June 5
Saint Boniface of Crediton
Archbishop, Martyr
“Apostle to the Germans”
(Around 680-755)
“Let us be neither dogs that do not bark, nor silent onlookers, nor paid servants who flee at the sight of the wolf. Instead, let us be careful shepherds watching over Christ’s flock.”
Saint Boniface of Crediton
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Saint’s Life Story
His Early Life
Boniface, who was baptized as Winfrid, was born in Crediton, Devonshire, England, around the year 680 to a respected and noble English family. It was to his father’s great displeasure that, at the young age of five, Winfrid devoted himself to the monastic life after listening to visitors from the monastery.
His further education was guided by the monks at the monastery school close to Exeter. Winfrid entered the Benedictine Abbey at Nursling near Southampton directed by the learned Abbot Winbert at the Abbey of Nursling in Winchester. Here, Winfrid became a monk. Eventually, Winfrid became director of school and a very learned and popular scholar and teacher. His popularity and skill in teaching attracted many other students and scholars, for whose benefit he wrote the first Latin grammar known to have been compiled in English.
Ordained With Missionary Thoughts
After continued studies, at age 30, Winfrid was ordained to the priesthood. However, he wished to join his cousin Saint Willibrord as a missionary in Friesland (present day Germany). Having wrung a reluctant consent from his abbot, Winbert, Winfrid set out with two companions. In the spring of 716, his first missionary trip failed due to the dominance of the pagans and political conditions, so Winfrid returned to England that autumn.
The monks at Nursling tried to make him stay by electing him abbot on the death of Winbert. But, Winfrid refused because he knew that God was calling him to be a missionary. In 718, he went to Pope Saint Gregory II in Rome, who appointed Winfrid as a missionary bishop for Germania. At this time, the Pope also changed Winfrid’s name to Boniface.
A Missionary in Germany
In 719, Boniface embarked on a missionary journey to Germany with the assistance of Saint Albinus, Saint Abel, and Saint Agatha. After crossing the lower Alps, and travelled through Bavaria to the present-day town of Fritzlar in northern Hesse. Their mission was to spread the teachings of Christianity and convert the pagan tribes. They began their mission by destroying idols and pagan temples and replacing them with churches.
Appointed Bishop
In 722, Boniface was recalled to Rome and consecrated regionary bishop for Germany, a bishop without a diocese for an area that lacked any church organization. The Pope gave him a special letter to deliver to the powerful Charles Martel. The delivery of this letter en route back to Germany won for him the valuable concession of a sealed pledge of protection from Charles.
Upon his arrival again in Hesse, Germany, Boniface decided to strike at the root of pagan superstition. He publicly announced in advance that he would at a particular time destroy their gods.
At the town of Fritzlar in Hesse, Boniface came across many pagans prostrating themselves before an ancient tree sacred to the God Thor. The awestruck crowd at Geismar watched as he successfully cut down the sacred Oak of Thor, an object of pagan worship that stood on the summit of Mount Gudenberg near Fritzlar, Boniface did this without being struck down by their angry gods. When the gods did not strike him down, the people were amazed and converted to Christianity. Probably because of this, tradition has credited Boniface with inventing the Christmas tree.
From this chopped down tree, Boniface built a church from its wood at the site. This church was the beginning of the monastery in Fritzlar.
From Hesse to Thuringia
Having succeeded in Hesse, Boniface moved on to Thuringia, where he found a few Christians, including a few Celtic and Frankish priests, but they tended to be more of a hindrance than a help. Boniface established a monastery at Ohrdruf (near Gotha) to serve as a missionary center for Thuringia, and asked English monks and nuns to join him as missionaries to Germany. He found the people ready to listen, but they needed teachers to speak. For several years in succession, parties of monks and nuns crossed the sea to place themselves at the disposal of Boniface. The two existing monasteries were enlarged and new ones founded to accommodate all the missionaries.
Among their numbers were Saint Lull, who succeeded Boniface in the see of Mainz; Saint Eoban, who shared Boniface’s martyrdom; Saint Burchard, the first bishop of Würzburg; Saint Wigbert, abbot of Fritzlar; Saint Thecla, first abbess of Ochsenfürt Abbey; Saint Walburga, sister of Saints Willibald and Winebald; and Boniface’s beautiful and erudite young cousin, Saint Lioba, who supervised all the convents founded from the monastery of Bischoffsheim.
Archbishop
In 731, having established several monasteries and dioceses, Boniface was sent the pallium by Pope Saint Gregory III and constituted metropolitan of Germany beyond the Rhine. He was authorized to create new sees and went to Bavaria to organize a church hierarchy and establish new sees. He became a mentor and support to the Carolingians, and he reformed the Frankish Church, which Charles Martel had plundered.
In 732, Boniface traveled again to Rome to report his progress. At that time, Pope Gregory III conferred upon him the pallium as Archbishop with jurisdiction over what is now Germany. Boniface again set out for the German lands and continued his mission, but also used his authority to work on the relations between the papacy and the Frankish church.
At that time he was appointed papal legate and recruited Saint Willibald at Monte Cassino. Returning to Bavaria as papal legate, Boniface organized its hierarchy, weeded out unworthy priests, and corrected abuses. Then he continued on with his missionary work, founding other sees at Erfurt for Thuringia, Buraburg for Hesse, and Würzburg for Franconia. Later he established a seat in Nordgau at Eichstätt.
His Death
When he was over 70, Boniface resigned his see to Saint Lull in 754, in order to spend his last years reconverting the Frieslanders who had lapsed into paganism after the death of Saint Willibrord. With a small company, he successfully converted large numbers in the previously unevangelized area of northeast Friesland. Boniface and was preparing for the confirmation of some of his converts at Dokkum, in the northern Netherlands. Boniface had been quietly reading in his tent while awaiting the arrival of his new converts, when the hostile band descended on the camp. He would not allow his companions to defend him.
Boniface said to his followers: “My children cease your resistance; the long expected day has come at last. Scripture forbids us to resist evil. Let us put our hope in God; He will save our souls.” As he was exhorting them to trust in God and to welcome the prospect of dying for the faith, they were attacked.
On June 5, 754, Boniface and 52 of his new flock, including Saint Adaler and Saint Eoban, were martyred in Dokkum, Freisland (the modern Netherlands). The body of Saint Boniface was taken to Fulda, where it still rests. Although he had enlisted many English men – Saints Lull and Saint Willibald – and women – Saints Walburga and Lioba – to work with him as missionaries, Boniface is much better remembered in Germany than among his fellow countrymen. Many of his letters written survived to this day.
Boniface’s impact on English history was enormous, extending beyond the simple conversion of people to Christianity. He helped to arrange alliances between popes and emperors, and the educational and literary influence from his monasteries was significant.
Born: Around 680 in Crediton, Devonshire, England
Died: June 5, 754 in Dokkum, Freisland (Netherlands)
Beatified: Pre-Congregation
Canonized: Pre-Congregation
Feast Day: June 5
Reflection
Saint Boniface of Crediton stands as a powerful witness to missionary courage and unwavering faith. Leaving the comfort of his English homeland, he journeyed to the heart of pagan Europe, bringing the Gospel to people who had never heard it. His bold actions—like felling the sacred oak of Thor—showed a fearless trust in the power of Christ over all idols. Yet, he was also a man of wisdom and peace, known for building unity between the churches and founding monasteries that became centers of faith and learning. In a world that often encourages comfort and compromise, Saint Boniface of Crediton reminds us that true discipleship sometimes means taking risks for the sake of truth. His life was not without hardship, but it was rich in purpose and eternally fruitful.
Where might God be calling me to step out in faith, even if it means leaving behind comfort or facing resistance?
Prayers
Saint Boniface of Crediton,
Apostle of Germany and faithful servant of Christ, you left behind all to bring the light of the Gospel to those who walked in darkness.
You stood firm in the face of danger, breaking false idols and planting the cross of Christ where it had never been known.
May your courage, wisdom, and love for the Church inspire us today.
May we have the boldness to live our faith without fear, the strength to speak truth with love, and the perseverance to serve the mission of the Church in our own time and place.
Saint Boniface of Crediton, pray for us! Amen.
Saint Links
Aleteia – Why St. Boniface is called the Apostle of the Germans
All Saints & Martyrs – Saint Boniface – Bishop and Martyr
America Needs Fatima – Saint Boniface of Mainz
AnaStPaul – Saint of the Day – 5 June – St Boniface (672-754) Martyr “The Apostle of Germany”
Angelus – Saint of the day: Boniface
Catholic Culture – St. Boniface
Catholic Exchange – St. Boniface (Bishop and Martyr)
Catholic Insight – Saint Boniface: Laying the Axe to the Root of Evil
Catholic Ireland – Jun 5 – St Boniface – (673-754), Apostle to the Germans, Martyr
Catholic News Agency – St. Boniface Feast day: Jun 05
CatholicSaints.Info – Saint Boniface of Crediton
Clearly Reformed – Who Was St. Boniface?
Dynamic Catholic – Saint Boniface
Editions Magnificat – Saint Boniface Bishop, Martyr (680-754)
Franciscan Media – Saint Boniface
Heralds of the Gospel – St. Boniface of Mainz – Father of the Germanic Peoples
Independent Catholic News – St Boniface
Loyola Press – Saint Boniface Feast day June 5
Melanie Rigney – Boniface
My Catholic Life – June 5: Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr
New Advent – Mershman, F. (1907). St. Boniface. In The Catholic Encyclopedia
Newman Connection – Saint Boniface
Regnum Christi (Uncle Eddy) – St Boniface
Rev Butler’s Lives Of The Saints Complete Edition – St Boniface, Archbishop of Mainz, Marty
Saint Mary’s Press – Saint Boniface (c.680-754)
Saints Alive – St. Boniface, Martyr
Soul Candy – Jun 5 – St Boniface, (675-754 A.D.( Archbiship, Apostle to the Germans, Obedience & Fidelity by Br Ambrose Arralde, OP
The Correspondence of St. Boniface
The Life of St. Boniface by Saint Willibald
The Saint Challenge – St. Boniface – June 5
uCatholic – St. Boniface
Vatican – Saint Boniface, the Apostle of the Germans by Pope Benedict XVI on March 11, 2009
Video Link
St Boniface – YouTube (Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network – USA)