Podcasts · Traditional Catholic Daily Devotional

Oct 12 – Feria / S Wilfrid of York

· 12 min

Episode Oct 12 – Feria / S Wilfrid of York

0:00 11:38

It's a Feria, 4th Class, with the color of Green. In this episode: the meditation: "The Trial of the Angels", today's news from the Church: "Leo XIV Wanted to Rediscover the "Ecumenical Potential" of the Augsburg Confession", a preview of the Sermon: "Pray the Rosary Every Day", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? podcast@sspx.org Sources Used Today:

• "The Trial of the Angels" — From the Assumption to Advent

• https://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption

• "Leo XIV Wanted to Rediscover the "Ecumenical Potential" of the Augsburg Confession" (FSSPX.news)

• https://fsspx.news/en/news/leo-xiv-wanted-rediscover-ecumenical-potential-augsburg-confession-61516

• "Pray the Rosary Every Day" (SSPX Sermons)

• SSPX YouTube: Sermons Playlist • Listen & Subscribe: SSPX Sermons Podcast

• The Spiritual Life — Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre (Angelus Press)

• https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop

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Saint Wilfrid of York was one of the most influential bishops in early English history, but he also had an extraordinary talent for getting into arguments.

With kings.

With bishops.

And occasionally with almost everyone at once.

He was born around 634 in Northumbria, in northern England, when Christianity was still taking root among the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. As a young man, Wilfrid spent time at the monastery of Lindisfarne before traveling to Rome, something that was still quite an adventure in the seventh century.

That journey changed his life.

Wilfrid became convinced that the English Church needed to follow the liturgical customs of Rome more closely. At the time, Christians in northern England followed traditions inherited from Irish missionaries, including a different method of calculating the date of Easter.

That might sound like a small disagreement.

It wasn't.

In 664, the famous Synod of Whitby gathered to settle the question. Wilfrid argued passionately for the Roman calculation of Easter, pointing to the authority of Saint Peter and the practice of the Roman Church.

King Oswiu eventually agreed.

That decision helped bring the churches of Northumbria into closer conformity with Roman practice, and Wilfrid became one of the most important churchmen in England.

But his troubles were just beginning.

Wilfrid was appointed Bishop of York, although disputes over his consecration and jurisdiction repeatedly interrupted his ministry. At one point, he returned from being consecrated in Gaul only to discover that another bishop had been installed in his place.

Later, when King Ecgfrith and Archbishop Theodore divided his enormous diocese into smaller territories, Wilfrid objected and appealed directly to Rome.

He won support from the pope.

The king was not impressed.

Wilfrid was imprisoned and eventually forced into exile.

And here's where his story takes an unexpected turn.

Rather than spend his exile simply complaining about what had happened, Wilfrid became a missionary.

He traveled to Sussex, where much of the population was still pagan, and began preaching Christianity. According to Saint Bede, the region was suffering from a terrible drought. Wilfrid taught the people how to fish using nets, something they apparently had not practiced successfully before.

Then, as he baptized converts, rain finally returned.

For the people of Sussex, that was quite an introduction to Christianity.

Wilfrid later carried out missionary work among the Frisians on the European mainland as well.

He eventually returned to Northumbria, although further disputes and exiles followed. His career was complicated, and even sympathetic accounts suggest he could be stubborn and difficult.

But he was also extraordinarily determined.

Wilfrid founded monasteries, built impressive stone churches, and helped establish Roman liturgical customs throughout…

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