Willehad: Difference between revisions
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|name=Saint Willehad of Bremen |
|name=Saint Willehad of Bremen |
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|birth_date=c. 735 |
|birth_date=c. 735 |
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|death_date=789 |
|death_date= 8 November 789 |
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|feast_days=8 November , 13 July (Orthodox Church) |
|feast_days=8 November , 13 July (Orthodox Church) |
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|venerated_in= |
|venerated_in= |
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'''Saint Willehad of Bremen''' (also known as '''Willehadus''' or '''Willihad'''; ([[Northumbria]], |
'''Saint Willehad of Bremen''' (also known as '''Willehadus''' or '''Willihad'''; ([[Northumbria]], (c. 745 – 8 November 789, in Blexen upon Weser, today a part of [[Nordenham]]) was a Christian missionary and the [[Archdiocese of Bremen|Bishop of Bremen]] from 787. |
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== Life and work == |
== Life and work == |
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Willehad was born in [[Northumbria]] and probably received his education at [[York]]. |
Willehad was born in [[Northumbria]] and probably received his education at [[York]] under St. Egbert.<ref name=mershman/> |
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A friend of [[Alcuin]] he was ordained after his education and, about the year 766, he went to [[Frisia]], preaching at [[Dokkum]] and in [[Overijssel]], to continue the missionary work of St. [[Boniface]] who had been martyred by the Frisians in 754. From 780 he preached in the region of the lower [[Weser River]] on commission from [[Charlemagne]]. He barely escaped with his life when the Frisians wanted to kill him as well and he returned to the area around [[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]]. Once again he and his fellow missionaries barely escaped with their lives when the local pagans wanted to kill them for destroying some temples. Finally, in 780, [[Charlemagne]] sent him to evangelize the Saxons. He preached to them for two years but, in 782, the Saxons under [[Widukind]], rebelled against Charlemagne and Willehad was forced to flee to Frisia. He took the opportunity to travel to Rome where he reported to Pope [[Adrian I]] on his work. |
A friend of [[Alcuin]] he was ordained after his education and, about the year 766, he went to [[Frisia]],<ref name=mershman/> preaching at [[Dokkum]] and in [[Overijssel]],<ref name=butler>[http://www.bartleby.com/210/11/082.html Butler, Alban. ''the Lives of the Saints'', Vol. XI, 1866]</ref> to continue the missionary work of St. [[Boniface]] who had been martyred by the Frisians in 754. From 780 he preached in the region of the lower [[Weser River]] on commission from [[Charlemagne]]. He barely escaped with his life when the Frisians wanted to kill him as well and he returned to the area around [[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]]. Once again he and his fellow missionaries barely escaped with their lives when the local pagans wanted to kill them for destroying some temples.<ref name=butler/> Finally, in 780, [[Charlemagne]] sent him to evangelize the Saxons. He preached to them for two years but, in 782, the Saxons under [[Widukind]], rebelled against Charlemagne and Willehad was forced to flee to Frisia. He took the opportunity to travel to Rome where he reported to Pope [[Adrian I]] on his work.<ref name=butler/> |
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UPon his return from Rome, Willehad retired for a time to the monastery of [[Echternach]], in present day [[Luxembourg]]. He spent two years there reassembling his missionary team. |
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He is buried in the [[Bremen Cathedral|city's cathedral]], which he consecrated shortly before his death in 789. |
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After Charlemagne's conquest of the Saxons, Willehad preached in the region about the lower Elbe and the lower Weser. In 787 Willehad was consecrated bishop, and that part of Saxony and Friesland about the mouth of the Weser assigned him for his diocese. He chose as his see the city of Bremen, which is mentioned for the first time in documents of 782, and built there a cathedral. Praised for its beauty by St. Anschar, it was dedicated in 789.<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02756a.htm Lins, Joseph. "Bremen." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 19 May 2013]</ref> |
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He is buried in the [[Bremen Cathedral|city's cathedral]], which he consecrated shortly before his death on 8 November 789.<ref name=mershman>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15628a.htm Mershman, Francis. "St. Willehad." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 15. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 19 May 2013]</ref> |
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St. Anschar compiled a life of Willehad, and the preface which he wrote was considered a masterpiece for that age.<ref name=campbell>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01544c.htm Campbell, Thomas. "St. Anschar." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 19 May 2013]</ref> |
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==Legacy== |
==Legacy== |
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In 860, a sick girl from Wege ([[Weyhe]]) travelled to his grave. There, she was apparently cured by a miracle. This was the first time the small village was mentioned in any historical documents. |
In 860, a sick girl from Wege ([[Weyhe]]) travelled to his grave. There, she was apparently cured by a miracle. This was the first time the small village was mentioned in any historical documents. |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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==Sources== |
==Sources== |
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* {{catholic}} |
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*[http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/1108.shtml#will Saint of the Day, November 8: ''Willehad of Bremen''] at ''SaintPatrickDC.org'' |
*[http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/1108.shtml#will Saint of the Day, November 8: ''Willehad of Bremen''] at ''SaintPatrickDC.org'' |
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*[http://www.catholic-forum.com/saintS/saintw21.htm Willehad] at Patron Saints Index |
*[http://www.catholic-forum.com/saintS/saintw21.htm Willehad] at Patron Saints Index |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15628a.htm St. Willehad] |
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*[http://www.ccel.org/s/schaff/encyc/encyc02/htm/iv.v.ccciv.htm Bishopric of Bremen] |
*[http://www.ccel.org/s/schaff/encyc/encyc02/htm/iv.v.ccciv.htm Bishopric of Bremen] |
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Revision as of 20:35, 19 May 2013
Saint Willehad of Bremen | |
|---|---|
 Willehad of Bremen, from a woodcut of the Late Middle Ages | |
| Missionary, Pilgrim, and Bishop of Bremen | |
| Born | c. 735 Northumbria, England |
| Died | 8 November 789 Blexen upon Weser, Germany |
| Major shrine | Echternach, Luxembourg |
| Attributes | bishop overturning idols |
| Patronage | Saxony |
Saint Willehad of Bremen (also known as Willehadus or Willihad; (Northumbria, (c. 745 – 8 November 789, in Blexen upon Weser, today a part of Nordenham) was a Christian missionary and the Bishop of Bremen from 787.
Life and work
Willehad was born in Northumbria and probably received his education at York under St. Egbert.[1]
A friend of Alcuin he was ordained after his education and, about the year 766, he went to Frisia,[1] preaching at Dokkum and in Overijssel,[2] to continue the missionary work of St. Boniface who had been martyred by the Frisians in 754. From 780 he preached in the region of the lower Weser River on commission from Charlemagne. He barely escaped with his life when the Frisians wanted to kill him as well and he returned to the area around Utrecht. Once again he and his fellow missionaries barely escaped with their lives when the local pagans wanted to kill them for destroying some temples.[2] Finally, in 780, Charlemagne sent him to evangelize the Saxons. He preached to them for two years but, in 782, the Saxons under Widukind, rebelled against Charlemagne and Willehad was forced to flee to Frisia. He took the opportunity to travel to Rome where he reported to Pope Adrian I on his work.[2]
UPon his return from Rome, Willehad retired for a time to the monastery of Echternach, in present day Luxembourg. He spent two years there reassembling his missionary team.
After Charlemagne's conquest of the Saxons, Willehad preached in the region about the lower Elbe and the lower Weser. In 787 Willehad was consecrated bishop, and that part of Saxony and Friesland about the mouth of the Weser assigned him for his diocese. He chose as his see the city of Bremen, which is mentioned for the first time in documents of 782, and built there a cathedral. Praised for its beauty by St. Anschar, it was dedicated in 789.[3]
He is buried in the city's cathedral, which he consecrated shortly before his death on 8 November 789.[1]
St. Anschar compiled a life of Willehad, and the preface which he wrote was considered a masterpiece for that age.[4]
Legacy
In 860, a sick girl from Wege (Weyhe) travelled to his grave. There, she was apparently cured by a miracle. This was the first time the small village was mentioned in any historical documents.
References
- ^ a b c Mershman, Francis. "St. Willehad." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 15. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 19 May 2013
- ^ a b c Butler, Alban. the Lives of the Saints, Vol. XI, 1866
- ^ Lins, Joseph. "Bremen." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 19 May 2013
- ^ Campbell, Thomas. "St. Anschar." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 19 May 2013
Sources
- Saint of the Day, November 8: Willehad of Bremen at SaintPatrickDC.org
- Willehad at Patron Saints Index
