William,
Archbishop of York, is a rather intriguing saint due to the conflicts
surrounding his “on again, off again” reign as archbishop, due in part
to its timing. It was during a period of great civil unrest in England
known as the Anarchy (1135-54) when the armies of the two cousins –
Stephen of Blois and Empress Matilda – were fighting each other for the
English crown. William was the nephew of Stephen of Blois, which
launched his ecclesiastical career right into the middle of the
political conflict.
William was the unusually young treasurer of
York Minster prior to his election as Archbishop of the diocese in 1141;
but, even though he was elected by majority vote and with the support
of Stephen, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Theobald of Bec, who stood
behind Empress Matilda on the other side of the political chasm, refused
to recognize the canonical election and would not consecrate William.
Indignant, Stephen authorized his brother, also William’s uncle,
Archbishop Henry of Winchester, to consecrate him…without waiting for
papal approval. Despite this, the clergy and people of York loved their
new bishop for they saw in him a man of deep and intense piety, personal
austerity, kindheartedness, and devoted generosity, especially towards
the poor.
However,
the Cistercians of Yorkshire, who had supported Henry Murdac, the
Cistercian Abbot of Fountains Abbey, in the election, with the support
and help of the renowned St. Bernard of Clairvaux, succeeded in accusing
him of simony, sins against chastity, and intrusion, resulting in his
deposition by Pope Eugenius III (also a Cistercian) and the
corresponding appointment of Henry Murdac to head the diocese in
William's place. However, the clergy of York refused to admit Murdac
into the city and he was forced to withdraw and retire to Beverley for
the remainder of his days. He died in 1147.
From this time until
1153, William took refuge with his friend the King of Sicily, where he
lived a very austere life as a monk. By this time, the opponents to his
election had died and the civil war in England had ended, and William
appealed to the new pope, Anastasius IV, to restore him to his office.
The Pope concurred and conferred on William the papal pallium. Thus,
Archbishop William reentered his diocese in April, 1154, to the
accompaniment of such a mass of exuberant supporters that the bridge
over the Ouse collapsed under the weight. That no one was killed in the
accident is considered a miracle.
Sadly, he was hardly back in
office a month, before he died on June 8th, 1154, allegedly from his
chalice being poisoned during Mass. He was canonized in 1227, by Pope
Honorius III due to the large number of miracles reported at his tomb.
Tuesday, June 8, 2021
St. William of York
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