Saint Boniface

Who they were

Boniface was born in the kingdom of Wessex in England between 672 and 675 and formed as a monk at Exeter and Nursling, learning Greek, Latin and Hebrew to read the Scriptures. In 716 he set out as a missionary to the pagan peoples beyond the Rhine, but would not go on without the Pope's blessing: after a winter in Rome, he was sent to Germany in 719, and in 722 the Pope made him bishop for all the lands beyond the Rhine, bound directly to Rome.

He organised the Church in Germany and founded the abbey of Fulda. His last wish was to evangelise the Saxons, the people of his ancestors. In 754, as he prepared to baptise a group of converts, he was attacked and killed with his 52 companions. He is buried at Fulda, as he wished.

The miracles

There was never a formal cause: Boniface has been honoured as a martyr since his death. He is called the Apostle of Germany.

Why that counted as sanctity

Boniface left his homeland for good to bring the Gospel to peoples who had never heard it, always in union with the Pope, and he sealed his work with his blood while preparing to baptise.

Connected on this site

• Gregory of Utrecht Saint Pupil
• Ludger Saint Pupil
• Saint Sturm Saint Pupil
• Wigbert Saint Pupil
• Wuna of Wessex Saint Brother or sister
• Gregory III Saint
  “He organised significant foundations of the church in Germany and was made Archbishop of Mainz by Pope Gregory III.” — Wikipedia