St. Virgilius of Salzburg
Image Courtesy: Catholic News World
(EWTN) Born during the 8th century in Ireland, Virgilius was a Scientist before his time and in his Monastery of Aghaboe, he was known as the ‘Geometer’ because of his knowledge of Geography.
In 743 Virgilius left Ireland for a pilgrimage to Israel but got no further than the Court of Pepin — In 745 Pepin defeated Odilo Duke of Bavaria and sent Virgilius to be Abbot of the Monastery of St. Peter and in charge of the Diocese of Salzburg.
In accordance with the Irish custom of the time, the Bishop was subject to the Abbot who was the head of the diocese. As this was contrary to the continental custom, Virgilius consented to be consecrated Bishop; His most notable accomplishments was the conversion of the Alpine Slavs and sending Missionaries to Hungary.
During his first days at Salzburg, Bishop Virgilius was involved in controversies with Saint Boniface (Feast Day: 05 June) one over the form of Baptism, which the Pope decided in Bishop Virgilius’ favor. — Bishop Virgilius also expressed a number of opinions on Astronomy, Geography and Anthropology which to Saint Boniface smacked in the face of novelty if not heresy which he reported to Rome and the Pope demanded an investigation of Bishop Virgilius.
Nothing ever became of the allegations as Bishop Virgilius was able to defend his scholarly opinions.
During his tenure as as Bishop, Virgilius would construct a grand Cathedral at Salzburg, he would Baptize the Duke’s of Carinthia and would send Missionaries into lands where no Missionaries had before been.
While returning from a evangelistic mission to a distant part of his diocese, Bishop Virgilius fell ill and died on this date in 784 — When the Cathedral of Salzburg was destroyed by fire in 1181 the grave of Bishop Virgilius was discovered and this led to his Canonization in 1233 by Pope Gregory IX
Bishop Saint Virgilius Feast day is honored in the Diocese of Sallzburg and throughout Ireland.
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