Saint Walburga
Saint Walburga (born c. 710 AD in Wessex, England; died February 25, 779 AD in Heidenheim, Bavaria, Germany) was an English Benedictine abbess who led a mission to the German lands with Saint Boniface. She became abbess of the double monastery of Heidenheim. She is famous for the phenomenon of "Walpurgis oil" — a miraculous oil that flows from the rock of her tomb. The eve of her feast (May 1) is "Walpurgis Night" (Walpurgisnacht), associated in German folklore with witches. Her feast day is February 25 (death) and May 1 (canonization and translation of relics).
Stored in Cargo: Saint Walburga
| Saint Walburga | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | February 25 (death); May 1 (translation and canonization, most widely observed) |
| Profession | Benedictine abbess; missionary to Germany; medical practitioner; hagiographer; abbess of the double monastery of Heidenheim |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Benedictine Order; Anglo-Saxon missionary church in Germany; Bonifacian mission; Diocese of Eichstätt; patron of Bavaria |
| Patronage | Bavaria; Germany; Eichstätt; mariners (from a storm miracle during her sea voyage to Germany); those suffering from rabies, plague, coughs, and famine (traditional); protection against witchcraft (Walpurgis Night association); nurses and healers (from her medical work) |
| Attributes | Benedictine habit; vial or flask (the Walpurgis oil); a torch (protecting against witches on Walpurgis Night); the abbey at Eichstätt; crozier (abbess); grain (famine protection) |
| Birthplace | Wessex, England |
| Death Place | Heidenheim, Bavaria, Germany (then Franconia) |
| Cause of Death | Natural death; died February 25, 779 AD, in Heidenheim, Bavaria; she had been abbess of the double monastery of Heidenheim for many years; she died peacefully and was buried at Heidenheim; her relics were translated to Eichstätt on May 1, 870 AD — the date of her formal canonization; the May 1 date of her canonization coincided with the ancient Germanic festival of Beltane (or its successor), which may have contributed to the later "Walpurgis Night" folklore |
| Primary Shrine | Abbey of Saint Walburga, Eichstätt, Bavaria — her relics; the Walpurgis oil; active Benedictine community; major German pilgrimage site; May 1 feast celebrated with solemnity and the distribution of the oil |
| Liturgical Class | Optional Memorial (Roman Rite); February 25; Feast in Germany, especially Eichstätt and Bavaria |
| Historic Class | Double (February 25) in 1962 calendar; May 1 observed as feast of her translation |
Biography
Walburga was born c. 710 AD in Wessex, England, of royal Wessex lineage. Her uncle was Saint Willibald, the first Bishop of Eichstätt, and her brother was Saint Winnibald. She was educated at the monastery of Wimborne, Dorset.
When Saint Boniface organized his great mission to the German lands, he asked the abbess of Wimborne to send nuns to help. Walburga was sent c. 748 AD. She traveled to Germany and eventually became abbess of the double monastery of Heidenheim, Franconia, founded by her brother Winnibald.
She was known for her medical skill, her pastoral care, and her literary work — she wrote hagiographic lives of her uncle Willibald and her brother Winnibald, among the earliest literary works by a woman in the German tradition.
She died February 25, 779 AD. Her relics were translated to Eichstätt on May 1, 870 AD — the date of her formal canonization. A clear oil began to seep from the rock of her tomb — the "Walpurgis oil" — which has continued for over 1,000 years and is still distributed in small vials by the Benedictine nuns of Eichstätt.
The coincidence of her May 1 feast with the ancient Germanic spring festival gave her name to "Walpurgis Night" (April 30) in German folklore.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Wessex, England
Death location: Heidenheim, Bavaria, Germany (then Franconia)
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Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Walburga have been added to the database yet.
Media
| Media | Length | AuthorCreator |
|---|---|---|
| Prayer to Saint Walburga | Under 5 minutes | Joy of Heaven |
| The Story of Saint Walburga: A Life of Faith and Miracles | Under 5 minutes | Joy of Heaven |
| Saint Walburga, Abbess - February 25th | Under 5 minutes | Saint of the Day |
Shrines
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No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
Known shrines
- Abbey of Saint Walburga, Eichstätt, Bavaria — her relics; the Walpurgis oil; principal German Benedictine pilgrimage site.
Feast day
February 25 (death); May 1 (translation, most widely observed)
Veneration
Saint Walburga was an English Benedictine missionary abbess to Germany, famous for the miraculous "Walpurgis oil" that seeps from the rock of her tomb in Eichstätt and for giving her name — by calendrical coincidence — to "Walpurgis Night." Feast February 25 / May 1.
Prayers
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Intercessory
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