NOVEMBER 7, 2024 – ST. WILLIBRORD.

• St. Engelbert (1225). Bishop, Martyr. (Historical)
• St. Willibrord (739). Bishop, Patron or Patroness. Patron of Holland. (Historical)
• Sts. Carina, Melasippius, & Antony (360). Martyr. (Historical)

WILLIBRORD was born in Northumberland A.D. 657, and when twenty years old, went to Ireland, to study under St. Egbert; twelve years later, he felt drawn to convert the great pagan tribes who were hanging as a cloud over the north of Europe. He went to Rome for the blessing of the Pope, and with eleven companions reached Utrecht. The pagans would not accept the religion of their enemies the Franks; and St. Willibrord could only labor in the track of Pepin Heristal, converting the tribes whom Pepin subjugated. At Pepin’s urgent request, he again went to Rome, and was consecrated Archbishop of Utrecht. He was stately and comely in person, frank and joyous, wise in counsel, pleasant in speech, in every work of God strenuous and unwearied. Multitudes were converted, and the Saint built churches and appointed priests all over the land. He wrought many miracles, and had the gift of prophecy. He labored unceasingly as bishop for more than fifty years, beloved alike of God and of man, and died full of days and good works.

REFLECTION: True zeal has its root in the love of God. It can never be idle; it must labor, toil, be doing great things. It glows as fire; it is, like fire, insatiable. See if this spirit be in you.

WORD OF THE DAY

SATISFACTION. The expiation of wrongdoing, especially the penance imposed by a priest before giving sacramental absolution. Essentially the satisfaction consists in the penitent’s willingness to accept the penance imposed and its actual fulfillment. The effect of these two elements is to remove more or less the temporal punishment due to the sins confessed. In the early Church, up to the Middle Ages, the penance imposed was generally severe. Later on the severity was mitigated through what have since come to be known as indulgences. (Etym. Latin satisfacere: satis, sufficient, enough + facere, to do, make.)

Modern Catholic Dictionary, Fr. John Hardon SJ (Get the real one at Eternal Life — don’t accept an abridged or edited version of this masterpiece!)

This article, NOVEMBER 7, 2024 – ST. WILLIBRORD. is a post from The Bellarmine Forum.
https://bellarmineforum.org/november-7-2024-st-willibrord/
Do not repost the entire article without written permission. Reasonable excerpts may be reposted so long as it is linked to this page.