Saint Who?
Saints Who Were Missionaries
Saint Willibrord of Utrecht
Bishop († 739) Feast: November 7
Willibrord was born in northern England and was sent to be educated at a monastery when he was seven years old. He became a monk as a young man and traveled to a monastery in Ireland to further his studies. After spending a dozen years there, he was ordained a priest. When two monks returned to the monastery and spoke about their failed attempts to convert the pagans of northern Germany, Willibrord was inspired by their stories. He asked permission from his superiors to travel to Germany himself as a missionary.
After Willibrord arrived in Utrecht with eleven other English monks, he obtained permission to evangelize from the Frankish king and then traveled to Rome to meet with the pope. Pope Sergius made him a bishop.
The pagan Frisians were not quick to embrace the faith. On one island, the local people believed that their gods would strike dead anyone who drew water from a spring. When Willibrord baptized people in that spring, the natives were shocked that he did not die immediately. Some of them retaliated by killing one of Willibrord’s companions. But Willibrord did not give up. He spent the next thirty-six years preaching, praying, baptizing, and establishing monasteries throughout the present-day Netherlands, France, Germany, and Denmark. He died at the age of eighty-one.
Lord Jesus Christ, grant us perseverance
as we share our faith with others.
