Portal:Catholicism/Patron Archive/October 12 2007
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Wilfrid (c. 634 - April 24, 709) was an English bishop and saint.
He was born of good parentage in Northumbria, possibly near Ripon in Yorkshire. When serving in King Oswiu's court, he attracted the notice of the queen, Eanfled who, fostering his inclination for a religious life, placed him under the care of an old noble, Cudda, now a monk at Lindisfarne. Later on Eanfled enabled him to visit Rome in the company of Benedict Biscop and Acca. On his return home in 658, Oswiu's son Alchfrith gave him a monastery at Ripon, and, before long, Agilbert, bishop of the Gewissæ, or West Saxons, ordained him priest.
His speech at the council of Whitby determined the overthrow of the Celtic party in 664. About a year later he was consecrated to the see of York, not, however, in Northumbria, since he refused consecration at the hands of the Celtic Church, but at Compiègne, Agilbert being now bishop of Paris. On his return journey he narrowly escaped the pagan wreckers of Sussex, and only reached his own country to find Ceadda (St Chad) installed in his see of York. For three years from 665 to 668 he ruled his monastery at Ripon in peace, though acting as bishop in Mercia and Kent during vacancies in sees there. On the arrival of Theodore in 669, newly appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, he was installed finally in his see, and there spent nine years of ceaseless activity, especially in building churches, including the monastery at Hexham.
In 678, dissension broke out between King Egfrid and Wilfrid, who was driven from his see, and two bishops substituted in his stead. Wilfrid went to Rome in 679 to appeal Theodore's decision. Pope Agatho held a synod in October, 679 where he ordered his restoration. In 680, Wilfrid appeared before a Witenagemot and produced his papal bull ordering his restoration, but he was briefly imprisoned and then exiled. Once again, Egfrid and his wife's attitude towards Wilfrid heavily influenced the decision to exile the bishop. After this, he took refuge in Sussex, preaching, converting, founding Selsey Abbey and possibly baptising St Cuthman.
In 686, Wilfrid was finally recalled to York. After 687 his nephew Beornwine was given part of the Isle of Wight to help convert the island to Christianity. In 691, the subdivision issue arose once more, along with quarrels with the new king Aldfrith who was a supporter of the Celtic Church, and Wilfrid left the area for the midlands.
In 703, he resigned his post as bishop, and retired to the monastery at Ripon, where he lived in prayer and penitence until his death at Oundle, Northamptonshire, in 709.
Attributes: (1) baptizing; (2) preaching; (3) landing from a ship and received by the king; or (4) engaged in theological disputation with his crozier near him and a lectern before him
Patronage: Diocese of Middlesbrough; Ripon
Prayer:
