Saint of the Month - February 2012: Saint Walburga

St. Walburga

Dispenser of Heavenly Manna

Feast: February 25th

Walburga was born to a devoted ruling-class family in Devonshire, England, around the year 710. She was educated at Wimborne Monastery in Dorset, and later became a nun in the same monastery. Not much is known about this period of her life, but history reports that in 748, Walburga crossed the ocean to Germany to assist St. Boniface in evangelizing the local populace.

For two years she worked tirelessly in spreading the Gospel message amongst the people, after which she joined her brother, St. Winebald, in the Benedictine double-monastery - housing monks and nuns - that he founded in Heidenheim. At his death, Walburga was appointed Abbess of the monastery by her other brother, St. Willibald, who was a Bishop; she held the office of superior until her own death, which occurred on February 25th, 779. Written records still in existence indicate that Walburga was a capable leader, very well-loved by the other religious for her fervent example of faith and charity.

Also on record are stories of miracles that surrounded Walburga during her lifetime. For example, one account states that while walking through a dark hall on her way to the chapel for evening prayers, a heavenly brilliance was often seen to envelope her, which lit her path in the darkness. The Saint was also said to have frequently cured the sick, and after her death, several religious were privileged to see her soul gloriously rising to Heaven to claim its eternal reward.

A vial of St. Walburga's
miraculous manna

Perhaps the most famous miracle associated with Walburga has to do with a mysterious fluid that has seeped from her bones for over 1000 years. The liquid was first noticed in 870 after the Saint’s remains where exhumed during the relocation of the monastery to Eichstatt, Germany. At that time, Walburga’s bones were found coated with a clear oily substance - later referred to as “manna” - which has occasioned countless healings throughout the centuries.

Curiously, the manna does not drip continuously from the Saint’s relics but only between October 12th (the anniversary of the translation of her remains) and February 25th (her Feast Day/Anniversary of her death); otherwise, the bones remain free of moisture during other times - "bone-dry", you might say! :)  The Benedictine nuns of Eichstatt bottle the manna in small glass ampules (left) and freely distribute them to sick pilgrims. The manna is said to be so blessed, at times people have been cured by just holding the ampules. The nuns have archived reports from around the world, testifying to the effectiveness of St. Walburga’s intercession, and the healing power of the enigmatic manna.

 

A Reflection

God desires our healing - first, and foremost, the healing of spirit then of the body.

 

A Short Prayer

Dear St. Walburga, pray for us to receive God’s healing power within our souls; to cure us of spiritual illnesses that keep us from growing in His grace.  Amen.