JUNE 8
ST. WILLIAM OF YORK
William Fitzherbert was born in England in the twelfth century. He was the
nephew of King Stephen. As a young man, William was rather easy-going and
even a bit lazy. He seems to have given the impression to some that he was
not very serious about taking responsibility in life. However, William was
very popular with the people of his city of York.
Years later, when the archbishop of York died, William was chosen to take
his place. In those times, princes used to interfere in the election of the
bishops. This is why many priests did not think William had been properly
chosen. It was his uncle, the king, who had appointed him. Even the great
St. Bernard persuaded the pope to make someone else archbishop of York.
William was asked to step aside because they felt his appointment was not
valid. He left his bishop's house feeling hurt and humiliated. He went to
live with another uncle, a bishop. It seems that William became a much more
spiritual person. He would not accept any of the comforts his uncle offered
him. He prayed and performed penances. He began to show how much he cared
about his faith and about the Church.
The people of York were angry at what had happened to their archbishop. They
could not understand how something like this could take place. There were
street fights between those who wanted William and those who did not. Six
years passed. William lived a quiet life of prayer in the home of his uncle,
the bishop. He asked the Lord for peace for his archdiocese. It did not
matter any more if he had been treated unjustly. What mattered was that his
people be taken care of.
Finally, his prayers were answered. When the other archbishop died, the pope
sent William back to York. He arrived in May, 1154. The people were very
happy. But William was an old man by this time, and about a month later, he
died. He was proclaimed a saint by Pope Honorius III in 1227.
How can we move on with our lives and not waste time thinking about our
hurts? We can turn to Jesus to free us from things that block us from living
our life to the fullest.
ST. WILLIAM OF YORK
William Fitzherbert was born in England in the twelfth century. He was the
nephew of King Stephen. As a young man, William was rather easy-going and
even a bit lazy. He seems to have given the impression to some that he was
not very serious about taking responsibility in life. However, William was
very popular with the people of his city of York.
Years later, when the archbishop of York died, William was chosen to take
his place. In those times, princes used to interfere in the election of the
bishops. This is why many priests did not think William had been properly
chosen. It was his uncle, the king, who had appointed him. Even the great
St. Bernard persuaded the pope to make someone else archbishop of York.
William was asked to step aside because they felt his appointment was not
valid. He left his bishop's house feeling hurt and humiliated. He went to
live with another uncle, a bishop. It seems that William became a much more
spiritual person. He would not accept any of the comforts his uncle offered
him. He prayed and performed penances. He began to show how much he cared
about his faith and about the Church.
The people of York were angry at what had happened to their archbishop. They
could not understand how something like this could take place. There were
street fights between those who wanted William and those who did not. Six
years passed. William lived a quiet life of prayer in the home of his uncle,
the bishop. He asked the Lord for peace for his archdiocese. It did not
matter any more if he had been treated unjustly. What mattered was that his
people be taken care of.
Finally, his prayers were answered. When the other archbishop died, the pope
sent William back to York. He arrived in May, 1154. The people were very
happy. But William was an old man by this time, and about a month later, he
died. He was proclaimed a saint by Pope Honorius III in 1227.
How can we move on with our lives and not waste time thinking about our
hurts? We can turn to Jesus to free us from things that block us from living
our life to the fullest.
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