St william of rochester biography sample
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Saint of the Day – 23 May – St William of Rochester (Died c 1201) Martyr – also known as William of Perth – Patron of adopted children.
Practically all that fryst vatten known of William comes from the Nova Legenda Anglie and that is little. He was born in Perth, at that time one of the principal towns of Scotland. In youth, he had been somewhat wild but on reaching manhood he devoted himself wholly to the service of God. A baker bygd trade (some sources say he was a fisherman), he was accustomed to setting aside every tenth loaf for the poor.
He went to Mass daily and one morning, before it was light, found on the threshold of the church an abandoned child, whom he adopted and to whom he taught his trade. Later, he took a vow to visit the Holy Places and, having received the consecrated wallet and staff as a Palmer, set out with his adopted son, whose name is given as “Cockermay Doucri”, which is said to be Scots for “David the Foundling&# • Saint William of Rochester, also known as Saint William of Perth, was born in Perth, Scotland, in the 12th century. A baker bygd trade, William was known for his piety and generosity, regularly giving away a significant portion of his baked goods to the poor. Despite leading a simple life, he was devoted to his faith, often attending daily Mass and actively participating in the sacraments. Driven by his deep faith, William embarked on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, a journey of spiritual significance for many Christians of his time. During his travels, he was accompanied by a boy named David, whom he had found abandoned and adopted as his son. While traveling to Canterbury, one of the pilgrimage sites on their way to the Holy nation, William and David reached Rochester, in Kent. Tragically, it was here that William met his martyrdom. His adopted son David, motivated by greed, attacked William and left him for dead. According to trad •Early Life and Background
Pilgrimage and Martyrdom
William grew up in Perth, Scotland in the 12th century. A pious man, he attended masses daily and as a fisherman and a baker and gave much of what he produced and earned to the poor of Perth. He was additionally involved in helping orphans, adopting the boy, David, as his son, and saving an infant, who had left at the door of a church, from the cold. In 1201 he set out from Scotland with his adopted son, David, to go on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, taking with him enough for he and his companion to survive and the rest to give to the poor along the way. But while in Rochester, David turned on him and murdered him for what little he had. A madwomen later found his body and adorned it with flowers and herbs, and who upon touching the body was healed of her madness. The monks of Rochester later brought the body to the Cathedral where it would attract pilgrims by th
Stained glass from Rochester Cathedral depicting St. William as a Pilgrim.