St. Boniface

St. Boniface

Deus, qui multitúdinem populórum, beáti Bonifátii Mártyris tui atque Pontíficis zelo, ad agnitiónem tui nóminis vocáre dignátus es: concéde propítius; ut, cuius solémnia cólimus, étiam patrocínia sentiámus. Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum: qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum.
R. Amen.

O God, Who, through the zeal of blessed Boniface, thy Martyr and Bishop, graciously called a multitude of people to the knowledge of thy Name, mercifully grant that we who keep his feast may also enjoy his patronage. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R. Amen.

Boniface, originally called Winfrid, was born in England towards the end of the seventh century. After entering a monastery and becoming a priest, he showed great skill in winning souls through preaching. Burning with zeal to spread the faith, he preached the Gospel among the Frisians. Then he returned to England, where he ruled his monastery for two years in a most holy manner. Having resigned the office of Superior, he went to Rome, where he received from Gregory II the name of Boniface and the commission to proclaim Christ to the peoples of Thuringia and Saxony. With holy Willibrord, he returned to the Frisians and preached the Gospel with great fruit. Soon he was summoned to Rome and invested with the episcopal dignity; after which, he set out once more for Germany. There he rid Hesse and Thuringia of almost the last vestiges of idolatry. He was made apostolic delegate and Archbishop of Mainz, and he built many churches, and administered them either personally or through his disciples. At length, he went back once again to the Frisians, who had lapsed into idolatry, to preach the Gospel to them. There, with Eobanus his fellow bishop and many others, he was killed in a bloody massacre near the River Born and received the crown of martyrdom. His body lieth in the monastery of Fulda.