SR
Chapter 208LegAur.1.208

De sancto Wolfgango

The Pilgrim's Vocation

Wolfgang, a man of noble character and deep detachment, receives a divine vision confirming his future path of exile and service.

Wolfgang was an Alemannian by birth and a man of noble character; from his earliest childhood, he thirsted for God, the fountain of life, and was enlightened by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Though he seemed contemptible to those who love the world, he began to stand out for his great merit. It is truly necessary that the one whom the world hates should be loved by God. It is a known fact that holy men in this world are but pilgrims and guests; this is why Peter was rebuked for wanting to build a tabernacle on the mountain, for the saints have no tabernacle in this world, since their home and country are in heaven. Holy men, by renouncing the world entirely, die to it in such a way that they take delight in living for the Lord alone; the more they withdraw from the ways of this world, the more they contemplate, with the inner eye of the mind, the presence of God and the company of the angels. For he who renounces his possessions denies his own things, but he who renounces wicked habits denies himself. Blessed Wolfgang fulfilled this. First, he lived a praiseworthy and chaste life among the canons; then, desiring to be bound by stricter rules, he professed the norm of monastic life in Swabia among the cenobites who are called solitaries. The outcome of his virtues and the fruits of the divine vision shown to him reveal with what rigor and what observance he lived. For when blessed Wolfgang, still living on his native soil, longed to go on pilgrimage for the love of God and constantly commended himself to the prayers of the saints with such desires, he saw in a dream the blessed confessor of Christ, Otmar—to whom he most frequently commended himself and his affairs—standing by him. When he was told to pay attention, he heard these words from him: "Because you asked, I have asked the Lord for you, and now I reveal to you certain things that are to come: you will leave this province poor and needy, but in another, to which you will go into exile for the love of Christ, you will receive by divine predestination a bishopric quite rich in worldly goods. If you show yourself faithful in its administration, after twenty-two years you will depart from this transitory life and enter into the eternal one." "And I want you to know without a doubt that you will return your soul to its Creator in a place where my memory is venerated and honored by Christians under the name of Christ. I hope that in the hour of your departure from the Egypt of this world, I will come to meet you, along with the other heavenly citizens whom you will have earned as comforters to come to you." Saint Wolfgang, having received this vision, focused the eye of his mind all the more intently upon the mirror of divine contemplation, constantly reflecting on how he might double the talent entrusted to him for the salvation of others. For this reason, he left his monastery and his monk's life—or rather, desiring to seek greater gifts as an apostle—he went into exile through Alemannia into Noricum. Toward its eastern part, he traveled with a humble retinue, seeking the borders of Pannonia for the sake of preaching, and from there, he was summoned by Piligrim, the Bishop of Passau, and was received and fostered by him with the pious kindness that was fitting.

The Hidden Servant Chosen

Bishop Piligrim recognizes Wolfgang's holiness and advocates for his appointment as Bishop of Regensburg against the worldly ambitions of others.

Even when he was asked to stay, he remained there for a few days, considering among other things with a prudent mind why he was forbidden from bringing the people of Pannonia to God. During his stay, the bishop, who was himself very learned and of noble birth, made excellent use of him; through both secret and manifest observation of divine service and through assiduous searching of the Holy Scriptures, he sufficiently proved that the pilgrim he had received was no wanderer, but a stable man and a member of the household of the true faith. Hence, he spoke familiarly to some of his own people about him, saying: "Oh, how happy is the church that, God willing, will be given this man as its priest! Therefore, it seems very necessary and useful to me that I should seek for this servant of God the leadership of the Bishopric of Regensburg. It is a very fitting choice, for wherever there is an abundance of good will, a well-bestowed opportunity should allow it to proceed to good works. The good that this man wished to sow in the hardened hearts of the pagans, and the service of salvation that their blindness rejected—perhaps one day, with him cultivating the Lord's field, it will yield its fruit among the Christian people." To this, some replied: "How can it be that this poor and unknown man should attain the honor of such a great bishopric, when already some people of high birth are trying to acquire it for themselves by compensating the Emperor with lands and money?" To them, he replied with words that were weighty but not overly harsh: "Divine and human judgments are proven to differ greatly, but the Searcher of hearts and minds from the beginning of the world has chosen the contemptible and the ignoble to confound the strong. And conversely, the world proudly exalts what is its own for an hour, only to cast it down in a short time with confusion. Therefore, I consider it a worthwhile endeavor to send word to the Margrave, by whose counsel the Emperor is accustomed to do many things, so that he might suggest to him not to allow the episcopal dignity to be accepted through ambition or the heresy of simony, but rather for the sake of eternal reward, to choose a man who is humble, modest, and learned."

The Reluctant Shepherd

Wolfgang humbly accepts the bishopric of Regensburg only after being convinced of the divine will, despite his own deep sense of unworthiness.

If he found someone fit for church duties, he would have that person promoted to the highest levels of the Church, regardless of their status or family background. Blessed Wolfgang, however, was unaware of the emperor's mission and everything that had been done, so he was focused on other things. But when the messengers explained why they had come, he first turned to the secret place of his heart, commending himself and his affairs to the Lord in his innermost being. Then, explaining his situation to Bishop Piligrim—by whose charity he was being detained there—he tempered the weight of his burden with the simplicity of a dove and the wisdom of a serpent, saying: "This new development that has come to me through the messengers of the emperor, Lord Otto II, is your doing, charity; it is surely a sign of good will, but it strikes fear into my insignificance, because I don't know if it is the will of God, and because the world, under the guise of religious life, draws many into vice." To this, the bishop replied: "What you say you fear is a sign of a prudent mind, but the Psalmist raises this into a good hope, saying: 'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,' and again: 'The fear of the Lord is holy, enduring forever and ever.'" As the bishop spoke, the venerable Wolfgang, looking through the lens of his mind at the governance of divine providence, responded: "Behold the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word." Then, having set out on the journey with those sent by the emperor, he headed toward the western parts of Bavaria. When he arrived at the royal city, the clergy and people, following ecclesiastical custom, unanimously elected Saint Wolfgang as the emperor had requested, and with a universal election, they sent him to the royal court. When he was brought into the presence of the Caesar, he prostrated himself before his feet and declared himself unworthy, unlearned, and ignoble, saying that as a man living under monastic profession, he shouldn't accept anything without the permission of his abbot; finally, so that he wouldn't violate a holy place with his unworthiness, he wept. The emperor, however, seeing him refuse with godly intent, was all the more certain of the dignity of his integrity, even though he was reluctant. Then, with a faithful retinue of many, he was sent back and entered Regensburg, where he was received with songs of joy and enthroned according to the custom of bishops; he was commended to the supreme Pastor by the clergy and people, and after a few days, he was consecrated there as an apostolic priest by Archbishop Frederick and his suffragans.

A Peaceful Departure

After a life of piety and service, Wolfgang meets his end with humble prayer and enters into eternal peace.

Therefore, after many works of piety and justice by which he strove to serve God, he began to suffer from a fever; he commended this bodily affliction to Him who knows no setting, with earnest prayers for the end of his life, saying: "May God deign to have mercy on me, a miserable sinner, now that I am undergoing death and looking upon it with fear and humility." When he had said this, he reverently closed his eyes and, resting as if in sleep, he passed away in peace on the day before the Kalends of November.

Read the original Latin

Wolfgangus natione quidem Alemannus, genere vero ingenuus, ab ipsis infantiae rudimentis Deum fontem vitae sitiens el sancti spiritus gratia illustratus, quamvis mundi amatoribus videretur contemtibilis, magna meritorum praerogativa eminere coepit, Nain revera necesse est, ut, quem mundus odit, diligatur a Deo, Sanctos viros in hoc saeculo constat peregrinos esse et hospites, unde et reprehenditur Petrus, quod tabernaculum in monte fieri cogitavit, quia sanctis in hoc mundo tabernaculum non est, quibus patria et domus in coelo est, Sancti viri funditus saeculo renuntiantes ita huic mundo moriuntur, ut soli domino vivere delectentur, quantoque ab hujus saeculi conversatione se subtrahunt, tanto internae mentis acie praesentium Dei et angelicae societatis frequentiam contemplantur. Qui enim renuntiat rebus suis, sua abnegat, qui vero renuntiat moribus pravis, semetipsum scilicet abnegat, Hoc adimplevit beatus Wolfgangus, Primum inter canonicos laudabilem et castam vitam duxerat, deinde artioribus regulis implicari desiderans in Suevia apud coenobitas, qui solitarii vocantur, monachicae vitae normam professus est. In quo quanto rigore, qualique observantia vixerit, et virtutum suarum exitus et ostensae sibi divinitatis visionis patefecit proventus, Naim cum beatas Wolfgangus adhuc in paterno solo positus peregrinari pro amore divino alffectaret et hujusmodi desideriis sanctorum se suffragiis jugiter commendaret, beatum Christi confessorem Otmarum, cui se suaque frequentissime commendabat, sibi in somnis adstare videbat, quem jussus intendere ab eo hujusmodi accepit verba: quia rogatus a te rogavi dominum pro te, manifesto tibi nuno futura quaedam; pauper et inops de hac provincia egrederis, sed in alia, in quam pro amore Christi exulabis, episcopatum caducis rebus satis locupletem praedestinatione divina susceplurus eris, Cujus in administratione si fidelem te exhibueris, expletis XXH annis vitun transitoriam eris exiturus et aeternam ingressurus. Et hoc procul dubio scire te volo, quod animam tuam conditori redditurus es in loco, ubi sub nomine Christi a christianis memoria mea veneratur et colitur, Quo me in hora exitus tui de Aegypto hujus mundi spero adventurmn cum caeteris, quos de civibus supernis ad te venturos consolatores habere merueris, Sanctus igitur Wolfgangus hac visione percepta eo amplius, quo certius intendebat aciem mentis in speculum divinae contemplationis reputans jugiter secun, qualiter in salute aliorum sibi concessum duplicaret talentum, — Cujus rei gratia monasterium et monachum deserens, imo suum apostolum majora aemulari charismata cupiens per Alemanniam devenit exul in Noricum, ad cujus orientalem partem cum humili comitatu praetendens praedicandi gratia Pannoniae petiit confinia, e qua per Piligrinum Pataviensem episcopum evocatus piae, ut decuit, humanitatis ab eo suscipitur et fovetur officio. Apud quein etiam cuin rogatus esset, invitns mansit aliquot diebus, hoc inter caetera prudenti secum tractans mente, quare prohibitus sit ab adducenda ad Deum Pannoniorum gente. Quo commorationis tempore idem episcopns optime usus, ut qui erat apprüne eruditus et genere nobilissimus, clandestina et manifesta divini servitii observatione ac assidua sacrae scripturae indagalione satis probavit, hunc, quem susceperat, peregrinum, non esse girovagum, sed stabilem et verae fidei domesticum. Unde et quosdam de suis familiariter pro eo alloquitur dicens: o quam felix ecclesia, quae Deo volente isto donabitur sacerdote, Ergo necessarium valde videtur mihi et utile, ut huic fanulo Dei petam regimen Ratisbonensis episcopi, quod optime convenit, sicubi abundat bona voluntas, ut eam etiam ad bona opera procedere faciat bene collata facultas, Bonum quippe, quod hie vir seminare voluit in duratis cordibus paganorum, et salutis obsequium, quod repulit caecitas illorum, quandoque fortasse hoc eodem agrum dominicum excolente dabit fructum suuin in populum christianorum, Ad haec qnidam respondentes dixerunt: quomodo fieri potest, ut iste pauper et ignotus ad honorem accedat tanti episcopatus: cum jam aliquae alti sanguinis personae hunc apud imperatorem praediis et pecunia compensantes sibi conlentarent acquirere? Quibus ille refert verba ponderosa, sed non adeo morosa: divina et humana valde probantur inter se distare judicia, sed scrutator cordium et renum ab initio mundi elegit contemtibilia et ignobilia, ut confunderet fortia, Et e contrario mundus, quod suum est, superbe ad horam extollit ac in brevi cum confusione distollit, unde operae prelium censeo, quod mittam ad marchicomitem, cujus consilio multa solet facere imperator, ut suggereret ei, ne per ambitionem aut simoniacam haeresin quandoque episcopalem sinat accipere dignitatem, sed ob aeternam retnunerationem, quem humilem et modestum ac eruditum.

invenerit, necnon officiis ecclesiasticis aptum esse probaverit, hune, cujuscunque sit condilionis vel parentelae, promoveri faciat ad culmen ecclesiae, Per legationem igitur episcopi c suggestionem consiliarii imperator suae ac ecclesiasticae utilitatis admonitus, imo, quod verius est, nutu Dei, cujus in manu est cor regis, princeps bonus Otto secundus animo mutatus omnes, qui pro eodem episcopatu adipiscendo laborabant, avertit et se totum ad electionem venerandi viri convertit Wolfgangi, sicque legatos post eum mittit, qui, ut missi fuerant, pergentes invenerunt eum cum praenominato episcopo comimorantem, sed jam ad patria repes dare cogitanlem. Beatus aulem Wolfgangus ignarus erat legationis imperatoris et caeterarum rerum per se gestarum et idcirco animum intendebat aliorsum, cumque legati, quare venerint, ei indicarent, primum recurrit ad secretarium cordis se snaque domino commendans in intimis, deinde episcopo Piligrimo, enjus caritate ibi detentus erat, causam suam exponens id, quo gravabatur, temperamento levabat simplicitatis colunbinae ac prudentiae serpenlinae, atque in hunc modum proloquitur dicens: hoc novum, quod mihi per nuntios imperatoris domini Ottonis secundi venit, caritas tua efficit, cui primum bonae voluntatis absque dubio erit, sed meae parvitati timorem incutit, quia nescio, si voluntas Dei sit, et quia mundus sub specie religionis multos ad vitia trahit, Cui respondens episcopus dixit: quod dicis te timere, hoc mentis est providae, sed hanc in bonam spei erigit Psahnista, qui dicit: initium sapientiae timor Dei, et iterum: timor Dei sanctis permanens jn saeculum saeculi, Talia quoque pontifice proloquente vir venerandus Wolfgangus per mentis speculationein dispensationis divinae intuens moderamen subsequitur dicens: ecce servus domini, fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum, Tunc arrepto itinere cum his, qui missi fuerant ab imperatore, tetendit in partes occidentales Bavariae, cumque perventum esset ad regiam civitatem, clerus et populus secundmn morem ecclesiaslicam unanimiter, ut imperator petiit, sanctum Wolfgangum elegerunt atque cum universali electione ad curiam eum regiam miserunt. Cumque in praesentiam Caesaris esset delatus, ante pedes ejus prostratus se dixit indignum, indoctum, ignobilem, sub monachali professione degenteim sine licentia sui abbatis nihil accipere debere, Postremo, ne locum sanctum vilitate violaret, iin ploravit, Imperator autem videns eum deifice renuentem, magis de probitatis ejus dignitate certus quamvis relnctanti multumque. gementi episcopatum commendavit, Deinde cuin comitatu fideli multorum remissus Ratisbonam est ingressus ibique cum canticis laetitiae suscipitur atque more pontificum inthronizatur, a clero el populo summo pastori commendatur necnon a Frederico archiepiscopo illiusque suffraganeis post aliquos dies in sacerdotem apostolicum ibidem consecratur. Igitur post multa pietatis et aequitatis opera, quibus Deo servire studebat, febricitare coepit, quam corporis molestiam illi, qui nescit occasum, sedulis precibus vitae suae commendavit excursmm dicens: Deus miserere dignetur et inihi misero peccatori mortem nunc subeunti et cuique eam timide ac hnmiliter adspicienti, Haec cum dixisset, reverenter oculos clausit ac velut in somno pausans pridie calendas Novembres in pace quievit.

Scripture echoes

  1. Luke.1.38And Mary said, 'Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.' And the angel departed from her.

The Golden Legend (Legenda Aurea) companion

Continue through all 240 chapters, one saint a day

Chosen Portion serves the Golden Legend as a daily portion on iOS, free, alongside the full Sub Rosa archive

The Legenda Aurea was organized for day-by-day use across the liturgical year, and Chosen Portion restores that original one-feast-per-day reading rhythm

  • A complete saint's life or feast reading most days in 5-10 minutes
  • 240 chapters - enough daily readings to cover a full liturgical year and beyond
  • Daily reminders so the plan survives busy weeks
Chosen Portion — Daily Prayer (free iOS app)