St. William of Bourges IEW

  Feast Day: January 10
Born: (around)1155 :: Died:1209

St. William was born at Nevers in France and came from a wealthy French family of the Counts of Nevers. His father Baldwin wanted William to be a part of the French military. William was educated by his uncle Peter the Hermit who was archdeacon of Soissons.

Even as a boy, he did not waste time fooling around or being idle. He spent time praying every day. When he joined the Cistercian order, he tried to be a good monk. His fellow monks admired him, even though he was not trying to impress anybody.

St. William had a great devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. He practiced penance without showing how hard it was. He always seemed to be happy. When he was made abbot of the community, he remained humble.

When the archbishop of Bourges died, William was chosen to take his place. He was grateful to be consecrated a bishop, but unhappy because of all the attention he would receive. He stayed humble by doing penances for his own soul and for the conversion of sinners. He defended the Church against the state, cared personally for the poor, sick, and imprisoned, and converted many to Christianity. Witnesses claim he performed many miracles during his life.

Although William loved to be alone with God in the Blessed Sacrament, he knew it was his duty as archbishop to travel all over his diocese willingly. He celebrated the Eucharist and preached the faith. He visited prisoners, the poor and sick, cared for them, consoled them and helped bring them to Jesus.
Archbishop William died on January 10, 1209. He was buried in the cathedral of Bourges and many miracles were reported by people who prayed at his tomb.

Also known as

• Guillaume de Bourges
• William Berruyer
• William de Don Jeon
• William the Confessor

Born

• 12th century in Nevers, France

Died

• 10 January 1209 at Bourges, France of natural causes while in prayer

Canonized

• 17 May 1217 by Pope Honorius III

Source: http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-william-of-bourges/

Additional resources:

• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• Catholic Online
• Heiligen 3s
• Katherine Rabenstein
• Lives of the Saints, by Father Alban Butler
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
• Pictorial Lives of the Saints

MLA Citation

• “Saint William of Bourges“. Saints.SQPN.com. 10 January 2013. Web. 10 November 2013. <http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-william-of-bourges/>