Saints Ewald the Black and Ewald the White

The ancient Saxons of Germany were then governed by various petty princes who, in times of war, would unite their forces and choose a commander by lot. All were then required to obey this leader. Once the war was over, each returned to their original state.

The two Saints, upon entering the land of the Saxons, met a farmer and asked him to lead them to the one he recognized as his prince. Throughout the journey, they did not cease to pray, to recite psalms, and to sing hymns. Every day they offered the holy sacrifice, carrying with them sacred vessels and a blessed table that served as their altar. The barbarians, who were observing them, feared that they would persuade the prince to renounce the worship of idols, and they formed the plan to take their lives. They killed Ewald the White on the spot; but they made his brother s Ewald le Blanc English priest, martyr in Westphalia, killed immediately by the Saxons. uffer long and cruel torments, after which they tore him to pieces. The prince of the territory, informed of what had just happened, fell into a great rage, condemned the culprits to death, and had their village set on fire. The bodies of the Martyrs, which had been thrown into the Rhine, were miraculously discovered, and Tilman was warned, by a vision, to ret rieve Tilman English monk and missionary who discovered and buried the bodies of the martyrs. them. He was a man of high birth who, after having borne arms in England, had embraced the monastic state and was in Germany as a missionary. Having joined other evangelical workers, he buried the Saints at the place of their martyrdom. Pepin, Duke of the Franks, having learned of the miracles that were taking place at thei Péjon, duc des Francs Duke of the Franks who had the relics transported to Cologne. r tomb, later had them honorably transported to Cologne; they are still kept there today in the church of Saint-C unibert Cologne Archiepiscopal see and burial place of the saint. .

The martyrdom of our two Saints is placed between the years 690 and 700; but the most probable opinion is that they suffered in 695. They were honored with public veneration immediately after their death, as seen in the martyrology of Bede, which appears to have been compiled the following year. In 1074, Saint Anno, Archbishop of Cologne, had their relics transferred to the church of which we have spoken. He gave their heads to Frederick of Munster; but they have disappeared since the sacrilegious ravages of the Anabaptists in 1534. The two Saints Ewald are hono red throug Westphalie Region of mission and martyrdom for the two saints. hout Westphalia as patrons of the country.

A book, a chalice, and a club are the attributes of Saint Ewald the White: the book and the chalice indicate his dignity as a priest, and the club the type of torture he endured. — As for Saint Ewa ld the Black, he is saint Ewald le Noir English priest, martyr in Westphalia, more versed in Scripture than his brother. usually depicted carrying a lamb on a book: perhaps the intention was to symbolize the meekness with which he accepted death. He is also shown with a sword in his hand, as having perished by the blade. — Above the two brothers, gathered in a group, a celestial light is sometimes represented, either because they came to bring the light of the Gospel to the Saxons, or because of the radiance that led to the discovery of their bodies, which the idolaters had thrown into the Rhine.

*Acta Sanctorum; Proper of Cologne; Godwiesord; Characteristics of the Saints.*