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Willibrord (658-739) was a contemporary of fellow-Englishman St. Boniface, the Apostle of Germany (ca.675-754) and is known as the Apostle of Frisia and the first archbishop of Utrecht (Netherlands). Frisia is located on the southeastern coast of the North Sea along the coast of the Netherlands and extending into Germany, including modern-day Friesland. Willibrord was born in Ripon (Yorkshire) and consecrated a priest in Ireland. In 690, he and a group of companions established a mission in Frisia, then under pagan rulers (Frisia is where St. Boniface was martyred in 754). Willibrord’s mission grew slowly and met resistance. He made two visits to Rome and was consecrated archbishop by Pope Sergius I (ca. 687-701) with the goal of establishing a Church organization with a see at Utrecht (695). In 698 he founded a monastery at Echternach, (Luxembourg). He died there after 40 years of missionary and organizational work. During his career he relied on protection from Frankish rulers such as Pepin II (aka Pepin of Heristal, ca. 635-714). Willibrord also made conversion in Heligoland and Denmark. Overall, he and his companions established a century of Christian influence on the European continent. Alcuin of York described Willibrord’s work as “based on energetic preaching and ministry informed by prayer and sacred reading. Willibrord was always venerable, gracious, and full of joy.” An annual procession and “sacred dance” of formalized steps occur on his feast day in which bishops and clergy participate, a commemoration that continues today at Echternach. Reference: • David Farmer, Oxford Dictionary of Saints • Donald Attwater and Catherine Rachel John, Penguin Dictionary of Saints • Dawn Marie Beutner, Saints Article Link: • James C. Hamilton, “Vatican City: A Philatelic Historical Journey, Part 5, Missionaries and Martyrs” Vatican Notes, Vol. 64, No. 367, p. 8-11 (2016) | |||||||||
