Wulfstan
(Wulstan) was a native of Warwickshire, England. After his priestly
ordination, he became a novice at the monastery of Worcester where he
edified all by the innocence and sanctity of his life. He was assiduous
at prayer, often watching all night in church.
The first task
assigned to him at the monastery was the instruction of children, then
treasurer and eventually - though against his fierce resistance - he was
made prior. In 1062, he was elected Bishop of Worcester.
Wulfstan was a powerful preacher, often moving his audience to tears.
To
his vigorous action is particularly attributed the suppression of the
heinous practice among the citizens of Bristol of kidnapping men into
slavery and shipping them over to Ireland. St. Patrick who became the
great apostle and patron of the Irish was such a slave in his youth.
After
the Norman conquest of England, William the Conqueror was initially
uncertain about Wulfstan. But acknowledging his capacity and
uprightness, Wulfstan was the only bishop William retained at his post
under the new rule.
For the next thirty years Wulfstan rebuilt
his cathedral, cared for the poor and put forth great effort in
alleviating the harsh decrees of the Normans upon the vanquished Saxons.
Whenever the English complained of the oppression of the Normans,
Wulfstan told them: “This is a scourge of God for our sins, which we
must bear with patience.”
The saintly bishop died on January 19
at eighty-seven years of age after washing the feet of a dozen poor men,
a humble ritual he performed daily. He was canonized in 1203.
Photo by: Christopher Guy
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