Statue of Saint Willibald on the façade of the Hospital
Church of Eichstätt, Bavaria. Made by the Baroque
sculptor, Christian Handschuher, Late-17th-Century.
Figur des hl. Willibald an der Fassade der Spitalkirche
von Eichstätt von dem Barock-Bildhauer Christian Handschuher, Ende 17., Anfang 18. Jahrhundert
Date: 2010.
Source: Own work.
Author: Rensi.
(Wikimedia Commons)
Text from Wikipedia - the free encyclopædia,
unless stated otherwise.
Willibald (Latin: Willibaldus; circa 700 A.D. – circa 787 A.D.) was an 8th-Century A.D. Bishop of Eichstätt, Bavaria.
Information about his life is largely drawn from the “Hodoeporicon of Willibald”, a Text written in the 8th-Century A.D. by Huneberc, an Anglo-Saxon Nun from Heidenheim-am-Hahnenkamm, who knew Willibald and his brother.[1]
The Text of the “Hodoeporicon” (“Itinerary”) was dictated to Huneberc by Willibald shortly before he died.
Willibald’s father was Richard the Pilgrim, and his mother was Wuna of Wessex. His brother was Winibald and his sister was Walburga.[2]
Willibald was well-travelled and the first-known Englishman to visit the Holy Land.[3] His Shrine is at Eichstätt Cathedral, Germany, where his body and Relics from his journeys are preserved. His Feast Day is 7 July.
Willibald was born in Wessex on 21 October around the year 700 A.D. His mother, Wuna of Wessex, was reportedly a sister of Saint Boniface. His father, Richard the Pilgrim, was a Chieftain of Wessex.
At the age of three, Willibald suffered from a violent illness. His parents Prayed to God, vowing to commit Willibald to a Monastic life, if he was to be spared.
Willibald survived and, at the age of five, entered the Benedictine Monastery at Waldheim (Bishop’s Waltham, Hampshire) and was educated by Abbot Egwald.[4]
At the Monastery, he became accustomed to the Irish and Anglo-Saxon Monastic ideal of “Peregrinatio Religiosa”, or “Pious Rootlessness”.[5]
Saint Willibald.
Apostle of Bavaria and Patron of Pilgrims.
Available on YouTube
Eventually, they arrived in Lucca, a City in Northern Italy. It was here that Willibald’s father became gravely ill and died.
After burying their father, Willibald and Winibald continued on their journey, travelling through Italy until they reached Rome.
Here they visited the Lateran Basilica and Saint Peter’s. They spent some time in Italy, strengthening in devotion and discipline, but soon the two brothers became ill with the Black Plague (although Mershman says it was Malaria).[4]
Hunebrec recounts the disease and miraculous recovery:
“Then, with the passing of the days and the increasing heat of Summer, which is usually a sign of future fever, they were struck down with sickness. They had caught the Black Plague.
“But God, in His never failing providence and fatherly love, deigned to listen to their Prayers and come to their aid, so that each of them rested in turn for one week whilst they attended to each other’s needs”.[6]
Willibald left Rome in 724 A.D, heading for Naples. From there, accompanied by two unnamed companions, he departed by sea, visited Sicily and Greece, and arrived in Asia Minor.
Parish Church of Saint Willibald, Weihmichl, Bavaria.
Die Pfarrkirche St. Willibald, Weihmichl, Bayern.
Photo: 21 June 2015.
Source: Own work.
This File is licensed under the
Share Alike 4.0 International Licence.
Author: H.Helmlechner
(Wikimedia Commons)
In Asia Minor, Willibald and his companions arrived in the City of Ephesus. Here, they visited the tomb of John the Evangelist. They then continued on to Patara, in Lycia, where they waited out the Winter, and then travelled to Mount Chelidonium, almost dying of hunger and thirst.
They departed by boat and arrived on the island of Cyprus. Following a stay in Cyprus, they reached Antadoros (now called Tartus) where they had an audience with a Greek Bishop and visited the Church of Saint John the Baptist.
Willibald’s journey then took him and a group of seven companions to Palestine (circa 723 A.D).
There he visited Nazareth. From Nazareth, he went to Bethlehem, and thence into Egypt. He returned to Nazareth, and thence travelled to Cana, Capharnaum, and Jerusalem,[7] where he arrived on 11 November 725 A.D.
After waiting for some time in Tyre, Willibald was able to sail to Constantinople. He remained in Constantinople for some two years, and was provided with a small room in an annex of the Church of the Holy Apostles.
He spent part of this time in Nicaea, visiting a Church and studying documents from the First Council of Nicaea that was arranged by Emperor Constantine.
He left Constantinople and sailed for Sicily, arriving in Naples approximately seven years after he had left Italy.
Pulpit in the Parish Church
of Saint Willibald, Weihmichl, Bavaria.
Weihmichl, Hauptstraße 24. Pfarrkirche St. Willibald. Saalkirche mit eingezogenem Chor, Langhaus und Chor barock. Barocke Kanzel mit gewundenen Ecksäulchen. Figuren der vier Evangelisten in den Feldern. Auf dem Schalldeckel Engel mit Posaune.
Photo: 12 September 2010.
Source: Own work.
This File is licensed under the
Share Alike 4.0 International Licence.
Author: Elcom.stadler.
(Wikimedia Commons)
He would spend over ten years at Monte Cassino and another local Benedictine Monastery, where he served roles as, “Sacrist, Dean, and Porter.”[8]
According to David Farmer, his new-found Monasticism was drastically shaped by his experiences in both England and Palestine, allowing him to play a major role in the reformation and future prosperity of the Monastery.[9]
It happened that, in 738 A.D., Saint Boniface, coming to Rome, asked of Pope Gregory III that Willibald might be sent to assist him in Eichstätt, Bavaria.
The Pope desired to see the Saint Willibald, and was much delighted with the history of his travels, and acquainted him of Boniface’s request.[7]
Upon arriving at Eichstätt, Willibald was Ordained a Priest by Boniface on 22 July 741 A.D., and asked to begin missionary work in the area.
A year later, Boniface summoned him to Thuringia. While travelling, Willibald encountered his brother, Winibald, whom he had not seen for over eight years.
Shortly thereafter, he returned to Eichstätt to begin his work. In 742 A.D., he and his brother, Winibald, Founded the Double Monastery at Heidenheim.
Winibald served as the first Abbot. Following his death, Willibald’s sister, Walburga, was appointed the first Abbess of the Monastery.[10]
In 746 A.D., Boniface Consecrated Willibald Bishop of Eichstätt.[7]
According to Bunson, Eichstätt was the site of Willibald’s most successful Missionary efforts, although specific details like the means of conversion and number of converts are not known.[8]
The Monastery was one of the first buildings in the region and served as an important centre, “not only for the Diocesan Apostolate, but also for the diffusion and development of Monasticism.”[11]
Willibald served as the Bishop of the region in Franconia for over four decades, living in the Monastery and entertaining visitors throughout Europe, who would come to hear of his journey and Monasticism.
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