ST. BONIFACE (JUNE 5TH)

 

St. Boniface, Apostle to the Germans

By Bp. Joseph (Ancient Church of the West)

St. Boniface was a born to a respected Christian family in Exeter, England, in AD 675, and was raised in the Church. Against the will of his wealthy father, St. Boniface became a monk in his late teens, and devoted himself to the study of theology. In AD 716, St. Boniface was sent to Germania as a missionary to aid the work of Bishop Wilibrord, another Englishman who was laboring to convert the pagan Frisian tribe. 

It was during this time that St. Boniface cut down the Donar’s Oak and was rewarded with great missionary fruit because of his bravery. Many legends were born in St. Boniface's heroic and fearless deeds, and no demon or pagan god could stand before his holy ax. It was said that after he cut down the Doner Oak, the "Tree of Jupiter", the head god of the Germanic pantheon, that this cult's spiritual power were broken and many who had been unable to hear the glorious message of Christ's Gospel were freed from deaf and dumb spirits.

St. Boniface Cutting Down the Donar Oak

After a military conflict between the Frisians and the Carolingians, St. Boniface went to Rome in AD 732, and was made a missionary bishop without a diocese to convert the Germanic people to Christianity. St. Boniface worked against the corruption of the Papacy and the temporal control of the Church by Carolingian rulers. His bravery against human political abuse made many enemies, and he was supplanted from Rome and marginalized by leaders of the Holy Roman Empire. 

St. Boniface Preaching to the Pagans

After many political clashes with the Pope and King Pepin, St. Boniface resigned himself to returning to his missionary efforts among the Frisians in his old age. He was met with great success and held mass baptisms and confirmations in Dokkum. In his aged and sickly years he singlehandedly planted the Church amongst the Frisians, the lifetime goal of his great friend and co-laborer, St. Wilibrord, and planted the Holy Cross in the hearts of the Northern Germanic peoples, forever supplanting the pagan groves of the false gods. 

St. Boniface Baptizing New Converts and Being Martyred from a Medieval Manuscript 

After these successes, St. Boniface was waylaid by pagan bandits, who martyred the holy saint upon the road in AD 754. St. Boniface’s last words were, “Cease fighting and lay down your arms. We are told in Scripture not to render evil for evil.” In death, St. Boniface’s relics did many miracles, curing many sick and continuing to cast out devils. His place of entombment in Fulda became a center for Christian conversions and monasticism, gradually convincing all of the pagan Germans to follow Christ and accept Holy Baptism. 

The Holy Relics of St. Boniface in Fulda

Collect 

May the Martyr Saint Boniface be our advocate, O Lord, 

that we may firmly hold the Faith 

he taught with his lips and sealed in his blood 

and confidently profess it by our deeds. 

Pour out Thy Holy Spirit, O God, upon Thy church in every land, 

that like thy Servant Saint Boniface 

we might proclaim the Gospel to all nations, 

that Thy kingdom might be enlarged 

and that Thy holy Name might be glorified in all the world; 

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, 

who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, 

Ever one God, world without end. Amen

St. Boniface, Pray for Us!