St. Wigbert was a
priest and companion of St. Boniface (Winfred),
apostle to Germany.
He became abbot at
Fritzlar (Tritzlar) in Germany.
St. Wigbert was born
in England about 675. He was known for the purity of
his morals, his zeal for the salvation of souls, his
boundless love, his penetrating knowledge and
familiarity with the Scriptures.
He had great skill in
teaching, struggled excellently in monastic podvig,
and was faithful in all matters. St. Boniface
summoned him from England to Germany, so in about
the year 734 St. Wigbert went to Germany, and there
he was made abbot of the monastery of Hersfeld in
Hesse. Among his pupils was St. Sturmi, first abbot
of Fulda.
About 737 Boniface
transferred him to Thuringia as abbot of Ohrdruf,
where he worked with the same success as in Hersfeld.
Later, Wigbert obtained Boniface's permission to
return to Hersfeld to spend his remaining days in
stillness and to prepare for the hour of death.
Even in old age and
in illness he continued his austere mode of life,
until the very end. The Saint reposed at Hersfeld in
about 746.He was first buried at Fritzlar in an
inconspicuous grave, but during an incursion of
Saxons (774) his remains were taken for safety to
Buraburg, and from there, in 780, his sacred relics
were transferred by Abp. St. Lullus to Hersfeld.
In the year 850 a
beautiful church was built to him, but it burned
down in 1037. A new church was built and dedicated
in 1144 but it burned in 1761 in a great fire, after
which his sacred relics were never found again by
men.
Holy Venerable Father
Wigbert, pray to God for us!
Feast: Aug. 13
