SAINT BONIFACE

BIOGRAPHY

• St. Boniface was born circa 675 in Wessex, England.
• He was Born under the name Wynfrith.
• He studied in English monasteries and became an ordained priest at the age of 30 .
• He decided to become a missionary and traveled to Frisia which is now part of the Netherlands.

BIOGRAPHY

• He had conflicts with the local ruler in Frisia so he left and returned to England.
• Wynfrith went to Rome in 718 where he met Pope Gregory II, who gave him the name Boniface.
• On May 15, 719, Pope Gregory II a allowed Boniface to spread and preach the Gospel.

BIOGRAPHY

• Boniface returned to Frisia after a change in political power where he was a missionary.
• In 722, Boniface was made a bishop.
• in 732 he became a archbishop of Mainz.
• Boniface coordinated with Pepin over church reforms
• This resulted in Frankish clergy growing closer to Rome.

BIOGRAPHY

• Boniface crowed Pepin III as king of the Franks in 751.
• Boniface was the Catalyst for the entanglement of Church and State and had laid the groundwork for papal authority to influence religious and political development in Europe.
• Saint Boniface was martyred by a group of pagans in Frisia with 52 of his companions on June 5, 754 at the age of 80.

HAGIOGRAPHY

• there was an oak tree near the present-day town of Fritzlar in northern Hesse.
• The oak tree that was there was associated with the god Thor.
• Boniface started to chop the oak down, when suddenly a great wind, as if by miracle, blew the ancient oak over.

HAGIOGRAPHY

• When the Thor did not strike Boniface down, the people were amazed and converted to Christianity.
• He built a chapel dedicated to Saint Peter from its wood at the site.

ICONOGRAPHY

• Saint Boniface is usually seen with an axe or a chopped oak tree behind him.
• Seen wearing Bishop and Archbishop vestments.
• Usually carries a crosier.

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PATRONAGE

• Saint Boniface is the patron of Germany

QUOTE

• “Let us be neither dogs that do not bark nor silent onlookers nor paid servants who run away before the wolf. Instead let us be careful shepherds watching over Christ’s flock. Let us preach the whole of God’s plan to the powerful and to the humble, to rich and to poor, to men of every rank and age, as far as God gives us the strength, in season and out of season.”
• I believe this quote is saying that we should all speak up when we see something wrong happening and that we are all children of God no matter how old we are or what race we are we all should be able to hear the word of God.

QUOTE

• "The Church is like a great ship being pounded by the waves of life’s different stresses. Our duty is not to abandon ship, but to keep her on course."
• I believe this quote is saying that we cannot abandon something important and that we love whenever something goes wrong and that we must stick with it

PRAYER

• Dear Winfred, a British Benedictine, you were called Boniface by the Holy Father who sent you to evangelize Germany. Aided by many monks and relying on God's grace obtained through assiduous prayer, you made countless converts. Inbue us with great missionary zeal and help us in our spiritual renewal, O Leader who died for for the Lord.

QUESTIONS

• What name did St. Boniface have when he was born?
• Who did St. Boniface crown?
• What did he crown this person as?
• What is usually shown is his Iconography?
• How did he get the name Boniface?

ANSWERS

• Wynfrith
• Pepin
• King of the Franks
• Possible answers: Axe, Oak tree, or crosier
• Given to him when he was named Bishop