Saint Ludger, Bishop

March 26 Today is the feast day of Saint Ludger.  Ora pro nobis. Saint Ludger was born in Friesland (the Netherlands) about the year 743. His father was a nobleman of the first rank.  When he was eleven years of age, he saw the English missionary St Boniface and this made such an impression on him that he became a disciple of St Gregory of Utrecht (friend of St Boniface).  Saint Gregory educated him in his monastery of Utrecht, and gave him the clerical tonsure.  He later wrote a Life of St Gregory. He then went to England to study under Alcuin at York for some years (767-771). While there he developed a friendship with Alcuin which lasted through life and was ordained a deacon. In 773 he returned home, and when Saint Gregory died in 776, his successor, Alberic, compelled Saint Ludger to receive the priesthood. The new bishop employed him for several years in preaching the Word of God in Friesland, where he converted great numbers, founded several monasteries, and built many churches. The pagan Saxons then entered and ravaged the country, and drove out the missionaries. Saint Ludger traveled to Rome to consult Pope Adrian II as to what course ...

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Canonical link: Saint Ludger, Bishop