A native of England, Boniface entered a Benedictine monastery in the early 8th century. There, he heard the call to what became a lifelong mission: to work for Christ among the old Saxons in Germany.
Boniface relentlessly pursued this call, even refusing an election as abbot of his monastery in order to travel to Frisia in 716. On the way, however, he took a 40-year detour. Thuringia, Hessia, and other Germanic areas were badly in need of help.
They had been converted to the Faith not long before, but quickly relapsed into paganism or confused muddles of pagan-Christianity. With the support of Rome, Boniface spent decades working in these areas, helping the missionaries who had arrived before him, reforming and educating lapsed Catholics, and founding monasteries.
For his labors, the pope made him a bishop in 722 and then an archbishop 10 years later. Throughout the years, Boniface continually made circuits of his immense diocese.
Boniface’s work bore great fruit, but he still thought wistfully of pagan Frisia. Finally, in 754, the pope allowed him to resign his archbishopric and become, once again, a humble missionary. He went straight to Frisia, where his success made him feared and hated by some of the pagans.
On a spring day, as he prepared to confirm over 50 converts, a group of pagans fell upon them and murdered the entire gathering. Legend says that the saint held up a spiritual book at the onslaught of the attackers, one of whom pierced it through.
Like a true son of St. Benedict, quiet prayer was just as important to Boniface as his missionary work. With a busy schedule, it might feel impossible for us to find time for prayer, too, but keeping this St. Benedict Crucifix as a reminder may work wonders! Compact, ornate, and powerful, this standing crucifix will inspire you to pray every time you see it. Ideal in home or workplace! Purchase yours today at The Catholic Company!
