,
49 The Bollandist Father Soller
they left Rome for Palestine, a.
49 The Bollandist Father Soller
they left Rome for Palestine, a.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v7
20 However, it is not at all certain, that his father 2I had
been of Wessex—as some writers have stated—but on the 22 King contrary,
he belonged apparently to a grade less elevated in society. Moreover, it does notappearcertain,thateventhen—ameofhisfatherisknown. 23 Accordingto oneaccounthismotherwasBonna saidtohavebeenasistertoSt. Boniface; it is needless to observe, however,- that such a statement rests on no good
2
authority. 24 His birth has been referred —to about a. d. 704, s by various
Soller who
this saint's Acts states, that it ought to be placed about a. d. 700.
writers j
—Father
however, John Baptist
the of analyzes chronology
26
another holy and an older brother, named Winibald,2? and a sister, St. Wal-
28 Their relative
ancient writers of their Acts. 20
Boniface, 30 the illustrious Apostle of Germany ; but, there are good reasons for doubting such statement. So various have been the entries of this holy man's name in old records, that it has been questioned if they refer to one and the
same person. Thus, he is styled, Wilibaldus, Wilbaldus, Bilibaldus, Bilbaldus, 1
bert, Abbot of who flourished Heidenheim,
in the time of Pope Eugenius III. , who reigned from A. D. 1 145 to a. d. 1153, more than three hundred and fifty years after the death of St. Willibald.
burga.
places
as to have been the most seniority stated, by
11 He a brief notice, only gives
regarding Saints Willibald, Wunebald and Walburgis, in reference to the monastery of Heidenheim. Nor is this always in accord with what had
been stated by the nun of that place.
12 The strictures of those two latter writers
These are stated to have been cousins of St.
Williboldus, and Willeboldus p while its probable derivation has engaged
23 In that most genuine Life of St. Willi- are to be found in Gretser's work, De bald by his relative the nun, his father is not
Ecclesia Eystettensis Divis Tutelaribus, printed at Ingoldstadt, A. D. 1617.
"
13 See John of Tottenham's Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum," fol. Hi. , &c.
14 See "De Probatis Sanctorum Vitis," tomus iv. , Julii vii.
15 In "Annates Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , lib. xx. , xxi. , xxii. , xxiii. , xxiv. , xxv. 16 See " The Church History of Brittany,"
book xxiv. , chap, xvii. , pp. 642 to 644.
17 See "Britannia Sancta," part ii. , pp.
18 to 21.
18 "
See Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and
other principal Saints," vol. vii. , July vii.
19 See "Vies des Saints," tome viii. ,
viie Jour de Juillet, pp. 102, 103, and n. I.
20 See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints,"
vol. vii. , July vii.
noted at all for his rank, while he is only praised for his virtues. The feast of St. Richard has been referred to the 7th of Feb- ruary.
24 See Dean " Church of Cressy's History
Brittany," book xxiv. , chap, xvii. , p. 642.
25 See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. vii. , July vii.
25
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Julii vii. De S. Willibaldo Episcopo Eystadii in Germania Commentarius Praevius, sect, iv. , num. 29, pp. 491, 492.
27 His feast is celebrated, on the 18th of December.
38 Her festival is set down, at the 25th of
February.
29 This has been shown, by Father John
Baptist Soller, S. J. , in his Preliminary ob- servations to the Acts of St. Willibald. See
sect, iii. , num. 28, p. 491.
30 See his Life already given, in the Six—th
Volume of this work, at the 5th of June the date for his chief festival, Art. i.
31 On these various denominations, Gret- ser has some critical observations, in which he refutes the opinion of Aventinus and others, regarding this matter, cap. ii.
21
Indeed, it is only the writer of the
Second Life of St. Willibald, and rather
modern writers, that call his father Richard.
See Mabillon's "Annates Ordinis S. Bene-
dicti," tomus ii. , lib. xx. , sect, xliii. ,
p. 61.
22
The first, who appears to consider his father was a king, seems to have been Adel-
Catalogus
He had
ii2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[July 7.
the attention of 3a after all, none of the had etymologists. Perhaps, foregoing
been the original name of the saint j and this is more likely to have been the case, it we can consider him of Scottish origin. We know, likewise, that Irish
names have generally been changed into others, by people among whom our emi- grantstotheContinentresided. Whenonlythreeyearsold,Willibaldhadbeen
attacked with a grievous illness, whereby his limbs became contracted,33 and it was feared by his parents that he was about to die. It so happened, accord- ing to a usage common in those days, that a large cross had been erected in a public place near their house. Thither the faithful were accustomed to repair,andtoprefertheirseveralrequeststoHeaven. TheparentsofWilli- bald accordingly went to the place, when human remedies seemed to fail, and there they offered their prayers with great fervour. They vowed, that should their son be restored to them, that they would dedicate him to God in the religious state, and that when at age they would allow him to take the
clerical tonsure. The result was, that he was immediately restored to health. 34 As the boy grewin years, he manifested the gifts of grace and of wisdom, so that when five years old,35 his parents, to secure their pious desires, resolved to place their son under the guidance of the Abbot Egbald, who then ruled over the monastery of Waltheim. 36 For this purpose, he was entrusted to the care of a venerable and faithful man, called Theodredus,37 and who is also named Thealoretus. 38 However, as the boy was so young, a chapter meeting of the monks was called by the Abbot, when all agreed, that he might safely admit the child to be an inmate of their house. Nor was their confidence in him misplaced, for soon Willibald began to manifest that spirit of earnestness and of industry, which soon made him a proficient in the study of sacred letters in every department of literature, while he began also to learn the psalms of David. The holy youth progressed each day in piety and wisdom, so that
he was regarded as one of the most exact in the performance of all monastic exercises. By all of the monks he was held in the greatest esteem. At the age of seventeen, his father had conceived a great desire to make a pilgrim- age to the Holy Land, while his two sons, Saints Winibald and Willibald, re-
solved on accompanying him. Accordingly, about the year 720,39 721, or 1
722,4° all three set out from Hamble-Haven^ and they landed on the coast
2
of Normandy, at the banks of a river called Sigona,4 and near a city called
Rotum,43otherwiseRothomagus. 44 Afterrestingthereforatime,theypro-
32 Father John Baptist Soller states, that while he does not accept Gretser's German derivation of it, from wald, "a wood ;" he thinks that of Philip Bishop of Aichstadt better, viz. , the German word will, having a like signification in English, and bald,
38 This is the name given to him, in the shorter Life of our saint, which was written by Reginald.
39 According to the Bollandist computa- tion. —
4°
According to some writers, Winibald the elder brother—was then only nineteen years of age, and Willibald only seventeen. See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia Sancta," part ii. , p. 19.
41 The River Hamble has its source, about one half mile from the town of Bishop's Waltham, and it passes through the piece
found out his
original
rendered in Latin " vo- prompte
"prompt,"
lens," or "prompta voluntas. " All this is
very fanciful, however, and if it proves any- thing it should be, that we have not yet
name.
33 See Dean Cressy's " Church History ol
Brittany," book xxiv. , chap, xvii. , p. 643.
34 See Bishop Challenor's " Britannia of water called Waltham Pond, thence flow-
Sancta," part ii. , p. 19. ing into the Southampton Water, north of 35 See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the the Isle of Wight. See S. Lewis' "Topogra-
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," phical Dictionary of England," vol. iv. ,
vol. vii. , Julyvii.
30 In Hampshire.
37 Thus is he called by the nun, who wrote St. Willibald's Life, nr, published by theBollandists. Mabillotl calls him Theo- dore.
p. 450.
*' Also known as Sequana, or the Seine. 43 Also called Rotuma and Rotumum. See
De Chesne's " Historic Francorum," tomus ii. Chronicon de Gentis Normannorum, pp. 24 and 525.
July 7/
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
"3
ceeded on their journey through the vast territory of Gaul, for they had resolved to visit Rome on their way and the tombs of the Apostles. After-
wards, they entered Italy, and travelled onwards through its provinces to the
of Lucca. 4 5 Their father fell sick in that and breathed his last city,
when
city
he was buried in the church of St. Frigidian or Frigdian. He is said to have
s
died there, a. d. 721,4 or about the year 722. 47 His two sons afterwards
crossed the Apennines on their way to Rome, where they visited the shrines
of the Apostles, and remained there from the Natalis of St. Martin to the
solemnity of Easter, engaged in various devout pilgrimages to the holy sanc-
tuaries of the martyrs and saints. Here, too, they assumed the monastic
habit/
8
During the summer, they were attacked with an intermittent fever,
which greatly prostrated them, but from which they recovered. Having
satisfied their devotion in the Eternal City, they next resolved on a pilgrim-
age to the Holy Land. 49 Their adventures on the way, and the various places
visited by them, are among the most interesting and authentic tours of the
middle ages ; while their record throws most curious and considerable light
on the state of religious and of pagan society there, and on the topography of Palestine. 50 At Gaza, Willibald lost his sight, and he continued blind for
about two months ; but, upon his returning to Jerusalem, and there enter-
into the church of the
whole years 52 were spent by them in Palestine ; when they resolved on returningtoEurope. ThebrothersreturnedbywayofConstantinople,a. d.
Rouen, capital Department of Seine-Inferieure, and situated on the right bank of the River Seine. For
Trinacria by the ancients—owing to its trian-
4s
Republic, and afterwards of a Duchy ; but now included in Tuscany. It is surrounded with a fortified wall, having a circuit of three miles. Its ramparts are planted with tree*, which have a pleasing effect from a dis- tance.
46 Such is the Bollandist calculation. In the " Lives of the English Saints," there is a Life of St. Richard, by J. H. N. (Cardinal Newman), and his death is placed in the autumn of 722. See vol. Hi. , p. 11.
47 See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and—other principal Saints,"
Formerly the capital of an independent
to which
48 See Father John Mabillon's " Annales
A town of in
voro, and seated on the left bank of the River Volturno.
59 Now Teano, in the same district.
60
vol. ii. , Februaryvii. has been assigned.
his feast 58
day Naples,
the Terra di La-
Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , sect, xliii. , p. 61.
lib. xx.
,
49 The Bollandist Father Soller
they left Rome for Palestine, a. d. 722.
that
mountain one of the of the spurs
steep Apennines
50 It is rendered still more interesting. from the notes of Mabillon and those of
of kingdom Naples,
Basnage, in his edition of Canisius' tiones Antiquae. "
51 See Bishop Challenor's Sancta," part ii. , p. 20.
52 The chronotaxis of these is
years given
by Father John Baptist Soller, S. J.
Holy Cross,
his was restored to him. s 1 Seven sight
ing
they
Capua/ afterwards Tyana,59 and finally the celebrated Monastery of St.
and afterwards
visited
5 4 a d.
729. They
went also to
727,53
cuse 55 and to Catana,s° and thence to Calabria. s? Then, St. Willibald visited
8
Benedict on Monte Cassino. 60
description, see "Gazetteer of the World," vol. xi. , pp. 334, 335.
44 Nowthe of city
ofthe
53 were there about the Easter Fes- They
tival.
54 This large and fertile Island was called
states,
—and within the former
St. Benedict had founded his establishment on the ruins of an ancient temple of Apollo, in the year 529. This monastery has had a varied and an interesting history, from that date to our own times.
61 This holy man ruled there as Abbot for
"
Lec- " Britannia
Sicily,
Syra-
There, Petronax 01 was Abbot, and only a
—and it is Italy, by a narrow strait.
gular form
only separated
from
55 This city was founded by one Archiar, a Corinthian, 500 yearsbefore the birth of Christ. It afterwards became the head of the Grecian
colonies in Italy and Sicily. At a period long subsequent, it fell under the power of the Romans, and it was regarded as the capital of the Sicilian province.
56 A city at the foot of Mount JEtna. , and
which was almost ruined by an earthquake
in the year 1693.
57 Also called Magna Gracia, the most
southern part of the former kingdom of Naples.
— on the summit of this Originally
and he the 30th of April, a. d. 750.
this
life, on
thirty-two years,
departed
;
114 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [July 7.
62
Our saint is claimed, as belonging to the Benedictine order, which rule Willibald is said to have embraced, on the summit of that high mountain, after he had been absent ten years from his native country, and seven years since he had left Rome. 63 There his conversation and example gave instruction and edification to that
community. Thefirstyearofhisarrivalthere,hewasappointedsacristanof thechurch,andthesecondhebecamedeaninthemonastery. Afterwards, for four years he was porter or guest-master to the great monastery on Monte
6* andforanotherfour hewasportertoanothermonasteryina Casino; years,
few monks were under his charge, in the year 72Q.
Benedictine Monastery of Monte Cassino.
valley at the foot ofthe mountain, and which stood near the River Raphito.
This latter office required a rooted habit of virtue, which should suffer no
abatement, owing to external occupations and frequent commerce with secu-
;
it was also one of — trust and 65 —other visitors great importance. Among
lars
to Monte Casino, a priest doubtless a Benedictine monk
from Spain, and he asked permission from the Abbot Petronax to visit Rome, while he urged St. Willibald to accompany him. This permission having been obtained, they first sought there the church of St. Peter, and St. Willi- bald had a special interview with the Sovereign Pontiff. Then he related, at
the Pope's request, his various adventures in the Holy Land, while his con- versation charmed the universal Father of the Faithful, who listened with the greatest possible interest and edification to the narrative. The illustrious St.
62
That assigned for St. Willibald's arrival at Monte Cassino, by the Bollandist Father Soller.
63 See Mabillon's "Annates Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomusii. , lib. xx. , sect, xliv. , p. 62
64 The writer had a personal experience of the co—urteous and hospitable manner, in
tration, copied from the large copperplate engraving in Mabillon's Acts of the Bene- dictine Order, tomus ii. , was drawn by William F. Wakeman on the wood, en- graved by Mrs. Millard.
6s See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints,"
Annales Ordinis S.
tomus 67Heruledfroma. d. 731toa. d. 741. See
which aftera —
vol. vii. , July vii.
66 "
St. Willibald's time
of over iooo from lapse years
See 'Mabillon's
his successor there dis- charged similar offices, on the 25th and 26th ofOctober,1886. Theaccompanyingillus-
Benedicti," p. 79-
ii. ,
lib. xx. , sect,
lxxviii. ,
66
came thither
July 7. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
115
6
Boniface, bishop of Mayence, happened to visit Pope Gregory III. , 7 at Rome,
a. d. 738. He asked, as a special favour, that Willibald might be sent to assist him in the missionary labours of Germany, and he had a knowledge of his arrival at Rome. 68 This visit, according to the chronology of the
6 Tothis the Bollandists, took place towards the close of a. d. 74o. 9 request,
Pope readily assented, and sent for Willibald, who said with his Abbot's per- mission he would willingly obey. However, the Pope told him, that Petronax might be assumed to give his consent, as he had not even the power to oppose such an order. Wherefore, Willibald replied, that he was ready to obey, and to go not alone to Germany, but to any other part of the world where he might be sent. Having taken leave of Gregory III. , Willibald proceeded to Lucca, where his father had been interred ; thence he went to Ticina and Brixia, and afterwards he journeyed to a place called Charinta, otherwise Charta. Then he visited the Duke Odilon, with whom he remained for a week. ThencehewenttoSuitgarius,andremainedanotherweek. Heand Suitgarius went together to St. Boniface, who was then at Linthrat, or Linth- ruth. 7° St. Boniface sent them to Eichstadt, that they might see, if it should be a suitable place for a religious foundation. At that time, the whole country around it was a waste, nor save a church of St. Mary, was a single housetobefoundinit. Then,Suitgariusgavethattractofcountryforhissoul's salvation, and St. Boniface selected St. Willibald to become its future bishop. The town of Eichstadt, Eichstatt or Aichstadt is the capital of a principality, to which it gave name, in Bavaria. It is situated in a fine valley on the
f
Altmuhl River, and in the circle of Upper Pfalz. 7
Willibald and Suitgarius remained at that place, to find a suitable site for the erection of a religious house, and afterwards they went to St. Boniface, who was at Frisinga. They remained, until all three returned to Eystet. Then and there, St. Willibald was ordained a priest, to which order he had not hitherto been elevated. This ordination was on the eleventh of the August
Kalends, and on the Feast of St. Mary Magdalen and of St.
2
a. d. 740. After another year had elapsed, St. Boniface directed, that Willi-
bald should come to him in Thuringia. This order he obeyed, in the autumn
season, and he was hospitably entertained in the house of his brother Wune-
bald. 73 For eight years and more, they had not seen each other, and now
they felt greatly rejoiced to be in company. While there, and in a place
called Sallpurg,74 during the autumnal season,75 Archbishop Boniface, with
the bishops Burchard ? 6 and Wizo,77 consecrated Willibald as bishop, and
after a week's stay he returned to his own place. This happened in the forty-
first ofhis year
age. 7
8 Soon
afterwards,
he theerectionofa began
monastery at
Sir Harris Nicolas' "Chronology of His-
tory," p. 209.
6i He remained there from the Feast of St.
Andrew, a. d. 739, to the Easter of the fol- lowing year. See Father John Mabillon's
73 While Willibald had been a monk at Monte Casino, Wunebald having proceeded to Rome, became a monk in Rome, whence he went to join St. Boniface's mission in
**
Annales Ordinis S.
lib. xxi. , sect, xlviii. , p. 108.
tomus
Germany. 74 This
is not to be
confounded with
69 See their Commentarius Pnevius to his Acts, sect, iii. , num. 20, p. 489.
:
70 See Dean " Church Cressy's
71 See " Gazetteer of the World," vol. v. , P- 178.
72 See Mabillon's "Annales Ordinis Sancti
Benedicti," tomus ii. , lib. xxi. , sect, xlviii. , P- io8-
History Brittany," book xxiv. , chap. xvii. ,p. 643.
of
Martini,"
Benedicti,"
ii. ,
place
the city of Salzburgh.
For some little time, St.
See ibid.
75 The nun of Heidenheim's Life adds "circa illam fere horam tribus hebdomadibus' ante Natale Sancti &c.
7<5 First bishop of Wurtzburg. His feast occurs on the 14th of October.
77 it is thought, his name should rather be written Wicho, who was bishop of Augs- burg.
? H Gretser, in Libro Observationum Sua-
Apollinaris,7
n6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[July 7.
Eichstadt,7^ where he introduced the religious rule and discipline ofSt. Bene- dict. He spread it, likewise, in many other places. He never ceased to
scatter the seed of the Gospel over that large field of labour entrusted to his charge, and he failed not to collect an abundant harvest of souls. 8° Great numbers crowded to place themselves under his guidance, and these he regarded as his adopted children. 81 Pastors and churches he provided for various places in Bavaria. From infancy, many were carefully trained and elegantly taught in his schools, so that at the age of puberty, his instructions
broughtforththeirripenedfruits. HejoinedSt. Boniface,likewise,inthatre- 82
monstrance,whichhecountersigned, andwhichwassentintheshapeofan
epistletoEthelbald,KingoftheMercians. Hewasaholyandalearnedman;
while gifted with intellect and eloquence, he knew how to perpetuate science
and religion among the people and their instructors. His charity was most
tender and compassionate, while he had singular talent for comforting the
afflicted. 83 Notwithstanding his long incumbency as bishop, few of his Acts
have been preserved. In the year 765, his subscription is found to a docu-
ment; in 769, he was present at the ordination of Bernwelph of Wurtzburg ; in the year 777, he had the remains of his brother St. Wunebald 8* removed
to a more honourable tomb ; while some years afterwards, he assisted at the
obsequies of his sister St. Walburge. 85 At the request of Lullus, Archbishop of Mayence, it has been stated, St. Willibald wrote for the edification of the
faithful. This was chiefly to place upon record—as has been supposed— those great acts and events, which had just closed the career of the illustrious Apostle of Germany. 86 That he left behind a Life of St. Boniface,87 Bishop, in one book, has been often stated. As we have already mentioned, this was not his composition, but that of another Willibald, a priest, who probably
took his name from the present holy bishop.
88
Supposing this biography to have
been written by the present saint, John of Trittenhem knew of no other writing 8
attributed to him and remaining. ? In the year 785, this holy bishop signed a deed,9° whereby he gave to the monastery of Fulda certain lands and possessions. St. Willibald flourished under Pippin,^ father to Charlemagne ; and, during forty-five years he ruled over his diocese, until he had attained his eighty-seventh year. His fasts were very austere, nor did he allow the slightest relaxation of his austerities, until his strength was quite exhausted. He is known to have been living in the month of October, 785 ; and, it is generally believed, that he departed this life in the eighty-eighth year of his
rum places this consecration, at A. D. 745.
See cap. xii. , pp. 110, 11 1.
been of Wessex—as some writers have stated—but on the 22 King contrary,
he belonged apparently to a grade less elevated in society. Moreover, it does notappearcertain,thateventhen—ameofhisfatherisknown. 23 Accordingto oneaccounthismotherwasBonna saidtohavebeenasistertoSt. Boniface; it is needless to observe, however,- that such a statement rests on no good
2
authority. 24 His birth has been referred —to about a. d. 704, s by various
Soller who
this saint's Acts states, that it ought to be placed about a. d. 700.
writers j
—Father
however, John Baptist
the of analyzes chronology
26
another holy and an older brother, named Winibald,2? and a sister, St. Wal-
28 Their relative
ancient writers of their Acts. 20
Boniface, 30 the illustrious Apostle of Germany ; but, there are good reasons for doubting such statement. So various have been the entries of this holy man's name in old records, that it has been questioned if they refer to one and the
same person. Thus, he is styled, Wilibaldus, Wilbaldus, Bilibaldus, Bilbaldus, 1
bert, Abbot of who flourished Heidenheim,
in the time of Pope Eugenius III. , who reigned from A. D. 1 145 to a. d. 1153, more than three hundred and fifty years after the death of St. Willibald.
burga.
places
as to have been the most seniority stated, by
11 He a brief notice, only gives
regarding Saints Willibald, Wunebald and Walburgis, in reference to the monastery of Heidenheim. Nor is this always in accord with what had
been stated by the nun of that place.
12 The strictures of those two latter writers
These are stated to have been cousins of St.
Williboldus, and Willeboldus p while its probable derivation has engaged
23 In that most genuine Life of St. Willi- are to be found in Gretser's work, De bald by his relative the nun, his father is not
Ecclesia Eystettensis Divis Tutelaribus, printed at Ingoldstadt, A. D. 1617.
"
13 See John of Tottenham's Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum," fol. Hi. , &c.
14 See "De Probatis Sanctorum Vitis," tomus iv. , Julii vii.
15 In "Annates Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , lib. xx. , xxi. , xxii. , xxiii. , xxiv. , xxv. 16 See " The Church History of Brittany,"
book xxiv. , chap, xvii. , pp. 642 to 644.
17 See "Britannia Sancta," part ii. , pp.
18 to 21.
18 "
See Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and
other principal Saints," vol. vii. , July vii.
19 See "Vies des Saints," tome viii. ,
viie Jour de Juillet, pp. 102, 103, and n. I.
20 See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints,"
vol. vii. , July vii.
noted at all for his rank, while he is only praised for his virtues. The feast of St. Richard has been referred to the 7th of Feb- ruary.
24 See Dean " Church of Cressy's History
Brittany," book xxiv. , chap, xvii. , p. 642.
25 See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. vii. , July vii.
25
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Julii vii. De S. Willibaldo Episcopo Eystadii in Germania Commentarius Praevius, sect, iv. , num. 29, pp. 491, 492.
27 His feast is celebrated, on the 18th of December.
38 Her festival is set down, at the 25th of
February.
29 This has been shown, by Father John
Baptist Soller, S. J. , in his Preliminary ob- servations to the Acts of St. Willibald. See
sect, iii. , num. 28, p. 491.
30 See his Life already given, in the Six—th
Volume of this work, at the 5th of June the date for his chief festival, Art. i.
31 On these various denominations, Gret- ser has some critical observations, in which he refutes the opinion of Aventinus and others, regarding this matter, cap. ii.
21
Indeed, it is only the writer of the
Second Life of St. Willibald, and rather
modern writers, that call his father Richard.
See Mabillon's "Annates Ordinis S. Bene-
dicti," tomus ii. , lib. xx. , sect, xliii. ,
p. 61.
22
The first, who appears to consider his father was a king, seems to have been Adel-
Catalogus
He had
ii2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[July 7.
the attention of 3a after all, none of the had etymologists. Perhaps, foregoing
been the original name of the saint j and this is more likely to have been the case, it we can consider him of Scottish origin. We know, likewise, that Irish
names have generally been changed into others, by people among whom our emi- grantstotheContinentresided. Whenonlythreeyearsold,Willibaldhadbeen
attacked with a grievous illness, whereby his limbs became contracted,33 and it was feared by his parents that he was about to die. It so happened, accord- ing to a usage common in those days, that a large cross had been erected in a public place near their house. Thither the faithful were accustomed to repair,andtoprefertheirseveralrequeststoHeaven. TheparentsofWilli- bald accordingly went to the place, when human remedies seemed to fail, and there they offered their prayers with great fervour. They vowed, that should their son be restored to them, that they would dedicate him to God in the religious state, and that when at age they would allow him to take the
clerical tonsure. The result was, that he was immediately restored to health. 34 As the boy grewin years, he manifested the gifts of grace and of wisdom, so that when five years old,35 his parents, to secure their pious desires, resolved to place their son under the guidance of the Abbot Egbald, who then ruled over the monastery of Waltheim. 36 For this purpose, he was entrusted to the care of a venerable and faithful man, called Theodredus,37 and who is also named Thealoretus. 38 However, as the boy was so young, a chapter meeting of the monks was called by the Abbot, when all agreed, that he might safely admit the child to be an inmate of their house. Nor was their confidence in him misplaced, for soon Willibald began to manifest that spirit of earnestness and of industry, which soon made him a proficient in the study of sacred letters in every department of literature, while he began also to learn the psalms of David. The holy youth progressed each day in piety and wisdom, so that
he was regarded as one of the most exact in the performance of all monastic exercises. By all of the monks he was held in the greatest esteem. At the age of seventeen, his father had conceived a great desire to make a pilgrim- age to the Holy Land, while his two sons, Saints Winibald and Willibald, re-
solved on accompanying him. Accordingly, about the year 720,39 721, or 1
722,4° all three set out from Hamble-Haven^ and they landed on the coast
2
of Normandy, at the banks of a river called Sigona,4 and near a city called
Rotum,43otherwiseRothomagus. 44 Afterrestingthereforatime,theypro-
32 Father John Baptist Soller states, that while he does not accept Gretser's German derivation of it, from wald, "a wood ;" he thinks that of Philip Bishop of Aichstadt better, viz. , the German word will, having a like signification in English, and bald,
38 This is the name given to him, in the shorter Life of our saint, which was written by Reginald.
39 According to the Bollandist computa- tion. —
4°
According to some writers, Winibald the elder brother—was then only nineteen years of age, and Willibald only seventeen. See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia Sancta," part ii. , p. 19.
41 The River Hamble has its source, about one half mile from the town of Bishop's Waltham, and it passes through the piece
found out his
original
rendered in Latin " vo- prompte
"prompt,"
lens," or "prompta voluntas. " All this is
very fanciful, however, and if it proves any- thing it should be, that we have not yet
name.
33 See Dean Cressy's " Church History ol
Brittany," book xxiv. , chap, xvii. , p. 643.
34 See Bishop Challenor's " Britannia of water called Waltham Pond, thence flow-
Sancta," part ii. , p. 19. ing into the Southampton Water, north of 35 See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the the Isle of Wight. See S. Lewis' "Topogra-
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," phical Dictionary of England," vol. iv. ,
vol. vii. , Julyvii.
30 In Hampshire.
37 Thus is he called by the nun, who wrote St. Willibald's Life, nr, published by theBollandists. Mabillotl calls him Theo- dore.
p. 450.
*' Also known as Sequana, or the Seine. 43 Also called Rotuma and Rotumum. See
De Chesne's " Historic Francorum," tomus ii. Chronicon de Gentis Normannorum, pp. 24 and 525.
July 7/
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
"3
ceeded on their journey through the vast territory of Gaul, for they had resolved to visit Rome on their way and the tombs of the Apostles. After-
wards, they entered Italy, and travelled onwards through its provinces to the
of Lucca. 4 5 Their father fell sick in that and breathed his last city,
when
city
he was buried in the church of St. Frigidian or Frigdian. He is said to have
s
died there, a. d. 721,4 or about the year 722. 47 His two sons afterwards
crossed the Apennines on their way to Rome, where they visited the shrines
of the Apostles, and remained there from the Natalis of St. Martin to the
solemnity of Easter, engaged in various devout pilgrimages to the holy sanc-
tuaries of the martyrs and saints. Here, too, they assumed the monastic
habit/
8
During the summer, they were attacked with an intermittent fever,
which greatly prostrated them, but from which they recovered. Having
satisfied their devotion in the Eternal City, they next resolved on a pilgrim-
age to the Holy Land. 49 Their adventures on the way, and the various places
visited by them, are among the most interesting and authentic tours of the
middle ages ; while their record throws most curious and considerable light
on the state of religious and of pagan society there, and on the topography of Palestine. 50 At Gaza, Willibald lost his sight, and he continued blind for
about two months ; but, upon his returning to Jerusalem, and there enter-
into the church of the
whole years 52 were spent by them in Palestine ; when they resolved on returningtoEurope. ThebrothersreturnedbywayofConstantinople,a. d.
Rouen, capital Department of Seine-Inferieure, and situated on the right bank of the River Seine. For
Trinacria by the ancients—owing to its trian-
4s
Republic, and afterwards of a Duchy ; but now included in Tuscany. It is surrounded with a fortified wall, having a circuit of three miles. Its ramparts are planted with tree*, which have a pleasing effect from a dis- tance.
46 Such is the Bollandist calculation. In the " Lives of the English Saints," there is a Life of St. Richard, by J. H. N. (Cardinal Newman), and his death is placed in the autumn of 722. See vol. Hi. , p. 11.
47 See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and—other principal Saints,"
Formerly the capital of an independent
to which
48 See Father John Mabillon's " Annales
A town of in
voro, and seated on the left bank of the River Volturno.
59 Now Teano, in the same district.
60
vol. ii. , Februaryvii. has been assigned.
his feast 58
day Naples,
the Terra di La-
Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , sect, xliii. , p. 61.
lib. xx.
,
49 The Bollandist Father Soller
they left Rome for Palestine, a. d. 722.
that
mountain one of the of the spurs
steep Apennines
50 It is rendered still more interesting. from the notes of Mabillon and those of
of kingdom Naples,
Basnage, in his edition of Canisius' tiones Antiquae. "
51 See Bishop Challenor's Sancta," part ii. , p. 20.
52 The chronotaxis of these is
years given
by Father John Baptist Soller, S. J.
Holy Cross,
his was restored to him. s 1 Seven sight
ing
they
Capua/ afterwards Tyana,59 and finally the celebrated Monastery of St.
and afterwards
visited
5 4 a d.
729. They
went also to
727,53
cuse 55 and to Catana,s° and thence to Calabria. s? Then, St. Willibald visited
8
Benedict on Monte Cassino. 60
description, see "Gazetteer of the World," vol. xi. , pp. 334, 335.
44 Nowthe of city
ofthe
53 were there about the Easter Fes- They
tival.
54 This large and fertile Island was called
states,
—and within the former
St. Benedict had founded his establishment on the ruins of an ancient temple of Apollo, in the year 529. This monastery has had a varied and an interesting history, from that date to our own times.
61 This holy man ruled there as Abbot for
"
Lec- " Britannia
Sicily,
Syra-
There, Petronax 01 was Abbot, and only a
—and it is Italy, by a narrow strait.
gular form
only separated
from
55 This city was founded by one Archiar, a Corinthian, 500 yearsbefore the birth of Christ. It afterwards became the head of the Grecian
colonies in Italy and Sicily. At a period long subsequent, it fell under the power of the Romans, and it was regarded as the capital of the Sicilian province.
56 A city at the foot of Mount JEtna. , and
which was almost ruined by an earthquake
in the year 1693.
57 Also called Magna Gracia, the most
southern part of the former kingdom of Naples.
— on the summit of this Originally
and he the 30th of April, a. d. 750.
this
life, on
thirty-two years,
departed
;
114 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [July 7.
62
Our saint is claimed, as belonging to the Benedictine order, which rule Willibald is said to have embraced, on the summit of that high mountain, after he had been absent ten years from his native country, and seven years since he had left Rome. 63 There his conversation and example gave instruction and edification to that
community. Thefirstyearofhisarrivalthere,hewasappointedsacristanof thechurch,andthesecondhebecamedeaninthemonastery. Afterwards, for four years he was porter or guest-master to the great monastery on Monte
6* andforanotherfour hewasportertoanothermonasteryina Casino; years,
few monks were under his charge, in the year 72Q.
Benedictine Monastery of Monte Cassino.
valley at the foot ofthe mountain, and which stood near the River Raphito.
This latter office required a rooted habit of virtue, which should suffer no
abatement, owing to external occupations and frequent commerce with secu-
;
it was also one of — trust and 65 —other visitors great importance. Among
lars
to Monte Casino, a priest doubtless a Benedictine monk
from Spain, and he asked permission from the Abbot Petronax to visit Rome, while he urged St. Willibald to accompany him. This permission having been obtained, they first sought there the church of St. Peter, and St. Willi- bald had a special interview with the Sovereign Pontiff. Then he related, at
the Pope's request, his various adventures in the Holy Land, while his con- versation charmed the universal Father of the Faithful, who listened with the greatest possible interest and edification to the narrative. The illustrious St.
62
That assigned for St. Willibald's arrival at Monte Cassino, by the Bollandist Father Soller.
63 See Mabillon's "Annates Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomusii. , lib. xx. , sect, xliv. , p. 62
64 The writer had a personal experience of the co—urteous and hospitable manner, in
tration, copied from the large copperplate engraving in Mabillon's Acts of the Bene- dictine Order, tomus ii. , was drawn by William F. Wakeman on the wood, en- graved by Mrs. Millard.
6s See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints,"
Annales Ordinis S.
tomus 67Heruledfroma. d. 731toa. d. 741. See
which aftera —
vol. vii. , July vii.
66 "
St. Willibald's time
of over iooo from lapse years
See 'Mabillon's
his successor there dis- charged similar offices, on the 25th and 26th ofOctober,1886. Theaccompanyingillus-
Benedicti," p. 79-
ii. ,
lib. xx. , sect,
lxxviii. ,
66
came thither
July 7. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
115
6
Boniface, bishop of Mayence, happened to visit Pope Gregory III. , 7 at Rome,
a. d. 738. He asked, as a special favour, that Willibald might be sent to assist him in the missionary labours of Germany, and he had a knowledge of his arrival at Rome. 68 This visit, according to the chronology of the
6 Tothis the Bollandists, took place towards the close of a. d. 74o. 9 request,
Pope readily assented, and sent for Willibald, who said with his Abbot's per- mission he would willingly obey. However, the Pope told him, that Petronax might be assumed to give his consent, as he had not even the power to oppose such an order. Wherefore, Willibald replied, that he was ready to obey, and to go not alone to Germany, but to any other part of the world where he might be sent. Having taken leave of Gregory III. , Willibald proceeded to Lucca, where his father had been interred ; thence he went to Ticina and Brixia, and afterwards he journeyed to a place called Charinta, otherwise Charta. Then he visited the Duke Odilon, with whom he remained for a week. ThencehewenttoSuitgarius,andremainedanotherweek. Heand Suitgarius went together to St. Boniface, who was then at Linthrat, or Linth- ruth. 7° St. Boniface sent them to Eichstadt, that they might see, if it should be a suitable place for a religious foundation. At that time, the whole country around it was a waste, nor save a church of St. Mary, was a single housetobefoundinit. Then,Suitgariusgavethattractofcountryforhissoul's salvation, and St. Boniface selected St. Willibald to become its future bishop. The town of Eichstadt, Eichstatt or Aichstadt is the capital of a principality, to which it gave name, in Bavaria. It is situated in a fine valley on the
f
Altmuhl River, and in the circle of Upper Pfalz. 7
Willibald and Suitgarius remained at that place, to find a suitable site for the erection of a religious house, and afterwards they went to St. Boniface, who was at Frisinga. They remained, until all three returned to Eystet. Then and there, St. Willibald was ordained a priest, to which order he had not hitherto been elevated. This ordination was on the eleventh of the August
Kalends, and on the Feast of St. Mary Magdalen and of St.
2
a. d. 740. After another year had elapsed, St. Boniface directed, that Willi-
bald should come to him in Thuringia. This order he obeyed, in the autumn
season, and he was hospitably entertained in the house of his brother Wune-
bald. 73 For eight years and more, they had not seen each other, and now
they felt greatly rejoiced to be in company. While there, and in a place
called Sallpurg,74 during the autumnal season,75 Archbishop Boniface, with
the bishops Burchard ? 6 and Wizo,77 consecrated Willibald as bishop, and
after a week's stay he returned to his own place. This happened in the forty-
first ofhis year
age. 7
8 Soon
afterwards,
he theerectionofa began
monastery at
Sir Harris Nicolas' "Chronology of His-
tory," p. 209.
6i He remained there from the Feast of St.
Andrew, a. d. 739, to the Easter of the fol- lowing year. See Father John Mabillon's
73 While Willibald had been a monk at Monte Casino, Wunebald having proceeded to Rome, became a monk in Rome, whence he went to join St. Boniface's mission in
**
Annales Ordinis S.
lib. xxi. , sect, xlviii. , p. 108.
tomus
Germany. 74 This
is not to be
confounded with
69 See their Commentarius Pnevius to his Acts, sect, iii. , num. 20, p. 489.
:
70 See Dean " Church Cressy's
71 See " Gazetteer of the World," vol. v. , P- 178.
72 See Mabillon's "Annales Ordinis Sancti
Benedicti," tomus ii. , lib. xxi. , sect, xlviii. , P- io8-
History Brittany," book xxiv. , chap. xvii. ,p. 643.
of
Martini,"
Benedicti,"
ii. ,
place
the city of Salzburgh.
For some little time, St.
See ibid.
75 The nun of Heidenheim's Life adds "circa illam fere horam tribus hebdomadibus' ante Natale Sancti &c.
7<5 First bishop of Wurtzburg. His feast occurs on the 14th of October.
77 it is thought, his name should rather be written Wicho, who was bishop of Augs- burg.
? H Gretser, in Libro Observationum Sua-
Apollinaris,7
n6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[July 7.
Eichstadt,7^ where he introduced the religious rule and discipline ofSt. Bene- dict. He spread it, likewise, in many other places. He never ceased to
scatter the seed of the Gospel over that large field of labour entrusted to his charge, and he failed not to collect an abundant harvest of souls. 8° Great numbers crowded to place themselves under his guidance, and these he regarded as his adopted children. 81 Pastors and churches he provided for various places in Bavaria. From infancy, many were carefully trained and elegantly taught in his schools, so that at the age of puberty, his instructions
broughtforththeirripenedfruits. HejoinedSt. Boniface,likewise,inthatre- 82
monstrance,whichhecountersigned, andwhichwassentintheshapeofan
epistletoEthelbald,KingoftheMercians. Hewasaholyandalearnedman;
while gifted with intellect and eloquence, he knew how to perpetuate science
and religion among the people and their instructors. His charity was most
tender and compassionate, while he had singular talent for comforting the
afflicted. 83 Notwithstanding his long incumbency as bishop, few of his Acts
have been preserved. In the year 765, his subscription is found to a docu-
ment; in 769, he was present at the ordination of Bernwelph of Wurtzburg ; in the year 777, he had the remains of his brother St. Wunebald 8* removed
to a more honourable tomb ; while some years afterwards, he assisted at the
obsequies of his sister St. Walburge. 85 At the request of Lullus, Archbishop of Mayence, it has been stated, St. Willibald wrote for the edification of the
faithful. This was chiefly to place upon record—as has been supposed— those great acts and events, which had just closed the career of the illustrious Apostle of Germany. 86 That he left behind a Life of St. Boniface,87 Bishop, in one book, has been often stated. As we have already mentioned, this was not his composition, but that of another Willibald, a priest, who probably
took his name from the present holy bishop.
88
Supposing this biography to have
been written by the present saint, John of Trittenhem knew of no other writing 8
attributed to him and remaining. ? In the year 785, this holy bishop signed a deed,9° whereby he gave to the monastery of Fulda certain lands and possessions. St. Willibald flourished under Pippin,^ father to Charlemagne ; and, during forty-five years he ruled over his diocese, until he had attained his eighty-seventh year. His fasts were very austere, nor did he allow the slightest relaxation of his austerities, until his strength was quite exhausted. He is known to have been living in the month of October, 785 ; and, it is generally believed, that he departed this life in the eighty-eighth year of his
rum places this consecration, at A. D. 745.
See cap. xii. , pp. 110, 11 1.
