Feast of St. Wolfgang of Regensburg

San Volfango di Ratisbona, ora pro nobis

October 31st is the Feast of St. Wolfgang of Regensburg (San Volfango di Ratisbona), Benedictine monk, missionary, hermit, and reforming Bishop. He is the patron saint of paralyzed people, stroke victims, people with stomach ailments, and carpenters.

Born circa 924 in the Duchy of Swabia in southwestern Germany, he was educated at the abbey of Reichenau. Moving to the abbey of Einsiedeln in Schwyz (in present-day Switzerland), he was ordained a priest in 968 by St. Ulrich and became the director of the monastery school.

Traveling to Hungary with a group of monks he helped evangelize the Magyars, converting many to the faith. In 972 Emperor Otto II appointed him Bishop of Regensburg in Bavaria, where he initiated reforms, built churches, and tutored the future Emperor St. Henry II. Despite his prestigious station, he continued to wear a simple monastic habit.

A piece of the tree where
St. Wolfgang preached and
baptized in Thalmässing, Bavaria

Towards the end of his life St. Wolfgang briefly withdrew to a secluded cell in the Salzkammergut region of Austria to live the ascetic life of a hermit. However, deeply loved by his flock, the recluse was reluctantly called back to his episcopate. In 994 the holy man fell ill and died in the Chapel of St. Othmar in Pupping, Austria. He was canonized in 1052 by Pope Leo IX.

Though many healing miracles have been attributed to him, he is perhaps best remembered as the Saint who tricked the Devil into building a church.

According to legend, a ferocious wolf fleeing from a hunter refused to help the Bishop build a church. In pursuit of the beast, the huntsman also refused to help. The Devil then appeared and agreed to build it in exchange for the first soul that entered the church. Upon its completion, the wolf still looking for a place to hide from the persistent hunter rushed inside the new church, thus foiling the evil one’s plan to snare a human soul.

In celebration, I’m posting a prayer to St. Wolfgang of Regensburg. The accompanying photo up top is my makeshift shrine devoted to the saint. The picture of the tree relic was taken at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church rectory in Newark, New Jersey. Evviva San Volfango di Ratisbona!

Prayer to St. Wolfgang of Regensburg

Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that the examples of St. Wolfgang, Bishop of Regensburg, may effectually move us to reform our lives; that while we celebrate his festival, we may also imitate his actions. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Look upon our Weakness, almighty God, and since the burden of our own deeds weighs heavily upon us, may the glorious intercession of St. Wolfgang of Regensburg protect us. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.