Saint Wigbert
Wictbercht
Abbot of Fritzlar
A companion of Saint Boniface, Wigbert was an Anglo-Saxon missionary who evangelized Frisia before becoming Abbot of Fritzlar in Germany. Known for his austerity and piety, he died in 747 after a life of monastic and apostolic devotion.
Guided reading
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SAINT WIGBERT OR WICTBERCHT,
ABBOT OF FRITZLAR, IN ELECTORAL HESSE (747).
Unsuccessful mission in Frisia
A companion of Egbert, Wigbert attempted to evangelize Frisia and King Radbod around 688, but returned to Ireland after two years due to the failure of his mission.
A companion of the holy abbot Eg bert, Saint W saint Wigbert Anglo-Saxon monk, missionary in Frisia, and abbot in Germany. igbert, after having long lived in Ireland as a recluse, went to preach the word of salvation to the peoples of Fr isia and t roi Radbod Bishop of Noyon in the 11th century who performed the translation of the relics. o King Radbod, around the year 688. But all his labors and efforts bore no fruit among his barbarian listeners. After two years, he returned to Ireland and served God there again in solitude and silence, as he had done for so long. Having been unable to be useful to foreigners, he strove all the more to strengthen his compatriots by the example of his virtues.
Distinction between the different Wigberts
The historian Mabillon distinguishes three Wigberts: the missionary to Frisia, the abbot of Nursling, and the abbot of Fritzlar associated with Saint Boniface.
Mabillon distinguishes several Wigberts, and speaks first of the oldest, who, to preach the Gospel after Egbert, went from Ireland to Frisia, from where he was driven out by Radbod, and returned to Ireland. The second was abbot of Nursling and tutor to Saint Boniface. The third is the abbot of Fritz l'abbé de Fritzlar Anglo-Saxon monk, missionary in Frisia, and abbot in Germany. lar, who left England with several others to join Saint Boniface in Germany, and whom the latter associated with himself and several others in his apostolate.
Monastic life and final moments
The saint distinguished himself by his austerity, his rigor in confession, and a death marked by the symbolic sign of a white bird.
Our Saint was accustomed, when asked to go to someone to hear their confession, to return immediately afterward to his convent. Although his body was exhausted by a serious illness, he did not allow himself the slightest indulgence; he did not, however, blame those who, in case of illness, relaxed their austerity a little. In his final moments, it is said that a very beautiful bird was seen to descend three times upon his dying body, as a sign of the purity of his life.
Cult and buildings in Hersfeld
His renown led to the construction of a church in Hersfeld by abbots Bronon and Rabanus Maurus in the 9th century.
Saint Wigbert must have enjoyed a great reputation for holiness, since Bronon, abbot of Hersfeld, and R abanus Mau Raban Maur Abbot of Fulda and Archbishop of Mainz, builder of the church of Wigbert. rus, abbot of Fulda, began in 831 to build a church for him, which the latter completed in 850, when he was Archbishop of Mainz. This church still exists in Hersfeld, which later became a city. But the revenues, which were very considerable, were seized by the Landgraves of Hesse and attached to their domains.
It should also be noted that Wigbert is named in the martyrology of Rabanus, in that of Rome, and in several others, as a priest and confessor, without it being said that he was an abbot. This is because in those times, the dignity of the priest eclipsed, so to speak, the title of abbot, which was far inferior to the former.
Other mentions and sources
Mention of another Wigbert who corresponded with Lull of Mainz and indication of biographical sources.
There exists another Wigbert, who was also a priest, and indeed, as is commonly believed, a secular priest, who having returned from Germany to Britain, wrote two letters to Lull, Ar chbi Lull Archbishop of Mainz, recipient of letters from another Wigbert. shop of Mainz.
Taken from the continuators of Godescalk.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Recluse in Ireland
- Mission to Frisia to King Radbod around 688
- Return to Ireland after two years of missionary failure
- Departure from England to join Saint Boniface in Germany
- Appointed Abbot of Fritzlar
- Construction of a church in his honor at Hersfeld by Rabanus Maurus
Miracles
- Apparition of a beautiful bird descending three times onto his body at the hour of his death