26TH MARCH 2003
ST. LUDGER
BISHOP CONFESSOR (c. 743--809)
LIFE:
Son of Thiadgrim and Liafburg, wealthy Frisian nobles. Brother of Saint Gerburgis
and Saint Hildegrin. Saw Saint Boniface preach in 753, and was greatly moved. Studied
at Utrecht under Saint Gregory of Utrecht. Studied three and a half years in England
under Saint Alcuin; deacon.
Returned to the Nederlands in 773 as a missionary. Sent to Deventer in 775 to restore
a chapel destroyed by pagan Saxons, and to recover the relics of Saint Lebwin, who had
built the chapel. Taught school at Utrecht. Destroyed pagan idols and places of
worship in the areas west of Lauwers Zee after they were Christianized. Ordained in
777 at Cologne. Missionary to Friesland, mainly around Ostergau and Dokkum, from 777
to 784, returning each fall to Utrecht to teach in the cathedral school. Left the area
in 784 when pagan Saxons invaded and expelled all priests.
Pilgrim to Rome in 785. Met with Pope Adrian I, and the two exchanged counsel. Lived
as a Benedictine monk at Monte Cassino from 785 to 787, but did not take vows. At the
request of Charlemagne, he returned to Friesland as a missionary. It was a successful
expedition, and he built a monastery in Weden to serve as a base. Reported to have
cured the blindness of, and thus caused the conversion of the blind pagan bard
Berulef.
Refused the bishopric of Trier in 793. Missionary to the Saxons. Built a monastery at
Mimigernaford as the center of this missionary work, and served as its abbot. The word
monasterium led to the current name of the city that grew up around the house -
Munster. Built several small chapels throughout the region. First bishop of Munster in
804, being ordained at Westphalia.
His health failed in later years, but he never reduced his work load. No matter how
busy or dangerous his outside life, Ludger never neglected his time of prayer and
meditation. The man's life can be summed up in two facts: he was reprimanded and
denounced only once during his bishopric - for spending more on charity than on church
decoration; and on the day of his death, he celebrated Mass - twice.
REFLECTION:
**Those who see a rift between ordinary life, temporal
affairs, the events of history on the one hand, and the love of God on
the other , are simply decieving themselves. Everything is important in the
life of of a christian because "everything can be an occasion for meeting
our Lord" and can there for acquire everlasting value....***( Friends od
God---St.Josemaria)
**O Jesus ! Who for love of me,
Didst bear Thy Cross to Calvary ;
In Thy sweet mercy grant to me
To suffer & die with Thee...**
S.THOMAS
NOTTINGHAM
ENGLAND
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