Saint Who?
Saints Who Were Instruments of Healing
Saint Walburga of Heidenheim
Abbess († 779) Feast: February 25
In 738, Saint Boniface traveled to Rome. He told the pope that he had converted many German pagans to the faith and that he needed Catholic priests to govern new churches and monasteries. When Boniface met two English monks, Saints Willibald and Winibald, who also happened to be brothers, he convinced them to return to Germany with him.
Boniface also wrote for help from nuns, and a group of Benedictine nuns moved from England to Germany a few years later. One of these nuns was named Walburga, and she happened to be the sister of Willibald and Winibald. Although she was initially just a nun in a monastery founded by her brother, Walburga was a devout, intelligent woman and a good leader. She eventually became an abbess, governing both monks and nuns in a double monastery. Some traditions also say that Walburga practiced medicine.
After her death, Walburga’s body was placed in the tomb next to her brother’s. That’s when people noticed the presence of an aromatic oil, which seemed to be exuded by her body. The faithful have attributed medicinal properties to Walburga’s oil ever since. Walburga was a holy woman who deserves the titles of saint, evangelist, and healer.
Loving Father, help us trust in your power to heal us through the intercession of the saints.
