March 26th - St. Ludger, Apostle of Saxony

March 26th - St. Ludger, Apostle of Saxony

d. March 26, A.D. 809

St. Ludger was born in Friseland, about the year 743. His father, who was a
nobleman of the first rank in that country, at the child's own request
committed him very young to the care of St. Gregory, the disciple of St.
Boniface, and his successor in the government of the see of Utrecht. Ludger
had the happiness to have seen that holy martyr, and received from him
strong impressions of virtue. Gregory educated him in his monastery, and
admiring his progress in learning and piety, gave him the clerical tonsure.

Ludger, desirous of further improvement, passed over into England, and spent
four years and a half under Alcuin, who was rector of a famous school at
York. He was careful to employ his whole time in the exercises of piety, and
the study of the Holy Scriptures and fathers. In 773 he returned home, and
St. Gregory dying in 776, his successor, Alberic, compelled our saint to
receive the holy order of priesthood, and employed him for several years in
preaching the word of God in Friseland, where he converted great numbers,
both among the pagans and vicious Christians, founded several monasteries,
and built many churches.

This was the state of affairs, when the pagan Saxons, ravaging the country,
obliged him to leave Friseland. Whereupon he traveled to Rome, to consult
Pope Adrian II what course to take, and what he thought God required of him.
He then retired for three years and a half to Mount Cassino, where he wore
the habit of the Order and conformed to the practice of the rule during his
stay, but made no religious vows. In 787, Charlemagne overcame the Saxons
and conquered Friseland, and the coast of the Germanic ocean as far as
Denmark. Ludger hearing that by this revolution the mission was again
opened, returned into east Friseland, where he converted the Saxons to the
faith; as he also did the province of Sudergou, now called Westphalia. He
founded the monastery of Werden, in the county of La Mark, twenty-nine miles
from Cologne.

His old master Alcuin being come into France, made his merit known to the
emperor Charlemagne. In 802, Hildebald, archbishop of Cologne, not regarding
his strenuous resistance, ordained him bishop of Mimigard (or ford of the
river Mimigard,) a city which afterwards changed this name for that of
Munster, from the great monastery of regular canons which St. Ludger built
there, to serve for his cathedral. He joined to his diocese five cantons of
Friseland, which he had converted, and also founded the monastery of
Helmstad, afterwards called Ludger-Cloister, or Ludger's cloister, in the
duchy of Brunswick.

He was very learned in the Holy Scriptures, and read daily lectures there to
his disciples. He fasted and watched much, and always wore a hair-shirt, but
secretly, so that no one knew of it till a little before his death. He ate
some flesh at certain times, chiefly to conform to others, but always
observing a strict temperance. When invited to any entertainment, his
discourse the whole time was on religious subjects, and he withdrew
immediately after. To the poor he was affable and courteous, but firm and
resolute to the proud rich. He exerted an episcopal vigor against impenitent
sinners, and refused all manner of presents from an incestuous lady, and at
length excommunicated her. Except what was absolutely necessary for his
subsistence, he employed the revenues of his own estate, and those of his
bishopric, in charities. He was accused to the emperor Charlemagne among
other things, of wasting his income, and neglecting the embellishment of
churches within his jurisdiction. And this prince, who loved to see churches
magnificent, giving ear to the information, ordered him to appear at court.

The morning after his arrival, the emperor's chamberlain brought him word
that his attendance was required. The Saint, being then at his prayers, told
the officer that he would follow him as soon as he had finished them. He
was sent for several times before he was ready, which the courtiers
represented as a contempt of his majesty; and the emperor, with some
emotion, asked him why he had made him wait so long, though he had sent for
him so often. The bishop answered, that though he had the most profound
respect for his majesty, yet God was infinitely above him; that while we are
occupied with him, it is our duty to forget everything else; and that in
this he judged he had rather obeyed than neglected his majesty's orders,
who, when he was chosen bishop, had recommended to him ever to prefer the
service of God to that of men. This answer made such an impression on the
emperor, in favor of the Saint, that he looked upon it as a complete
justification of his conduct as to every particular that had been laid to
his charge: he accordingly dismissed him with honor, and disgraced his
accusers.

The Saint took this liberty with a religious prince, that he might condemn
the sloth of many who suffer distractions or earthly trifles to interrupt
their commerce with God; but they who leave prayer for necessary works of
charity or obedience, find God still in the exercises of those virtues. St.
Ludger required so devout an attention at divine service, that being at
prayers one night with his clergy, and one of them stooping down to mend the
fire and hinder it from smoking, the saint after prayer severely rebuked him
for it, and inflicted on him a penance for some days. St. Ludger was favored
with the gift of miracles and prophecy. He foretold the invasions of the
Normans from Denmark and Norway, and what ravages they would make in the
French empire, and this at a time when there was not the least apprehension
of any such thing. His great zeal inclined him to go and preach the faith to
these northern nations, but the king would not allow of it.

His last sickness, though violent did not hinder him from continuing his
functions to the very last day of his life, which was Passion-Sunday, on
which day he preached very early in the morning, said Mass towards nine, and
preached again before night, foretelling withal to those that were about
him, that he should die the following night; and fixing upon a place in his
monastery of Werden where he chose to be interred. He died accordingly on
the 26th of March, at midnight. His relics are still kept at Werden. Joseph,
an Englishman, a disciple of Alcuin, whom he attended into France, wrote, in
sixteen verses, an eulogium of St. Ludger, published by Vossius and
Mabillon, as a specimen of good poetry for that age.


Saint Quote:
"Thou oughtest not to let a day pass in which thou hast not trampled upon
thy will; and if such a thing should happen, consider that on that day thou
hast not been a religious"
-St. John Climacus

St Mary Magdalen de' Pazzi was extremely fond of not doing her own will, and
made a study of it, so that she regarded that day as utterly lost in which
she had not in some manner broken and denied it.

(Taken from the book "A Year with the Saints". March - Mortification)

Bible Quote:
1 And Jesus passing by, saw a man, who was blind from his birth: 2 And his
disciples asked him: Rabbi, who hath sinned, this man, or his parents, that
he should be born blind? 3 Jesus answered: Neither hath this man sinned, nor
his parents; but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 4 I
must work the works of him that sent me, whilst it is day: the night cometh,
when no man can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the
world. (John 9:1-5)

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The third glorious mystery prayer of the Eucharistic Rosary,
to be offered before the Blessed Sacrament:

The Decent of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles, offered for
the gifts of the Holy Ghost, for love of God and zeal for the
salvation of souls:

O Jesus, scarcely hadst Thou entered into Thy glory at the
right hand of the Father, when Thou didst show Thy
munificence by sending forth the Holy Ghost with His many
and various gifts to Thy growing Church. From the
Eucharist, as if from another heaven, wherein Thou hast set
up Thy throne of love, Thou dost impart to souls the spirit of
life and strength, and Thou dost enkindle in them the fire of
Thy divine charity.

O Jesus, King in heaven, King also in the Eucharist, we adore
Thee and we beg of Thee, through the intercession of Thy
holy Mother, fidelity to grace in order to reap all the fruits
produced in the souls of men by the gifts of the Holy Ghost.

Imprimatur: + John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York,
Sept 19, 1908.




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