St Walpurga or Walburga Biography
St Walpurga also was known as Walburga. She was the Daughter of Saint Richard the King. She is the Sister of Saint Willibald and Saint Winebald. St Walpurga was also a student of Saint Tatta at Wimborne monastery, Dorset, England. This is where she later became a nun.
Starting evangelism in 748, she not only evangelized but also healed pagans in what is known today as Germany with Saint Lioba, Saint Boniface, and her brothers, a mission that was very successful. St Walpurga was the head of communities of men and of women at Heidenheim. Cures are ascribed to the oil that exudes from a rock on which her relics were placed, which together with her healing skills in life explains her patronage of plague, rabies, coughs, etc.
The Memorial of Saint Walpurga or Walburga
St Walpurga or Walburga
• abbess holding three ears of corn
• abbess with angels holding a crown over her
• abbess within a family tree of the kings of England
• crown
• near her own tomb as it exudes its miraculous oil
• phial of oil
• royal abbess with a small flask of oil on a book
• scepter
• three ears of corn
• with Saint Willibald and Saint Winebald
Saint Walpurga or Walburga Date of Birth, Country of Birth, Profession, Place of Work, Date of Death, Place of Death, Feast Day, Beatification Date, Canonization DateMatrimony/Holy OrdersNuns/Sisters who became Saints
St Walpurga or Walburga brief life History |
|
Date of Birth | 710 AD |
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Country of Birth | The United Kingdom in Europe |
Profession | Nun |
Place of Work | Germany |
Date of Death | 25 February 777 or 779 |
Place of Death | Heidenheim, Swabia, Germany of natural causes |
Feast Day | 25 February |
Beatification | By Not Available |
Canonization | By Adrian II in 870 |
Patron Saint of | • Against coughs • Against dog bites • Against famine • Against hydrophobia or rabies • Against mad dogs • Against plague • Against Storms • Boatmen, mariners, sailors, Waterman • Farmers • Harvests • Eichstätt, Germany, diocese of • Plymouth, England, diocese of • 4 cities |
St Walpurga or Walburga Short life History
The night of 1 May, the date of the translation of Walburga’s relics to Eichstätt in 870, is known as Walpurgisnacht; it is also a pagan festival marking the beginning of summer and the revels of witches. Though the saint had no connection with this festival, her name became associated with witchcraft and country superstitions because of the date.
It is possible that the protection of crops ascribed to her, represented by three ears of corn in her icons, may have been transferred to her from Mother Earth and the connection to this pagan holiday.
Today’s Catholic Quote:
St Walpurga or Walburga was also known as Auboué, Avangour, Avongourg, Bugga, Falbourg, Gaubourg, Gauburge, Gaudurge, Gualbourg, Valborg, Valburg, Valpurge, Valpuri, Vaubouer, Vaubourg, Walbourg, Walburg, Walburge, Walpurd, Walpurga, Walpurgis, Waltpurde, Warpurg
St Walpurga or Walburga Patronage
The patroness of Eichstatt and Weilburg Germany is St Walburga . Oudenarde, Veurne, Antwerp, which are found in Belgium, and lastly Zutphen which is in the Netherlands. St Walpurga is appealed as a special patroness against hydrophobia, in storms, zehtt lenon and also by sailors.
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