St Wolfgang

Wolfgang was born in 924, in what is now southern Germany. At school he became friendly with a young nobleman named Henry whose elder brother was the Bishop of Würzburg in central Germany. The bishop had set up an excellent school at Würzburg, employing a renowned Italian scholar named Stefano of Novara. Henry persuaded Wolfgang to go with him to Würzburg, where he was sure that Wolfgang would be able to develop his considerable intellectual skills.

Both young men did well at Würzburg, although Wolfgang was the better scholar. In 956 Henry was made Archbishop of Trier (near Luxembourg) and he asked Wolfgang to accompany him there to teach in the cathedral school, which he did until Henry’s death in 964.

Wolfgang left Trier to become a monk at the abbey of Einsiedeln (Switzerland) where the abbot put him in charge of the school.

Wolfgang’s final post was as Bishop of Regensburg, an appointment made by Holy Roman Emperor Otto II. He was bishop for about 20 years, during which time he carried out important reforms and, as might be expected, developed the educational facilities of the diocese. Towards the end of his life (he died in 994 at the age of 70) he withdrew from public life to become a hermit.

Wolfgang certainly led a saintly life, and he influenced many people to lead good lives themselves. Among his pupils was the future Holy Roman Emperor Henry II, who would also become a saint.

Naturally enough, legends grew up around him that included miraculous deeds, and which led to him being canonised in 1052. One of the more bizarre stories is that he called on the Devil to help him to build a church and thus join in the worship of God, which does sound more than a little unlikely.

© John Welford