Willibrord (658–739), apostle of Frisia and archbishop of Utrecht. He was born in Yorkshire, where his father Wilgils became a hermit and was educated by Wilfrid at Ripon. On Wilfrid's expulsion in 678 he went to Ireland both for study and voluntary exile; he stayed twelve years, (some of them at Rath Melsigi) and was ordained priest. In 690 he returned to England; under Egbert's inspiration he went with twelve companions as a missionary to Frisia. He made his way there through Frankish territory; he obtained strong support from Pippin II and began work in the area conquered and ruled by him. His mission prospered, especially after he had obtained support and encouragement from Pope Sergius on a visit to Rome. During his absence Swithbert was consecrated bishop by Wilfrid in England and returned to preach to the Boructuarii (between the rivers Yssel and Ems). Willibrord returned to Frisia and continued as before. In 695 he went again to Rome, this time at Pippin's behest, to be consecrated bishop by Sergius, who gave him the additional name of Clement. He sent him back with a definite mission to establish normal church organization with a metropolitan see at Utrecht, and suffragan bishoprics similar to the pattern at Canterbury and elsewhere. As at Canterbury, a cathedral of Christchurch was built and an old church of St. Martin restored to worship. Willibrord built churches and monasteries and consecrated bishops to new sees. In 698 he founded his largest monastery, at Echternach (now in Luxembourg), where he died more than forty years later, and which became an important pilgrimage centre.
In the area ruled by the Franks Willibrord's apostolate was permanently fruitful; in other districts it was more sporadic. Throughout his life he depended on the protection and patronage of the secular rulers. In 714, for example, he was driven out of Utrecht by Radbod, the pagan Frisian king; churches were destroyed and priests killed. Willibrord's work seemed largely destroyed. But in 719, on Radbod's death, Willibrord returned, not only to the western part of the country he had previously evangelized, but also to the east, where he had never penetrated. In these years he was joined for a time by Boniface, whom he wished to be his successor, but Boniface went on to Germany instead. Willibrord penetrated into Denmark, where he bought thirty slave-boys and educated them as Christians. In Heligoland he baptized a number of the inhabitants, and killed some sacred cows which his followers needed for food. At Walcheren too he destroyed an idol at risk of his life. In these two instances the absence of any retribution on him considerably helped his apostolic activities.
Alcuin described his apostolate as based on energetic preaching and ministry, informed by prayer and sacred reading; Willibrord was always venerable, gracious, and full of joy. Even if the conversion of Holland was neither so rapid nor so complete as some hagiographers claim, Willibrord's pioneering work, which inaugurated a hundred years of English Christian influence on the Continent, was of great importance and he thoroughly deserves his title of patron of Holland.
He died in his monastery at Echternach (now in Luxembourg) and was immediately venerated as a saint. In connection with his shrine a sacred dance takes place to formalized steps, in which the bishops and clergy participate. Its origin is unknown, but it can be traced back at least as far as the 16th century. Perhaps the most interesting relic to survive is the Calendar of St. Willibrord, which was written for his own private use and contains a marginal entry in his own hand, which records his consecration at Rome and other biographical details. His cult has always been stronger in Holland and Luxembourg than in England. Feast: 7 November; translation, 10 November.
Bibliography
Click here for a list of abbreviations used in this bibliography.
- Bede, H.E., iii. 13; v. 10–11, 19; Alcuin's Life in AA.SS. Nov. III (1910), 414–500 and, ed. W. Levison, in M.G.H., Scriptores merov., vii (1920), 81–141; N.L.A., ii. 447–51; H. A. Wilson, The Calendar of St. Willibrord (H.B.S., 1918); W. Levison, England and the Continent in the Eighth Century (1956), pp. 53–69; id., ‘St. Willibrord and his Place in History’, D.U.J., xxii (1940), 8–41; Modern Lives by A. Grieve (1923), K. Heeringa (1940), and C. Wampach (1953). See also Willibrord, Apostel der Niederlande…(1989)
