a monk or bishop with the Latin words "fides, spes, charitas" (faith, hope, love) on his cloak or arm, or as a monk engaging in conversation with a man cutting down a tree. Willibald's journey was marked by his pilgrimages, and he is often depicted as a pilgrim alongside his father, Saint Richard the King, and his brother, Saint Winnebald of Heidenheim. Another significant moment in his life is portrayed through him receiving a bishop's mitre from Pope Gregory III. Saint Willibald of Eichstätt passed away on 7 July 781 of natural causes. His relics are kept in a marble reliquary urn in Saint Willibald Cathedral in Eichstätt, Germany, which was completed in 1269. He was canonized in 938 by Pope Leo VII and is recognized as the patron saint of the Diocese of Eichstätt, Germany. His feast days are celebrated on 7 July and 9 July in England, by concession of Pope Leo XIII.