St. Wolfgang

Wolfgang was born around 934 to a noble German family. He attended school at the monastery Reichenau, where he became friend with Henry, the brother of Bishop Poppo of Würzburg. When Henry became Archbishop of Tier, Wolfgang helped him reform the archdiocese. After his friend’s death, Wolfgang entered the Benedictine Abbey of Maria Einsiedeln, Switzerland; he was ordained to the priesthood by St. Ulrich in 968. St. Ulrich sent him to evangelize the Magyars and in 972 became Bishop of Ratisbon. He taught Emperor Henry II, who became a saint. Wolfgang reformed several monasteries and convents in his diocese and he advised Emperor Otto II. Because of a political conflict, Wolfgang retired as a hermit, but came back to Ratisbon after a hunter discovered him. Wolfgang died October 31, 994 in Pupping, Austria, while traveling on the Danube to Pöchlarn. His last request was to be carried into the chapel of St. Othmar, where he died. Friends took his body back to Ratisbon. Numerous miracles occurred at his tomb and he was canonized in 1052. Many churches and towns are named in his honor.